ENTRIES OF A JOURNAL

Part 2

Sunday, 9th June, 1996. Shelly Ramdeen was called to be the District Y.S.A. Representative for the Sisters.

Sunday, 30th June, 1996. It was five minutes before 9:00 a.m, the starting time of Sangre Grande Branch's sacrament meeting and everyone was so reverent that you could here a pin drop in the back of the room from where we were seated. In all my travels I have never seen this before -- everyone was seated, sacrament set and covered and all that could now be heard was the sweet sound of prelude music from the Church hymn book. I marveled at the deep respect these members showed for spiritual times.

Sunday, 4th August, 1996. Sr. Ramdaye Bell Maharaj was called to be the District Young Women President. At the mission home's devotional, Sr. Valantine made a remarkable statement while giving her talk,

"If you think someone does not have trials in life it's because you do not know them. Everyone has trials."

Saturday, 10th August, 1996. There was a well attended District Y.S.A conference, dinner and dance. I invited Elder and Sister Hyde, a missionary couple that did a lot of work with the Y.S.A; to bear their testimony as they were leaving soon for the United States.

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Wednesday, 28th August, 1996. To show the dedication of the District officers, I will describe the events of today's unusual District Presidency meeting. We (District Presidency, Brs. Callendar and Chan-Qui) met at the District office after work to discuss some matters at hand. However, while we were gathered Pres. Alleyne's pager beeped with a voice requesting his presence at the airport at once. Did we close up the meeting ? -- No! We continued our deliberations in Pres. Alleyne's car on the way to his appointment. When we got there Pres. Alleyne found out that the person with whom he had to meet had not yet arrived. It was late, we were hungry and would have a long travel on the way back to home, but we still had many weighty matters to discuss. Did we all decide to go home ? --No! We sat in a restaurant, ate pizza, and resumed our discussions. I'm so pleased to know that I work with men dedicated to a sacred cause. Do not fail to meet in your quorums or auxiliaries, great spiritual blessings await you....

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt.18:20).

Thursday, 12th September, 1996. It was fabulous to turn on the television and hear the angelic sounds of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Their music seems to be broadcast regularly over the radio as well.

Saturday, 12th October, 1996. Early in the morning I made my way down to the Couva Branch via maxi. I was to attend a priesthood training conference along with other leaders. In fact, we had similar meetings with other Branches later in the day, because Elder Griffin, one of the Area Authorities for the North America South East Area, was giving instruction relating to future goals we should have as a District, not just individual Branches. Elder Griffin, a medical doctor, has his practice and family responsibilities, but takes time to answer his call and perform duties as directed by the Area Presidency.

"The ability to stand by one's principles, to live with integrity and faith according to one's belief -- that is what matters, that is the difference between a contribution and a commitment. That devotion to true principle -- in our individual lives, in our homes and families, and in all places that we meet and influence other people -- that devotion is what God is ultimately requesting of us."
(Howard W. Hunter, Ensign May 1990, pg. 61).

Sunday, 13th October, 1996. The District Presidency held marathon conferences which started at Port of Spain Branch, then to San Fernando and lastly with the Sangre Grande Branch. Couva Branch met in San Fernando and Arima Branch went to Port of Spain. We planned it that way based on a request by Elder Griffin who wanted the 'feel' of how each Branch operated, view the membership, and review the distance for members who would normally travel to the District Building for Conference. After a long day, Elder Griffin felt a need for the members to make the sacrifice to meet at one place (the District Building) for District Conference instead of their own chapels. He felt their efforts would bring blessings to their families.

During lunch yesterday, Elder Griffin invited the District and Branch Presidencies to correlate and establish concrete goals to transform the Port of Spain Trinidad District into a Stake. At each District presidency meeting we discussed these goals and various aspects of making them become a reality. Elder Griffin was familiar with Dale E. Miller, a past mission president, he is a fellow Area Authority and resides in Puerto Rico.

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Saturday, 26th October, 1996, Sheldon Lee Wing, one of Port of Spain Branch's young men, won second runner up in the local Mr. World contest.

Sunday, 10th November, 1996. Vijay Patel, a member of the Couva Branch, had his farewell as he would be leaving for a mission in Puerto Rico. Sr. Karen Williamson, a returned missionary and a member of the Sangre Grande Branch was set apart as the First Counselor in the District Young Women Presidency. Our first District missionaries were Ann Marie Regis and Wendy Ann Oliver, both are members of the Port of Spain Branch.

Thursday, 14th November, 1996. The outgoing C.E.S. Coordinator, Br. Kelvin Diaz, and his replacement, Br. Fritzner A. Joseph from Haiti, both gave instructions to all the C.E.S. leaders. Br. Zayas from Puerto Rico also accompanied them. More of the many great experiences of Br. Joseph will be mentioned hereafter.

