If I had not served..........

January 18,2015
This week I have been grateful for missionaries who teach me so much.  They come from Idaho where cultural diversity does not exist. Then they embrace the ethnic and cultural differences here in Chicago like it's as easy as driving a tractor. (Sister Taggart, we're teaching a man from Ethiopia right now. Do we have a Book of Mormon in that language?)

They may be a foster child who was bounced from home to home to home......never feeling stability. They come here with humility and gratitude and a cheerful countenance because they too can be part of this great army and work.

They come with challenges like anxiety or ADD and a loving Heavenly Father helps them channel the energy to share the gospel. Anxiety about getting on trains and talking to strangers turns into the many referrals I assign each week.

They come with gifts and talents and then sing or accompany whenever they are ask. And they sing with all their heart and soul, even though it may only be one note the entire song.

They come from homes where money is plentiful and they had their own room and nice bathroom. Now they live in apartments that make college dorms look like luxury condos. For $1200 a month in Chicago you get an attic apartment or maybe a basement. The Church furnishes a kitchen table, 2 folding chairs, 2 desks, 2 beds, and 2 nightstands. One Sister from Poland said, "This is much nicer than what my family has at home." Yet her family sacrifices so she can be here sharing the gospel.

They come from divorced, dysfunctional homes yet they teach about eternal marriage and forever families with hope in their hearts they can go home and practice what they preach---not what they experienced. (They corner Elder Taggart and I whenever they can and ask how they can have a marriage just like ours. I want to say--"Start in 4th grade.")

They come inside-out shy and their loving companion trains them, encourages them, praises them, and nurtures them until they become confident, sure missionaries.

They come from other countries and enjoy America for 2 years and then go back to their own countries anxious to do missionary work and build the Kingdom in their home countries.

They come with mental and emotional challenges and it is hard. Some don't make it. But some find that when they focus on others, serve diligently, and lose themselves, most of their challenges go away.

One gave up a U of U scholarship to play soccer.
One put medical school on hold.
One walked away from a career as a Jr. High Music teacher. She is paying her own way.
Many go home to bank accounts drained and know they must work a year before getting into school again.
Many, many are the only member of the church in their families.
I am humbled as I watch them teach and bear testimony of how much they love their Savior and the gospel. A religion that does not require sacrifice really doesn't have power to hold us firm.

I watch missionaries who are nervous to go home because of the environment or abuse or anti-Mormon they know awaits them. Our hearts ache as we see them go. We know from experience not all of them will make it.

I finally got Salt Lake to give me an answer on the referral in Vietnam. The Church has no mission there. Vietnam currently has 4 branches in the entire country and 2 missionaries. So they told me to email the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission. I received a response shortly thereafter that those 2 missionaries would contact the branch of the church closest to her and branch members would meet with her. I know Heavenly Father loves each of His children and tries to reach them one by one through faithful servants. What an honor and blessing to be part of that.

I shook hands with Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy today. He just showed up at our sacrament meeting. I was grateful to be wearing the tag.  There was an unspoken moment as he read it....yes, for now I am a full-time servant too. My pressures and stresses are minuscule compared to his but the consecration of all my time is similar. His family meets every New Years for a reunion. This year they decided to re-focus on better Sabbath Day observance. I love the Sabbath. We listen to church DC's all day, attend Church in a ward we love and feel loved , read from the Book of Mormon, write home and visit with some of our children and grandchildren. I reflected on how many general authorities I have fixed meals for, hosted in my home, been in meetings with, and fixed meals for even here. Today I was grateful to be wearing "the tag". It says much about my priorities and who I am becoming.

So as I try to finish my mission strong I continue to write personal notes to all outgoing missionaries. I'm surprised at how much that means as missionaries call to thank me. We focus on the peace felt in the office. Such a blessing. We watch Senior missionaries leave, and then be replaced with other valiant, selfless Seniors. I am humbled to be part of this group in the church right now. Our efforts may be slower than the young missionaries but sincere nonetheless.

Grateful for the life I have lived thus far. Goad to have no regrets continues on the horizon. By small and simple means, The Lord will continue hastening His work. If I had not served this mission i would have missed so much. Good choice. Have a great week.

Sister Taggart