Regis Are Trini Pioneers

Michael and Marciana Regis are pioneers in the Church in Trinidad and Tobago as the first couple missionaries in their home country.

Their decision to serve did not come easy, but “the Lord worked it out” states Sister Regis who was just starting her career. “I finished my degree in Business Management from the University of Sunderland (England) in 2009 and had only worked in this capacity for a year and was looking forward to getting a Master’s degree so I could teach. Elder Regis is retired so I knew we might not get another opportunity to serve together so we jumped at coming on a mission. We have been called to the Point Fortin area to provide member support in the branch where my husband serves as Branch President and where attendance has grown from 5 to 32 in the past several weeks.”

Married 23 years, this dynamic couple share a “forever family” including five children (ages 19-32) and a July 7th birthday in common, “although not the same year.” They were sealed in the Jordan River Temple in Salt Lake City in the spring of 1997 and sealed as a family in the Orlando Temple three years later.

Elder Regis’ career was in law enforcement in his country’s capital city of Port of Spain, where he was best known as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and was also the first Interpol Investigating Officer in Trinidad and Tobago. After he left police service, he worked for the Jamaica/ British Embassy as a driver then in various capacities in different organizations until he retired.

Elder Regis loves to read so their home in Woodbrook has a very large library. He also loves penmanship and has mastered the art so he is in demand for creating wedding invitations and official documents. He is also not shy in sharing his testimony, inviting all to a better way of life through the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ by fully understanding and applying its precious principles. Elder Regis has served in many different capacities in the Church and has taken a personal interest in the Home Teaching Program.

Although this hardworking and dedicated couple have lived their lives in the West Indies it is still appropriate to say "Welcome!"

Eleven Say Goodbye

Adieu, tot ziens, adios, farewell! No matter the language or how it is said, saying goodbye to those we have grown to love is bittersweet. Home with honor in this transfer are Christopher Kamehameha Chun-Ying Tyau (Ewa Beach, Hawaii), Ethan Troy Anthony (Hyrum, Utah), Ryan Christensen Lunt (Orem, Utah), Kolton James Arnold (Cliff, New Mexico), Tyson Johnson (Green River, Utah), Zachary David Ipson (North Las Vegas, Nevada), Skylar Todd Stratford (Riverton, Utah), Brandon Joseph Figaro (Redland, California), Lance Tyler Badoni (Spring, Texas), Trevor Samuel Norton (Lindon, Utah) and Erik Murray Schwab (Kennewick, Washington). You will long be remembered for your service to the Lord and His children in the West Indies as an example of Christlike love and you will always be sons of the West Indies Mission!

Couples Conference in Trinidad

Eighteen couple missionaries and two senior sister missionaries gathered at the Trinidad home of President and Sister Gamiette on Tuesday, February 7 for a 2-day Couples Conference. During this get-together, friendships were renewed with couples serving on one of the mission’s nine Caribbean islands or three South American countries and acquaintances were made with those who are new to service in the West Indies Mission. More importantly, during this annual event information was shared, rules clarified and spirits nurtured with the good word of God.

Topics discussed included such housekeeping issues as care of apartments, vehicles; missionary health, fitness and safety; travel and immigration procedures, finance and reporting. But couples in service to the Lord and his children also heard about patriarchal blessings, how to help a missionary complete an online application, humanitarian and employment services, the Perpetual Education Fund program, YSA Centers and Seminary and Institute.

The couples also had the opportunity to enjoy inspiring music from Elder and Sister Bush and an impromptu men’s choir; lots of delicious food created by a committee chaired by Sister Gamiette; and, a relaxing boat ride through the Caroni Swamp Bird Sanctuary, a maze of waterways in a mangrove swamp which held the promise of sightings of mammals, reptiles, crustacean life, and more than 186 species of bird wildlife.

President Gamiette shared his love and spiritual knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ noting his struggle to teach the missionaries the importance of finding the balance between baptism and retaining members. According to President Gamiette, the mission goal for Sacrament Meeting attendance is 4000 but the actual attendance at this time is just 2800. The mission goal for Melchizedek priesthood holders 1000. Currently there are only 370. One thousand is also the goal for endowed members. At this time there are 500 who have been to the temple.

