Thursday , February 20th was a sweet opportunity for our Stake to host a Magna Stake's Women's fireside. All four of the Magna Stakes were invited and we were given the treat to hear from our Area Authority Seventy, Elder Peter F. Evans.
A group of women,Elaine George, Carrie Johnson, Jeanine Brown, Sara Mallett, Kayla Lundberg and I was asked to sing "I Come to Him". We were accompanied by Anita Elliott with a beautiful violin by Amy Winder. Elder Evans asked his wife to bear her testimony and it was a heartfelt and loving testimony. Elder Evans works for the Welfare Department of the Church as the Director of Communications. He is responsible for the Humanitarian videos that are filmed by the Church about the Humanitarian projects done throughout the world. He shared the story of Sierre Leone and the war that had torn this country apart. The church has come in and helped dig wells in the villages and taught them the importance of good clean water. They've also taught neonatal care for the infants that are born and saved many lives through this education.
The Congo story he shared was inspirational. There was water available, but at a long distance and causing their women to be in nightly danger as they went to collect. A truck was provided and every day at least 90 men would load into the truck to dig through and into the jungle. A pipeline was created to bring the water into the city and the rejoicing of the members of the city. This digging and pipeline took 1000 days to finish. The Lord provided a way to help themselves and they are ready to go forth and help others throughout their country. Very inspirational.
He shared two statements that have touched my life and that I have pondered regularly. "Charity Never Faileth is not just a bumper sticker, it is a promise from the Lord."As we practice pure charity, our hearts and lives are changed.
The other statement has changed my outlook a little bit. "When we lift one burden of another person, we lift one burden from our Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane. I had always looked to the Garden of Gethsemane as the burdens, sorrows and sins, He lifted from me. Yes, he took ALL of OUR burdens, sorrows, and sins and it makes sense that when lift one we lift it from him. I am brought to tears as I realize just how many burdens and sorrows have been lifted from me throughout my life and especially the last few months.
At the conclusion of the fireside, Elder Evans approached Kelly and asked if he and his wife could come visit us on Monday evening following Family Home Evening. Sister Evans told him that she would make the arrangements with me. Elder Evans, in fact called me and said that they had just had their family over to open the sons mission call. The family was leaving and they would like to come by in an hour. Wow. Here are two very busy Servants of the Master who took time out of their busy schedule to come and minister one on one to two people just trying to get through a difficult time in their life. We mostly talked out our families and some of our life experiences. Elder Evans commended us for our faithful service. It was a very tender sweet visit where the spirit and love of the Lord was shared in a very simple way.
Lessons were taught and learned from this humble couple. We feel very humbled and blessed by their visit.
