WIM Celebrates Thanksgiving

Families at home can rest assured their missionaries were well-fed in the company of their mission family on Thanksgiving Day. Even though Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, elders and sisters throughout the islands of the Caribbean and countries in South America gathered for a day of prayer and thanksgiving and traditional and not-so-traditional feasting.

In the mission office in Trinidad, more than 40 missionaries – young and not-so-young – as well as Trini members working nearby enjoyed a huge traditional Thanksgiving dinner . . . even including beautiful centerpieces – one for each of 8 tables - made by Sister Andrus from flowers, leaves and dried palm fronds she had collected for more than a week on her early morning walks.

On the island of Grenada, a Thanksgiving dinner was served after zone meeting on Tuesday. According to those who enjoyed the gathering, “The Elders made the pies and the Sisters made the cornbread muffins. It all tasted very delicious!”

In Georgetown, Guyana a dozen missionaries and two senior couples sat down to dinner following the zone meeting on Thanksgiving Day. The meal included turkey and gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, cook up rice, two desserts and homemade root beer.

In Guyana's Canje area, missionaries and senior couples also shared a pleasant afternoon and lots of good food.

To quote one enthusiastic missionary, the day - whether Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday - “was SO much fun! The missionaries just loved it and had such a good time seeing each other in a non-meeting setting and just visiting. It was great!”

Ten "Return with Honor"

It is time once again to say “goodbye” to ten dedicated missionaries who have completed fulltime service to the Lord and His children here in the West Indies Mission. As you return to the arms of friends, family and a bright future, we pray – in the words of President James E. Faust – “you will always honor four sacred principles: reverence for Deity; respect and honor in family relationships; reverence for and obedience to the ordinances and covenants of the holy priesthood and respect for yourself as a child of God.”

We wish you well (from the upper left): Jordan Matthew Groff (Kaysville, Utah), Santakumar Pitamber (Georgetown, Guyana), Weslande Olysse (of the beautiful island of Martinique), Tyler Murphy White (LaVerne, California), Triston Leandro Murray and Premchand Bharat (both of Georgetown, Guyana), Clayton Jones (Beaver, Utah), Hayden George VanMeeteren (Ogden, Utah), Ted Spurgeon Bushman (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Christina Jaipaul (Georgetown, Guyana).

WIM Welcomes the Lindorfs

The West Indies Mission is the third foray into the Lord’s service for Elder Paul and Sister Kristene Lindorf of Prospect, OR (near Crater Lake) who have previously served together in Thailand and Slovenia. “We have a goal to serve 18 months on – then 18 months off,” states the senior missionary who hopes he will be able to regain some of his French language skill learned when he served a mission in France as a young man 40 years ago. “I’m hoping it will come back to me as we are immersed. I guess we'll see.”

With a BS degree in Marketing and Accounting from BYU, Elder Lindorf was employed in the Marketing Division of Shell Oil Co. in several states for 16 years in Marketing and later as the CFO of Western Wats Center in Provo, UT for 10 years. He retired at age 50 to care for his aged parents with plans to serve missions after their demise.

Calling himself “a jack of all trades, master of none,” Elder Lindorf likes computers (especially Macs) and has written an e-book.

Sister Lindorf, who loves music, plays the piano, organ, guitar and enjoys conducting, hopes to give lessons here in the WIM, if the opportunity arises. A fulltime wife and mother to the couple’s six children, became a “computer devotee” in self-defense in her family of computer geeks. As such she maintains regular communication with their large family – including 17 grandchildren – through blogging and newsletters. She also enjoys healthy cooking and sharing her testimony of the Gospel through updates on their mission activities to hundreds of family members and friends.

“Mostly, I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” says the incoming sister missionary. “My love for the children of our Heavenly Father increases each year I am in their service. I can't imagine a more delightful retirement! I'm humbly thankful for this small way of showing my gratitude to God.”

Welcome to the WIM, Elder and Sister Lindorf.

A Dozen Welcomed to the WIM

A beautiful new group of elders and sisters arrived this week for service in the West Indies Mission, filled with a mighty testimony, a great love of the Lord, and a huge desire to bring His children in the Caribbean unto Christ.

Welcome to work among the beautiful Saints in the islands of the Caribbean and three South American countries to the following: (front row, from left next to Sister Delphine Gamiette), Elicia Matte Danielsen (Littleton, CO), Lindsay Michelle Stephenson (Idaho Falls, ID), Jocelyn Kaye Udall (Pinetop, AZ), Heidi Kelsch (West Jordan, UT), and Deanna Rose Steinmetz (Hempstead, TX). (Back row, from left next to WIM President Claude Gamiette) Justin Paul Durfee (Gilbert, AZ), Collin Alexander McClain (Burley, ID), Brandon Richard Kramer (Salt Lake City, UT), Alex Emil Boyer (Keller, TX), David Payne (Farmington, NM), Scott Rice (Plano, TX) and Hans Kiimaiha Munanui Vivish (Paea, Tahiti).

