This week I will describe something that happened
two weeks ago that was quite inspirational.
But first, a preamble: we arrived back at the office
on Friday, Valentine's Day after a very busy
week full of planning and food prep and travel to three
zone conferences to find that we had been "bombed"
by the local pairs of Sisters.
It was quite remarkable how this small but thoughtful "prank"
raised our spirits and helped us feel like our work
is touching others who we love so much.
Every archway or doorway was streamer-ed.
And even the clock was tagged!
Thanks to the Bedford 2 Sisters
(Sisters Drollinger and Semadeni) and
the Manchester 4 Hermanas
(Hermanas Throckmorton and Ladle).
Now for the remarkable decision-making process
of which we were part. Here's the situation:
A zone conference was scheduled Feb. 6th in lower middle
Vermont involving approx. one-third of the missionaries
(about 70) in surrounding areas.
The weather forecast included a major storm with
a significant amount of snow accumulation across
the mostly rural areas from which those missionaries
would be traveling.
Pres. Beck had watched the changing forecasts,
done his research, reached out to local folks for
opinions, waited as long as he considered prudent, then
called in to the office from his remote location to talk
to the office staff plus APs (Assistants to the Pres).
He asked that we gather for a conference call.
After explaining the dilemma and his concerns,
he ASKED us what we thought, and how we would
deal with various impacts of postponing the conference.
We talked through a couple of options, and it was
abundantly evident that he valued our comments.
Then he asked the Assistants, Elder White and
Elder Beckstrand what they thought.
Pausing only briefly, Elder Beckstrand (age 20) offered
a suggestion that had not been put forward previously.
Why not, he asked, reschedule for Monday, change
that regular 'Prep P' Day to Tuesday for those involved,
and hope for better weather? It would mean more work
for them, back to back presentation days with double
the travel instructions to relay with no recovery time.
It was an amazing, lamp-filling moment to see that
these young leaders would receive the key piece of
inspiration that was needed, as part of
the "collective revelation" that they often talk about
as the larger groups of missionaries brain-storm together.
And that is what we did.
After the fact, on site in Sharon, Vermont on the following
Monday, we asked local Church members there how the weather
had turned out, and they said it had been treacherous on the 6th
with many accidents along the area highways.
For me, the uplift of that previous communication lasted
for several days. I was inspired by our Mission President's
thoughtful and trusting approach to ASKING us our opinions
about how we should proceed, instead of TELLING us
what he had decided in a totally isolated process.
Part of our scripture study this morning was from 2 Nephi 10:
The verse talks about being free to choose -
not forced, not commanded.
We regularly recite our Mission Purpose: to INVITE others
to "come unto Christ". That is the spirit of the business here.
These are eternal principles put into action by our leaders.
And then, it happened all over again later in the week,
though the details varied somewhat. Bad weather on
the horizon prompted another "should we re-schedule"
huddle regarding the Augusta/Bangor Zone Conference.
A survey of our opinions led to proceeding
as originally planned.
Here, below, is my view of the roads
from my passenger seat as we traveled to Maine.
Here, below, is my view of the roads
from my passenger seat as we traveled to Maine.
(This is the New Hampshire portion - it got better going north.)
So this marathon week involved THREE zone conferences
in THREE different New England states!
Here is another "Asked vs. Told" example.
Three weeks ago, or longer, I had a privilege to be part of
another "working together" project with Sister Matkin,
the Mission Secretary. Mission leadership had a vision
to prepare and offer a printed "tool" to assist the teaching
missionaries to be more thoroughly prepared with
the principles, scripture references, and Gospel message
included in the Preach My Gospel handbook.
Could we help them, please, create this tri-panel,
laminated page with topics on one side and a study "schedule"
on the other, to be tucked into their mini spiral bound books,
and referred to regularly? Could we put it together to be like one
they had seen available from other Missions' leaders?
Sister Matkin worked her magic using the text and graphics
software she has access to and her broad experience,
creating the charts and column layouts,
formatting for the correct size and to accommodate
the folding, making corrections,
waiting for the final updates, keeping an eye on
production deadlines prior to zone conferences.
Here below she is feeding the finished copies through
the laminator, which she also planned for and procured.
My part of the team effort was to illustrate the cover
by interpreting the creative ideas of the leaders.
Then Sister Matkin plugged it into her layout.
Here below is my part of the actual final production:
trimming the laminated sheets, then . . .
. . . using my 'bone folder' (something I am familiar
with from my paper crafting experience) to bend and
crease the rather heavy-duty lamination.
You can see the tri-panel finals stacked in the box
at the side of the photo. These were introduced
and handed around at the conferences this week.
Very enjoyable to be part of this team project
with my very capable and easy to work with
office partner Sister Matkin.
And one final "lamp-filling" experience to document here:
We were invited last Sunday - before the whirlwind week
that was ahead - to drive up to Andover for dinner with
the Amy & Gregor Makechnie families, and their extended
Brendan & Jill, and Arthur Makechnie families, too -
our friends from the Canterbury Ward.
And of course, the Sister missionaries (Parry & Linford).
We had very exotic fare (for us) of Mediterranean food,
and very delightful company.
Such an enriched evening!
:
Deeply valued, richly fed.
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