We thought we might do something a little different and share with you a couple of things we have learned in conferences recently, both missionary zone conference and General Conference. These are thoughts about adversity and how we deal with it.
During the Saturday morning session of General Conference, Elder Clayton of the Seventy spoke about what he called 'burdens'.
He quoted a familiar scripture in which Heavenly Father told Adam that he and Eve must leave the Garden of Eden and that the ‘ . . . ground will be cursed for thy sake.' There are two ways to look at that scripture. One is that the ground was cursed as a result of the choices Adam and Eve made. But the second (and both are likely correct) is that the ground was cursed for the benefit of man.
Work is a principal of the Gospel. It is good for us to work and labor, for by so doing, we learn and grow and become stronger. Those who do not work, are generally not the stronger members of our society.
Just the same, much of what we experience here, can be difficult. But our struggles (those things we often refer to as adversity) can become easier if we approach them correctly. Our burdens will not often be removed but they can be made lighter - or, at least our capacity to bear them can increase. That’s what happened to Alma and those who fled from wicked King Noah while they were temporarily burdened with captivity and were heavily taxed. The heavy burden remained but their capacity to bear it increased.
It is interesting how people face difficulties differently. A particular circumstance may seem to be a huge obstacle or even a downfall to one, but seems to make another stronger, ultimately lifting them higher.
I became a poetry enthusiast during my first full time mission as a young man and seemed to come across many poems and short stories which became special to me as they conveyed a strong message and from which I learned much. I still remember one which became a favorite:
“One ship drives east, another drives west
with the selfsame winds that blow.
‘Tis the set of the sail and not the gale,
Which tells it the way to go.
“Like the winds of the sea are the trials we face
as we journey along through life.
‘Tis the set of the soul that determines the goal,
And not the calm nor the strife.”
Often, we do not understand why things happen. Sometimes, even when we are trying to do something good, something goes awry and we become discouraged. There is a sign hanging in our office in the mission home. It is a quote from President Hinckley and has come to mean much to us as we, too, face our share of challenges. It reads: “Keep trying. Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get discouraged. Things will work out.” We have been slowly learning that he is right. Things really do work out, if we are patient and trust in the Lord.
There is a story told of a man who became shipwrecked and lived alone for sometime on a deserted island. It was a struggle just to survive, but he managed to build a hut and did his best. One day, he had a small accident and his hut burned to the ground. Deep in despair, he complained to Heavenly Father, “How could you let this happen! It is so hard here!”
A ship suddenly appeared on the horizon and pulled close to the island. Rescued at last, he asked the captain how they knew he was on the island. “We saw your smoke signal,” he responded.
It seems to be easy for us to become discouraged when things don’t go as we think that they ought to or as we had planned. But sometimes, the Lord knows things we do not. It has been said that trouble has no necessary connection with discouragement. Discouragement is a seed all its own. Don’t let that seed grow!
A shipment of shoes was once delivered to an island. One of those who would process the shipment said, “No one here wears shoes! Send these back!”
However, another said, “Hey, no one here has any shoes! Send more!”
It’s often in how we look at it.
When Joseph Smith was in the Liberty Jail, he became concerned and even somewhat discouraged. He petitioned the Lord and received this answer. “My son, peace be unto thy soul. Thine adversity and thy afflictions shall be but a small moment. And then, if thou endure it well, God will exalt the on high.”
And then He added a note of more immediate encouragement.
“Thy friends do stand by thee . . .”
Marcia Geilmann, sister to Sister Caldwell, wrote us a little card a while ago. She noted that the adversary would, indeed, do all he could to interfere with this work. But then she asked us to remember that she prayed for us everyday. Then she reminded us that all of our children and grandchildren pray for us. She also pointed out that we have many friends and extended family who add their prays, as well. And she also noted that prayers are offered several times every day in all of the temples world wide, in behalf of the missionaries.
No wonder we are succeeding! Thanks!
.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Zaisan - Part 2
Thought we'd better try to continue our post about the Zaisan monument (see September 24th post).
