We made a second trip to the USA, this time for some auditor training in SLC. Because of some significant family events we got permission to add some extra days.
Temple Sealing
We arrived in SLC on Thursday the 11th and then Friday we went to the Logan temple for the sealing of Tamara & Val (Chris's younger sister). A joyous occasion long awaited for & a time of family gathering.
Funeral
The next day (Oct 12th) was the funeral of my wonderful father. He was a very brilliant man, an inventor and on the team with Admiral H. G. Rickover as a designer of part of the Enterprise Aircraft Carrier. He was a sweet and humble man who found his greatest joy in his home life with family & in gospel discussion. The service was beautiful & all the family participated. Chris gave the opening prayer, I gave the life sketch, Chris & I, Aaron & Andrew joined family in a group musical number. Emily designed a beautiful program with Dad's photo and a watermark of the SLC temple, where Mom & Dad were married. How I love our dear family.
Andrew Mission Prep
Sunday after church we drove to SLC and Monday we spent with the kids and shopping for mission supplies in preparation for Andrew to enter the Helsinki Finland mission.
Tuesday (15th) Andrew got to go through the temple for the first time. He chose the beautiful Salt Lake Temple.
Salt Lake Temple
Wednesday we went through the Bountiful temple and then Andrew flew home to Virginia.
Thursday & Friday we enjoyed our Area Auditor Training in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was so inspiring and we received great instruction! What a beautiful view we had from that room!
Auditor Training
We were delighted to have in our group the Smith's, Miriam Squires' parents, who have been called to be auditors in Ghana. Also there were our dear friends, Jay & Rosalind Sorensen who have been called to be auditors in the Caribbean! :)
Sadly on Thursday (17th) we received word that Chris's sister, Tamara, died unexpectedly. This was just 6 days after she had been sealed. She had been very ill with diabetes and dialysis for many years. We contacted Elder Carl Cook and he gave us permission to add some more time to our stay here. He considered it a act of tender mercy from the Lord, allowing us to gather with the family. So, instead of flying back to Johannesburg Saturday, we drove back to Idaho to be with family and help with funeral preparations.
Another funeral
Another time of family gathering and a lovely funeral service with Chris giving a talk and singing a solo. At the graveside he sang with his ukulele a Hawaiian tribute, "To You Sweetheart Aloha" and Aloha Oe".
What can you ever really know of another's soul; their temptations, opportunities, struggles? Only one soul can we really know and judge and that is our own. When we feel unloved, we can still love, misjudged, we can know that He who created us, knows our heart and our desires and loves us perfectly. He knows the truth about our heart and soul & the love in our hearts towards Him and others. We will all return to Him & rejoice with our loved ones who will greet us there. There we will be embraced in the arms of the Savior's love and we will finally be Home at last.
30 Hours & The Painting
To pass time before our long flight we enjoyed a warm sunny day wandering around Temple Square and the Church History Museum. Some ladies at the desk asked us where we were serving and how long the flight back was going to be. Everyone groaned when we told them that including layovers, it was about 30 hours. We then walked into a room of paintings and there was a painting of the pioneers! Ha ha, suddenly 30 hours seemed more like a miracle than a long achy flight! Imagine! Only 30 hours to get to Africa!
Passport Control
When we arrived in Joburg, the passport control lady noticed our tags and asked us if we were missionaries. We told her we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She then said "Give me a scripture." Chris & I looked at each other with tired expression and I said "How about this one, 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoso believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The lady smiled sweetly and said "John 3:16" We conversed briefly and she thanked us for being good Christian missionaries because the world really needs people like us in these last days. She said she was a missionary for her church as well. I then pulled out 3 pass along cards, one about the Plan of Salvation, one about the Book of Mormon and an Article of Faith card and gave them to her. She smiled and seemed delighted in our gift.
