Mission Blog #12

 Time to Celebrate the Birth of Our Savior

Zone Conference (All-Ireland) In Dublin, With Elder Hans T. Boom Europe North Area President

Belfast, Dublin, and Limerick Zones occasionally come together for a multi-Zone Conference, typically in Dublin. This one was extra-special since we'd be having a General Authority Seventy, Elder Hans T Boom, and his wife, visiting. 

The Senior Missionary couples were responsible for the lunch - menu, preparation, serving, clean-up. There were about 55 hungry missionaries in total at the Stake Centre at 11 Willows, Dublin.

Missionaries from Belfast, Dundalk, Mullingar, Limerick, Tralee, Cork, Dublin, and other towns and cities drove, bused, or took trains to arrive in time for the 9:30 study time and leadership training, and 10:00am for the beginning of the Conference.

Senior couples were buzzing around getting everything ready to serve up the best Zone Conference lunch ever....Tina made the best Caesar salad!

Now, for the fun part of this Conference. The building to the left is a photo of the little Breda Branch chapel from November 1977. Breda was my first mission area in my mission to the Netherlands.

I'm on the far left, with my companion Elder Monet, Elder Dennis Briscoe, and Elder Follett. Nov '77.

In November, 1977, Elder Boom was living with his family in Breda. He was a14 year old teenager. His family were one of the stalwart families in the Breda Branch that had Sunday church attendance of about 25-30.

During our Zone Conference Elder Boom went around the room and asked each missionary including couples to introduce themselves. When it became our turn, I said, "Elder Boom. It is great to see you again. We first met 45 years ago when I was a brand new missionary, serving in the Breda Branch." I paused to catch my emotions, and he quickly teared up himself - then pointed and said that he was grateful for the missionaries who he looked up to as a youth - and that he and I should have a visit and talk about those times in Breda all those years ago. I agreed that we would do that.

A year or more ago, my son gave me a slide/photo to digital converter and I digitized about 40 photos from my mission days, then saved them onto my laptop. On Tuesday morning I woke early and created an album of the photos from my period in Breda, and hoped I would have a chance to share them with Elder Boom.

After lunch he invited me to sit with him, and we enjoyed 10 minutes or so of reminiscing over the 10 or so relevant photos. He told me that the little church building had been replaced with a newer structure; that Breda has been a Ward, and then he pulled out his own phone and showed me the artist's drawings of the new Stake Centre being built in Breda (below). I was in shock to hear of the growth that has taken place. There were some tears shared. He peered at the photo of the Breda Branch Christmas Party, December 1977, and quickly pointed out people in the photo whose names I had mostly forgotten, and then he pointed lovingly to his father and mother. 

Elder Boom's parents are in the foreground of this 1977 photo with their backs to the camera; my companion leading all in Christmas carols.

Elder and Sister Boom are kind and warm and we immediately felt close to them. Sister Boom asked me about whether I have maintained my Dutch language - do I pray in Dutch? Do I read the scriptures or other books in Dutch? I said truthfully that the only occasions that I speak Dutch now was when we have bumped into Dutch tourists visiting in Alberta - as we have in Waterton on the Bear's Hump Trail, or the Bar U Ranch wagon, and a few other places. And very occasionally I will dream in Dutch. We spoke of Tante Cato, Brother MacLean from Breda but also Greta deVliegher (who we still correspond with, a great friend), and a few others. 

A large group photo was organized, and Elder Boom sat Tina and I next to him on the front row. While waiting for the photographer to group everyone to fit in the frame, I leaned in and told him that I miss eating kroketten, and poffertjes, then he said, 'and vla' (Dutch custard).  I can't express what it meant to me to be able to share in my mission experiences from so long ago, with Elder and Sister Boom. 

A hi-lite after lunch was listening to Elder Boom - after he invited us senior missionary couples on the back row to come to the front row - he then spoke for 2.5 hrs, answering any questions, about his journey of faith and service in the church, how Sister Boom has been answer to his prayers and a loyal companion and partner, and he spoke of the gifts of the Spirit especially those gifts that he has felt in his own life as he has been given ever-increasing and challenging responsibilities, the growth of the Church throughout the World and in the Europe North Area he presides over, and he gave his sweet testimony of our Savior.

When the final song and prayer were said and we all felt so full of the Spirit, we rose, then he came down from the podium directly to me and Tina and gave the biggest, most loving, and heartfelt bear hug. We both said kind things quietly to each other during our embrace. He then went to Tina and embraced her warmly as well. Our hearts were bursting and we know this day and this moment was a blessing to be cherished, a tender mercy from our loving Father in Heaven, and a day we will never forget.

Other Miracles of the Week

Ita Hardesty was baptized 43 years ago, by my cousin, Bernie Orr (from Orton, Alberta) when he was a missionary in Ireland. He has remained a friend to Ita. After 30+ years of being away from full Church activity she returned about 2 years ago. We missed seeing Bernie when he visited here in Dundalk in September just 3 weeks before we arrived but we have become friends with Ita and have marvelled at our connection through Bernie. 

Ita is now anxious to attend the Temple and perform the saving ordinances of the gospel for her family. She came over one night and in a few hours we prepared ordinance cards for her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. She was glowing. She now heads out on a flight to Calgary where Bernie (from Raymond now) will meet her. They have 2 days planned at the Cardston Temple as well as other excursions to Banff, Waterton, etc. 

When she was in our home this week, we called Bernie on FaceTime and had 30 minutes or so of reminiscing and talking about how wild it is that we have both come to be in Ita's life. She is a wonderful friend we know will always be a part of our lives. We hope weather is kind to her in Alberta. We know the people there will be.

A Branch Christmas Party in the Mission Field, 45 Years After The First

After eating everyone spent time making costumes so we all could participate in the live nativity, with narration by yours truly. The tall lad below with the Star on his head, Theo, is taking lessons from the Sister missionaries. We spent a fair amount of time together in helping to set up tables/chairs - he is 24 and asked me if he should forego having a family while he continues his studies and begins a career. I love that he feels comfortable to come to me with these questions, at a pivotal time in his life.

The power of an invitation; Juliette and her 2 children arrived in Dundalk 2 days before our Branch party and were invited to come by an enthusiastic member of the Branch, Rosalyn Charles. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we hope to see them again soon.

Our Sister missionaries, playing the part of King Herod, and the Innkeeper, and Sister McMurray as a sheep.

Anne McCartney, Alice Gernon and Tina; and on the right Sinead Poznanski and Guillaume her husband the Branch President. We had so much fun.

If you're feeling a little low, or need an energy boost, or a spiritual lift....just invite a pair of these amazing young missionaries into your home. I promise that you won't be the same after.

D&C 29:4

Verily, I say unto you that ye are chosen out of the world to declare my gospel with the sound of rejoicing, as with the voice of a trump.

Life isn't always fairy tales and rainbows - there are disappointments, betrayals, pains, sorrows, illness; but we know that with faith in Jesus Christ we can feel strength, and peace through it all.

Alma 7:12

...and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

God bless, and may you feel our Savior's love this Christmas season.

  Elder and Sister McMurray