We are grateful for this new missionary opportunity.
Barbara and I did take the opportunity to serve a 1 year mission in the
California Roseville Mission office, about 6 years ago (when we were not able
to be away from home, due to our need to take care of Barb's mother). So, it
was a conundrum for the last year or so regarding whether the Lord just wanted
me to continue now in a contiguous role as stake patriarch, or break away from
that and Barb and I serve another senior mission. We did not seem to be
receiving a clear answer. When I brought my conundrum up to our Stake President
last November, he said, "Well, why don't you do both?". He went on to
explain that he would seek permission from the office of the quorum of the
twelve to place me on "inactive status" for the 18 month period of
our mission, and utilize patriarchs in the surrounding stakes to meet the needs
of our stake while I was away. Well, that "got the ball rolling" ...
and that plan has, so far, come to fruition. I will go on "inactive
status" as of May 1st. I have well communicated to our Stake President
that, if he, or a replacing Stake President, feels a need to have a dedicated
patriarch in this Stake, to not let my preference to return and continue my
service as a patriarch in this Stake at all interfere with needs of the time.
The Lord is in charge, and things will work out for the best, for all
concerned.
For some reason, 2016 has been an unusually heavy year
for patriarchal blessings. As I wrap up, it has been even more busy. With even
doing some blessings during the week (I much prefer to do them on Sunday), I
still can't get them all in before I go on "inactive status". Those
not done will be passed on to one of the two patriarchs in the neighboring
Rocklin Stake.
About April 1, 2016, we received a call from our New
Hampshire Manchester Mission President. He wanted to welcome us, and give us
some insight as to what we would be doing in the mission. He indicated that he
had put in a request to the Church Missionary Department to have a senior
couple to help with French speaking African people seeking asylum in Maine.
They are from Burundi, Rwanda, Congo and The Gold Coast of Africa. However,
most are from Burundi and Rwanda. Apparently there are approximately 1,500 of such
"asylumees", dispersed in Maine, but most prominently in Portland,
ME. They come to Maine because Maine has a General Assistance program for such
people to provide housing and food for 4-5 months. That is the time it apparently takes to
get a work permit. Since they are not classified as "refugees" but
those "seeking asylum", most are quite well educated and capable. However,
they are very poor and many have been through atrocities ... many are split
families. Of these, during the past 2 1/2 years about 25 have become members of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
So, President Stoker's plan for us is to serve our
mission in Portland, ME, with a most prominent part of our focus being on
working with these people, on many fronts. The Ward there is apparently
somewhat of a "struggling" ward that has been effected by the
economic downturn in the region. Many long-term members have moved away. Many
of the families that are there are younger medical families, i.e., seeking
medical degrees or involved in internships, etc., therefore, with little discretionary time and little
money. The 2 current counselors in the bishopric fit into that category. There
are currently 6 full-time missionaries serving in Portland, ME. 2 English
speaking sisters, and 2 elder companionships, each having one missionary who
speaks French. The French speaking elders do the missionary teaching of the
people from Africa.
It is more than "interesting" how divine
influence is so prominent in our daily lives. In our missionary submission
papers, we indicated that we would serve wherever we were needed. However, one
of the questions asked is if we had any preferences as to where we were called
... to which we responded: Europe, England or USA. That is what was on paper,
and what our Stake President knew. However, in our hearts, Barb really wanted
to serve somewhere within the United States. And, I, was hoping to get an
opportunity to use my French language background, but was concerned that if we
were to go to a French speaking nation, it would somewhat limit the tremendous
contributions that Barb has to offer. As proof that the Lord knows the hearts
of His children, here's what He did to match up the needs of all of His children
to address the overall eternal good ... my desire to leverage my French
language background and Barb's desire to stay in the US are fully met ... and,
hopefully we will grow to appropriately meet the needs of God's precious
"asylum seeking" children here in the US. I stand in humble awe and
amazement before our God and King, as He carries out His mighty work. I see this same hand of the Almighty's influence upon mine and Barb's heritage ... for which we are eternally grateful.
