Au revoir to WIM's First Family

President Claude and Sister Delphine Gamiette return to their home in Guadeloupe on July 1 after three years of outstanding leadership and spiritual service to the Lord and His children in the West Indies Mission. 

Life in "Chez Gamiette" will be much different than life in the Mission President's home in Trinidad - in part because their busy schedule will likely slow somewhat and because Corilee, Jenifer, Tom, Terry and Amy have grown from the little children they were when Daddy was first called to serve 36 months ago. 

Post-mission, Brother Gamiette will return to his responsibilities as the Caribbean Area CES Director, so will continue to play a role in building the kingdom of God in this part of the vineyard.  Thank you, President Gamiette for your steadfast leadership, your unfaltering testimony and your amazing insight into the scriptures - and to the entire Gamiette family - for your contribution to the future of the Lord's kingdom in the Caribbean.  You and your entire family are loved by all of us!!!

WIM Welcomes President and Sister Mehr

Incoming WIM President Daniel Stanley Mehr II and Sister Rebecca Olpin Mehr are no strangers to service in the Caribbean.   Before their call to serve 3 years as the WIM's "first couple," President Mehr and his wife served as Caribbean Area Public Affairs missionaries.
 
"We are excited to serve the Lord again in the Caribbean.  We love the people and are anxious to get started," states the President.

His history of service in the Church includes callings in several bishoprics, the stake high council, and as bishop of the Highland 23rd Ward in Salt Lake City. 

The California native, and 3rd of four children in his family, served a mission in Argentina (1973-75), then studied business at BYU where he also played basketball as a freshman. He married Deborah Lucille Petersen and together they reared six children (four sons and two daughters) while he created several companies in his business career.  She passed away in 2007 after a nearly 3-year battle with leukemia.

Rebecca Olpin, daughter of WIM missionaries Elder Jay and Sister Linda Olpin (Barbados), met and married Daniel Mehr the same year.
 

Sister Mehr was raised in New York and Maryland, served a mission in Bordeaux, France and graduated in computer science from BYU with a minor in music.  From there, she worked as a marketing executive in the computer industry for such companies as Hewlett Packard, Novell and 3Com.  She also served on the international Boards of Directors for the Bluetooth and USB industry standards.  After 20 years, she left her high-tech career behind to work as Director of Audience Needs for Church History and for 8 years she also sang soprano in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

In a side note and in anticipation of the arrival of the new mission president on July 1, the mission office in Trinidad got a face lift including a fresh coat of paint, new carpeting and some new framed pictures.  The general consensus among office missionaries is “Wow, what a change!  It doesn't even look like the same place.”

Bye, Bye, Bushes

Elder Robert and Sister  Raylene Bush complete their mission on 5 July when they will fly home to their eagerly awaiting family and new home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. 

We have certainly enjoyed the relationships we have made with the wonderful Saints as we have served, both in Grenada and St. Lucia. We are in awe of them as they do without so much and remain faithful to the Gospel. We know that is very trite but it happens to be true. As with so many other missionaries, the hardest thing will be to leave these beloved brothers and sisters, most of whom we will likely never see again in this life.

Equally enjoyable has been associating with the terrific young missionaries who have been an example of dedication and service to us. We have loved going out with them to visit members or teach investigators or just sitting in with them at District Meetings and watching them teach and encourage each other.

We definitely will not miss the mosquitoes, the humidity, the bad roads, the impossible task of finding where people live, and not finding things we would like at the “super market”. We will miss walking on the beach and seeing so many rainbows.

Some of our assignments have been very challenging for us; they have stretched us and helped us grow. It has been a great and rewarding experience. We have learned a great deal about ourselves. Our love for the Savior has grown as we have loved and tried to serve Him and our brothers and sisters.

We look forward, when we get home, to spending time with our fantastic and supportive family. We have two new grandchildren to meet. Our new adventure will be to adjust to a new home in Utah where we want to find ways to serve there.  We were living in Warner Robins, Georgia for the 22 years before we came on the mission but had decided we would move back home to Utah when our mission was finished. Last January one of our sons and a son-in-law went out and moved all of our belongings back to Utah so we wouldn't have to deal with it.   But, first we are going to Georgia for two weeks to say goodbye to all of our friends there before we will fly west.

