7 September 2013
I think
that I have mentioned that I have a bird who likes to sing to me outside
my window each morning at 6:30 am. It brings me great joy to hear this
bird. I don't know what kind of bird it is because I have yet to see
it. It sings for about 15 minutes. It doesn't wake me up because by
the time it starts I have been up for an hour or so. Its sounds are so
different than the rat race of life in Cotonou. It is melodic. It is
peaceful. A far cry from the motos and cars that are always honking.
Hello
to all of you; it has been sometime since I last wrote and not because
we haven't been doing much. Our days are filled with new events on a
very regular basis. Just when we think we have seen or heard everything
something happens which causes me to take pause and examine what I
think may have occurred.
This past while I have
noticed how the people speak so positively and unashamedly they about
the gospel of Jesus Christ and His ministry. They seem to recognize, at
least those who are somewhat tuned into finding the purpose of life,
the great power that comes from living the precepts of the gospel. They
announce that it is God who provides whatever it is they have; their
families, their food, their home. They hold in great reverence the
power of the priesthood and know that the authority is here on the earth
again. As they learn the gospel they learn that love is the most
divine of all the attributes of God. They are patient, yet anxious.
They have few of the many distractions of life that we have in the
States. They also know that there are many more blessing that await
them. Once baptized they immediately begin to prepare to go to the
temple. They do baptisms for the dead. They do a lot of family history
work. Then after one year they can enter into the other covenants of
temple and receive great blessing in this life and in the life yet to
come. They tell me that the gospel has great power. The missionaries continue
to teach the converts for some time about these other blessings. They
recognize that have just entered onto the path of exaltation by
exercising faith, repenting and being baptized.
There are great
challenges for each of these people. There is sickness, unemployment,
lack of basic things we take for granted like clean water and
electricity and sewage disposal. Then lack of good education and
providing food is a daily challenge. Then there are the challenges of
society which are described in the Book of Mormon.
There have been some
tender moments that I have observed which made me wonder why I haven't
paid attention to these emotions that our missionaries face. We have
four new sisters that have recently entered the mission field. Not the
new ones from this week. Sister Semken and I inspect the missionary
apartments for cleanliness, to take cleaning supplies and the Ensign
(the Liahona), new cups, plates, and such. We are so pleased to see
them. And they us. The first question asked is : do you have any mail
for me. The apartment that is the neatest and cleanest get taken to
lunch. Certainly nothing extravagant. Well the competition is keen.
The difference is now down to doing something extra special. For
example the missionaries have a fans to keep them cool during the day
and at night the fan is placed directly on the missionary. I notice
that there was like a "rust" or "dirt build up on the cages and the
blades. I suggested that they clean them off so the air could flow
better and the dirt wouldn't get into their throats. Well this past
week I noticed in one apartment how clean the fans were. They told me
they took the fans completely apart and washed every fan. WoW. The
apartments are so clean that we now have 6, 7, or 8 that score nearly
100% on cleanliness. Well, back to the sisters. The sisters apartments
the first month were not too good. Then the next month one of the
sister's apartment would be rated as 5 star hotel. It was immaculate,
spotless, under the beds, the furniture, the dishes, the refrigerator
was as clean as any you would see in the best restaurants. We
immediately informed them they were the winner. One very gracious
sister went into the kitchen all excited and told the sister in the
kitchen that they had won that day. They came out of the kitchen
jumping and dancing. The other sister's joined in. It was as if it
were a double Christmas.
Shortly after I asked the
sisters about home. Three of the four had been members for 15 years.
There families were members for longer periods of time. The other
sister had been a member of the church for only two years. I asked if
the first time they attended the temple was when the entered the MTC.
Yes, was the answer. I asked about their parents. Not one had been to
the temple; to far away, no money. The long time member sister had
other sibling who have served missions. I asked one sister, the
gracious, mature sister about her mother. She said she was a very
gracious and wonderful mother, so loving, kind, charitable.
A few days later they
were in the mission home to get their visas. The one sister I have been
speaking about took a sister who was crying out on the porch. I just
watched. They came back in and nothing more was said. The next day we
took these two sisters to see the doctor. The doctor couldn't find
anything wrong with the tiny sister. She (the doctor) then said to her:
do you miss your family? She just started sobbing and crying. She was
homesick; she missed her family so very much. This was the first time
she had been away from home. The doctor, not a member, then said; you
have been called a mission for your God for 18 months, you must have
faith that He will help you serve your 18 months. Please come and visit
me in a week . The doctor then reported to us that maybe she could
call home and visit. She needs a mother's touch. I reported that to
the President. He was out of town at the time. But, said that he and
Sister Weed would go and visit her. Which they did and allowed her to
call home. So far, so good. But, you see, I had missed the tender emotions that one can
have. i hadn't even suspected that the elders and sisters would miss
home so much that they would be homesick.
There have been two other events over the past month that caused me
to explore tender feelings. Which, I admit, I have. Jesus the Christ,
His Misson is all about life!
I wish I could write and
speak as the prophets, like power and the still small voice. I quote
from President David O McKay: The literal resurrection is from the
grave was a reality . "The spirit of man passes triumphantly through the
portals of death into everlasting life is one of the glorious message
given by Christ, our Redeemer. To him this earthly career is but a day
and its closing but the setting of life's sun. Death, but a sleep , is
followed by a glorious awakening in the morning of an eternal realm." I wept when I read those lines. For I know that it is true. I testify that it is true.
Now there are missionaries in our mission as in all of the other
missions who have loved ones that have passed the portals of death into
everlasting life. They have very tender hearts now having been touched
by the loss of a loved one. They too are able to testify about the
sacredness of life and the great blessings of life and that through the
Atonement and resurrection great blessing are yet to come. They have
emotions that are near the surface. They develop great maturity. They
learn that though their loved ones are not as to this world but that
they, the loved ones, are still a part of their life; and that the
missionary is still a part of the loved one's life who is but asleep as
to the mortal body.
Another tender moment came
when two couples who desired to be baptized had to be married. I have
written about the traditions of fathers about marriage and the
difficulty in being able to. The missionaries came to me and asked what
can we do. (I was putting them to a test). I told them to ask President
Lionel (a new branch president). He told them he didn't know what to
do. We can't use church funds for such purposes. A week later I
received a call asking if I could take 18 of them to be married. I said
yes. It is done by the justice of the peace. Following the wedding as
I dropped the elders off; I asked how did you or they get the money for
them to be wedded? The elder said, the missionaries in the zone each
gave money enough so they could be married. Can you imagine? From the
meager funds of the missionaries they offered a sacrifice for the
benefit of someone else, for their eternal welfare. The missionaries
may not know nor realize this, but they also did this unto the Savior
and to their eternal welfare.
So there are many
unwritten and unknown acts of faith and tender moments of mercy. That
is why you have sent your sons and daughters on missions. You too are
blessed. All of you. I thank all who help in anyway, the reward is the
same.
I wish all of you well.
Elder Semken