Unexpected happenings!

This week has been a hard week! We saw 2 sister missionaries go home unexpectedly. Scott and I drove each of them to the airport, one Tuesday and the other one Wednesday. I learned a good lesson in why we shouldn't judge others. I have a saying on my wall in the mission office that says; "We should not judge, for we know little of what has been endured and nothing of what has been resisted" it's very loosely based on something Kipling wrote. Tuesday night when I heard that another sister was going home (the one had already left that day; they both came out together in July) I was very disappointed thinking she just wanted to leave because the other one had. But then the President called Wednesday morning to see if I would call her and make sure she was okay. (He and his wife were tied up with interviews all day) When I called I realized she was seriously not okay and told her if she needed me to come and help her with anything to let me know. Immediately her companion called and said 'please come'. This girl was having a serious meltdown. Spending the day with and then getting her on the plane I came to realize that missions really are not for everyone and she needed to be home getting the help that she was crying out for. She had really given it her best and it was good enough. I know it will be hard for her and perhaps others, to not feel like she failed, but I hope that doesn't happen! We really SHOULD NOT judge others because we don't have a clue what is going on in their lives or their heads or hearts!


A few months ago the Nagels, the CES missionaries in Huntsville at Sam Houston University asked Scott to speak at the Institutes Friday forum. They feed the students lunch and then have a short talk. Scott did such a great job. His topic was "Three Keys to a Successful Life"

1. The successful person has the habit of doing things failures don't like to do. They don't necessarily like doing them either, but their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose. (E.M. Gray) DO THOSE THINGS

2. The successful person has the discipline NOT to do things that failures like to do. They may be tempted to do them, too. But their discipline keeps them from self-defeating thoughts and actions. DON'T DO THOSE THINGS

3. The successful person commits to and keeps the covenants they make at baptism and in the temple. KEEP YOUR COVENANTS

He gave some stories and quotes that supported the 3 things that he thinks lead to a successful life and ended by saying that when he meets his maker at the judgment seat that if God says to him, "Well done thou good and faithful servant" he will know then that he was a success. He did a great job and we had a wonderful lunch as well. (I didn't dare eat too much of the spaghetti though because I was wearing my white jacket and I didn't want to get sauce on it! I got to introduce Elder Stringfellow and tell how we ended up in Houston, always an emotional story for me!)