WIM Welcomes Nine

Eight young men - and for the first time in WIM history, a North American sister missionary (see “WIM Welcomes North American Sisters”) – are among 52,225 missionaries currently serving who have answered a call to this noble commission to help the Lord “sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four corners of the earth” in 340 missions around the world, including those in the islands of the Caribbean and three countries of South America!

Welcome to the West Indies Mission to Corey Michael Bills (Ontario, California); Derek James Gines (Wendell, Idaho); Tate Cary Meacham (North Ogden, Utah); Jami Butler (Brigham City, Utah); French speakers Talen Nathaniel Barney (Alpine, Utah) and Steven Warren Heiata (Taputapuatea, Raiatea, French Polynesia); and, Dutch speakers Colton Ballard Grange (Boise, Idaho), Philip Scott Warner (Gilbert, Arizona) and Albert Gabino Job (Grotingen, Nederland, Netherlands).

First North American Sisters Called to the WIM

A Black Name Tag upon our chest
We are the ones, the Church's best.
Some may boast and some may brag,
But only a few wear the Black Name Tag.

Twenty-four months without a date,
But we are tough, we can wait.
Our girls at home, they ever brag. . .
Their brave men wear the Black Name Tag.

Back at home our girlfriends wait,
But not for long, she starts to date.
Her interest soon begins to lag,
She then "Dear Johns" the Black Name Tag.

On our return we resume life,
Start our search to find a wife.
But finds are few and efforts lag,
Such is life for the Black Name Tag.

You find a fox, she has her man,
You find a chick, she has a plan.
You find the one, but what a drag,
She wants to wear the Black Name Tag.

She may not yet know the significance of her decision to wear the Black Name Tag, but Sister Jami Butler of Brigham City, UT is a modern day pioneer making history in the West Indies Mission as the first North American sister called to labor here. And, she will soon be joined by seven more sister missionaries - Rachel Ann Brisson (Lorton, near Alexandria, VA); Alexis Grace Fish (Apache Junction, AZ); Elizabeth Sims (Riverton, UT); Kaisha Rae Weaver (Rexburg, ID); Heidi Kelsch (West Jordan, Utah); Deanna Steinmetz (Hempstead, Texas); and, Lindsey Stephenson (Idaho Falls, Idaho) - all expected to arrive from the MTC in the next few transfers.

These young sisters – pioneers in the effort to “bring souls unto Christ” in this part of His vineyard - will continue in the footsteps of many faithful young women who came before them from homes in the islands of the Caribbean and from the South American continent, including Bibi Girdharry, Marcia Alicia Gaspar, Christina Jaipaul, Chennell Marie Camejo, Ronetta Mentore, Freda Touissant, Natasha Phagwah, Naomi Fraser, Tracey DeFrietas, Munda Shrestha, and Weslande Olysse.

Elder Quentin L. Cook, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted in his April 2011 Conference address, “the faith of [pioneer] sisters in being willing to leave their homes to cross the plains for the unknown was inspiring. If one had to characterize their most significant attribute, it would be their unwavering faith in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The heroic accounts of what these pioneer women sacrificed and accomplished as they crossed the plains is a priceless legacy to the Church.”

The same can be said for all the young women who have - or will yet - wear the Black Name Tag as modern-day pioneers in the West Indies Mission.

Six Say Goodbye in July Transfer

On July 27, six spiritually strong, hardworking missionaries - all who have served faithfully and honorably in the West Indies Mission - face the finality of a packed bag. Parting with companions and members. The last interview with the mission president. The knotted stomach. The plane ride home. The reunitings, and the realization . . . their fulltime service to the Lord – for which they have prepared since childhood – has ended.

Brandon Ray Ackerman (Grace, Idaho), Christian Beau Hicken (Salt Lake City, Utah), Austin Kasey Morris (Mesa, Arizona), Mathias Nathan Miranda (Riversaltes, France), Ronetla Malika Mentore (Georgetown, Guyana) and Alwin Jeffry Roepers (Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands) will leave for home this week to begin the next step of their eternal mission.

Each of you will be missed by those who have served alongside you or who were introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ through your willingness to share the gospel message. You will always be sons (and a daughter) of the West Indies!

Meet the Treseder's . . . Again!

Richard and Margaret (“Meg”) Treseder, of Queen Creek, Arizona, are returning for a second time to the West Indies Mission where they will provide shadow leadership to the saints in Berbice. They were first called to serve in Guyana in March 2009, but were transferred to St. Lucia to complete their 18-month mission, after spending what Sister Treseder describes as “a fun day in the Georgetown jail” along with approximately 30 other foreign missionaries expelled from the country in September 2009 – “a story our grandchildren love to tell to their friends.”

“We really love the people of Guyana and are excited to be back among them,” notes Sister Treseder. “It wasn’t practical for us to extend when we were here before, but we promised President Gamiette we would return.”