May God be with you, Elder and Sister Bush . . . and we hope to meet again! 

Hendersons Say Farewell

Elder Clive and Sister Arlene Henderson return to their home and family in Idaho Falls, ID on July 25 after 18-months on the beautiful island of St. Vincent. 

“We most enjoyed the experience of starting a YSA Center where we got to work closely with these wonderful young single adults.  We were excited when one of our YSA’s received her mission call and are almost as eager as the two young men who are currently waiting to hear where they will serve,” notes Elder Henderson. 

“We were stretched beyond what we thought were our capabilities while our understanding of the gospel has been expanded as we learned to love the beautiful Saints here in the Caribbean,” adds Sister Henderson.

Other happy experiences were the result of being approved for a Foods Initiative – which included seeing members and non-members plant gardens and raise chickens.  The Foods Initiative in St. Vincent also involved three schools – each receiving equipment and nutrition books for home economics classes, along with seeds and tools for gardening. 

“This project has provided a great deal of positive recognition for the Church and the schools are grateful for the humanitarian service efforts on their behalf,” notes Sister Henderson.

The couple will miss all the wonderful friends they have made in St. Vincent, but will definitely not miss “the steep, narrow roads with huge potholes and deep gutters.”

The Henderson’s next great adventure is certain to include “travel and serving in whatever way we are needed in our community.”

May our Heavenly Father be with you ‘til we meet again, Elder and Sister Henderson.  You will be missed!

Gibsons Say Goodbye

Elder Wilburn (aka “Willie”) and Sister Julie Gibson will complete their 18-month member support mission on Grenada on June 28 when they fly home to the arms of friends and family in Alamosa, Colorado.
 
Their mission actually began in the Dominican Republic where they were called to help manage the distribution center  . . . but quickly recognized Spanish was not going to be something they wanted to add to their skill set!   A move to the neighboring West Indies Mission found them on the beautiful island of St. Lucia where they served for a period to ten months, before they were transferred to Grenada.

Sister Gibson calls seeing two sisters from Vieux Forttravel to the temple “an experience we will never forget.  We were not able to go with them, but when Sister Baptist came home her countenance had changed.  She was glowing with the light of Christ.  We were only able to teach the Temple Preparation class and help them fill out the application for financial assistance, but it was a wonderful experience for them – and for us – as they shared their excitement.”

What will they miss most? Like most couples, "what we will miss most is interacting with our brothers and sisters we will probably never see again in this life.  They have been such an example to us as they strive to live the gospel.  They are happy and very humble children of Heavenly Father.  We have grown to love them all. We are also going to miss daily interaction with young elders and sisters who bring such a great spirit and love of the gospel,” notes Sister Gibson.

Their advice to other senior missionaries is “to be flexible and not try to make things work here like they do at home.  You have to just do what works best for the branch, then enjoy the love the members so freely give to the couples,” states Elder Gibson.

The only big plans these hardworking and dedicated missionaries have for their future is “to spend time catching up with our family.  Elder Gibson has several grandsons waiting for Grandpa to take them camping and fishing. I can’t wait to hug and play with my grandchildren, then be there to welcome the newest one arriving in October.”

The Saints in Grenada will surely miss this vibrant couple.  The love and best wishes of those with whom you have served in theWest Indies Mission goes with you!

Farewell to Eleven WIM Sons

Rodney

Eleven of the WIM’s best arrived two years ago as spiritual infants filled with faith, hope, genuine charity – and with love in their hearts for the Savior and His children – and with this transfer return with honor to home and family as mature adults, ready to face life head-on!

Farewell to the following sons of the West Indies Mission:  Kyle William Dyson (Salt Lake City, UT), Mark Rodney (Linden, Guyana), Milton Stephen (Georgetown, Guyana), Jens Dallin Howe (Ephraim, UT), Nathan John Nielson (Stansbury Park, UT), Franklyn Joel Smith (Nassau, Bahamas), Melvin Ricardo Hoepel (Paramaribo, Suriname), Johan Andres Sujilio Damaso (La Romano, Dominican Republic), V Wallace Nolan Nonumaefele So’Oto (Carlsbad, CA), Stephen Hurt Lundgren (Sandy, UT) and Michael James Jordan (Beaver Dam, AZ).

