Keeping Busy

 

Have you ever had a day when you felt like you didn't accomplish anything?  You would think it happens often with us, stuck in our flat, but we actually get a fair amount done.  Today.....not so much.  We have a Zoom meeting for just a few minutes every morning with our zone.  That is at 10.  I wanted to do a little cleaning before we left the apartment, and I told the sisters (who are still in isolation) that we would pick up some groceries for them.  They have until this coming Monday, when they will be more free than they are now.

We decided to drive to the outskirts of town where there is a superstore (not quite as large as a Walmart, but good-sized nevertheless).  It takes us about 10 minutes to get there.  We filled the car with petrol, and then here is something fun - we drove through a Burger King!  It was lunchtime - past - and we were hungry.  The burgers tasted pretty much like we remembered them.  We sat in the car munching away.

We went in the store - I discovered this in America as well - the larger the store, the more time you spend there.  We traveled every aisle looking for the items on the sisters' list.  Some of them I was unfamiliar with.  But I may try them sometime.  They asked supplies to make more BBQ Chicken Pizzas.  They have commented several times that they loved them.  

We were home by three, but they weren't.... and since we had refrigerated and frozen stuff, we carted their groceries up to our apartment and put them in the frig, only to backtrack awhile later.  

By the time we were home, I had time to bake some chicken (we're taking our zone leaders a pizza kit tomorrow - its been so popular with everyone we have taken them to)  and to make some cookies before dinner.

Immediately after dinner, we joined the call for Institute.  It was great.  I loved the missionaries and their comments.  I love these young people!

Before we left for the grocery store, we spent 45 minutes on a facetime call with Elder Bricknell.  He has been home a week, and just wanted to say hello.  He is a great young man, and has big plans.  He was here on a Mandarin-speaking mission, but somehow ended up serving here in Oxford the last assignment before going home.  He will go to China to college.  How cool is that?

The day he left, Elder Yost also left.  We never served with him, but were able to read a letter that he sent from his home in Brazil.  He and Elder Bricknell flew to Germany together, and then said goodbye.  Elder Bricknell flew out to South Africa, and Elder Yost went to his gate to go to Brazil.  It was then he discovered he was missing his passport.

He was sick with worry.  He found a phone and called his mother, who said the family would begin to pray immediately.  Elder Yost felt a sense of peace and a prompting to go get in the line to board the plane, which he did.  As he was standing in line, a woman came up to him, addressed him by name and handed him an envelope.  She said, "Elder Yost!  I'm glad I found you.  Now I can go home."

He took the envelope and pulled his passport out of it.  In Portuguese, he said "Thank you" still looking at the passport, and then realized she had spoken English, so he looked up and yelled "Thank you!"  But she was nowhere to be seen.  He looked down the long concourse and couldn't see her anywhere.  I don't know who she was or how she came by his passport, but he and his whole family felt that they had been touched by angels that day.

He is home now, and with his family.  He posted this on Facebook today:

It's been 2 years since I arrived at the missionary training centre. I had no idea about what I was doing but as the days passed by challenges, trials and afflictions came throughout these 2 years. I can affirm with more surety than ever that I came to know and love my heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. I've learned that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can change and become a better person. The best two years I have had in my life are over, however I know that the future is bright as our faith. If you want to know more about God I have 2 friends that would love to help you learn more of Him.

Of course, he linked to some England London missionaries.

They are getting responses, they are teaching, baptizing, and teaching some more. They teach people who are new to the church for a year after their baptisms. It is a lovely thing to do.

I had texts from several people after Institute that took awhile to answer. One was Thomas. I am looking forward to hearing him speak.