Listening, Fried Chicken, and Ice Cream

 Bonjour, c'est bien de vous voir encore,  (Hello, it's good to see you again)

Ahhhh, it is that time again; a cherished moment to spend with family and friends back home.  The snow is melting in Utah; everyones eyes are drooping because daylight savings time is upon them once more; the daffodils are popping their heads up (if you are compulsive enough to have shoveled the snow away); the long-awaited moment has come when you "really feel" that spring is on its way.  Here, we are moving toward fall:  winds are picking up,  humidity is dropping, days are shortening, and flowering bushes are coming to life again because, here, the flowers are more plentiful in the winter.  There are beautiful "summer" flowers, but the bushes don't bloom in the summer.  In the winter, there are mounds of pinks, purples, reds, oranges, yellows, and whites covering the roadsides, dotting the hills, and cascading over the walls.  It was a most breathtaking and memorable sight when we arrived last July.

We have two missionaries leaving next week, and elder and a sister.  The sister missionary has lived one floor above us the whole time we have been here.  I remember pulling into the apartment parking lot and getting out of the car to hear cheerful "Hello's" from out of the sky.  I looked up, and there they were, four sister missionaries - it was their Pday - hanging over their fourth floor balcony, waving and welcoming us to the island.  Two of the four have gone home, but two have stayed (one was just barely transferred) and we have seen them nearly everyday for eight months.  We have laughed, cried, and worked together; shared treats, laundry soap, and rolled-eyes; talked pre mission, mission, and post mission.  Next week we will send one of them to the waiting arms of her family in the states, and, a month from now, the other one will board the big jumbo jet...it will be the end of something very special for me and the beginning of a new time of being the one doing the welcoming.  The day our first sister leaves, we will have a sister arriving from the Lone Star State and, a month later, when our next sister leaves,  we will welcome one from France and one from Tahiti, with elders coming from the US and Korea (which should be interesting because we don't know if he speaks French or just Korean at this point).  Exciting times on La Reunion.

Next, I would like to share an experience we had this week.  Brent wanted to visit a family in one of the branches, so we made a call and set up an appointment, arrived in the morning, spent about an hour in pleasant conversation with them talking about the branch, how we could assist with the missionary work there, some of the problems they could see...a good visit.  We thought we were getting ready to leave when a thought came, a question was asked, a big, long pause, tears welling up and, all of sudden, we knew why we had come.  Not to talk about missionary work, but to comfort a heart, help solve a problem, give a little direction in a situation that had been badly handled.  The ride home was a humble one, realizing how close our Heavenly Father is in His children's lives and, again, how important it is to follow promptings to do something.  Numerous have been the times that the thought comes:  call so-and-so,  drop by and say "Hello" to....., don't try to respond, just listen and be quiet even though it may seem awkward, print off this talk and give a copy to all of the missionaries at district meeting, ask Elder or Sister..... if they would like to have the keyboard for a while, how they are doing?...really, or would they like to go for ice cream.  It is not unique to the mission field, we know; it is a blessing of guidance and awareness for others that can only come from the Spirit.  That is exactly the point, it DOES come, here, there, everywhere, and we are all blessed to play a small part in the turning of important pages in the lives of others when we listen.  Thanks to all of you at home who have blessed our lives because you listened.

Highlight of the week:  After Zone Meeting this week, one of the companionships told us all about a real "American" fried chicken eatery, with red-white-blue decor and french fries yet!!!!!!!  No one could believe it, so we got in our cars, followed them through a series of winding streets, and enjoyed, what else? fried chicken together.  It was a moment supreme.

The menu...unbelievable...real fried chicken, fries and a Coke.

You can see the hunger and the anticipation on their faces; they were READY TO EAT, and it didn't disappoint.


Lowlight of the week:  After the  delicious chicken meal, it only seemed right to celebrate some more with, what else?  a REAL milkshake.  Brent and I had visited a little ice cream shop before where they made real American milk shakes and Brent offered to treat everyone.  It wasn't far so we all decided to walk.  It is VERY hot and humid in Le Port where the meeting was held, but we all walked the several blocks eagerly anticipating a worthy reward.  But guess what?  When we rounded the corner, the metal guards were down...they were closed for lunch!  Why would they close at that time of day?  It  is a mystery.  Some of the elders knocked on the window, asking please would they open for us; the reply was, " We will open in 30 minutes."  We were crestfallen, but no one wanted to loose that opportunity of enjoying a milkshake...WE WAITED!

Oh no, we CAN'T have a milkshake?

Can't resist the temptation to try YOURS!

The happy group outside the ice cream shop before leaving for their areas.  There is just something about ice cream!

At Zone Meeting we began assembling our 72 Hour Emergency kits.

Just a reminder for me that in flowers, as in life, along with the beauty, there will be a few thorns.

Something you don't see in North Ogden too often.

We aren't sure if this experience is keeping us young or wearing us out, but we are enjoying our days here and the new insights they bring.   For example, if you can't find a parking space, don't worry about it.  Just stop in the lane of traffic, turn your hazard lights on, get out of your car, and run into the bakery for whatever you need.  Really, drivers do that here all the time and everyone just drives around the empty car...not to worry.   Another option?  Park on the sidewalk!

We will close with a quote from Longfellow that we shared at the Zone Meeting:
Do your duty
That is best.
Leave unto the Lord
The Rest.
We have learned the importance of that simple truth as we serve here.

Love,  The Castaways