It's All About People
District Meeting was changed from Wednesday this week to Friday (today). That means that we had a little more leeway on Wednesday in what we did, but it also means that today was taken up largely with that meeting.
I thoroughly enjoy those meetings with the young missionaries. None of the four are the original young missionaries who helped us get settled in nearly 6 months ago. I feel such an affinity towards them, such grandparently (I made that word up!) pride in their goodness and their accomplishments, even though I had nothing to do with either!
Our zone leader will be leaving on the 10th, and we will miss him. He is a cute young man who is from Colombia I think, and he drew a picture of Christ for me. He went with other missionaries who will be departing then to the temple today. Dave and Deb always take them the week before they leave. They have lunch with them and a devotional and send them on their way full of memories of the incredible England London Mission. But that left Elder Moss (from Surprise Arizona) without a companion, so he partnered up with an elder from our zone whose companion is also at the temple today.
We know them both because we inspect their apartments and have come to love them. They are good young men. They came to do splits with the Oxford elders today, so they came to the meeting and were here for lunch. I was grateful that I had prepared more than enough for the six of us.
Erin told us a great and simple dish for a lunch or dinner, and I figured that it is easy to try things out on the missionaries before I serve it to the YSA, because the missionaries are always so grateful to have a home-cooked meal - whatever that is. It is pita bread, spread with (in order) bbq sauce, cooked chicken, red onions and then mozzarella cheese, baked until cooked through and the cheese is melted and slightly browned. We fixed a pseudo Olive Garden Salad, cut up a melon and ta-da!
They were easy. I excused myself about a half hour before the meeting was over, and SK and I assembled 18 and had them baked by the time we were all ready to sit down. They were quite the hit. I made chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream for dessert. The question is: how much will it cost to serve 20? I'll pull out my receipts and figure it out.
They stayed long enough to eat and clear up and then they were off to do "finding" - where they stop people in the town square to share the gospel. They talked a little about the unkindness of some, and how to respond in a kind and courteous way, and they talked about the great joy they feel when they find someone who genuinely wants to hear about the gospel.
They left and I looked from our kitchen window as the elders departed. The sisters had left earlier. I said to SK "Quick snap a picture." Something catches in my throat as I watch them leave. "Please watch after them," I pray. They are so good and they are trying so hard. They taught each other today and I learned.
After we got everything cleaned up, a friend from the ward asked if I would like to take a walk. Of course I wanted to! I can't describe the joy I feel walking around this place. And this walk today was phenomenal. She opened my eyes, and I absolutely loved it. She is 11 years younger than I and so she is much better at walking and enjoying the sights. I unfortunately have to focus on the uneven surfaces under my feet and spend a lot of time looking at the ground, but we stopped often enough so that she could explain what we were looking at.
We saw the elders at the town square - each in earnest conversation with other individuals.
It is incredible to be in this historic spot! She is a professor - retired - and so knowledgeable about so many things. She is a musician and she is an organist and she is amazing. She is the one who gave the sermon at Pembroke College, and she teaches Gospel Doctrine in the ward. Did I mention that she is amazing?
After three miles with her, I came home and fixed dinner for Veer and SK and I. You may remember that Veer has only been a member for a couple of months and her conversion story is inspiring. She adores her family - who are all Sikh, and yet she joined the church because she finds such hope in it.
We sat visiting and eating and just enjoying the time together. Leticia came with her, another new member, but had to leave before dinner, but she too has become so precious to us. We love those young women and are so happy to be a little part of their conversion story.
It's all about people isn't it? Individuals who come into our lives, maybe for a brief time, maybe much longer. But they enrich our existence with their faith, their kindness, their goodness, their knowledge, their outreach to all humanity, their stories.
I thoroughly enjoy those meetings with the young missionaries. None of the four are the original young missionaries who helped us get settled in nearly 6 months ago. I feel such an affinity towards them, such grandparently (I made that word up!) pride in their goodness and their accomplishments, even though I had nothing to do with either!
Our zone leader will be leaving on the 10th, and we will miss him. He is a cute young man who is from Colombia I think, and he drew a picture of Christ for me. He went with other missionaries who will be departing then to the temple today. Dave and Deb always take them the week before they leave. They have lunch with them and a devotional and send them on their way full of memories of the incredible England London Mission. But that left Elder Moss (from Surprise Arizona) without a companion, so he partnered up with an elder from our zone whose companion is also at the temple today.
We know them both because we inspect their apartments and have come to love them. They are good young men. They came to do splits with the Oxford elders today, so they came to the meeting and were here for lunch. I was grateful that I had prepared more than enough for the six of us.
Erin told us a great and simple dish for a lunch or dinner, and I figured that it is easy to try things out on the missionaries before I serve it to the YSA, because the missionaries are always so grateful to have a home-cooked meal - whatever that is. It is pita bread, spread with (in order) bbq sauce, cooked chicken, red onions and then mozzarella cheese, baked until cooked through and the cheese is melted and slightly browned. We fixed a pseudo Olive Garden Salad, cut up a melon and ta-da!
They were easy. I excused myself about a half hour before the meeting was over, and SK and I assembled 18 and had them baked by the time we were all ready to sit down. They were quite the hit. I made chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream for dessert. The question is: how much will it cost to serve 20? I'll pull out my receipts and figure it out.
They stayed long enough to eat and clear up and then they were off to do "finding" - where they stop people in the town square to share the gospel. They talked a little about the unkindness of some, and how to respond in a kind and courteous way, and they talked about the great joy they feel when they find someone who genuinely wants to hear about the gospel.
They left and I looked from our kitchen window as the elders departed. The sisters had left earlier. I said to SK "Quick snap a picture." Something catches in my throat as I watch them leave. "Please watch after them," I pray. They are so good and they are trying so hard. They taught each other today and I learned.
After we got everything cleaned up, a friend from the ward asked if I would like to take a walk. Of course I wanted to! I can't describe the joy I feel walking around this place. And this walk today was phenomenal. She opened my eyes, and I absolutely loved it. She is 11 years younger than I and so she is much better at walking and enjoying the sights. I unfortunately have to focus on the uneven surfaces under my feet and spend a lot of time looking at the ground, but we stopped often enough so that she could explain what we were looking at.
We saw the elders at the town square - each in earnest conversation with other individuals.
It is incredible to be in this historic spot! She is a professor - retired - and so knowledgeable about so many things. She is a musician and she is an organist and she is amazing. She is the one who gave the sermon at Pembroke College, and she teaches Gospel Doctrine in the ward. Did I mention that she is amazing?
 |
| I was looking down and then glanced up, and was blown away by the serene beauty of this scene. |
After three miles with her, I came home and fixed dinner for Veer and SK and I. You may remember that Veer has only been a member for a couple of months and her conversion story is inspiring. She adores her family - who are all Sikh, and yet she joined the church because she finds such hope in it.
We sat visiting and eating and just enjoying the time together. Leticia came with her, another new member, but had to leave before dinner, but she too has become so precious to us. We love those young women and are so happy to be a little part of their conversion story.
It's all about people isn't it? Individuals who come into our lives, maybe for a brief time, maybe much longer. But they enrich our existence with their faith, their kindness, their goodness, their knowledge, their outreach to all humanity, their stories.
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