Tales of Trinidad: 2019-12-29

Christmas was really wonderful for us! We flew into Trinidad on Christmas Eve morning to spend it with the 12 Elders serving there along with the two senior sisters. They, the sisters had everything prepared and the Elders came at noon. We ate and then watched "The Forgotten Carols" after the play we went around the room and told what we felt as we watched it. Some had seen it before and others, it was their first time. Everyone was very touched by it and it brought a wonderful spirit to hear everyone's thoughts. Then it was time for our Skype devotional with the Bairds and all the missionaries in the other countries. It was fun to see all the missionaries as they appeared on the screen. I wondered how the missionaries with out senior couples were doing on Christmas in Aruba, Bonaire & Suriname.

It was a wonderful devotional. Then out came the games. This bunch loves to play hearts with Rook cards. I got to play with them and it was very fun. Sister Ray really wanted to share "Mr. Kruger's Christmas" with them so they were good sports and stopped playing long enough to watch it. It's a good one! We visited, ate and played games until 9:30 pm! I couldn't believe how fast the day went and we were so blessed to spend it with these mighty men! We love, admire and respect each one of them.

We were spending the night at our regular bed and breakfast. We were the only guests because the owner's family was all there for Christmas. The owner was so kind and invited us to share Christmas morning breakfast with them! We felt very honored to do that. They are very good and kind people.

We got up Christmas morning and joined the family for breakfast. They served ham, french toast, scrambled eggs, sweet breads, holiday drink of sorrel and a thing called "pastelles" They are a Trinidad and Tobago special dish. It's a cornmeal shell, like tamales with different kinds of meat fillings and then steamed in a banana leaf. It was interesting to try but I think they may be an acquired taste.

After brunch we went swimming in the pool, took a nap and then went to the airport to fly back to Tobago. Throughout the day and evening, we got videos and phone calls from our kids and grand kids. It made us happy to see their faces and hear their voices. We do love and miss them. We are so looking forward to them coming to Tobago the end of January!

Now....we have been asked to move to Curacao. No worries, we don't go until Feb. I think I may have mentioned this before but I'll say it again in this context. When we started our mission in Nov. 2018, there were 10 senior couples. At the middle of March, there will only be 3 senior couples and one senior sister left. One of them is the finance office couple at the mission office in Curacao. There are no senior couples in the pipeline to replace any of the departing couples so we are moving to do the office work there. Dave, of course will be over the finances and we'll see if he gets released from the fleet. He also does a lot with the housing with me since I'm not a wiz at computer things. Our 18 months is over the 5th of May. We have told them we will stay until the first of June hoping another couple will be here by then...we pray always for more senior couples.

We spent the last part of the week doing office stuff, housing, we are opening up another apartment in Trinidad and that is pretty complicated, and then renewing each apartment as they come due each month. Then Dave got all the files on the cars and reviewed them and scanned the critical ones and tossed the others. The last part of the month is the busiest for the mission newsletter when all the pictures come in and I create it and publish it. And we have started to go through the condo and gather all the Church materials, pamphlets etc and take them to the church.

I think this next month is going to fly by.

Dave was asked to speak today in church, at the last minute. He did a beautiful job and ended up telling the branch we were leaving. We have struggled with when to say anything and it felt like the right time. We have loved this beautiful island and the people, even though we didn't see what we thought was success. We had a few members shed some tears when we told them. I don't think they will miss "the Weeks'"as much as they will miss us as missionaries. and that's as it should be. I think they love having missionaries here for the strength and stability they feel from us and it makes them sad when we have to leave. There will be some sad days ahead...

Christmas morning brunch with the hotel family

Watching "Forgotten Carols" we are playing it off Dave's computer on my lap.

Didn't want you to think I was surfing the net.... :)

The other side of the room

Delightful Dozen! These are really some amazing young men.

Notice Christian in the far back to the right of our redheaded elder from Canada.

It was so nice to see him and spend this holiday with him.

This is our hot fudge banana split bar.

Watching the Baird's devotional

Dave took a screen shot of the Bairds.

On the top of the screen you can see the missionaries in each area of the mission.

We are the ones on the far left.

Enjoying the family brunch.

Notice the pastelles on the tray in front of me, still wrapped in the banana leaves.

Flying kites at Christmas is a Tobago tradition. This is brother George.

He makes a new kite each year to give to someone.

I love to fly kites and I love to see kites flying. The palm trees are an added bonus!

This is Camille, our missionary, Christian's mommy, as he calls her, and his little sister Maleah. Camille wanted her home dedicated while Christian was away so Dave did a beautiful job doing that.