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.”