Gut Punch

We had a fairly busy week. Monday was a little out of the ordinary because one of the tires was leaking air and the SUV was due for an oil change, so we left it at the auto shop and walked to our nearby destinations in different directions -- Sis. Mundell went to the Windward Health Center to finish a 3-week project we've been doing with the patients there, making pinatas from balloons that were covered over with several layers of paper and paste, then after they dried we filled them with candy and a put on a final coat of paint. We plan to give the finished pinatas to Auntie Blanche's homeless family shelter in Waimanalo for the children to enjoy. Elder Mundell went by himself to district council with the young missionaries in our stake / zone. We go to a youth correctional facility in the afternoon, but the car wasn't done in time so we had to disappoint them this week. 

Sister Mundell also helped host a baby shower for two sisters in the Olomana ward who'd recently had girls on Saturday. It was the first time she'd attempted to have two showers at the same time, double the pleasure, double the fun! She put a lot of effort into publicizing it and making it fun so more people would want to attend. They planned on around 15 ladies showing up, maybe 20, but to their surprise there were a total of 32 in attendance! Everyone had a great time, Cathy has a special talent for things like this that comes in handy on our mission.

Last Sunday we were surprised after church when our mission leader Sister Andersen came up and said hello to us. President Andersen was also there, but while he was pleased to see us, we could tell from his expression that he was weighed down with unpleasant business on his mind that morning. We learned that he was there to inform the two elders serving with us in Waimanalo and Olomana they were both being sent home early from their mission for not following the missionary standards expected of disciples of Jesus Christ. This terrible news literally was like a punch in the stomach. We felt like we had failed these young elders and their families by not being more aware of the telltale warning signs we saw in their recent behavior and attitudes. We'd told them they were expected to attend all four hours of church each Sunday and not go back to their apartment. It was particularly heartbreaking for us to say goodbye to one of the elders who'd served the first four months of his mission alongside us, and had been doing great things with his previous trainer companion. 

Without going into details, we later learned that six missionaries, all from our district -- that we'd worked with and grew to love -- were being sent home. What made this especially gut-wrenching for Sister Mundell was her empathy for what their parents were going through, because she knew about the unique challenges and difficulties these former missionaries would experience because of the stigma associated with returning home early. So she called these elders and warned them about the dangers they would face in the weeks and months ahead, and advised them as a friend and counselor to stay strong and firm in their testimony in spite of seemingly impossible odds to withstand the forces that will be working against them. We love and appreciate all these young elders and sisters we serve with. They are barely out of high school, trying to find their way in life, and can make mistakes. We all make mistakes. But no matter what we've done, the Atonement of Jesus Christ will save us through faith in Christ and sincere repentance. We know that's true.

The challenges we face in life can help us steer a course back to God if we have faith in Him.