Our Mission Experience

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Guyana Berbice (5-7 JAN 2019)

I met this wonderful lady on the plane. It was her birthday!! She was flying from Miami to Guyana to surprise her family. She only called her son the night before to let them know she was coming.and he was the only one that knew....she was especially excited to see her great grandson that she talks to on the phone a lot. He is 8 so he doesn't remember seeing her in person but knows her through messaging. She hasn't seen them for 5 years and was so excited. It was so fun to visit with her and have her tell me all about her family.

GUYANA - BERBICE

As soon as we arrived in Guyana we started the 2 hour drive to Berbice. On the way, we stopped in Rosignal, and Canje and interviewed missionaries before we went to the Haakes to unpack. We had a quick (always wonderful meal) and then went back to the church for a single adult activity. We decided to do those in each of our areas this time through. It is a goal of ours to strengthen the Single Adult programs to help reactivate some and help them meet and mingle. That way they can hopefully find others that have similar faith and values then they can get married and start raising families in the gospel. That will help strengthen the church in this part of the world. We had so much fun with them and I think they all enjoyed being together. We encouraged all of them to bring friends with them next time.

The View from the Rosignal Chapel

Elder Kennedy & Elder Hakaumotu

Elder Petersen & Elder Shields

Elder Kennedy & Elder Hakaumotu

Single Adult Activity.....

President Moses (Berbice District President)

Church in Corriverton....

Corriverton Chapel

President Baird & President Soloman (Branch President of Corriverton)

We went to a place called Coriverton in Guyana today for church. It is really out of the way and they could not remember the last time they had a visit from a mission president. We got there early so we could great everyone and Kyle was getting a little upset because our missionaries were not there to great people with us. They were running late......When they arrived it brought tears to our eyes to realize just why they were late. A true Christlike act of Love and Service to make sure that this Lady (who has lost a leg) can make it to church. I asked if it was ok if I took a picture with her and the Elders (Lewis and Curtis) she said (with tears in her eyes) "Yes, I love them, because they make sure I can be here!" (They go and pick her up and then carry her into church because her wheelchair is broken)

Zone Conference.......

Back: Elder Peterson, Elder Curtis, Elder Wall, Elder Peterson, Elder Lewis
Front: President & Sister Baird, Elder Bender, Elder Shields, Elder Kennedy, Elder Deppe, ELder Hakumotu, Elder & Sister Haake

Elder Peterson & Elder Wall

Elder Bender & Elder Deppe

Elder Curtis & Elder Lewis

Elder Shields & Elder Peterson

Elder Bender, Elder Wall & Elder Deppe

Elder Hakaumotu

Elder & Sister Haake

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Trinidad (3-5 JAN 2019)

TRINIDAD

We were scheduled to leave just a few hours after Brandon but then Suriname Air cancelled their flight to Trinidad.....oh the joys of travel. They were able to book us on a later flight that day leaving at 3 with Fly Always Airline. We had planned on getting there in the morning so that President Baird could do all of his missionary interviews that day and then Zone conference on the 4th because we were scheduled to leave for Guyana early morning on the 5th. We rescheduled to just do a few interviews.... Well, Fly Always loaded us all on the bus to go out to the plane and found out that the plane was not fueled. They put us back on the bus. Had us go back into the airport...not into the gate where we just left but back in through immigration, through security....again....and then to the gate. 😋😀 Kyle and I managed to keep smiles on our faces but there were many others who did not. I felt bad for some of the workers. They were getting the frustration of many people who got bumped from the cancelled Suriname Air flight that morning. We didn't end up leaving until after 5 which, by the time we got to Trinidad, made it through immigration, waited for our luggage and drove to the hotel it was almost 9 p.m. We cancelled all our interviews that day and just fit all the interviews and Zone Conference in Trinidad into one day...which made for a very long day.... But a good one!!

Lines of people confused and waiting.....at the airport.

We try to keep a smile no matter what is happening. It really does make a difference!!

This girl had already traveled a lot this day and still had a smile on her face.
We loved her t-shirt...."Wake up and Be HAPPY!!
A choice we all should make each day!
Life is so much about your attitude...Something I'm always telling my kids
and now my missionaries!!

I love Elder Riter's Socks!!
"Fishers of Men"

Elder Riter

Elder Porritt

Elder Sessions
He sprained his ankle playing soccer the night before
with the youth of the ward.

Back: Elder Garner, Elder Aydelotte, Elder Hoard, Elder Porritt, Elder Riter, Elder Sessions, Elder Griffeth, Elder Norton, President & Sister Baird
Front: Elder & SIster Williams

Back: Elder Garner, Elder Aydelotte, Elder Hoard, Elder Porritt, Elder Riter, Elder Sessions, Elder Griffeth, Elder Norton, Elder & Sister O'Dair
Front: Elder & Sister Williams