Mission President's Birthday

About a week ago I passed another birthday. I received many notices and well wishes, as noted in a Facebook post.

I decided to post here a portion of the letter I sent to our missionaries a couple of days after my birthday:

"Over the past weekend, I passed my birthday. Many of you sent me a text or made a phone call expressing birthday greetings. Today the Assistants presented me with a book containing birthday greetings, cards, and notes from many of you. I have been overwhelmed with love for each and every one of you as I read the letters, text messages and other notes. 

"During the past several months I have been reviewing Missionary Recommendation forms for new missionaries. As I do so, the Spirit whispers to me that the "noble and great ones" are being called to the India Bangalore Mission. I know by the confirmation of the Spirit that you are among the very best missionaries anywhere in the world. Each one of you has been called to serve in this mission right now because God knew that you were needed here. You are here because of direct revelation, not merely because of administrative process or because of convenience. Some of you may feel that you should not or cannot be here. Maybe you are overwhelmed because of what is being asked of you. Do not despair. Heavenly Father knows you and He sent you here at this time because this is where you are needed. Sister Berrett and I are blessed now, and will be blessed for eternity, to be able to work with you. We are humbled because of the greatness of your spirits and because of the contributions you will make to God's work now and in the future. 

"Under USA customs, birthdays are a time to gather families together, eat too much food, and play with grandchildren. This year on my birthday, I left Sister Berrett in the mission home, flew to Chennai, and spent several hours studying, pondering, and writing study materials for the trainers of new missionaries. Then I went out for the evening to work with a missionary companionship. I enjoyed riding on a bus, walking, meeting with members, walking some more, riding on a train, walking some more, meeting with investigators, walking some more, and then eating cake with the Chennai Zone and several YSA. I think this may have been the best birthday I have experienced in many years. I loved it."

We are blessed to have this opportunity to serve. We are grateful for the missionaries and members with whom we are privileged to work. We testify that we are in the service of the Lord. 

A Missionary's Memory

Recently, Sister Berrett (that is how we know her here in the mission) asked one of our returned missionaries for a recollection of his service. Here is his response, with only minor editing:

You asked for some memories of my time in India and I will endeavor to share with you my feelings of that wonderful place.

I remember getting to India expecting the worst, and I was so excited about it. I was expecting it to be sweltering hot, that we would be living in stick huts with dirt floors with no plumbing or electricity. I thought that I wouldn't understand a word anyone spoke. I had no idea of whether or not the people would accept the gospel there or not.

As I arrived and made it through the next few months my expectations were all blown out of the water. I was amazed by the people there and the love of the members.

One memory I feel like I should share with you is how I met one good friend named K___. When I was being transferred from Madinaguda to White Field Branch we had to take a bus from Madinaguda to [near the] Ganesh Temple then another bus to the Registration office where I would transfer my registration to Bangalore. The bus ride toward Ganesh Temple was an hour long ride in a bus that was very much crowded. After maybe 15 minutes I was fortunate enough to secure a seat next to a man who was very interested in what was outside his window. I felt prompted to speak to this man but wasn't sure how to go about it.

As I was pondering how to start a conversation, the man turned to me and asked me "Why are you here?"

I replied, "I'm a missionary here. I help families to be strong and learn about Jesus Christ."

This sparked our conversation and we spoke up to the last second that I was on the bus. I learned this man's name was K___, and he worked in medical coding. He said that he was Hindu but he had a strong belief in Jesus Christ. As it turns out he had not always been so keen on Christianity but he suffered a terrible motorcycle accident. As a result of the accident he was in a coma with multiple organ failure. The miracle, as brother K___ put it, was that his Christian friends reached out in their churches to pray and fast for him to recover. Brother K___ came out of his coma and soon made a complete recovery shocking all of doctors. After recovering and learning of what his friends had done for him, he started to attend meetings and read the Bible. He found a young woman that he married. As he and his wife tried to find the right church they were confused and ultimately decided they should not follow any church. They realized the differences in the doctrine and practices.

As Bro. K___ opened up to me and asked me questions, the principles contained in "The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ" flowed naturally out of me as if they weren't even my words. I could see the understanding in the eyes of Bro. K___, I knew he was feeling the spirit, and wanted to know more.

In the last few minutes of the bus ride, I told Bro. K___ about Joseph Smith's first vision and the Book of Mormon. I promised him that the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was once again on this earth. I promised him that if he would pray and ask Heavenly Father, he would know just as I know. I told him that when he knew that this was true, he would desire to follow it. I told him that the way to follow it would be by being baptized by someone holding proper priesthood authority. He accepted! The next minute I was on the sidewalk wondering how all that had happened. I asked my companion if he had overheard the conversation. He said "I think the whole bus heard the lesson."

