Elder Ison's New Area as written by Sister Robison

French Guiana



Facts:

• Population of about 222,000. As with Guyana and Suriname, the majority of the population lives along the coast.
• French Guiana is a region owned by France and part of the European union (the largest member outside of Europe). Its currency is the euro. The official language is French
• Fishing, mining and timber drive the economy
• French Guiana has a large Haitian population (French is also spoken on Haiti)

Church:
There just over 300 members and three branches of the LDS Church in French Guiana:

• Cayenne (Church-owned chapel)
  
• Kourou
• Matoury

Missionary Work:
As of June 2009 there were six elders serving in French Guiana. They travel all day by van, canoe and then taxi to join the Dutch speaking elders in Suriname for zone conferences.

History:
Charles Fortin, a native of French Guiana, was baptized in France and returned to his homeland in 1980. Rosiette Fauvette, also baptized in France, returned to French Guiana in July 1981. She attended Sunday meetings at Fortin’s home in Cayenne. Charles Fortin introduced the Church to many people before his death in April 1986. By then, several other members were attending services, including Gerald Charpentier, who later became president of the first branch (a small congregation). Meetings were then held in the home of the Masinski family until January 1987 when they were moved to Rosiette Fauvette’s home in Kourou. In August 1987, the Francois Pratique family moved from France to Cayenne and began attending meetings.

Elder Charles Didier of the Seventy (one of the governing bodies of the Church) visited in March 1988 and organized a group. In November 1988, Serge and Christie Bonnoit of France became the first converts in French Guiana. In May 1989, the Kourou Branch was formed and in August, the Cayenne Branch was created with Francois Pratique as president.
In July 1989, the first missionary couple Wilbur and Jacqueline Wortham arrived in the country. They were followed in November 1989 by A. Edward and Louise P. Schmidt. The newly organized branch in Cayenne had about 23 members. On February 27, 1990, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve (the second highest governing body of the Church) blessed the land and with Elder Charles Didier visited branch members in both Cayenne and Kourou.

The Church has grown slowly in French Guiana due to members immigrating to France. A chapel was constructed in Cayenne and was dedicated in March 1999 by West Indies Mission president Kenneth J. Mason.

Pictures:

Cayenne Chapel


Kourou building


future missionaries ready for church


The elders take this canoe to reach zone conference in Suriname


There's a font in the Cayenne chapel but in other areas baptisms can take place in the sea


French Guiana elders serve in the furthest and most difficult to reach area of the mission - but they are tough enough to handle it and love the work!


Amazing wildlife

Sea turtle laying her eggs (with President Robison looking on)


A sloth!

Sister Robison's Write up about Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe



Facts:

• Population is about 406,000
• This island is owned by France and is part of the European Union. It’s currency is the euro
• French is the official language but many of the inhabitants speak Creole
• Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the pineapple on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493 during his 2nd voyage.
• Tourism is its key industry

Church:
There are 6 LDS Church branches in Guadeloupe and about 400 members

• Abymes (church-owned chapel)
  
• Basse-Terre
• Capesterre
• Gosier
• Lamentin
• Moule

Missionary Work
As of June 2009 there were 14 elders serving in Guadeloupe and one senior couple - Elder and Sister Collings



History:
Among the first converts in Guadeloupe was the Claire Dinane family. Dinane came into contact with the Church because of his duties as a customs officer where he met Latter-day Saints. His family soon moved, but a nucleus of members had joined the Church through contact with Dinane. The Guadeloupe Branch (a small congregation) was organized in June 1982, but was discontinued several months later due to the apostasy of a member of the Church.

In June 1984, West Indies Mission President Kenneth Zabriskie sent French-speaking missionaries to Guadeloupe who had been transferred from French-speaking missions in Europe. Through their efforts the Grande-Terre Branch was organized by Elder Ronald E. Poelman of the Seventy (one of the governing bodies of the Church) in August 1984. The branch was strengthened by Dusan Kolvic, a Yugoslavian refugee who learned of the Church in France, but was not baptized. Kolvic’s work as a policeman for the French government required a transfer to Guadeloupe, and one evening he was dispatched to arrest a drunkard who was attacking two missionaries. Kolvic later joined the Church and served as branch president from 1986 – 1988. Because of Guadeloupe’s connection to France, there have been several members from France who have lived on the island for a few years and brought valuable experience to the Church there.

In April 1998, West Indies Mission President Kenneth J. Mason dedicated the first chapel in Guadeloupe at Basse-Terre.

Pictures:

Happy elders in Guadeloupe


They know how to have fun on their preparation days




There is a font in Abymes but occasionally baptisms take place in the sea or in a waterfall pool



Gorgeous waterfalls everywhere


And blue blue sea

A Photo Story of Elder Ison's Mission