Chapter 3: “I only have 2 yrs, 11 mo. & 2 wks left of my mission...”

July 12, 2021

We have been in the mission now for 12 days and aside from the first very quick update there has not yet been another opportunity to write, but I could sum it all up so far as an "exhilarating humbling" experience! I knew I'd want to share the miracles of the work- I just didn’t expect to have them every day, and quite honestly, I struggle to know what to share. If I treat my weekly letters home as a journal, I will give you too much. I’m resigned to jot down key words or names each night in hopes that it will remind me of what I most want to keep as I look back at the last week, but it’s an overwhelming list of miracles, tender mercies and confirmations that God is in the work with us!

To illustrate the pace we’ve kept this week, we have, as of last night, personally met all 233 missionaries across 24 Districts, including our wonderful office staff and senior couples- holding mini zone conferences with them and setting the tone for the rest of our mission. Tomorrow (Tues) we will be on the road through Saturday returning to those same areas to continue personal interviews. Next week will be the same until every missionary has an opportunity to meet with both of us in separate interviews. I lack the words to describe those choice moments I have with them. I assumed I would ask the same Q’s or share similar invitations, but each of the 50 or so we’ve done have been uniquely tailored to them as I’ve responded to spiritual promptings in the moment. Sometimes they write down what I say which is still surprising and humbling. The 16-17 hour days would have leveled us at any other time in our lives, but we are miraculously energized and sustained! This alone is a miracle.

Someone asked us what has surprised us the most. For Rick it’s the amount of administrative needs (responding to emails etc) that he struggles to keep up with after so many hours of “ministering.” For me, it was the ease with which the missionaries loved us back! We assumed we’d have to earn their love and trust over time, but to our great joy and astonishment it was INSTANT! Some said the moment they saw our faces on the mission wide zoom call the first morning, they felt our love. How gratifying for us, for we have been praying for them since we were called last September. Long before we even knew where we’d be assigned, they have been in our hearts and in our prayers! It was faaar more than I could have even dared to pray for! They have received us with open arms and the comments from their reports this week have reflected their renewed zeel, love and commitment to their purpose. I cannot thank heaven enough for that gift!

I testify that God is able to give us whatever help we require to do His work! I have witnessed it over and over in my own responsibilities and seen it in Rick as he has strived to carry out his various responsibilities over the years, but, what I have witnessed over these past days and weeks has taken that testimony to the next level.  In the interest of time, I’ll share just one example:

Because of the pace and heavy demands upon him, there is little, to no time, to make decisions. Normally, you would take time to study things out and ponder before making a decision, but when in charge of a mission, even incredibly important ones must be made quickly!   It was another late night when Rick was made aware of a serious situation that needed to be handled before morning. After very briefly counseling with the AP’s over the phone where several options were discussed, he hung up and said, “I need to pray about this.” I stopped what I was doing and the two of us knelt together at the edge of the bed in the hotel room and he simply said, “Heavenly Father, I love Elder ____. I need confirmation to move him ___ with ___and then we waited, eyes closed and hearts open.

After a full minute of silence, I heard him say with tremendous gratitude, “Thank you Father!” He closed his prayer, stood up and exclaimed, “I know it’s right. I know it’s right,” then call his AP’s to give them the go ahead. It was as if he was just as surprised as I was that it could happen with such clarity in so short a time!

I will never forget that! It has never happened like this before, but it’s never been required before either!  Since then, he reports that it has happened many more times, but that night I was a witness to the power of heaven assisting my husband to do, not only exactly what was required, but also what was promised by Elder Bednar when he was set-apart; receive heaven’Is help to minister to our missionaries. I have always known God knows each one of us and directs his servants to act in their behalf, but this was a very special witness he allowed me to experience that showed it with tender clarity. I promise it is true for all of us!

In closing, I feel to share the same words I shared at the conclusion of our last zone conference on the final day of our tour! The feeling has not left me, nor do I expect them to...

”Elders and sisters, I invite you to make every moment count on your mission! This 18 months to 2 years of your life is unique to any other time you will ever spend. One in which you get to dedicate yourself fully and completely to the gospel of Jesus Christ without the competing demands of school, jobs, friends, life stresses dividing your attention and energy. I personally have only 2 years, 11 months and 2 weeks left on my mission to do the same and I don’t want to waste a single moment of it!”

As the young missionaries have constantly commented on our energy and enthusiasm, they call it the “fire of a ‘greenie’! And while there is no question that we came with renewed energy and zeel being in the company of so many stellar young people unified in the same purpose, they will learn over time, that our “greenie” fire doesn’t dim. This is who we are and the love and excitement for the gospel we have, we will always have with us!

For me, it’s not a lifestyle I put on with a name tag. It’s a fire in my bones, kindled from a lifetime of testimony, trust, reliance, and partnership with my Savior. When they know us better, they’ll see the fire doesn’t dim. It will just keep getting brighter. (A frightening thought for my face since I already wake up with sore muscles from smiling all night!)

Among the many things I have learned these past weeks, it not really OUR might mind and strength we give to the work, though we do offer everything we have! No matter those talents or efforts we bring to beare, we will always fall short of what is required to do His work. But when we partner with God, it is really HIS might, HIS mind, and HIS strength that we tap into to accomplish our responsibilities. We are, after all, partnering with a God of miracles! So as we give Him everything- we can indeed expect His miracles! I love remembering that! Most importantly I love knowing that! 

 

 H