So What Do Senior Couple Missionaries Do?

Someone once told us, "Whatever  you think your mission is going to be - it probably isn't."  Although I can't remember what I thought it was going to be anymore, I'm sure it didn't include cows in the road,  flying prop planes around the Caribbean, or melting in heat and humidity during church meetings. I have always loved seeing the photos published in  our world-wide monthly church magazine, The Ensign, of couples serving their missions.  I have wondered what goes on behind the scenes of those photos.  Well, I can only share what goes on 'behind the scenes' in our photos... 

This is the airport in Guadeloupe - very nice and modern ( 20 years old this year).  I love the glass windows that look out over the area where you can see the  arriving passengers walk through passport control, ride down the escalator, and pick up their luggage. Elder Booth and I hang out here a lot.  We drop off and pick up missionaries all the time.  Most missions involve getting in a car or bus for missionaries to transfer or visit other areas - here we hop on airplanes and fly around the Caribbean.  I think this photo was taken about 11:00 pm; waiting to pick up one of our 18 missionaries on the island.  After what happened in Brussels, we are always sure to say a quiet prayer for their safety every  time we send them off.

We also get to attend and help out at baptisms. The best!  We got to teach this mom and her son with the sister missionaries once.  It was neat to watch them grow in confidence and beauty as this day approached. Abymes Branch Guadeloupe.

One of the other joys - feeding the missionaries.  They are always so grateful for food!  This was our Easter Feast where we fit 18 into our tiny apartment.  We followed the meal with feasting on the scriptures as well- the Easter story , of course. So glad we bought this extending table! 

One day, recently, we had to drive  into Pointe-A- Pitre to get our medical work  ( an X-ray and brief exam)  for obtaining our Extended Stay Visa for France ( not a fun three hours in a very old hospital.)  There is one set of Elders working in this city.  One night, we had some papers we needed to drop off to them, so they met us on one of the mostly deserted  streets.  It was a sight in contrasts, as they walked toward us in the darkness  with their sweet smiles, past the  scantily clad 'ladies of the night'. This is what a couple blocks of the city look like ... 

We got to watch the live General Conference broadcast from SLC here.  I stayed in the chapel with the members and our Tahitian missionaries to watch and listen in French.  Elder Booth and the American missionaries could watch it in English in one of the adjoining rooms.  The next week we had District Conference with Elder Gamiette of the Area Seventy speaking to us.  Here, our sister missionaries are  having a little fresh coconut milk during one of the breaks.

Of course between every transfer, there are always apartment inspections to do.  Here is Elder Booth getting ready to brave entering another apartment. Can you spot the gecko?

  

   Thankfully we haven't had any major medical disasters to deal with since arriving.  One missionary burned his hand, one got a bad sunburn, one had his nose almost broken, and we recently figured out that Sister Gomez from Guatemala needed glasses.

 

Occasionally we are invited to dinner.  One evening this month we went to a new member's apartment in this building for a visit and a meal of traditional Chicken Colombo. They were so poor yet so generous.  They shared with us their joy in their new faith.  The mother and father said that their son 

( about 7 years old) had been saying that he felt sad inside all the time. Their  five year old  girl wasn't speaking.  After joining the church - their  little boy began smiling and their little girl began talking ( non-stop). That's what it's all about. Changing lives for the better through Christ.

We flew back to St. Vincent this week where we got to attend an ocean baptism.  

Hurrah for Israel!

I think God was pleased...

Today we both spoke in sacrament meeting at the Callaqua Branch ( thankfully in English) and I helped out in Primary.  Here are Rihanna, Tessiney, and Zion. They kept admiring my Chinese fan ( which I was using vigorously during class )  so I made them each their own.

  

Well that gives you a brief glimpse of our service here this past month. I would take photos of our doing a lot of paper work, but that's not too interesting.   Almost forgot... Elder Booth is now a President Booth.  President Herrington has asked him to serve as Second Counselor in the mission presidency....  I wonder what adventures that  will hold?