Today began as a so-called typical day at the office. The local news here is interesting. It was more than just the usual crime count today. Good news for us is that the Rand is at the highest exchange rate since we’ve been here. That means that we can stretch our dollar a little farther.
There is constantly news of Rhino poaching but today’s news told
There was a Self-Employment workshop and mentoring session in the ERC today. Chuck loves the class and is passionate in his teaching approach. I prepared some more books for my library project and followed up with correspondence sent to the leaders we work with. We offered our services and encouraged their registration on www.LDSjobs.org.
We had another tour through our department by a Media guest. Our Public Affairs Department does a good job of keeping a regular stream of guests touring the Area Offices. It is an amazing place and a fascinating complex of church services. Non-member visitors are always impressed with the scope of what goes on here and how welcome they feel. It’s such a blessing to work in such pleasant surroundings.
There were a couple of power outages today. The staff seemed more concerned about having a meltdown in the ice cream freezers than in the computers.
Excitement escalated when Mickey Mouse unexpectedly joined us for lunch. He did laps around the cantina floor and I surprised myself by continuing to chomp on my salad without flinching. I’ve been in Africa too long, I guess. When we were gathering our things to leave the office a snake slithered by, probably looking for something mousey for dinner. That was a bit unnerving but we were assured it was not a poisonous one. I guess the Lord is preparing us for our new home on the Arizona desert.
We often meet interesting folks on the elevator. Today we met a man with the longest loaf of bread I’ve ever seen. We asked where he got it and then wished him a pleasant evening.
I had purchased a DVD, “Between Heaven and Earth” for the young man I had met in the elevator previously so I put it in a gift bag with some microwave popcorn and walked down the stairs to deliver it to the young man and his mother, Denise. The DVD features religious scholars of various faiths describing ancient and modern temples. I thought it might interest them since there are interviews with both a Rabbi and a Christian Minister. I rang the bell and surprisingly the Jewish elevator man with the long bread answered and received the gift. The mother and son were out.
We returned home to find that the water had been shut off so we were without water the rest of the night. Thankfully, my faithful “house boy” saves water for us in empty milk containers. There’s a lot to be said about self-reliance!
Chuck threw together a little stir fry meal and we plopped in front of the TV so I could elevate my swollen legs. We watched “The Other Side of Heaven” from the other side of the earth. It was fun to be reminded of when the subject of the film, John Groberg visited us with his wife, Jean. We viewed the film with them and got all the inside scope on the movie. My mother was Elder Groberg’s Primary teacher in Idaho Falls so I think that makes us family. Here are some good quotes from the film:
“There is a connection between heaven and earth. Finding that connection gives meaning to everything, including death. Losing that connection makes everything lose meaning, including life.” “Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child.”
At the point in the film when the storm was raging, thunder and lightning from outside our window nearly stole the show. We had surround sound.
I think that this is my favorite part of Elder Groberg’s story.
“Years ago, as a young missionary, I was assigned to a group of 17 small islands in the South Pacific. One day a member told me that if I would be at a certain harbor on a particular island at sunset the next day, a family would meet me there and listen to the discussions.
What joy that news brought! I was working alone at the time but quickly found four members who were experienced sailors and who agreed to take me to this island.
Early the next morning the five of us started out. A nice breeze moved us swiftly along the coast, through the opening in the reef, and out into the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
We made good progress for a few hours, but then the wind began to slow and soon quit, leaving us bobbing aimlessly on a smooth ocean. I suggested that we pray. We pleaded with the Lord three times to send some wind, but still the sails hung limp and listless.
I thought, ‘all that stands between us and the family is a little wind. Why won’t the Lord send it? It’s a righteous desire.’
A faithful older brother unlashed the tiny lifeboat and softly said, “Get in. I am going to row you to shore.”
I was astonished. It was miles to shore. The sun was hot, and this man was old. He said, “We have an assignment from the Lord. Before the sun sets this day, you will be teaching the gospel and bearing testimony to a family who wants to listen. Get in the boat.”
We got into the boat; the old man bent his back and began to row. He did not look up, rest, or talk. Hour after hour he rowed and rowed and rowed, fulfilling the calling he had from the Lord—to get a missionary to a family who wanted to hear the gospel. He was the Lord’s wind that day.
Just as the sun slipped below the horizon, the lifeboat touched shore. A family was waiting. I went to their home and taught them the gospel. The family believed and eventually was baptized.
How often do we quit because we pray for wind and none comes? Instead, we need to listen for the Lord’s answer when we pray and then act upon his answer. On the boat, five men prayed, but only one heard and acted. God gave him the strength to be His wind that day and He will give us the strength to be His wind when we do what He asks.”
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