21 May 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
Yesterday’s temp was in the low 80s. Trees are mostly with leaves, but some of the reluctant ones are just now beginning to put out leaf buds. So many different shades of green. The early assault of dandy lions hit, and are now going to seed. One quickly notes which lawns have been treated with herbicide and which have not. The dandy lion must be the state flower of WI. If not, it should be. Daffodils and tulips have pretty much come and gone. Our walk down by the lake front last evening was pretty warm and humid (75%). More and more people in the parks and at the beach for the evening. However, we still see very few boats out on the lake. We expect this weekend will be the beginning of that (Memorial Day). The marina area, empty during the winter months, now has lots of large fishing boats tied up, each one creatively named. (like “Anger Management.”) Over at the Kenosha yacht club, the amazing sailboats have been coming out of the winter dry dock, and are now tied up in their marina, awaiting summer on Lake Michigan. One month from today will be the summer solstice, and suddenly daylight will begin to shorten, heading back towards the inevitable winter months. As you can see we are enjoying the seasonal differences we observe here.
The devastating tornado that hit Oklahoma yesterday has left us in shock. Our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters whose lives have been so suddenly changed. We mourn the loss of life, especially of the little ones. We expect that the Church and members will respond with humanitarian assistance in multiple ways. Nothing has yet been posted on the Church website about missionaries or members in the town that was hit. We pray for Heavenly Father to bless each one who has been touched by nature’s hand.
We are quick to wonder why these events happen. Why do some find themselves in the path of a vicious tornado, while others are spared the personal loss? We wonder about Heavenly Father and His love for His children. If He truly loves all His children, if He created all in this world, and if He has all power over His creations, why does He not protect everyone from such devastation? The questions continue . . . . . and then we may see that His great plan provides for His children to experience opposition even in the very nature of life. The opposition gives us the chance to exercise our precious agency. Perhaps that is what it is all about . . . . . our choosing again to follow Jesus Christ, in faith, not understanding all the whys, but knowing that He is real and His promises to us are true. “I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives!” His comforting assurance is a precious gift. How thankful I am for it, especially when difficult times come, and they do to all of us.
The Methodists. Our big missionary experience last week was going to Kenosha First United Methodist Church (Coach Heath would be proud of us!) for a Sunday morning conversation with a small group of “truth seekers (maybe).” This is how it came about. We received a call about ten days ago from Bro. Mike Moore, high counselor in our stake, also former bishop of Kenosha 1st Ward. He is assigned to public affairs for our stake, and in that capacity affiliates with the Kenosha County Association of Clergymen. In process of attending the association’s monthly meeting he was approached by Pastor Tim Burlew, of Kenosha’s FUMC, and asked if someone from the LDS Church might come to meet with the Methodist group. He gave Bro. Moore the name of the contact lady for the group, Ellen Kupfer. Bro. Moore talked with Ellen and found out that the group meets on Sunday mornings after the Methodist worship service, kind of like a Sunday School class. She said there were ten to fifteen people in the group depending on the Sunday. She asked for a brief history of the LDS Church, its basic beliefs, an explanation of what the Church celebrates, and some tips on how they might interact more successfully with a Mormon. Bro. Moore contacted our mission president about having missionaries accompany him. President Jones suggested he invite Elder and Sister Skinner to give the presentation. Bro. Moore’s initial contact with us was to make the request and to talk about what we might do to make the presentation a success.
After receiving the assignment we called Ellen Kupfer to introduce ourselves and to ask a few more questions about the group. Seems they have had some other religions come to talk to them, Judaism, Buddaism. She suggested an informal conversation about Mormonism would be appreciated. We were to plan for about an hour. As this assignment was something quite out the ordinary for us, we discussed it several times, and prayed for help to know what to do, and to be able to do it in a way it might be received favorably. We knew it was important that we do it together, not just me doing the talking, as is usually the case, because of the Spanish. Vicki was good with that. We decided she would tell a little about us, then, give a brief history of the Church. We would see where their questions might take us from there.
So Sunday morning at nine we headed the Pilot down towards the old part of town to the Kenosha FUMC. It is a beautiful old church (there are so many of them), more than a hundred years old. We entered the side door and went up the stairs to the Great Room. Members of the congregation were just coming out of their worship service. The Great Room had round tables and chairs for people to sit and have coffee, while discussing the pressing issues of the day. Here we were met by Ellen and a man named John. Bro. Moore and a non-LDS friend of his were already present. We were introduced by Bro. Moore to the others. Then John and Ellen took us the room where the group would be meeting. It was a large room nearby which had at one end couches and chairs arranged in a conversational way. The other end of the room had a large dining table surrounded by about ten chairs. Around the perimeter of the room were additional chairs. Vicki and I sat at one end of the table and awaited the arrival of the members of the group. Within a few minutes we had a combined total of about fourteen people. Bro. Moore introduced us to the group as a senior missionary couple from AZ serving with the Spanish branch of the Church in Kenosha for eighteen months. Then he turned it over to us.
