The Touch of a Human Hand

 We drove to the grocery store this morning.  It really isn't our modus operandi, but there is not much we do these days that we can say is our usual way of doing things.  We generally walk to one of 5 markets where we get the bulk of our shopping done.  Today, we both decided that we would go farther afield and shop in what is called here "A Super Store."  

You are familiar with them.  It is like a Super Target, A Super Frys or any grocery store that is having delusions of grandeur.  A Walmart.  There were a few things we wanted to get for some of the meals we are fixing this weekend, and we knew we could find everything there.

They have clothing and housewares and Halloween decorations and even some Christmas decorations....none of which I purchased.

But we did find everything else.  One the outskirts of town the store is very large and spacious and only a 10 minute drive, if you make all the turns correctly.  We decided to wing it today - we didn't even ask the GPS how to get there.  Well, we only made two wrong turns getting there and one wrong turn coming back.  But next time.....it will be a piece of cake.

Upon getting home, I realized the one thing I had forgotten was corn flour (corn starch).  Drat!  Trusty SK headed out to the little store 10 minutes from here.

Our evening was taken up with phone contacts to the young missionaries, a phone conference with our stake president and a telephone chat with Dave.

Our stake president had set up the appointment just to talk to us about our assignment here.  SK had written him last week to let him know we are here again, and wondering if he had any guidance for us.  I may have mentioned it before but while the mission president is our leader in many things, the stake president is the one who funds our meals and activities with the YSAs, as well as the one who gives us assignments and direction on where he would like us to focus.

He is a marvelous leader.  He is about 45 or so with a fairly young family.  He is a business man and he is a caring and kind leader.  When we first saw him onscreen, he exclaimed warmly how happy he is to have us back.  He hadn't heard from anyone that we were back and he was genuinely happy.  He told us that he and his wife had just picked up their son from the Leeds England Mission, where they were lamenting the lack of senior missionaries there (all had gone home in March).  

He listened thoughtfully to our answers to his questions, and then gave us some excellent counsel, which we will put into effect as soon as we are able.  He is concerned about our newest members who do not have support from family and friends to attend church, and would like us to do everything we  can to buoy them up and help them through this.  He is grateful for the technology that is going forward with Institute and Seminary and so many other worthwhile meetings, but is anxious that we reach out personally - one on one.  He encouraged us to help all of the YSAs do that for each other.  

I was so happy to get some concrete answers about what we should be doing and how we should be spending our time.  I think this will help enormously.  I know he is an inspired leader.

After that phone call, I spoke with Dave for awhile.  We missed the Zoom zone conference today.  Our zone leaders didn't let us know about it, and they are the ones who are supposed to keep us informed of those things. When we didn't appear on screen, Dave was concerned.  He sounded so tired, and he is losing his voice.  It is an all-day conference...online....and he will do it three more times this week.  I told him we would tune in tomorrow.  He wanted us to see and hear several things about the training, so I am looking forward to doing that tomorrow.  Then we have Institute in the evening - on Zoom - which lasts an hour and a half.  

You know, this whole era of COVID-19 has changed our world.  In the mission field, we are learning how to use technology like never before to spread the gospel.  And it is effective....amazingly so.  But perhaps when it has passed, we will appreciate more than ever just walking to the neighborhood store, driving somewhere without that voice telling us every turn to make, a gentle touch of compassion on the arm, a hug, and spending time sitting in the same room together talking.  

I appreciate all those things now.