Life in the mission office is never boring Just when you think that you have a handle on things something new comes up and it’s a scramble to figure it out.
This week we had nine new Missionaries come in six head home and one “visa waiter” receive his visa and leave for his original mission to Peru. He left 6 PM on Tuesday night. At 11 AM Wednesday morning during interviews President got a message from him that he had missed his connecting flight in Peru. President reached out to me to see if I might be able to help this missionary. The only way to communicate with him was through Facebook messenger and I had no idea how to do that! I said a little prayer and almost immediately this missionary’s former companion walked in the mission office! Coincidence I don’t think so!!
He was able to get him through messenger on his phone and I called Salt Lake to the Travel department on my phone. For about an hour we worked through details and were able to reassure a missionary, rebook a flight and get the missionary to his final destination! YES it was stressful for the Elder and for me. In an instance I felt a deep connection a deep love for this Elder as if he was my son and my greatest desire was to have him know he was not alone, he was safe and we were there to help him. We both learned that we can do new things, hard things and the Lord watches over his Missionaries.
New Technology- A while ago Elder Davis asked the mission president if he could digitize our mission board. He said yes and we ordered an 85” tv to be our monitor.
We also ordered a touch screen overlay that is coming after Christmas.
Elder Davis has been working with the office Elders and the assistants to put in the kind of functionality that is needed. We have reached out to our children to get best practices and they have been very helpful. Since we are new to the mission we are learning how things work and so Elder Davis refers to the full time elders the brains of the operation.
The Elders come up with what it is to do and Elder Davis programs it. They make a great team.
Seeing them work together with excitement is fun to watch. In the Mission when we need to think through a process we call it “noodling ”.
So after suggestions we then depart for some noodling. All of the data we display comes from the church’s system.
So if something is wrong on our screen we correct it in the church’s system and get a new download of data. We want to make sure the Lords data is always correct.
In the play Wizard of Oz, Dorothy a lost girl is told to follow the yellow brick road to find the answer how to get back home by asking the Great OZ who knows all. She sets out singing and dancing with the munchkins cheering her on. Along the way she meets the scarecrow, Tin man, and the cowardly lion who become her fast friends each locking arms and joining her on her journey along the yellow brick road hoping to find a brain (knowledge), a heart (feelings) and courage (strength).
This unlikely 4-some encounters a wicked witch who uses their weaknesses to try and stop them. Her desire is to obtain the ruby slippers Dorothy is wearing, as they possess magical power. Dorothy has been told these shoes will help her get home and that is her greatest desire.
So many parallels could be drawn to the story and have been drawn in the past But for this purpose bear with me…
As we watch things unfold here in the mission field. We are noticing patterns. The Lord has brought missionaries from all over the world (in January we will have an Elder from Mongolia) to Indiana to link arms and follow the path of discipleship.
Along the way there are always challenges before every success.
The Lord knows us personally and uses our talents to further His work.
Our weaknesses are tested and transformed as we rely on Him.
In the Wizard of Oz the Scarecrow wanted Knowledge.
In Proverbs 2:3-6 it reads…
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
“The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden ones—but hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them. … Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough. It takes persistence and dedication of one’s life. … Of all treasures of knowledge, the most vital is the knowledge of God” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 389–90).
The Tin man wanted a heart.
“For the Lord seeth not as a man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,”
“Jesus taught. A treasure is something precious to us, something to which we dedicate effort and attention. Where we choose to spend our time and focus our attention, as well as what motivates us to do what we do, says a lot about our hearts.” The Lord Looketh on the Heart by Elder Ronald M. Barcellos
The cowardly Lion wanted courage:
Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
“Life’s journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings. Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed: the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny….
Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.” Courage Counts By President Thomas S. Monson
“Jesus Christ is the magnificent example of courage in hearkening to the will of the Father.
Live in such a way that people who know you but don’t know Christ will want to know Christ because they know you” (author unknown).”Bishop David Burton “Courage to Hearken”
Dorothy wanted to get home…
“Whatever you must leave behind to follow the path to your heavenly home will one day seem like no sacrifice at all…” Remember Your Way Back Home by Elder José A. Teixeira
Turn your soul toward the light. Begin your own wonderful journey home. As you do so, your life will be better, happier, and more purposeful….
We have Jesus Christ’s perfect example to follow, and the journey toward our eternal home is possible only because of His teachings, His life, and His atoning sacrifice.” A Yearning for Home By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Elder Davis and I realize more and more with the Lord anything is possible on our Yellow Brick Road back home♥️
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105; emphasis added).
Skittles❣️Elder and Sister Davis❣️