MIRACLES --- 7 September 2013

MIRACLE # 6

Since the Sunshine Committee idea began in my little brain, I guess I’ll say a few words about it.  In thinking about what we could do in our off Institute cycle time…besides sipping piña coladas at the beach...although I definitely think that WAS in our job description!...:) Billy was particularly interested in ways we could help the Mission President with his tremendous load.  We brainstormed together some ideas and then the thought came into my mind that we could visit the new missionary sisters in particular who might be struggling and needing a little lift of their spirits.  “Maybe we could call ourselves The Sunshine Committee.”  It felt good to both of us.  We thought we could take them a treat like homemade cookies or maybe take them to lunch, or to get ice cream…whatever.   We ran the idea by President Douglas and he heartily agreed.  He reminded us not to forget his wife who needed sunshine herself!  So it all began back in March with a trip to the grocery store to buy a little fruit for Hermana Dahlia and her native Dominican companion Sister Reyes, serving in Sabaneta, an outlying area of the mission.  We took them to get a bite to eat at a little tienda in their city.  They were so grateful for the visit, and especially for a chance to speak English.  I thought about my own girls serving missions far away from home and how much a visit from a senior couple would have brightened their spirits. 

One of our cute sister leaders, Sister Johansen, whom we visited a few months ago…whenever she sees us at the office, she says, “Oh, Elder and Hermana Partridge, I think I feel a depression coming on!”

Ice cream is always a big hit.  And I've never met a flavor I didn't like!

Sister Wake (in the middle) has been here for only 10 days!  But she's still smiling!

Sisters in Moca in front of a little art studio.  The owner is a member and she's going to paint something for me...sweet! 

Sister Ruiz on the far right is from the Phillipines.  She speaks no English and no Spanish...yet.  She's scared to death but is in an awesome three-some and is well-loved.

      

                 Don't you love this little casa?  Not where the sisters live but very picturesque!

Elder Partridge, who’s language of love is the written word…imagine that…who knew?...is now writing a little blurb of encouragement from the Sunshine Committee that he emails weekly to the new sisters.  He includes a few scriptures and shares some of his own mission experiences from yesteryear.  He got word from one of the office elders that he wanted to join the email list, too.  I guess we shouldn’t have gender discrimination.  Several sisters have reported that they look forward to his little message every week and said it was just what they needed to hear at the time!  One said it was an answer to her prayer and one told us today that she prints it out so she can read it often.  How gratifying!

I guess the miracle in all of this is that when we visited with our Bishop before we put our papers in, we shared our dreams of doing what we love on our mission…Bill teaching and me leading a choir…Bishop Phelps assured us that wherever we were sent and whatever we were called to do we would be a blessing to the young missionaries.   Realizing that our Sunshine Committee is a fulfillment of that promise is a great miracle and blessing for both of us.  Truly, we get way more sunshine from our visits than we could possibly give.  Of course. :)