Well this is awkward.
Today was a day for my family. They have been ignored for far too long and I have failed to keep them closer while I've been serving. They have never been closer to my heart, and thoughts, and prayers. But it seems that they've never been so far away as I have watched videos and seen pictures and read commentaries on family gatherings. Sometimes I look at their faces and think, "Who are they?! They look awesome!", before I realize that they are MY family and that I have claim on their awesomeness! Or at least part of it. Darn, they are one cool bunch of people.
So today instead of writing a big email I wrote all of them their own individual email.
I do have one golden story for you, though. Ok, two! One spiritual and one funny. Funny first (always).
Last Sunday we went to our Bishop's house for dinner. We arrived a little before he did and so we went in and started talking with his wife as she finished up cooking. I asked if I could use the restroom and excused myself politely. They are a very polite family, you see. I went and things went splendidly! Except that when I flushed -- it didn't. So I flushed again and it did but it didn't do a good job. Here's the thing, though; I didn't do anything bad in there!!! I gave it one last go and then decided that if they heard a fourth flush they might get nervous. I shut off the water supply and went back out into the kitchen where I held my hands behind my back and said, "Sister, I broke your toilet. I can fix it! But I just didn't want you to worry. It's really okay! I'll go fix it. Just don't worry!" I headed back into the bathroom and with the plunger and a final flush everything settled and was back to normal. I washed my hands with their wonderful scented lotion and again, went back to the kitchen. Turns out they can't hear the toilet flush from out there. Cool, huh? We all laughed and I apologized again. I told her that I felt that toilet-mishaps are a mission requirement and I had not yet experienced one of my own. So I thanked her for being a part of it! She said, "Oh, anytime. I'm honored that it happened here!"
Then a few days ago, on Saturday, our little friend Gabriel got baptized. He is eight years old with a testimony like my grandpa's. He cruised through the lessons and memorized what we taught! He went above and beyond with his scripture reading and prayers. He even sent out announcements and invited his non-member friends to come to the service! Right before his baptism we found out that he had a 102 degree fever. Yikes. We grabbed the elders and rushed over to their house where we found him standing and ready to go. He looked miserable. We explained what a Priesthood blessing was and that if we gave him one he would know what God needed him to do. We told him it could give him more comfort and maybe even help him get better quickly! Right before the elders placed their hands on his head he whipped his head around and said, "What this still means I can get baptized, right!?" Even at 102 he was determined to do this. He knew what he was doing by getting baptized. He knows it is important. He believes that it is necessary. He is the only man in his family who is baptized and he is the newest member of the Spanish Group! We hope that people will follow his example but above all else, I hope that he never forgets the day he got baptised. I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost at his baptism and he smiled quietly the whole time. I told him to never forget what he was doing, and he smiled and said, "ok." After we were all eating cake and he sat quietly while all the kids played in the gym. Finally he came up and asked his mom if he could go play. She checked his fever and it was almost completely gone! She said, "Seguro? You feel okay?" and he said, "Yes! Can I please go?". And of course, he went and played the rest of the night.
Would we all be that strong? Would we go to work with 102 fever? Would we even go to the mailbox? Would we put God first even when we were suffering? I'll bet if we do, he'll always back us up. Especially when it's not easy for us to do. And even more so if we get thrown down for trying. I'd lay everything I know on that fact; God has our back. He is our biggest support.
I hate that I am far away from so many people that I care about. Lately I have been aching to be back in Revere to see a few people that I need to talk to. A letter just won't do it. And all of you back home - none of you have gotten any mail this year. But I keep receiving random letters of love and support. Thank you. Thank you so much! You have no idea how much I love and appreciate all of you and although I am not there, I am so confident that God is with all of you. He is with your friend who calls when you need to talk, and he is with your doctor when he confirms your health. You're in the best hands, really! I should stop worrying so much! Just keep it up and remember that you have a Bostonian Missionary who thinks that you're the absolute best!
