Trekker Goes to the Office

Trekker, the Traveling Tiger just would not quit complaining about being left home alone everyday while Grandma and Grandpa went to the West Indies Mission office. Grandma decided something had to be done so one day she took him along . . . to meet the other missionaries and to see what Elder and Sister Sappington do each day.

First, Trekker met the Assistants to the President (AP’s). Elders Ipson (on the left) and Gilley help President Gamiette administer the mission. They complete reports (i.e., baptisms and other data), notify missionaries of changes to their assignments (called “transfers”) and help organize zone and district meetings. . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Next, he met the mission nurse Sister Ellison, whose most important job is to keep the elders and sisters healthy; and her assistant Sister Luster who work together to keep the young elders and sisters, as well as Mission President Gamiette flying around the West Indies. Their job is to arrange air flights to and from the mission and to meetings on various islands . . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Sister Childs is the office receptionist but has lots of other assignments as well, such as referrals (people who have expressed an interest in knowing more about the church), first and last wills and testaments (transcribing notes made by young missionaries at the beginning and the end of their mission), recording baptisms into the Church’s official database. . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Elder Luster and Grandpa Ed share responsibilities for the expenditure of the Lord’s sacred funds. Their job is to pay bills, provide a monthly living allowance for young missionaries so they so they can eat and put gas in their cars, balance petty cash on 11 islands, make sure the mission stays within budget. . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Grandma Linda is responsible for making certain all 150 missionaries and 18 couples are in each of those 11 countries legally (all the countries have their own requirements and regulations which must be met one-by-one), applying for visa permits, keeping track of missionaries coming and those going home; ordering materials and supplies (water filters, teaching supplies, missionary nametags, etc.) . . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

After his busy day at the office, Trekker decided he would no longer complain about being left home alone where his “work” is chasing dust bunnies around the apartment, listening to birds chirping or rain beating on tin roofs, taking long naps on the sunny balcony. . . and whatever else he wants to do without any “other duties, as assigned.”

WIM Couples: Elder and Sister Gibson

The West Indies Mission is considered the most difficult mission in the church, so senior couples are of particular value. Currently, there are 19 couples (counting President and Sister Gamiette) serving on 11 islands and South American Countries, including Elder Wilburn Charles (aka “Willie”) and Sister Julie Ann Gibson from Alamosa, Colorado. We first met the supersized elder with his characteristic wide suspenders and his quiet, softspoken wife at the MTC, where together we endured two bitter cold weeks and a few more days together in Dominican Republic where we were learning about service in the mission office and they had just arrived to serve as Spanish speaking Humanitarian Service missionaries. Unfortunately, they didn't speak Spanish and it quickly became evident they needed to be assigned elsewhere. The "elsewhere" selected for them was St. Lucia, in the West Indies Mission, where they are now providing shadow leadership, fellowshipping to reactivate and strengthen new members, organizing at least one annual temple trip and 1-2 humanitarian service projects on the island while also acting as an extension of the mission office and performing “other duties as assigned.”

In their working lives, Elder Gibson was a general contractor and Sister Gibson was the owner/manager of the Greyhound Bus station in her hometown. The 17th senior missionary couple currently serving in the West Indies Mission are the proud parents of six and even prouder grandparents of 19 (“with 2 more on the way”).

Trekker Goes Back to the Beach

Our Preparation Day started out clear and blue so Trekker begged and pleaded to go to the beach. The drive wound through the forest and along switchbacks until we found Maracas Bay and Richard's Bake-and-Shark. Lunch was good but the beach was unusually crowded so we decided to drive on up the coastline until we found Las Cuevas Beach. Just as pretty, but not nearly as crowded - unless you count the dozens of turkey vultures flying overhead or walking the sandy beach waiting and watching for carrion (look it up) from the fishing boats just off shore.

Trekker was pretty scared when Grandpa Ed tried to pass a car on the highway and got too close. Luckily there wasn't much damage, but Grandpa was REALLY upset. And then, as it always does in Trinidad on our Preparation Day, the sky opened up and drenched us. Trekker was disappointed we didn't get to spend more time at the beach, but he was happy he got to chase birds - even for a little while - and eat shark again!

Momma's Broken Leg

It was a dark and rainy Saturday night when my pain level shot from -0- to 10 in an instant! Waving goodbye with my laptop bag over my shoulder, we were coming down the stairs outside Elder and Sister Childs' apartment when I mis-stepped on their wet, tiled stair and fell awkwardly and hard (the opening scene of "Blindside" comes to mind).

Excruciating pain and X-rays at West Shore Accident and Emergency Medical Center in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad confirmed what I already knew . . . the fibula is broken an inch or two above the ankle of my left leg! Surprisingly, the cost of X-rays, a cast and an hour of the doctor's time, cost only $600 TT's (about $95 USD). Since we live - and work - on the second floor, I moved into Sister Ellison's ground floor apartment where I slept (a lot due to the wonders of pain medication) in her spare bedroom. Recovery time is expected to be about 6 weeks!!!

