The Long Line of the Lonely

We were asked to teach Relief Society in Plano 3rd Ward.  They told us we could choose the topic, so we decided to introduce the sisters to "The Long Line of the Lonely".  The subject came from a talk by Pres. Monson several years ago.  He was referring to the many widow's he had served when he was a bishop.  It seemed appropriate to share it at the end of my mission, as a testimony of this opportunity to serve and grow.  I shared some experiences we've had while serving our mission here in Plano, and told them about the lonely sisters we've seen.  These sisters were widows, homebound, in nursing homes, and suffering with tragedy in their lives.


"First, let me take you to the nursing home.  It's a big facility.  The owner keeps the gardens beautiful, but it is evident that this nursing home is for those who don't have much money.  It's probably funded, in part, by the state.  As you enter and begin to walk down the hall you notice several elderly people sitting in wheel chairs along the way.  They have a distant look in their eyes. 


There's an oriental man who doesn't talk, but always looks at us and puts his hand out.  He just wants someone to acknowledge him and hold his hand for a moment.  Continuing on we find a sweet woman who looks to be about 45.  Her head is leaning to the side, as she cannot support it.  She has Muscular Distrophy.  We stop to say "Hi", and bend down to look into her face.  We always say, "Hi, Daryl, how are you doing today?"  Her answer is continuously, "I'm fantastic!"  She likes chocolate, so we received permission to bring her a small piece when we come.


Ruth is another woman we met there.  She gets around better than most of the people.  She's always happy to see us, and knows we're missionaries for the church.  She enjoys having a short visit with us.  Another woman along our route is always sitting in a chair.  She smiles when she sees us coming, and usually has some nice comment about our clothes.  She has some mental problems and talks about strange things sometimes. 


There are many others we greet as we move along to our destination.  We've been visiting Sis. Adams every week since we arrived.  She's flat in bed, and rarely able to sit up.  She has a very strong testimony of the gospel, and often asks us about things she wants to share with the people there.  She's very smart and has been interesting to talk with.  As the time has passed she's begun to sleep more, and sometimes talks about the little bird that comes in and sits on her shoulder.  We see her breaking up bread crumbs for him.  He's a place she goes in her mind when she's lonely.....


Sis. Alarcon is our next stop.  She has Alzheimer's, but always greets us with a smile.  She's a beautiful sister who grew up in Chili.  She's in the advanced stages of the disease now.  It was very difficult for her daughter to accept that she needed more care than she could give at home.  We read  stories to her from children's books.  She likes the pictures so we try to find ones that are extra colorful.


We visit many other sisters every week, a young girl who struggles with alcoholism, another young woman with Alzheimer's, a blind sister, and others who are having severe health problems.  In each case they're in need of extra love.  There are so many people in this world who are displaced or alone.  Perhaps it's the person sitting next to you at church.  Perhaps you thought she had everything she ever needs, but each one of us suffer with trials and loneliness at times.  I love the following quote:
"The best way to survive loneliness is to redirect our tremendous hunger for connectedness.  For we have no power to make others understand or value us.  We can, however, make a spiritual practice of trying to understand and value others".


Yes, loneliness is a tremendous hunger and yearning to be connected.  People always need people.   Heavenly Father knew and understood that need.  He's patterned his church to fulfill that need in each of His children.  We are indeed the instruments he uses to care for each other.  It would be well for us to be more conscious of that as we live our lives. 


The thing I've learned most while serveing here is the great capacity I have to love everyone.  That has become my joy and my strength.  I will forever be grateful for the blessing of serving on this mission.  As I've done so, I've found wonderful friends and known the blessings that come from bringing some light into the eyes of my sisters.  I see them as someone I once knew, before I came to earth.  It's been a joyful reunion!"

Charity - The Pure Love of Christ

Charity

Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and

envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh 

not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh 

no evil, and rejoiceth in the truth, beareth 

all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,

endureth all things.

Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth 

forever, and whoso is found possessed of it at the

last day, it shall be well with him.
 Moroni 7:  45 & 47

                                                 

I have this scripture on my wall and read it often.  It touches me so much to think of Charity as pure love which is exactly how the Savior loves each one of us.  It struck me to think that Charity isn't doing as much as it is being!  Oh, that I could feel this same pure love continually!  I fail often in my attempts to look at others without judgment, criticism, or pride.  I guess this life is one of learning.   I'd like to love everyone with the depth of love the Savior has.  Then I would truly be as He is, as I walk through this life.

I realize that serving and being one of his disciples is an act of love.  It's a step into being as He was when he lived here on earth.  He was serving and teaching.  That was a part of His mission, but was peremptory to His greatest service to us in the Garden of Gethsemane.  All that He accomplished during his years here was done through his pure love.  It's evident when we read of the miracles performed, the sorrow that he felt when others struggled, and his constant desire to be "an instrument" in carrying on the work his Father had called him to do. What an amazing example He is to us!  He was perfectly obedient, never wavering from the will of the Father.  In the Garden of Gethsemane his anguish was evident, but he never lost focus on his Father.  How perfect our lives would be if we truly loved as He does!

We're here to continually strive to be as He is.  It 's a great calling to serve his children, to teach and lift them when they struggle, to comfort them when they face trials; and to be the angels He sends to carry on with the work he began.  I'm so very blessed to be able to serve, but I realize this is only a part of my life.  The teaching and serving must continue on to the very end of my journey.  I must always be looking for ways to help myself and others understand his love.

Diane Irizarry & I have became very close, and now all our visits are just the two of us.   She's returned to church, but has struggled with a few things. When we both realized that I had dealt with similar issues with some of my kids, she was so grateful to have someone to talk to that could understand.  She has a little boy who is 2 years old and her husband is a non-member.  I'm so proud of her for the amazing accomplishments she's made!   

Kathy Upshaw is an active sister in Plano 3rd Ward.  She has five boys who are also active in the church, but a husband who is a non-member.  He's been very active in scouting for many years.  She gets discouraged at times that he's unwilling to join.  She wants him for her Eternal Companion and loves him so much.  She's a fun and sweet sister that we've enjoyed becoming friends with. 

Peggy Smiley is a single sister that moved into Plano 4th Ward several months ago.  She is has a very cute and fun personality.  She just needed friends when she moved in, so we were happy to reach out to her and gain a new friend ourselves.



We started visiting Susan Jones when we began serving in Plano 4th Ward.  She was suffering from debilitating depression.  She had to take a leave-of-absence from work to try to deal with it.  It's been so wonderful to watch her move forward and begin to enjoy life again.  Each week we visited her we would take a story or lesson.  She would get tears in her eyes and say, "How did you know I needed to hear that this week".  She began receiving counseling from someone we referred her to from another ward.  He has helped her so much.  I stand in amazement that the Savior really directs us to people who need us..  He directs us through inspiration.  Sometimes we aren't even aware of it until statements like hers come out.  I just love the eternal connection we have as missionaries.  Every day is filled with miracles!