Week 12 - "For Such a Time as This!"
My dear family and friends,
This has been a long and eventful week. I don’t really know where to start except maybe with the reason I chose this scripture for my title. This one experience colored my thoughts about the whole rest of the week. On Tuesday, we, the temple missionaries, filled in for the Site missionaries who had a special mission meeting/conference from 10:00 to 2:00. Richard and I were assigned to the Hill Cumorah Visitor’s Center. We did not have a “script” or background history. We were simply to use the Spirit to fill the needs of the visitors…anything from “where is the bathroom” to wanting to find out more about our church and everything in between. Most often, we were the first place in the Palmyra area that they had come so we helped them plan their visits to the other sites. At any rate, I was helping a family of members who had brought a non-member girlfriend in the display room when the other Senior missionary brother came in and asked me to come and use my Spanish to help a family from Guatemala. I handed off the other family to Richard and went in to visit with them. It turned out that the wife was from Utah and her husband, who had been born in Guatemala, lived there with her. He had broken English. They had two little girls. Then, there were two aunts and a mother who spoke no English. Since we all spoke Spanish, that was the language we used. You have to understand that I don’t have a huge amount of confidence in my Spanish and I worry that I will make mistakes. However, I know from experience that the Holy Ghost will fill my mind and my mouth with what I should say. I said a silent prayer to add to the prayers that I had sent heavenward in the morning before we came. We started in the Christus room and I put on the scriptures in Spanish. The Spirit was so strong. We then went into the display room because they didn’t want to see any of the films there…they would see them at the other sites. The wife took over translating for her mother in law because all of the kiosks were English-only. I stepped back to give them some privacy. As I stood watching these dear Saints, I was contemplating my road to this point in deciding to take Spanish in school, continuing with it through college, following the prompting to study the Book of Mormon in Spanish daily and serving where I could in the church with my Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters. The words came into my mind: “…for such a time as this…” and the Spirit washed over me. I KNEW in that moment why I had taken Spanish. Then, my mind was expanded and it included everything I had done up until that point to prepare myself to serve on this mission. I was reminded of something that was said by the counselor in the temple presidency when he set me apart as an ordinance worker in the Palmyra Temple. It didn’t make complete sense at the time but the meaning became crystal clear in that moment as I watched that little family. As I have contemplated this experience this week I have realized that we each have been given a unique set of strengths, skills, talents and experiences for “such a time as this”…..for each time we serve the Lord and help His children come unto Him. Just as Esther was asked to save her people, we are asked to save Heavenly Father’s children on this side of the veil as well as those who have passed beyond the veil. When the family was finished, we talked some more and I was able to talk to them with more confidence, knowing the Lord was by my side and I served Him. I sent them on their way up the Hill.
The rest of the day was pretty amazing also!! I no sooner had sent them on their way when the director of the Visitor’s center came to us and told us that President Uchtdorf would be visiting there after his tour of the Hill Cumorah and the preparations for the Pageant. The Director gave us instructions that were we to divert any visitors away from President Uchtdorf so that he could have his privacy. We were not to approach him, talk to him, ask him for any pictures with him or in any way intrude upon him. We were a little amazed. Another family came in while we were waiting and the other Senior Sister missionary took them….it was her turn. While she was with them in the theater, President Uchtdorf came into the Center. He saw us standing there and came right over. He shook our hands and asked us where we were from. He was so gracious, kind and loving. He introduced his wife, daughter and grandson and then went on with his tour of the Center. Later, on his way out the Sister was there and he shook her hand and chatted for just a moment. I’m sure he was in a hurry because he also visited the other Sites. Some of the other temple missionaries saw him and some didn’t. He was going to be speaking to the Rochester mission about 11:30 or so. What a treat for them…..and what a treat for us to be greeted by a prophet of God.
