Suriname in January

We are Suriname once again.

We had zone conference in the downtown Paramaribo building for a change.

It is our only three language conference - French, Dutch, and English

The conference was great

Elder Ash played a fabulous version of "Onward Christian Soldiers"


After the conference I took a few pictures out in front of the building

Suriname Elders - Dutch speaking


French Guiana Elders - French speaking


Elders Riding and Pence


Elder Koenen


Elders Ash and Tholen


Elders Jestice and Sorber


Elders Harding and Holtz


Elders Shroath and Kinghorn


Elders Muse, Swart, and Baantjer

Baptism in the sea

Last week we spent a few days on Tobago with some of our children and grandchildren. They loved the beauty of the island and the sweetness and strong testimonies of the members.

I remember going over to Tobago about a year and a half ago and visiting the only member we knew of on the island.

Now there is a nice thriving branch.

We had over 40 people at a fun night last week. Here is a picture of just the children (along with a few of ours)



While we were in Tobago, President Robison baptized Linda Quashie in the sea (no fonts in Tobago - yet).







Here is what the waves looked like that morning


What to do?

Find a nice sheltered rock to block the waves


and carry on





Hurrah for Israel




Priesthood at work


Happy Elders




It was a beautiful morning

Off on tour!

We got back to the mission home last night and we leave again tonight for Suriname to start the mission tour. I'll take pictures and share them as internet is available.

Life has been hectic lately but let's hope it settles down!

I have the latest 2008 and Christmas celebration slideshow almost done but no time to upload it. I should have it online in a week.

Away for a few days

This picture doesn't have anything to do with the information below but a grandma just has to share special photos sometimes.

These five new Robison family grandsons (including the two newest little identical twins) got together this weekend for a picture. They are the elders of 2027 so I guess we we will start baby MTC as soon as we get home!

We will be away from internet until Saturday - so no blog posts for a week

Here is the schedule after that:

Sun 18-Jan Fly Trinidad to Suriname
Mon 19-Jan Suriname (and French Guiana) Zone Conference
Tues 20-Jan Fly Suriname to Guyana, drive to Canje
Wed 21-Jan Canje (Canje and Berbice) Zone Conference, drive to Georgetown
Thurs 22-Jan Georgetown (Georgetown and Diamond) Zone Conference
Fri 23-Jan Fly Georgetown to Trinidad
Sat 24-Jan Fly Trinidad to St Martin, connect to Guadeloupe
Sun 25-Jan Church in Guadeloupe Sunday evening leadership training
Mon 26-Jan French (Guadeloupe and St Martin) Zone Conference
Tues 27-Jan Fly Guadeloupe to St Lucia, leadership training in Castries
Wed 28-Jan Island (St Lucia, Grenada, and St Vincent) Zone Conference, leadership training in Vieux Fort
Thurs 29-Jan Fly St Lucia to Trinidad
Fri 30-Jan Trinidad Zone Conference

Note that elders serving in Suriname, Guadeloupe, and St Martin all have Monday zone conferences so their email day will be changed that week.

Primary in Guyana

This photo of the New Amsterdam primary in Guyana from Sister Bullock (via Elder Lauritzen) caught my eye. Don't you love the fancy dresses? If you could see the challenging living conditions of many of these children, you would be amazed they could arrive at church looking so beautiful and clean.

I smiled as I looked at each individual child's face and imagined the impact of the Church and primary.

I thought I'd crop out a few closer views for you.

These two have got to be a brother and sister


These two also - aren't they darling?


She looks so serene (and beautiful) in the midst of 'chaos'


Another brother and sister?


You can see the two cultures that are so prominent in this mission


Trouble!


Oh, if we could only keep them strong - can you imagine these young boys as missionaries?


Children love primary here in the West Indies.

They love the Church

They love the missionaries

President Robison has a strict policy that the elders can only baptize children with a 'link' - usually a family member in the Church. They have to call for permission each time they want to baptize a child whose parents aren't members and he only allows it if they have a member of the church close to them. The elders cannot teach children alone.

I wish we had the means to bring them all into the fold and nourish them - they are so sweet and life has so many challenges.

The Church is growing and someday we will have wonderfully organized primaries all over Guyana to bless the lives of the little children.

Farewell to Three

What is it like to finish a mission?

I think of the scripture phrase "great and terrible"

The elders love their missions with all their hearts and they must say painful good-byes to missionary brothers and to members they have grown to love.

They love the feeling of serving the Lord and the abundance of the spirit that accompanies this work.

They don't want it to end.

At the same time, they are excited to see family and friends - and move forward with their lives.

They come to us in the mission home looking more stressed than the new elders!

What a contrast it is to get to know the new elders on Monday and Tuesday and then bid farewell to great seasoned missionaries on Wednesday. They are all fine young men but the comparison is stunning. Something very special happens when missionaries serve the Lord with all their heart, might, mind and strength.

I don't think a picture can capture the difference - but here is a peek at before (left) and after (right)

Elder Beute


Elder Nielson


Elder Richardson


We try to help the departing elders with their transition.

We have a tradition.

At the end of a nice dinner with just the elders and us, we sit around the table and have a very open discussion about life after the mission. President Robison collects questions from the group and writes them on a big whiteboard (scary picture above). Then we talk about them one by one. It is a fun experience and a kind of transition from mission life to home.

Here they are - the first three to go home in 2009

Elders Beute, Nielsen, and Richardson


Having a little fun

Newest of 2009

Here are the four newest West Indies missionaries:

They arrived quite late (around 2:00 AM) minus luggage but they held up well. On their first day they attended a baptism, got oriented at the office and then went out to find and teach.

At the end of their busy day we caught a beautiful sunset...

Elders Kempenaers, Nielson, West and Thomas


...and had a nice dinner and discussion on the best way to begin a mission


A few of the older elders slept in the mission home before early morning transfer flights - so there was lots visiting going on after dinner

Here are two Englishmen - Elder Guy (old) getting ribbed by Elder West (new) for his lost British accent


Relaxing after dinner and the devotional