WEST INDIES MISSION

INSPIRING LETTERS OF CONVERSION

Paramaribo, Suriname
Elder Alpeter, Elder Westra, Elder Mercier
• • •
One P-day I was cutting my own hair with a cheap Surinamese razor, and it stopped working. I looked like
a mess.  My companion said I couldn't go out working like that.  School started the next day and every barbershop was packed full, so it took forever, But while we were waiting, we met Carol Deseil, a less-active member.  Our first appointment with her fell through. A couple days later, Elder Westra's chain broke on the way to see her, and by the time we arrived, she wasn't home again. However, her son Remi had just walked through the door.  Had the chain not broken we would have not have met him.  When we finally met with Sister Deseil, we asked why all these “coincidences” had happened. "To bring me back to church,” she said. I testified to her that we were there to bring her back and also to baptize Remi, so that he could receive the priesthood and serve a mission.  As we taught them, Remi often shared his own insights that were almost exact quotes from the Book of Mormon. When we helped him find them, he was even more excited about reading. He also had several dreams confirming to him the truth of the Book of Mormon. At one point, we gave him a priesthood blessing, and afterwards, he no longer needed the expected surgery.  He was baptized December 21, 2013 and received the priesthood Sunday January 12th! He wants to go on a mission and says he is "addicted to the gospel". He will be a powerful servant in Zion.  The Lord does not forget his children.  He knows their potential. Even if it takes a bad hair day and bike problems, the Lord can do His work! I love being a missionary!

St. Georges, Grenada
Sister Kime and Sister Cragun
• • •
When the sisters first contacted Kylee Shephard, she showed no interest and said that she was comfortable in her faith. However, the sisters kept running in to her in the same area. One day, she actually approached them. She said that she would like a Book of Mormon and wanted to be baptized! She set a baptismal date for January 25th, and was determined to be ready by that date. Her greatest obstacle was living with her boyfriend because she could not find another place to live. It seemed inevitable that they would have to move her date back, but just a week before her baptism she found a new place to live, moved out, and was
baptized on January 25th! She is a faithful member of the Church and a great addition to the St. Georges Branch.

Valencia, Trinidad
Elder Brown and Elder Ferrin
• • •
Cindy and Jason were planning to be married on the 15th of February, but when we saw them this past week, she had decided that she wanted to be baptized on January 24th.  She planned a wedding in two days so she could make her scheduled baptism date. They were married at 5pm and she was baptized at 6pm. Now Jason is preparing to be baptized.  

Curepe Tunapuna, Trinidad
Sister Edmonds and Danielle
• • •
Danielle Gonzales-Babb has been less active for about 3 years. She was trying to find her way back to church when we found her. Last Fast Sunday, we fasted with her to help her have a missionary opportunity. She referred two friends, but wasn't sure they’d be interested.  When we found out that Sister Jex had to go home for medical attention, I immediately thought of Danielle. She agreed to be a mini-missionary. Her mom initially said no, but eventually agreed. It's been a miracle.  The day Danielle started her mission, we visited one of her own referrals. He is now investigating. Her other friend came to church on Sunday and loved every minute of it. He will begin meeting with the elders. Now Danielle is even contemplating a mission! I think the Lord is helping the youth to desire to serve missions by placing them as temps.

Port of Spain, Trinidad
Elder Hatch and Elder Hatch
• • •
Rhonda McLaren was referred by Maria McLaren of the Curepe Ward.  She had met with missionaries a long time ago, but decided she was not interested. The Elders Hatch were able to pick her back up and she showed more interest after the first lesson. While teaching her the Plan of salvation, she mentioned that she had noticed that the Bible mentions the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial glories, but she had not found a church that taught about the celestial glory! She accepted all that the elders taught her and is now a faithful member continuing to build her testimony.

Lamentin St. Rose, Guadeloupe
Elder Bodily and Elder Glover
• • •
Our investigator Cynthia was always excited for our lessons and progressing well—until she left us a voicemail saying that she had found another house of God and stopped answering our calls.  The week of Zone Conference, we were teaching with one of the assistants, Elder Anderson. We wanted him to meet Cynthia, but she wasn't home.  We taught another investigator near her home--and when we finished, Cynthia pulled up in her car. Perfect timing and a miracle. She reluctantly allowed us in. We taught her about the priesthood and why that sets us apart from other churches. We answered her questions on repentance and forgiveness. She felt the Spirit, so much so that she set a baptismal date and scheduled all her lessons in her calendar. She came to District Conference on Sunday, and every single question she had during our lesson was answered again. She even wept during the testimony of a recent convert. I am so grateful we had the miracle of talking to her again and that Heavenly Father softened her heart enough to listen.

San Fernando, Trinidad
Sister Herrick and Sister Brått
• • •
Sister Herrick and Sister Lewis were about to call it a day when they contacted Donnaleiz Rees. Earlier that
day she had been praying for answers and for truth! She had been contacted in the past, but had turned the
missionaries away. This time she was prepared to hear the message. She kept her commitments, gained a testimony, was welcomed warmly by the San Fernando Ward and was baptized. She is already very excited about all the activities at the church including the ward choir and visiting teaching.


Demerara, Guyana
Elder Gutierrez, Elder Patetefa, Elder Rollins, Elder
Anderson, Elder Andros, Elder Guzman, Elder Ramdhani
• • •
Brother Persaud was taught and baptized in Barbados by Elder Rollins, Elder Anderson, Elder Andros and Elder Guzman. I was able to teach him the new member lessons with Elder Guzman, and then he returned to Guyana, where he baptized his two daughters.  My next transfer call was to Guyana, in Brother Persaud’s branch!! Elder Patetefa and Elder Ramdhani had been teaching Sister Persaud before I arrived, and she decided to be baptized this month. So, Brother Persaud baptized his wife on Saturday! Now they’re all a very strong family in the Church.