In the very next hour...

(I started this in late November but didn't get it finished until just now.)

"Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man." -Doctrine and Covenants 84:85

What a cool scripture! I need to work a little bit on receiving this promised blessing. I need to pray for courage, wisdom and calmness that will enable me to receive the words I should say in the very hour I need them. Make no mistake. I am given the words I should say; it's just that they don't come to me until the very next hour!
Two days ago, I received an irate phone call. The call was not totally unexpected, because there are some big changes being made in our mission.

Beginning the first week in December, we will become a letter-writing mission. That's as in pen and paper, stamp and envelope, hand written with no spell check, and yes... a no e-mailing mission!
And that's not all. In an attempt to re-insert the preparation into our Monday P-day activities, there will be no more gathering together as zones to congregate downtown or to play hard sports. Let me just clarify that this does not apply to the senior missionaries, although for us all,

THESE. ARE. BIG. CHANGES.

So, when someone's Grandma called to tell me that we were running a prison, I was not totally shocked. But I was disappointed with my fumbling attempts to help her understand, especially since I understood!

It was not until after we had hung up...in the very next hour... that I collected my thoughts. I can't keep doing that. I have to get better at speaking up, and letting the Spirit work through me.

Chances are she will never read this, But I would still like to address my comments to her.

Dear Missionary Grandmother,

I am a grandma, too. And I have a son who served a mission twelve years ago. Even back then, his was one of the only missions I was aware of that was not allowed to use the Internet. I was so angry and hurt by this. It did not seem fair to me.

So, when our Mission President announced to us in a staff meeting his decision to become a letter-writing only mission, a flood of bad memories resurfaced! I was angry and hurt all over again. I could not believe what I was hearing!

I did not voice my concerns to our Mission President. But I did do something I had not done twelve years ago. I made it a matter of prayer. I poured out my concerns to my Heavenly Father. He could fix things.

I was surprised that there was no phone call from Salt Lake or the Pacific Area Presidency. I was surprised that our Mission President did not come to his senses and change his mind about the policy. Most of all, I was surprised at the answer I received. Moses 5. Clear and distinct. There was no mistake. Moses 5 was my answer.  It was me that needed fixing. 

In Moses, chapter 5,  Adam and Eve  were cast out of the Garden of Eden after they had partaken of the forbidden fruit.  Life became challenging for them. Among other things, they were given the commandment to offer sacrifices to God of the firstlings  of their flocks-so they did.

The account says that after many days, an angel of the Lord came to Adam and asked him why he offered sacrifices to the Lord. The answer Adam gave the angel was,

“I know not, save the Lord commanded me.”

Adam wasn’t told why he was commanded to offer sacrifices. But he did not question the Lord’s command. He simply obeyed.

Adam’s obedience was rewarded with some gospel insight, given to him by the angel.

“This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father...”

He understood after he obeyed.

And that wasn’t all. Something else, even more wonderful.

“And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son”

The Holy Ghost fell upon Adam! 

That was my answer. Right there in Moses 5. Heavenly Father  quietly reminded me that obedience brings blessings! I want to receive some of those obedience blessings!

And so, dear Missionary Grandma, I invite you to follow the example set first by Adam and Eve. Support your missionary grandson.  Encourage him not to question. Just obey. Testify to him that great blessings will come to him and to you and to the Mission when we are obedient.  Remind him of the counsel Mormon gave to his son Moroni,

“wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."


 The Church is true.  Heavenly Father loves us.  Faith is not always getting what you want, but it is believing in what you get.  I believe President Leota was inspired to make these changes.  I testify that obedience will bring blessings.

Beautiful Samoa

I started a file I call,  Beautiful Samoa.  There are way too many pictures to post, so I thought I'd go through and just upload some of my favorites.   Way too hard....they are all favorites.  Here's a few, in no particular order...just breath taking.

Pesaga Lua Farewell Fiafia

Pesega Lua gave us the most wonderful fiafia when we left.

It made us feel very loved.    Our greatest compliments came when they told us we were "Samoan". 

We truly felt like brothers and sisters.

Here's Mike dancing with the Relief Society President, Sister Naea.

Two of our dearest friends, Sister Manoa and Brother Kaio. 

It's hard to say good bye to these fine people.

I especially love the youth and their fine manners and willingness to share their talents again and again.

This family will always be dear to us...the Talaipa family.  The two little boys sobbed and hid from us when we first arrived.  Last week, one of them came up and hugged Elder Merrell's leg. (Now he was the one sobbing!)

 The youth of the ward are the best!

 This little guy now carries Mickal's name.  Pretty special memories.

 Not too many of the Samoan babies cry when we pick them up any more! 

 Sister Toala. 

She is the absolute salt of the earth.  No finer woman in the world. 

 Oh how we will miss these people!

Cousins

Their stories will stay with us forever. 

 This young lady has the most incredible testimony and beautiful spirit.

Bishop and Sister Joseph and a couple of their kids.  I have no words to adequately describe them.  Suffice it to say that we were the envy of every other senior missionary couple on the island. 

We were so blessed to be a part of this ward. 

Matou te alofa Pesega Lua. 

Fa'afetai tele lava!

Valentine's Prom

Pesega Lua had a prom for Vaelntine's Day.  The women were invited to wear prom dresses.  I did not have one, so I wore a pretty skirt and matching top.    I fit right in with everyone.

These manikins (oh wow!  I can't remember how to spell in English anymore!) were part of the decorations.

I'm with Ken; I'm not sure who Mike's with.

As usual, there were people of all ages and sizes dancing with one another.

The missionaries were obedient and pretty much stayed outside, keeping their distance from all the cute girls.  I love these guys!

This little sweetheart and her brother were having fun, too.

Brother and Sister To'a are recent new grandparents.  This little guy chose to come down to earth just as Sacrament meeting started.  Sister To'a, sitting on the stand with her family, received a cell phone call, immediately jumped up and left.  Brother To'a got  talk a little longer than he had planned that day!

This shows you that Samoa does have some fancy technology when it comes to music at ward dances.

Brother and Sister Key, with matching dress and tie.

Cute prom dress!

I walked into the kitchen with a camera in my hand and got instant smiles!

These guys were ready for the camera. too!

One picture is never enough...and more and more keep jumping in!

I am going to miss this when we go home.

Relief Society Presidency plus a young single adult.  That's something else I love.  Everyone pitches in to help.

I was taking a picture of the girl in back when these two popped into the picture!

It was a great night!  Good clean family fun!  That's what the gospel teaches.