La Soufriere Volcano Hike

Volcano Hike, a set on Flickr.

La Soufriere is an active volcano which last erupted in 1979.  One of the most studied volcanos in the world, La Soufriere rises majestically over 4000 ft.  The trail leads you along steep volcanic ridges through bamboo groves, a tropical rain forest and then the final hike up a rocky lava field.   La Soufriere is the highest point in the island country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  It is a strato volcano with a crater lake and is the islands youngest and northern most volcano. 

We go on hikes with our family in Island Park.  We always make sure the hike is an easy one for the old folks(us) and the children.  The sister missionaries could not go on the La Soufriere hike with the six elders unless we accompanied them.  We thought we would try it.  We should have checked on-line first.  Later we checked it and it said rigorous hike and that was an understatement.

There were over 1000 bamboo steps, some of them 2 ft. high. We climbed and climbed and climbed some more. The well-maintained trail was surrounded by beautiful, lush, rain forest vegetation.  As you can probably tell, it was raining that day, which is normal for that area. 
 

Trekker Wants to Go See Something

                Wallililabou Bay and
         The Pirates of the Caribbean

Trekker Hound has cabin fever, we should say apartment fever.  We have been busy teaching reading, math, and music.  We spend many hours helping to strengthen the Branch President and members.  Elder Henderson is the Branch Executive Secretary.  The Mission Office in Trinidad keeps us swamped with paper-work.  They call me the financial guru.  We are an extension of that office.  Elder Henderson is working on a Food Initiative with the Humanitarian Services of the Church Welfare System.



We finally ventured out to Wallilabou Bay.  This was the filming sight for the 2nd and 3rd Johnny Depp movies "Pirates of the Caribbean."  The sight is not commercialized so it is under-developed.  The location is a beautiful tropical setting. 

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Fort Charolette, St Vincent & The Grenadines

Fort Charlotte is on Berkshire Hill, just west of Kingstown in its heyday, it supported 600 troops and 34 guns.  The cannons were mostly pointed inland, to defend against Caribs.  The Caribs were the enslaved native people and other slaves.   With wonderful panoramic views of Kingstown and the Atlantic Ocean coastline it was certainly worth the visit.  Trekker Hound enjoyed the adventure, but was nervous when he saw the narrow steep road to come down, as he looked out the window.

Black Point Tunnel



Black Point

 






Black Point Tunnel

 Black Point Tunnel is about 300 feet long and links Grand Sable with Byrea Bay.  The tunnel was constructed by the British with the help of slave labor in about 1815 to provide an access route for sugar exports.


Black Point
Tunnel








  

Couples Conference in St Lucia

We flew to St Lucia for a three day Senior Couples Conference with our new mascot, Treckker the Hound. We all enjoyed the beach.  The mission presidency, President Gamiette(center), President Ricks, and President McIntosh inspired us about our role as shadow leaders.  President Gamiette brought his family.  He has five children.  The live in Trinidad where English is spoken.  Originally they are from Guadeloupe where French is spoken.  The kids said it was hard at first, but are now enjoying it very much.  President Gamiette and his wife had already learned English as single  missionaries in the U.S.  She grew up in France, while he grew up in Guadeloupe. 
   
President Gamiette referred to President Boyd Packers April 3, 2010 address in his keynote speech.  Pres. Packer said it has never been easy to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was not easy when He lived on the earth - he was crucified.  It was not easy for the early members of the church-they were forced to go first to Ohio, then to Illinois and finally to Utah.  Today the church isn’t attacked like that; today the church is attacked through the family.  President Monson stated:  “Today, we are encamped against the greatest array of sin, vice, and evil ever assembled before our eyes …”   especially for our youth.  President Harold B. Lee stated:  “It seems clear to me that the Church has no choice - and never has had - but to do more to assist the family in carrying out its divine mission, not only because that is the order of heaven, but also because that is the most practical contribution we can make to our youth - to improve the quality of life in the Latter-day Saint home.”  Families structured with a father and mother in the West Indies are uncommon because marriage is practically nonexistent.  In the old slave culture, families were not allowed and strong males were encouraged to produce as many children as possible for the slave owner.  One elderly member of the church sadly says that he produced roughly 25 children before he joined the Church.  The government still pays for most of these children that live, for a large part, in poverty.

               

 The emphasis in the Church is to “teach correct principles and let them govern themselves”.  The Bishops and Branch Presidents are being freed up to work more with the youth and in Europe the church has started Young Single Adult Centers.  We are privileged to have a senior adult couple from The Haig from the Netherlands serving in Surinam, a Dutch speaking country.  They are starting to have some success.  Much of the spiritual guidance of the Ward or Branch is being turned over to the Melchezidek Priesthood quorums through the Home Teaching Program and Family Home Evening program.

Sister Henderson and I will be working with the Elders Quorum President and Relief Society President with Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching.  Our thinking is that if we go teaching with them, we can help each other:  They can help us find the members and we will demonstrate to them how we do Home and Visiting teaching.  I think we will get the best of the deal since the roads are very windy, steep and treacherous – think what roads built on the sides of old volcanoes would be like and you will know what I am talking about.  Most of the branch members don’t have cars but they can help us find people’s homes.

As he closed the conference, President Gamiette reminisced about how his life would be much different had he not found the Church about 20 years ago, and with a tear in his eye, told us of the great happiness and peace he and his family have found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Most Difficult Mission in the World

More than once, we have heard the WIM is the most difficult in the church, and for many reasons.

First, because there are 11 countries within the boundaries of the mission with 12 different governments and many complicated government regulations for immigration.

Second is because there are multiple languages spoken (English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Suriname Tonga and Creole).

Third is because there are 7 currencies. In Trinidad/Tobago, the money is called “TT” money and is exchanged at a rate of .634 to 1 while in Guyana the exchange rate is 200 to 1 – although Guyanese money is worthless anywhere except in Guyana.  In St Vincent, where we are, the money is Eastern Caribbean, EC money, with an exchange rate of 2.67 EC to 1 USD

The geography of the WIM makes for difficulties as well. Since most of the mission includes islands, the only way to access many of the members is by boat or airplane – which also makes it very expensive to visit.

Food is really not as much of a problem as we expected. There are a great many American brands here (i.e., Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Subway and others) but we have enjoyed some of the local dishes such as Roti which is chicken pieces including the bones, potatos and curry sauce wraped in a tortilla shell-the chicken is cut into one inch pieces bones and all. But there are some real oddities such as mustard and ketchup on pizza . . . and others we haven’t even tried yet.

Relating to time, no one is concerned about being anywhere “on time” so when appointments are set it doesn’t really mean anything. Culturally, the West Indies is a mixed bag of every race, creed and ethnicity. Most are very nice, but some are decidedly “anti-clear” which is what whites – and particularly white Americans – and even more . . . white American Mormons are called.

Few get married. Working – or not - is “no big deal” and many – especially the young people are absolutely content with the “status quo” so there is only a small percentage of young people who want to better themselves!

But, while these issues make administration of the WIM difficult, they are also contributing to making our mission service rich and rewarding as we learn to appreciate, explore and accept! Despite these seeming concerns, it’s still a great adventure!

Arriving in Trinidad

Arrived in Trinidad on February 12th, 2011.