Seeing More Clearly
We got to Reading in excellent time this morning. Traffic was a breeze, and we had the GPS on - and it was working. We pulled into the Reading Stake Center with plenty of time to spare. It turned out perfectly though, because only one set of missionaries was there. As we sat waiting for everyone else to show up, we visited with the young missionaries as they came in.
There were 20 young missionaries in attendance, 2 old missionaries (SK and me) and President Checketts. Sixteen of them were the missionaries whose apartments we will be inspecting in about 2 weeks. The other four are the Assistants to the President and The Sister Trainers (They are as much "Assistants" to both the President and Sister Checketts but their titles doesn't sound like it. They travel the mission and train, but they also help with every major event happening in London --- and that is a lot!)
Once Dave got there and got set up, he started the meeting. I am so very impressed with him as a leader. Frankly, I've only known him as first, a little brother, and then as a brother who loves and is dedicated to his family (Judy, Lisa, Dan and me and our families - as well as to Deb, their children and their childrens' children. He knows each one of us, who now number well over one hundred individuals and is interested and concerned about every one.
I know he is an impressive businessman, because I keep reading about him or hearing about him from all sorts of news outlets and other sources. I understand that he is well-known in this world for his many accomplishments.
Earlier this week, we spent some time with another missionary couple. The elder spontaneously talking about Dave. He has been observing our mission president for over a year now, and says that he has never met a man like him. On the one hand, he is an organizational wizard....case in point, he said, when the England London Mission was combined with the England London South Mission - Dave was brand new on the job, and it must have been a nightmare. It is difficult enough to run a mission with 150 to 180 missionaries, much less the well-over-two-hundred number he had coming in. The logistics of learning how to run the mission and at the same time combining the finances, the resources, the reporting, the people, so many things are almost beyond comprehension - even to a business person.
This man talked about Dave's abilities for a couple of minutes, saying that he had never seen the ability to oversee complex operations, but also the ability to hone in on the smallest details in one person. I felt so proud of Dave, but also felt a certain awe.
I watched him today as he tutored a couple of missionaries in the why and how we are sharing the gospel. They got up to give a demonstration of how to teach a particular lesson. He watched carefully and then stood up and helped them understand - in a way they didn't before - that the depth of faith and love of the Savior is the most powerful motivator to be here in the mission field serving.
After they sat down, he stood and spoke for a half hour, and held everyone spellbound as he taught through stories, scriptures and personal experiences. He taught about joy. As he spoke, I heard and saw my father in his form, expressions and voice. Dad would be proud of him.
Then we all had a delicious lunch, and he spent the last four hours interviewing each one personally about how they are doing in this great work.
The missionaries love him. What's not to love? He is a great and good man.
We left early to drive a young elder and his companion to a doctor's appointment 45 minutes away. He injured his knee two weeks ago and it is still swollen, so he needed a specialist. I was so happy we could take them there. They are cute boys.
We got home in time to hurriedly put out the refreshments, tidy up the flat and freshen up a bit before Institute began here. Our teacher taught from Hebrews....some of my favorite chapters. The discussion was intellectual and faith filled. We had one young woman stay late just to visit.
Elder Call (half of the senior couple serving in Cambridge) said something funny this past weekend. He said that he often asks himself, "What would you be doing if you were home in Utah?" Instead, he is here in England, within walking distance in any direction of some utter dumbfounding historical sites, spending time with incredible young people, and getting to know a whole new ward of people, and neighbors.
I have chuckled to myself several times since he said that as I have thought the same thing. What would I be doing if I were home in Arizona? And how would I ever know what I had missed?
Barely two months into our mission, I am seeing my brother and the world through different lenses.
I have always loved Dave, but now I am seeing him as I have never had the opportunity to see him. I am seeing beautiful England in a way I never supposed I would. We walk around, we visit with people here, we shop locally like everyone else, we listen to the sounds and the cadences of the city, and we are becoming acquainted with this magnificent old country and its beauties in a way that driving through in a week's time could never give us.
