It has been a marvelous few days. We spent Monday through Thursday preparing for and participating in an exit dinner, the entry of 22 new exhausted missionaries via the Preston and Provo MTCs, and a mission wide conference with Elder James McConkie presiding. Our special guests were Amy Wright, 1st councilor in the General Primary Presidency and Emily Belle Freeman, General Young Women President and over 200 missionaries serving in southern France.
Pres. McConkie began his talk this way. "Some chapters in Preach My Gospel focus on what we need to do. Just as vital as what we do, is who we are and who we are becoming. What are you doing to become that disciple of Jesus Christ that He wants and needs you to be?" He then took us to Luke 29 and used Zacheus as an example. He exhorted us to learn from our own experience and the scriptures. "Your mission is personal to you. It is between you and your Heavenly Father. We are the loaves and fishes."
Sr. Wright spoke with such a great spirit. She talked about an interview with Pres. Nelson referring to eyes that could see her soul. One of her colleagues also referred to his eyes saying there was no part of the natural man in them. The President told her that she would serve as the 1st councilor in the General Primary. As she got up to leave he said to Elder Uchtdorf, "I don’t believe Amy said yes to the calling." "Excuse me President but I don’t believe we asked her." Sr. Wright responded "It is a privilege to serve here with you." Pres. Nelson responded "I am simply doing what I have been told".
I found her interpretation of the wisemen finding the child Jesus thought provoking. Mathew 2:11,12 …..they departed into their own country another way. After having experiences with Jesus Christ, you will depart to your own country a higher and holier way.
Sr. Freeman talked about being blessed with a spiritual gift during your setting apart. It may not be the gift you want but it will be the gift you need which you may not recognize until you really need it. She gave two examples. Moses 1:25: ...thou shalt be made stronger than many waters; for they shall obey thy command as if thou wert God. (Consider he was most likely in a desert when this was given). What a gift when the armies of Pharaoh were bearing down on the Israelites at the Red Sea. The second example was her son Josh. She started worrying about his mission health when he was seven and diabetic. Will there be someone there who would know how to take care of him? When he was set apart, he was blessed that he would be able to work every day on his mission. Shortly after arriving in the field, while riding his bike, he was hit by a car. He was badly scraped and one knee hurt, but remembering the gift, crawled off the pavement. He decided his knee would be okay and he could continue.
Sr. Freeman sits on the Church Missionary Committee with Elder Cook, Elder Rasband, Sr. Wright, and others. Every time they meet together they talk about the Lord hastening his work. D&C 88:73 She testified to over 200 young missionaries that this is your time. "We do not know why you were called during the great hastening, but He does. You labor with your might, He will be with you."
We had an interesting medical case this week the day after the conference ended. A missionary became ill quite suddenly with neck pain just below his ear on one side, decreased hearing on that side, and increasingly severe vertigo with nausea and vomiting. Of course it happened on a Friday evening. He went to a hospital emergency department, was sent to a second hospital, and finally a third where he was diagnosed with an ear canal infection. They sent him home with a prescription for ear drops. He kept vomiting hourly and was taken back to that hospital by a senior missionary who was keeping track of him. Finally he was given an IV and some medications to treat his nausea and vomiting and vertigo. It was a long night for all of us involved. Saturday morning he saw an ENT doctor who thought he had an inner ear problem, prescribed some medications, and discharged him from the ER with an appointment for followup on Tuesday. He is feeling much better but we don’t have a clear picture yet.
Srs. rehearsing a song before the conference
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Pres. and Sr. Schow arriving |
Sr. Freeman Sr. Wright Bro. Wright followed by Sr. and Pres. McConkie
Sounds like a great meeting!
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