The White House

As I sit at my computer on the second floor of the building where we live, I have a perfect view across the drive way of the area offices where 80 people are employed by the church and where our 15 area couple missionaries have offices. It is a beautiful complex with a fish pond full of koi and lovely surrounding vegetation. Included in the complex is the Distribution Center which has only the very basic materials, but my favorite is the Temple Patron Housing Complex. Everyday I see Saints who have come to go to the temple. Remember we have 26 countries included in our area, so they come from Kenya (5 hour flight), Zimbabwe, Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar, etc. These are people who will most likely only be able to come to the temple once in a lifetime because it is so far and so expensive. There is a fund that is available for those taking out their own endowments and after they make a "meaningful sacrifice" and contribute what they can, then the church makes up the difference. We try very hard to see that leaders such as bishops, stake presidents, counselors, etc. are able to come. As I look out my window I see these beautiful women often in their native dress with wild, wonderful African fabrics and with fabulous headpieces that most often match. The women's hair is often fixed in the most glamorous ways that take many many hours to "do". Their children who are being sealed to them are drssed perfectly also. It is quite a sight. There is a communal kitchen when they prepare their own food as it is the only inexpensive way and they all have their ethnic foods. It is fun to go to that dining room and talk to them....even if they speak French or Portuguese, it is fun to communicate and that we can do. One day I heard music and went in and they were all singing (about 15 people) in the most gorgeous voices, "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet." It truly was glorious. Their lives are blessed as they come and they just radiate the Gospel through this event. They often go to every session they can and they can usually stay about 4 or 5 days. Many travel 30 to 80 hours by bus to get here, carrying their food and a bag of meager belongings. They are a happy, beautiful people who have almost no material belongings but my oh my, do they radiate the Spirit and they do know the Gospel backwards and forwards as the scriptures are their most cherished possessions. We ALWAYS learn from them as we travel and teach.
Recently I heard in a prayer someone say, "help us find the blindness in our lives".
I wish you could all see out my window. It strengthens my testimony almost daily.