May the Force be with you from Barbados

 

We just completed another round of Zone Conferences, which means another transfer has come to an end.  Our mission leaders have to fly to 8 islands/territories every 6 weeks to hold interviews and zone conferences with our young missionaries.  We, of course, attend our Barbados Zone Conference.  It was amazing.  Some of the thoughts that stood out:

• Miracles: expect, see, be, and knee (pray) miracles!  
• Our personal worthiness is important.
• The Book of Mormon
• Helps bad become good
• Helps good become better
• Helps us all to become like Christ 
• Love, Share, Invite always...not just as a missionary

We celebrated two baptisms on Saturday at our little branch.  Two beautiful souls who are overcoming and finding peace and joy in their lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There are still challenges ahead, but through the love and support of their new gospel family and through their Savior, they will be able to overcome.  Sweet, precious moments watching the isles of the sea gathering.

Mullins Bay, Sea Shed Restaurant

It is our anniversary this week.  32 years.... From my FB post: May 7, 1992 Our once upon a time began a journey, an adventure, a story that is still being written. Act 1 is a blur of activity adding 4 beautiful children, new careers, cross-country moves, and learning how to do and be. Act 2 has added 3 more children, 4 beautiful grandchildren, travel, new careers, a mission, and more learning and becoming. To be continued......

This week is also transfer week. That means planes, airport runs, inter-island swaps, and change. Change is good, but change can be scary. What we do know is that the Lord loves His missionaries and He is in charge. Sometimes we try to force our own will, but if we will just be patient and stop trying to impose our timetable, our will, our agenda, He will make more of our time and sacrifice than we could ever do on our own. It is a pleasure to serve with these young missionaries. We love them so much! As we watch them grow and serve and then return home, our hearts are so proud of them and hope that we continue to keep in touch through reunions, social media, and hopefully visits.

Transfer week also means that we are heading into the final transfer of our mission leaders The Bickmores. It has been a pleasure serving with them. This mission is not an easy one. There are so many logistical moving parts of overseeing a mission with 8 islands, 3 languages, 5 currencies, 3 districts, and 82 young missionaries plus senior couples. They have done their absolute best to return this mission post-Covid to a full-time working mission again. When they arrived, they had one office sister and themselves with 8 missionaries on Barbados. They had to find cars, apartments, and branches on all the other islands and re-open them slowly as missionaries were reassigned. What a wild ride! In June, we will meet and sustain mission leaders The Burnhams from British Columbia. We are excited to get to know them and serve them.

Mother's day is approaching, so I can't help but give a shout out to my mom. I will miss my July visit this year, but 2025 is coming so I will be back! My mom is such an example of faith, perseverance, compassion, empathy, service, mercy, and love. She's a survivor. She has overcome some pretty tough challenges in her life and she has always made sure that my sister and I were resilient and strong. Some might say that my Southern Sass is a product of being raised in the South, but I'm sure it's being raised by a wise, southern mom. There were no excuses in our house, only work harder, be respectful, have integrity, and always do your best! Now when people say, you remind me of your mom......it truly is the best compliment! Love you mom!

And that is how the world turns here in Barbados!