Aiming at a Simpler Way
Once again, we had just a one-hour meeting with both wards combined. At this time of year, so many leave Oxford to return to their homes somewhere else in the world. We also have several American families who leave to go spend time with grandparents.
But we had a good group in church today. We didn't quite fill the chapel and overflow, but it was nice. The young man who took charge of the program also was the last to speak. He is a humble and sweet man with a large family and a kind and cheerful wife. The speaker before him pointed out that the last speaker today would not only be the last speaker of the year, but the decade as well.
"No pressure!" he said as he began. He spoke directly from his heart. He talked about what a privilege it is to have the missionaries in his home, and how much they have meant to him over the years. He was 18 or 19 when he converted - 27 years ago. He said that he still can hear the young missionaries words in his mind, and how deeply it affected him. It has certainly directed his life, and he is grateful for that.
Afterwards, I spent some time visiting with some visitors and also a woman about my age who lives alone and seems to be alone a lot. She has family who don't speak to her. And apparently there are ward members who don't speak to her. I really know nothing about her, but I felt bad that she is alone and grumbly. It is very hard to be in a ward where there are feelings like that.
SK came home and have had a quiet day. He hasn't felt well, so I will begin after the New Year to invite people over on Sundays when we don't have YSAs here. I may make the same thing every Sunday....put it in a crockpot first thing in the morning and then just always serve it with a green salad and rolls. I might even skip the green salad. I'll always make a little dessert.
I learned this in Denmark and I need to relearn it here. I don't need to serve five things in one meal. I can make a big pot of stew, serve it with bread from the bakery, and make a simple dessert. That sounds good to me.
Simplicity. That is my new motto.
But we had a good group in church today. We didn't quite fill the chapel and overflow, but it was nice. The young man who took charge of the program also was the last to speak. He is a humble and sweet man with a large family and a kind and cheerful wife. The speaker before him pointed out that the last speaker today would not only be the last speaker of the year, but the decade as well.
"No pressure!" he said as he began. He spoke directly from his heart. He talked about what a privilege it is to have the missionaries in his home, and how much they have meant to him over the years. He was 18 or 19 when he converted - 27 years ago. He said that he still can hear the young missionaries words in his mind, and how deeply it affected him. It has certainly directed his life, and he is grateful for that.
Afterwards, I spent some time visiting with some visitors and also a woman about my age who lives alone and seems to be alone a lot. She has family who don't speak to her. And apparently there are ward members who don't speak to her. I really know nothing about her, but I felt bad that she is alone and grumbly. It is very hard to be in a ward where there are feelings like that.
SK came home and have had a quiet day. He hasn't felt well, so I will begin after the New Year to invite people over on Sundays when we don't have YSAs here. I may make the same thing every Sunday....put it in a crockpot first thing in the morning and then just always serve it with a green salad and rolls. I might even skip the green salad. I'll always make a little dessert.
I learned this in Denmark and I need to relearn it here. I don't need to serve five things in one meal. I can make a big pot of stew, serve it with bread from the bakery, and make a simple dessert. That sounds good to me.
Simplicity. That is my new motto.
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