WEST INDIES MISSION

SUCCESS TESTIMONIES

VERY ENTHUSED MISSIONARIES 

AT

MARACAS BAY, TRINIDAD

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT MEHR:

Dear Elders and Sisters, I am already hearing wonderful and faith-building reports from our missionwide fast this weekend. Many members and investigators have joined us to fast for friends and family to accept the gospel. Some have fasted for the first time in their lives. Some branches organized a meal to break their fast together. Many areas had a record number of people attend church.  Thank you for setting the example of fasting and teaching the Law of the Fast! The members in your areas will be more converted as they live this law. They will discover for themselves that the Lord richly blesses those who are obedient. I urge you to teach at least one family how to fast every month during your mission.  I know that the Lord will help us achieve the mission goal we have set. As we work diligently, exercise faith, and are exactly obedient, I promise that you will experience many miracles. We will see miracles in reactivation, retention, youth attendance, Celebration 2015, stronger branches, greater love in our branches and wards, member participation in missionary work, and many other ways.  Look for the Lord’s hand in your missionary work! Write down what He has done for you. This will help you to recognize His hand and many miracles in your lives.  You are powerful and faithful missionaries!It is a privilege to serve with each one of you.
With love,
President Mehr

MISSIONARY TESTIMONIALS:

Siparia, Trinidad
Elder Grimm, Elder Scott
Asking Referrals for Referrals!

We found Cassidia on an interesting journey of referrals. We approached one man and asked him who was working on his home in the area so that we could offer service. We followed the lead to meet a man who happened to be home on a lunch break from work. He referred us to a nice older woman who liked to talk a lot. Somehow the conversation changed from accepting all neighbors regardless of their religion to single mothers and crime in the area. We asked for another referral for single mothers, which led us to Cassidia's home and later her baptism. Without the help of the Lord, we would never have found her

Rose Hall, Guyana
Elder Chapman, Elder Pollard
Finding through Recent Converts

Angalie was a young girl we baptized in March. After she was baptized, we went to teach her and her mom was there in a hammock. When we asked Angalie if she could get her Book of Mormon, her mom pulled it out of the hammock!She had been reading it on her own. We worked with her mom from there. Sister
Raghoo was married on June 12 and then baptized June 15!

San Fernando, Trinidad
Elder Christensen, Elder Rowley
Book of Mormon and the Spirit

Dale finally took the invitation to read the Book of Mormon at the beginning of this year. When he started digging into the book he couldn't stop reading!  Just from reading the Book of Mormon and feeling the spirit as he read, he was able to change his life. When we started teaching him he already had a powerful testimony and knowledge of the Restoration and was excited to take the step of faith and be baptized.  Dale is a great addition to the San Fernando ward and is excited about sharing the gospel with his friends and family.

San Juan, Trinidad
Elder Shariatmadari and Elder Evans
Contacting

While contacting through a neighborhood in San Juan, Trinidad, we came across an old lady with a few of her friends who allowed us to share a brief message of the Gospel. One of her friends who was inside came out to hear what we had to say. Next thing you know, she is jumping from topic to topic asking all the classic Bible doctrine questions to keep us on our feet. After an exhausting Q & A, we controlled the situation and shared the First Vision and invited her and the others to come to Church. To our surprise, the one with all the questions is the only one that came to Church! Sister Susan Warner made it very clear, however, that she had already been baptized 5 times and was positive she would never be baptized again. But as she continued to come to Church, she realized the truth of the Gospel, and decided to be baptized. She has not missed Church or activities since!

Abymes, Guadeloupe
Elder Laufatte and Elder Johnston
Member Work!

Théo has known church members since 1995.  He had an experience last year that touched him deeply. He saw his brother, who had died several months before, in a dream telling him he was in the wrong place and to leave because there was something he needed to do. Théo told the Jomie brothers about this experience and they taught him the plan of salvation and a little bit about temple work.  They worked with him over a couple months and then introduced him to us when he was ready to be baptized. Because of the preparation he received from the Jomies, all we had to do was review the lessons with him and make sure he understood and followed the commandments.

