In Sacrament meeting this morning I sat on the stand because they needed me to play the piano. It was sweet to look into those black faces and feel their great spirits reaching out. The speaker talked about trials in life and how we can endure anything with the blessings the Gospel brings. He talked about being surrounded with the Holy Ghost and the ability to KNOW the Lord is with us when we are suffering. He knew what he was speaking about as his only son was shot 1 month ago and left a wife and baby. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time....a terrible tragedy.
I looked at the young returned missionary who married the woman of his dreams and then with joy they had their first baby. At 6 months the baby died of dehydration and about 4 months later the mother of the child died. I have often wondered if it was from a broken heart. I saw about 15 outstanding young women in their late 20's who want more than anything to marry, but the young men are hesitant. Most are very, very poor who are struggling to survive. Unemployment in SA is only about 45% which is excellent compared to our other countries, but it is a problem.
I looked at the only white woman in the ward who many years ago financially supported her boyfriend on his mission and when he got home, he dumped her. She has never married. She lives in her parents home all alone and can't afford to move out of the very unsafe area, but is a wonderful support and generous to help the members of that ward. There was a woman sitting there who lost her first husband to aids, joined the church and married in the temple, but has lost 2 babies, a sister, a brother and father to Aids. I know of one young woman who has been disowned and kicked out of her house because she joined the church. She is 16.
Many are soooo poor in that ward because they don't have enough to eat and certainly no heat in their homes on these cold winter days. Several are HIV positive and they will die because many can't get the drugs. Many in that ward are living in fear right now because of the riots going on all around and the killings and beatings against the refugees that have come into SA. Many in that ward are refugees from Congo, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and other places. The ones who have taken them in live in fear also. The streets are not safe in the area that ward is in, but this is a new threat as you have heard from the news.
My Dad always used to say, "I felt sorry for the man who had no shoes until I saw the man who had no feet." Always teaching me that when I feel sorry for myself I should look around and I will be more grateful for my blessings. There are many more stories that I didn't know about this morning as I looked into the eyes of those wonderful people, but what I saw also was love, devotion to the Gospel, scriptorians searching the scriptures during the meetings, an absolute silence and reverence during the meeting Sacrament, robust singing of the hymns and smiles and laughter when the moments were right. I go away more grateful for my family, my blessings, my husband and just my life. I need to be more grateful.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sabbath Day
It was a cold, rainy, winter day. It was the Sabbath and as we drove to the Johannesburg Ward, we could see many people walking to their various churches. This particular ward is located in a very poor area, and most of our members walk to church. We saw a few under umbrellas, and some with blankets around them, some with plastic covering their bodies and many with nothing to protect them from the elements. All were scurrying as fast as they could.
When we walked into the chapel, I could smell a very unpleasant odor. Bill went to the stand and I sat in the audience in the middle of the black members. (that is where I love to be) My nose told me that the smell was familiar but it was quite a few moments before I realized it was a direct result of wet clothes. Some had on wool and that was a distinct odor, but the combination of fabrics made a very impressionable odor. A man sat down next to me and he was completely drenched. I couldn't’t imagine how far he had walked to get there. He pulled a washcloth out of his pocket as soon as he got there and immediately started wiping his head. He continued to his shoulders chest, arms and neck. As he was doing this he was singing the opening song with great gusto and with a beautiful, beautiful voice. He wiped his legs on the front and back several times, then he put his hands to the side of his legs and wrung the moisture out of the cloth. Water dripped on the floor. Then with this now damp cloth he shined his shoes. He spread the cloth out on the floor (I guess to dry) and then looked at me with a look of accomplishment and readiness to start his worship. He smiled the most beautiful smile you can only find in Africa. He shook my hand and said, “Good morning, Sister Parmley!” When someone has so little and can be so happy, I hope that our hearts can be touched with gratitude with all that we have and with the desire to give a little more to those who have so much less.