Once you manage to climb the 650 or so stairs to get to the top of the hill, you find the main part of this memorial. It is rather well done and interesting to look at. It is, obviously, a circle with the inside of the circle containing the mural, part of which we are showing here. The mural is actually a mosaic of tile pieces, with different colors of tile used to form the actual images.
It seems to be a popular place and we saw a steady stream of people visiting here.
As mentioned before, this was built by the Soviets to commemorate the battles and victories the two countries fought during World War II. It is also here on top of
the hill that Elder Maxwell dedicated this land for missionary work (see a copy of the dedicatory prayer in September 26th post). That prayer contains many promises which we are seeing come to pass even while we are here. Many think Mongolia will likely be the staging ground from where the Gospel can really be taken to other Asian lands which still remain closed to the Church.
And the view from up here is pretty spectacular, too! This is the view of the city from up top -- Ulaanbaatar (don't bother trying to pronounce it!), the capital city where we live and serve.
.
Once you manage to climb the 650 or so stairs to get to the top of the hill, you find the main part of this memorial. It is rather well done and interesting to look at. It is, obviously, a circle with the inside of the circle containing the mural, part of which we are showing here. The mural is actually a mosaic of tile pieces, with different colors of tile used to form the actual images.
It seems to be a popular place and we saw a steady stream of people visiting here.
As mentioned before, this was built by the Soviets to commemorate the battles and victories the two countries fought during World War II. It is also here on top of
the hill that Elder Maxwell dedicated this land for missionary work (see a copy of the dedicatory prayer in September 26th post). That prayer contains many promises which we are seeing come to pass even while we are here. Many think Mongolia will likely be the staging ground from where the Gospel can really be taken to other Asian lands which still remain closed to the Church.
And the view from up here is pretty spectacular, too! This is the view of the city from up top -- Ulaanbaatar (don't bother trying to pronounce it!), the capital city where we live and serve..
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
An especially good day today!
Once in a while, we have the opportunity to be involved in something especially enjoyable. Today was one of those days.
But let me start a couple of days ago. A gentleman was wheeled into the Church Building in a borrowed wheelchair. It belonged to a friend of his who was in the hospital and couldn't use it for a while. The wheelchair was an old one of ours but was pretty badly beaten up and the rubber on the wheels, though there, was completely off both rims, while the wheels were running on what was left of the metal rims.
His friend had told him about us and suggested that he might be able to get one for himself if he came to see us. There happened to be one wheelchair left when he came.
I arrived just as he was leaving. I greeted him and he started crying as he waved his hand and did his best to express his gratitude, knowing that I would not understand his Mongolian. I understood just fine.
All the way down the sidewalk he kept waving and saying, "Biyartla" (thank you).
Then, for the past two weeks or so, the mission has been working on clearing 750 new wheelchairs through customs. This, by the way, is just the most recent of such shipments. The Church has provided thousands of new wheelchairs to Mongolia alone, with many thousands more going to other areas of Asia. Just one of the worthwhile places that our Church donations help with.
Today, a special ceremony was held to, in part, help people understand what the Church does here and to let others know we are here to help. A number of those who badly needed wheelchairs were invited to the ceremony.
It was held at a building called The Children's Center. The news media was invited and several others with whom we try to form good associations so that the work we do can move forward with greater ease as they, in turn, learn us and become 
more inclined to help us in our efforts.
First, wheelchairs were unpacked and the last of the assembly completed. These are some of our missionaries who came to help. We could not have done it without them.
As time for the ceremony drew near, those receiving wheel chairs made their way here the best they could. The Children's Center is centrally located and relatively easy for them to get to.
The ones who could, came on crutches. Others in borrowed wheelchairs. Still others were carried in, some by those missionaries in the previous picture.
This father on his son's back is about the only way this particular gentleman has had of getting around. Without wheelchairs, their choices have been extremely limited and their sense of worth often almost non-existent.
In the pictures, you can see one gentleman with no legs, children who have little control of their bodies and whose parents have felt the burden of needing to carry them wherever they went. These wheelchairs were a much needed and appreciated blessing.
We will use almost all of those 750 wheelchairs within the next couple of weeks. So, we will order another batch in a couple of months!