Sunday, 17th November, 1996. At the Couva Branch Conference sixty-six were in attendance. The Branch is growing steadily with a membership on record of 104.

Saturday, 23rd November, 1996. The District Public Relations committee had open houses in most of the chapels to help the community understand the principles and doctrines of the Church. The majority of the people in Trinidad and Tobago know about the Mormons. Usually they have seen the missionaries or as they frequently say, "Those white boys with black tags" and they do not say that in a negative way, it just seems unusual to them.

"Our missionaries, young men and women and older couples, are workers for world peace.... By inviting all to repent and come unto Christ, [they] are working for peace in the world by changing the hearts and behavior of individual men and women"
(Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign May 1990 page 73).

"Our missionaries are not salesman with wares to peddle, rather they are servants of the Most High God, with testimonies to bear, truths to teach, and souls to save."
(Thomas S. Monson Ensign No. 1987, pg. 42).

Monday, 25th November, 1996. We had a District Presidency meeting with Elder John K. Carmack, a member of the Area Presidency, and Pres. Valantine. He has a yellow note pad on his lap in which he took notes while asking us variety of questions. As usual the question of if I was married came up and I felt like hiding in a cave as did Elijah. He then asked about my dating life and before I could answer, all in the room started laughing softly as they knew many always tormented me with this topic and here I was being asked about this by one of the Brethren. It really is not easy being a returned missionary. Bro. Callendar was invited to go on a mission as we looked over at him and smiled. Elder Carmack was then concerned if the missionaries were being accepted by the people. Pres. Valantine answered with a positive, "Yes!" and then related the following true story that happened to two missionaries recently;

"Two of our Elders boarded a large maxi taxi, now these are two sizes of these vehicles, one is small and the other larger, but both of them charge the same price on any route. The Elders were on their way to teach someone and had been accustomed to paying one fare along the path these maxi taxis travel. As they gave the conductor their fare he took it and gave them back less change than usual hoping to fool the missionaries. The two Elders then quickly reminded the conductor he had given them incorrect change to which he replied. "Bigger maxi--Bigger fare!". The Elders were amazed and started to complain, but the poor missionaries were getting no where when all of a sudden one of the passengers, a large strong rasta got up from his seat, went over to the conductor and shock him physically while exclaiming, "Give dem dey monie now!" Well of course the conductor speedily obliged seeing the rasta's contempt for trying to steal from the missionaries."

Elder Carmack was pleased with this and wanted to know if each Branch President was supportive and Pres. Alleyne responded with a "yes". Elder Carmack then gave us good objectives and shared with us some of his feelings about the work in the Caribbean, but I chose not to mention them here. Later that evening we encircled Sr. Lauren Bradshaw, laid hands on her head and with Pres. Valantine as mouth, we set her apart for her mission to Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

Sunday, 15th December, 1996. Gavin Ishmael is the new Port of Spain Branch President, with Gerry Campbell and Theophilus Rawlins as his Counselors. Br. Reuben Raphael was called to be a District Councilman.

Sunday, 22nd December, 1996. Anna Lipka, my sister and Simone Wilson, both former members of the Port of Spain Branch, bore testimony in sacrament meeting about their experiences and gratitude for having the privilege of being members of the Church. Anna and Simone are active members in the U.S.A. and came here to visit for Christmas.

Thursday, 23rd January, 1997. Pres. Valantine, Pres. Alleyne, Reuben Raphael and myself, met at the Red House to visit with the Speaker of the House, the Honorable Speaker Hector Mc Lean, in his chambers. He would be representing the Church in our plight to have a certain quota of missionaries continue to proselyte in our country. Pres. Valantine represented the public relations department of the Church and presented the Speaker with a gift called the "Mission", a book of beautiful photos and quotes on the Church. The interesting part about the book is that it was published by Warner Books, Ltd. not affiliated with the Church.

Wednesday, 5th February, 1997. All those from the meeting of the 23rd January, 1997, including Elder Dale Asay and Br. Chan-Qui, went to the Ministry of National Security to discuss our plight of having a sufficient number of missionaries within the country. The honorable Speaker represented us extremely well and the whole affair seemed favorable.

Saturday, 8th March, 1997. Pres. Alleyne performed his first wedding ceremony in the Couva Branch for Ezekiel and Linda Sampson.

Tuesday, 18th March, 1997. Wendell Dickson, a returned missionary from Santo Domingo was visiting Trinidad. I gave him a tour of the landscape and culture which included East Indian dancing and food, military parades, and other local festivities. By the time the day was over he said he wanted to live in Trinidad. In his visit he told me the Church was quite strong in his country and the blessing of having the first temple in the Caribbean built there would be a real statement of the faithfulness of the Saints in that region.

"....Great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea...."
(2 Nephi 10:21 Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.)

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