Relief Society sisters all over the world love flowers and beautiful things. This is very true in Africa too. In one little branch none of the sisters had a flower garden, so in order to have flowers for Relief Society for all to enjoy, the instructions were given for everyone to pick one wild flower on the way to church, or to bring a plastic one from home. As they arrived in RS each sister added her contribution of one flower to the basket on the table. As the president thanked them, there was a feeling of joy and happiness for what they had collectively contributed. It wasn’t the perfect flower arrangement or even one that would catch your eye with the combination of colors, lengths, plastic and real, but it would be one that would touch your heart as you realized the effort and love those sisters had put into that arrangement to have a spot of beauty in that old, rented unclean school building. I thought it was the most beautiful bouquet I had ever seen.
When we walked into the chapel, I could smell a very unpleasant odor. Bill went to the stand and I sat in the audience in the middle of the black members. (that is where I love to be) My nose told me that the smell was familiar but it was quite a few moments before I realized it was a direct result of wet clothes. Some had on wool and that was a distinct odor, but the combination of fabrics made a very impressionable odor. A man sat down next to me and he was completely drenched. I couldn't’t imagine how far he had walked to get there. He pulled a washcloth out of his pocket as soon as he got there and immediately started wiping his head. He continued to his shoulders chest, arms and neck. As he was doing this he was singing the opening song with great gusto and with a beautiful, beautiful voice. He wiped his legs on the front and back several times, then he put his hands to the side of his legs and wrung the moisture out of the cloth. Water dripped on the floor. Then with this now damp cloth he shined his shoes. He spread the cloth out on the floor (I guess to dry) and then looked at me with a look of accomplishment and readiness to start his worship. He smiled the most beautiful smile you can only find in Africa. He shook my hand and said, “Good morning, Sister Parmley!” When someone has so little and can be so happy, I hope that our hearts can be touched with gratitude with all that we have and with the desire to give a little more to those who have so much less.
Relief Society sisters all over the world love flowers and beautiful things. This is very true in Africa too. In one little branch none of the sisters had a flower garden, so in order to have flowers for Relief Society for all to enjoy, the instructions were given for everyone to pick one wild flower on the way to church, or to bring a plastic one from home. As they arrived in RS each sister added her contribution of one flower to the basket on the table. As the president thanked them, there was a feeling of joy and happiness for what they had collectively contributed. It wasn’t the perfect flower arrangement or even one that would catch your eye with the combination of colors, lengths, plastic and real, but it would be one that would touch your heart as you realized the effort and love those sisters had put into that arrangement to have a spot of beauty in that old, rented unclean school building. I thought it was the most beautiful bouquet I had ever seen.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Kenya and Tanzania
Sometimes we find out amazing things about our missionaries when we go on a mission tour. We have about 900 young missionaries in our area. This past week we were in Kenya and Tanzania. There are about 60-70 missionaries in these 2 countries with about 60 -70% being black. They come from all over Africa to serve as well as from Canada and the states. There was one missionary that is worth talking about.
He was from the DR Congo, in fact, from Kanaga. This is a city of about 2 million people. There is not a hotel there and this is the one place I did not go with Dad to visit a couple of years ago. He stayed in a brewery because there weren't any hotels. Some days he had water to shower and some days he didn't. They took there own food for survival....peanut butter, canned tuna, etc. It is very primitive, but even without full time missionaries the church is growing by leaps and bounds because of the efforts of the members.
This wonderful elder from Kanaga was told by his parents that he shouldn't go on a mission because he was too shy. His mother told him he would never be able to talk to anyone, let alone teach. Besides he only spoke French and was going to an English speaking mission. When we met him he was about 16 months into his mission. He was the zone leader of the 10 missionaries in Tanzania. This is a plane ride away from the mission office, so you know he was trusted with the leadership by his mission president because he was far from the office. Miracles happened with him. Within one month he was fluent in English. We know that the Africans are very talented with languages, but this was extra fast and then he was sent to Tanzania where they speak mostly Swahili and within a month he was fluent in that language. His shyness is GONE. He conducted the meeting; he mixed with the missionaries with gusto and with us also. He also decided he wanted to learn to play the piano. They don't have anyone who can play in Kanaga (in fact, they don't even have a piano in that district, but he wanted to play). He went to distribution and bought the "how to" program the church puts out. He asked the local branch president if he could borrow a keyboard from the church and he TAUGHT HIMSELF. He played for the meeting....not with one finger, but with both hands.
