More Farewells - Even More Hellos

 Another blustery day on this March 12th.  It is absolutely beautiful.  The skies have been dramatic and threatening.  The trees have bowed gracefully in the wind, and people out walking have their collars done to the top, shoulders hunched.  We took a very short walk today to a nearby college to collect mail for one of our young adults who went home in the spring of 2020 and hasn't been back since.  He is a doctoral student and is able to everything at this point from home in Texas.

Every college has an office just inside the large doors into the campus quad.  It is manned by a faithful porter who screens anyone entering, and who keeps almost everyone out who has no business being there.

  He thinks he will be back next year perhaps just to finish up, even though it isn't necessary.  That is true of several people we had grown to love.  They went home and just haven't come back, although they are still technically students here - just studying virtually.

Don't you wonder if this pandemic will radically change the way we function?  How many students will be inclined to stay home and save money if possible?  How many businesses have discovered that they don't need to call conferences where people come from all over the country for three days to stay in hotels and be instructed by day?  How many people who commute to an office to sit at a desk have discovered they can do it all from home?

We have done most everything over Zoom for months now, and it has been good.  We have been inspired and instructed.  But honestly, we hunger to get together with the young adults and missionaries and the members of the ward.  The last time I delivered something to Angie, she hugged me - and I hugged her back.  And it felt good.  She has a big happy close-knit family of brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews who talk often over Zoom, but they are in Dominican Republic and the States.  She lives alone.

She was baptized last summer, and has the most incredible testimony.  She is brilliant.  I don't remember what her Ph.D. was in, but she taught college for awhile and then got into research.  When she teaches gospel discussions, I love it, because she is a teacher at heart, and a great one at that.  

We have settled on March 27 for Thomas Kofod to speak to the mission.  I am so excited to hear him again, and I think the missionaries will love him!

Erin saw The Lamb of God last night and said "It was stunning."  I am just going to have to do everything in my power to get it here in London for all of the missionaries to see in June.  Obviously, I will have to do something about the pandemic first.  Ahem....I guess prayer is my only option.  But it is a worthy request.  We will have just completed The Four Gospels together as a mission, and it is the month that Dave and Deb will be done here.  I know they will want to do something special and this would indeed be special right?

The evening ended with testimonies from 12 departing missionaries.  They were from countries all over the world: from New Zealand to Philipines to Ireland to Texas.  Every single one testified in powerful statements about what they had learned on their missions, and how they had come closer to Christ throughout the challenges and joys of the years spent here.  We were so impressed with them.  I listen and absolutely long for our grandchildren to experience all that a mission entails.  The maturity they have gained and the strength of character - not to mention a knowledge of the scriptures and a solid base upon which to build their lives is valuable beyond measure.

Dave and Deb will have over 30 missionaries coming in during the next two weeks.  They will all need to be assigned to an area, a trainer and an apartment.  I honestly wonder how they do this!  They are amazing.

I expect that we will be part of the delivery service, which is a joy.  However, I may be left out of the picture, since our car is small and putting two missionaries in and all of the luggage from one is about all it can hold.  We will see.  

For now, I will look forward to meeting the new missionaries.

Elder Bricknell was last to bear his testimony - as deeply and heartfelt as any I have ever heard.  I have never met a young man with such a love of and knowledge of the scriptures.  He quotes often from The Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.  

Elder and Sister Hartvigsen.  I think if I were part of this couple I would be home in bed.  They are now home in Idaho after what can only be described as an 18-hour day job as the office couple.  They were magnificent.  They greeted us tonight from Rexburg with a genuine longing to be a part of this great mission still.  But their large family will probably not allow them to even think about leaving again.