Later in the afternoon, a couple from Peru came in and I was able to help them. While in the Christus room, I felt prompted to bear my testimony in Spanish, something I have not often done. What a sweet experience! The sister, with tears streaming down her face, bore her testimony to me and we were all edified by our experience. We then went into the display room and this time, I translated for them. When we got to the display of the Books of Mormon from around the world, the brother picked up the one written in Peruvian Quechua (evidently it is different than Ecuadoran Quechua). He longingly opened it!! He told me that when they had left Peru to come to the United States several years before he had had to leave everything including his Book of Mormon in Quechua, which was his native language. He had been raised in the mountains of Peru and many of the people spoke nothing but Quechua. He had learned Spanish and moved away. He met his wife closer to Lima….I can’t remember the town that she said she was from. The Spirit whispered to give him the book. We had been told that we could give copies of the Book of Mormon away in any of the languages if we felt prompted to do so. I told him he could keep it and he didn’t quite believe. He was about to refuse but I told him it was a gift for him. He was so touched!! He told me that he was afraid he was losing his birth language and now he wouldn't. His wife was touched also. He excitedly showed me some of the words. How sweet it was to see him so enthusiastic!!!! We chatted a bit longer and then his wife gave me a big hug and a thank you. I was so filled with love for them and gratitude that I would be so blessed to serve them. I sent them on their way up the Hill and felt that my day was complete. This day was the highlight of a very busy week. By the time we get to our next day off from the temple, we will have had two weeks straight without a day off. We are getting a bit weary but it is all good!!!!
The temple has been great!! I worked in the office for a sister who was sick and it was so busy that I was a half hour late leaving the temple that day….on our split shift day. I have worked in the baptistry several times. One time, a dad and his daughter came in from Utah. He said they had just moved to Spanish Fork from Nephi and that he would be teaching seminary in Payson. We chatted a bit about SF Junior where she will be going. She will be an incoming 7th grader. On Friday, I was there when “Helaman’s Army” came in. They are a group of 28 young men who are working on the set for the Pageant. They have to be 17 or 18 and have graduated from HS. They leave all their technology behind and labor for the Lord for the entire month. Several of them have their mission calls and several more will receive them while here, including Pres and Sis Schwendiman’s grandson….he is a member of the temple presidency and she is an asst to the matron. They are amazing young men filled with the Spirit. Such a privilege to serve them!!! On Monday, I was in a session and was acting as patron for a cousin on my Dad’s side. I found a whole line of families that don’t have their work done and I feel such a connection to them. I’m sure my Dad is teaching them the gospel. On Thursday, one of our usual days off, we subbed for another missionary couple. Her brother had died suddenly and they had to go to Utah for the funeral. It was good to serve them even though it makes for a long two weeks. On Saturday, we were expecting to have a session with 1 male and 1 female patron. What a pleasant surprise it was when a bus tour stopped by to see if they could go on a session. There was such a sweet spirit during that session. I LOVE serving in the temple.
We have had several other happenings this week. Last Sunday night, after I sent off the blog post, we had an impromptu ice cream social and game night with the other missionaries here in the Twilight Zone. It was fun!! On Monday we went on a “walk-a-bout” at the Hill with President Schwendiman and his wife. He was the President of the Pageant for 9 years and has been involved with the Pageant for many, many years. It was fascinating. Enjoy some of the pictures behind the scenes. Dad posted some and I have some. On Tuesday, we started with a pancake breakfast with the 6-month missionaries before we went to our Site assignments. Then, we had a BBQ that night with all of the temple missionaries. Thursday night, while I was working on BYU, Richard represented us at a celebration for the birthday of one of the Sisters. Friday night, we went to help one of the Missionary couple commemorate the birthday of their son. He died a few years ago and his favorite birthday treat was cheesecake. So, they have cheesecake on his birthday each year and they invited us this year. Sweet!! These are such wonderful people!!!!!
Today was a good day at church….we had a new girl in our class who will be here all summer. In addition to our regular responsibilities, we got to help an investigator with her family history after church. She was so excited to see her family on her tree and can’t wait until she is baptized and can do that work for her family. Before she found the church, she had been living with a man so she has to be married before she can be baptized. There is some sort of snag with her divorce but I don’t know what it is. Her nine-year-old son is already baptized and she comes each week to church. She is developing a strong testimony. I don’t know what her fiancé thinks about the church. Amidst all of this joy, we found out a very sad, sad thing today. One of our friends in Spanish Fork passed away this morning. We will miss her greatly and we feel so sad for her sweet husband. While we all know that the plan of Salvation and sacred ordinances in the temple give us hope of a joyous reunion, the time on earth when we are left alone is difficult. We feel for this dear brother and friend!!!
Oh my!!!! I didn’t realize how much I had written!!! I am amazed that you got down this far!!!! I love each of you and miss you!!!! I can’t believe how fast the time is going. Before I know it, I will be home and hugging all my babies!!!!.....even the ones who are grown and their sweet spouses!!!!
Love much!!!
Mom/Grandma/Sandy oxoxoxoxooxoxox
Sister Schwendiman
The Set
The meeting place for the cast and crew
Meeting tents while waiting to practice
Pancake breakfast
Fourth of July BBQ
Awesome entertainment and sing along....great fun!!!
