Our 2 year old granddaughter uses this word appropriately. It reminds us of the joy in life and missions. We are blessed to be in a beautiful country with amazing missionaries. The gospel is worth sharing with others. Many examples of how it impacts and changes lives are evident daily.
We have friends from many places. 2 years ago when our son passed away, a family friend from another location wrote and said that they pray for Despains daily. One evening one of their young children who had been born after we moved prayed for us and ended the prayer and said, "Who are the Despains?" It touched us deeply. We felt their prayers. It lifted, strengthened and comforted us.
This past week we were talking to our grandchildren and they said they prayed for Elder Rojas everyday. Even the two year old repeated his name and prayed. Such sweet prayers lift and strengthen each other. Elder Rojas feels your prayers. He is an inspiration to the entire mission. He spoke at each of the zone conferences this past week about faith. He shared his love of the hymns and the power in their words. He shared that as tough as it was to hear he had cancer, it was harder to hear that he has to return home and leave his mission. He is a beautiful example of love and serving our Heavenly Father.
He had his second chemo treatment this week, and is ready to fight his battle. After one more treatment he and his mother will return home. I've been touched by their faith and by the prayers offered in his behalf. It does help. Please continue.
Our two isolated missionaries with Chicken pox were finally released from their flats There was a shout of praise to get out of there and back to work! Then another dreaded call .... no one even recognizes them. What is this, why do I itch they say? Most often in New Zealand, it's scabies. We continue to see a lot of scabies. And now, MORE Chicken Pox. They're so confining and uncomfortable! Here we go AGAIN ....
Thankfully, we're blessed to be surrounded by generous, charitable and inspiring people. We're grateful to see the leadership from President and Sister Erekson. Elder Despain is full of good ideas and keeps everyone organized and moving. 42 hours of interviews, Missionary Milkshake firesides, Zone Conferences, and Transfers! Then we have the unscheduled Medical intervention, and missionary assist moments.
At each of the Zone Conferences we're blessed to see the musical talent of our missionaries. We love seeing them strive to develop already strong talents. They share openly and freely.
Our replacement opportunity is already posted and available for someone to apply! Being on a mission is worth the effort and time. Just browse and look at the opportunities that are options. It took us several times looking and discussing and speculating and even laughing at each others suggestions before we could agree on an opportunity we both agreed on. Just look: https://seniormissionary.churchofjesuschrist.org/srsite/
Our greenhouse efforts paid off and we were able to hand out a tomato plant to each companionship this past week. We challenged them to grow the plant and reap the rewards. It's a joy to be entering summer! There is still plentiful rain. Sometimes I realize where we are actually located and can't think about the wind and the waves too intensely. Elder Rojas shared his thoughts on the hymn "Master the Tempest is Raging" and reminded us that the apostles were in a state of panic and feeling like they were in a violent storm, alone and scared and unprotected. In this state they woke a sleeping Jesus, who simply calmed the waters. Yet during the storm and experiencing their trials and emotions, he was right there all along. He had never left, he had never abandoned them. He is calm. He is there. He is with us always. Stop, pause and trust that he is with you. We know this is true. We feel the peace from the presence of the Holy Ghost and the comfort it brings us daily.
We miss you! We love you! We thank you for your prayers and support.
💚💚Elder and Sister Despain
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