Tales of Trinidad: Time in Trinidad

When I wrote last week we were waiting for Sister Dookran to call so we could take her home from the hospital. She wasn't released until around 6 pm and she lives an hour away on pretty treacherous roads. We didn't want to make that drive at night so we brought her to our place and she slept in the extra bedroom. She is a darling woman. She struggles with her health and she has very little by way of earthly possessions and means. It was very lovely to get to spend some extra time with her. She was up early and after breakfast we drove her home. She is one I would love to help get back to the temple one more time before her health fails her completely.

Zone Conference was Wednesday so we left early Tuesday morning. We had an apartment we were closing down and needed to meet with the landlady and get it cleaned out. We met with the landlady to talk about the condition of the apartment and finalized the cleaning deposit return. It was decided that she keep all the deposit to take care of getting the apartment ready to lease again. She was happy and so were we. The Elders were a huge help with getting stuff loaded and delivered to the Bishop of the ward there to disperse as needed to other families.

After 7 months of being the Housing Coordinator and with Dave's computer savyiness, I'm feeling a little more comfortable with the duties. This is the first apartment we have actually helped with in closing down since we live in Tobago and there are other Senior Couples in the other countries that have helped out.

In the last 7 months we have had 5 sets of Senior couples return home with two more sets to leave in October. The Thackerys , Lindleys, Parrs, O'Dairs, Haakes and soon the Williams and Vermeerens. It's amazing the hole they leave. Thankfully, we have had 4 new sets join us, The Heiners, two single sisters, Raye and Locke, The Hayes and soon the Lehmans. They are getting their sea legs and picking up the duties that enable this mission to run as smoothly as it can. With the Haakes leaving, I am taking over the mission newsletter! Prayers please!

So, back to Zone Conference. President and Sister Baird's flight got cancelled and they couldn't get to Trinidad until Thursday so since we were already there we had a few days of leisure after taking care of the apartment situation. We went to some malls and to PriceSmart which is a Costco. We can't buy much but it's fun to look. We did find the full face snorkeling masks we have been looking for and we did get those and bring them back with us.

Zone Conference is the filling station for our souls and it did not disappoint. It's just incredible to be taught by these young Elders and by President and Sister Baird. I love how deeply we are able to feel the Spirit as Truths are being taught and testified.

We were reminded that this work, the gathering of Israel is the greatest work we will ever do. It's the greatest because It's effects will last through the Eternities. The Gospel of Jesus Christ makes earth life better and ensures that Eternity will be most wonderful.

The other thought that really stuck with me was that missions are hard and challenging because The Lord is working on us to become different better creatures. He is working on changing us to become more like Him. So, He's not just building His Kingdom, He is building OUR Kingdoms! I love that! It makes whatever the challenges we go through worthwhile and gives them great meaning. Truly, you will learn things serving a mission that you cannot learn in any other way. Will you be exalted without serving a mission? Absolutely! A mission is just an opportunity to learn and hopefully change for the better in a different way. It was a great Zone Conference as always!

We got home took care of our duties and then Saturday afternoon we took our new masks and tried them out! It was fabulous! We went to the abandoned hotel cove and had it all to ourselves.

Sister Dookran and me

Landlady in Trinidad

Zone Conference. Sister Williams, lady on the far right, had all these floral ties made for the missionaries and she gave one to Dave! He loves it so much!

Goofy picture

The following are some of the photos captured by the underwater camera

Brain coral

This is what the masks look like. I highly recommend this type. It makes snorkeling pretty easy.

The tail of an eel

I kept looking at this fish and wondered if it was really a fish and if it was alive. It's called a stone-fish or a scorpion fish. Evidently it has poisonous fins.....I didn't know.......just like I didn't know the frog I was touching last week was poisonous....The Lord protects us in our innocence occasionally.