MIRACLES --- 29 August 2013

MIRACLE  #4

Ruth Beard's Art Work

In 1997, Ruth Beard and I worked together to create a Book of Mormon Reading chart.  We tried to sell them with unique T-Shirts she designed and I printed.  We were a total failure.  We had "Sounds of Zion" carrying our products for a few months, but never even sold enough to pay for the price of making them.  All these years, I have kept the design work for "someday" to do something with them.  Of course, that was one of the million dreams that I have had that never amounted to anything.  Oh well.

The other day, I was in the Institute Director's office and saw he had about 100 little "book mark" size reading charts to give to the seminary students.  He dropped on, and on the back of it was Ruth's art work.  I was shocked.  I asked him where he got that art work.  He said he found it on the Internet and the seminaries have been using that art work for about five years on the back of their reading charts.  I explained to him where it had come from, it has Ruth's name on it and it was her work.

It was a miracle to see that Ruth's work has been touching the lives of many people down here for years and years.  It is on the Internet, offered to the world.  I contacted Ruth and she is so pleased to know that her work is being used, and appreciated.  Though we never made any money for the work she did, and I did trying to get it marketed and sold, the youth down here have been benefitting from it for a long time.  Another miracle of our mission.

MIRACLES --- 27 August 2013

MIRACLE # 3

Sister Partridge and I entered the MTC September 3, 2012.  We were put in a group of about thirty senior couples for our two week stay there.  As we were in one of our first meetings, I spied a young man, well he was an old man, sort of my age, that looked a bit familiar.  I went up to him and introduced myself to him.  It turned out it was my second companion I had in Mexico FORTY-FIVE years ago.  He was my trainer in Villahermosa.   We had not seen each  other for more than 40 years, only to be reunited in the MTC as we both were being prepared to go out into the mission field.  Another miracle?  Of course.

Elder Forsyth is in the center, not the last man, but the one in front of him.  We both served in South East Mexico 45 years ago.

MIRACLES --- 20 August 2013

MIRACLE      #2

We arrived in the Dominican Republic on September 17, 2012 at about midnight.  We slept at the Mission Presidents home,  in his "general authorities" room.  No we didn't feel like a general authority.  The very next day, we went into the office where we would be spending the majority of our time the next 18 months.  We met Marcos Breton, the Institute Director.  We introduced ourselves and began to get to know each other.  The semester for the Young Adults had just begun, and so he asked if I wanted to teach that day, September 18, the course would be:  La Historia de la Iglesia, or The History of the Church.  I jokingly said, "Sure."  (this was a course starting with Joseph Smith until today)

He reached behind his desk, grabbed a manual and gave it to me and said,  "Good you start today at 5:00 in room number 101."  I looked at my good wife, dropped my jaw to the floor and said, "I guess I better get started studying." I had not spoken, read, conversed, taught in Spanish for about 40 years, and I was going to teach a class of students.  It was scary, yet exciting.  I did it.

This next week, I will finish that manual, after three semesters, forty nine chapters, 717 pages and almost one year.   I have made many beloved student friends, learned more than I can say, and even "brushed" up on my Spanish a bit.  I have been directed by the Holy Ghost what to teach, how to teach it, and how to make history come alive in their lives. We have all learned many lessons of adversity, afflictions, gaining experience, and respect for the early day saints.  This was truly a miracle.

And let me say just a word about that...

For the past year I  have sat in this wonderful Church History class and marveled at Elder Partridge's teaching skills.  This class in particular has been a wonderful example of helping students discover through studying our history, the Gospel principles that can bless their lives today.  And believe me, he has done more than "brush up" on his Spanish.  It's been amazing to witness first hand where he began a year ago and where he is today.  His Spanish came back like riding a bike, but understanding this "version" of Spanish was very challenging (and still is for me!)  He needed them to slow down and repeat their responses and often just had to smile and say "gracias."  Today, the students love to share what they think and feel; he responds to all of them and they have very lively discussions.  I just smile and listen and watch in amazement.  It's a joy to behold!

MIRACLES --- 15 August 2013

MIRACLE       # 1

In March of 2012, we sat with Bishop Phelps, trying to finalize our paperwork for our mission.  We discussed many things, where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do, how we wanted to serve, etc.  I remember telling our good bishop that we desired to go someplace where I could teach, preferable the youth, since I had been doing that the major part of my  life.  If we could go somewhere in the Kingdom where they needed someone who spoke a bit of Spanish, that would be great.  I told him that I would love to see my companion, my beautiful wife involved with music, teaching music. 

He smiled that "all knowing smile" and said that he was quite sure that we may be able to get a mission call to let us have a few of those desires, but he was quite certain that those dreams all would not be fulfilled.  We of course said that we would go and do, wherever and whatever called to do. 

Then our bishop said, "You will be a blessing to the younger missionaries."  When we arrived, I immediately went to the Mission Office and volunteered to teach an investigator class.  They allowed it and I have been doing so for almost one year.  Love it, possibly touching the younger missionaries in this manner.  Also, in another miracle entitled, "Sunshine Committee" you will note that we are touching "the younger missionaries" in another way, through Sister Partridge's inspiration.

Father is SO GOOD TO US.  We have been here for almost one year.  I am teaching four to five classes per week, to the youth of the Kingdom in this Dominican Republic.  Of course they speak a form of Spanish down here, thus another dream.  Bonnie is teaching a choir beautiful music.  She is also blessed with being able to take violin lessons from a concert violinist, the Mission President's wife.  She is growing, learning and loving her involvement with music.

We received everything and more that we told the Bishop we desired in our mission.  What a blessing.  What a MIRACLE.

8 August 2013 MIRACLES

We are collecting our thoughts, memories, and miracles to share on this blog in the next few days, weeks.  We feel it important to record some of the miracles we have experienced, and are experiencing daily.  This will be our "Miracle Report" through the first year of our mission.  Of course it has not been a year, but by the time we finish recording our thoughts, it may be by  then.  (We left on our mission September 3.)  We were going to entitle these musings "17 MIRACLES" after that movie, but decided that they may not be exactly 17.  So stay tuned, we have not died, forgotten, nor anything like unto it, but just been sort of busy, visitors (a missionary who served here is visiting with her family, staying here with us) and other things as we approach the end of this semester (Two weeks).

We love you all, and will return to this blog SOON.