I must confess even the idea of meeting them is a bit intimidating, let alone meeting with them for 4 1/2 hours and discussing what you are doing and how it is going.
Our Stake President and his 2nd counselor were there of course and the meeting was actually set up for them. We were invited to attend and share our feelings and some of the things that we have seen happen over the last 3 years. ;o}
The Elders were Elder Robert Gay and Elder Michael Teh along with Mike Murray, who offered me a job when I left this mission. LOL
The first hour or so we talked about the Gardening Program and what we are doing in family history and how that was going. Well, all of a sudden Elder Gay looks at President Justice and asks, "Do you want to know why we really came?"
We all looked up and each had some seconds of being slightly scared and racking our brain about what we had been doing recently that might have come to the attention of the brethren in SLC. We all must have had similar expressions, which we laughed about later. In any case, Elder Gay starts teaching this amazing insight about the scriptures relating it to what we are doing and how it is going.
I could not begin to repeat all that was said, but it was an amazing experience to be across the table and hear the teaching of one who sits with prophet on a regular basis. Their level of understanding of the scriptures is amazing.
I have been keeping records of each participant ever since we got here. I track them by name and know who has continued to plant and if they have not continued what the reason for stopping was, as we understood it. Some stop because they move, some have actually passed away, but their family has continued. Others are challenged with addictions and a few are just to lazy to do it anymore. In any case I decided it would be helpful if I printed out the sheets with the names and what their planting record was for the last 4 years.
I also did the percentage for each year, which I listed at the bottom of the spread sheet. They did look at it, but I wasn't sure how helpful it had been. I also had prepared a PowerPoint presentation which we quickly went through. Wasn't sure how effective that was either.
In any case as we started to clean things up, Elder Teh folds all the spreadsheets and sticks them into his briefcase. Elder Cay get out a thumb drive and wants to know if it is OK if he makes a copy of the PowerPoint Presentation. I am going to assume that they want to check it out a little more when they have time. I did tell him that I had made the presentation so he could use it if he wanted to.
They made us all feel like we were doing some amazing things and we should continue to do what we are doing to help the people become more self-reliant through gardening and to work on their family history. This week we were full to overflowing every day we were open.
Our new Seminary Couple arrived Friday. They are Elder & Sister Simpson from Layton, UT. They are ready to jump in and get started. I am so excited to have them here. They seem eager and willing to help in any way that they can. They have 7 children and 26 grandchildren. I think we will do well together in furthering the work.
President Batt called this afternoon and I guess nobody seems to know who we are and where we are, since they don't have any paperwork. We were set apart 19 Dec 2013 for this mission which started on 14 Feb 2014. Although I have sent rent money every month, it has not been taken out of our home ward acct. He is going to work on that. That may be why they keep calling to ask us our exit date.
Tomorrow we will have our 4th funeral in 3 weeks. It is very interesting to watch how different things go when a member funeral takes place and what happens when a family that does not have the gospel in their lives takes place. They cannot be comforted, because they believe that the person is literally gone.
Member families find peace and comfort in knowing that it is just a separation and that they will be reunited once again.
Each day we learn more about the people and about ourselves and how much we need to continue learning and growing in the gospel. I am so grateful for my testimony and The Book of Mormon. We learned so much from Elder Gay about the First Vision. I wish I had been able to record his words.
We think of you and pray for you every day.
Love,
Elder & Sister Olson
No comments:
Post a Comment