Leap Year Day- February 29, 2016

I am a little late on this post but here it is.  I need to give myself kudos for just a minute.  I really struggle  with journalling, and have done all my life.  However, during this mission I have been pretty good about blogging once a week.  I hope that the things I have written will be a great reminder of my time here and the thoughts and feelings that have come to mind as I have served my Heavenly Father in this capacity.

This week we have had little time for anything other than our temple work each day.  But, as I have said before, that is what we are here for.  Our afternoons and evenings were spent in the temple helping Ordinance Workers learn and do the things they are set apart to do.  I still find much joy in helping with this Holy work.  I know I talked a little last week about Sister Mon from Burma.  This week I asked her about her disability and she was very open with me.  She has had a severe case of scoliosis since she was little and her parents couldn't find a doctor that could do surgery so it just got worse over the years.  This was compounded by Polio so she had two things against her.  From what she was telling me, she was pretty deformed with one hip higher than the other which made one leg shorter.  She had to have lifts put on her shoes and it was a struggle to walk.  But she didn't complain.  One German Dr. told her mother that he could operate but she would only have a 50/50 chance of walking after that.  Mom didn't want to take that chance.  It was while on her mission in Idaho, when she was having a hard time breathing, that the Mission President sent her to the Dr.  Her conditions were making the spine etc cut off use of her lungs.  She found that there were three Dr.'s in the world that were capable of performing the surgery she needed and one was in Salt Lake City so she was transferred to Provo and spent another three months on her mission.  The Dr. took seven months of x-rays and planning for the surgery so he would know every little detail that had to be done with her bones.  She still walks with quite a limp because over the years the muscles in her legs had atrophied due to lack of use but she walks and climbs stairs.  What a testimony to how her faith in God and the medical profession has given her a new lease on a "mostly" normal life.  She is such a sweet, sweet girl and so willing to learn and so smart.  She is a tiny little girl and has a hard time finding clothing so she makes her own.  Her temple dress is beautiful.
Again this week we were able to be escorts for a few couples who were getting married.  I really enjoy this part of my job too.  So fun to find out a little about the Bride while helping her get ready for their sealing.  This week will be very busy with weddings as well since BYU-H is in semesters.  Tomorrow we will be in the temple for nearly 10 hours-maybe more.

I have been writing a little about talks and lessons in church each week that have brought me a little closer to Heavenly Father.  Yesterday the speakers were Sister Miao (one of the sister missionaries) and Brother Nikora of our Bishopric.  Both shared messages from the conference talk, "Yielding Our Hearts To God" by Neill F. Marriott.
One of the questions asked was, How do we yield to God in our busy lives?  It is a little easier I think when we are in the service of our Lord as missionaries but when I return home, what are the things I will do to keep that missionary spirit alive?  I know I will need to keep up on the study I am doing and attending the temple often.  We know that the temple is really God's University.  All questions having to do with Eternal Life and Eternal Salvation can be answered there if our hearts are open and willing to learn. Brother Nikora gave an example in his own life when he was on his mission and got word that his Father had passed away in a car accident.  Because this had happened in our family when Michelle was on her mission, I paid close attention.  Sister Marriott also had a daughter pass away while she and her husband were serving as mission presidents and was not able to see her daughter before her death.  Even in the face of tragedy, if we  Yield our hearts to God, he will help us through those really tough times.  I know this to be true.  A couple of thoughts from the talk were, "When loved ones die, it is through our faithfulness and obedience to temple covenants that will allow us to be together again."  "Trials are to humble us and teach us.  When we open our hearts to the Spirit, we God's ways."
Our Sunday School lesson brought out some of the same kinds of ideas and then with the perfect ending to the meeting block, Bro. Manoa, our Sunday School Teacher, had us sing, "Count Your Many Blessings".  I have so many and have been so blessed over the course of my 65 years.

Today is a rainy day here in Hawaii.  It has been nice and sunny most of the week but even with the rain, it is warm so I'm not complaining.  On Saturday after the temple, we drove into Waikiki and walked along the beach in Alomoana Park after eating a delightful meal at Spaghetti Factory overlooking the ocean.  I am afraid I will miss this place when it is time to leave in a short three and a half months.