Another week has passed and we are still as busy as ever. The weather has been so wonderful here. I know I am missing out on all the snow and ice and cold in Ogden but I love it here when it isn't so humid. We had had a few spurts of rain today but nothing for very long. The nighttime temps are great for sleeping so who can complain?
This month, in the temple, we are working from 1:00 to 8:00. It is nice to have the change and not get up so early in the morning. Also nice to renew friendships with those who work the afternoon/evening shifts. Have I ever mentioned how nice and happy the people are who work in the temple? They are all so happy to see me when I walk through the door. I really love that. I know that is one thing I will miss when we go home. I had one worker tell me that she loves Utah but there isn't any "Aloha". People don't wave or smile or hug. I felt bad about those comments but it gives me something to think about when I return. Show "Aloha"!
I need to tell about a neat experience I had this week. We got a new college student as an ordinance worker this week (A regular occurrence). I always like to ask about the students, where they are from, what their conversion story is if applicable, and where they served their mission. Friday night I met Yee Yee Olive Mon from Burma.
What a choice spirit she has. She has some sort of physical problem where she drags her foot a little and has quite a curve in her back. I suspect she has scoliosis that maybe can't be repaired. She served a mission in Boise, Id. for 18 months and another 3 as an extension in Provo. I know I will leave some details out but here is her story. In Burma, up until a few years ago, visitors were not allowed in the country and it was very difficult to get out of the country. She was attending the university and had some friends who were researching world religions. They found "Mormonism" on the internet and decided they wanted to find out more. They sent a letter to Church Headquarters and didn't get an answer right away. They sent another letter and was informed that there were no missionaries in their country but there was one military family who was LDS and gave them details on how to contact them. This family had sacrament meeting in their home each week with their three teenage sons and invited the youth to attend. They felt a special spirit there and wanted Yee Yee to go to. She had no interest. Within a few months, one of the senior missionary couples serving a service mission in Thailand was sent to Burma. The sister missionary started giving free piano lessons so the young people talked their friend Yee Yee into taking lessons. She said she felt something special when in the company of the senior missionaries so when asked if she wanted to learn more about the church, she said yes. The next day she knew she wanted to be baptized but because it was against the laws of the country (because she wasn't yet 18), she had to wait. She was among the first 38 people to be baptized in a makeshift pool on the 10th floor of an apartment building. She was the first person to be able to leave the country to go on a mission and that only because her dad worked for the government and they knew she was a respectable person. I asked if her parents were supportive. They have not yet been converted but she said her parents were supportive. However, when she got her mission call to America, her mother wasn't going to let her go because the picture they had of America came from movies representing crime and she thought her daughter would be killed.
While she was on her mission, the government in her country went through a vast change and now they allow tourists etc into the country so they do have a few missionaries. Sister Mon has a sister serving a mission in Thailand now.
It is unbelievable to me how things open up in countries for missionary work and it is always in the Lord's time.
Yesterday we were the escorts for a young couple getting married. The girl is from Hong Kong and the boy from Mainland China. In conversation with Larry, he said that China is ready for missionaries and the church but the church isn't ready for China. There will be a huge need for church buildings and even temples and that will take much planning. Again, so interesting. I am always astounded when I hear from those from Mainland China how many members there are there just waiting for the time when the church can be recognized there.
The Blog would be complete without me telling a little of church today. Our Sunday School Lesson came from 2Nephi 3-5. This is where Nephi has lost his father, his brothers want to kill him and he is trying to do all the things the Lord has asked him to do. He also has to provide for his family and those with him. We talked about stressful situations and how we handle them. Through Nephi's example, we all need to call upon the Lord through prayer, scripture study and our faith to get us through those trials we encounter--especially those big trials that happen in our lives. It made me reflect on tough times in my life and how prayer, scriptures and faith in and knowledge of eternal families, and most especially the love my Heavenly Father has for me, helped me get through those times.
On a lighter note, I got to talk to some of my cute grandkids today (and their parents). I called Landon to find out about his play date with a new friend from school and Maelynn and Ellie called to remind me how excited they are to visit here in HI next month. Can't wait!
Great experiences. Thanks for taking the time to record them!
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