Compliments Can Go a LONG Way
I have to remind myself to take more pictures. Today alone, the young missionaries were here for our district meeting and lunch, and then returned with a young non-member woman for Institute. I know how much it meant to me to get news of Derek and Lia when they were on their missions, and the kindest calls or letters were from members just complimenting us on our child/missionary. If those calls or letters had been accompanied by a picture, it would have been truly exciting for us.
I can sincerely compliment these young people. Elder Hill, our district leader conducts the meetings with an earnest solemnity. He always has an agenda which he follows. He takes us through teaching principles, reports for the week from each companionship and then an inspirational thought. The other three missionaries participate with proper respect for what they are doing. The more I get to know Elder Tshendabo (from the Congo), the more I admire him and his desire to be obedient. He is a very good man with a strong testimony, who will always follow through with anything he promises to do.
Sister Porter from Provo is cute as can be but also serious about the work. She gave a demonstration today about how to teach someone who has expressed interest in the gospel. I'm just amazed at how natural - good solid teaching principles seem for her. You would think she had been a school teacher for years.
Sister Marinello from Italy is solemn, yet so very pleasant. She is naturally beautiful, with large dark eyes and long dark hair that she pulls back into a ponytail. She causes miracles wherever she serves, and that is happening here. I believe the sisters have 3 baptisms slated for December, and that is amazing in this country. The elders have at least one, maybe two.
After they left, we had a few hours to prepare for Institute. A man from Reading - about an hour and a half away from here came to teach. He is absolutely charming with his Scottish accent. He is tall and slender with graying hair. He has a deep voice, which makes that brogue even more appealing. He spoke to the entire group of us sitting down in one of the living room chairs, his voice softly sharing the books of Peter 1 and 2. He shared some marvelous background information about Peter, things we learned as we read more deeply from verses in those books, things I wouldn't notice as I skim over place names and what seem like trivia.
But as he spoke, I think everyone there gained a greater appreciation of that great apostle from so long ago. What a magnificent man he must have been! To think that he was with the Savior through those incredible years of teaching and healing, he was there when the arrested Jesus and put Him through a trial, and he was there somewhere when they crucified Him. He was there when the resurrected Lord came, and he was personally taught by the Redeemer and appointed to lead the fledgling church.
By the time he was crucified in Rome, he had given over his life to teaching and spreading the gospel. Even from a jail cell, he wrote about rejoicing in the hope that comes from the Lord. It is hard to do much complaining when we think of Peter.
Our refreshments of individually-bagged-white-chocolate-covered popcorn were a hit. Even that little treat took a couple of hours by the time I bagged 30 helpings. Cooking is not exactly my idea of a good time, but I'll tell you, those young people make me feel like the celebrity cook of the century. They are effusive in their compliments! It is worth every effort I put forth just to see them enjoy it so, and to be honest, it makes me want to do more cooking.
I can sincerely compliment these young people. Elder Hill, our district leader conducts the meetings with an earnest solemnity. He always has an agenda which he follows. He takes us through teaching principles, reports for the week from each companionship and then an inspirational thought. The other three missionaries participate with proper respect for what they are doing. The more I get to know Elder Tshendabo (from the Congo), the more I admire him and his desire to be obedient. He is a very good man with a strong testimony, who will always follow through with anything he promises to do.
Sister Porter from Provo is cute as can be but also serious about the work. She gave a demonstration today about how to teach someone who has expressed interest in the gospel. I'm just amazed at how natural - good solid teaching principles seem for her. You would think she had been a school teacher for years.
Sister Marinello from Italy is solemn, yet so very pleasant. She is naturally beautiful, with large dark eyes and long dark hair that she pulls back into a ponytail. She causes miracles wherever she serves, and that is happening here. I believe the sisters have 3 baptisms slated for December, and that is amazing in this country. The elders have at least one, maybe two.
After they left, we had a few hours to prepare for Institute. A man from Reading - about an hour and a half away from here came to teach. He is absolutely charming with his Scottish accent. He is tall and slender with graying hair. He has a deep voice, which makes that brogue even more appealing. He spoke to the entire group of us sitting down in one of the living room chairs, his voice softly sharing the books of Peter 1 and 2. He shared some marvelous background information about Peter, things we learned as we read more deeply from verses in those books, things I wouldn't notice as I skim over place names and what seem like trivia.
But as he spoke, I think everyone there gained a greater appreciation of that great apostle from so long ago. What a magnificent man he must have been! To think that he was with the Savior through those incredible years of teaching and healing, he was there when the arrested Jesus and put Him through a trial, and he was there somewhere when they crucified Him. He was there when the resurrected Lord came, and he was personally taught by the Redeemer and appointed to lead the fledgling church.
By the time he was crucified in Rome, he had given over his life to teaching and spreading the gospel. Even from a jail cell, he wrote about rejoicing in the hope that comes from the Lord. It is hard to do much complaining when we think of Peter.
Our refreshments of individually-bagged-white-chocolate-covered popcorn were a hit. Even that little treat took a couple of hours by the time I bagged 30 helpings. Cooking is not exactly my idea of a good time, but I'll tell you, those young people make me feel like the celebrity cook of the century. They are effusive in their compliments! It is worth every effort I put forth just to see them enjoy it so, and to be honest, it makes me want to do more cooking.
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