My sons would be so embarrased to know that I was blogging about them - but I had to share this with you. My twin sons are serving missions for our church in the Dominican Republic. It has been hard work and besides learning a new language they have had to adapt to new culture, and live with conditions they are not used to - like taking bucket showers and using bleach to wash dishes.... and they are loving it!! They are my new superheroes and their super powers are the fact that they are able to turn this old, crabby mother of theirs into a bumbling mess of tears with just a sentence or two, a hand written letter and those most beautiful photos I get nearly every week.... And on top of that - they have teaching me things that I will work on always! What d'ya think about those powers??
Here is what they are teaching me:
To be grateful
"when you lose everything you have and realise you can live like this or that people do live like this -there’s no other life. Last night we taught a lesson at 8pm with no lights. It was so so dark! We still taught and still felt the spirit. That’s what it’s about!"" What an inspiration you are to me my son - be grateful for whatever I have, even if it is nothing - be grateful!
Perseverence
"The missionaries found Sister #### in 2011 and she continued coming to church every Sunday and hasn’t missed a day
since. She has never partaken of the sacrament but always sits there
reverently, anyway me and my companion found her in our area booklet and
decided to drop by. She explained that she [was ready and wanted] to be baptized so me and my companion re-taught everything which
she knew and then got permisson.... So after 3 years of perseverance she finally got
what she has been waiting forever for. She participated of the sacrament
yesterday for the first time. What an experience that was." I always need to be more persevere more!!
Time for Work and a Time for Play
I have learnt from my baby boys that they are working hard and not to worry that they are idling away their time :-) It's good for me to remember this always.... Seeing their busy desks makes me happy to see first they have a lot of the things they were sent with ;-) and also they know how to organise themselves ;-)
Prioritising
After skyping with happy to see first sons (first time we have seen each other in four months - one of two calls a year), and showing us his split sole at the bottom of his shoe - he sends this email "I
miss you both a lot even though it’s only been 10mins but I love you both heaps
and heaps was nice talking to you both too. Miss home a lot but yeah remember
my shoes please haha but yeah. " He knew what was important - but he knew his shoes were a priority! Happiness
One thing I have learnt from mymissionaries, something I always knew but has been rewarding to re-know it - is what happiness is as a parent. True happiness for me, as a missionary mama is to see my sons happy - like joyful happy, regardless of their surroundings, environment, new language, different culture and practices - they are happy - and because of that - because I can see the light in their eyes - my life is happy!I hope you are learning from those around you because lessons can be found anywhere!
Yours in friendship
Mxo