Calling their first mission “an incredible experience in both places” the Treseders are anxious to renew friendships with those they knew and loved in Berbice as they “madly try to remember names and places which stretch our feeble minds. But, having been there before is reassuring, although we know it won’t be exactly the same place we left. On the other hand, we are not looking forward to the bugs, mosquitoes, chiggers, and the muggy weather.”

In his working life, Elder “T” – as he was known during their first mission in Guyana - earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, a Master of Education in Counseling and Psychotherapy, served his country for almost seven years as a Navy pilot (and later in the Air Force – then retired from the Army). He then went on to serve the Lord for nearly 30 years as a seminary instructor. Sister Treseder managed a janitorial business, owned a pet store, worked in a construction office and in a Mexican restaurant while she raised “five great kids who have given us 15 wonderful grandkids, the oldest who is serving a mission in So. Carolina. We will miss them, but are anxious to be a part of the West Indies mission with the best missionaries and the greatest mission President in the church.”

Welcome back, Elder and Sister Treseder, to “the land of many waters.”

Dutch Patriarch Visits Suriname

For many members of the Church in Suriname, Thursday, June 16 represented the fulfillment of a long-awaited blessing when Patriarch Han Hogervorst of the Hague Netherlands Stake arrived in Ramchandraweg for a two week stay.

Most have been members for many years. Many have been sealed in the Temple but have not been able to receive a Patriarchal blessing in their own language so they could understand fully the promises made to them by a spokesman from the Lord.

Preparations began months ago with a request to the First Presidency for consent for Patriarch Hogervorst to travel to Suriname where a total of 35 blessings were given between Friday, June 17 and Saturday, July 2. Those who did not have the opportunity on this first visit were promised the Patriarch would do everything possible to return later in the year.

Patriarch Hogervorst said of his time in Suriname, “It was a very special experience and a great privilege to serve in this way. It was wonderful to be able to feel so clearly how our Heavenly Father loves His children and to know He is so willing to guide us in our lives. What stood out for me was the humility of the members in Suriname and their gratitude for the gospel. I was very uplifted by their strong testimonies and am impressed with the wonderful way many of the members came into contact with the gospel. It reminded me once again, miracles do happen. There are many more who are looking forward to their Patriarchal blessing. I do not think that to come back once will be enough. The members in Suriname are so anxiously looking forward to what will bring them closer to the Lord and many are preparing to go to the temple when it opens in Manaus, Brazil in 2012.”

Missionwide Zone Conferences Held

Beginning in late June, President Gamiette traveled thousands of miles and held dozens of meetings in three countries in South America and the islands of the Caribbean for a spiritual and motivational mission-wide Zone Conference focusing on faith and planning!

The Mission President used Joseph Smith’s first Lecture on Faith to set the stage for a detailed discussion on planning, goal setting and effective teaching, led in part by Zone Leaders in Guyana, St. Vincent, Grenada, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Barbados, Suriname and of course, Trinidad and Tobago.

Newly created by zone leaders during the ZL Council held in mid-June, missionaries throughout the West Indies, were also introduced to a vision statement for the entire mission which will guide their efforts in the coming months: “through teaching worthy converts, supporting each other as missionaries and appropriately involving local leaders, we envision to foster a sense of togetherness that will stimulate individual conversion to Christ and His gospel leading to weekly baptisms and retention.”

To this end, missionaries participating in each Zone Conference were reminded of the power of the Ideal Funnel which involves planning and setting goals for (1) new investigators, (2) teaching member lessons, (3) Sacrament meeting attendance, (4) baptismal dates and (5) baptism!

Thirteen New Elders Welcomed

A bakers' dozen morally and spiritually strong young men – fresh from the MTC - arrived on Monday, June 14 to begin the best two years of their lives serving the Lord in the West Indies Mission. Their shirts are white, their pant legs are creased, their shoes are shiny and well-heeled and they “are numbered among those of the church of God . . . distinguished for their zeal towards God and men . . . perfectly honest and upright . . . and firm in their faith in Christ, even unto the end” (Alma 27:27).

Welcome to assignments in the islands of the Caribbean or countries of South America to Jayson Paul Kemble (Salem, OR); Bradley Dahl Wilson (Spanish Fork, UT); Austin McKay Jones (Queen Creek, AZ); Chris Anthony D’Oliveira (West Bank Demerara, Guyana); Landon Jeffrey Slaugh (Vernal, UT); Samuel Boyd Jensen (Farmington, UT); Brock Richard Hartshorn (Caldwell, ID); John Garrett Largent (Inola, OK); Nathan Allred Porter (Pleasant Grove, UT); Jarom Quinn Hartshorn (Driggs, ID); Ruita Tehoiri (West Bank Demerara, Guyana); Michael Meredith (Georgetown, Guyana) and Trevor Stewart Peck (Carey, ID).