SANGRE GRANDE BRANCH

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Most of the District officers always say that the Sangre Grande Branch welcomes visitors as though they were family. Indeed, a feeling of caring and satisfaction can be felt by those entering the Sangre Grande chapel. Like the other Branches, the Sangre Grande Branch has some unique qualities;

- It is the most difficult Branch to get to for members of the District Presidency and the District officers
- The chapel is in in the middle of a residential area out of the route of major traffic
- I've found the members to be the most teachable, because of their humility
- Many of the members are blood related or were friends before becoming affiliated with the Church

If you have not visited the Sangre Grande Branch then you are really missing out -- Its one of my favorite places to visit. Another interesting point is that the Branch has sent out a lot of missionaries. It reminded me of a story I read from; 'Lengthen Your Smile' by Richard Nash;

"Looking for an example of an effective and enthusiastic missionary ? Floriano Oliveira, a Brazilian high councilor who has baptized over 200 people, was driving in Sao Paulo one day when he became distracted momentarily and ran into the car in front of him. Br. Oliveira ran up to the other driver's door and said, "I am so sorry to hit you. It was all my fault... Yet if I hadn't hit you, you wouldn't have received this message I have for you, the message you have waited for all your life." Two weeks later, the driver of the other car was baptized."

The Sangre Grande members are very missionary oriented and are always looking for ways to share the Gospel with friends and family. Ria Mohan, one of the missionaries from the Branch serving in California recently wrote me about her excitement for serving the Lord;

"...In the area I'm serving in the Gospel is really rolling forth. We're having a couple of converts baptisms coming up soon. I'm enjoying each opportunity to teach others the Gospel... I have come closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ and His teachings in the scriptures."

ELDER CARL and DONNA SMITH replaced the Peabodys as the Branch missionary couple. Elder Smith was called to be the Second Counselor in the Branch Presidency in November, 1997. They serve with what Elder Smith describes as,

"Great excitement to be here."

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They are from West Point, Utah where Elder Smith served previously as a Bishop, High Councilman, Counselor in three Bishoprics and a Scouting Commissioner. He has had a long 38 years of civilian service in the Air Force and retired as a supply system analysis. I asked him what he thought about Pres. Mason as a former Air Force man himself,

"Pres. mason is a great man. The Air Force develops leaders and Pres. Mason is just that."

Among the other unique things that Elder Smith has done he also has a knife making business in which he hand crafts his own knives. He mentioned that he spoke to the Stewarts (a former couple in San Fernando) about Trinidad. His wife, Donna, has a sweet demeanor and feels blessed to now have the privilege of serving in Sangre Grande.

Sometimes a mission can be very tiring for the older couples. Pres. Kimball, who suffered with insomnia, had a similar problem -- (from Lengthen Your Smile)

"Not long after Spencer W. Kimball became President of the Church, someone asked him what He did for fun. He answered, with a twinkle in his eye, "Sleep!"

KENNICK SUEPAUL, the first local Sangre Grande Branch President, is a man dedicated to the work of the Saints. My dealings with Pres. Suepaul have always been pleasant ones. It has always been my thoughts that Pres. Suepaul would be a great foundation and strength to his people in Sangre Grande -- both as a citizen and minister, and so it is... he has filled those titles with dignity. Many times I've been a witness secretly watching his sacrifice in helping the members in the Branch without remuneration or fame for his unselfish deeds. His blessings have been plentiful and satisfying especially in witnessing the coming of a District in Trinidad and a new chapel in Sangre Grande.

"It is truly a marvelous blessing to have our own beautiful chapel. We are going to have to work hard to fill the sacrament room of 130. We'll have to do a lot of reactivation and I'm going to work harder to help lead this Branch."

PATRICK DAVID, one of the early members of the Branch and a former Branch President in the United States, is now serving as the First Counselor in the Sangre Grande Branch Presidency.

"I am honored and feel very privileged to be in the Branch Presidency. I must say that I have the best Branch President (Kennick Suepaul) I feel very comfortable working with him. I'm also very grateful to my Heavenly Father for blessing us with a new chapel and I look forward to great things happening in Sangre Grande."

The following quotes are from the members of the Sangre Grande and their feelings about the new Sangre Grande Branch building and their individual testimony.

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"I'm excited -- I know that everyone is excited about the new building. I'm proud to be a member of the Sangre Grande Branch especially at this time. I know in all my trials, even with raising four kids on my own, can be very difficult, but I know I can always count on Heavenly Father to see me through my hard times." (JUDY MORANG, 2nd Counselor Y.W. Pres.)

"I've been a member of the Church for the past five years and during this time I've held many callings. I'm proud to be part of the restored Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- the only true Church upon the face of the Earth. I know Heavenly Father lives, so does His Son, Jesus Christ. We are blessed to be given a new chapel of our own." (MARY GOPAUL, 2nd Counselor Primary Pres.)

