Tonga!

Dec. 9th, 2012


Sacrament Meeting started at 8:00 this morning, so we were up and at ‘em early again today. I was impressed by the breakfast they served at the MTC today. It consisted of cold cereal and bagels. Paper bowls, cups and plastic spoons were used so that the amount of work was lessened. It reminded us all of how we should prepare for the Sabbath and it set the spirit for the day.
Our sacrament meeting was with several districts of elders and sisters. It was only 1 hour long. Two young missionaries talked and then the Branch President. He was amazing!! What a beautiful talk he gave. He joined the church at 17 and his parents threatened to disown him. They didn’t actually do it but it was a very difficult experience for him. He testified about how the Lord almost yelled to him that he was making the right decision so he moved forward. Then he talked about what his life has been like since his conversion. It was a beautiful missionary story. Just perfect for this setting.
Next we went to the auditorium and watched “Music and the Spoken Word”. It was a beautiful Christmas program this morning, which was fitting because it has been snowing all morning. It’s starting to feel like Christmas. I was really hoping we could get out of the country before it started to snow. Partly because it makes traveling so much harder but mostly because the snow and the feeling of Christmas makes it harder for me to leave my children and grandchildren. I really miss spending Christmas with them.
Then we divided up and went to Relief Society and Priesthood meeting. Sister Linda Reeves, a councilor in the General Relief Society Presidency came to speak to the sisters today. She was amazing. She is the mother of 13 children and grandmother of 28 grandchildren. She and her husband presided over the Riverside California Mission so she is also the mission mother to over 500 missionaries. She shared some wonderful mission experiences that really touched my heart. They also had a young sister missionary share her conversion story. She was from Russia and her story was so similar to many that we experienced, it was fun to hear it.
I met Alan for lunch. He still isn’t feeling really well, but he won’t ask anyone for a blessing. He is so STUBBORN!!! He wasn’t going to eat much but they served a turkey dinner today so he ate more than he had planned. It tasted good to him and we both agreed that it was the best meal we have had all week. Hopefully it will make him feel better, not worse.
We had the rest of the afternoon off so we went back to the motel to relax and get ready for tomorrow.