Freedom! And Fun
This is the day my dear friend Valerie was born...a few years ago. She has been in my thoughts and prayers today as I know she will be celebrating. Nothing keeps her from this special day's festivities, even though it may be a little lower key today. She is fighting...and I mean battling cancer, and she is ever in our prayers.
It is 3:30 in the afternoon, and we are home. It is beautiful outside...around 70 degrees. Yesterday at about 5 p.m. in the afternoon, we completed our mandatory 2 weeks of isolation. We were very obedient. Except for one 5 minute period when Dave and Deb came to deliver the car, we were in our apartment - 24/7. It's a great apartment, but honestly it was getting just a little small.
Yesterday was Dave's birthday. Deb had invited us to drive one hour away, and stay in a lovely hotel with them, join them for dinner last night and breakfast today, and generally surprise Dave. It all worked out very well. Dave was shocked! He opened the door to his room, and to use a favorite word of my father's - he was dumbfounded. It was great. And it felt so great to be driving around this beautiful country, and walking outside!!!
We had a lovely dinner outside. As it darkened there were no lights that came on. We dined by the light of the restaurant just inside the door. We had a fantastic visit. Dave was so dear. And Deb so cute. There wasn't enough time to talk about everything we wanted to, but there was enough to feel satisfied about the visit.
Dave is incredible. I don't know what else to say. At 9 p.m. we joined him in a small room near the restaurant where internet reception was best. He conducted the zoom conference, which is held 5 days a week. It was supposed to be a Book of Mormon quiz. Instead, the tech elders had hijacked the meeting, and broadcast a video they had made. In it, a good percentage of the missionaries had a few seconds in front of the camera to tell President Checketts what they loved about him.
I was touched by their love for him, their sincerity and their expressions of gratitude. Many said that they had learned from him was "To be trusted is better than to be loved." I think the original quote came from George McDonald, someone that C.S. Lewis greatly admired. I think Dave quotes that often, and in the context of missionaries and leaders, it is a superb quote. Several elaborated on it, and what it has meant to them.
Several mentioned his integrity. A few mentioned that they know he loves them, and that he has been a father figure to them. One quoted from the poem "If" and said he was grateful for being introduced to it and its principles. Many talked about his sense of humor and many talked about his faith. Several were grateful for Dave's emphasis on the saving mission of Jesus Christ, and how that has brought them closer to with greater faith in Christ.
When they finally finished, they waited for Dave to respond, but he couldn't. He took a few seconds to compose himself, and then gave a marvelous answer to them, thanking them, and then bearing his testimony of Jesus Christ.
It was very moving. I was so happy that I could be there. After the meeting SK and I went to our room, because we knew his children would be calling. He talked to each of them, and answered I don't know how many texts. Earlier in the day he had heard from Dan, and who knows how many others. He played Dan's message for me. It was Dan in true form, singing Happy Birthday to him with a British accent. Then he left a very funny message.
After a light breakfast together, we parted so that Dave and Deb could get to their next zone conference in time. I believe they have done this 12 times over the last couple of weeks and will do it again tomorrow (we will attend, it is in Staines - somewhere on the periphery of London). They have to do it in smaller groups because of COVID, and they travel to the area where it is held. It must be pretty grueling. Each one lasts most of the day. After a morning of instruction, they feed them lunch and then break up in groups while Dave interviews each missionary separately. He has a remarkable memory and knows each one's story.
SK and I put on our walking shoes and went for a walk on the hotel grounds (300 acres). The temperature was 63 and I soaked it up. We put about 3 miles on feet that haven't done much of that lately.
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| Wish you could see what a beautiful garden this was...full of the freshest most beautiful vegetables and herbs! It smelled divine. |
Back home, and then we'll be off to join our Berklee with an entourage of 4 new YSAs! We can hardly wait to meet them! Our prime minister said no more than six in a group, so I'm not sure how we will work that in a restaurant. I'll let you know. Then they are going to see the movie "Tenet." Dave gave us permission to go to movies with them....providing they are not full of objectionable material.
I know what you are thinking. This is a mission? I sometimes ask that myself. The point is, that we spend time with these young people...get to know them, and provide a place they can come to that is safe, where their faith can be nurtured, and where they know we love them...like grandchildren. We are an emotional support. To that end, we go where they go, and we are so pleased that they want us to go with them!
These two pictures were framed and in the hallway at our hotel. I knew Lia would enjoy them:
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