Apostolic Blessing

            We spent three days with the soldiers at Camp Boniface doing our best to help them complete their preparations for their promotion exam. The determination each soldier had to raise their score was evident in their commitment to focus in class and do homework between classes. We could share concepts and ideas, but how much effort they exerted to make that knowledge their own was a personal choice.

We had snow one day and the Korean soldiers came to sweep the snow from the walkways and the slush and water from the road. They were excited to take a break and pose for us to take their picture. We thought the Korean approach to snow removal a contrast to the one we see in Utah. We noted a direct correlation between the efforts with the brooms and the proximity of their sergeant.

As we finished our teaching Lt. Col. Farmer, the commander on post and CSM Joyce, senior enlisted officer on post insisted on making a formal presentation of certificates of appreciation.

The picture of the entrance sign reads, “United Nations Command Security Battalion: In Front of them All” the motto of the JSA.

We had a short turn around Friday evening before boarding an early train Saturday morning to Seoul for a special conference with Elder Jeffery R. Holland, his wife, and the area presidency. It was fun to see other missionaries and the senior couples, but the most fun was to see the joy in the young missionaries as they mixed with the missionaries from their own mission and from the Seoul South Mission. Many were in the MTC together and there are a couple of sets of twins in the separate missions. We finally met the senior couple who are in the eastern edge of the mission. They had a three-hour drive into the meeting. The couple from Humphrey got on the first train at 0600 and had two transfers. Sister Anderson in the office has broken her foot and is in a wheelchair. We have dedicated senior missionaries.

           

  

             Elder Holland asked to shake hands with all the missionaries so he did that before the meeting began. He was looking in our eyes to interview us. Elder Holland talked of his love for the Korean people and for the country. He said there would be two lines at the Pearly Gates: one long line with a lengthy wait and another that will look more like priority boarding. The fast line will have one question at the gate, “Were you a Korean missionary?” He did a bit of teaching on how to be an effective missionary and he bore his firm witness of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the priesthood. We were both glad to have sat at his feet for a little while and receive his apostolic blessing for our family. After the meeting, we joined three other senior couples for lunch at a Japanese restaurant.

Our neighbor came with the missionaries late Saturday afternoon for her English lesson and spiritual message. Earlier in the week when she met with the missionaries she bore her testimony that the Book of Mormon was true and accepted an invitation to be baptized. When they shifted to the spiritual message, she pulled out her scriptures. They were amazing! Not only has she read the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants; but they are all marked with tabs that have her questions.

As the discussion came to an end, I noticed that it was past dinner time so I invited Victoria and the missionaries to join us for a bowl of chili. Elder Holland’s meeting with the Young Single Adults in Korea was broadcast so we all listened to his closing remarks. He left a wonderful, apostolic blessing on the people. He asked everyone to imagine the most wonderful day they had ever had, the most wonderful scene they had ever seen, the most wonderful music they had ever heard and then try to understand that what the Lord would bestow upon them because of their faithfulness would be one-hundred times more wonderful. “All that the Father hath,” is what has been promised. (D&C 84:38)

Sunday morning Elder Holland’s message was from 3 Nephi when Christ blessed the children. He spoke of the importance of the children today and the love that is felt for them. He asked the children to give to the Lord the ten years from twelve to twenty-two, the years when their decisions would shape the rest of their lives. He left a blessing on the children and their children and children’s children and on the country. He said that he loved his own children and grandchildren so deeply that he couldn’t imagine heaven without even one of them; then he said he was certain the Lord felt exactly the same way. I’m thankful there are so many mansions in the house of the Lord. (John 14:2)