Each day the feeling of being integrated into this Mission
as "family members" grows and deepens.
Among the many endearing things about the approx. 150
young missionaries with whom we serve is their easy
and constant expressions of appreciation.
I would describe what we observe as
a culture of gratefulness.
This post aims at documenting the many ways
we have received their thanks.
* * * * *
As I mentally organized some thoughts for today's blog post subject
on Saturday evening, intending to dash from our apartment
down to the lower floor to switch our laundry batches
in the building's wash room, I grabbed the knob,
opened the door and surprised our wonderful
Bedford Sisters as they were "heart attacking" us.
Sister Semadeni had been startled by my abrupt action,
and automatically tried to "hide" by attempting to
flatten herself into invisibility against
the adjacent corridor wall. We laughed together about this
immediately, because there is no place to hide
in our apartment hallway!
(Sister Drollinger with Sister Semadeni)
NOT the first time we have been attacked
in this surprising way.
This version is especially fun on the first day
of February. But also because Sister Semadeni
was one of the first young missionaries that we felt
connected to, meeting her in "writing" on a FB post
by her interesting and energetic mom, prior to meeting
her in the MTC in Provo, Utah, as we were able
to meet up with the young people in our "flight group".
I get notes of appreciation for stepping aside
from my office cubicle station to allow the local
Sisters (and Elders) to use my computer terminal
to compose and print materials they need.
(These two from the Manchester Spanish Hermanas
and the Bedford Sisters are representative of many.)
We receive thank you notes after each dinner "treat"
that we have the pleasure to extend to the Manchester
or other area Elders and Sisters - often written even before
the event has been completed. They are certain
their experience will be thank-you card worthy!
Through the mail or as we travel out to Zone events,
we receive notes such as these, expressing
gratitude for bringing supplies or helping
to care for the mission vehicles.
(The motorcycle sketch expresses interest
in the "revelation" that Sunday-dressed Sister Warner
has a motorcycle operator's license -
a fact learned during our dinner conversation.)
On our phones, we get thank you notes at the end
of every text conversation.
They usually come with these extremely positive
and supportive comments.
Finally, this hand-written note represents
many in the mission who thank each senior missionary
in the office for the work we do to help things function,
put on the lunches, take care of forwarding packages,
fix cars and phones, regulate and manage apartments,
offer medical advice, arrange for physician visits,
offer medical advice, arrange for physician visits,
and so many other small things. And that these things
do not go unnoticed. Bless you young missionaries
for rewarding us so regularly and richly.
And for filling our lamps. We feel it a privilege!
In everything give thanks. . . .
1 Thessalonians 5:18
