Coleman's Mission

Halloween Pumpkin in the West Indies

2008-10-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Elder and Sister Collins created the best Halloween pumpkin - with a Caribbean flair. What do you think? Elder and Sister Collins both created the beautiful carving of the palm trees and the sun!!

General Authority Elder Vinas and Sister Vinas Visit Trinidad

2008-10-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

We were honored to have presiding at the Trinidad and Tobago Zone Conference, General Authority Elder Vinas. He and his wife, Sister Vinas were with President and Sister Robison on their tour of the Mission. Elder Vinas is a member of the Seventy and also the 1st Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency. He resides in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic although as a member of the Seventy, he travels all around the world. He spoke to us on several occasions during his visit to Trinidad.

Elder Coleman Baptizes!

2008-10-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

Between Sessions of General Conference on Saturday, Elder Coleman baptized a dear soul, Ruthven Claude Reefer into the Church. Elder Coleman, Elder Jackson and Elder Cotton-Betteridge had been teaching Ruthven for several weeks and he made his decision, he was ready to be baptized and wanted Elder Coleman to perform the baptism.

Ruthven has suffered from a stroke but since he has had the Elders in his home, teaching him about the Restoration and the Plan of Happiness, his health has improved. After the stroke, he was not able to walk. And as you can see in these pictures, he was able to walk to the font for the baptism and is standing with those who taught him. As members of our Branch spoke at his baptism, he had tears in his eyes as the Spirit was speaking to him. Elder Coleman was grateful for this opportunity to bring the blessings of the Gospel to Ruthven.

General Conference in Trinidad

2008-10-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

Today we were privileged to attend General Conference at the West Indies Mission Home. And joining us was a family we had met who were originally baptized in St. Maarten but had moved to Anguilla before we arrived on our mission. While we were still in St. Maarten, we visited them three times on the island of Anguilla via an exciting 45 minute ferry ride. The Brooker family has spent the last nearly 3 years on the British island of Anguilla without support from the church as they are the only members there. And now this island is part of the San Juan Puerto Rico East Mission.

Kurt, Charmain, Kyle and Victoria are now moving to England and have come to Trinidad to visit their family members here and to apply for immigration paper. So it was our wonderful fortune today to be with them. We all enjoyed conference via the internet and our computers!!!

New Location: Trinidad Assignment

2008-04-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Our location has changed. On March 12, 2008, we were transferred from St. Maarten (at the northernmost point in the Mission) to Trinidad (at the southernmost point in the Mission). In St. Maarten we made some wonderful, lifetime friends. And we miss them very much.

Our work in St. Maarten revolved around re-activating members and supporting the four Elders working on the island. We found so many wonderful, dedicated and FAITHFUL Saints. Elder Coleman was the Branch President and I taught Seminary.

Our duties in the office and our role in Trinidad is totally different. We arrived in Trinidad the evening of March 12th. On March 13th we went into the office at 8:30 am. For the next 3 weeks we underwent extensive training by our predecessors, the Lockharts from Idaho. They taught us how to manage the financial and immigration functions for the entire mission; 136 in-the-field missionaries and 26 senior couples. In this Mission, there are 3 languages, 13 countries, and 6 different currencies. Each day of training was a 9-hour day and even at that, we still had a lot to learn. The training has proven to be excellent. The Lockharts are now home and we are still working the 9-hour days – six days a week. Now that we are a little more familiar with our work, we are able to take Saturday’s off.

Our Mission President, Reid Robison and his wife Sister Diane Robison are both truly inspired. The Lord has blessed this Mission. Last year there were 1000 baptisms in this mission. Just an incredible accomplishment. Currently, this mission baptizes more souls than any other mission in the world. And the goal this year is 2008 baptisms for 2008. To date this year we are at nearly 600 baptisms. As if all of this wasn’t enough, in Trinidad, Guadeloupe and Guyana, the church is near meeting all the requirements to have a stake. That would mean 3 new stakes in the West Indies. The work that gets done in this Mission is unprecedented. And President Robison attributes much of this to having senior couples on nearly every island in the Mission. President and Sister Robison travel around the Mission and hold four (one in Dutch, one in French and 2 in English) different zone conferences every 6 weeks. In most cases, when an Elder gets transferred, it means he ‘flys’ to his next assignment. Another senior couple in the office make all the travel arrangements and maintain baptism records for the entire mission – that’s a full time job for the two of them. And there are always emergency transfers; that means making travel reservations in the middle of the night. President and Sister Robison have a little more than a year left in their mission – we can’t wait to see what’s coming!

President Robison puts ALL the senior couples to work. On each island or in each assignment, couples are given the opportunity to create miracles in their midst. Although as an office couple, we do not have as much direct involvement with investigators and members, we know we are making it possible for all the young elders to do what they do best—TEACH--because we see that rent and utility bills are paid and they have legal documentation in the countries where they serve. The work we do is sometimes complicated, takes many hours and IS ALWAYS MEANINGFUL. How often in our retirement do we get the opportunity to actually have meaningful work in our lives. This Mission values it’s senior couples. And we always need more senior couples. Just let us know and we can be 99% sure you serve in the Caribbean, the exciting WEST INDIES MISSION.

WE LOVE IT!

ELDER AND SISTER COLEMAN

p.s. We are just getting to know the branch members here. And we have made so many senior couple friends that we can visit in nearly every state in the union (well not really – but lots of states!) and Elders have invited us to Canada, France, Ireland and New Zealand. What a deal!

General Authority Daniel Johnson and Sister Johnson

2007-11-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

Visiting General Authority Daniel Johnson and Sister Johnson visited the West Indies Mission, French Zone Conference. Elder and Sister Johnson taught missionaries at meetings held on the island of Guadeloupe. Mission President Reid Robison and Sister Robison also taught the missionaries and a challenge was extended to all to BAPTIZE EVERY WEEK. Elder Johnson promised if we had the FAITH and BELIEF that this was possible, it would happen. There was great excitement among those attending regarding this challenge. Branch Presidents were asked to organize Baptismal Services each week!

St. Maarten Latter-day Saint Members Visit Santo Domingo Temple

2007-11-13T18:08:00.000-08:00

Seven members of the St. Maarten Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited the Santo Domingo Temple. During their stay, members were housed at the MTC on Temple grounds. This was a great blessing. When several days of torrential rains hit the small island country, the members were safe from harm in this sacred place.

Transfer Day

2007-11-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

We say goodbye to Elder Catherine from France and Elder Baksh from French Guyana. Elder Catherine is going to St. Vincent and Elder Baksh is going to Guadeloupe. Elder Catherine is the last of the original 4 young men who were in St. Maarten when we arrived. Now, Elder Fillerup is going to Suriname and Elder Swain is in Guadeloupe and Elder Torres is home as we speak. We love our Elders and miss each one as they leave. And we will be welcoming Elder Arbizo and Elder Busson. And on the next transfer period, Elder Arbizo and Elder Webster will be leaving us to go home; both to Arizona. What wonderful times these are!!!