The West Indies Mission: St. Vincent

Thursday, June 3, 2010

St. Vincent Couple Receive Mission Call

President Verrol and Sister Helen Young received their mission call to the West Indies Mission. They will leave for the MTC in the Dominican Republic on June 24, 2010! They are excited and it sounds like they will be serving in Guyana--they are scheduled to arrive there about July 2 or 3.

They have lived on St. Vincent for quite awhile. President Young has banana orchards on the NE end of the island. He is currently the Elder's Quorum President and she is the president of the Relief Society--they will be missed in the Calliaqua Branch!

Elder and Sister Collins had the privilege of delivering their call on Monday, May 31, 2010. Sister Young knew we were coming and greeted us with a huge smile! Then Elder Collins handed them their call letter. "Who shall open it?"..........."We will read it together."

They are excited and ready to serve! Such a fine couple; Elder Collins and I knew him as a Branch President 21 months ago when we served in St. Vincent before.

A Message to WIM Missionary Families

Sending and receiving mail – especially packages - is difficult, time-consuming and costly here in the Caribbean . . . and can take many weeks to reach the recipient!!!

Parents and others, with the best of intentions and love in their hearts, spend significant time and money to purchase, prepare and mail these packages. In some of our mission’s 12 countries, the package is then opened at the post office – after an hour or more of waiting in line. When the contents have been identified, taxes and/or duty fees are assessed which the missionaries are asked to pay out of their small amount of support funds.

After all this effort, these “care” packages are usually found to contain only a few small items and a whole lot of candy, all which can be purchased almost anywhere in the West Indies Mission.

We know you love your missionary and packages from home are a way to express that love, but most missionaries are just as excited about receiving small amounts of extra spending money on a personal Mastercard or Visa - provided and funded from time-to-time by loving parents as a way to purchase what the elder or sister may need in-country.

Of course, the most important gifts you can send your missionary are frequent handwritten letters – including photos - expressing your love and support of their efforts to “bring souls unto Christ!”

Thanks for your understanding in this matter, Parents. We love your missionary!!!