#1 Preach My Gospel says,"Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry,frustrated, or anxious."
God tried to teach me patience by blessing me with six children. When that didn't work, He had me get up at 5 AM for 9 years straight to teach a total of 164 teenagers the gospel.(the number would be greater but I had many 2 years) When that failed he gave me 25 grandchildren. I was almost learning lessons needed when I landed in the midst of 212 missionaries. I don't become angry anymore. I'm working diligently on frustrated---especially where glitches in computers is involved. One of the Polish sisters missionaries said this week, "I'm glad they finally fixed our car. I was afraid I was going to go Polish on him." After 3 trips to the dentist this week, I learned a great deal of patience. My molar broke, he put a temp. crown on it. It broke so he got me in the next day to put another temp on. It broke within 24 hours. So I went on a liquid diet because of a raw post in the back of my mouth...thinking it would be the 2 weeks he promised. Out of the blue the dentist calls and says he's leaving town and wants to get the permanent crown on before he leaves. Could I possible come in on Sat. for that? So in 6 days I had 2 temps, 1 permanent, and 3 dentist appointments. Just lucky, I guess.
#2 This work is NOT mine. It is the Lord's work. My job is NOT to mess it up. I can only control myself. As I watch the problems with cars, Ipads, computers, etc., man could have stopped any progress if he was in charge. The company would have "gone under". But this is not man's work but God's. He allows us to be part of it to learn and grow. In the end, this work will continue to roll forward no matter what we do or don't do to help it. A baptism done in 2011 finally came through on my reports this week. She wondered why she had never received a membership number. Sat that it took a ward clerk to catch it, berate me for my failure to enter the baptism, and I wasn't even here in 2011!! All is well that ends well and I promise, this work will end well.
#3 Service to others requires effort and time from us but brings blessings and satisfaction found nowhere else in life. We are dedicated to serve 100% for 2 years on this mission. But there is service within the service and that's the part I love. After the baptism last night, two tired Elders were going to catch the train back to Buffalo Grove. With a train transfer, it would take them 3 hours. We were going 30 min. that direction to catch an Olive Garden dinner. I suggested we take them with us. These Elders aren't your dynamic leaders (yet), just sweet, humble servants. One had never been to Olive Garden. Imagine their delight when they got a 2nd meal to take home for Sunday dinner!! It was 1/2 tank of gas out of our way but what a blessing for us. After we got home I finished hemming the 3rd skirt for the day. Service inside of service. I love it.
#4 In every situation ask yourself, "What is it I should be learning from this? What lesson can I take from this? " This is a question our stake president asks. At Quincey's baptism last night, the chapel was full. He is YSA age. His convert uncle (with 1 leg) was performing the baptism. No one could get the folding doors to the baptismal font open. Fifty keys and not one of them worked. But the ordinance was performed anyway. Witnesses, his parents and brother, and a few others "saw" it. The rest of us "heard" it. A hundred lessons were there to be learned. Keys---if we aren't focusing on essential things in this life, our "keys" won't be the right ones to get us into the Celestial Kingdom in the next life. An ordinance is valid and the Spirit can be felt even when not seen. A ward family can be as "together" as blood relatives when they realize we are all God's children and we are all here to help each other. Keep going, there are many lessons we can take from every day event.
#5 Be careful who you follow. Where will it lead? One of the photos is me following Elder Taggart. I followed him driving two different Toyotas as we took them to be repaired so Elder Taggart can sell them. I follow only my Savior, ultimately, but it has been an adventure doing it with Elder Taggart by my side. Now a used car salesman too----who knew what I would be in for?
#6 Shopping and finding bargains makes me happy.We made a Salvation Army run, we found 7 "new" summer skirts for a total of $34. We're heating up fast---polar vortex only a memory now. I can make it because I have cool skirts to survive in.
The other photo I have sent is overkill.....not the focus of Easter. We are here to learn. I hope we have figured that out. Have a great week and may the tutorials be pleasant. We may not report in next week because we have permission to take a field trip to Clinton, Iowa for Easter to be with my younger brother and his wife. A much needed break that Senior Couples are able to take.
Love,
Sister Taggart
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