Love Mightily,
Hermana Hileman
Today was a day for my family. They have been ignored for far too long and I have failed to keep them closer while I've been serving. They have never been closer to my heart, and thoughts, and prayers. But it seems that they've never been so far away as I have watched videos and seen pictures and read commentaries on family gatherings. Sometimes I look at their faces and think, "Who are they?! They look awesome!", before I realize that they are MY family and that I have claim on their awesomeness! Or at least part of it. Darn, they are one cool bunch of people.
So today instead of writing a big email I wrote all of them their own individual email.
I do have one golden story for you, though. Ok, two! One spiritual and one funny. Funny first (always).
Last Sunday we went to our Bishop's house for dinner. We arrived a little before he did and so we went in and started talking with his wife as she finished up cooking. I asked if I could use the restroom and excused myself politely. They are a very polite family, you see. I went and things went splendidly! Except that when I flushed -- it didn't. So I flushed again and it did but it didn't do a good job. Here's the thing, though; I didn't do anything bad in there!!! I gave it one last go and then decided that if they heard a fourth flush they might get nervous. I shut off the water supply and went back out into the kitchen where I held my hands behind my back and said, "Sister, I broke your toilet. I can fix it! But I just didn't want you to worry. It's really okay! I'll go fix it. Just don't worry!" I headed back into the bathroom and with the plunger and a final flush everything settled and was back to normal. I washed my hands with their wonderful scented lotion and again, went back to the kitchen. Turns out they can't hear the toilet flush from out there. Cool, huh? We all laughed and I apologized again. I told her that I felt that toilet-mishaps are a mission requirement and I had not yet experienced one of my own. So I thanked her for being a part of it! She said, "Oh, anytime. I'm honored that it happened here!"
Then a few days ago, on Saturday, our little friend Gabriel got baptized. He is eight years old with a testimony like my grandpa's. He cruised through the lessons and memorized what we taught! He went above and beyond with his scripture reading and prayers. He even sent out announcements and invited his non-member friends to come to the service! Right before his baptism we found out that he had a 102 degree fever. Yikes. We grabbed the elders and rushed over to their house where we found him standing and ready to go. He looked miserable. We explained what a Priesthood blessing was and that if we gave him one he would know what God needed him to do. We told him it could give him more comfort and maybe even help him get better quickly! Right before the elders placed their hands on his head he whipped his head around and said, "What this still means I can get baptized, right!?" Even at 102 he was determined to do this. He knew what he was doing by getting baptized. He knows it is important. He believes that it is necessary. He is the only man in his family who is baptized and he is the newest member of the Spanish Group! We hope that people will follow his example but above all else, I hope that he never forgets the day he got baptised. I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost at his baptism and he smiled quietly the whole time. I told him to never forget what he was doing, and he smiled and said, "ok." After we were all eating cake and he sat quietly while all the kids played in the gym. Finally he came up and asked his mom if he could go play. She checked his fever and it was almost completely gone! She said, "Seguro? You feel okay?" and he said, "Yes! Can I please go?". And of course, he went and played the rest of the night.
Would we all be that strong? Would we go to work with 102 fever? Would we even go to the mailbox? Would we put God first even when we were suffering? I'll bet if we do, he'll always back us up. Especially when it's not easy for us to do. And even more so if we get thrown down for trying. I'd lay everything I know on that fact; God has our back. He is our biggest support.
I hate that I am far away from so many people that I care about. Lately I have been aching to be back in Revere to see a few people that I need to talk to. A letter just won't do it. And all of you back home - none of you have gotten any mail this year. But I keep receiving random letters of love and support. Thank you. Thank you so much! You have no idea how much I love and appreciate all of you and although I am not there, I am so confident that God is with all of you. He is with your friend who calls when you need to talk, and he is with your doctor when he confirms your health. You're in the best hands, really! I should stop worrying so much! Just keep it up and remember that you have a Bostonian Missionary who thinks that you're the absolute best!
Love Mightily,
Hermana Hileman
No comments:
Post a Comment