We loved our visit with the Kentucky missionaries and President and Sister Hughes. The Hughes are so warm and welcoming and have traditions unique to their mission. Their conferences open with one of those traditions. President and Sister Hughes form a reception line and greet each missionary as they come to the front of the chapel, row by row. What a great way to connect to every missionary. They invited us to stand in that little line with them. It was so nice to talk to each missionary. We remembered some from our last visit eight months ago. At that time they were new and learning to adjust to missionary life. It was heart-warming to see how they had grown in confidence and were "waxing strong" in the gospel. Many are the leaders now.
Another Kentucky Mission tradition is to recite several scriptures at the beginning of conference. Everyone stands and recites together the missionary purpose, D&C 4, and 3 Nephi 5:13. I wasn't as familiar with 3 Nephi 5:13. Now it's one of my favorite scriptures. It is powerful, especially now since I have been called to be a missionary.
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." (3 Ne 5:13)
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| Zone Conference, Kentucky Mission at Bardstown, KY |
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| Zone Conference, Kentucky Mission at Crestwood, KY 1st Row, Sister & Elder Crowe, ?, ?, Sister & President Hughes, Sister & Elder Merrell |
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| Zone Conference, Kentucky Mission at Evansville, IN 1st Row- Sister Merrell, Sister & President Hughes, Sister and Elder Crowe, and ? |
On the light side, we learned a Viking Happy Birthday chant from Elder Crowe, the senior missionary responsible for cars. He joined the church while serving in the army.
It goes like this: Elder Crowe, "Happy Birthday!"
Everyone grunts, "Ugh"
Elder Crowe, "Happy Birthday!"
Everyone grunts, "Ugh"
Elder Crowe, "May the candles on your cake, burn like the cities in your wake!
Everyone grunts, "Ugh"
Elder Crowe, "Happy Birthday!"
Everyone grunts, "Ugh"
We had a good taste of Kentucky in more ways than one. We were hungry and stopped at a Cracker Barrel to eat. The food was down-home cookin' with collard greens, etc. After a tasty dinner, Rod stood in line to pay our bill as usual. His turn came, and the cashier surprised him with a friendly, thick hill-billy accent. "Step up here brother, and let that money jump out of your wallet into my hand," he said.
When Rod tried to put his credit card into the machine, he said, "Now let me do that for you, while you just stand there and look pretty."
We had to smile!
This week Elder Merrell and I had the sweet opportunity to eat dinner with Marsha and her husband, Guy. The last time I saw Marsha was in Romania when we said goodbye almost 29 years ago. She and Beverly were my roommates and cohorts as we struggled together through the Romanian adoption process.
Marsha is now living in Nashville and just recently found Josh's Romanian family. Josh's birth family welcomed him with open arms, but sadly, his mother had passed away from cancer just two months before they arrived. Josh has served in the military for five years and is now going to school.
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| The Edwards and Elder and Sister Merrell |
I was reminded of the miracle that took place in finding Marsha and Beverly. I remember clipping out an article about Romanian adoptions in the Deseret News. The article told of a woman's adoption experience and listed her name and telephone number. I filed it away. One Sunday afternoon about two months later I had a strong impression to call that number, so I called. The woman wasn't able to help me, but she said that she had just finished a conversation with a Beverly from Mississippi who left her phone number and who might be able to help. Of course, I called Beverly.
Beverly had joined a Canadian organization who helped people adopt in Romania. It was just what I was looking for. Beverly and Marsha were scheduled to go with this group in March, and I was soon scheduled to go in April.
After my first night in Bucharest, I was summoned to our hotel lobby. A tall, nicely-dressed stranger, Razvan, met me and said, "Come with me. Beverly will explain you." Because he used the key word "Beverly" I went with him, and my Romanian adventure began with two wonderful women from Mississippi who were also members of our church. What a blessing they were to me.
While I was in Romania, I asked Beverly how she got that woman's number and why she called her on that Sunday afternoon. She told me that she took the Deseret News and also clipped the article. She wasn't sure why she called, but she just decided she ought to call that day.
I'm grateful Beverly called that woman and left her name and number. It was not a coincidence that I called right after. It was the hand of the Lord. He is in the details of our lives.
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