It is now 11:08a
I got here about 9am and I went to the training room because someone was at computer #60 and the training room was empty.
As I finished a couple of batches I realized the missionaries usually fill this room on Mondays and I hadn't seen one. But first a set of elders, then another set then a set of sisters and then another set and now the room is full. I am sitting in a room full of missionaries while they write their families etc. on this Monday prep day. The second set of sisters smelled like pleasant fruity perfume.
It is such a blessing to be here and have missionaries in Saint George. Many of them are Spanish speaking, both gringos and Latins. In the past I have listened to the supervising fsl missionaries ask them to be quiet and keep it down. I am not in charge so I don't have too. There was one time when an Elder shusshed but to realize that these are 19 year old sisters and 18 year old brothers by choice, out serving the Lord and building our HF's kingdom here on the earth just astounds and pleases me. I am so glad they have a mission president and zone leaders and district leaders.
In the past I have touched them and said, thanks for letting me touch South Africa, or England, or Fiji or Germany or where ever they were from. The love it and say, anytime!
Some of those that have worked with the Spanish people give each other abrazos as they see each other. But it is the boys doing it not the sisters! So fun. And they are exuberant!
I love having served as a Guatemalan missionary. I did not realize I could have kept in touch with my families. I think it was because of the Spanish barrier. I was always a bit shy about trying to speak Spanish unless it was about the gospel because I got such good practice with the gospel language. I never had a native elder companion. All mine were Americans. I saw Werner Cordova on a bus in Guatemala city. His was a special miraculous conversion. He had 2 sons, was separated/divorced from his wife, was studying to become a medical doctor and had a picture of Lyndon B Johnson in his study where we taught him that he would never answer about. One classy, educated man in my first area that Elder Lowell Brown was instrumental in converting. When I saw him on the bus I so wanted to give him and huge hug and ask all about him and his life and his family but I didn't dare. I did say hi once and exchanged greetings but I have always had such high hopes for him. His oldest son in Quezaltenango was named Wernercito as well.
Jason Chappell was our elder's quorum instructor yesterday. At one point he asked the question, what does it mean to have your heart continually turned to God in prayer? Tim Adams got the discussion started and Frank Haney contributed twice as did Phil HC Howell, Dave Black encouraged us to include thank yous when we get our prayers answered and Gene Hilton son dentist in New Mexico shared how he knew a wonderful straight surgeon who always prayed before each surgery. He considered doing the same before each dental patient/procedure but not to tell the patient he needed to pray before the procedure! We laughed again. Then I just had to make the points I had been waiting with: 1- that God here's every prayer even from nonmembers, but that since we know to pray in Jesus' name we should to honor him. 2- When do we turn our hearts away from prayer? when we want to sin. So to keep our hearts continually open in prayer we just have to be trying to do right! And when we are we are comfortable turning and talking to HF in prayer.
Jason had some stories to share and he had us in suspense. He told us he had to relearn to pray a few years ago. . . so sweet. And that he had to try to ponder and meditate and wait for an answer. He drove to CA each night with an oil tanker and tried to pray in his motel room, kneeling at his beside hearing noisy Spanish being spoken in the hallway as the cleaning people got going for the day. He said there were a number of times when he would wake up still kneeling at his bed in the attitude of listening and pondering.
I texted him last night and mentioned how we had a BoM class about meditation and pondering like Nephi and Lehi in the city of Zarahemla. Nephi was pondering as he walked towards his home and an angel began speaking with him who turned out to be the Lord! He never made it to his home. : )
I suggested to Jason as I did Thursday night that reliving our experiences is an example of pondering. That is when I notice the hand of the Lord in guiding me. Later, after it is all over. I even told FSL missionaries Brother and Sister Green that in my letter to them. Jason mentioned he has heard others say it is bad to dwell on the negative and relive it, but that he often does it because he believes he can consider the mistakes he made and try to do better next time. AS you can see we did text last night.
He worked with Bishop Salmon in turning his live around and committed to reading the Book of Mormon and praying everyday in his probation, repentance, turn around time.
Brother James gave the closing prayer and he did not use any vain repetitions! 11:54a
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