Trekker's Very Bad Mood

Trekker, the Traveling Tiger, woke up seriously on the wrong side of the bed this morning. From the minute he opened his eyes he was scratching, snarling, growling and hissing! When we finally settled him down, he told us the reason for his terrible mood was that he thinks a traveling tiger should be . . . well, traveling and he hasn’t been anywhere for quite awhile. Grandma was able to tame him just long enough to do some housecleaning, but his bad mood didn't begin to lift until the three of us (along with our neighbor, Sister Harris) jumped in the car and headed out to explore our island.

Trekker didn’t like the traffic (driving on the left side of the road is, admittedly, still pretty scary), but relaxed when we finally ended up at a marina filled with hundreds of sailing ships, moored in this part of the Caribbean chain because there hasn't been a hurricane in Trinidad for more than 40 years.

There was also a huge big cannon. We asked several people about the cannon but no one seemed to know much about it. After checking it closely, Trekker was quite convinced the cannon had come from the deck of the Black Pearl and had been used by Captain Jack Sparrow to battle the Pirates of the Caribbean. Not sure if he's right (though the setting fits), but it is certainly a better story than anyone else told us!

Most Difficult Mission in the Church

More than once, we have heard the WIM is the most difficult in the church, and for many reasons.

First, because there are 11 countries within the boundaries of the mission with 12 different governments and many complicated government regulations for immigration.

Second is because there are multiple languages spoken (English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Suriname Tonga and Creole).

Third is because there are 7 currencies. In Trinidad/Tobago, the money is called “TT” money and is exchanged at a rate of 6.34 to 1 while in Guyana the exchange rate is 200 to 1 – although Guyanese money is worthless anywhere except in Guyana. As such, it was a real shock to the system when we went to the grocery store for the first time to pick up a few things and the bill came to $765 (about $125 in USD).

The geography of the WIM makes for difficulties as well. Since most of the mission includes islands, the only way to access many of the members is by boat or airplane – which also makes it very expensive to visit.

Food is really not as much of a problem as we expected. There are a great many American brands here (i.e., Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Subway and others) but we have enjoyed some of the local dishes (such as bake-and-shark . . . see "Take 2 Aspirin and Go To The Beach"). But there are some real oddities such as mustard and ketchup on pizza . . . and others we haven’t even tried yet. Many of the missionaries tell us we can't leave Trinidad without trying doubles!

Relating to time, no one is concerned about being anywhere “on time” so when appointments are set it doesn’t really mean anything. Culturally, the West Indies is a mixed bag of every race, creed and ethnicity. Most are very nice, but some are decidedly “anti-clear” which is what whites – and particularly white Americans – and even more . . . white American Mormons are called.

Few get married. Working – or not - is “no big deal” and many – especially the young people are absolutely content with the “status quo” so there is only a small percentage of young people who want to better themselves!

But, while these issues make administration of the WIM difficult, they are also contributing to making our mission service rich and rewarding as we learn to appreciate, explore and accept! Despite these seeming concerns, it’s still a great adventure!

At Home in Trinidad!

We are finally home in our little apartment in Trinidad after waiting for, what seemed like forever (but was actually only two weeks) for the senior missionary couple ahead of us to return home to Blackfoot, Idaho. Our second floor apartment is not too bad, with two bedrooms, tile floors and some nice furniture (at least in the living room) although the bathroom is about the size of a broom closet and has somewhat of a sulphur smell.

The balcony off the living room overlooks a swimming pool and has a spectacular view of a beautiful Caribbean tropical mountainside capped by a Trini-blue sky. It’s not quite the same as our Bloomington address, especially with all the bars on the windows and doors, but it is comfortable and a pretty nice home-away-from-home!

Stop by anytime . . . our door will always be open (figuratively speaking).

St. George Connections

When we received our mission call, we already had a slight connection to the West Indies Mission when following our longtime friends Truman and Carol Leishman’s blog while they served until April 2010 in Linden, Guyana. Then when we went to pick up our Letter of Good Conduct from the SGPD, Chief Marlon Stratton told us his son had just returned from 2 years in the West Indies Mission.

We also discovered Jake Green, the Young Men’s President in the Bloomington 7th Ward, had served several years ago in the WIM as a young elder.

But when we got here, the connection with St. George became quite pronounced. Elder Carson Quentin Ence (bottom right), who is serving in Canje, is the grandson of Quentin and Sylvia Ence. Elder Jacob Wenlock Free (bottom left) is the nephew-by-marriage of my closest friend Jan Free Gardner. Elder Zachary David Ipson (upper right), serving in Trinidad, is the shared grandson of Don Ipson and Lee Sheets. Both grandpas are members of St. George Rotary Club. And finally, while sorting the office mail, I discovered a letter addressed to Elder Jonathan Fuenzalida (upper left), who is the "adopted" son of Jerry Jensen, a longtime acquaintance and St. George realtor.

Sister Sharon Angus (bottom center), from Vernal, Utah is serving, along with her husband, as Humanitarian Service missionaries in Guyana. From the first time I met her, Sister Angus looked very familiar though I couldn't determine why until, in conversation she disclosed she is a McArthur, born and raised in St. George and the sister - and a very close look-a-like - of Chris McArthur who was our Schnauzer Maxie's dog groomer.

Once again it is evident, it is a very small world in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!