the church is TRUE, the book is BLUE, and JESUS IS THE CHRIST

I had heard stories about small branches before, but to be honest I never would have even dreamed this! We got to the island on a Thursday, from the second we stepped off the plane I started doing my research and had my eyes open. Don't get me wrong I had ALOT on my mind, but at the very top of the list was…where is the church??? What I found, is not exactly what I had imagined!

On Saturday morning we spotted the church, the upstairs of a bluish/purple building with a little sign that read "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Upstairs," this made me as giddy as a fat kid in a candy shop!

It gets better...not even an hour later, walking through the market down town, I looked up and to my surprise I saw two white shirts and ties with little black name tags on their shirt pockets walking down the street towards me! The POOR missionaries...after showering them with excitement and relief, they gave me there number, told me how to get to church (because buses are few and far between on Sundays), and when it started. It was such a relief, I finally felt like I could enjoy myself. The Lord never fails us when we need him the most!

Sunday morning...

We walked into church about 9:15, and found one person. Pres. Nicholas, our branch President. Over the next 45 mins until church started, the elders filtered in, the sister missionaries, and approximately 15 more members. No one our age, no medical students with wives (here), not many people AT ALL. Overwhelming to say the least! I'm not sure who was in more shock...us or the Lucian members. Thinking we were vacationers, they welcomed us with all the kindness in the world, but when we explained that we would be transferring our records and be seeing them every Sunday for 16 months...their eyes lit up. More in shock then anything...it only took a couple weeks for it to set in and for them to really make sense of it all!

One excuse after another, we only had sacrament the first week, 2 hours the 2nd, only sacrament the 3rd, and 2 hours the 4th....do you see the pattern?? It didn't take long for us to realize how laid back the islanders are, even with church! Pres. Nicholas promises me we will start having all 3 hours soon, but we will see:) I was called as Relief Society teacher, I'm hoping I get the opportunity to teach at least once before we leave...ha ha.

With no piano player, we sing to the hymn CD...not just the accompaniment, the CD with the vocals. I thought all black people could sing...boy was I wrong! I'm not sure if it is better or worse with the Mormon tabernacle choir singing along! Let’s just say, I have been trying to practice up on my piano skills, hoping that soon I will be able to improve the situation for everyone!

 It you think this sounds crazy, wait until you hear what happened next. This past Sunday September 30th, we arrived at church to find 2 new faces, Elder and Sister Benion, senior missionaries serving in the West Indies mission, visiting the Vieux Fort, St. Lucia Branch. Elder Benion is serving as second councilor to the Mission President, and being that there is no stake created in the West Indies yet; the Mission President and his councilors act as the Stake Presidency would! 10 minutes before sacrament was going to start Elder Benion invited Brandon and me into the primary room, where he called Brandon as Second Councilor in the Branch Presidency...AND...Branch Clerk. Brandon was sustained in sacrament meeting, set apart after Sunday school, and Elder and Sister Benion got back on a plane and flew back home. Seems to put a whole new light on the situation, and really makes you appreciate how easy we had it at home. I was asked to teach seminary on top of serving as a Relief society teacher. At this point not much could shake us!

One thing I know for sure....this church is TRUE! Sitting in church that first Sunday was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life....half way across the world, away from the comfortable church buildings I am so accustomed to, no longer listening to the talented organist who play so easily, only looking at one not 3 suited men who sit on the stand in front of me, in a room with several strangers not a full congregation of members, tears came to my eyes. I knew that no matter where I was in the world and no matter how different the church was...it would always be the same, true to me! My testimony and faith in the Lord and his gospel could only be strengthened by this experience.  It’s not important, where you meet, who is there, or what is being taught...what is most important is the spirit you feel and that confirmation from the Holy Ghost that this is the true church, Heavenly Father and Jesus visited the boy Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove, the Book of Mormon is TRUE and another testament of Jesus Christ, the gospel is built upon Christ, we have living prophets today that receive revelation directly from our Heavenly Father, and of it all I KNOW it is true!