I have never ever seen Brother K___ again but the rest of the story has been told to me by my companion. The next day, after my encounter with Bro. K___, I flew to Bangalore. After some difficulty with the phone number and appointments to meet Bro. K___, the elders in that area were able to meet him. The elders taught him and his wife the Restoration and at the end asked him if he would be baptized. Brother K___ replied that he would indeed be baptized because he had prayed about the Book of Mormon and knew it to be true. He asked the elders to help his wife to know about the Gospel.
Last time I heard, Bro. K___ had received the Aaronic Priesthood and was preparing for the Melchizedek Priesthood. He was a councilor in the Sunday School Presidency. His wife, who they thought could not bear children, was two months pregnant.

I feel my testimony strengthened for having been a small part of this man's path to Heavenly Father. I know that this is the fullness of the Gospel. I have many many memories like this. It was a privilege to serve in the Greatest Mission in the World. I can't wait to come back to visit the people there. 

 We are grateful to work with missionaries who are having experiences such as this. Heavenly Father's children in India are being gathered. We love it.

Wilpathu National Park - Sri Lanka

Recently we were in Sri Lanka for their District Conference. On the Friday before the conference, we joined the three senior couples who are serving in that wonderful country in making a visit to the Wilpathu National Park. This park is located north of Colombo. It took us about four hours to drive there. Because of our schedule, we were there during the middle of the day, which is not the best time for observing wildlife. Nonetheless, we were able to see a number of animals and birds. We hope you enjoy the pictures almost as much as we enjoyed seeing the creatures in real life:

Home along the road into the Park

The open air vehicles in which we spent about 3.5 hours in the Park

One of the shallow lakes

Water lilies

Can you see the wild deer in the shadows?

What about now?

Monkey enjoying the afternoon shade

Hawk

Wild buffalo

Peacock

Elephant eating lake grass

Wild elephant

Wild elephant

Hindu Wedding

Early (4:00 am) one morning last week, Sister Berrett and I departed from the mission home to travel to Patcher, a village in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. We were off to attend the wedding of the niece of our driver, Sampath. The bride was raised in the home of Sampath and his wife, even though her parents are living, so she is like their daughter. The wedding was to begin at 6:00 am. Most Hindu weddings occur early in the morning. In fact, we recently were told that the historical tradition was that weddings occurred at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. Only within the past 10 or 15 years has the custom shifted to 6:00 am.

When we arrived in Patcher at about 6:15 in the morning, the festivities already were underway. We were greeted by a large banner, identifying the bride and groom and welcoming us to the event.

Welcoming sign announcing the wedding

The wedding hall was filled with people. Later we were advised that almost all of the residents of the native village of the bride and groom were in attendance.

A portion of those attending the wedding

When we arrived, the groom was being "prepared" for the wedding. We did not understand all of the ritual, but noticed that shortly thereafter, the same rituals were repeated for the bride.

After the groom was prepared, he left the hall and the bride entered.

The bride entering the marriage hall

The bride sat on a small stool in the same place where the groom had been seated. Incense was burned. She was encircled in string, with four small water pots forming a square around her. Even though we did not understand what was happening, we sensed that the bride was very comfortable with her preparation and with the wedding.

Prepared to meet the groom

When the bride's preparations were completed, the groom was escorted by his family back to the marriage hall. The procession was accompanied by traditional Hindu music, played fairly loud.

The groom and his family return to greet the bride

Bride and groom then were seated on the dais or stage in front of the guests. Two Hindu priests or holy men officiated in the ceremonies. Words were spoken - which we could not hear and could not have understood even if we could have heard them. The ceremony included the groom placing a traditional marriage necklace on the bride.

Exchanging vows

After the exchange of vow, there is a ritual meal. Here the bride and groom share coconut milk.

"Blessing" of coconut milk

After the bride and groom's meal, the guests were invited to breakfast. Breakfast was "veg" as opposed to "non-veg". Meals were served on long, concrete tables. You can see below that instead of plates, food is served on a banana leaf. All food is consumed with the right hand. Breakfast was two kinds of sweets, a chapati (like a pancake), idly (a patty made from rice flour and other grains), sambar (a spicy lentil based stew served over the idly), one or two kinds of curry, some spicy rice, and a banana.

Some of the wedding guests enjoying breakfast

All of the guests at a table were served at the same time. The caterer crew unrolled the paper table cloth, then in rapid order laid down banana leaves, passed out water so each guest could splash a little water to clean the leaf, and distributed the food by scooping it from large pots onto each banana leaf. Every person at the table was served in about five minutes.

Interestingly, men and women do not sit together for meals. Please notice in the picture below the wonderful colors of the women's saris.

Women and children enjoying breakfast

At the wedding, we made some new friends. This young man shows typical large Indian eyes. We think the children are so beautiful.

Sister Berrett spent some time speaking with this couple, while I was off taking pictures.

We end with a picture of one of the friends or family of the bride. Notice the beautiful sari, and the gold ornaments in her hair. First, see the gold chain from her earrings to her hair, and then notice the gold pieces down her braided hair, ending in the gold ties at the end.

 

I think we were the only non-Indians in attendance. We were warmly welcomed and found the people very friendly. We enjoyed a most interesting morning.