Thanks for your dedication and hard work among the Lord’s children in the Caribbean.  You have truly changed lives!

Farewell to the Benns

Elder Kenrick and Sister Rose Benn will complete their mission on June 27, but as the first Guyanese couple to serve as senior missionaries in their native land, their return home will not require airfare or hours of travel. 

The retired police officer and his companion consider theirs a rather eclectic mission – serving first in the mission office in what Elder Benn describes as “total immersion in office work!”  When another couple arrived to assume their responsibilities in the office, the Benns moved to Linden as member and leader support missionaries followed by several months in that same assignment in Berbice.  The last six months of their mission found them back in the mission office.  Along the way, he served as a branch president and finished his mission as President of the Georgetown Guyana District!  “Even now, after more than a year in the office, we are still struggling to understand some of the Church internet systems, including iMOS,” states Elder Benn with his characteristic big laugh!
 

Aside from office work, Elder and Sister Benn found the most challenging part of their mission “was making members understand the doctrine and what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is all about – that things are done differently than in other churches.  We worked hard to make them understand basic principles including the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity.  We had some interesting discussions helping members understand why they had to get married when they had been living together for a number of years and had parented several children.”
 

Interacting with the young missionaries has been both fun and interesting, say the Benns.  “We have heard hilarious stories relating to lost cell phones or the ones which were baptized by accident then 'put into a microwave oven to dry' . . . how car accidents occurred and the reasons why apartments need repairs done!  We have also heard about some creative foods these young people have prepared.”
 

Their advise to couples considering a fulltime mission together:  "insure you and your companion are in agreement with what you want to do.  If not, take more time and invite the Lord to help because you will be together twenty-fours a day. That is tough!"

The Benns have plans to take a much-deserved holiday after they are released.  Sister Benn will spend some time helping her elderly mother. They also have plans to serve again!  “We are willing to serve the Lord in any way we are asked and have enjoyed our service to the Church in Guyana, but both of us look forward to serving a ‘real’ mission where we have the opportunity to bring souls to Christ.”
 

This amazing couple has huge shoes to fill!  They will be missed tremendously!

WIM Welcomes the Beutlers

Elder Melvin and Sister Carol Beutler of Dayton, Idaho decided to serve a mission together about 5 years ago when their stake president encouraged senior couples to choose a date when they would be available to serve a mission.  “We planned that we would go in 2012 – as soon as possible after Melvin’s retirement.   We told our children our plans, with the condition our 20-year-old daughter, Amy needed to be married, independent or going on a mission herself.  She decided to follow us into the mission field.  In January all three of us started preparing mission papers.  Our calls were received within 5 days of each other.  Amy will serve in the Micronesia Guam Mission while we are in the West Indies Mission.”  The Beutlers, parents of 9 grown offspring and grandparents to 22 (with 2 more due in the fall), “were really surprised to be called to the West Indies, since we had no knowledge or prior experience in the Caribbean, but we are excited.  We have met many returned missionaries who served in the islands and loved it.  They all say the people are wonderful!”

 

The couple, who will serve in Guyana, are both well-educated and well-traveled.  Elder Beutler finished a bachelor's degree in education, then with his young family, spent 3 years in the US Army stationed in Germany.  After returning to the USA, the Beutlers lived in Orem, Utah where Melvin taught middle school math.  During this time Sister Beutler earned a bachelors degree in General Family Life Studies from USU while he earned a Master’s degree in Education Administration at BYU.  In 1979, the family relocated to Dayton, Idaho where they have lived ever since and where  Melvin worked as a 6th grade teacher, an elementary school principal and for 25-years as the Superintendent of the West Side School District.

 

Sister Beutler enjoys singing, gardening, reading, going for walks, and teaching 4H cooking and sewing.  She also loves music – including conducting and piano.  Melvin loves to grow fruit trees in his spare time.  He also loves the mountains where he frequently goes hiking and hunting with his boys.  He also enjoys coaching cross-country and distance runners on the track team.

