Getting Together

It's not easy being a full-time missionary, even for retired senior couples. We're away from our family and friends, we miss our homes and familiar surroundings, and adjusting to a new routine can be stressful, especially if we start having health issues. But the greatest blessings in life come to us by doing things that we may find difficult or unpleasant, and it's the growing and stretching required to accomplish our mission that molds us into the kind of disciple of Christ our Savior wants us to be. This week we had the difficult task of helping a sister in our ward with the funeral for her husband, who passed away at the early age of 47, leaving her with three young children and one on the way. Funerals are never fun, you feel awkward and don't know what to say to comfort those left behind. This particular funeral was especially hard for us because we had met the deceased only briefly one day, and we weren't close friends with his widowed wife. But we persevered and did the best we could. After the service was over, we reflected on the experience and wondered what our own funerals would be like when the time comes for us to pass beyond the veil and take the next part of our journey into the spirit world. Funerals are supposed to comfort and strengthen the loved ones left behind, and we hope that everything we do from now until the day we die will provide the assurance our family and friends need to carry on without us. We want them to know that we laid it all on the altar, submitted our own will to the will of God, and held nothing back by enduring in faith until the end.

One thing that we felt the senior couples serving with us on Oahu needed was an opportunity to socialize together more often. After nearly nine months, the only social activities we've had is sharing some desserts at an apartment building near the mission office and the senior conference / FHE in December. It's surprising that we serve closely in the same mission and yet rarely do much together socially. So Elder Mundell asked all the MLS missionaries on Oahu if they'd like to have a potluck luncheon, and offered to host the event. Nearly all of the senior couples came, we had a good time, and we really got to know each other much better. Sister Mundell applied her party hosting skills by giving each person a thought-provoking question about their mission to answer, which helped break the ice and open it up for some heartfelt discussion by sharing our own unique experiences. Having a potluck at the pavilion where we live allowed everyone a better opportunity to talk and socialize than going to a restaurant ever would. Our group of senior missionaries want to do this again on a regular basis, and invite all of the other couples next time, not just the MLS missionaries. We failed to take a group picture before everyone left, so instead just imagine a group of 16 retired folks on a mission having a potluck inside this building. 

A few weeks ago Elder Mundell mentioned someone he admired in the wards we serve in. Now it's Sister Mundell's turn. She admires the faith and testimony one of the sisters in Waimanalo ward has to do missionary work, tirelessly and lovingly, often  in spite of serious health issues for her family. She is the one person we can always turn to and count on when we need help teaching the gospel. Her goal in life is to do everything possible in accordance with the spirit of the Lord. She demonstrates this in her thoughts and actions, and we feel she is a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Cathy looks up to her, and is learning to be a good missionary by following her lead.