This week we have had some wonderful experiences in the temple and with our last zone conference of this transfer. Our friend Mark came out to assist with the food preparations for our Longueuil zone conference. This was something we asked him to do to give him a service opportunity and another way to get him out interacting with members. It worked out really well. As he was chopping away in the kitchen there were a couple times when a French speaking member came in and he talked French with them and made some connections. Then he joined us at the table with Pres. Sorenson and made some more good connections. When I think of where he was a few months ago it is really amazing to see him flourishing and mixing in so well. He has nearly overcome his demons and has a happy and more confident disposition. Reading the Book of Mormon every day and attending church along with his BYU Pathways study has helped him tremendously. We are as proud of him as if he were our own son.
On Friday we were able to officiate a temple session for our whole zone. It is truly amazing to be in a session with only missionaries. They schedule special sessions for our large groups once every quarter now. It is especially meaningful to be in the celestial room with a room full of missionaries. They all look so young and yet they are highly motivated to do the Lord’s work. A funny thing happened that day too. The matron asked me to start ushering them out of the celestial room by 6:25 pm so that we would not have a jam up in the locker room with the patrons for the evening session. Just before that the mission president told the missionaries to take up to 15 minutes more. So, she instructed me to give them only 10 minutes more and then she went to get her husband, the temple president to move things along. As the time approached, I was nervous to upset the peaceful spirit in the room. Just as I was about to start, the matron walked in with the temple president. He took another 5 minutes or so and shared a sacred message with them and then he turned and left without instructing them to leave. I looked over at the matron as she rolled her eyes and then gave them some kind instructions to exit. There was no traffic jam in the locker room. It all worked out beautifully. This is a reminder to me to always stay calm and let the spirit guide. As the sisters and elders left the temple Elder Glenn and I got to meet with them each and shared hugs and handshakes with these bright faced amazing missionaries.
Another really tender moment for us this week was with a discovery we made on behalf of a sister in our branch. I mentioned in a previous blog that we helped Sharon get back to the temple again for the first time in a few years. I took home some of her family history notes and got into her account to help her as she does not have a computer or smart phone. We set up an appointment to do sealings with her and found out that she has not been sealed to her parents yet. So now we are setting up a live sealing for her. She is very excited for that in the next month. (Our temple just closed for two weeks.) While I was looking into her account, I discovered that she and I are 10th cousins twice removed. It’s pretty distant, but still it was a thrill for her to learn. I was also able to find an interesting story of how our common ancestor came to Nova Scotia from England. I printed that off along with a fan chart of her family and our cousin-relationship. She was really tickled when I gave them to her at church today.
We continue to seek out members whom we haven’t met yet and to invite to gather at church. We have lots of ups and downs with some friends, but several are coming along. The Lord is mindful of them and the trials they are facing. We are still teaching Debbie and her two daughters, Zoey and Savanah. We only get to see them about every other weekend as their lives are intertwined with a lot of family obligations. She recently invited us to come for dinner next weekend. We are excited to get to spend this time with her and to have some more really interesting gospel discussions. Elder Glenn is giving Fongwan driving practice in our truck so he can take the driving test again and pass. He is used to driving on the left side of the road, so is still adjusting to the ways of Canada. Once he gets his driving license here more doors will open up for their family. Please pray for our friends and for our efforts here to be fruitful.
Au revoir,
The Glenns
Gigi and Papi