Melvin served his first mission in Taiwan in 1966.  Since then, he has continued to serve the Lord in the elders quorum presidency, a high priest group leader, as a scout master, a stake Sunday School president, and as a counselor in the stake mission presidency.   Carol has been in leadership and teaching positions in all of the organizations.

Welcome to the West Indies Mission, Elder and Sister Beutler. 

They're Back!

Elder Peter and Sister Ina Jansen are on their way back to Suriname.  On April 25, after completing a successful 18-month mission, they flew home to their family and home in The Hague, Netherlands – only to be invited back because, apparently it is not easy to find another Dutch-speaking couple to replace this dynamic duo.  The Jansens will arrive back in Paramaribo, Suriname on June 16 and have committed to serve until September 4 because, they kiddingly noted, “we don’t have anything else to do!”

Sappingtons Bid Farewell to Guyana

Elder Ed and Sister Linda Sappington return to their home and family in St. George, Utah on June 11 after having served four months in the Trinidad mission office and 14 months in Guyana.  Called to serve as Guyana PEF missionaries, their assignment expanded dramatically in Guyana after hearing Caribbean Area President Francisco Viñas teach, “It’s not enough just to baptize.  We must teach them to read so they can get an education.  We must help them qualify for jobs so they can support their families.  We must minister to our members from birth to the cemetery!”
 

“At that moment, we were impressed to ‘teach them what we know!’,” states Sister Sappington.  “What we know is computers, employment and fun!  When we embraced those three concepts, our mission truly became remarkable!” 

For Elder Sappington, the most enjoyable experience of their mission together has been “making a difference in the lives of young people through the Perpetual Education Fund program . . . and taking thousands of great pictures of this beautiful country!”

Sister Sappington found her most enjoyable experiences to be “hearing the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of students attending basic computer classes or Secretary School, getting kids excited about going to school and of course, interacting with young single adults at the YSA Center and the other senior couples with whom we have served.  I have also enjoyed helping people find meaningful employment – especially missionaries returning home.  I have particularly loved, loved, loved the experience of helping them recognize the minimum of TEN wonderful, marketable skills they developed on their missions!”

The Sappingtons agree, “we will miss the tropical landscapes, our young single adults and the other couples with whom we have served: the Treseders (Queen Creek, AZ), the Summers (Leavenworth, WA), the Cooks (LaVerkin, UT) and the Benns (Georgetown, Guyana) . . . all who have become some of our best and dearest friends.”

Both also agree they will definitely NOT miss dogs barking all day and all night, humidity, crazy mini-bus drivers, animals in the middle of the road, hungry mosquitos . . . and public urination!

Elder Sappington counsels new senior missionaries to “come to the mission field with patience and understanding because the pace is different than it is at home.  If you can't adjust, it will drive you crazy!”  Sister Sappington’s advice?  “Teach what you know!  It will make your mission amazing and fun!”

The Sappingtons have several plans for their future:  Cuz’N Camp with the grandkids . . . catching up with family all over the western US; travel; “and, who knows?  Perhaps there is another mission in our future.  Oh, and by the way, the mission needs a new blogger.  Any takers?”

St. Vincent YSA Center Sees Success

According to Elder and Sister Henderson, the Young Single Adult Center in St. Vincent is seeing some amazing success toward the Church’s mission for the YSA program “to bring souls unto Christ” through priesthood driven, doctrine centered, missionary oriented and people focused activities for members and non-member friends (ages 18-30). 

All activities focus on four areas including wholesome social interaction; service-learning in the community; career and personal development; and, temple work and genealogy.  The YSA Center in St. Vincent opened in September 2011 and has consistently had 16-20 in attendance each week.  Since January 2012, there have  been 4 young single adults baptized, one young woman has received her mission call and two young men are getting their papers ready to submit, asking their YSA friends to keep baptizing . . . especially young women so they will have someone to marry in the temple when they return from their missionary service. 

WIM Says Hello and Goodbye . . .

A fond farewell to Elders Eric Bybee (Terreton, Idaho) and Steven Burton (Layton, Utah) who have served valiantly as true disciples of Christ and who will always be remembered for changing lives in the West Indies Mission . . . and hello to newly arriving WIM missionaries Taylor Scott Jamison (Riverton, Utah), Nicholas Scott Dohrman (Goldendale, Washington); Shane Isaiah Regis (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago); and Yannick Maoni (Tahiti, French Polynesia) who already know “in the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how!"  (David O. McKay) 

Goodbye from - and welcome to - the West Indies Mission!

