September 15, 2012

Somehow we have lost 2 blog entries to the cloud in the sky or wherever things go on computers instead of where they are suppose to go.  :)  So here goes another try!!  It is such a privilege to be on a mission close to family members!  We got to go to Amy's home in Walnut Creek last week-end for a special Stake Conference.  Our granddaughter, Sophie, sang a beautiful duet to almost 1500 people at their Stake Conference.  I don't think I have ever sung in front of that many people and she sang with a smile on her face and with such grace and joy.  They did an arrangement of "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and there were very few dry eyes in the congregation.  We also wanted to be there to hear Eleanor Lyons speak.  Eleanor and her late husband, Matt, are very dear friends of Amy and Alph's.  As I learned of the many different times that Alph and Amy have been there for Eleanor, my mother's heart has been "righteously pleased" to  know what wonderful, supportive people they each are. Matt died 2 months ago as he was hiking up a mountain to meet the ward's scout troop who had been on a 30 mile wilderness hike.  He was only 41 years old and was a bishop and father of 4 young children.  It is difficult to put into words the spirit that was in that meeting.  Several speakers spoke of their experiences during Matt's passing that testified of the Lord's tender mercies and comforting love.  Eleanor said many things but I want to share a few of her remarks with you that touched me deeply.  She said, "It is not in strength that we survive and even triumph, it is in meekness.  Meekness is not weakness, but a humble awareness of our weaknesses."  She shared a quote from Elder Neil A. Maxwell that said "Meekness is not tentativeness, but thoughtfulness and patience  Meekness does not rest on insecurity and fear but on trust and courage.  Meekness is being teachable.  Meekness permits us to be confident, as was Nephi, of that which we do know--even  when we do not know the meaning of all things.  (1 Nephi 11:17)  Eleanor was using her newfound understanding of meekness to find peace and joy in a situation that would normally bring nothing but grief and pain. She went on to say, " It is not easy to be meek.  It requires us, when our life does not got as planned, when our circumstances become unbearable, to sit still, zoom out  on the location of our tragedy, adjust the focus of our heart and mind, and see the entire landscape.  In my case, in the space between Matt's death and my response to it, I was able to sit still long enough to choose faith, then witness something special: the grace of the Lord at work."

We all have those "aha" moments in life when we feel something deeply and we say to ourselves, "I want to be like that.  I want to be meek and feel that incredible love that can only come from the Lord when we truly choose faith and put our whole trust in Him."  How wonderful it is to know that that is possible for each of us if we only put forth the effort to understand the incredible power of the Atonement.  

I am sure that of the many things that John and I need to learn to serve well on this mission is indeed meekness.  We will drive and drive some days and feel that we have accomplished nothing.  Then other days, we will return and say,  "What sweet experiences we have had today.'  We just want to "move mountains" every day and build testimonies and bring people closer to the Savior.  Our day goes so quickly it seems.  By the time we eat, exercise, study and get our "travels" organized for the day, it is 1:00 and we try to leave the apartment between 1:00 and 1:30.  Then we are out visiting until 5 or 6:00 p.m.  We taught our first "Daily Dose" English speaking classes last week in a members home and felt really good about it. This Wednesday evening we start our classes at the church.  We have had quite an interest so I am most anxious to see how many remember to come.  We often joke about Mormons operating on "Mormon time" (that is being late to meetings, but here they operate on "Island Time".  We were thinking about having a volleyball game or Rugby game an hour before our class time and then everyone would be there.  I am on the laptop and am making so many mistakes I will close for now and let John add more tomorrow.