A sweet Guyana message

I received this wonderful email from Trevor LeBaron (pictured above) last week. He gave me permission to share it.

Sister Robison,

I wanted to let you know I had the opportunity to read some of your
newer posts on the mission blog. One in particular stood out to me that
I'd like to comment on and take the time to thank you for such a
special thought. That post I'm speaking of is, 'For such a time as
this.' During my mission I served two transfers in Chaguanas before
being moved to Antigua where I also spent two transfers. For the
remaining eighteen months of my mission I served in Guyana. The people
of Trinidad and Antigua are very special to me, but because of the
time I spent in Guyana and my many great experiences there, Guyanese
are slightly nearer to my heart. While in Guyana I served in Kitty,
Rosignol, Eccles, Bush Lot, and a more brief 3 weeks in Albouystown.
Needless to say I got around while there. And I LOVED IT! As I got
around, I got to know and come close to each member of the Branches I
served. But because of the length of my stay, I also came close to
members in other branches I didn't serve. That includes members in
Georgetown Branches and Canje Branches. I love keeping in contact with
many of the people I taught and baptized but also those "long-time"
members. The point I'm getting to is this: There are young brethren
that my companions and I taught and baptized that are amongst those
serving missions and preparing to now. That's very special and
incredible to me. I also want to mention a few other things. Most of
these young men serving and preparing I may not have taught and
baptized but I got to know them personally throughout the eighteen
months I spent there. I came very close to them whether or not I
served in their branch. These are mighty young men and it's so
humbling to know that they have came to a dead stop in their lives to
take time to serve the Lord as His soldiers! I love the people of
Guyana and the impact those future WIRM's will bring to the
members(and non-members) is amazing. I know it will be a great impact
for the missionary work in that country as well. The future is truly
bright there. I read that post aloud to Angie and as we pondered it
together there was an amazing Spirit that filled our living room.
Thanks again for sharing it. You have no idea the impact that thought
has on me since I consider these wonderful people more than just
friends and acquaintances, but family I hold very close. I was blessed
to spend a year and a half with them and I'm so grateful for the
things I learned from them as i taught them. I hope all is well with
you and President. Tell him I say hello. I still keep you both in my
prayers. Also, I'm happy to hear of your new calling. It sounds like a
fun one. Take Care Sister!

With love,

Elder LeBaron

No Notes for WIRMs

This afternoon, we received a "payday" text message from Brett Hamilton.



He and other members of his group (those who finished their missions last month) made the trip to Ogden to hear Brian Green report to his home ward about his mission. We were unable to attend, because we were in charge of our 10 month old twins while our son and his wife spoke in church. To brag a little - we kept them in sacrament meeting the entire hour - a previously unattained feat. (our secret - Sister Robison's dangly jewelry)

You can imagine our delight in receiving this text this afternoon, stating that every missionary in Elder Hamilton's group spoke to their home ward without using notes. They prepared well and then let the Spirit direct their thoughts once they were at the podium. This is something we emphasized our entire mission using scriptures like these:

Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.
D&C 84: 85

Here's what we taught to members and missionaries during our mission: Study deeply, make an outline, and gather materials. Then, when starting to speak or teach, take a moment to look into the eyes of those you are going to teach, say a prayer in your heart to know - not what you need to say, but what Heavenly Father wants these people to learn - and then have the courage to walk away from your notes and teach by the Spirit. We've found that often the the prepared material is interwoven with other thoughts and words that come in that very moment.

Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained?

To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.
(D&C 50:13-14)

Our son and his wife spoke without notes as well, by the way.

So it was a good day!

Elder Marshall's Homecoming

(My husband and I, and WIRMs Green, Marshall, Moala, and Hamilton)

Last Sunday we were able to attend Elder Marshall's homecoming scarament meeting talk in Orem, Utah.

As all West Indies missionaries do - he spoke from the heart without notes.

He walked up to the podium, holding only his Book of Mormon and his missionary plaque and gave an amazing talk just full of wonderful teachings and stories about the West Indies Mission.

I loved it!

After church, we were gathered at the Marshall's beautiful home.

WIRM Gatherings

Provo is a great place to live. We get to see 'our boys' all the time around town and on BYU campus where President Robison is now working.

So - we decided to have a pot luck gathering about once a month and, of course, mission reunions every six months (we just love to see those WIRMs!).

We gathered on September 20th for a pot luck and on October 2nd for our reunion.

Our first WIRM pot luck:

Don't they look great in their white shirts and ties (even on a Sunday night)



Plenty of food, good friends - what more do we need?


Schaat, Hyde, Williamson and Hamilton


On the deck with JJ (grandson) and Dutch WIRMs Tholen and Jestice

Just look at these darling WIRM wives


Sisters Oaks, Brewer and Schaat

Our 'lost boys' are back - these two went to the Puerto Rico East Mission when our mission was divided


Hess and Love

There's something very special about mission friendships


Williamson and Hyde


Sisters Hatton and McGhie


Elder McGhie and President Robison


Clark, Fox and Young


Procter and Parrish


Howell (and friend), Barker and England


Willis and Hamilton

Les Francais


Garrett, McIntosh and McKibbin


McKibbin and Beck

The Dutch


Sorber, Tholen and Jestice


Thomas, Robinson and Beck

And the new married couples!