Morne A L’Eau, Guadeloupe
Elder Santos, Elder Harrison
Faith Despite Trials

A recent convert referred Slorane’s mom. About a month ago, Slorane’s boyfriend unexpectedly died, and about that same time, her mother called us and asked us to return to teach them. Since then, Slorane had a lot of questions and has been reading like crazy in her Book of Mormon. We set a baptismal date with her, she worked at it consistently, and she followed her baptismal plan all the way to the end.  

Georgetown, St. Vincent
Elders Anderson,Malyon,Patetefa,Leany,Tillotson, and??
Service Projects

The Georgetown Group hosted a service project in the middle of town, cleaning up an open field. The following Saturday we had a sports day in the same field, with football, cricket, lime & spoon races and sack races. It was a great turnout--about 50, with a lot of youth!

Abymes, Guadeloupe
Sister Hawkes, Sister Riley
How to Begin Teaching (Preach My Gospel 176,177)

Olivier happened to be home for one of our lessons with his mom.  The next time we went over, his mom was too busy, but he wanted to talk. We asked him what he expected out of the lessons and he said that he wanted to be baptized. After a lot of hard work and diligence, Olivier was finally prepared. He can be found at every single church activity. His mom, after experiencing Olivier's baptism, is now investigating the church more fervently and is preparing to be baptized as well.  

Port of Spain, Trinidad 
Elder Babb, Elder Dearing
Member Work and Senior Missionaries!

Adisa’s sister and nephew are members of the Church, and he was there for his nephew’s baptism. He has been an investigator on and off, but was dropped a couple times when he stopped progressing.  Then in May, he called the missionaries to say that he missed talking with them and wanted to play basketball. The elders invited Elder and Sister Francom to their next lesson, and they were a huge help. In that lesson, Adisa decided he wanted to be baptized that Sunday.  

Sangre Grande, Trinidad
Sister Tia, Sister Hendricks
Establishing the Church

The Andrew family was baptized in October 2013, with the exception of young Dave Andrews who was just a little too young. However, that did not put a stop to the excitement he had when the rest of his family was baptized and at long last it was his turn. Dave turned 8 about two weeks ago on June 19th and has waited for the weekend with growing excitement. It was a very sweet moment for his father, who now is a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood, to be able to baptize his son. It is not often that members are able to baptize their own children and Dave had the privilege of having his father be a worthy priesthood holder and baptize him. He was confirmed a member of the church on June 29th and is very excited to join his family in the church.

SUCCESS TESTIMONIALS

WEST INDIES MISSION

NEWS LETTER

Elder Shariatmadari, Elder Evans

Working with Families

Sister Shia Glodon is 13 years old and had been coming to Church with her mom, who is one of our investigators. Even though her mom feels the Church is true and comes to Church, we were having a tough time helping her commit to baptism. Instead,we started putting a focus on her daughter. She quickly grew to love the Gospel and her Young Women's group. Her baptism has inspired her mother and now she is also getting things in order to be baptized! The Glodon's have been a blessing to work with!

San Fernando, Trinidad
Elder Creech and Elder Ferrin
Working with Members

Kiezlon is a Melchizedek priesthood holder who hadn't been to church for a while. We started working with him in April to prepare to baptize his son, Jesse, who recently turned 9. He resisted at first, but soon felt it was his duty as a father and priesthood holder.  Because of that goal, attending church was less of a chore and had purpose for him. He began to attend regularly and prepare his son for baptism. Jesse was baptized by his dad on May 10th, 2014. Now he wants to go to church, and we can definitely feel the change in their home.

Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
Sister Tenney and Sister Eyre
Finding through Celebration 2015

We are so grateful for Celebration 2015!  One of the members in the Capesterre Branch invited her best friend, Chloe, and we started teaching her.  When she decided to be baptized, she wanted one of her best friends, Daniel Valmy, to baptize her.  He needed to be made a priest in order for that to happen, which he had been working on for a while. Once he was made a priest, he was also able to baptize his little brother Daniel, who is 9. It was a great example of how working with members will truly bless their lives!

