What a Mission Can Do to You
On the wall in our kitchen is a calendar that has family pictures filling the top of every page. We put it right next to the oven because we can easily look at it every day and see the people we miss.
So why did we go on a mission if we were going to miss everyone so much?
First of all we can still communicate. There are texts, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, email, and actual phone calls and Facetime.
Next, going on a mission refines you. It brings an extra measure of love and peace to your hearts,
even old hearts like ours. It binds you to God through service and covenants.
(Phil in Lille's Grand Place where he served as a missionary 52 years ago.)
Yes, we still have issues with people and memories that can bring us sorrow, but I feel very
comfortable asking angels to bear us up. And I feel comfortable asking angels to bear you all up too.
General conference reminded me that the promises we make at baptism and in the temple will bring us to God and help us become like God. This process brings us lots of joy. We still have sadness and grieving, but there is great joy in being right with God. In fact, I have learned that there is nothing worse in my life than being at odds with God. When that happens, I am miserable, and I have a lot of incentive to change on the spot to relieve the misery. Most of the time I have the deep peace that comes with being bound to God, or I change quickly so I do.
So now we are serving God by traveling around France helping missionaries in places like Bourges,
Blois, Chartres, and Orleans. On the way we visit some of the fantastic cathedrals. These amazing
gothic buildings express the faith of hundreds of people in past centuries. I honor and appreciate their
expression.
Bourges
Blois Chateau
Orleans
And we traveled to Lille to find out about humanitarian projects.
We met Ben Faour Hussein, who goes around Lille, France every Saturday night or Sunday morning and picks up from supermarkets the food that is going to expire in the next few days. Then he sets up tables at a designated spot in Lille, enlists the help of ward members and missionaries, and passes out food to those who need it. Some of the people who come are homeless, some are refugees, some are what we would call the working poor, some are immigrants, some are out of work, and all need food. He connects people with other services like places they can shower, or places where they can get legal help that can set them on the path of legal status, or places that can find then shelter, or places that have educational or social support. And he does this every week, not taking the entire month of August off like everyone else. People like Ben are inspiring. He is doing what Jesus would do if he were in Lille right now. He is, in fact, acting for the Savior in bringing relief to the poor among us.
Food ready to be distributed in Lille at 4:00 on Sunday
The calendar on the wall. Yes our kitchen is yellow!I am inspired by the people around me who have dedicated their lives to doing good. I hope they rub
off on me and I can continue to do what God would do if He were walking around France right now.
-from Delys
From Delys: "This process brings us lots of joy. We still have sadness and grieving, but there is great joy in being right with God." This is such an important principle. For decades, I taught that I loved being in college, but for me, in order to love it, I had to be right with God and right with my classes. If I did the coursework needed and I stayed right with God, college was a blast. That prinicple has played out in all aspects of my life. Life is a blast when you are right with God and take care of the necessities. Thank you, Delys, for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteI agree that all of life is sweeter when we are right with God. You are a good example of this, Judd. Thanks for all you taught me at the beginning of my adulthood.
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