We are going to see that they have a piano by the time he returns home in August or September for the branch there in Kanaga so he can continue and so the people for the first time in Kanaga can sing with a piano. His parents won't know him. His life has changed forever in many ways. He talks to everyone, he teaches, he leads, he speaks 2 new languages, and he plays the piano. He says that they won't know him when he goes home. You would love him. I talked to him for about 15 minutes after the meetings and just loved every minute of the dialogue. He was not boastful, but humble, but yet full of life and animation. I had to really prod him to get him to talk, and the more he talked about his life and what he has accomplished in the past few months, the more I knew I was seeing a miracle. He knows it too and gives credit to the Highest.
He was from the DR Congo, in fact, from Kanaga. This is a city of about 2 million people. There is not a hotel there and this is the one place I did not go with Dad to visit a couple of years ago. He stayed in a brewery because there weren't any hotels. Some days he had water to shower and some days he didn't. They took there own food for survival....peanut butter, canned tuna, etc. It is very primitive, but even without full time missionaries the church is growing by leaps and bounds because of the efforts of the members.
This wonderful elder from Kanaga was told by his parents that he shouldn't go on a mission because he was too shy. His mother told him he would never be able to talk to anyone, let alone teach. Besides he only spoke French and was going to an English speaking mission. When we met him he was about 16 months into his mission. He was the zone leader of the 10 missionaries in Tanzania. This is a plane ride away from the mission office, so you know he was trusted with the leadership by his mission president because he was far from the office. Miracles happened with him. Within one month he was fluent in English. We know that the Africans are very talented with languages, but this was extra fast and then he was sent to Tanzania where they speak mostly Swahili and within a month he was fluent in that language. His shyness is GONE. He conducted the meeting; he mixed with the missionaries with gusto and with us also. He also decided he wanted to learn to play the piano. They don't have anyone who can play in Kanaga (in fact, they don't even have a piano in that district, but he wanted to play). He went to distribution and bought the "how to" program the church puts out. He asked the local branch president if he could borrow a keyboard from the church and he TAUGHT HIMSELF. He played for the meeting....not with one finger, but with both hands.
We are going to see that they have a piano by the time he returns home in August or September for the branch there in Kanaga so he can continue and so the people for the first time in Kanaga can sing with a piano. His parents won't know him. His life has changed forever in many ways. He talks to everyone, he teaches, he leads, he speaks 2 new languages, and he plays the piano. He says that they won't know him when he goes home. You would love him. I talked to him for about 15 minutes after the meetings and just loved every minute of the dialogue. He was not boastful, but humble, but yet full of life and animation. I had to really prod him to get him to talk, and the more he talked about his life and what he has accomplished in the past few months, the more I knew I was seeing a miracle. He knows it too and gives credit to the Highest.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
African News
I've been trying to take a closer look at life around me. After being here 3 1/2 years it is easy to take all the sights, smells, people and things for granted. I love these countries. I love the street vendors who are literally trying to put food on the table as they sell their product. They smile and try to cajole me into buying their product. I don't need spark plugs, newspapers, garbage bags, or maps, etc. I only need two pair of sunglasses. I have enough trouble finding one pair. Yet, I love the vendors. They are energetic, always polite and will grin from ear to ear if I simply smile at them. There is one man named Moki who just tickles me. He is always on the same corner doing his thing. I NEVER buy a magazine from him but from time to time I give him something.....apples, cookies, or even half of a soft drink. Each time he acts as if I have given him $100. He is just as gracious when I give him nothing. I've given him a Book of Mormon, but I suspect he can't read. He is a refugee from Zimbabwe which is very common.
I love the trees and flowers. I love the birds and the magnificent animals we are privileged to see. I love the bold, loud lightening storms.
I love the gardeners who work on the grounds of the area office. There are 3 of them and every day I see them and hear them whistling and doing their thing. They carry groceries for me and clip things from the gardens for my creations. Yesterday my doorbell rang and these 3 handsome young men were at my door grinning from ear to ear. They were carrying seven 8-10 foot papyrus stems from the pond. They thought it was time I had new ones. I love it.
