This is a copy of a letter I sent to our Leaders about the little adventure we had last night. Thought it would be OK to share it with you also.
Some evenings are more fun than others and last night was one of them. Sister Corry and I had gone out earlier in the day and were able to put a number of participants in the GPS that appeared to be missing. We had quite the adventure finding some of the participants from last year that the Littlefields and the Hansens had tended. We also got to meet several "friends" who were very helpful in pointing us in the right direction and which also provided opportunities to share a brief message about the church and what we were doing.
Around 4:20 I felt like I should go and add a few more before I had to give the GPS unit back. Elder Olson "sort of volunteered" to be the driver. Several more "scenic" routes were taken, but eventually new participants were located and added to the system of coordinates, which will make it easier for new missionaries, young and old, to find in the future.
We went by a "late comer" participant who's gr grandmother was a "Mormon", met her husband, and took the opportunity to tell them what an amazing job they were doing with all the "blow sand" they had to work with. As we walked back to the garden, her new neighbor who is also a co-worker came to the fence and visited about what she was doing with her backyard. She pointed out that they had a lot to do and she was loving the challenge.
She had noticed that the previous occupant had had some sort of drip irrigation. After visiting with the one we had come to see, we walked over to the neighbor's backyard and visited with her. We have already given the young Elders the 2 new referrals. It never ceases to amaze me how "orchestrated" our days are by the Lord.
Both of these women associate with the YW President of the 2nd Ward at their work place who told them about what the church does to help people put in gardens and become more self-reliant. It was pretty obvious that the YW President has become a great example of sharing the gospel.
While were were out, we were able to visit several less active families, leave a brief message, tell them how much we missed them, and leave behind a hug and hopes to see them again soon at church .
As we drove away Elder Olson asked if I had put them on the UPS. I assured him that they were all on the GPS. He smiled and said he was glad I had got them on the DPS.
Every family expressed gratitude for the short visit and you could see in their eyes just how much those few minutes meant and the reminder of what they should be doing and where they should be on Sunday. If our "Home Teachers" and "Visiting Teachers" could gain a testimony of how important those visits are to members they would go out each month and come home with their own increased testimony of how much those visits mean to the members.
How grateful we are to be here and to be serving in the way that we are. We recognize that these sacred funds are being well used and that almost every previous gardener continues to plant each year. Some continue to need assistance, but even more have the confidence to maintain their gardens on their own and are willing to help others start.
The Senior Couple in Kaibeto have had a recent contact stand up to a friend when they were saying things about the Mormons which he did not hesitate to correct because of the interaction he has had with the Mormons. Slowly but steadily, barriers are being taken down, and misunderstandings made right, by those who's hearts are being touched.
Sister Olson
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