Defining Points

 Monday.  We drove to a store that is basically a restaurant supply, similar to Costco, but much more humble, much smaller. It is within walking distance, which is wonderful, but there is no way we can carry many groceries home.  Roundtrip is a great walk for our day, but we drove.  After doing our shopping, SK drove the loot home, and I walked.  It felt good.  The sun was shining and it was nice and cool.  So I managed to get my 2 miles in today.

We picked up 24 16-oz. bottles of water, zip-lock-type baggies, paper plates and a few basic supplies (toilet paper, milk, eggs).  Our YSA reps, decided on one last gathering before the great and dreadful lockdown which begins in earnest on Wednesday night at midnight....essentially taking effect on Thursday morning.  We were very happy to be a part of it.  

It was at the church, which is totally legal up til Wednesday night.  Churches can be used for religious meetings with a group larger than six, assuming all guidelines are met (masks and social distancing).  All four young missionaries joined us, and helped us set up the overflow with a circle of chairs -each one several feet from the others on either side.

Each of the young adults are looking at this month ahead.  Harry, a Brit, will return to his home and family, others, whose homes are in other countries will try to weather these tough times alone in dorm rooms, relying on flat mates for society.  Others, as several have done so far, will isolate for 2 weeks because they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.

The young people didn't want any formal activities beyond the spiritual message shared at the outset.  Kristina shared some wonderful quotes and thoughts.  Then we sat and ate pizza (SK dropped me off at the church and then drove to pick up the pizzas).  By the time everyone had assembled the pizza arrived hot and ready to eat.  I only added to the meal by taking apples and cookies.  

It was very nice to have the ones there we had.  We ended up with a grand total of 17, including us, which isn't bad.  And they all seemed to enjoy being with each other very much.

We arrived home in time to participate in the mission call.  There were a lot of announcements.  A long list from the government of the very stringent new rules for the lockdown.  It still has to be voted on by the House, but that will just be a formality from what I have heard.  Basically, everyone in England is being told to stay home.  Go outdoors once a day for exercise, shop as infrequently as possible for basic necessities and go to pharmacies and the doctor as needed.  

Our mission doctor spent some time admonishing all to eat well, take vitamins, get exercise, walk or bicycle rather than take any kind of public transportation - if possible and other guidelines to keep us healthy.

Dave spoke for a few minutes and again was so very inspiring.  He acknowledged how very hard this is on the missionaries, but reiterated that we can do hard things.  It is sobering to these young people.  They have worked so hard, and will continue to work hard, but it is so very different than the mission they had looked forward to.

Deb spoke as well.  These missionaries love Dave and Deb, and trust them.  Dave often repeats to them "It is better to be trusted than to be loved."  I think this time to serve will be a defining point in many of their lives, and they will always remember the sure and inspiring voices of their mission president and his sweet companion.

Our evening ended with a wonderful tour of Lia's new house, with all the work in process.  What a marvelous journey she and Ed have begun!  In the midst of a world in turmoil they are exhibiting such tremendous faith to move forward with home and family.  They just moved into the new home.  November 1, a date on which many future celebrations will take place as they celebrate the day they established their family home, was a day yesterday to be remembered.

Comments

melissa said…
These are definitely days never to be forgotten, for so many reasons!
November 2, 2020 at 4:38 PM
Erin said…
I shall have to talk to you more about “it is better to be trusted than loved.” The more I have studied general conference the more I’ve felt like I missed a theme in the days afterwards. At first I would’ve said there were 2 repeated themes: Unity and Preparedness. But now I would add a third, trust.
November 8, 2020 at 11:53 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Master Teacher

In the 1st Ward today, an 11-year-old boy gave a talk that was one of he best sacrament meeting talks I have ever heard.  He got up to speak and his head just barely cleared the podium.  He is small and has a shock of dark hair topping a cute slightly freckled face. It will be several years yet before his voice deepens.  He had his written talk, and he read most of it, but he was familiar enough with it that he looked up often and it seemed as if he was speaking from his heart. He began with a quote from Nephi in 2 Nephi 25:29, where Nephi prophesies about the future and then tells us how to worship the Savior. How? this boy asked us. He went on to answer his own question.  Nephi says "with all our might."  The boy then asked how that is done. He cited the story of the converts in the Congo who threw all of their idols into a massive waterfall where they were unrecoverable.  The boy said that when we worship the Savior with all our might, that mea...
Read more

Going Home

  Fifteen missionaries are returning to their homes this week.  For this Saturday night zoom conference broadcast, each bore their testimony from their flats with their companions by their sides.  SK and I teared up many times as we listened to humble, sweet and strong testimonies.  It is easy to see the difference as they get close to their release date.  It they have been faithful, there is a maturity and a sweetness that is unexplainable. Here is a smattering of what was said: There is no growth in the comfort zone.  I am about to go home to my comfort zone...but it struck me that my old comfort zone is no longer comfortable for me.  I want to be in a growth zone. The early apostles did not succeed, but they knew we would. One elder quoted Dave's poem "If."  "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same...Hold on...even through the hardest times."  "How can I accomplish these things?  Jesus Chr...
Read more

Shark!

Image
We left our flat way too early for my taste this morning, heading out to go south to Farnborough.  Forty-eight miles, supposedly an hour and twenty minute drive.  We got into some heavy stop and go traffic and it was closer to 2 hours before we got there. We inspected the two young sisters' flat, which was beautifully clean and organized.  They are cute sisters.  They had been in London yesterday for zone conference and excitedly shared all they had heard and been taught.  They had their notes out and were very cute to repeat some great messages from President Checketts.  I hardly ever talk to him when he isn't dealing with numerous issues in the mission and in the middle of at least one or two crises, and planning the next gathering....all at the same time.  It must be that he and Deb are in a constant state of stress.  But he has cleared the half-way mark.  I wonder if he knows how highly he is esteemed by these young missionaries, who ...
Read more