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.”