People here love getting a free gift. They just love to get our pass along cards and a Book of Mormon. They delight in this thing, not knowing that within these emblems lies an even greater gift. That of eternal truth & light & joy & salvation in the Kingdom of God.
 |
| Val & Tamara Davies |
Temple Sealing
We arrived in SLC on Thursday the 11th and then Friday we went to the Logan temple for the sealing of Tamara & Val (Chris's younger sister). A joyous occasion long awaited for & a time of family gathering.
 |
| Paula, Debbie, Aunt Carole, Mom |
The next day (Oct 12th) was the funeral of my wonderful father. He was a very brilliant man, an inventor and on the team with Admiral H. G. Rickover as a designer of part of the Enterprise Aircraft Carrier. He was a sweet and humble man who found his greatest joy in his home life with family & in gospel discussion. The service was beautiful & all the family participated. Chris gave the opening prayer, I gave the life sketch, Chris & I, Aaron & Andrew joined family in a group musical number. Emily designed a beautiful program with Dad's photo and a watermark of the SLC temple, where Mom & Dad were married. How I love our dear family.
 |
| Precious family gatherings in Rexburg. Kaydance, Aaron, Braylon, Jarom & Payson |
Andrew Mission Prep
Sunday after church we drove to SLC and Monday we spent with the kids and shopping for mission supplies in preparation for Andrew to enter the Helsinki Finland mission.
 |
| Can't believe we ate the whole thing. (Almost) |
Tuesday (15th) Andrew got to go through the temple for the first time. He chose the beautiful Salt Lake Temple.
Wednesday we went through the Bountiful temple and then Andrew flew home to Virginia.
Thursday & Friday we enjoyed our Area Auditor Training in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was so inspiring and we received great instruction! What a beautiful view we had from that room!
 |
| View from the JS Memorial Building |
We were delighted to have in our group the Smith's, Miriam Squires' parents, who have been called to be auditors in Ghana. Also there were our dear friends, Jay & Rosalind Sorensen who have been called to be auditors in the Caribbean! :)
Sadly on Thursday (17th) we received word that Chris's sister, Tamara, died unexpectedly. This was just 6 days after she had been sealed. She had been very ill with diabetes and dialysis for many years. We contacted Elder Carl Cook and he gave us permission to add some more time to our stay here. He considered it a act of tender mercy from the Lord, allowing us to gather with the family. So, instead of flying back to Johannesburg Saturday, we drove back to Idaho to be with family and help with funeral preparations.
Another funeral
Another time of family gathering and a lovely funeral service with Chris giving a talk and singing a solo. At the graveside he sang with his ukulele a Hawaiian tribute, "To You Sweetheart Aloha" and Aloha Oe".
What can you ever really know of another's soul; their temptations, opportunities, struggles? Only one soul can we really know and judge and that is our own. When we feel unloved, we can still love, misjudged, we can know that He who created us, knows our heart and our desires and loves us perfectly. He knows the truth about our heart and soul & the love in our hearts towards Him and others. We will all return to Him & rejoice with our loved ones who will greet us there. There we will be embraced in the arms of the Savior's love and we will finally be Home at last.
30 Hours & The Painting
 |
| Stained glass in the Church History Museum |
Passport Control
When we arrived in Joburg, the passport control lady noticed our tags and asked us if we were missionaries. We told her we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She then said "Give me a scripture." Chris & I looked at each other with tired expression and I said "How about this one, 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoso believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The lady smiled sweetly and said "John 3:16" We conversed briefly and she thanked us for being good Christian missionaries because the world really needs people like us in these last days. She said she was a missionary for her church as well. I then pulled out 3 pass along cards, one about the Plan of Salvation, one about the Book of Mormon and an Article of Faith card and gave them to her. She smiled and seemed delighted in our gift.
People here love getting a free gift. They just love to get our pass along cards and a Book of Mormon. They delight in this thing, not knowing that within these emblems lies an even greater gift. That of eternal truth & light & joy & salvation in the Kingdom of God.
Debbie- I am so grateful that you were able to come for the sealing and the funerals-so sad about the funerals-your father seems like such an amazing person and I wish I knew more about your sis in law. The diabetes can be so awful. In Sept I had gastric by pass surgery and instantly my blood sugars went back to normal & with one exception have been so since then. I wish this could have been for your sis in law but her being sealed I know that it will be more than made up for in the end. I miss you all and I envy your energy!! You are such inspirations! Awesome that you ran into the Smiths and the Sorensens-it is a small world sometimes! Look forward to hearing more about Andrew and Andrea! Much love, Trish Johnson
ReplyDeleteDear Trish,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words.
I am amazed to hear about the blood sugar levels normalizing with the gastric bypass. I find that really interesting & I'm thrilled to hear that! Now if they can just come up with a fix for a few other things right? :) You have been through so much and I always marvel at how you retain your cheerful sense of humor through thick and thin. I hope you are recovered and feeling better.
Love & Blessings to you,
Debbie