Perspective

What a lovely day in Denmark!!

We traveled 45 minutes to attend the Roskilde Ward, a large and friendly ward, where Emma, our sweet young friend gave her farewell address in sacrament meeting.  Her talk was so beautiful.  She has wanted to serve a mission since she was little.  She was very much on track with her education to go when she was 21.  Then a couple of years ago, the age was lowered to 19....it threw her off and forced her to look at her plan carefully.  She fasted and prayed and finally felt that she must finish her education before leaving.

She did just that and then, as though an answer to an unspoken prayer...the call came to serve in the very place she had been wishing for....Ukraine.  Her talk was faith-filled and love for the Lord.  She will be a very good missionary.

Two of our YSAs, a brother and sister who are very musical performed a number that was so beautiful.  He played the piano, and began with "The Olive Tree" a beautiful LDS song, it morphed into "Jesus Was No Ordinary Man" and then ended with "The Olive Tree" once again.  I could have listened to it much longer.

After the block, we drove another half hour to her home....a beautiful farm out in the country.  We joined in around a food-filled table, and ate and talked and listened.  There were many of our YSAs there.....they always come to support each other.  We love those young people!  We talked to a few of them.

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Aren't they cute?  They are listening to Emma's parents sing...they had changed the words to the song "Time to Say Goodbye" and sang it to their daughter.  It was wonderful.

Sarah, on the left returned from her Temple Square SLC a few months ago, and Emma, will leave this week.  

Emma rushed into the arms of her parents when they finished their song.  Her brother Lucas (in front) accompanied them on the guitar.

What was interesting for me was that today I spent time visiting with people who are closer to my own age.  I talked with people that I hadn't met before. I was struck by their sincerity and their wisdom.  One man told me that he had spent the first 25 years of his adulthood, basically drunk.  Circumstances happened that made him take a look at himself and in a lengthy process find a new life as an active member of the church.  He is delightful, and so happy.  He is now helping other people who have addictions in a church setting.

I spoke with a woman who is now a grandma, and she adores that role!  She expressed regret about how she mothered her own children when they were little.  She finally got a divorce about 10 years ago, and says that she has been a much better mother since.  It sounded like her husband was something of a tyrant.  She was a sweet lady and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her story.

I also talked with several parents of our fantastic YSAs......many of them could be my children....in age.  They are good people, all trying to be righteous and good parents.

We left early to drive to the mission president's home where we had dinner with the president and his wife and all of the other local senior missionaries.  I believe there were 13 of us.  You may remember that they do this whenever seniors and young missionaries leave.  Well....guess who is leaving.....Sister Hamblin and us!  We were the guests of honor.

President and Sister O'Bryant have been on Jutland for the last 3 days at zone conferences.  They spoke this morning in church and then drove the 3 hours to their home and made dinner for 13 of us.  Yes....she is amazing.

President O'Bryant was taking a picture of us while we were snapping one of the other seniors at the table....none of the other pictures turned out.

They invited anyone who wanted to say something about us or give us advice to speak up.  Several said lovely things.  It was a sweet few moments for us.  Then the three of us each had some time to bear our testimonies.  I can't believe we are here....at this point in time....the ones who will be leaving. It was such a nice evening with all the seniors who have been our family/friends for this time.

I can't even begin to express how much I love our young single adults and our young missionaries, but I also need to tell you how much I love the people who are old enough to have developed a unique perspective and wisdom.  It has been a blessing to us to have had time with them.