Some tender moments of the week---
-- Elder Billin has been here over four months waiting for his visa to Brazil. He has been an amazing missionary and is always positive. When he bore his testimony this week he said...."I have learned that I cant control my surroundings and what goes on, but I can control how I respond to those things that happen around me and to me." He has been exemplary. He received his visa the next day and will leave Monday morning.
-- Elder Akaka--He goes home really soon and was talking about what the mission has done for him and how it has changed him. "The most precious thing," he says, "is my relationship with his family...now I always tell them I love them and before couldn't." I love how they grow up.
--At one of the conferences there were four sisters in the zone. When we went into the chapel I sat on one side on the stand and they were on the other side in the congregation. One of them came up and said...Sister Palmer will you come on the other side so we can see you during the meeting. I moved and during the meeting as I watched these four lovely sisters I thought of my four girls....how much I love them all, how grateful I am they love each other, and how great it is that they share faith together. I hope they will always be a strength to one another and that they will want me to feel a part of them too. The sisters in our mission are amazing and I always learn something from them.
--Another missionary was talking about how the new training has helped him. He said it has changed his mission completely. He said that now he is not just checking off a list to make sure they have taught an investigator the things needed, but now he is more loving and caring and seeks to bring the spirit into each home he enters. "My goal is now to invite them and help them come unto Christ" We talked a lot about inviting at zone conference... We dont commit someone or we take away their agency. We invite and they make the commitment.
--Elder Horne did a musical number for one of the zone conferences. He borrowed Geoffrey's trumpet and played If you could Hie to Kolob. E. Smith did a great job accompanying him. It was a beautiful number. I thought so much of Geoffrey when he played. He had a similar tone and vibrato, and was really expressive like Geoff is. I got a little homesick for Geoffrey. I have always loved how he loves his music. It was something we really enjoyed together. After, dad said how much he enjoyed it and then asked for words to describe the sound....clear- direct - ringing - pure- were some of the words used. Then dad in his great teaching way, had the missionaries open up D&C 42:6 and 43:25 and compared them and the message they carry to the sound of a trumpet.
-- I got a phone call from one of the missionaries late at night on Thursday. When I answered it became obvious that they had dialed my number without knowing it. I listened trying to figure out which missionaries they were. Then there was some noise and I realized quickly that they had just knelt down and were saying their evening prayer together. I listened in to these two good missionaries offering such a humble sincere prayer. They expressed great love and concern for those they are working with amongst other things. I thought of all the missionaries throughout the mission kneeling in prayer and realized what a great unifying event it is. It unifies the companions to each other and to those with whom they work. It unifies the mission to have the great strength and power that comes through prayer, and it unifies each one of us with our Father in Heaven. I will treasure that memory.
And a funny one---"Sister Palmer I think I have an ingrown toenail". Lets have a look-I say. MMnnn-what clippers did you use to cut it Elder? "Cut my nail? I just pick at it then I can usually rip it off. I dont really need clippers". There are still some things I really need to take the time to teach!! :)
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