Last night we had the privilege to sit in on the devotional broadcast from the Dominican Republic where Elder David A. Bednar, one of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, answered questions submitted by young single adults from all over the Caribbean!!! It was wonderful and thankfully I was paying attention.Sunday morning dawned the same as every other Sunday morning in the mission field. We jumped out of bed, rushed out the door for another full day filled with meetings and appointments. After Sacrament meeting - with 157 in attendance (we all pay close attention to attendance here in Guyana) - I settled into our little office to work on a couple of things between meetings, when I was startled by Marissa, one of our young members, standing in the doorway. “Sister Sappington . . . we don’t have a teacher today. Will you come teach our class?” I took a minute for a quick prayer than ran down the hall to face a classroom filled with 18 teenagers. I plunged in, using many of the messages from Elder Bednar which were perfect for this age group!
After the “amen” I wandered back in a daze to my little office . . . then Kenny poked his head in the door saying, “Sister Sappington, our teacher didn’t show up either. Can you come teach our class?” Sure. Why not? At the other end of the hall, I found a room full of boys waiting for a lesson of some kind. I spent the next 30 minutes sharing the value of serving a mission! Whew. Survived. Life is good. The Lord is in charge.
After church, I taught the Family History class while Elder Sappington met with Jamaal Sobers who has tried for several weeks to find a job despite his obvious strengths and skills. What could be the problem? Elder Sappington to the rescue.
After my class, a couple was waiting to talk to us. He literally blew out his shoulder when a gun discharged by mistake when serving as a security guard. He has not been able to work since the accident. She does security work, but makes very little money so there are many days when there is absolutely NOTHING in the house to eat. They will likely lose their home soon. Sad situation and an emotional meeting as we prayed for answers to their dilemma.
Then off to a 2-hour meeting of the Young Single Adult Conference Planning Committee. Only 9 weeks to go before YSA’s from all over Guyana and neighboring Suriname gather for a 3-day activity filled with food, fun, workshops, a dinner dance, talent show and a fireside (with real fire of the bon variety). Whew. Are we done yet cause by now we are getting hungry!
At the end of the meeting, I took one of our returned missionaries aside for a VERY emotional heart-to-heart! Last week he sent a suicide note and disappeared sending all of us into a panic as we combed the city looking for him before he could do what he threatened to do. Our tall, handsome Leon was only 19 when his 14-year-old sister got pregnant, had an abortion and died from complications of that botched procedure! The lose of his beautiful and beloved little sister was difficult enough, but his mother blames him because “I was supposed to be keeping an eye on her!” Five years later, his parents are getting a divorce because “she blames him . . . he is blaming her” and Leon, caught in the middle, is anguished over this event and the resulting complete meltdown of his family! I am determined to find help for him. He is such a great young man. No one should have to carry the emotional burden he is carrying. It is destroying him.
After drying my eyes and seeing the committee off to their various homes, we drove to Patentia to meet with Mala and her two sons (14-year-old Avinash is one of my favorite bright, creative, full-of-fun kids in this entire country). This beautiful single mother is hardworking, creative and has lots of skills and abilities but has not been able to find a job. As we prepared to leave, Avinash made me promise to bring him brownies the next time we visit (Note to self . . . brownies for Avinash!)
On the way home, we passed the nighttime nesting area of the flying egrets as we came across the Demerara River where it feeds into the Atlantic Ocean. We stopped and walked out onto the bridge for the picture as the sun went down. This is the picture we have been trying to take for the whole time we have been here!
In summary, we spent our "day of rest" teaching 3 lessons, counseling 3 jobseekers to help them find work, conducting a lengthy meeting and weaping big tears for the pain and suffering of one of our favorite young men. What a start for a new week! Today may have just been the busiest, most emotional, and happiest day of our mission. It is possible, some of the experiences of the last 24 hours might be the answer to the question, “who knoweth whether thou art come to this country for such a time as this?” (paraphrased Esther 4:14) It was a remarkably spiritual day!
2 comments:
WOW! What an incredible day! They are all blessed to have you teach them. You are the BEST in that department and in so many, many other areas as well.
What a sad situation for that young man! Makes your heart ache.
From Elder Roberts in the DR: The concern Rufino has is to confirm that you are getting the help you need from S&I. He wants to make sure that Brother Alvarez is in the loop and knows how these things are all to go together. We rely heavily on you folks and I think Rufino (as well as the rest of us) are growing concerned about losing your knowledge bank. One of the uncertainties of life in the Caribbean seems to be how to maintain continuity when senior missionaries leave to go home. There is never any assurance that the Church will even authorize replacements – let alone manage the learning curve issue.
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