During Sunday School today, someone made the comment that we need to “doubt our doubts before we doubt our faith” (which was quoted by Pres. Uchtdorf in 2013). At the moment, it made such an impact on me and I started pondering what that meant. When we arrived home from our busy day of church and training, we opened our computer to breeze through our emails and found the articles informing us about the new changes in the church handbook regarding the gays and the reactions of the people to the new policy. This is why that quote pierced me at the time. The Lord knew that I would have to explore what my attitude and feelings were on this subject and try to make some sense of what was happening back home to faithful members.
My reflections ~~~Faith is a belief in things that are intangible. We can feel it but it is hard to measure so we can make sure we have enough in reserve to help us through times of doubt or hardships. A deep and abiding faith inspires us, moves us and give us the opportunity to become better. But doubt can destroy that faith. I do believe that we all have moments when we doubt. But what a shame if we let our doubt about one issue destroy our faith in every other issue that we believe. Moments of doubt is not the time to throw out all the wonderful principles that we do believe. Take that doubt, hash it over until that doubt becomes a truth that you believe.
I want to share Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk entitled “Come, Join With Us”.. May I quote some of his words. I think they are applicable particularly at this time…”It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true. Therefore…please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
His testimony..”As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and as one who has seen firsthand the councils and workings of this Church, I bear solemn witness that no decision of significance affecting this Church or its members is ever made without earnestly seeking the inspiration, guidance, and approbation of our Eternal Father. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. God will not allow His Church to drift from its appointed course or fail to fulfill its divine destiny.”
And then another favorite part of the talk…”I am reminded of a time in the Savior’s life when many abandoned Him. Jesus asked His twelve disciples: ‘Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.’ There are times when we have to answer the same question. Will we also go away? Or will we be like Peter and hold fast to the words of eternal life.”
I say, “Where else would I go because I have the way to eternal life and happiness through the gospel of Jesus Christ and that is where I want to be. Lord, I shall stay with you.”
Monday, 2 November, we spent at the center “hyperlinking” (can you believe that I know how to hyperlink) our oral histories so when patrons come into the center they can listen to the oral histories that we have gathered. We found out that Sister Powell who just arrived 5 days previous and was with us on the Red Bus Tour on Saturday, had a stroke Sunday night! Can you imagine having been in a strange country for only 5 days and having a stroke? I think that would be a time of “doubt” for me. She was in the hospital so we spent Monday night visiting with her.
Sister Jann and Elder Charles Powell on Saturday
Elder and Sister Hales (finishing their 5th mission) left for home today. Such an honor to have served with them.
The next three days was spent preparing for training of our two new country church history advisers, Amandio Matusee from Mozambique and Riccardo Nyoni from Swaziland, creating focus projects, organizing the oral histories, meeting with Warner Molema (South Africa Country Adviser) and contacting advisers. We also had an activity committee meeting to plan Thanksgiving and upcoming events, went to the US Embassy to get additional pages inserted into our passport (we had 24 put in our previous mission and 48 pages this time – we have a huge passport), a visit from a darling couple from the Kagiso 2 Ward that just got engaged on Saturday, and had the Powell’s and the Turnbows over for a traditional turkey dinner.
Fifi and Nolo from Kagiso 2nd Ward – he proposed in Durban on the Indian Ocean.
An early morning birthday celebration started the day on Friday, 6 November. Dominic Tshabalala and his family came to the home at 8:30 a.m. to celebrate Bokang’s 6th birthday. They were coming for chocolate birthday cake but I insisted you couldn’t start the day without breakfast so we had pancakes and then birthday cake. It was a great way to start the day. Then we hurried to the office for an oral interview with Elder John and Sister Roberta Clayton. We were grateful that they were willing to spent their last few hours in Africa with us. They left that night at 700. It was a touching interview – they had so many experiences to share. They served three years in China in the BYU English program, 1 1/2 years in Tonga doing auditing and 2 years here in the ASEA auditing department specializing in the French speaking countries. In between missions they served with the ARP program and welfare assistance setting up a grocery store in their ward house once a week. Tears were shed by all of us as they shared spiritual experiences and their love for each other and their missions. A darling couple and their child from Angola came into the center (they spoke great English). They were so cute. He and his little boy spent the afternoon with us in the center while his wife went to the temple and then she cared for the little boy while he attended the temple. I love meeting these amazing people. We picked up Amandio Matusse and Riccardo Nyoni from the hotel for the get-to-know you evening. Elizabeth, from the canteen, fixed a marvelous dinner for us and then we introduced them to Church History. We took them back to their hotel and then we retired for the evening.
