Saturday, January 29, 2011

Wheelchairs for Trinidad Children

On the site of the Princess Elizabeth School for Handicapped Children (established in 1953 to provide for the needs of children with polio and a variety of birth defects), representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints handed over 203 wheelchairs, 47 “rough rider” chairs, dozens of canes and an assortment of walkers for children and adults. In a productive and longtime partnership with Missions International, the Church’s most recent humanitarian service project in the Trinidad/Tobago was the 7th donation of wheelchairs since 2002. These 250 chairs are among more than 300,000 distributed by the Church in 112 countries worldwide in the past 20 years – and, valued at $3,000,000.

Today's event was orchestrated by Elder and Sister Angus, WIM Humanitarian missionaries (from Vernal, Utah) with support from West Indies Mission President Gamiette and Trinidad Stake President Gould. In thanking the Church for their donation, a representative of Missions International said, “this is not a job. It is an act of love, commitment, dedication and frustration . . . and the joy of coming together to assist those in need.”

The celebration ended with a delicious box lunch and the announcement of the extension of the partnership between the Church and Missions International. The next project for the two humanitarian organizations will be a “first ever” Easter camp for 300 children from disadvantaged homes in Trinidad/Tobago.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Home with Honor

A dozen of the most valiant sons - and daughters - of Helaman have been honorably released to return home after serving the Lord and His children in the West Indies Mission. Newly baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be forever grateful for the love and dedication of Elder Christopher Darian Jordan, Trevor Sean Olsen, Matthew Daniel Krause, Joshua Jacob Heiner, Matthew Samuel Welch, Canyon McKay Copa, Benjamin John Butler, Orin Moses and Sisters Bibi Zaleena Girdharry and Mimi Sheitoyan and Elder James and Sister Janiel Wheeler.

Our love and prayers go with you. You will always be remembered in the West Indies Mission . . . wherever you go in the world!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Meet the WIM Office Staff

Hey, Elders and Sisters … ever wonder who orders your replacement nametag, makes sure you have rent money, arranges to have your car repaired and reassures your worried Mother? Schedules your airline ticket when its time for you to go home? Jumps through all the hoops to be sure you are in the country “legally,” orders your brochures and manuals and has a generous supply of Books of Mormon on the shelf for your investigators? Meet the mission office staff – four of 17 senior missionary couples currently serving in the West Indies Mission - including (from left [back] Elder and Sister Luster (Ephraim, UT); Elder and Sister Childs (American Fork, UT); Elder and Sister Wheeler (Blackfoot, ID) and Elder and Sister Sappington (St. George, UT).