June
15, 2016
We
receive notice of missionaries who will be joining us by email. We receive a copy of their missionary
application and their name suddenly shows up on our missionary software. We are notified of missionaries coming from
Mexico as long as 4 months ahead, and sometimes just weeks before they
arrive. We are often given a five month
alert on missionaries coming from foreign countries due to strict Visa requirements. Yesterday I received notice of 2 new Elders
who will join us. Both were of the same
ethnicity but from two different countries.
The comparison of the two left me uneasy. It was a stark reminder of the different
opportunities that are open to some, and not to others.
Elder
M. is graduating from high school probably about right now. He has done extremely well in school and
earned an Associate’s degree along with his high school diploma in the past few
years. His parents are both members of
the church. He is an Eagle Scout, a clarinet player, and his sister is also
currently serving a mission in Mexico. With
4 years study of Spanish with grades of “A”, he will probably pick up the
language quickly.
Elder
H. is 20 and joined the church when he was 18.
His parents disowned him because of that decision so he lives
alone. With only an elementary level
education, where he rates his accomplishment level as “not very good,” he has
supported himself as a cook for the past 4 years. His home ward will help him purchase the
necessary clothing items, and also be the ones to kiss him good bye.
Both
Elder M. and Elder H. are highly recommended by their local leaders. Both have the chance to excel here and deepen
their own convictions. Each will
approach this assignment from their own perspective and face discouragement and
challenges differently. Hopefully Keith and I can help guide each to
success. I do know one thing for sure –
Heavenly Father loves each of them more than can be imagined and will bless
them both for their dedicated service.
He has the ability to look on the heart and not on the circumstances.