Dominic and his family came for breakfast. We were celebrating Bokang’s 6th birthday!
The happy birthday girl…
And the family…..
Roberta & John Clayton the day they finished their third mission…..it was such a great oral interview
What a blessing to meet this family from Angola…Ionisia and Amandio Feijo and their son. He is branch president on the Viana Branch in Angola.
Amandio Feijo spent the afternoon with us in the center learning about church history – we found a picture of his brother in our Angola Country Profile. His wife was attending a session in the temple while he took care of his son.
~~ The THREE MUSKATEERS ~~ from East London
The lady on the right is the visiting teacher for the other two. She paid for their visit to the temple…an early Christmas present. The lady in the middle had never been on a plane until this trip. What a sweet offering of love for her sisters in the gospel.
Sister Ngcobo, Sister Luphindo and Sister Mbiyakhe
I love this sweet lady – Elizabeth. She greets me every morning with this smile. She is there until way after we leave to go home and is there before we arrive at 8:00. She fixes the food for all the temple patrons and the senior couples…and does it cheerfully. She fixed this beautiful setting and meal for our training.
Saturday, 7 November we picked up Riccardo at the Hotel (Amandio walked to the temple to attend the 6:00 a.m. session) at 7:30 and we started our training at the center at 8:00 and worked all day. We trained on annual histories, oral histories, Dennis interviewed Leon and then had the young men interview us and process them. Elizabeth had a pizza lunch for us at noon. Her husband helps her on Saturday and with pizzas. We each had our own pizza…so yummy. We finished at 5:00, took them back to the hotel, hurried home and then Walt and Susan Peterson picked us up for dinner. We went to a fun restaurant with a great atmosphere. We enjoyed our evening – good food and a lot of laughs.
This was my dinner – scrumptious. Walt Peterson in the background.
CORBYN’S 13th Birthday…Happy birthday to a wonderful grandson that is always so happy and positive and makes you feel loved the moment you meet him. Hope he had a most fantastic birthday. Isn’t he cute!
Sunday, 8 November we attended the Johannesburg 2nd Ward with Riccardo and Amandio at 8:00 a.m. What a great ward!!! Eish, the youth were amazing, the adults were warm and friendly and the talks and lessons were incredible. In sacrament meeting they talked about keeping our testimony burning. Two young men that were just baptized were passing the sacrament and the speaker asked if we could feel the energy and excitement that they feel when we were baptized. The other speaker talked about testifying that of which we know. Pray about the things you teach until it becomes what you know! In Sunday School the spirit continued. The lesson was on Pure Religion and what I wrote down was…”the tongue is a very small thing in your mouth but can destroy a nation” and “even the foolish look wise when they are quiet”. Great comments. Notice what I wanted to remember….must be I need to work on this. After church we came to our home and had a braai where Bro. Holmes joined us and then back to the center to continue training. The young men had the opportunity of doing a real oral interview with Bishop Sandile Makasi (Bishop of the Johannesburg 2nd Ward) and Elder and Sister Stokes – Family History couple that goes home in January. They were touching and inspirational interviews. Such great stories. Riccardo and Amandio were able to do an interview from start to finish – prepare questions, do the interview, process and then submit. A busy weekend. We said our good-byes and then home. A busy but fulfilling weekend.
Johannesburg 2nd Ward
Amandio talking to people he knew. I love this gospel. No matter where you are you have friends.
Lunch…..Riccardo, Amandio and Leon Holmes
Bishop Sandile Makasi……
….and family.
(Picture of the Stokes coming)
Finished…….a successful weekend
“In spite of our human imperfections, I am confident that you will find among the members of this Church many of the finest souls this world has to offer. The Church of Jesus Christ seems to attract the kind and the caring, the honest and the industrious. If you expect to find perfect people here, you will be disappointed. But if you seek the pure doctrine of Christ, the work of God “which healeth the wounded soul,” and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost, then here you will find them. In this age of waning faith—in this age when so many feel distanced from heaven’s embrace—here you will find a people who yearn to know and draw closer to their Savior by serving God and fellowmen…..” Pres. Utchdorf
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