On August 26, 2011, Elder Dallas and Sister Sharon Stevens will complete their 2-year missionary service on the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Maarten to return to their life and family in the beautiful skiing community of Park City, Utah (where many of the most memorable events of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games were held).
According to the Stevens’ the most enjoyable experience of their mission was “being able to share our testimony of Joseph Smith, the restoration of the gospel, repentance, baptism and the promise of eternal life . . . then watch investigators gain a testimony for themselves until their desire to be baptized burns in their heart.”
More than anything else, the Stevens' will miss the interaction with the people of the West Indies. “We have learned to love those we have met, have learned through their examples and have been touched by their sweet spirits and testimonies. We have become family. We have gained a great respect and love for the elders and sisters with whom we have shared the experience of proselyting and through the relationship with other senior couples, we have found answers to problems in common and don’t feel so isolated. We will miss the closeness we have with our Heavenly Father and the knowledge we’ve been doing the Lord's work, and, of course, we will miss being under the leadership of President Gamiette. . . but, we WON’T miss the traffic or the mosquitos!”
Their advice to other senior couples? “We don’t know who – or if anyone – will replace us, but we hope they will love the people, and try not to let the distractions of home and family impact their desire to serve the Lord. Be flexible and relax! Things will occur on your mission for which you are not prepared, such as illness, robbery, and change of assignments. Just go with the flow! A mission is like a roller coaster: there are up's and down's, but in the end it's a great ride. Oh, and one other thing: READ THE AREA BOOK.”
The Stevens’ first order of business back at home is, of course, “to visit all of our children and grandchildren. Then we will probably fix up and sell our house . . . and maybe go on another mission!”
You will be greatly missed in the islands of the Caribbean and countries in South America. Ne soyez pas consterné adieux, un adieu est nécessaire avant que vous pouvez rencontrer de nouveau et de nouveau réuni, après quelques instants ou des vies, est certain pour ceux qui sont amis.
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