ENTRIES OF A JOURNAL

Part 3

Sunday, 13th April, 1997. The District Presidency started 'District Firesides' every second Sunday of the month. These firesides are to promote spiritual awareness among the membership. The first topic was 'Being a Returned Missionary'. Pres. Gavin Ishmael and Sr. Karen Williamson spoke about their various experiences abroad. Karen mentioned that her mission president always like to say,

"Our attitude will determine our altitude".

Saturday, 5th April, 1997. The second annual sports day for the District and the Arima Branch won overall.

Sunday, 20th April, 1997. District Conference had 340 in attendance. This conference was significant of the sacrifice and willingness of members to travel long distances and sometimes without much money to conference in Port of Spain. Members were told to come without the aid of transport funding from the mission -- we were now a District and we would need to pull together. Come they did.

Elder and Sister Tuttle, a couple that served here was visiting. Lisa Dopwell Chan-Qui was called as the First Counselor in the District Primary presidency and Jean Maharaj as Second Counselor in the District Young Women presidency. Sr. Mindy Sadaphal was called as the District Primary President earlier in the year. Three more District missionaries were called from the San Fernando Branch and the work of the District began to take form.

Saturday, 28th June, 1997. Br. Fritzner A. Joseph, C.E.S Country director and Br. Jerold Burns, C.E.S. Area director, organized a District Institute and Seminary Graduation. Cher Joycelyn Hosein from the Couva Branch became the first Sister to graduate from Seminary and I the first to graduate from Institute locally. Ashton Garcia, Abigail Rupa, Rodney Bridgelal, Michael Rupa, and Edward Callendar also got certificates of achievement.

Sunday, 29th June, 1997. At the Port of Spain Branch it was the last sacrament meeting of Pres. and Sr. Valantine. Of all the things Pres. Valantine could have spoken about, he chose to focus on bearing an effective testimony. Pres. Valantine and his wife will be going to live in St. George, Utah. Their time here has been well spent. We thank them for their great work.

"No finer example can be borne by parents to children or grandchildren, than through missionary service in their mature years."
(David B. Haight, Ensign, May 1987 pg. 60-61).

Friday, 15th August, 1997. Trinidad is such a small island and one can rarely walk down the street without meeting someone who knows you as though you were a celebrity. I suppose this has both negative and positives since if one does something wrong -- it will surely be known all over Trinidad.

Saturday, 16th August, 1997. I attended a District Youth Conference in the District Building. I was very impressed with the youths who spoke of their feelings about the struggles of their life in keeping within the bounds the Lord has set. In some ways I would even go as far as saying that our youth here are stronger in the things that they have been given by the Lord such as the Gospel than the youth I have seen in other countries, but do you judge testimony -- you don't.

Wednesday, 20th August, 1997. 'Twas our usual District Presidency meeting which we held once a week in the afternoon to discuss matters of the Kingdom in our country. The 'usual' meeting was based on discussing the major problems that needed to be overcome to prepare for a Stake, this meant taking into consideration goals, inspiration from the Spirit and doing what we said we would do to make it happen. It was also the 'usual' for Pres. Alleyne to bring up an item for discussion which seemed slightly outrageous, but to which we, his Counselors, after saw the vision of the items needed for the future of the District. Tonight was no exception as Pres. Alleyne announced that he felt the Port of Spain Branch should be split to further its growth and concentrate its efforts on bringing back the less actives. After informing Pres. Ishmael, the Port of Spain Branch President, became ecstatic and immediately started to plan the implementation for the Branch's future.

Sunday, 31st August, 1997. Today is the day that all of Trinidad and Tobago celebrates Independence day. All through the streets were military parades and people trying to make a buck form those who came to watch the day's activities. At the last District Presidency meeting it was decided that I would visit the Arima Branch. I was pleased to see that the members chose to do the right thing and come to Church. As I viewed and participated in the Branch's schedule Sabbath meetings I could not refrain from thoughts of being either a shepherd or a sheep herder. I remembered a lesson once taught by Pres. Valantine;

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We learn from the scriptures that...