He also reminded missionary couples of the importance of members strengthening themselves – their commitment to service in the Church, their knowledge and love of the gospel and of the Savior – noting, “we can’t do for them what they can and should do for themselves but if we are frustrated about their behavior we will never be able to help them change! Each branch should have a temple recommend class and should be doing effective home teaching, primarily to recent converts, receptive less actives and families with special needs.” Borrowing from a presentation from another couple, President Gamiette encouraged senior missionaries to “build . . . not tear down. Praise . . . not criticize. Teach . . . not dictate. Train . . . not do!”

January Zone Conferences

Throughout the month of January, missionaries serving in all twelve countries of the West Indies Mission had the happy experience of gaining additional gospel knowledge from President Claude Gamiette at recent Zone Conferences in Guyana, Trinidad / Tobago; Barbados, St. Maarten and St. Lucia; St. Vincent and Grenada; Suriname, French Guiana; and, Guadeloupe / Martinique.

Elders Dyson and Largent (Assistants to the President) set the tone for the meetings with an outstanding gospel-centered presentation on planning encouraging missionaries to “pray for guidance, review each discussion, and obey all laws to obtain the blessing (“remember, every little rule counts!”).

President Gamiette continued with the theme of planning and faith when teaching investigators, reminding missionaries of the need to “sanctify yourself. In the spirit of meekness, seek a remission of your sins . . . seek to have a clear knowledge of the doctrine . . . seek revelation and discernment as you listen to what they are NOT saying, then ask inspired questions.” President Gamiette also stressed the importance of memorizing scripture and asked each missionary to send him a list of “what I will do differently to obtain more power in my teaching.”

In Guyana, Elder Anderson, 2nd Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency gave powerful guidance centered on the commandment to “love the Lord with all your heart, might, mind and strength.” His powerful teaching helped define those centers of strength. “Loving with your mind encompasses common sense, education, your five senses and education. Loving with your heart involves seeking the Spirit, asking, feeling and having a desire through your faith. Loving with your soul is a matter of putting into practice those things you believe, applying gospel principles in your life and ‘becoming’ all that your Father in Heaven would have you be!”

All missionaries went away spiritually fed and re-invigorated in their work among the Lord’s children.

Meet the Bennions

Richard and Linda Bennion, who are serving as Member and Leader Support Missionaries on the island of Guadeloupe, arrived in the West Indies Mission in early December.

Elder and Sister Bennion are from Wenatchee (the Apple Capital of the World), a town on the banks of the Columbia River in north central Washington State. The Bennions are the proud parents of 6 children – 5 boys and 1girl – all who have served missions and are fully supportive of their parents desire to do the same! The Bennions also have 9 grandchildren – 8 boys and 1 girl!

Elder Bennion served a full-time mission to the Franco Belgian Mission in the late 60’s. Sister Bennion joined the Church in 1972. Elder Bennion has been a member of a Stake Presidency, a Bishop, a Scoutmaster and an active member of the Scouting Community in the Pacific Northwest. Sister Bennion has been a Seminary Teacher, a Stake Young Women’s leader and has worked in the Primary.

They have been planning and preparing to serve a Senior Couples’ mission for several years. Elder Bennion retired from his practice as an Ophthalmologist in June of2011. He and Sister Bennion sold their home and packed up 37 years of family life, put it in storage and waited for their call to serve. They say that all of the planning and preparation and every box that was packed and loaded into the moving truck was worth the great blessing of serving a full time mission. They love the great leaders and members of the Church in Guadeloupe and are inspired and uplifted by the courage and faith of every young missionary with whom they serve.

Goodbye to the Harrises

Elder Larry and Sister Karen Harris return to the arms of their family and friends in Layton, Utah on January 12.