This hillside of wildflowers was by the road by the church today.
This is by the pond in the Twilight Zone.
This has been a long and eventful week. I don’t really know where to start except maybe with the reason I chose this scripture for my title. This one experience colored my thoughts about the whole rest of the week. On Tuesday, we, the temple missionaries, filled in for the Site missionaries who had a special mission meeting/conference from 10:00 to 2:00. Richard and I were assigned to the Hill Cumorah Visitor’s Center. We did not have a “script” or background history. We were simply to use the Spirit to fill the needs of the visitors…anything from “where is the bathroom” to wanting to find out more about our church and everything in between. Most often, we were the first place in the Palmyra area that they had come so we helped them plan their visits to the other sites. At any rate, I was helping a family of members who had brought a non-member girlfriend in the display room when the other Senior missionary brother came in and asked me to come and use my Spanish to help a family from Guatemala. I handed off the other family to Richard and went in to visit with them. It turned out that the wife was from Utah and her husband, who had been born in Guatemala, lived there with her. He had broken English. They had two little girls. Then, there were two aunts and a mother who spoke no English. Since we all spoke Spanish, that was the language we used. You have to understand that I don’t have a huge amount of confidence in my Spanish and I worry that I will make mistakes. However, I know from experience that the Holy Ghost will fill my mind and my mouth with what I should say. I said a silent prayer to add to the prayers that I had sent heavenward in the morning before we came. We started in the Christus room and I put on the scriptures in Spanish. The Spirit was so strong. We then went into the display room because they didn’t want to see any of the films there…they would see them at the other sites. The wife took over translating for her mother in law because all of the kiosks were English-only. I stepped back to give them some privacy. As I stood watching these dear Saints, I was contemplating my road to this point in deciding to take Spanish in school, continuing with it through college, following the prompting to study the Book of Mormon in Spanish daily and serving where I could in the church with my Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters. The words came into my mind: “…for such a time as this…” and the Spirit washed over me. I KNEW in that moment why I had taken Spanish. Then, my mind was expanded and it included everything I had done up until that point to prepare myself to serve on this mission. I was reminded of something that was said by the counselor in the temple presidency when he set me apart as an ordinance worker in the Palmyra Temple. It didn’t make complete sense at the time but the meaning became crystal clear in that moment as I watched that little family. As I have contemplated this experience this week I have realized that we each have been given a unique set of strengths, skills, talents and experiences for “such a time as this”…..for each time we serve the Lord and help His children come unto Him. Just as Esther was asked to save her people, we are asked to save Heavenly Father’s children on this side of the veil as well as those who have passed beyond the veil. When the family was finished, we talked some more and I was able to talk to them with more confidence, knowing the Lord was by my side and I served Him. I sent them on their way up the Hill.
The rest of the day was pretty amazing also!! I no sooner had sent them on their way when the director of the Visitor’s center came to us and told us that President Uchtdorf would be visiting there after his tour of the Hill Cumorah and the preparations for the Pageant. The Director gave us instructions that were we to divert any visitors away from President Uchtdorf so that he could have his privacy. We were not to approach him, talk to him, ask him for any pictures with him or in any way intrude upon him. We were a little amazed. Another family came in while we were waiting and the other Senior Sister missionary took them….it was her turn. While she was with them in the theater, President Uchtdorf came into the Center. He saw us standing there and came right over. He shook our hands and asked us where we were from. He was so gracious, kind and loving. He introduced his wife, daughter and grandson and then went on with his tour of the Center. Later, on his way out the Sister was there and he shook her hand and chatted for just a moment. I’m sure he was in a hurry because he also visited the other Sites. Some of the other temple missionaries saw him and some didn’t. He was going to be speaking to the Rochester mission about 11:30 or so. What a treat for them…..and what a treat for us to be greeted by a prophet of God.
