Weeks 7 & 8 - Oh, How Time Flies!

 

Oh, how time flies! It did when I was in France, too.  Now as senior missionaries, it is seemingly moving very fast.  We experienced our first mission transfer.  We lost a wonderful young man from Haiti, Elder St. Louis.  He got transferred after his first few weeks here with us.  We are hoping to see him here again.  We gained several new missionaries too.  Our French Elders have gained one as they are now three.  The Mt. Olive Haitian Elders also are now three.  The Haitian Elders from Goldsboro remained the same but, then again, they are the Zone Leaders.  These wonderful men are very spiritual and working to learn the lessons and the language at the same time while in the field.  Some missionaries arrive here not knowing beforehand that they will be assigned a foreign language to learn and use.  They are blessed greatly by Heavenly Father to gain the experience and the language at the same time.  It is spiritually and educationally inspiring to observe the power and majesty of Heavenly Father in their lives and the lives of those whom they touch as they progress.

We as senior missionaries are given a good bit of latitude in our work.  We had the opportunity to go to the Richmond Virginia Temple. We were re-energized by the experience.  We were able to get several ordinances done for our family on the other side of the veil. We are so greatly blessed in this work.

We were able after our temple visit to work with our zone leaders.  We spent 7+ hours with them visiting and teaching.  These are great leaders.  Our friends who were going to be baptized today put it back a week so they could be baptized together.  She waited for husband to be ready and available.  That is a wonderful thing to see and witness. 

This Sunday was wide open and wonderful.  We brought 4 carloads to church and settled in for the service.  When one of our Elders approached and related that a friend who was not ready when their ride came by is now ready … Off I went after the stray sheep. After sacrament we visited with the Group Relief Society Leadership.  Together we visited and got to know one another as we talked about their calls and responsibilities.  We finished talking through the ministering process including the ministering interviews and reporting.  These are great women and will do great things for their sisters and families.

Later that day we had a very good Group Council meeting where we had a vigorous conversation on the needs of our brothers and sisters facing removal from our country.  Many of them are looking towards Canada as the next port in the storm.  That is a possibility but has its own issues associated with it.  Others of them are looking to our legal processes and systems for assistance in remaining here and legally.  Seeking guidance is what they want and need.  Elder Bednar’s visit did a great deal to help them and gave them courage in this arduous process.

We had an opportunity to assist a friend with her paperwork to get her child into the school system this fall.  It is difficult for someone to fill out paperwork that they do not understand and cannot read.  They are doing their best with what little they have here.  Some are Professors of Math and Science but can only find laborer jobs as their credentials are not accepted by our institutions.  They do not complain.  They accept their circumstances and proceed to do the best they can.  

We had a great Group Meeting this week which Melissa put together, everyone participated and had fun.  We got started a bit late, but it was great!  We had refreshments and got everyone home before heading home ourselves.  Another long but wonderful day in the service of others.

Later this week we had interesting events pass us by, so to speak.  We were traveling home from our regular Friday night temple work.  We came through a place on the interstate that was closed.  We stopped as others passed through.  The NC DOT members were there clearing the road of tree debris.  Not an hour before we got to this point, a tornado had passed through and ripped through the trees.  We were told that only one car had been hit by a tree.  We watched as these wonderful men worked together to move and clear the road for the traffic.  We were blessed to have missed the event and not to have run into a tree or two downed in the road.  

We had two friends (husband and wife) and another friend who were to be baptized Saturday. Unfortunately, the friend had a family emergency and could not make it.  The couple that got baptized were wonderful and were confirmed Sunday.  They love each other and work with each other so very strongly.  He stood by the font as she was baptized and encouraged her as she seemed to have a bit of fear of the water.  It was a great time for all.  

This past week we had two granddaughters have birthdays.  We were able to attend Ophelia Adkins' birthday party.  We did take pictures there. We wish we remembered to get more pictures, but we are so busy and at the moment we frequently forget to capture the memories.  

 

We were, however, thanks to Elizabeth Hoxie, able to share some clothing, shoes, and other items with love to help them and their families. We are constantly assuring them that Heavenly Father sees, knows, and loves each of His children individually and personally.  We encourage and pray for our friends, and we ask that our readers also join us in prayer for these sweet people.  

 

We desire to serve everyone placed in our path.  Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ…Our time is now ... .Our place is here….. And our guiding principle is love.  

Until next time, May you have the Peace that Christ promised His followers be with you always!

Elder & Sister Adkins

Weeks 5 & 6 - Fully Immersed

We dearly love the flowers that grow in our yard! 
They greet us when we are able to be home.

