We want to remember this.

We want to remember this.

As we have been pondering all the tender mercies and blessings of 2020, we are humbled by Godly design that is creating miracles in our lives before we can see or recognize them. I know this, but sometimes I still find myself surprised when I look in the rear-view mirror. God is just so good.

The day of our MTC release

In June, we were officially released from serving at the Provo MTC, even though it had been closed for a few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’d had hopes of returning, so we were very sad! We loved serving together and we adored the missionaries.

In passing, the MTC Presidency told us of the struggles some stake presidents were having with the home MTC experience helping missionaries stay productive and focused, specifically on the Sabbath Day, when online MTC instruction paused. A few days later, Gary called our stake president to let him know we had been released, and offered our help if there was a need or way to do so.  Within days we were called to teach Sunday doctrine classes via zoom to all missionaries serving from our stake.  Every week we taught the same things we had taught at the MTC on Sunday afternoons, to help missionaries fill in their doctrinal gaps and more importantly, show them how the doctrines are connected to each other and to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Some missionaries would invite their companions and districts, and we had many powerful discussions with amazing kids from all over the country. I started learning the zoom process to catch up with Gary and the technology natives.

Fast forward to December. 

With our still secret and overwhelming mission call, the buffetings of Satan seemed to have increased tenfold for our kids and for us, and we had felt the intense need for the adversary’s rebuke. I relate to things visually, and in my mind I could see Gary and I driving 90 miles an hour. We have launched into the Grand Canyon, and not hit the ground yet, but we know the landing is coming and the free-fall is stretching us. I have ached for the temple in ways I never have before.

One of our missionaries, sweet Sister Mathieson was being endowed in the temple before flying to Poland, and because of our Sunday relationship with her, she invited us to attend with her family group.

She did not know of our call, and was probably too dialed in to her first experience in the temple to notice the teetering, stressed out, overwhelmed witness couple who couldn’t stop crying, as we covenanted to offer all we had to the Lord. 

The timing was not lost on us. 

We had a few minutes alone in the very quiet celestial room to pray.  We were both filled to the brim with the grace and mercy of God.  It was a much needed gift. We are unsure of what the future will look like for us, but we love God, and we trust Him.  His hand is in our lives, and we are trying so hard to see and hear him more abundantly.  

We want to remember this.