Christ Church, Barbados
Elder Beck and Elder Hopkins
Member Work

Elder Anderson introduced us to his former investigator Stella Thorpe. We quickly got our dynamic duo, Sister Wiggins and Brother Waldron, involved.  The only lesson without a member present was the first one. I know that her baptism wouldn’t have worked out so well if it hadn’t been for the members and their fellowship!

Lamentin, Guadeloupe
Elder Belnap and Elder Porterfield
The Lord Puts Prepared People in our Path

Elder Porterfield and I went to an appointment and the investigator was not there. In that very moment, a
young man walked by and we began talking. We came back and taught him the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong and placed into our hearts the perfect questions to ask. He was awestruck with the First Vision and completely understood the restoration of the priesthood. By the end of the lesson, he said, "I will call my mom tonight and ask if I can be baptized"! I know the Lord truly will put us in the right places at the right
times if we are seeking to do His will.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Sister Hyde, Sister Hodge, and Sister Crompton
Pray for and Expect Miracles!

The power of praying for and expecting miracles is amazing! Alecia grew up knowing a lot about the church - she attended Young Women in high school, dated a member, and many of her friends have been members. We met her at an investigator's home. She emailed us one day asking what she needed to do in order to be baptized!!  She mentioned that she had talked about it with her husband and they felt it was the right path for her. We met her the next day and set a baptism date for the following Saturday. Now that she is baptized she is preparing to go to the temple in July to do baptisms for the dead. She loves the gospel and knows without a doubt that this church is true!

Curepe, Trinidad
Sister Edmonds and Sister Giles
Working with Part-Member Families

Agostino Victor, 9, prepared for baptism all on his own! One time his mom thought he was up to something
mischievous, so she went up to his room to find him reading his scriptures. Also at night she would find him praying with his older brother, Akardy, who is 11. He worked so hard for this day and was thrilled to finally go under the water. He loves Jesus Christ so much.

Vieux-Fort, St. Lucia
Sister Shelton and Sister Kirton
Contacting!

Terry is awesome!  We met Terry while contacting and he embraced the gospel from the beginning. He slowly got more understanding of the gospel and decided to be baptized. We found out afterwards that Terry had not been open to religion, church, or any religious books for many years. It amazed his mom to see how he changed and how open he was to us teaching him. He now has been sharing the gospel with his friends and family and comes faithfully to church each week.

Paramaribo, Suriname
Elder Romney and Elder DeMoya
Member Referrals

We set a baptismal date with a 23 year-old young man named Gino.  About a year and a half ago, he decided to change his life and prayed for direction. He began to make gradual changes in his life. Recently
he was invited to learn more about the Church by a colleague at work. He attended their family home evening where he watched the Restoration and heard their testimonies. Gino felt like he had found the path he'd been looking for and decided to be baptized!

Georgetown, Guyana
Elder Kabongo and Elder Telga
Part-Member Families

Olivia and Crystal were baptized because of the example of Olivia's grandmother, who brings her to church
every Sunday.  They even come to institute together, and little Olivia sits and listens for 2 hours!

Curepe, Trinidad
All the Missionaries
The Influence of Members and House Meetings

Maria McLaren has been hosting a House Meeting for a few weeks now. It started off with 10-15 people for the first couple weeks. But this last week it exploded and we estimate there were about 35 people there! Of those 35 there were at least ten nonmembers.  We socialized for a bit and helped the investigators form
friendships with the members, then there was a short lesson. We watched a Mormon Message, and after that we ate food and played games! Everyone had a good time and Maria is planning on having the House Meeting each Tuesday night. It's really helped our investigators and given them opportunities to meet more members.

Curepe, Trinidad
Elder Shariatmadari and Elder Evans
Following the Spirit

Brother Earl Riley is a 78 year-old man who is living life like he is 28! The only thing slowing him down is his memory, but he ALWAYS remembers the feelings he gets when he comes to Church and reads the word of God. These feelings are what inspired him to be baptized.