"I enjoy my calling a lot. It is very uplifting and it builds my faith in times of need." (JASSODRA LATCHAN, Y.S.A. Representative)

"Where I'm from-- American Samoa, Samoan Islands, the Church is very strong. There are Stakes, Church schools and even a temple. The Church has been there since the 1800s." (ELDER TO'O, Missionary/Branch Organist)

"I feel really proud and grateful for our new building. I'm also a police officer and a member of the Church -- both do not work well, but the Lord has really answered me -- He will not give us anything to do unless he prepares a way for us to accomplish it. I can testify that this is true. I am able to honor my calling and still be an effective police officer." (RAMESHWAR GOPAUL, Branch Clerk)

"I feel deeply grateful to my Heavenly Father for this great blessing of having our own chapel. This is the Lord's true Church on the face of the Earth and to be a member of this Church is truly an honor." (MARGARET DAVID, Relief Society Pres.)

HAROLD BISNATH, the Elders Quorum President, was a former member of the Jehovah Witnesses and an active missionary in that faith. This allowed him the ability to converse with others about the scriptures without fear, and in the Sangre Grande Branch he certainly works hard to express his feelings about Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel. He is very verse in the New Testament and can turn to many a verse with the wave of his hand. In expressing the blessing of having a new chapel Pres. Bisnath said,

"I feel it is a sign of the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Lord's vineyard. Part of this vineyard is the Church. I'm thankful for that blessing that comes in our district."

His son, NIGEL BISNATH, an active Aaronic priesthood holder, puts all his feelings about the Church in one word, "Great!"

NATALIE SUEPAUL, is the Relief Society Education Counselor, She is also the wife of the Branch President and supports him greatly in his call.

"It is a great blessing to finally have a Church building that we can call our own -- It shows that the work of the Lord is moving forth."

Natalie, a school teacher, recently passed her teacher training exams with very good marks.

EVE PHILIP is the Young Women President.

"It brings a lot of joy to my soul as well as peace and happiness seeing this holy building built for the work of the Lord",

said Eve as she related her feelings about the new building.

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JONATHAN DAVID, the Branch's seminary teacher, is also one of the most Gospel oriented youth I've seen in Trinidad. His eagerness to learn the Doctrine has caused him to have grown into the great youths of Zion.

"My heart grieves, for I have grown up to love our rented building in the last two years or so. I've spent a lot of time in this building -- many mornings, evenings and nights and my faith has been strengthened here. I believe firmly that this Gospel brings true joy to our souls. Being a seminary teacher shows me how truly important the scriptures are. Concerning our new building -- the same Spirit that is in this rented building will also be the same in our new chapel, because I know where the Saints are, God's Spirit dwells. In this I rejoice."

ROSLYN JAWAHIR, one of the active youth, is also the Branch's chorister. Although she is the only member of the Church in her family she is very faithful in the Gospel and owes her conversion to the efforts of Sr. Margaret David. Roslyn makes an interesting allegory of those who are not members and what they are missing and the new Sangre Grande chapel using the 'picture' of being in a home;

"I've known and still know some of my friends and family who used to and still do live in homes that was not their own respectively. I have realized that the most horrible thing to know is to live under a roof that can be blown away easily -- to know that one foot is 'home' and the other 'homeless'. Imagine the uneasiness and sleepless nights that comes to these people even though there is lots of love within. When I came to this Church I met a family I never knew existed. A family which I grew to love. I look at the Church itself, both the structure and people, as a second home -- but weren't we renting, weren't we in an uneasy state ? We now have a Church building of our own, you have to imagine the joy, the happiness, the firmness, safety and extreme blessings that we are grateful for. We have a special chapel now that we can call 'our own'. Its been a long time now that I've wanted to say that."

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KERRIE OLLIVIERRE, the Relief Society Secretary, is one the more active Y.S.A.s in the Branch who is also grateful for the new chapel,

"Its a great blessing for us, the people of Sangre Grande... it shows how the work of the Lord is unfolding."

I like the use of Kerrie's words, "...The people of Sangre Grande", I wonder if those in Sangre Grande who are nonmembers will ever come to realize that a 'foothold' of the Gospel is now amongst them. There to save them from the 'whirlwinds' of life, the struggles of hate and envy into the 'walls of peace' where the saving Gospel can be absorbed into the souls of men who are willing to give themselves up to the great reward of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

ROMA RAMBHAROSE, the 1st Counselor in Primary and a teacher, is also returned missionary from one of the missions in California, U.S.A.

"As a return missionary I'm proud to be back in my Branch to be able to share what I have learned with members to help and strengthen them."

Roma is a great example.

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