An Unexpected Bounce

A week ago, on the first weekend in May, Vince and I found a rare

occasion to put to appropriate use a pouch of tennis balls and two

Goodwill rackets left in returned mission vehicles as our health-risk 

young people dashed away on airplanes in mid-March.

 We find ourselves living in a complex that includes

an on-site court only 200 strides from our door. So, even

though we are 'old' and out of shape, we enjoyed ourselves

thrice in the sunshine. Lessons learned: good rackets make a

difference; out-of-use muscles need to be warmed up; extra 

body weight has made us slow to react; and "pressure-less" 

balls likely will have an UNEXPECTED BOUNCE.

Here's something unexpected:

a snowstorm on May 9th!

(Guess I'll have a little more "spring time" to use up

my supply of comforting hot cocoa packets.)

My Mother's Day was filled with quick-text

conversations with the beloved women in my life,

and with a few dozen messages like this one from

the missionaries across New England. Priceless!

(From Sisters Throckmorton and Jones in Lowell, MA.)

Certainly, our MOST unexpected bounce recently

has been the overwhelming changes in life caused

by the infectious virus, and the need to change behaviors.

Our experience started a mental thread: what things have

"bounced" me for bad or good in recent days?

* * * * *

Tuneful advice keeps circulating in my mind from

Mr. Rogers: Find something to do while you're waiting.

Watching for the light side of things is one way we cope.

Clever young missionaries here in NHMM are keeping

their senses of humor well honed while we wait, and we often

smile during the "log in" at our daily mission-wide 

teleconference devotionals, like the one pictured here below

from my laptop screen. With the sudden exodus by

approx. 35% of our force, in many instances, two areas will now

be served by one companionship. As the missionaries joined 

the ZOOM meeting, there were Area names we didn't recognize.

These were new titles contrived by Elders and

Sisters to represent recently combined areas. 

Winthrop & Oxford became Winthroxford.

Topsham & Damariscotta merged into Topscotta.

Merrimack & Keene blended into Merrikeene.

Portland & Cornish contracted to Cornland.

Brewer & Dover slid into Drewer.

And Bangorish was fashioned to possibly suggest

"approximately the area that formerly was Bangor".

(Pres. Beck had to caution the missionaries NOT to get

too creative with new 'nicknames' to avoid confusion

 as he screens out meeting interlopers!)

Part of my daily "at home" routine is watching news

conferences, this one showing Gov. Baker (MA), on TV

as I eat lunch. I am encouraged by Gov. Baker's patience

(a Christ-like attribute) as he continues to answer the same

question day after day, about how we will live and cope and

stay safe once the restrictions are relaxed. He often pauses,

gathers his thoughts, settles his reaction, and says something

like, "People are very creative - we will find ways."

 While I have come to realize that my broadcast news

consumption needs to be rationed, I received a huge "bounce"

as I listened to the closing piece on PBS News Hour on April 29th.

Kelly Corrigan began with these words: 

"Sometimes, when I feel outmatched by the thing in front 
of me, I do a mental exercise. I tell myself the story of 

what happened as if it is OVER, and I NAILED it."

She conjectures about positive outcomes from this scary

and challenging episode in our history, when children decide

that science is what they want to pursue, that teachers are

finally recognized for their heroic work and compensated

properly, where people value relationships and opportunities

to reach out and be together. I recommend following this

LINK and skipping forward to minute 52:00.

It was especially easy to listen to Kelly, since she reminds

me of Sister Larsen, former mission nurse here in NHMM.

Gospel outreach has received an amazing but unexpected

sideways "bounce" in recent weeks since citizens of country

and world have been told to isolate in place. Almost overnight,

a peripheral effort that included texts, phone calls, video lessons

and social media invitations has taken CENTER STAGE.

This week, reporting for the 2020 mission history, I learned more.

Interviewing Elders Bigler (r) and Penrod, who have become our

Technology Specialist "point" men, I reviewed the initial efforts

within the mission. These were quickly followed up by more focused

implementation of official "templates", including Zone FaceBook pages,

with specific standards for quality content, approaches and formats

that would generate interest from those seeking Gospel messages.

Training was provided directly to our Tech Specs, who in turn, train

and lead the missionaries serving here.

As with 'regular' mission outreach, these efforts demonstrate

God's love for his children as He makes the Gospel available.

Elders and Sisters have daily reported on mission "miracles"

that they have seen as they shift gears and reach out in these

new ways. To my view, there were TWO miracles apparent

right off. First, someone in the right place in the Mission Dept.

in Salt Lake City headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-Day Saints was "inspired" to pursue development of

a NEW energetic social media outreach program back in mid-2018.

That pilot plan was tested in the Palo Alto, CA area in 2019,

has been under review for fine tuning since December, with

plans for full roll-out this coming July. (Someone obviously was

receiving the prompting that this would be needed, and their

timing only slightly off!) Second, Elder Bigler was

prayerfully selected to assist this effort here BEFORE Pres. Beck

understood that he already had interest and experience in social

media and advertising, that this is something he plans to pursue

professionally, and that his father is doing this kind of work NOW.

This week I will continue the work of transcribing and condensing

the collected accounts of mission "miracles" we witness through

use of the tools of social media and remote communication.

Many can be categorized as demonstrating that in a time of

crisis, unease, fear and isolation, God's children may be more

open, prepared, softened and 'available' for a Gospel message.

Missionary contacts NOW are being labeled 'miraculous' because

in more normal times, their effectiveness seemed limited.

Connecting through FaceBook and other platforms is leading

our young missionaries to individuals "seeking for guidance,

comfort, peace, a better relationship with God, a religious family",

and so forth. Some who had been lost, have "coincidences"

happen that allow them to be found.

One 'COVID-19' miracle story from Elder Bagley in Rutland, VT:

The day before "quarantine" would begin for missionaries

and for residents, I thought about purchasing a paper stack

so that I could do some origami to pass the time.

In the craft store, another customer reached for the last stack

at the same time I did, but we both backed away to allow the other

the chance to buy. We each circled away and returned to repeat

the exchange, then the lady deferred to let me purchase it.

Once outside the store, I felt guilty to take it all, so I split the stack

and left half of it on her car. Then I did something uncharacteristic

for me - I left a note of appreciation and our contact information.

Days later, she messaged me on FaceBook, which opened 

a conversation about what we are doing here in Vermont,

what we believe and teach, and what we could offer to her."

Turns out, Rachel's friend had been praying for her that God

would bring a good influence into her life. She was looking

for a religion that matched her beliefs about families.

"She said I was an answer to her prayers."

She is being taught remotely, and with purpose and promise.

We are inspired as these stories unfold, time after time

showing how someone is in the right place at the right time,

prompted to involve members who have just the right connections

and interests, sharing words and messages that resonate.

We observe and believe that Jesus Christ can offer the solace

that is needed now, and always. Illustrating this here is

a painting completed by recently released Sister Chantelle Bell,

inviting us to "come feel the wounds in Jesus' hands . . . 

and know His love for us is real."

Life is an adventure, and unexpected bumps are inevitable.

This week we are thankful for the unexpected BOUNCES

that also come, through kind messages, sign posts of example 

that keep us on the path, foresight and inspiration that display

a loving Heavenly Father's continual watchful care.

Our mission has received a special BOUNCE - after a trend of

one missionary returning home early each transfer, we are

hanging in there, even in extreme circumstances.

And NO illnesses from the virus so far.

Wondering what positive "bounces" you are feeling, even

in this totally deflating crisis!