How To Serve A Couple Mission In the West Indies

What a tremendous contribution is being made in establishing the church in the West Indies by couple missionaries. There is no mission quite like this. Where else do you find a proselyting mission with 23 couples? What a rich experience each is having as together with the other couples they are creating memories that fill page after page of their journals.

The question is often asked, "how does a couple get assigned to the West Indies Mission?" Much like the blue sheets posted in local ward buildings, couples desiring to serve in the West Indies can indicate on their missionary application papers that they would prefer to serve in the West Indies. They should also request that their stake president include a letter from the West Indies Mission President in the application packet sent to the missionary department. This letter, which is addressed to the missionary department, requests that the couple be assigned to the West Indies and describes the immediate need for this couple to serve in this mission. Unless the couple requests that they be assigned to the West Indies and unless a letter from the mission president is included in the application packet, they will not be assigned to serve in the West Indies Mission.

Why consider serving in the West Indies? A picture is worth a thousand words. Check out the slide shows at westindies.com to get a feel for what the mission is like. You will be assigned to serve on an island or in Guyana where the saints are preparing for stakehood. You will love the humility and kindness of the people in the Caribbean. Yours will be a self-directed experience wherein you determine the best use of your talents. You represent the mission president and his wife as you mentor the young elders, you train, tutor, coach and cheerlead the members as they learn to fulfill callings, you fellowship and love the less actives back into the fold, and you teach the gospel in the homes of the investigators. You do not have the same rules that are followed by the young elders. You are not transferred to different locations unless you request a change of assignment. You will have the experience of a lifetime as you learn to love and understand a new culture. Your grandchildren and children will be blessed as they pray for you, their missionaries. They too will get the desire to serve missions when the time arrives for them as well.