I love our nine guards who take care of us. There are 3 on duty around the clock. Each day as I come and go they greet me. There are 9 and now 6 have joined the church. The other day very shy Malvin stopped me to actually bear his testimony in a sweet quiet way. He told me he and his wife and children love the church. It has changed his life and he is soon going to start school to help him get a better job. They make about $12 a day.
Of course, the most wonderful of all are the people. There is a group here from Chulyu, Kenya right now who have come to the temple. That is a huge sacrifice. They have nothing and have traveled 5 1/2 hours by air to get here and had to travel by combi (van with 24 people) about 5 hours to Nairobi to catch the plane. Yesterday I recognized the counselor in the District Primary who is here. She jumped in my car and I drove her 1/2 block to the temple and we hugged and I wept as I knew how hard it was for her to come. She is loving the experience. She can speak English now and she is the teacher who taught 8 woman to read last year. She is still teaching the literacy class and right now she has 10 women taking it. Can you imagine the impact on the lives of those families who now have a Mother who can read the scriptures and can read a Sunday school manual or teach Primary now because they can read the manual. It is a miracle. She is a miracle. I ask her about the impact the upheaval in Kenya is having on her life. She said, "Heavenly Father is taking care of us and we are prepared." I don't know exactly what she meant by being prepared because I KNOW how little they have. When she went to get out of the car, she didn't know how to open the door. She probably has never been in a car before.
I am always uplifted by these wonderful, humble people. Even in the orphanages where I go, I am uplifted because the children have 2 meals a day and they have a roof over their heads and they have people to care for them. I have learned to look at the good that is going on. It would be too easy to look at just the needs and the hard things. This is a good lesson that I have learned from my wonderful black friends. Every day is a gift, and looking for the wonderful things around us and the good in life is a choice even when life is very difficult. I continue to be blessed and I have learned that everyday is a gift and one to be enjoyed and savored.
I love the trees and flowers. I love the birds and the magnificent animals we are privileged to see. I love the bold, loud lightening storms.
I love the gardeners who work on the grounds of the area office. There are 3 of them and every day I see them and hear them whistling and doing their thing. They carry groceries for me and clip things from the gardens for my creations. Yesterday my doorbell rang and these 3 handsome young men were at my door grinning from ear to ear. They were carrying seven 8-10 foot papyrus stems from the pond. They thought it was time I had new ones. I love it.
I love our nine guards who take care of us. There are 3 on duty around the clock. Each day as I come and go they greet me. There are 9 and now 6 have joined the church. The other day very shy Malvin stopped me to actually bear his testimony in a sweet quiet way. He told me he and his wife and children love the church. It has changed his life and he is soon going to start school to help him get a better job. They make about $12 a day.
Of course, the most wonderful of all are the people. There is a group here from Chulyu, Kenya right now who have come to the temple. That is a huge sacrifice. They have nothing and have traveled 5 1/2 hours by air to get here and had to travel by combi (van with 24 people) about 5 hours to Nairobi to catch the plane. Yesterday I recognized the counselor in the District Primary who is here. She jumped in my car and I drove her 1/2 block to the temple and we hugged and I wept as I knew how hard it was for her to come. She is loving the experience. She can speak English now and she is the teacher who taught 8 woman to read last year. She is still teaching the literacy class and right now she has 10 women taking it. Can you imagine the impact on the lives of those families who now have a Mother who can read the scriptures and can read a Sunday school manual or teach Primary now because they can read the manual. It is a miracle. She is a miracle. I ask her about the impact the upheaval in Kenya is having on her life. She said, "Heavenly Father is taking care of us and we are prepared." I don't know exactly what she meant by being prepared because I KNOW how little they have. When she went to get out of the car, she didn't know how to open the door. She probably has never been in a car before.
I am always uplifted by these wonderful, humble people. Even in the orphanages where I go, I am uplifted because the children have 2 meals a day and they have a roof over their heads and they have people to care for them. I have learned to look at the good that is going on. It would be too easy to look at just the needs and the hard things. This is a good lesson that I have learned from my wonderful black friends. Every day is a gift, and looking for the wonderful things around us and the good in life is a choice even when life is very difficult. I continue to be blessed and I have learned that everyday is a gift and one to be enjoyed and savored.
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