"To him [the shepherd] the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out ...he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice."
(John 10:2-4 KJV Bible)

When one thinks of a shepherd, thoughts of humility, love, tenderness, concern, and leadership become expressive words that characterize that of the shepherd's feelings for the flock he leads. Obviously, the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, emulated His love for us when He said.

"I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep."
(John 10:11 KJV Bible).

Leaving the 'ninety and nine to seek after the one' was real parable which demonstrated the Lord's concern for all His children not just as a whole but as individuals. Now a sheep herder can be somewhat different -- the sheep herder tends to drive the sheep using dogs and startling tactics to scare the flock into moving in the desired direction.

Needless to say that the sheep herder's method is not appropriate as an example of how leaders should lead because the tone shown is that of 'get them moving by whatever method it takes regardless to how they feel'. As a leader, do we portray an aura of being a shepherd or a sheep herder ? Along with this idea comes the parallel -- are we ministers or administers. Sometimes we may become so wrapped up with activities and programs that we tend to become detached from the purpose of our calling which ultimately involves saving the souls over whom we have been given charge.

"...For it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity."
(Doctrine and Covenants 72:3)

I firmly believe that a meeting is as good as it uplifts and inspires, an activity is only as good as it provides ways to reactive, fellowship and help souls return 'Home' -- their Heavenly Home. As a leader I run the following through my mind quickly before attempting to lead;

1. Do my beginnings include strong prayer for the task to which I am assigned ?
2. Have I already accomplished the lesson I'm about to teach or am I as one who wears a mask -- a hypocrite ?
3. Do I know the doctrinal basis for what I'm about to teach without bringing my own opinions into the lesson ?
4. Do I speak as a shepherd or a sheep herder ?
5. Do I teach the DOCTRINES AND THE PRINCIPLES GIVEN BY THE LORD WITHOUT DISCUSSING POSSIBLE EXCEPTIONS ?
6. When I leave, have I left everyone feeling uplifted and in some small way instigated a way for the Spirit to touch their hearts towards keeping the commandments of God ?
7. Am I doing as Christ would do ?

Besides acknowledging Independence Day by singing the National anthem at sacrament meeting, we also joined in wishing Br. Anthony Clarke a successful journey on his mission to the West Indies. I was touched when Anthony's father owed his joining the Church and his happiness therein all to his son and his great example. Anthony was and still is a 'shepherd' towards his family.

Sunday, 7th September, 1997. Another Sunday in the Arima Branch. A old lady got up with the help of a member and at the pulpit bore a strong testimony of gratitude to the Lord to be able to stand and speak of Jesus Christ. I was moved by the greatness of her spirit within that frail mortal body. It reminded me of a time when I did some service in Maryland for a couple who I would describe as intertwined 'roses'--

At the age fifteen, I accompanied my scout master, George, to a house where he explained that we would be performing service for a couple who could not help themselves. I was not full of enthusiasm as my adolescent immaturity got the better of me. Upon completion of our work which involved mainly cleaning the couple's home and yard in preparation for it to be sold on the open market, George took me upstairs to introduce me to the people for whom I had labored. We headed towards their bedroom....on the bed I saw two persons facing each other in a paralyzed state. Upon their bodies were braces of hard plastic from head to toe to support their bodies. They were involved in a tragic accident which left them with only head movement and very little limb motion. They were lying in what seemed to be an awkward position facing each other and only their hands touched in loving gesture of their love for each other. I was saddened at what had befallen them but they were happy and greeted my entering the room as though I came with a promise of healing for them from their afflictions. George explained that at the time of the tragedy the husband was a Bishop in a local ward. Due to their present state they had to sell their home to pay for medical and assisted treatment as they could do nothing for themselves. Yet they were happy -- what a testimony that was to me. I knew how the Gospel touched their lives in such a way they looked at life as the old lady in the Arima Branch did -- with gratitude to the Lord to be alive. Testimony of the love of Christ is such a great thing for in our discovery of it we come to discover the nature of God.

