Three little experiences

Missions for senior couples are interesting. Sometimes you wonder if you are doing all that you should be. And then Heavenly Father blesses, sometimes in an overwhelming manner, to let you be of service and share in bountiful experiences.

By the beginning of the week, we were rested and recovered from the conference experiences. And we had a list of things to fix in the apartments. So off we trekked Wednesday morning, tool kit in hand, like 24/7 repair people to fix a washing machine and a phone. The washing machine was flowing water all over the floor of one of the sisters' apartments, the phone was full of static such that it couldn't be used to make appointments or follow up on meetings. We had taken our car in for servicing, so we were even driving one of the little white panel truck Berlingos. We looked like repairmen. Sister Mautz demurred on the picture of this one. You will have to use your imagination.

The washing machine was a quick fix by cleaning out the filter. In these machines the filter is hidden behind a panel at the bottom of the machine. The sisters were very grateful. As were we to have the fix be so quick. The phone took two tries. We were pretty sure it was the machine and not the line. And so it was.

Later in the week we also supplied insecticide to kill cockroaches (cafards) that are infesting two apartments. (Don't ask!) The elders were triumphant. A quick spray behind the washing machine and refrigerator and out they all came scampering to their demise. This is the apartment with the new refrigerator as the cafards had infested the insulation in the last one.

Real success. Now for the 3 experiences.

Experience 1:In addition to washing machines, phones, cafards etc, one of the apartments needed a new iron.

An easy purchase which we did while doing our weekly grocery shopping. However, to get the 3-month warranty, the purchaser has to go to a 'help desk.' I couldn't be bothered. But Sister Mautz was insistent. 'What if doesn't even work?' she queried. Then she took the iron out of my hands, sent me to the car with the groceries and did it herself. (Don't think 'little red hen.') We speak French here. I was awed at the confidence and let her take it. She returned triumphantly shortly thereafter telling me they had asked for the sales slip, she had asked if they really needed it, they said no and she had it all taken care of. Just think about that a minute.

Number 2:

Saturday morning was a double baptismal service. The 8-year-old grandson of a loving, member grandfather who did the baptism. And a new convert who brought his whole family including brothers and their wives. More than 50 in attendance including several teams of missionaries all with friends of the Church with them. At the end of the service, the newly baptised are invited to share their testimonies as new members of the Church. Both these were articulate and great feelings. The young boy is Primary age, knew what he was doing and shared his feelings of knowing that he had done what his Heavenly Father wanted of him. The second, Sylveste, quoted Biblical and Book of Mormon scripture, promised his family that he was sincere and that the new man they were encountering was for real.

The missionaries who are teaching him recount that now that he has started moving forward with his Church membership, he teaches them as fast as they teach him. he has read the Bible through and quotes back to them scriptures passages as he now understands them with the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He will undoubtedly enjoy holding the Priesthood so that he can bless his family.

We lingered and then came home to catch up a little. Later in the day we visited a local town museum tracing the history of Noumea from the French arrival in the mid-1850's through the two world wars. The political themes woven into the presentations were hard to miss. First conscriptions of the local Melanesian population in WWI. Veteran benefits denied them for a lengthy period of time and finally granted shortly before the start of WWII. The focus was clearly on the local population and its war heroes. History sounds a little different from this point of view. However, the Allied influence in building Noumea, providing sanitation facilities, hospitals, a railroad, airport etc. is real and quite evident even today.

The building itself dates back to the late 1800's and was built as a bank. When it went bankrupt the City bought it as the town hall and then it became this museum. Since it is so old, the architecture is reminiscent of pre-air conditioning with broad porches on two levels to provide relief from the summer heat. A few pictures are nearby. The poster of Charles DeGaulle is clearly of a later vintage.

Experience 3. Later Saturday evening, we met with a just-returned, radiant sister missionary for her release. Her family was with her. What a tender experience as she shared highlights from her 18 months in Montreal. Be obedient to your leaders. Heavenly Father is waiting to bless you and provide all that you might ever need. Not because you have earned it, but because He loves you. Just be obedient and ask in prayer. Her faithful parents and younger siblings are delighted to have her home. A difficult moment as she was released and had to remove her missionary name tag that has been her identity these last many months.

And so we look back on the last few days hoping that we in some small way have contributed and grateful for the opportunity to be here to share in the lives of these great people whom we love.