We said goodbye today to Kenrick and Rose Benn at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Our dear friends from Guyana have been in the United States since September 20 when they flew into the Seattle-Tacoma Airport and into the welcoming arms of BJ and Marty Summers who hosted them for ten days at their home in Leavenworth, Washington. These wonderful missionaries who served in Lindon, Guyana for their entire 18-month mission then drove the Benns through parts of Idaho and Oregon to Salt Lake City in time for the WIM Reunion (see April 5 post) and the church's 182nd Semi-Annual General Conference.
The Benns had tickets to three sessions and while in downtown SLC, they visited the Church office building, where they met and had a brief conversation with President Dieter Uchtdorf, a member of the First Presidency (President Benn was ready to go home at that point … having his prayers to meet a General Authority while in SLC answered beyond his wildest expectation).
Larry and Karen Harris, who were the WIM’s CES missionaries, took the Benns after conference, hosting them in their home in Layton for a week before passing them along to Lynn and Sharon Angus for a 3-day visit in Vernal. From there, the Benns traveled back to the Wasatch Front for 4 days with Ralph and Paulette Childs who served their mission in the WIM office in Trinidad and a couple of days with the Hymas'. The Childs’ then drove the Benns to southern Utah, by way of Cedar Breaks and other sights along Hwy. 89, delivering them to the LaVerkin home of Val and Marcia Cook. They enjoyed the company of the former WIM humanitarian service missionaries for another few days before arriving at our house where we hosted them for 8 days showing them the sights of Washington County, including Zion, Snow Canyon, Tuacahn, took them on the St. George Art Museum Home Tour and introduced them to friends and family. Jim and Mary Andrus, who live just a few blocks from us and who took our place in the WIM office in Trinidad, insisted we share the Benns with them for two days during the week.
During their 5 weeks in the U. S., the Benns saw many memorable sights, attended several temples – including, while in St. George, doing baptisms, confirmations and initiatories for family members of Sharon Danraj in Georgetown. On Saturday, October 26, 2013, we drove them to Las Vegas. We only had a short time to explore “Sin City” but were able to squeeze in a quick visit to the Coca Cola store, the M&M store and drove the Strip. Rose wept at the thought of having to say “goodbye” which was reminiscent of the days before we left Georgetown for our home and family in St. George. What lovely people who we will love “forever and always” no matter how far apart we are in miles!
The Benns had tickets to three sessions and while in downtown SLC, they visited the Church office building, where they met and had a brief conversation with President Dieter Uchtdorf, a member of the First Presidency (President Benn was ready to go home at that point … having his prayers to meet a General Authority while in SLC answered beyond his wildest expectation).
Larry and Karen Harris, who were the WIM’s CES missionaries, took the Benns after conference, hosting them in their home in Layton for a week before passing them along to Lynn and Sharon Angus for a 3-day visit in Vernal. From there, the Benns traveled back to the Wasatch Front for 4 days with Ralph and Paulette Childs who served their mission in the WIM office in Trinidad and a couple of days with the Hymas'. The Childs’ then drove the Benns to southern Utah, by way of Cedar Breaks and other sights along Hwy. 89, delivering them to the LaVerkin home of Val and Marcia Cook. They enjoyed the company of the former WIM humanitarian service missionaries for another few days before arriving at our house where we hosted them for 8 days showing them the sights of Washington County, including Zion, Snow Canyon, Tuacahn, took them on the St. George Art Museum Home Tour and introduced them to friends and family. Jim and Mary Andrus, who live just a few blocks from us and who took our place in the WIM office in Trinidad, insisted we share the Benns with them for two days during the week.
During their 5 weeks in the U. S., the Benns saw many memorable sights, attended several temples – including, while in St. George, doing baptisms, confirmations and initiatories for family members of Sharon Danraj in Georgetown. On Saturday, October 26, 2013, we drove them to Las Vegas. We only had a short time to explore “Sin City” but were able to squeeze in a quick visit to the Coca Cola store, the M&M store and drove the Strip. Rose wept at the thought of having to say “goodbye” which was reminiscent of the days before we left Georgetown for our home and family in St. George. What lovely people who we will love “forever and always” no matter how far apart we are in miles!
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