Elders In My Home

We finally got Elder U. to use the piano this week.  He is practicing so that he can help the elders in the mission choir learn their part for a musical number they are doing.  They are singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  I asked what I had to do to get invited to hear this performance, but got nowhere with that request.  I did find out that it is for the mission conference this week. 

We didn't leave Elder B2 out of the musical stuff.  This past p-day he went up and borrowed a guitar from my nephew just for fun.  (I was begining to wonder if these elders know how to have fun, it's all work for them).  I wasn't home for the piano or guitar playing, so I feel really left out, but that's okay, these elders are finally starting to open up just a little. 

I don't normally go down to "inspect" the apartment, so when Elder U told me about a leaky faucet in the kitchen in their apartment, I went down to look at it.  We tightened up a fitting and that fixed the leak, but it must have been leaking for a little time because it looked like there was some deterioration of the caulking around the sink.  So on my next day available I went down and recaulked their sink.  We planned it so that they wouldn't be home when I worked on their sink so that I wouldn't get in their way.  Anyway when I got down there the sink was full of dirty dishes.  (When you recaulk a sink you are supposed to keep it dry for 24 hours).  Well I couldn't just leave them with dirty dishes that they couldn't wash, so I washed their dishes.  When they got home and discovered the washed dishes of course they thanked me and asked if there wasn't something they could do to get back at me for doing their dishes.  Of course I refused anything, (What I would really like is what I posted on an earlier blog and that is to spend time with them either in companion study or go on splits with them to hear their testimony and hear them teach.  That would be pay above an beyond anything I could provide for them.)

It seems like these Elder U. and Elder B2 are being challenged more than most.  They appear to be working very hard, at least that's what I see, but they aren't having much success finding people to teach.  I don't know how all this stuff works, so I am trying to be patient but sometimes you wonder why the blessings don't come.  I have been reading the mission president's blog and he keeps promising blessings.  This weekend the mission president has called for a mission wide fast and I love the way he words his request, he said: 

I am calling upon all missionaries to join this Sunday in a special fast to call down the blessings of heaven.  Pray for the Lord to forgive us of our short comings and to purify us. 
     Pray to help us rededicate our lives to the work we have covenanted to do.  Pray that He will then pour down His blessings so we can enjoy the success that we yearn for.

Some may think that the president is calling his missionaries to repentance, but I don't think so.  To me it seems that he is asking the missionaries to pray for and then receive a miracle from Heaven.  I hope you can all join with me in echoing those prayers of our missionaries.  May the Lord open the Heavens and pour down blessings on our missionaries.

Always remember:  The Lord loves missionaries and missionaries love referrals.  Share the love.