We did have a couple of sisters who learned that sad lesson
of not leaving valuable things visible in the car. Their car was parked in the
church parking lot by several other mission cars, but their window was broken
out and a purse was taken. Several days
of hassle for them, getting cards canceled and the window repaired. I speak of this 3 or 4 times a year in zone
meetings, but some lessons seem to have to be learned personally. I’m just glad that GPS units are not that hot
an item for thieves now, or we’d have more break-ins! It’s hard to get the missionaries to take the
units out of the window when they park for the night (and I understand
why).
Friday night we went to the scripture study class for the
second time, and it was rewarding again.
We read and discussed Matthew 26 (Passover, sacrament, Gethsemane,
betrayal, Peter denying Christ) and several things struck me anew. The first
was the reality of Christ suffering for all the sins and pain of 70 billion
people (estimate since world began). I
know that although it is incomprehensible to me how He did it, He did!! I’m not generally a great ponderer, but when
I try to think what that whole day and night must have really been like, it
fills my heart and soul with wonder and gratitude!! I have no doubt Jesus Christ and His father
love me!
The second is that we must actually experience
mortality to fully understand joy and pain.
I believe that even with our expanded understanding and intellect in
pre-earth life, we really had no idea what we were getting into--- 80 to 100
years in mortality must have seemed pretty easy for beings that had a
consciousness of thousands (millions?) of years of life before that. Even Christ, perfect and unrivaled in
capability, had to actually experience mortal suffering and weakness to be able
to succor His brothers and sisters fully!
I believe that’s why He groaned in the garden and asked His father if
there was any other way to accomplish the atonement of mankind. Experiencing things as a mortal being is
surely a unique and necessary experience for immortality and eternal life!
Yesterday (8/12) we got to participate in a unique event
called a “Faith In Christ Project” with the Lynbrook NY Stake. It started at 9AM with members of the stake
assembling 6000 packets to distribute to the surrounding area. Each packet included a 5 x 7 picture of Jesus
Christ and a 5 x 7 card that said, “For your family from our family of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”.
In between those two covers were placed four other cards with information
in different languages about our belief in the Savior, and each packet was put into
clear plastic door hanger bags. Of
course, being an ex-industrial engineer, I got excited to develop a small
moving line assembly process to assemble the packets. I tried to recruit Diane, but she would have
none of the nonsense, so I had to go it on my own. I recruited four missionaries and the stake
president, President De Rosa, and we had a great time working to balance the
line for maximum efficiency. We kept
tweaking and adapting the process until it ultimately ran like a well-oiled
machine, except when President had to leave to be interviewed, or one of the
workers wandered off to take pictures. One thing about moving lines—they don’t
function unless fully staffed! (I did
wonder now and then, though, why other groups were having so much fun, laughing
and carrying on like enjoying each other’s company was the goal…!?) Maybe their definition of fun is twisted?
There were several photographers and videographers shooting
everything, including one camera on a drone (which all the elders and I thought
was cool!). The assembly process went quicker than planned (probably mostly due
to my group), so we had pizza an hour early at 11AM, then all put on our
matching t-shirts and took some pictures and video, then spread through
Flushing to distribute the packets. I
had an appointment, so I left Diane to work with a couple of sisters, thereby
avoiding most of the actual work! (I did
hang packets on the 40 units in our building, so I didn’t feel totally useless…) Diane said she got a feeling for how the
sisters work, including how they get into apartment buildings with security
doors (just like on TV, push a bunch of buttons until someone opens the door…why in the world does that work?!). She was glad to see that she wasn’t the only
one that got hot and sweaty and tired tramping up and down stairs in
apartments! Talking to the person in
charge of the event, this is the first of many such events in many parts of the
northeast. My impression was that the
church executive missionary committee is loosely sponsoring the events, waiting
to see results before deciding on broader implementation. It was a fun and rewarding Saturday morning!
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| My high-powered assembly line (without me) |
Diane and I often comment on how fast the time is passing! It seems like when you are young the time seems to slow when you watch it, but when you are our age, it goes fast no matter how close you watch it!! Sister Petersen goes home this week, and another 20 or so missionaries we love go home the 22nd. We will especially miss Sister Petersen! She lives close, loves to cook (she says), and gets so many people together in her home (much larger room than our tiny apartment), and loves everyone and is loved by everyone!! She is sad/excited to finish, and she tears up whenever reminded how much she is loved. What a joy it is to serve with people like this!!!!!!! (and Go Seahawks!!)
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Diane doesn't like this picture because her mouth is full, but
I do because she looks happy! At Metropolitan Grill in Medford.
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