Goodbye to Sixteen Headed Home

They have served faithfully and well, and now the time has come to say goodbye to another group of 16 missionaries going home to family and friends in all parts of the world.

Farewell to the following sons and daughters of the West Indies Mission: (top collage, from left) Andrew James Nufer (Cedar City, Utah), Juan Enrique Rodriguez (Mairena del Aljarafe, Seville, Spain), Jake Alan McKeachnie (Highland, Utah), Jonathan Miles Call (Sandy, Utah), Oratio Odone Cornwall (Portsmore, Jamaica), Tracey Youlanda DeFreitas and Naomi Abiola Fraser (both of Georgetown, Guyana), and Talon Leis Carter (Mt. Home, Utah), (second collage, from left) Braden Scott Baker (Centerville, Utah), Josiah Allen Jones (LaVerkin, Utah), Michael Joseph Gordon (Spokane, Washington), Rusden Reed Albert Scott (Layton, Utah), Alexander Michael Thompson (Salt Lake City, Utah), Harrison Samuel Bowles (West Valley City, Utah), Richard McKay Winzenried (Logandale, Nevada), and Ryan Richard Bell (Providence, Utah).

S&I Graduates Celebrate Studies and Testimonies

“The Church’s Seminary and Institute of Religion is an inspired program from a loving Heavenly Father. It is designed to bless the lives of young people here – and everywhere around the world,” state Elder Larry and Sister Karen Harris who have just attended the last of more than a dozen graduation programs in the islands and countries of the West Indies Mission.

In ceremonies before Church leaders, parents and S&I instructors, 269 students in both programs received Certificates of Course Competion; 20 were awarded Seminary Certificates of Achievement; 13 Seminary and 4Institute students received 4-year diplomas for completing year-long studies of the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. In addition, five Institute students received Certificates of Advanced Achievement for completing two additional years of study beyond their 4-year Institute degree.

How much of an impact does S&I make on the lives of students? An institute student from Guyana shared a personal experience in his graduation talk. He heard about Institute soon after his baptism only two years ago. “I wanted to go but was embarrassed because I couldn’t read or write. I heard a voice telling me ‘don’t go’ but I listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost instead. I went to institute and through studying the scriptures – and with the encouragement and support of my institute teacher - I taught myself to read. I know the Book of Mormon is true because I have read it.”

In Sangre Grande, Trinidad, a class of four young men met with their instructor each morning at 5 a.m. Two of the boys graduated recently with 4-year diplomas. The third student received a Certificate of Course Completion and the fourth, a new member of the church, received a Certificate of Course Completion for Doctrine and Covenants and a Certificate of Achievement. The four friends celebrated their graduation together with enthusiasm and are now planning to submit mission papers as a group!

“S&I programs help young men and women develop their testimonies, encourages them to serve missions, create their own forever families through temple marriage and become leaders in the church and in their communities,” added the Harris’ who have shared CES responsibilities in the West Indies Mission with Elder Robert and Sister Sue McIntosh. The Harris’ provided support to S&I programs in Trinidad/Tobago, Barbados, Guyana and Suriname. At the same time, the McIntosh’s, who finished their mission and returned home in August, shared their love of the gospel with S&I programs in Grenada, St. Martin / St. Maarten, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique.

ERS Opens in Georgetown

It really isn’t much yet, but the Employment Resource Services Centers, located in the Prashaud Nagar chapel in Georgetown, is the beginning of something wonderful for the members of the Church in Guyana . . . and the first step toward the fulfillment of prophecy as stated in Elder M. Russell Ballard’s dedicatory prayer.

On February 23, 1990, Elder Ballard opened the door to missionary work in Guyana but also asked, “Heavenly Father, please bless this land that economic conditions might improve. We acknowledge this will take some time, but we pray Thee to give national leaders the vision of things they need to do to bring a comfortable lifestyle for Thy children here by giving them employment and an opportunity to work and earn a living.”

Right now, the ERS Volunteer Center is nothing more than a small room with borrowed computers, but already jobseekers are finding the center the place to go to research employment opportunities. The ERS will connect students with trade schools and colleges and identify businesses willing to provide on-the-job training. For students wanting to further their education but without the means to do so, the ERS will also be the go-to place for one-on-one assistance on such things as how to write a resume or complete the on-line PEF loan application.

This program is one more evidence the Lord is mindful of the West Indies Mission.