Matters of Tokyo Testimonies

A highlight of our two weeks in Japan was attending the ward for the Primary program. The music was superb. About fifty children sang from their hearts, led by a skilled chorister and pianist. Not only was the music beautiful, the children spoke of their own personal experiences in feeling the spirit. One girl spoke in Japanese. One wore traditional Tongan dress. They were American, Mongolian, English, Japanese, and from all over the world— but gathered to this little international primary in the center of the largest city in the world to bear testimony. They were new members and investigators and those of other faiths. The sweetest, most evocative parts were their testimonies in song and word. Three little brothers sang “If the Savior Stood Beside Me” perfectly. I admit to tears. Several children told of spiritual experiences during the dedication of the newly-remodeled Tokyo temple, only a few steps away. They proclaimed their joy in being able to hear apostles speak and shake their hands. They told of feeling the spirit through the prayers, meetings, and music. Then they stood tall and their voices resounded through the building singing “I Love to See the Temple.” 

Matters of Sacrifice and Sacrament

 MATTERS OF SACRIFICE AND SACRAMENT

Serving as a temple ordinance worker has certainly awakened me to a better understanding of my covenants. As I officiate in the initiatory, the words pierce my heart and soul. I feel my Savior’s love.

 

We had to have our recommends renewed the month before we began our service in the Jordan River Temple. We were standing in the hall outside the bishop’s office when our stake president Neal Peterson and his wife Suzy came in. We love them very much, and we have shared some sacred times with them. President Peterson set us apart with special prayers before our mission to Laredo. His words and sincere heart (and weeping) let us know he is close to the Lord. On the recommend day, while we talked about everything from our trip to Israel to the U.S. government, he shared this special story. (It’s his story, but I want to remember it always.) Cameron often passes President Peterson the sacrament while he sits on the stand. PP says it’s always a sweet experience, but one Sunday, as Cameron held out the sacrament tray, it was no longer Cam’s hand holding the tray, but the Savior’s. He recounted how his eyes filled with tears, and how his heart was full. He immediately wrote this experience in his journal when he returned home. I was reminded of this touching story when my ministering sister Jackie Betts brought this picture to me the other day. (I shared President Peterson’s story with her, and she left a picture for Cameron, too.)

 

 

What Really Matters

 What Really Matters

It’s summer. It’s hot. We have air conditioning. Yay. Yesterday we had a great experience when Donny’s girls came for the day. They drew. They played. We sang lots of songs while I played the piano. They read their favorite Silverstein poems to me, and we laughed together. Zoey read to Preslie. Then it came time for Cameron to leave for Institute across town, so we gathered for family prayer and scriptures. Neither of the girls have been raised active in the Church, and both are unbaptized. We pray for them and all of our children and grandchildren day and night, of course. We want them to have blessings that will bring them joy all their lives. We want them to have Jesus Christ at the center of their lives. We try to be an example, but we aren’t really in-charge of them. Yesterday, though, we had an answer to those prayers. It was little. We held our breaths, wondering at this really special moment. I wasn’t sure if we should invite Zoey and Preslie, so I hesitated for a few seconds. Then Zoey said, “Can we do prayer and scriptures with you?” We welcomed them as they bounced into the family room. Everyone had his own chair, and we were spread around the room. I explained that usually we gathered together and held hands for prayer, but that today it was okay if we just folded our arms where we were. Then Preslie grinned, “We could just come over there!” And they sprang across the room where we gathered, holding hands while Cameron offered the prayer. We then found a Book of Mormon for each. Zoey was SO excited to read, and asked all the way through the sixty verses if she could read, explaining that she wasn’t used to reading scriptures because it had “been a minute.” She was so thrilled to be part of it all! Preslie wasn’t as confident, but she did read a verse or two. When they left last night, they asked if they could come again today, and the first thing Zoey asked was what time we read scriptures again. Oh, my heart! What a tender mercy! Be still and know that He is God, and nothing is too hard for him!

 

Matters of Pandemic

 Here we are starting the third year of the COVID19 pandemic! Unbelievable. We just finished our own bout with the virus (omicron variant) following a week in DisneyWorld and Harry Potter World. It was very warm and wonderful in Florida, and we had a super reunion with Sean’s family. I didn’t feel great on the Tuesday we left, but had no idea that I might have contracted the virus—after-all, we had all been triple-vaxed, healthy, and masked. The amusement parks were crowded, even stuffed, with holiday celebrants. New Year’s Eve in Epcot Center was crazy, and we had to fight our way through the crowds. That was probably the infection point, though we were outdoors the whole time, watching fireworks and eating fish and chips. 

Many flights had been delayed and canceled because of the virus and holiday’s end, and Tuesday, January fourth, the Orlando airport was filled to the max with tired, frustrated fliers. Our flight was delayed for a little less than an hour, but we were in the airport—not able to even get near our gate—for six hours. We were ready to be HOME! By Wednesday night I was quite ill with a headache, runny nose, and exhaustion. Cameron’s red, runny nose showed he was also infected. Thursday we spent over three hours in the car, in line at the fitness center, waiting for our “tests.” Cameron and I were positive. Jim got sick a week later and is on treatment to protect him from getting worse, since he is in high-risk categories. It was hard to get the medications, too! Blood tests (kidneys) across town, waiting for approval and virtual appointments, and picking up meds at yet another location.

We are all on the mend ❤️‍🩹! Julia’s farewell was yesterday, and we had had to cancel our flights and rental car because of the COVID. It was a blessing, though to be able to zoom in! Zoom!