Blessings, Birthdays, and Happiness

For a long time now we have been privately recognizing some tender mercies the Lord has shown us. They have been increasing exponentially lately. We'd like to share them with you. Some unexpected expenses have put a little stress on us, but the Lord has helped out in small ways to make it more bearable.

Since the beginning of our mission we have been assigned to manage the missionary library in the basement of the office building. A few months in we were asked to also maintain the missionary trading post -- a group of shelves where senior missionaries can place usable items they do not want or want to leave behind when they go home.

Several months ago, I was interested in cutting my own hair instead of having to pay a barber. Within a couple of weeks, a complete hair cutting kit appeared on the shelves. Later on, we discussed how we needed to buy some new dish drying towels. Again with in a couple of weeks, a large set of towels in excellent condition appeared. There are other items we planned to buy that suddenly appeared soon after we discussed them: plant vases, and rollers for them, eye drops for dry eyes, OTC medicine, etc. And there have been unexpected items that we found valuable. One was a heavy mixer. Now that I'm off the gluten-free, sugar-free diet, I'm able to make bread with the mixer.

Lately, the tender mercies have increased in frequency and value. I was noticing that my shoes were probably not going to make it the rest of my mission. Suddenly, there they were, thanks to Elder Orlowski getting ready to go home. Because I have lost so much weight, my suits are looking big. Again, Elder Orlowski left two suits and one fits perfectly.

I've been wanting to ride a bike, but was unsure if my back could handle it. Elder Skoubye approached me the other day. He had bought two bikes and had an extra for me to use. It needs some work and repair, but that cost will be minimal. I've only been out with it twice, but so far my back is holding up fine.

Tons of flour and spices

So, all of this has been going on for months now and just a couple of days ago, we got a call from the sister missionaries. They learned that I had been a baker years ago and asked if we were interested in getting a lot of baking ingredients and spices. They were given them by a member they helped to move. Some of the flours were too old to use, but there was enough for me to have fun and for Diane to spice up our meals.

These have truly been unexpected blessings.

We were invited over to the Fu's for breakfast and to celebrate Elder Larson's birthday. Brother and Sister Fu are recent converts. They have two wonderful little boys. What a beautiful and loving family they are.

This is a lot but more was put on after the photo.

The breakfast was delicious with all sorts of variety of things to choose from. It was impossible to try everything, there was so much. Sister Fu asked if I could bake a birthday cake for Elder Larson and explained that she had never baked a cake before. We found out that most Chinese homes do not have an oven. All their cooking is done on the stovetop. A recent development in China is that of the cake shop where birthday cakes can be purchased. Typically, birthdays are celebrated with noodles for good luck in the coming year.

We so much enjoyed the breakfast and then, from their earlier request, the younger missionaries gave a lesson on what the Book of Mormon is all about. Having taught the Book of Mormon in seminary this year, the stories and lessons from the book are still fresh in our minds and we were able to share some of that information.

During our visit, Sister Fu shared an experience from early in their married life. As a family, they had been looking for a religion that could bring them spiritual strength and enlightenment. She showed us a picture of Brother Fu with a large group of men. He had gone on a retreat to a Buddhist monk temple. In the picture, everyone was dressed in Buddhist robes. I commented that he did not look happy. She then told us that he wasn't supposed to be. They are taught that there is no happiness in this life. It is all a trial to prepare for the next.

She told us that she struggled during this time. They already had their one child. If her husband decided to remain there and become a Buddhist monk, they would have to live apart and he could not remain part of the family unit. Families are not considered essential. People become parents as a way to pay back to for what they did to them (now their children) in a previous life.

Her struggle was in that she loved her husband and didn't want to stand in the way of his desire to become a monk. She was willing to support him and allow him to find his spiritual enlightenment. This speaks highly of Sister Fu. She was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for that of her husband's. Fortunately, Brother Fu's love for her and his son was strong, also. He gave up the idea of living a Buddhist monk's life, because he wanted to be with them.

Eventually, they were approached on a German street by the missionaries and introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are so happy to not only have found the truth, but to learn that they can be a family for eternity.

What a wonderful story. Oh, how we wish that more people could come to understand that these and other blessings are all available to them, also. How wonderful it is to know all these truths and to know God and Jesus Christ so personally.

One last comment. I spent yesterday making costumes for our characters for the next Oma and Opa Show. For those unfamiliar with our show, it is an hour long show with a major story, activities, music and other things. We create the show for our grandkids each year. A little hint on this year's show is that we will be using castles in the background of the story. Something that we couldn't do if we were in the States.

We love you all.