Later in the afternoon, a couple from Peru came in and I was able to help them. While in the Christus room, I felt prompted to bear my testimony in Spanish, something I have not often done. What a sweet experience! The sister, with tears streaming down her face, bore her testimony to me and we were all edified by our experience. We then went into the display room and this time, I translated for them. When we got to the display of the Books of Mormon from around the world, the brother picked up the one written in Peruvian Quechua (evidently it is different than Ecuadoran Quechua). He longingly opened it!! He told me that when they had left Peru to come to the United States several years before he had had to leave everything including his Book of Mormon in Quechua, which was his native language. He had been raised in the mountains of Peru and many of the people spoke nothing but Quechua. He had learned Spanish and moved away. He met his wife closer to Lima….I can’t remember the town that she said she was from. The Spirit whispered to give him the book. We had been told that we could give copies of the Book of Mormon away in any of the languages if we felt prompted to do so. I told him he could keep it and he didn’t quite believe. He was about to refuse but I told him it was a gift for him. He was so touched!! He told me that he was afraid he was losing his birth language and now he wouldn't. His wife was touched also. He excitedly showed me some of the words. How sweet it was to see him so enthusiastic!!!! We chatted a bit longer and then his wife gave me a big hug and a thank you. I was so filled with love for them and gratitude that I would be so blessed to serve them. I sent them on their way up the Hill and felt that my day was complete. This day was the highlight of a very busy week. By the time we get to our next day off from the temple, we will have had two weeks straight without a day off. We are getting a bit weary but it is all good!!!!
The temple has been great!! I worked in the office for a sister who was sick and it was so busy that I was a half hour late leaving the temple that day….on our split shift day. I have worked in the baptistry several times. One time, a dad and his daughter came in from Utah. He said they had just moved to Spanish Fork from Nephi and that he would be teaching seminary in Payson. We chatted a bit about SF Junior where she will be going. She will be an incoming 7th grader. On Friday, I was there when “Helaman’s Army” came in. They are a group of 28 young men who are working on the set for the Pageant. They have to be 17 or 18 and have graduated from HS. They leave all their technology behind and labor for the Lord for the entire month. Several of them have their mission calls and several more will receive them while here, including Pres and Sis Schwendiman’s grandson….he is a member of the temple presidency and she is an asst to the matron. They are amazing young men filled with the Spirit. Such a privilege to serve them!!! On Monday, I was in a session and was acting as patron for a cousin on my Dad’s side. I found a whole line of families that don’t have their work done and I feel such a connection to them. I’m sure my Dad is teaching them the gospel. On Thursday, one of our usual days off, we subbed for another missionary couple. Her brother had died suddenly and they had to go to Utah for the funeral. It was good to serve them even though it makes for a long two weeks. On Saturday, we were expecting to have a session with 1 male and 1 female patron. What a pleasant surprise it was when a bus tour stopped by to see if they could go on a session. There was such a sweet spirit during that session. I LOVE serving in the temple.
We have had several other happenings this week. Last Sunday night, after I sent off the blog post, we had an impromptu ice cream social and game night with the other missionaries here in the Twilight Zone. It was fun!! On Monday we went on a “walk-a-bout” at the Hill with President Schwendiman and his wife. He was the President of the Pageant for 9 years and has been involved with the Pageant for many, many years. It was fascinating. Enjoy some of the pictures behind the scenes. Dad posted some and I have some. On Tuesday, we started with a pancake breakfast with the 6-month missionaries before we went to our Site assignments. Then, we had a BBQ that night with all of the temple missionaries. Thursday night, while I was working on BYU, Richard represented us at a celebration for the birthday of one of the Sisters. Friday night, we went to help one of the Missionary couple commemorate the birthday of their son. He died a few years ago and his favorite birthday treat was cheesecake. So, they have cheesecake on his birthday each year and they invited us this year. Sweet!! These are such wonderful people!!!!!
Today was a good day at church….we had a new girl in our class who will be here all summer. In addition to our regular responsibilities, we got to help an investigator with her family history after church. She was so excited to see her family on her tree and can’t wait until she is baptized and can do that work for her family. Before she found the church, she had been living with a man so she has to be married before she can be baptized. There is some sort of snag with her divorce but I don’t know what it is. Her nine-year-old son is already baptized and she comes each week to church. She is developing a strong testimony. I don’t know what her fiancé thinks about the church. Amidst all of this joy, we found out a very sad, sad thing today. One of our friends in Spanish Fork passed away this morning. We will miss her greatly and we feel so sad for her sweet husband. While we all know that the plan of Salvation and sacred ordinances in the temple give us hope of a joyous reunion, the time on earth when we are left alone is difficult. We feel for this dear brother and friend!!!
Oh my!!!! I didn’t realize how much I had written!!! I am amazed that you got down this far!!!! I love each of you and miss you!!!! I can’t believe how fast the time is going. Before I know it, I will be home and hugging all my babies!!!!.....even the ones who are grown and their sweet spouses!!!!
Love much!!!
Mom/Grandma/Sandy oxoxoxoxooxoxox
The Set
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