WE'RE HERE!!!

August 1, 2013 was a red banner day for us.  We finally joined the ranks of folks who choose to live among mangos, coconuts, fireflies, sweating and cockroaches.  How lucky can we be?!!!!  WE ARE IN THE WEST INDIES ON THE ISLAND OF TRINIDAD!!!  All we can say is "Hallelujia".  We arrived at nighttime, but in the morning were able to see what it looks like during our morning walk.  We ran into our Mission Pres. and his wife, Pres and Sister Mehr (who happened to be out for their morning walk, as well)  Elder Smith was assigned to be the mission medical guy and Pres. asked Sister Smith to organize music clinics throughout the islands to help the members learn how to lead music.  Yep, it sounds as if we are going to travel to the different countries in the mission.  We are very excited!  We are currently stationed on Trinidad awaiting permits to live in Grenada, where our permanent residence will be.  In Grenada, we will be the only Senior missionaries and will be an extention of Pres. and Sister Mehr while we are there, overseeing the young missionaries on that island.  I believe there are only 8, four companionships.  On the island of Grenada, we will also help in the Branch and work with the Young Single Adult program.  Once again, we are very excited.  Our permits may take 3-4 weeks to get, so in the meantime, we will try to stay busy here.  So far, we haven't had much down time, so we think we will stay busy.  These are pictures of the Bed and Breakfast where we are staying for a week until an apartment becomes available.  It's called Shalom House.  It's lovely!

We have already attended at baptism and a very successful Young Single Adult activity.

         This is a photo of Rhonda, who was being baptised, and the Sister missionaries and friends.

                      This is a very colorful Relief Society President!  She could be my best friend!

Missionaries in front of the Sangre Grande Ward

The following are photos from the Young Single Adult activity at the Couva Ward

Today, August 4, 2013, we went to church at the Chaguaras Branch.  There are some really strong members there, but almost everyone is a fairly new convert to our church.  If we understand correctly, the church has only been on this island for 23 years-----with not much member retention.  The church struggles.  The church, on the island of Tobago, has only been there for 6-7 years.  There is a lot of superstition among the people here.  It's difficult to rid themselves of it.  And that's all I have to say about that!