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If there is one thing I truly love and enjoy, it is going out with
our amazing Elders as they reach out to people and try to help them
learn more about the Church and the way we members are. I don't get
to do it nearly as often as I would like but every trip is a sheer
joy and I welcome each chance I get. I always tell people that the
Missionaries are the best ambassadors that we have for the Church and
all of its wonders. Every trip I take with them just proves that
over and over again.
The other night was one of those amazing trips. We went to visit a
lovely woman from Romania who has not been in this country for very
long. Her English was excellent, but sometimes difficult to
understand since she often found herself not knowing a specific word
in English. The entire time, her very young daughter was running
around the room at full tilt making noise and just generally being a
small, energetic child.
During the first few minutes, I could sense the woman's unease. I
could tell she was uncomfortable. I wasn't sure if it was because
there were strangers in her home, her discomfort with not having
perfect English or the living tornado that was her daughter. She
seemed very nervous with us being there.
The Elders shined in this situation. Elder Garber distracted her
daughter by playing with her doing a puzzle over and over again while
Elder Anderson and I talked to her. Occassionally, I would switch
out the Garber while he answered some of her questions. After a
while, she opened up and relaxed to the point where she talked about
her previous faith and asked very insightful questions about the
Mormon faith. By the time we left, I really felt like the Elders had
made real progress in helping the woman find her way back to the
family that she never knew she had.
For anyone who has never had the chance to watch all of our amazing
Missionaries work, you have truly missed something amazing. Their
faith and devotion shines through each and every time they speak or
act. They teach those around them not just with their lessons, but
with their many deeds. They work so hard and generally the only
reward they get is a smile and a handshake. Sometimes they don't
even get that.
I see the Missionaries on the “front lines” every single day rain
or shine, hot or cold. The first or last thing they ever ask is “Is
there anything that we can do for you?” They genuinely wish to
help every one they can and sometimes get grumpy when they can't.
Don't even get me started on how grumpy they were the first time I
shoveled the snow off my walk myself instead of having them to it.
The messages and lessons the Missionaries have are important beyond
words and help those who listen to them. However, it is their
selfless deeds every single day that get them close enough to people
to allow them to try to teach them. I doubt the Church would be
where it is today without our Missionaries working so hard every day.
I am very grateful for them.
