Beautiful Day

Elder Hansen was able to obtain the mission van this morning so that we could all ride to church in style.  The Thornes are doing great...no sign of the dibilitating jet lag that made a zombie out of me for a few days.  They are cheerful and ready to go.

Fast and Testimony meeting was beautiful.  With such a small branch, where everyone knows everyone else well, you would think people would hesitate to get up to the stand.  But there was no time between testimonies, and they were all inspiring.  Sister Hansen spoke for a few minutes, kind of saying good-bye to everyone.  She is a great lady, and we will all miss her and Elder Hansen.  They are steady and steadfast and so knowledgeable.

Our fifth Sunday meeting with the Bishop was also wonderful.  We are approaching the 10th anniversary of the temple, and to celebrate we are being asked to attend as much as possible during that week.  During that meeting, we had no official translator, so SK kindly leaned over and whispered in my ear every few sentences to keep me up to speed on what is being said.  I am catching more and more words here and there, and it is still frustrating to miss so much, but so exciting to catch as much as I do.

All of the seniors from here in Copenhagen, plus the two young elders from our branch gathered for dinner at the Hansen's apartment.  It was a feast of Danish pork roast, potatoes, gravy, green salad, vegetables, rolls, and for dessert ice cream, brownies, and a wonderful layer cake.  And you wonder why I am not thinner from all of our walking?

We left immediately after for our sacrament meeting at the center.  We love those meetings.  Our first speaker was a wonderful man from our branch. He is kind and humble, yet powerful in his gentleness, and his testimony.  The second speaker was a young man who just returned from his mission in Mesa, Arizona (He took 3 different investigators through the Gilbert Temple open house at different times.)

The third speaker was a young man about 25 years old who shared his most heartfelt experience.  He said several different times throughout his talk that to us there are many things that seem impossible...but nothing is impossible to the Lord.  When he was in school he had many difficulties and was diagnosed with dyslexia.  He was finally told that he would not be able to finish what is equivalent to the U.S. high school, and that he would never be a candidate for an education.

He looked into being trained to be a bricklayer and began school.  Shortly thereafter he began having trouble with his shoulder, and ultimately was told that he would never be able to do physical work of any sort.  At age 17, he was pretty discouraged at the prospects he faced.

He went out into the forest and prayed.  He told Heavenly Father that he didn't know what to do, but that if He was willing to make it known to him, he would give it his best.  Shortly after that he was called into the bishop's office and was told that he should prepare to serve a full-time mission.  It seemed an impossibility, but he began to prepare.  He read the Book of Mormon....it took 6 months, and it was laborious.  Each time he read, it would not take long before the letters began to swim in front of his face and he would have to quit.

In the MTC, with a week and a half remaining, one of his instructors asked the missionaries to read the Book of Mormon before they left.  He opened the book that night and began to read.  He read for 8 hours without any problems, and read the entire book before he left the MTC.

He served a good mission without any of the problems from dyslexia.  As he approached the time to come home, he worried that the blessings of his mission would leave him.  He told us (in the sweetest and most humble way) that to his delight and surprise the dyslexia has not returned.  He has since graduated from high school and gone on to the university.

There was a special musical number from 8 of our young women.  They sounded like angels.  As they sang, I looked at each of their faces and my heart was overcome with love for them.  When we first arrived, there was a picture on the wall of a huge group of the YSAs at the center, and I stood looking at it often, wondering who they were and if I would ever feel comfortable with them.

Tears came as I realized how familiar they are to me....I know them.....I love them....and I feel like they are ours.

Ah...Sundays.  What a gift.