THANKS GIVEN BY MISSIONARIES

At a time when I felt very discouraged about some things I received three letters on the same day. I believe Heavenly Father wanted to let me know that perhaps I have done some good. I have listed these letters below.

Sr Healy,

I know you are not going home for a few months, but time gets away so while I am thinking about it I wanted to send you a note of appreciation.  

Thank you for coming to train us, thank you for the ordinary wisdom about life abroad and the confidence you helped us establish.  Some of your very random comments have really stuck with us, and guided us.  I remember your comment about your mission to Indonesia being hard.   You had had a friend also on a mission somewhere who was eating pastries in a more comfortable life.  The disparity was frustrating.  Thank you for sharing that.  My take away was that I need to find the place where I can have a positive attitude, whatever it looks like, whatever my reality is.  It's not about anything except me deciding that I am here to serve the Lord, pastries or not.  :). We have found some pastries though..... :)

I read your blog occasionally and hope this mission has been of maximum benefit to your beautiful family.  I feel like, when we all arrive at the pearly gates, it will be a family like yours--with strength from diversity--that shines the brightest.  We certainly feel inspiration from you. 

Warmest regards

Sister Johelen Biven

MIssion Nurse Specialist, Cape Verde Praia Mission

Phone:    (238) 983-7049

Email:      Johelen.Biven@gmail.com

Eileen,

Thank you for going the extra extra miles for us...( Skype, inside stories, newsletters, luggage runs, gym passes, on and on..) When do you go home?
This will be a loss to us...you have been a friend even before we arrive!

I love you already!

Thank you for these..I felt the spirit so strongly this time and wept openly, tears flowing , and a swelling of testimony of the Masters hand and work through his servants , these wonderful couples. Humbling to think we will rub shoulders with them..I know I will be a better person for it.  I need to be.

Anita Canfield

Dear Sister Healy,

Thank YOU for all you do for us.  I was amazed to see those projects close so fast.  You are on the ball!  I am still working on two more  projects, but the finances were just submitted so won't come through until later.  We leave today but will be back on the 20th. This is our 50th wedding anniversary extravaganza.  Yes, there are many positive memories. Mainly, though, we are grateful that Steve has had energy and no pain with his cancer. Although Macedonia doesn't have the meds he needs, our landlord is a hemotologist and his wife, the head of pharmacology at the Univ. They have kept us in stock, ordering from Serbia, Israel and Switzerland and provided blood tests. We never dreamed it would be this easy.  I think God wanted us to finish out this mission.   It has been the best thing to keep us busy and engaged in a good cause.

Thanks again to you and Elder Healy.  We wouldn't want your job for all the rice in China!

Sister Pulley

And another letter sent to me earlier:

May 8th, 2017

Dear Eileen,

I just spent the last hour reading your blog all the way back to the Madrid conference. I think I’ve avoided it a little bit, I’m sorry to say.  I’ve just been struggling so much with all the confusion about our “early return”.  I know Elder Burt and the Area Mental Health advisor (what is his name? he was so kind) both felt strongly we should go home and I felt they were right at the time.  But I cried throughout our final interview with President Heder and have just struggled with feelings of loss and “failure” off and on since.  And I honestly miss the people…missionaries, leaders, members, NGO partners…SO many good people….

Your blog, however, is so inspiring!  You two are amazing in your stamina and devotion.  And your ability to appreciate so many places and see the good in all of them.  And even though I’m a bit tempted to compare your ability to handle huge challenges against ours, I was actually able to look at the pictures of the Willmotts in our old apartment and us in front of the Madrid temple and my name tag with the others without crying, which is saying something.  That conference really was a highlight for everyone we talked to, and for us.  What a great achievement, that you pulled it off.  And, of course, we appreciated the private consultations and ministrations as well…..

Oh brother, enough about us.  One of my favorite pictures on your blog is the computer with the Skype picture of the projection of the recording of you at your granddaughter’s baptism.  Holy Layers of Technology, Batman!  Seriously, such a blessing to be able to connect to your family through the wonders of modern communication.

How are things in Frankfurt?  We got a nice email from Gilles a while ago. I was very interested to read the story of your “replacements”.  That was very cool and inspired!  Will they overlap with you so you can train them?  If you think of it next time you talk to Elder Sabin (his conference talk was so good!) or Elder Kearon, please let them know how much their time, attention and counsel meant to us.  The fact of our leaving had nothing to do with not being adequately supported by ALL of our leaders.  I would write to them myself, but feel a little sheepish in calling any more attention to our particular situation.

I think of you so often and have intended to write this email for a while.  I just didn’t want it to sound too pathetic, which it still might.  I do have other positives in my life.  Red Cross has recruited me right back to work, I was called to teach Institute less than a month after we arrived home and a couple of weeks after that we were both called to be ward community service leaders.  Just today we attended a meeting in Napa of the Santa Rosa Coordinating Council to see a presentation on refugee relief/resettlement efforts by the Church in Northern California.  There are definitely plenty of opportunities to serve… I know that.  I just need to accept that the mission did not go as expected and that a period of grief and sadness is probably only natural when that happens.

I love and admire you, my friend.  I will move heaven and earth to come visit you when you return.  You are an important part of my life.

Susan


Another letter:

Dear Sister Healy,

Thinking of you today as you wind down and begin packing up.

I'm so grateful that our paths crossed in such a meaningful way, in such unique circumstances.  Thank you for your kindness and compassion. I'm still so appreciative of the talks we had while you were training us here at our apartment. Thanks for being so genuine and open;it made me feel a whole lot better about our mission in Ghana.

Sending love and best wishes for a safe journey home and a wonderful reunion with family!

Thank you for all your service and sacrifice!

Much love, Sister Scoville