"Love is like the Polar Star. In a changing world, it is a constant. It is of the very essence of the Gospel. It is the security of home. It is a beacon of hope in a world distress."
(Gordon B. Hinckley Ensign, May 1989, pg.66).

Thursday, 11th September, 1997. Br. Fritzner Joseph had a C.E.S. training meeting with the Branch Presidencies and C.E.S. teachers at the POS District building. Afterwards he called me to coordinate C.E.S. effort in Trinidad. I later called Sr. Analisia Ishmael as the secretary.

Sunday, 28th September, 1997. Hubert Sadaphal was released as Second Counselor in the District Presidency and Austin Mendoza took up that calling. Pres. Sadaphal was called to be District Mission President.

Sunday, 26th October, 1997. The 2nd Biannual District Conference was attended by over three hundred members. The speakers -- Nigel Bisnath, Maria Goodrich, Magnish Ramoutar, Pres. Alleyne, Pres. and Sister Mason were really eloquent and penetrating in their talks. Following Conference Pres. Mason called a meeting with the priesthood leaders in which he mentioned that with the addition of five hundred more members with strong priesthood leadership among them -- he would apply for the Port of Spain Trinidad District to become a Stake. I was both surprised and elated by Pres. Mason's vision.

Saturday, 11th November, 1997. We journeyed to the East to witness the opening ceremony for the new Sangre Grande Chapel. Pres. Mason presided and Pres. Alleyne conducted in the sacrament room where everyone sat in reverence for the gift of having their own meeting house was humbling. The chapel's design had many similarities to the San Fernando chapel. The speakers were filled with the Spirit of the occasion and I decided to take brief notes of what they uttered;

Margaret David -- expressed her gratitude for all the many blessings her family and the members of Sangre Grande have received both temporally and spiritually. Sister David hoped that their new building would be cared for and kept clean through the efforts of the members of the Branch. She bore testimony of the Restored Gospel.

Jonathan David -- shared some of his experiences about the everyday lifestyle of the people in Sangre Grande and his opportunities to share the Gospel with them.

Reynold Hunt -- a community police officer, was invited by Brother Gopaul to share some of his feelings about the new chapel. Officer Hunt explained his role in the community as a police officer who dealt with cases of domestic violence and other matters that may be considered trivial to some, but very important to those it affected. In visiting homes that had reported domestic violence Officer Hunt noted that family prayer and attending Church services were far from their agenda. He was glad to know that he could now recommend a place for these troubled families to go. Officer Hunt stated that upon entering the Sangre Grande chapel he felt enlightened and became touched almost to the point of tears by Sister David's talk. Pres. Suepaul -- talked about the history of the Branch and its purpose in Sangre Grande. As usual he did so with much enjoyment to those who listened.

Pres. Mason -- spoke out about the basis for being there that day, the growth of the Church worldwide and he particularly emphasized the twelfth Article of Faith.

Pres. Alleyne -- touched on what made this day possible -- the faithfulness of the Saints in Sangre Grande. Elder Steven Peabody, one of the senior missionaries assigned to the Sangre Grande Branch, played the hymn 'How Great Thou Art' on his saw using a violin bow.

Pres. Alleyne once shared with me what happened when he took one of the Area Office staff to visit the Sangre Grande chapel near the hand-over date. While viewing the building for defects someone confronted this man from Puerto Rico with these words,

"We are trying to get things right here, why do we not have a room for a library in the building ? We need to have one -- we want to teach the people here !"

The response from the man from the Area Office was striking to the person confronting him;

"You do not teach these people... you learn from them!"

It was an interesting statement as it came from one foreigner to another foreigner with different views on what should be done with the local Saints and the Church here. However, there is a library in the Sangre Grande Chapel with a 'cute' appearance just right for the size of the chapel.

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