Our Arrival back to St. Vincent!

On about May 19th, we received that call that we would transfer to the island of St. Vincent for our last two months of our mission. We, of course, had mixed emotions about this: excited to return to the island where we started and loved! and leaving our Linden Branch people was with heavy hearts; we truly had learned to love these people and felt as if we would love to see the completion of several projects that were started. We flew out of Guyana on May 26, 2010! Our last look from the airplane as we flew away.


We are here now and have felt like we never left--strange feeling! We could drive ourselves directly to where we had shopped before, lived before, and in the first few days, we have visited some of those families that we knew before! It is truly a lovely green lush island that we plan on getting to know better. We will be responsible for two branches: the Kingstown Branch and the Calliaqua Branch (where we were before). It will be the Calliaqua Branch that will take our most attention and we pray that we will be effective in helping them grow, even in our short time here.

The view from our front balcony! And the views from the side and back!


The Rav4 we drive; and the home we live in on the top floor--different car, same house!

Elder Collins found the Wax Apples on the tree by where we park the car (yummm!)

Downtown Kingstown where we drive..........even a Flamboyant on the way!


The view from the Calliaqua Branch Church Building....and the building which is new to us from the first time; at that time, they met in a small building on the main street.


Nearby--the old sugar mill....and some countryside.


The Kingstown Branch Church Building; they seem quite organized and have a real strong nucleus of members; just need to work on re-activation in their area. Several of these members are getting ready to attend the temple; they are midway through the temple prep class. Elder Collins waiting, but always reading something.


The Atlantic Ocean........


We are "home" and ready to serve these people in St. Vincent!

Sister DeFreitas and Us--A transfer Call!

May 26, 2010--bright and early! Elder Clarke, Sister DeFreitas and Sister Girdharry on the balcony of the sisters place. Elder Collins helping sister DeFreitas down the stairs with her bag--she has been transferred to Grenada.....Sister Girdharry would travel with us to receive her new companion, Sister Frasier.



And we had received our call to be transferred to St. Vincent with the Clarkes coming directly from the MTC and the couple (Wheelers) on St. Vincent being transferred to the Mission Office.
A last moment at the airport as we said our "see you later in Grenada" to Sister De Freitas.

Theodore Persaud's Baptism

Just the day before we left Guyana, we were asked to baptize Theodore Persaud. And a request from his father (who is still working in St. Kitts) for Elder Collins to baptize and confirm him. Remember, Sister Persaud and Tiffany had been baptized by their father just as the year began; we were part of teaching them the gospel in Linden. Now that Theo is past eight and the father can't come until next December, they decided to go ahead with his baptism. We were excited! They are truly a favorite family that we will miss. So, on 25, May, 2010, we held a baptismal service. The Persaud family, the Clarkes, the Angus couple and all our missionaries were in attendance.


Theodore was baptized in the Demerara River that runs right by their home; the tide has risen while we were having the program and they had to decide where to baptize him. (crazy little Tiffany in the boat!)





Pictures with the Persauds and then a picture of them with their Grandma and Grandpa and Susie. They have been Hindu all their lives and are just now beginning to listen to the lessons that the Sister missionaries are teaching.


Sharon Persaud's sister Susie......and a picture of the Angus Couple, the mission's humanitarian couple just new to our area.

Linden--Last Sunday--May 23, 2010

Some pictures I took on our last Sunday in Linden; not as near as many as I would have liked to. We were busy speaking in the meetings and HUGGING!
To start the day, I looked out our back yard door: a typical site and I couldn't pass it by (!)


Had a chance to slip into the Linden West's primary and took a couple pictures of the kids and Sister Juliet Giles (front) and Sister Tinisha Pollard (back). They do such a great job and I loved teaching new songs!



Elder Murray and Sister Girdharry "helping" them color.


Then as we visited the East Side meetings, I took a few more pictures. The Emmanuel baby, Nikita, is now only five days old and attending meetings--she was blessed today by Elder Collins. He also blessed her older sister, Dellcia, Minky Ramdeholl, and Jamacia Benjamin (Lewis) on this day. It was awesome; they now will be "members of record". This was also a special Sunday as the new Senior Couple for Linden (Clarke)arrived early for both meetings; the Rick's (Senior Couple and also he is the new 1st Counselor in the Mission Presidency) from Georgetown brought them from the airport and attended our meetings also. We are with Richie Ramdeholl--soon to leave on his mission! We have been helping with his paperwork and medical; it has been fun!


"Minky" (was blessed today) and her mother Mandy Ramdeholl. Then with Martina and Celina Ramdeholl.


Just a cute picture of Martina Ramdeholl ......and then Joseph Emmanuel.


Marvin and Rhonda Emmanuel and girls---and the whole family!


Branch President Daivnand Ramdeholl and his family that are left at home. Ryan is on his mission; and the girls are living in Anarika still until Martina finishes school for this year.


Ermila Lewis and her two little girls: Jamacia (the one that was blessed today) and Dellicia...oops! and Josha Emmanuel snuk in!


The Cipriani Emmanuel Family(minus the mother; Rose was attending to her grandchildren somewhere out of town today).


Melanie with her mother and brother; she was confirmed a member of the Church today! And the Sisters are teaching the rest of them. She is fourteen years old, with a sweet testimony.


At the end of the day! The Clarkes had traveled the whole night and arrived early and then spent the whole day churching in Linden-------need we say more! Sister Girdharry couldn't resist this picture!