Written by Carter
An item of sad news: several weeks ago, I mentioned a Church member (not a missionary) where I played a small role in getting him to the US for surgery on a benign brain tumor. Well…he passed away last week. I pray for his bereaved widow and family of this good man. I mourn with them. ar Ones,
Speaking of death and mourning: I studied Elder Christofferson’s General Conference talk recently. In it, he mentions the graves of three small children whose parents served as missionaries in Samoa in the late 1800’s. Their graves were still being cared for almost 30 years later by those who were influenced by their parents’ service. This story reminds me of those who are caring for Ashton’s grave as we have been serving our missions. I gratefully and humbly acknowledge your kind acts of service. Thank you!
I have crossed paths with a doctor who volunteered to teach other doctors in the island nation of Vanuatu. His wife is a schoolteacher who served her mission there before they married. They have 6 children: 3 grown and 3 still with them. He said this about their experience: “Our epidemiological data are fascinating. This is appears to be one of the healthiest years in Vanuatu on record. In [the language spoken here], “influenza” would be translated something like “The Tourists’ Disease” as it is generally re-imported every year.” That is fascinating!
By the way, if any of you are interested in receiving the weekly report that I help compile about the evolving health and political situations in the countries in the Pacific area, send me your email and I’ll add it to my mailing list.
On Monday, Faye and I participated in a Zoom call with 5 of my siblings. I’m grateful for the love and mutual respect I feel for and from them. They are some great folks. I hope we are making our parents proud! Before leaving home for an activity, Mother would often say, “Show your raisin’s!” I don’t think I really understood until I left home for college that she wanted me to remember how I was raised — and to act accordingly!
We learned this week that one of our grandsons might need surgery to correct a minor birth defect. Faye and I knelt in prayer in his behalf. Within seconds of standing from our prayer, we received a text that he does not need surgery and that normal growth may correct his condition. I was reminded of “the immediate goodness of God” mentioned in the Book of Mormon. As our six-year-old granddaughter wrote in the margin of her scriptures, “I love God!”
We also learned this week that our Venezualan “son” living in Peru has found work! He was laid off for several months because of the pandemic lockdown…and he was far from his extended family. Fortunately, his wife and son are with him. What an answer to prayer! God is good!
I spoke with the wife of the Fiji mission president this week. She told me how they felt prompted to use the booklet “Adjusting to Missionary Life.” Previously, they were asking the missionaries to use it only when they were struggling. Now, they are asking everyone to use it regularly to help them develop new skills. One of the things that often challenge missionaries is talking to new people. I remember that and it’s intimidating most of the time. Missionary work is hard work! She has been encouraging them to practice initiating conversations with people, just for the sake of practicing that skill. When they attend Church meetings, she encouraged them to talk to someone they didn’t previously know very well (or at all). The missionaries are loving this exercise…and it’s helping them talk to people in a relaxed way. It’s also helping them talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ in a more natural way. One comment she made really struck me: “There is nothing ‘wrong” with a person if they have a particular weakness.” My thoughts: Being weak is part of God’s plan for our mortal/human state! It’s normal! My state of weakness allows me to choose to humble myself, to repent and turn to Christ and to accept His grace. Through Christ is the only way to make lasting change. This topic also reminds me that we all have strengths. Rather than boast in my own strengths, however, I can choose to acknowledge that they are gifts from God. He has given them to me so I can bless others! As Paul taught in comparing the ancient Church to the body of Christ, we need everyone! Our bodies need eyes and ears and feet and a heart, etc. This world needs us all to generously share the special gifts that we all bring to it. Praise God! Praise His perfect plan!
The Fiji mission president and wife should have been released last month, but their replacement is in the US and the pandemic is preventing him from coming to Fiji for now. When I told Faye about my phone call with the mission president’s wife, she thought of the verse in Esther 4:14, where Mordecia reminded Esther that she became queen “…for such a time as this…” I believe these inspired mission leaders are still in Fiji now “…for such a time as this…”
I testify that, as a companion scripture to the Bible, the Book of Mormon testifies that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, speaks today as well as in days of old. What a blessing to know that He lives and still leads and guides me and His Church…through living prophets and apostles!