We are blessed.
There were 20 young missionaries in attendance, 2 old missionaries (SK and me) and President Checketts. Sixteen of them were the missionaries whose apartments we will be inspecting in about 2 weeks. The other four are the Assistants to the President and The Sister Trainers (They are as much "Assistants" to both the President and Sister Checketts but their titles doesn't sound like it. They travel the mission and train, but they also help with every major event happening in London --- and that is a lot!)
Once Dave got there and got set up, he started the meeting. I am so very impressed with him as a leader. Frankly, I've only known him as first, a little brother, and then as a brother who loves and is dedicated to his family (Judy, Lisa, Dan and me and our families - as well as to Deb, their children and their childrens' children. He knows each one of us, who now number well over one hundred individuals and is interested and concerned about every one.
I know he is an impressive businessman, because I keep reading about him or hearing about him from all sorts of news outlets and other sources. I understand that he is well-known in this world for his many accomplishments.
Earlier this week, we spent some time with another missionary couple. The elder spontaneously talking about Dave. He has been observing our mission president for over a year now, and says that he has never met a man like him. On the one hand, he is an organizational wizard....case in point, he said, when the England London Mission was combined with the England London South Mission - Dave was brand new on the job, and it must have been a nightmare. It is difficult enough to run a mission with 150 to 180 missionaries, much less the well-over-two-hundred number he had coming in. The logistics of learning how to run the mission and at the same time combining the finances, the resources, the reporting, the people, so many things are almost beyond comprehension - even to a business person.
This man talked about Dave's abilities for a couple of minutes, saying that he had never seen the ability to oversee complex operations, but also the ability to hone in on the smallest details in one person. I felt so proud of Dave, but also felt a certain awe.
I watched him today as he tutored a couple of missionaries in the why and how we are sharing the gospel. They got up to give a demonstration of how to teach a particular lesson. He watched carefully and then stood up and helped them understand - in a way they didn't before - that the depth of faith and love of the Savior is the most powerful motivator to be here in the mission field serving.
After they sat down, he stood and spoke for a half hour, and held everyone spellbound as he taught through stories, scriptures and personal experiences. He taught about joy. As he spoke, I heard and saw my father in his form, expressions and voice. Dad would be proud of him.
Then we all had a delicious lunch, and he spent the last four hours interviewing each one personally about how they are doing in this great work.
The missionaries love him. What's not to love? He is a great and good man.
We left early to drive a young elder and his companion to a doctor's appointment 45 minutes away. He injured his knee two weeks ago and it is still swollen, so he needed a specialist. I was so happy we could take them there. They are cute boys.
We got home in time to hurriedly put out the refreshments, tidy up the flat and freshen up a bit before Institute began here. Our teacher taught from Hebrews....some of my favorite chapters. The discussion was intellectual and faith filled. We had one young woman stay late just to visit.
Elder Call (half of the senior couple serving in Cambridge) said something funny this past weekend. He said that he often asks himself, "What would you be doing if you were home in Utah?" Instead, he is here in England, within walking distance in any direction of some utter dumbfounding historical sites, spending time with incredible young people, and getting to know a whole new ward of people, and neighbors.
I have chuckled to myself several times since he said that as I have thought the same thing. What would I be doing if I were home in Arizona? And how would I ever know what I had missed?
Barely two months into our mission, I am seeing my brother and the world through different lenses.
I have always loved Dave, but now I am seeing him as I have never had the opportunity to see him. I am seeing beautiful England in a way I never supposed I would. We walk around, we visit with people here, we shop locally like everyone else, we listen to the sounds and the cadences of the city, and we are becoming acquainted with this magnificent old country and its beauties in a way that driving through in a week's time could never give us.
We are blessed.
 |
| Published in the Church News today - of the entire mission with Elder and Sister Cook (front and center) standing in front of the Royal Albert Hall. |
Comments