Wednesday, May 08, 2013

          There are certain days when it just so happens that there is no one among the sisters serving in the temple who speaks English.  I was left a little “high and dry” today and felt like a burden they had to deal with.  There were several small events that sent my spirit into that “I am over-whelmed and in over my head” mode and it was discouraging.  My plans were to not share my down times because sounding “whiney” amidst such great blessings is definitely not good.  But the Lord sent such tender mercies today when I needed them most, that sharing just felt right. 

          One of the ordinance workers was able to tell me that there were two sisters who spoke English and asked me to assist them through a session.  Of course I was happy to find something I could do!!  After the session I visited with these two sisters at length and it was more than a breath of fresh air and helped me count my blessings.  

One young sister was a missionary who had been out about six months and was going home in the morning.  Before her mission the Dr. found a tumor on her knee.   Surgery was performed and her recovery was lengthy putting her on crutches for several months.  Sometime after that, she received her mission call.  All was going well, but just last week, she started feeling the pain come back into her knee.  She faces more surgery and about nine months of convalescence again.  She was very positive and seemed happy, having faith in the Lord’s plan for her and being willing to step into the dark ahead with that faith.  She took the time to encourage me about learning the language and told about her own struggles with it.  It made such a difference to me to feel her sweet spirit and hear about her experiences.

          The other sister was a nurse in the mission—an older sister like me—who is serving for two years as well.  She has to drive in the crazy traffic here to take missionaries for their medical care.  Her companion sits next to her in the car and prays the whole time they are driving.   Neither of them speaks Spanish and she told me how hard it is for her to learn.   She has been serving for about nine months and thought she would be quite fluent by now, but it has been a struggle.   She plans to be in the temple every Wednesday, so I hope to see her again.

          A third sister came late in the day, a sweet Honduran named Heidi whom I have visited with before.  She sat down next to me while we waited for the session to end.  She is in her twenties (I think) and speaks fluent English.  She served a mission in Guatemala, was educated as a bilingual secretary, and has served as a ward Relief Society President.  When she was called to that position, she said “Why Me?  I have no experience to offer these older sisters in my ward.  What can they learn from me?”  As she served she learned that the Lord indeed had a reason and the sisters taught each other—old and young alike—while sharing and learning together.  She has just been called to be the Stake Young Women’s President and is quite overwhelmed again. 

She and her husband have been married for four years and she said, “no babies yet.”  All she has ever wanted in her life is to be a mother and so they just wait with faith that again the Lord has a plan for them.  She doesn’t know how she will be a help to these Young Women who face so many challenges since she isn’t even a mother (her words).  I encouraged her and talked about all she had to offer.  She shared a paragraph with me from her Patriarchal Blessing that indicated her life would hold many challenges.   Another blessing given at a different time contained the very same words and she is concerned about having a family.  She had not shared these things with anyone else except her husband.  She said, “I don’t know why I am telling you these things.”  I was grateful to be a listening ear for her.  She is so energetic and full of life.  She has great faith and is not afraid to put it into use.  

          I know it‘s hard to get a feel for exactly how these three women and my interaction with them were tender mercies for me today, but just let it suffice to say that the Lord showed me He knows me and knows my weakness and my needs.  He sent companionship, comfort, encouragement, and a way for all of us to share with each other.  It will help me be more resilient in the days to come.  I do love being in the Temple.