Gamiette Family Farewell Tour and Zone Conference

In his final tour of the West Indies Mission, President Claude Gamiette and his family took part in firesides with members and zone conferences with missionaries in Guyana, Trinidad, Barbardos, Suriname, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Martinique.  For some missionaries it was their first time learning gospel principles from this master teacher . . . for others it would be their last!  Following outstanding presentations by Sister Gamiette and several well-prepared missionary companionships, including the AP’s, President Gamiette reminded missionaries they were sent – “not just to baptize, but to plant the seeds of conversion.  You are the angels sent by the Lord to preach the gospel and to prepare the hearts of the people of the West Indies.  No effort is wasted,” he said. 

Missionaries should always be in a “finding attitude . . . always looking for people to teach.  Fear cripples you so make your first contact within 5 minutes of leaving your apartment,” the President encouraged.

Speaking on the Atonement, President Gamiette reminded the missionaries, “the demands of justice require 100% obedience to the principles of faith, obedience, baptism, receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and being endowed and sealed in the temple, and enduring to the end in order to have the gift of grace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Mercy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ gives us time to satisfy the demands of justice.  Missionary work trains you to be obedient toward a goal to be like Christ.”

Jansens Say Tot Ziens

There are many ways to say goodbye in Dutch . . . but none of them fitting the departure of Elder Peter and Sister Ina Jansen who have served faithfully in Suriname.

As this dynamic and hardworking senior couple look back over the past 18 months, they are in total agreement, the most enjoyable experience of their mission in Suriname was the several weeks their grandson Jeffrey, from The Netherlands, served with them as a mini-missionary in preparation for entering the MTC himself in June 2012. “It was so good for him – and for us – to attend the zone conference with the missionaries and the opportunity he had to roleplay with President Gamiette,” states an enthusiastic Grandma Jansen.

Perhaps their greatest mission challenge was organizing two Young Single Adult Centers in Suriname, another two in Guyana and one in St. Vincent. “We hope these 5 centers will continue to grow, helping young single adults strengthen their testimonies through Institute, socialize in the homelike atmosphere of the Centre, go on missions and introduce the gospel to their friends, between the ages of 18 and 30,” notes Elder Jansen.

Another amazing and memorable experiencefor the Jansen’s was having a Dutch Patriarch travel twice to Suriname where he gave blessings to 75 members, of which more than half were youth and YSA’s.

Seeing the growth of willing branch leaders through proper training has also been memorable. Attendance is up, the number of YSA’s active in the branch is up and this year 2-3 young people in the Uitkijk Branch are preparing to serve as fulltime missionaries. These YSA’s will, in the future, create righteous families in the church. “We cannot ask for a more beautiful gift,”states Sister Jansen.

And, what will this dynamic missionarycouple miss the most? “It hurts to go . . . to say goodbye to those we have come to love so very much. On the other side is our sweet family, but a mission is something we have planned for 42 years - since we were both baptized. We will miss our many friends, especially our YSA’s who have such a deep desire to know their Savior and His commandments.”

The Jansens advise others planning for a mission, “. . . to be spiritually and temporally prepared to consider those with whom you serve as your heavenly family.” They also feel the rules for senior couples are “too broad and too tempting. It is better, as far as possible, to observe the same rules (as the young missionaries)." The couple also suggests the need "to research thoroughly the exact costs of a couples mission” including house rent, car costs, internet, telephone and utilities.

The Jansen’s next great adventure is a week in May with all their grandchildren. Then they will travel with their daughter for 3-weeks in America, including time spent with 14 returned missionaries who served with them inSuriname. They also plan to attend a temple wedding of one of “our” missionaries and have a reunion with Rodger Roundy, the missionary who first introduced them to the church 42 years ago –an “intense relationship” they have maintained through the years. After that? “It is our intention, after one year, a second mission to fulfill! Our desire is strong enough.”

This wonderful strong couple will be greatly missed in Suriname and throughout the West Indies Mission where they have willingly shared their knowledge of and love for YSA Centers!