“Our mission has definitely been life changing. Our appreciation and love of the gospel, family, friends and America have grown to a new level. We feel very blessed. We loved serving the saints of the West Indies. Even though we saw many needs among the people of Guyana we realized the greatest help we can give was to help them grow spiritually. We can’t help them financially but we can give them hope of a better life through the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a privilege it has been to serve the Lord and see his tender mercies working in so many lives. In seeing the difference the gospel has made in the lives of the saints here, we realize more than ever the gospel really is the solution for a happy and productive life.”

The Harrises were originally called to Trinidad to supervise Seminary and Institute in four countries – Trinidad / Tobago, Guyana, Suriname and Barbados, but after two months, they were asked to make Guyana their home base. They loved the saints in Guyana as well as the lush green country side as they traveled to different assignments. Learning how to dodge animals on the road – cows, horses, donkeys, pigs, sheep and goats was a challenge for Elder Harris at times. “There is never a dull moment in Guyana!” states Sister Harris.

The Harrises feel very fortunate to work with exceptional S&I supervisors and teachers in some of the most beautiful places in the world. States Elder Harris, “We are grateful for their dedication and testimonies of the gospel . . . and we love hearing their conversion stories. Growing up in Utah and Arizona, we were always surrounded by members of the Church and had little opportunity to rub shoulders with converts. It has been one of the greatest blessings of our mission.”

Sister Harris calls watching the yearlong S&I process from enrollment in September to graduation in July and August “a thrill. We have a firm conviction that S&I is having a huge impact on the lives of young people throughout the West Indies and are grateful to have had a part in it.”

Their greatest challenge? “CES reports! It isn’t that they were difficult . . . just time consuming and take us away from our work with members. We will always hold the names and faces of the Saints we have worked with, dear to our hearts.”

Their plans for the future will first include time with their 7 children and 13 grandchildren. Elder Harris looks forward to spending time fly fishing with his sons and both former missionaries desire to spend time with family at their cabin. Sister Harris is excited to get back to her family history research and both plan to visit the temple often as well as do some traveling.

Their work among the Saints in the West Indies has been appreciated by so many. Elder and Sister Harris will be greatly missed - by those in the S&I community and by the missionaries and members with whom they have served for the past 18 months!

WIM Welcomes the Browns

Richard (“Dick”) and Helga (“Hazie”) Brown, of Sterling, VA, found a need for an Assistant Area Auditor on the Church’s “blue sheets” for senior missionaries. This assignment was a good fit for their experience and background, but they were surprised to discover the assignment in Trinidad was actually in the West Indies Mission.

Although Hazie Brown knew she would need to retire to serve a mission, she feels she will still be settling benefits claims for employees of the U. S. Forest Service where she is under contract until a week before they board the plane for the West Indies Mission! She has stepped down from her position twice, but continues to be “talked into coming back” – the last time in 2008 when the USFS convinced her to sign a contract. In her limited spare time, Sister Brown enjoys scrapbooking, photography, cross stitching and helping her husband with tiling and other handy-man jobs.

Dick Brown was employed by the U. S. Internal Revenue Service, the U. S. Navy and spent over 30 years with the United States General Accounting Office. At GAO, he was managed their internal finance, IT and administrative operations. Toward the end of his working life, he provided consultation and assistance to Congressional Appropriations and Oversight Committees where he directed financial management activities in the Legislative Branch of the Federal Government.

Elder Brown is a graduate of Weber State in Ogden, Utah “just shortly after Noah landed the ark,” he jokes. From Weber State, he attended law school, and did post graduate work at American University, the University of Maryland, Harvard, and Princeton, though “I never practiced laws – choosing instead a career in public service” where his legal training served him well in writing legislation for Congress. Despite osteoarthritis – which makes it difficult – Elder Brown still enjoys playing the piano and woodworking.

Although they are finding it difficult - as all senior couples do - to say goodbye to their 4 children and 7 grandchildren – including their oldest who is currently serving a mission in Malaysia - the Brown’s agree, “We look forward to a wonderful experience. We are excited about meeting new friends and learning new cultures. We want to use our experience and background to help in the West Indies Mission while we bear our testimonies and teach others the gospel .”