The Schaats


The Oaks


The Gibbys


The Marshes


The Brewers


The Hendersons


The Jacobsens

Our first WIRM reunion:



We met on BYU campus - not a great idea just before a football game. Traffic was crazy! But WIRMs know how to persist so they made it - eventually. We had about 100 returned couples and elders. It was wonderful!

The newest WIRMs!


Sturdevant, Moala, Marshall, Green and Hamilton

Bryan Green was able to tell all about his adventures in Guyana. He was there when the missionaries spent a day in the police station.



Mostly we ate and visited, but President Robison took a few minutes to share some thoughts



He invited a few special WIRMs to stand

Newly engaged


Hurrah for Matt Brown!

Married


Burtons, Gibbys and Brewers


Jeters, Smiths and Tycksens

And WIRM babies!


The Bates family




Some had quite a drive to get there, but it was worth it


The Woods, from Calgary and Brett Hamilton


The Owens from Arizona


The Larsons from Toole and the Larsons from Parowan - both couples (brothers) served in Guyana


The Stauffers from St George

The Dunns came down from Pocatello and the Farrers had a quick drive from Springville - I don't know how they managed to escape my camera.

We hadn't seen some of these wonderful couples since the mission field



And the young WIRMs - what can I say? They are great!


Palmer


Lloyd


Endemann


Parrish


Slade


Howell and friend


Lasker and Pack


Averett and Owens


Garrett and McIntosh


The Tycksens


The Brewers (with a baby girl on the way!)

What can I say to close?

It was a sweet experience to gather with such dear friends, but I couldn't help thinking about my brothers and sisters who live in the West Indies.

I miss them!

For such a time as this

(Esther 4:14)



Prospective missionaries at the April 2009 Guyana Zone Conference:










Just like Esther was specially prepared to save her people, about the 30-40 young men and women in Guyana have been prepared for such a time as this - when most foreign missionaries have been asked to leave the country.

At first I was worried about the work in Guyana, but now I am beginning to see that "no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing" (Standard of Truth). In fact, the expulsion of most foreign missionaries may turn out to be a great blessing to the Church in Guyana.

Here's why

During the time my husband and I were serving in the West Indies, there was a rapid increase in baptisms in Guyana. Many wonderful people embraced the Gospel and were baptized, including quite a few teenagers. In fact, President Robison asked each missionary to 'replace himself' before going home by baptizing a young man who would serve a mission. These young Guyanese men and women are now stepping up to replace the full-time missionaries who were expelled from the country. Fifteen of them will serve missions right away and others are preparing to serve as as soon as they are qualified. Special arrangements have been made to expedite the mission calls and to allow some to serve as 18 year olds. As they wait to serve officially, many are serving 'mini missions.'

President and Sister Hymas (he is first counselor in the mission presidency) have been serving in Guyana. Here is their description:

"It is pretty cool to see all these young men lined up at the doctor's office and dental clinics and passport offices etc. Many have never been to the doctor or dentist etc so all very new experience for everyone! Scary and profound all at the same time. None of them own more than 1 white shirt and tie. So getting shirts and ties and other stuff needed to serve has been nothing short of a miracle. The members here have all donated money and time and talents -- to purchase shirts, make pants, get what "their boys" need to serve the Lord. All the foreign missionaries who left Guyana left shirts and ties for those who would be coming to take their place. We had over 40 shirts and 80 ties donated by those missionaries who were forced to depart.

While those who were approved for calls have been getting ready to serve 15 other young men have been living and working with our missionaries so that the work will keep the moving forward in each of the areas.

As you drive around you see our "new companionships" -- one white guy and one Guyanese. We are still out in the streets on the Lord's errand! It is profound to see the local young men taking over for their "brothers" who had to leave. It is the Lord's work and as the scriptures poignantly remind us "...it is the work of men that are frustrated, not the work of God that is frustrated..." It is quite a testimony to be a part of such faithful young men and young women who have willing left jobs, family, friends to alleviate the crisis in the missionary effort in Guyana.

In addition, in three or four of the cases the young men who have answered the call to serve are a primary breadwinner in the family so their departure to serve means their family will take a 30 to 70 percent reduction in income. The sacrifice is huge!"


So this is what I am thinking

Can you imagine what will happen to the Church in Guyana in a few years with 30-40 returned missionaries??? They will bring incredible strength and begin a cycle of temple marriages and righteous families that will make a huge difference!

These young Guyanese Saints are wonderful. Every time we did a zone conference I was amazed at the number and personal strength of the young prospective missionaries who attended. One young man came to a zone conference just a few days after he was baptized. I remember the look excitement on his face when he received his own copy of Preach my Gospel.

Now I am beginning to see why so many strong young people were led to join the Church in Guyana.

It was - for such a time as this.

Making the Transition

One of the most difficult things about serving a mission is the transition one makes upon returning home. Being away for three years and rubbing shoulders with Heavenly Father's choicest souls in foreign lands makes life feel meaningful and then returning to the "real world" and adjusting to the regular routine is a challenge (except for being with family). I believe one of the things that will help Sister Robison with the adjustment is her new assignment as a member of the Young Women's Board. There is not a day that goes by where we do not think about and pray for the Saints and missionaries in the West Indies.

Another thing that will really help is getting to hug the returned missionaries at our first missionary reunion Friday night (October 2) at the WSC on BYU's campus from 5 to 7 p.m. We are excited.

Robison Radio Interview About the West Indies Just Released

Check out our interview about the West Indies on the new Mormon Channel. The podcast is now available at http://feeds.lds.org/LDSIntoAllTheWorld