Suriname (9-12 MAY 2019)

SURINAME

We usually go from Trinidad to Guyana and then to Suriname but this time we did a last minute change of schedule so that we could go see one of our missionaries that was in the hospital in Suriname.  Elder Heaps had asked if he and his companion could do a 10K run on one of the Suriname holidays with some of the branch members and the community.  Elder Heaps is a cross country runner and he and his companion had been running in the mornings so President Baird gave the ok.  At about the 9 1/2 K mark, Elder Heaps collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital.  His sodium levels had plummeted and he fell unconscious. Without getting into all the details, I'll just say it was pretty scary for a while, our mission held a special mission wide fast for him and we said a lot of prayers.  He was in the hospital for a week and we were able to get him stable enough and the area medical adviser there to escort him home.  He made a remarkable turn for the good after the mission-wide fast and looked really good by the time we got there.  We are so very grateful for all the prayers on his behalf and the miracles that took place to get him well enough to travel.   

Elder Heaps

Elder Doctor Hunsaker (our Area Medical Adviser)
With Elder Heaps
We are so glad he came down, otherwise I think the
hospital would not have released Elder Heaps to travel

Elder Groenendijk, Elder Roberts, President Baird

Elder Belnap & President Baird

Back Row:  Elder Holthe, Elder Millard, Elder Sampson, Elder Roberts, Elder Wall, Elder Garcia, Elder Naef, Elder Karsson, Elder Jackman, Elder Dillworth, Elder Somson, Elder Hendrickson
Middle Row:  Elder Brockbank, Elder Seffker, Elder Belnap, Elder Wardel, Elder Heimdal, Elder Hollingshead, Elder Groenendijk, Elder Baldwin, Elder Dickey, Elder Huntsman, Elder Brown, Elder Newton, Elder Martinsen, Elder Frandsen
Front Row:  Sarafina Schitman, Sister Tulaga, Sister Orchard, President Baird, Sister Baird, Sister Didier, Sister Spencer, Sister Vermeeren, Elder Vermeeren

Baptisms.....
There were 8 Baptisms in Suriname this weekend.  We were able to be there to witness 6 of them and then on Sunday we attended the branch where the other 2 were confirmed so we were able to meet all of the new converts!  What a beautiful weekend!

Look how tiny this banana is.  They are delicious
and a perfect snack size.

This little girl was so adorable, she was a neighbor
of one of the sisters being baptized.  She fell
sound asleep.

All the picture takers

Even though this was the first time I met her,
this lady was so happy she hugged me so tight.
It was beautiful to feel an immediate sisterhood!!

Leadership Dinner....

Sister Tulaga, Sister Didier, Elder Dickey

Elder & Sister Vermeeren

Elder Heimdall, Elder Groenendijk, Elder Roberts, Elder Wall, Elder Garcia

Elder Hendrickson, Elder Brown

Mother's Day.....Koewarasan Branch

Relief Society

Some of the Primary Children

The Young Women sang some songs for their moms

P-DAY District Activity -- Pancakes and Games and lots of laughs!!!!

Sister Tulaga & Sister Orchard

A relaxing dinner after a long week