Vicki very briefly shared a little about us and our family. We hoped somehow they would see us as just regular folks much like them. We reminded them of Ellen’s instructions to us, and then Vicki began to share the history of the LDS Church. She did a wonderful job, especially explaining that the LDS Church is the “restored” Church of Jesus Christ. We talked about what “restored” means. I then began to explain how important the reformation period was in preparing for this “restoration.” Vicki had talked about the need for proper authority, the priesthood, and explained how it had been restored. As she concluded, many questions began to be asked. We spent most of the rest of the time addressing the questions. There was a very peaceful, friendly atmosphere. There was no spirit of contention at all. How grateful we were for that. One man interjected that he perceived a profound theological difference between the Protestant theology and the LDS. He then proceeded to cite Joseph Smith’s teaching that man could progress to become like God. He even cited, “As man is God once was; and as God is man may become.” He asked how such a theology could be justified. This was the first negative vibe we had sensed. We had not even considered that anyone might ask such a question. Nevertheless, the Spirit did not fail us. To my mind came the Savior’s exhortation, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” I quoted it to him and the group, commenting that it certainly sounded like there must be the divine potential in each of us to become like God. Almost immediately another man in the group said that scripture was of central importance to Methodists, as they are striving to become more God-like. The first questioner was suddenly silent and an feeling of peacefulness was restored. Heavenly Father’s promise to His servants was fulfilled, as the very words that I needed were given to me in the moment they were needed. How thankful we were to be His servant.
As we were concluding, a lady asked what the Methodists should do when the young pairs of missionaries knock on their doors. I responded, “If it is summer, please invite them in and offer them a cold drink of water, and listen to them. If it is winter, please invite them in and invite them to warm themselves, and listen to them.” Everyone chuckled and nodded their heads. It was a very delightful experience for Vicki and me.
Today was our weekly DTM (District Training Meeting). Our DL, Elder Chang, a Hmong elder from CA, did the teaching regarding the Doctrine of Christ. Four new missionaries are in our district since last week’s transfer, three sisters and one elder. The elder is from Guatemala, via Chicago. He was actually driven to Milwaukee from Chicago, without going to the MTC. I understand he probably does not have legal papers, thus he made his way to Chicago about 4 months ago to be with family members, and then was called from there to this mission. We have three sisters in our district who are “visa waiters,” one waiting to go to Brazil, and two awaiting visas to Peru (my dear old Andes Mission). It was fun to share a few memories with the two going to Peru. Incidently, Bro. Moore gave us an LDS Church Almanac as a reference for the Methodist group. He invited us to keep it. I had to look up Peru to see what had happened there since 1961-1964. Pretty amazing. It was such a struggle back then. No chapels anywhere in the country. We were just opening up many of the larger cities. I helped with the opening of Cuzco, being in the second set of four that went there. It was a real struggle in so many ways. Many times I wondered if what we did was worth anything at all. Peru today – more than ½ million members of the Church; 98 stakes (two in Cuzco); 10 missions; 3 temples (1 in operation, 1 almost completed, 1 just announced in Oct.) Thank goodness Heavenly Father sees beyond what we see. Thank goodness His hand is always in His work. We must move forward with faith, doing our little part, whatever that happens to be.
The DL made reference to Pres. Eyring’s recent Gen. Conf. talk, “Come Unto Christ.” I read it after the meeting. Some of his teachings jumped right out at me. “As we give devoted service to Him, He draws closer to those we love in our families. . . . . Many of you have loved ones who are wandering off the path to eternal life. You wonder what more you can do to bring them back. You can depend on the Lord to draw closer to them as you serve with faith. . . . Your prayers and the prayers of those who exercise their faith will bring the Lord’s servants to help your family members. They will help them choose the way home to God.” This promise is being fulfilled in Stuart’s life right now. Bro. and Sis. Hale are helping Stuart begin to open his heart again to the Lord and His wonderful plan for His children. I think this is why we are here in Kenosha.
What a blessing to be the Lord’s servants. It is a blessing to each of us wherever we are, in whatever capacity we serve His children. I know it is His work we are engaged in, regardless of how our feeble efforts may be utilized at any given time. I know He honors His promise to put His words into the mouths of His servants at the needed time. He did it again for me, for us. I feel His great love, and know He offers it freely to each of His children who will receive it. I pray we each will.
Love,
Charles & Vicki
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