Curacao (5-6 SEP 2018)

Yay!!  No Hotel this time!!

We are preparing for a new senior couple (the Jones) to come so we rented a small home in the same little subdivision where the Parrs live. The rent started on the 1st of September so we decide to stay there for the short time we would be in Curacao instead of going back to the hotel.  It was so good to unpack a little more and be able to cook for us. (Downside....I did have to make my own bed and wash dishes 😁😅 -- one of the perks of staying in hotels) We loved the little area where the house is located.  It is a wonderful little gated community and the one road is like a "track" that we walked each morning.  I think the Jones will enjoy staying here for the 18 or 23 months they will be serving.  

This is a pool that the subdivision (40 homes) shared.
  The time we were there we only saw it used once.  

This is the kitchen.  With a little "easy bake" oven.  It was so small.
It looks like a regular size oven from here but only half of that is really an oven
the other half is just "wasted space".   It's a propane stove which needed to be lit
with a match.  It made me feel like I was camping everyday (which I actually
thought was kind of fun!!)

A little back patio area.  (Notice the washing machine. 
Most of the washers are put outside so they are close to
 the "dryers"  which, for the most part, are a clothes line)

It's an "Automac".....not exactly sure what that means.
 I'm thinking it just means that this McDonalds has a Drive thru. 

An Unexpected Lay-over....

Elder Garner & Elder Norton

Waiting in the airport
(We spend a lot of time in Airports!!)

We have so many amazing experiences that have strengthened my testimony that the Lord is very aware of each of us and what we are going through and our individual needs.  I have debated with myself on whether or not to share this one but I feel like I really need to so here it goes.   We were scheduled to leave Guyana on Tuesday morning the 4th of September with a stop-over in Trinidad and ending up in Curacao before noon that same day.  We ended up having some things that needed taken care of in Trinidad so we headed there on Monday the 3rd but left our flight from Trinidad to Curacao the same on Tuesday (which is only about a 2 hour flight).  While we were in Trinidad we received a call from an Elder that was struggling with some health issues and it had been recommended that he return home to get the care he needed.    He was going to try to wait until transfers but during this call it became apparent that waiting would not be a good thing so we worked that day to schedule his return for Wednesday that week.  We showed up for our flight Tuesday morning and were informed that our flight had left two hours earlier 😆....what?  when does that ever happen?  They were surprised that we had not been notified.  We checked to see when the next flight was leaving.....Thursday (but it was booked/full),  the next one after that?.....Sunday (but it was booked/full).  Crazy......  So we called the Lindleys our travel coordinators to see what they could work out.  They were able to get us a flight on Wednesday that left Trinidad went through Miami and back to Curacao......4 hours to Miami, 7 hour layover, and then 3 hours back to Curacao....a full day instead of 2 hours but at least it got us back so we took it.  We arrived in Miami and went to the gate that the Elder going home would be catching his connecting flight so that we could visit with him for a while.  He wasn't there.  President Baird went looking for him.  He found him and it was such a great reunion.  He put out his arms and hugged President Baird, so happy to see him.  It was so clear to me that this Elder really needed to have a meaningful visit with his mission President before going home, and the Lord moved mountains (or rescheduled flights) in order for us to be in Miami at the same time as he was to make that happen.  We had just participated in a miracle...The Lord truly loves His children and is aware of them, their joys, their sorrows, their struggles, their desires.....all of it.

Elder Harris Heading Home - Sad to see him leave but we believe
 he gave his ALL while he was here.  We sure love this young man!!

Guyana Berbice (30 AUG - 3 SEP 2018)

Guyana - Berbice

Elder Peterson & Elder Hoard

Elder Hoard was really excited about getting his new name tags (he had used bug spray too close to his other ones and the church's name had completely come off.)  He also received a package from home that day.  He was so generous in sharing some of his precious goodies with all those around him.  

Elder Hoard, Elder Kennedy, Elder Hullinger

Elder Wall, Elder Moracca

Elder Deppe, Elder Kennedy

Elder Hullinger

President Baird looking for something for lunch!

Elder Kennedy

Elder Hullinger & Elder Kennedy

This is Joshua, the guy that makes the
Caiman Cases. We stopped by to visit with him and see
his shop and, of course, President Baird made some orders  

Berbice Zone Conference

Elder Deppe, Elder Killian

Elder Kennedy, Elder Hullinger

Elder Hoard, Elder Peterson

Elder Wall, Elder Morrcca

Elder Eads, Elder Curtis

Back:  Elder Moracco, Hullinger, Hoard, Peterson, Kennedy, Elder Haake

Front:  President & Sister Baird, Elder Curtis, Eads, Wall, Killian, Deppe, & Sister Haake

Elder Peterson, Elder Hoard, Elder Hullinger, Elder Curtis, Elder Kennedy

Cleaning the Church in Preparation for District Conference

Elder Hoard, President Baird, Elder Peterson

President Nelson did a special Broadcast to all the Carribean area from the Dominican Republic on Saturday, September 1.  There was a special meeting just for missionaries in the morning and then one for the general membership in the evening.  Because it was our District Conference that Saturday and Sunday, we used the broadcast for the Saturday night meeting of conference.  It was so wonderful to hear from our dear Prophet.  He had wonderful words of counsel but also some amazing blessings that he gave the missionaries for their service and the members as they live their covenants.  The one that was most powerful to me was that he promised the members that if they would keep their covenants that they had made, pay their tithing, and attend their meetings that they would "prosper in the Land".  We see that pattern in the Book of Mormon constantly.  When the people followed God they prospered.  He truly does want to bless us and He will "open the windows of Heaven" (like it says in Malachi) when we do what we have promised to do.  (We watched the missionary broadcast in the Haake's home)

We have a really great friend that is the daughter-in-law of the Gulbrandsons, who are the MTC presidents in the DR. I took this picture to send to her.  What a wonderful opportunity they had to be there with President Nelson.  

Me with Sister & Brother Narine
They were touched by our story when we talked about the age difference
between Kyle and I because their age difference is about the same, and they are starting out with nothing just like we did.  I told them to stay close to the Lord and to each other and they will see miracles in their lives.  It's amazing what the Lord can do when we let Him.   What a beautiful young couple with their whole life in front of them!
They are expecting a baby soon!  I'm excited for when we go back
so we can see the new baby!!

I so enjoy any time we get to spend with the members in the branches and wards.  Which isn't much because of our travel schedule, but we still feel such a love for them all.  

Auxiliary Leadership Training for the Berbice District Conference

Priesthood Leadership Training - Berbice District Conference