Patriarch Re-visits Suriname

Patriarch Han Hogervorst has now returned to his home and duties in The Netherlands after his second 3-week trip to Suriname in less than a year.  During both visits he was able to give a total of 75 blessings – far and away more than he would normally give in a 3-week period.  His busy schedule allowed little time for sightseeing as he met with faithful members six days a week – some who had waited more than 20 years for their own personal “iron rod” on which to lean for guidance in their life.

The Patriarch was very impressed with the humility and faith of the members.  “A special moment for me is always when the brother or sister offer a prayer before receiving their blessing.  Though they undoubtedly have sorrows and cares, they have great faith in the love their Heavenly Father has for them. As for the youth, it was very clear they most desire guidance in this very uncertain life and insight from their Heavenly Father to set a course for the future.”

“I was so sorry not to be able to give blessings to all who desired them the first time,” notes Patriarch Hogervorst. “It was very moving as I learned how sad, even to the point of crying, some of the members were at not receiving their blessing in the first visit. The second visit was also different as many more of the youth received their blessing.”

In his very limited leisure time, the Patriarch was able to visit to an elementary school were his daughter served as an intern about 13 years ago.  The Primary from the Uitkijk Branch also enjoyed his company during a trip to the Suriname Zoo.

Would the Patriarch come back a third time?  “It is such a privilege to do this work. If asked to return, and the First Presidency approved it, there is no way I would say no.”

Another Goodbye to Those We Love

mis.sion.ar.y [mish 'n erree]. n (plural mis.sion.ar.ies): Someone who leaves his/her family for a short time so others can be with their family for eternity.

Thanks for your selfless service to the Lord and His children in the West Indies Mission to Ryan Anand Ramdeholl (Linden, Guyana), Natasha Phagwah (East Canje, Berbice, Guyana), Muna Mala Shrestha (Kathmandu, Napal), Alexander Chase (Provo, Utah); Maxime Georges Lagin (the West Indies island of Martinique); Thomas Jordan Guinn (Brigham City, Utah); Elijah Nolan Freeman (Blackfoot, Idaho); and, Tayten Michael Tullis (Hyde Park, Utah).

Our love goes with you wherever you go in the world.

Bomans Bid Au dieu

Elder Ron and Sister Rosella Boman will complete their third mission on 2 March 2012 when they will fly home to family and friends in Logan, Utah.

“We are looking forward to getting acquainted with new members of our family – grandsons-in-law, granddaughters-in-law and three new great grandchildren – and reacquainted with other family members and friends. On 3 March we will be in the Mesa Arizona Temple to witness the marriage of another granddaughter and on 4 March we will attend the blessing of our newest great-granddaughter,” notes Sister Boman who adds, “we have missed them but have always maintained the best gift grandparents can give their grandchildren is to serve missions.”

Nine Boman grandchildren are now serving or have served during the time the couple was in Romania, Guatemala or the West Indies. “We look back and see good things happening in our family and in the Church. We see Priesthood leaders ministering more to members, especially nurturing newly baptized members. We rejoice in our efforts - with the help of the Lord – in helping less active members come back and accept leadership positions. We have watched the miracle proclaimed in the scriptures that the gospel will continue to go forward ‘until it fills the whole earth’.”

The Bomans are humbled to have had the experience of working with members and investigators on the beautiful island of Barbados, meeting senior couples and senior sisters who have traveled there for various purposes and to being “grandparents” to the dedicated young missionaries serving in Barbados. “They are fantastic!”

They have also been blessed with an incredible mission president. His sweet wife and family have contributed greatly to his success.

“We will always remember his kind service, his loving and inspired manner, and his great teaching abilities. It has been a pleasure to pick him up at the airport and escort him around the island while discussing how the missionaries, the priesthood leaders, the members, and the recent converts are doing. Under his leadership we have seen numberless miracles. We will greatly miss President Gamiette, his wife and children,” states Elder Boman.

The Bomans call the members they have worked with “some of the dearest people we ever hope to find on this earth. We feel we have become more loving, kind and considerate because of their example and we cherish their friendship and will always remember them with fondness.
”
They hope their next great adventure will be learning Italian so they can serve as ordinance workers in the Rome Italy Temple or maybe in another proselyting mission.