We continue to be very grateful to our Heavenly Father for allowing us to come here. It has been lonely and difficult sometimes. And it has been tremendously rewarding and wonderful most of the time!
It has been a good day today.
.
But let me start a couple of days ago. A gentleman was wheeled into the Church Building in a borrowed wheelchair. It belonged to a friend of his who was in the hospital and couldn't use it for a while. The wheelchair was an old one of ours but was pretty badly beaten up and the rubber on the wheels, though there, was completely off both rims, while the wheels were running on what was left of the metal rims.
His friend had told him about us and suggested that he might be able to get one for himself if he came to see us. There happened to be one wheelchair left when he came.
I arrived just as he was leaving. I greeted him and he started crying as he waved his hand and did his best to express his gratitude, knowing that I would not understand his Mongolian. I understood just fine.
All the way down the sidewalk he kept waving and saying, "Biyartla" (thank you).
Then, for the past two weeks or so, the mission has been working on clearing 750 new wheelchairs through customs. This, by the way, is just the most recent of such shipments. The Church has provided thousands of new wheelchairs to Mongolia alone, with many thousands more going to other areas of Asia. Just one of the worthwhile places that our Church donations help with.
Today, a special ceremony was held to, in part, help people understand what the Church does here and to let others know we are here to help. A number of those who badly needed wheelchairs were invited to the ceremony.
It was held at a building called The Children's Center. The news media was invited and several others with whom we try to form good associations so that the work we do can move forward with greater ease as they, in turn, learn us and become 
more inclined to help us in our efforts.First, wheelchairs were unpacked and the last of the assembly completed. These are some of our missionaries who came to help. We could not have done it without them.
As time for the ceremony drew near, those receiving wheel chairs made their way here the best they could. The Children's Center is centrally located and relatively easy for them to get to.
The ones who could, came on crutches. Others in borrowed wheelchairs. Still others were carried in, some by those missionaries in the previous picture.
This father on his son's back is about the only way this particular gentleman has had of getting around. Without wheelchairs, their choices have been extremely limited and their sense of worth often almost non-existent.
In the pictures, you can see one gentleman with no legs, children who have little control of their bodies and whose parents have felt the burden of needing to carry them wherever they went. These wheelchairs were a much needed and appreciated blessing.
We will use almost all of those 750 wheelchairs within the next couple of weeks. So, we will order another batch in a couple of months!
We continue to be very grateful to our Heavenly Father for allowing us to come here. It has been lonely and difficult sometimes. And it has been tremendously rewarding and wonderful most of the time!
It has been a good day today.
.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Zaisan - Part 1
Zaisan Hill is the location of a monument built by the Soviets to honor the combined efforts of Soviet and Mongolian soldiers in the defeat of the Japanese and the Germans during World War II. It stands at the south edge of Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital city in which we live and serve.
The monument is impressive and we found it quite interesting.
But of greater moment to us, is the use made of that hill by Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve as he stood on Zaisan Hill to pronounce a dedicator prayer for the preaching of the Gospel in Mongolia, in 1993.
Having lived here, now, for most of a year (wow! That means our time here is nearly half gone, already!), we can really appreciate specific things which Elder Maxwell included in his prayer. The good people here continue to face the challenge of overcoming the effects of the Socialist regime and the legacy it left behind. They did not leave much good behind here, and it is taking some effort for Mongolia to overcome that time in their history.
As one first arrives at Zaisan, this cement wall can be seen, portraying what appears to be a Russian Soldier (on the right), a Mongolian Soldier (on the left) and in the middle . . . ? We're taking suggestions what who the third figure represents.
The tank pictured is immediately to the left of the wall. The path carved on the side of the tank monument depicts its journey from the Russian foundry where it was produced in 1943, to the battle it finally fought in Berlin in 1945.
Then, to reach the actual monument, we had to climb all of these stairs. Look closely. They follow slightly to the left,
then slowly curve around to the right and then continue all the way along the ridge to the right edge of the first picture. Once we climbed all of those stairs, we found the next section as shown in stair picture number two! About 625 steps total! That's each direction, making a total of around 1250 steps!
It's a good thing we're still young!
