We’ve been here for 8 months (not that we’re counting!) and it has been quite an
experience. As in life…some things
have been beyond words wonderful, and others jaw droppingly (is that a word?) surprisingly not so wonderful; sunshine and storms. I love that even when we think we've learned it all that we encounter "opportunities" to keep learning and growing. Ways to soften our hearts and humble ourselves; ways to teach us to become more like the Savior.
Sharing the "sunshine" ...learning from the storms:
We love working in the temple each day. We have “regulars”, those who come each week (or each day!). One of those is Brother Wiblin. He comes each Friday morning for the 6:00 and 8:00 sessions, unless his wife is with him. She is wheelchair bound and is strong enough to do only one session. I’m guessing he’s in his late 40’s or early 50’s. He’s easy to remember because he has a great beard. No, no, no. I mean, a GREAT beard. It goes past his waist and is braided all the way down, ever so carefully and neatly; years of grooming and care to get a beard like that. I happened to be on one of the first sessions he was on when he first started coming. He was very unsure and hesitant; looking for assistance. Over the months he became very secure and comfortable. As time went on I remember thinking that he would make a great temple worker. And yet, temple workers have a “grooming” code and his magnificent beard precluded him from that service. I couldn’t imagine anyone who had spent years cultivating such a beard would ever consider shaving it…but…shave it he did just so he could be a temple worker. And because our temple missionaries are so tender hearted they made sure that the first person he was able to serve in the temple was his wife. His humble heart, to be willing to sacrifice something that obviously meant a lot to him, for something he came to value more really touched me. His example of sacrifice and humility is something I will take home with me.
We have those who come to the temple for a “once in a
lifetime” experience. They travel from far away on primitive
transportation. Busses, usually,
which break down. We complained of
a 22 hour flight to SA. These
people travel for 40+ hours on a hot, crowded, breaking down bus with many and
small children and within a week have to travel back. But they come to do the temple work for themselves and their
families. Usually on Tuesdays we
will get “groups” from far away.
It is not unusual to have people from the Democratic Republic of Congo
or Madagascar or the Reunion Islands who speak French; and also groups from
Mozambique or elsewhere who speak Portuguese. Throw in a few from other remote places who speak a tribal
dialect…and this is what our Tuesdays look like. We have had as many as 18 sisters and a like number of
brothers all coming for their own endowments and to be sealed for time and
eternity on the same day. (To put this in perspective, at the Fresno Temple we might see 1 or 2 own endowments in a week.) The
amazing thing about these families is that they will spend all day Tuesday in
the temple doing their own work.
Then Wednesday morning they will be back doing baptisms for their
deceased ancestors and then Wednesday afternoon to do endowments and sealing of families for those same
ancestors. Thursday and
Friday are the same. They are at
the temple from when we open until the last session is over. Most of them know they will never be
able to make it back. So they are
in the temple every minute that they can.
We grow to love these good people during the days they are there. I often wonder if I would have the
desire or fortitude to sacrifice like they do. Here is a picture of one of our groups.
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