May 13, 2016

Bon Nochi!                                                                May 13, 2016                                                                                        

Greetings from Curacao! 

We’ve been busy and have been enjoying this great work in this beautiful setting. This blog will include a host of pictures of our recent activities. We have enjoyed our first Zone Conference here. A Zone is a geographic area where missionaries are assigned to proselyte. Our Zone is comprised of missionaries from the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and here in Curacao. Every 12 weeks a Zone Conference is held to teach, to learn, and to be instructed including goal setting and interviews. We really enjoyed the Conference!

We have a total of 14 young Full-Time missionaries serving in these islands.  Here are some photos of these fine servants…

                                                      Having a break during the lessons

                                                           President and Sister Egbert

                 Lunch time! Why are Missionaries always so Happy? (Ask one and learn why!)

 

                          Elder & Sister Van Der Veer from Bonaire with President & Sister Egbert

This is Sister Taylor.  (Note…Sister Taylor is a granddaughter of friends Jay & Anne Taylor originally from Granite Bay, California.  I served as Bishop Jay Taylor's Young Men's President a long time ago.)

                                                         President & Sister Egbert with us

 

This is Elder Hendrick from Aruba. He flew over this day and was set apart as a full time missionary here in Curacao by President Egbert. He has been called to serve for 24 months in the Netherlands Dutch speaking. In the picture is his mother and Grandmother. His Mother agreed to read her scriptures everyday at 6:30am as this was the time he would be reading scriptures. Her gesture was a means of honoring his hard work.  Grandma was quite stern but loving in her charge. She said he was to serve diligently and come home in no less than 24 months unless it was in a box! This was her way of being sure HE honored his mission…Whew! - Also, note the brand new Church sign in this picture. It had just arrived and we had it installed just days before.  

                       Sister Ramirez and Sister Petersen teach of the Restoration of the Gospel 

Assistants to the President, Elder Hansen and Elder Naylor enjoy a ‘small’ bowl of Ice Cream with us.

Sisters Ramirez and Petersen share the teaching experience with Camilla who serves as the Branch Young Women's President. She plans on serving a mission later this year.

 

 This Rooster is always in the parking lot of Goisco, a large store on the island. He seems to want to get into the car as we are loading it almost every visit.

Our daughter Kari has worked hard in ordering all of the necessary Apostille documents in the U.S. authenticating ‘who we are’ for the application process of getting our Curacao residency. The documents arrived today. In receiving residency and to remain in this country beyond six months and not be deported, we must demonstrate we have a clean criminal record, where we were born, where we were married and should we be granted residency, do we have the means to financially support ourselves as to not be a burden on the government.  

Thanks Kari for your help on this and also assembling our Mission blogs each time!

A Personal Story…  I have been approached a few times for money on this island. This past week an older man who did not speak English held out his hand as I approached. It was obvious this fellow was in need of help. Any help. He was hungry, unclean, unshaven and very unkept. His clothes were tattered, ragged and filthy. I saw in him, very kind eyes. I knew I needed to help him and I did.  

As I walked away, I reviewed my own thoughts and judgment as to whether I was correct in helping this man. Were his circumstances but a collection of his poor choices? Did he deserve his status? Was he sincerely in need?  I was quickly reminded of the responsibility we each have to help those in need regardless of our self-judgment as taught in the scriptures, in the Book of Mormon.

In Mosiah 4:16, King Benjamin is speaking to the multitudes when he taught how we should help the poor and needy.

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

 17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

 19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

 20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

Is it a coincidence that someone in need passes our way? I don’t think so. I don’t believe in coincidences this way. The Lord often creates the opportunity for each of us to help someone in the most natural way. We are all asked to exercise faith, be obedient to that which is taught by His prophets and when the need arises, help someone in need. 

Sister Scott and I are very thankful for this blessing of ours to serve here. We love our assignments in this errand for the Lord. We know there are those who have been prepared in this the latter days to hear of this gospel of Jesus Christ, right here and right now in Curacao. I know this to be true and it is no coincidence. I testify that this indeed is His work and in Him we are serving.

With Love,

Elder & Sister Scott

Pasa bon Nochi…

(Have a Good Evening)