Thank you for all you have contributed to the success of the West Indies Mission. You will be greatly missed.

Anguses Say Farewell

After 23 months, thousands of miles of travel to each of the mission’s 12 countries, and the completion and handing over of hundreds of Humanitarian Service projects, Elder Lynn and Sister Sharon Angus return to their Vernal, Utah home on February 24, 2012. “We are excited to see our family – especially two granddaughters born during our time in the WIM,” state the proud grandmother.

What will they miss most of their grand adventure? “The people! The people here in the Caribbean are the greatest. We have been touched by their strong testimonies of the gospel. They are the sure foundation – the future of the Church in the West Indies. It has strengthened our testimonies of the gospel to associate with them. I will also miss the frogs at night. I really enjoy their rhythmic music which sings me to sleep after our long busy days. We have also enjoyed the beautiful lush green vegetation and swimming and snorkeling on the beautiful beaches here in the Caribbean. We have worked really hard and have enjoyed our mission,” notes Sister Angus.

The Angus’ have also made many friends among the other senior couples with whom they have worked. “We have enjoyed their association and hope we can stay in contact with them when we go home.”

Sister Angus is especially looking forward to spending time with family, getting their home put back together, writing her father’s history, doing some quilting and crocheting and “just being home.”

Elder Angus plans to go back to work in the family construction business upon his return, but will be forever changed by his mission experiences. “I have learned so much from the people. They have so little, by the world’s standards, but they are very appreciative of every little thing. They also have so much faith and trust in the Lord. If they do not have anything to eat in their home they know something will turn up . . . and it does. They are very loving and share what they have. I know the Lord loves them and has great things in store for their future. I will miss associating with and learning from them.

In the meantime, the Angus’ look forward to the next great adventure the Lord has in store for them. They will be missed by those who have served alongside them. Elder and Sister Angus, our love goes with you!

Incoming Number Eight

Every missionary transfer brings bright new faces – new recruits in the Lord’s army - filled with excitement, enthusiasm, testimony and a new resolve to serve His children in the West Indies Mission. Welcome to Aran Luke Stephen (Diamond, Guyana), Andy von Griffith Anderson (Linden, Guyana), Ganesh Ramkissoon (West Bank Demerara, Guyana), Ty Richard Tillotson (Highland, Utah), Gael Manampisoa Andriamanantena (Madagascar), Isamaeli Salima ( Savaii, Samoa), Teran Zevon Giddings (St. John’s, Antigua / Barbuda) and Oshane Antonio Stewart (Spanish Town, Jamaica).

Meet the Cooks

Elder Val and Sister Marsha Cook, of LaVerkin, UT, bring a wealth of experience and energy to their calling as Humanitarian Service missionaries in the West Indies Mission, although “we don’t have a clue as to what we will actually be doing!” says Sister Cook. “We have wanted to serve a mission for many years. However, we wondered if we would be able to because of the expense so had pretty much decided we would just serve local missions. Then I lost my job and with so few opportunities for work available it seemed like the right time to go. We put in for Africa so the WIM was a big surprise!”

Elder Cook, who served a mission to Ohio as a young man, is a highly skilled woodworker who builds beautiful furniture and other heirlooms. He has been in a bishopric, served as an executive secretary, spent many years in the scouting program and most recently in the High Priest Group Leadership. Sister Cook loves to sew, quilt, garden and play with the grandkids. Both taught seminary for several years and Sister Cook has served as a YW president, RS president and Primary president. Most recently she served as the second counselor in her ward’s Young Women’s program and also team-taught the temple preparation class with her husband. Her favorite calling, however, was the time spent as a nursery leader alongside her eternal companion.

The couple met in Alaska – though he is from Idaho and she is from southern Utah – and together they have made a home and reared their family in such faraway places as Alaska, Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada and Idaho before settling down in her hometown of LaVerkin, Utah.

“No question the hardest part about serving a mission is leaving behind our four children and five grandchildren between the ages of 2 months and 12 years,” states the grandmother. “But we have had numerous miracles which make it possible for us to serve so we are excited to come . . . for the blessings and the adventure.”