It has been such a busy time for us that last week’s post was actually never written, so we will try to play catch-up some this week.  Norman and I serve with the most amazing young missionaries I have ever known.  These young servants of the Lord are tirelessly devoted to the cause of gathering scattered Israel.  They are up early, connecting with one another and with our friends seven days a week from the time they rise until the time they would turn into pumpkins if they remained outside their apartments each night.  It is a beautiful thing to behold and to be a part of.  The pace keeps us going, and Father gives us old folks the wings to keep up with our younger counterparts.  

Norman is even matching our missionary colleagues!

I am still studying two languages diligently and coming along slowly in both French and Haitian Creole.  I’m much slower at French, but as the languages are similar, learning one helps me understand the other.  Norman works with his French tutor as well, but he only needs to refresh his French which I see him use regularly.  Like me, he is working independently to learn Haitian Creole.  I so want to be able to talk to the sweet people I see each week, to laugh and pray with them.  I want them to be able to hear the Gospel messages I share in their language from my tongue.  

We find so much joy in meeting with these sweet people
and with our fellow missionaries.  These sweet people are currently
on date to be baptized later this month!

We have been blessed to visit with members and friends frequently alongside the young missionaries several times each week.  These are such wonderful experiences!  The discussion is friendly and lively, the questions they have are sincere and thought-provoking.  The willingness to learn and change we see in those who have been prepared to receive the Restored Gospel are truly indicative of the hastening of the work.  And these dear friends are so very patient with my halting Creole whether I am praying, bearing testimony, or reading a scripture passage. 

The temple is always such a wonderful place, 
but it is even more so when I get to see the joy
of someone's first visit.

Saturday was an exciting day, because we were able to take three brothers and three sisters to the temple who had not previously been able to go.  It is a wonderful experience to watch others perform baptisms by proxy for those on the other side of the veil.  To hear a brother speak the baptismal ordinance with power and authority, to watch brothers and sisters immersed again and again to give others the chance to accept covenants undergone on their behalf, to feel the Holy Spirit in the temple, are all blessings beyond measure.  

This past Sunday evening was historic.  Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was in Goldsboro to conduct a multi-stake youth fireside and asked to be able to meet with the Haitian group.  We were blessed to be in attendance with approximately forty Haitian brothers and sisters.  Elder Bednar spoke from the heart with authority.  He shared his love and gave the group members time to ask questions which he answered directly.  

The people are anxious in light of the political climate regarding immigration and the imminent dissolution of their legal protected status in the United States.  Elder Bednar gave the people an apostolic blessing and promise that Heavenly Father is with them and will give them the help they need, although no one can predict the degree of tribulation and trial they may have to endure in the immediate future.  

He also exhorted those present to pray as Nephi did when his brothers tied him up.  Nephi prayed for the Lord to give him the strength to break free of the bonds that bound him.  He didn’t pray for Father to loose the bonds for him, nor did he pray for judgment on his brothers.  He prayed for the strength to do for himself what needed to be done.  Norman and I were extremely touched at the power this can bring into our own lives as well as the lives of all who heed the apostolic advice.  

I wish we remembered to get more pictures, but we are so immersed in the moment when we are working that we frequently forget to pull out our phones and capture the memories.  Last night was one such event.  Weekly, we meet with our Haitian brothers and sisters on Wednesday evenings for fellowship, Gospel study, and refreshments.  

Last evening, the young missionaries planned a deeper dive into the message Elder Bednar gave when he met with the group Sunday evening.  After reviewing the scriptures Elder Bednar referenced, we all played a game of Gospel Pictionary.  Many of the missionaries and members took turns drawing pictures and guessing.  There was so much laughter and fun that no photos were even thought of.  I don’t think I will ever forget watching the joy and excitement in such a simple activity.  One young lady attended with her two much younger brothers, and it was so much fun to watch the boys tease their sister over the way she drew a stick person kneeling in prayer.  They kept telling her that her drawing looked like a mermaid.  

Sunflowers and Zinnias

Something that is not much touched on is the magnitude of need.  The insecurity of knowing that their legal status is expiring in a matter of weeks is threatening the jobs of the Haitian people in our community.  Many have been let go already and all have been told that their layoff is imminent.  Returning to Haiti is not a safe option for our friends, and we hurt for them.  Norman is able to interpret for those who need help communicating with local government to obtain things like marriage and driver’s licenses, but neither of us have the legal expertise to be helpful in advocating for our friends in applying for federal immigration protections.  We can, however, share food, clothing, rides, hugs, love, and the assurance that Heavenly Father sees, knows, and loves each of His children individually and personally.  We can encourage and pray for our friends, and we ask that our readers also join us in prayer for these sweet people.  

Our desire is to serve everyone placed in our path.  Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ.  Our time is now.  Our place is here.  And our guiding principle is love.  

Until next time, Peace be with you!

Elder & Sister Adkins