An Unanticipated Transfer!

December 16, 2012

Monday the 3rd, we were able to get together and celebrate Sister Jameson's birthday.  It was a fun time together and we really enjoyed the refreshments and decorations.

It seems that after that get together it became an eventful and full couple of weeks.  Probably the biggest news is that this posting comes from Johannesburg South Africa and not from Kinshasa.  Something unanticipated came up where medical concerns and wanting to make sure proper doctors and medicine were available, our mission president in collaboration with area officials decided that we should be flown to Johannesburg.  We appreciate just how concerned our leaders are for our well-being.  We also appreciate the miracles that happened allowing us to fly out much quicker than at first anticipated.  

We arrived here last Sunday evening and immediately received medical help we needed.

As we left quickly and anticipated returning, we left with very little in our bags.  During this week the doctor, mission president, and area president made the determination that we should not immediately return.  They communicated what was happening with the missionary department, and we have been transferred from the DR Congo Kinshasa Mission as PEF missionaries to be temple missionaries in the Johannesburg Temple.   We have found that it is difficult to leave an assignment and people that we have grown to love.  We even asked why but in visiting with Elder Renlund as he extended the new call, he said that we maybe won’t immediately know and understand the bigger picture as the Savior knows.  However, he wanted us to know that it was an apostolic call coming through Elder Russell M. Nelson, the apostle over missionary assignments.   

We were given the opportunity to visit with President and Sister Armstrong, temple president and matron, whom we serve under.  We appreciated when they said that they prayed us here.  They had lost some senior missionaries and didn't know how they were going to keep everything covered, and they made me feel good as they explained the need for French speaking ordinance workers to accommodate and help all the members coming from French speaking Africa including the DR Congo.  We were assigned an apartment in Duke’s Court and given some time to move in.  It didn't take long because we don’t have much here.  

We have something just across the street that we have not seen in quite awhile...a mall with grocery store and other shops.

They were anxious to know how quickly we could start thinking it would be this coming week.  We told them that we would like to help as needed.  They let us know that yesterday they had MTC missionaries coming through and could use the help.  Therefore, we were set apart and had our first day at the temple yesterday.  We were able to work at the veil, name issue, and even acted as witness couple during a session.  We think it was to let us experience a session so we will be prepared to officiate quickly.  It became very obvious to us just how important it is that we as temple workers be prepared to make the temple visit the best and most meaningful experience possible for those who because of distance and costs possibly may not be back for a long time.

We are so impressed with the temple missionaries with whom we will serve.  They have had experience in temple presidencies, MTC presidency, stake presidencies, and we don’t know what all.  We feel so loved and wanted even being the simple folks we are.  They also reinforced that we were prayed here.  We have lots to learn and are anxious to be pulling our part of the load.

We don’t want to compare our mission experiences but there is definitely power and peace in the temple.  We had just hoped that we would be able to attend once before returning but are grateful for the opportunity that is being given us.  I am grateful that French will continue to be part of my challenge but in a different way.  An immediate concern is that we only brought clothing for one season and only a couple of long sleeve shirts and no jackets.  It will work out.

We will keep you posted as we learn more and grow into this new assignment.  We appreciate all your prayers.  They were needed and felt.