It took us a while, bet we finally came to the actual monument on top of the hill. This is where Elder Maxwell stood as he dedicated the land for the preaching of the Gospel.
It's quite a view from up there. We'll show you the impressive inside of the monument and the view in subsequent posts!
.
The monument is impressive and we found it quite interesting.
But of greater moment to us, is the use made of that hill by Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve as he stood on Zaisan Hill to pronounce a dedicator prayer for the preaching of the Gospel in Mongolia, in 1993.Having lived here, now, for most of a year (wow! That means our time here is nearly half gone, already!), we can really appreciate specific things which Elder Maxwell included in his prayer. The good people here continue to face the challenge of overcoming the effects of the Socialist regime and the legacy it left behind. They did not leave much good behind here, and it is taking some effort for Mongolia to overcome that time in their history.
As one first arrives at Zaisan, this cement wall can be seen, portraying what appears to be a Russian Soldier (on the right), a Mongolian Soldier (on the left) and in the middle . . . ? We're taking suggestions what who the third figure represents.
The tank pictured is immediately to the left of the wall. The path carved on the side of the tank monument depicts its journey from the Russian foundry where it was produced in 1943, to the battle it finally fought in Berlin in 1945.
Then, to reach the actual monument, we had to climb all of these stairs. Look closely. They follow slightly to the left,
then slowly curve around to the right and then continue all the way along the ridge to the right edge of the first picture. Once we climbed all of those stairs, we found the next section as shown in stair picture number two! About 625 steps total! That's each direction, making a total of around 1250 steps!It's a good thing we're still young!
It took us a while, bet we finally came to the actual monument on top of the hill. This is where Elder Maxwell stood as he dedicated the land for the preaching of the Gospel.
It's quite a view from up there. We'll show you the impressive inside of the monument and the view in subsequent posts!
.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Letters from home!
What a nice surprise today to receive some mail from Lake Ridge 6th Ward High Priests! We do manage to keep track of some of the old crowd (mostly your children actually) on Facebook. It was good to hear you all are still alive and kickin'! We really miss all of our wonderful 6th friends (well most of them anyway!)!
Sometime within the next week or two our time here will already be half over! Can't believe it has gone that fast. We are already wondering if we can accomplish everything we need to before time to leave creeps up on us. Going to have to work hard!
Believe it or not, brother Warner, we actually miss the yard work! They don't do yards here much so we are really grateful for all of those who do so much to have nice lawns and gardens.
Can't wait to be able to share Mongolian cuisine with everyone! We sure you'll just love hoshurs and boodz! We'll have to have a party where we can share with everyone!
Thanks Brother Smith for 'encouraging' everyone to add their bit to the letter!
See ya' all next year!
.
Sometime within the next week or two our time here will already be half over! Can't believe it has gone that fast. We are already wondering if we can accomplish everything we need to before time to leave creeps up on us. Going to have to work hard!
Believe it or not, brother Warner, we actually miss the yard work! They don't do yards here much so we are really grateful for all of those who do so much to have nice lawns and gardens.
Can't wait to be able to share Mongolian cuisine with everyone! We sure you'll just love hoshurs and boodz! We'll have to have a party where we can share with everyone!
Thanks Brother Smith for 'encouraging' everyone to add their bit to the letter!
See ya' all next year!
.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Winter is here! Rats!
And it makes no bones about it!
Yesterday, it was 81 degrees F in the afternoon. So we visited a fun place on our way to a baptism. We'll tell you about it in our next post.
But this afternoon, it is 31 degrees F and it's snowing! (click on the picture to enlarge it and you will see the snow) Wait, we must be in Utah!
So we went a bit crazy this afternoon and played Christmas music! Ya' we know. It's only September! But they don't do much with Christmas here even in December, so why not!
Yesterday, it was 81 degrees F in the afternoon. So we visited a fun place on our way to a baptism. We'll tell you about it in our next post.
But this afternoon, it is 31 degrees F and it's snowing! (click on the picture to enlarge it and you will see the snow) Wait, we must be in Utah!
So we went a bit crazy this afternoon and played Christmas music! Ya' we know. It's only September! But they don't do much with Christmas here even in December, so why not!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)