Hi beloved family and special friends: ELder Mac and I spoke in two wards today and the
members were exceptionally kind with their hugs and gracious things they said. We continue
to know that life is indeed bittersweet. I missed our family and friends for longer than I expected
to, when we were in the beginning months of our mission/ service. Now I find it is harder again to
leave these extremely loving and kind people who really know how to party in church activities.
I second guessed each time how bitter it was to leave behind our family (okay, grandchildren
for sure). Now I know how bitter it is to leave so many of these warm Aussies--pure and simple,
because when we left our family & friends behind, we knew we would come back to them/ you.
There are some of the young Aussies, that we feel will look us up in their many travels. If you ask
an Aussie if they have been to the states, the will many times say yes-- several times and more.
Even though our service was mostly with the seminary and YSA's, the longer we were here
the more we got closer to many of the older members. We will have so many sweet memories of
the members here.
When we were baptized into the church 45+ years ago, it was in a Milwaukee ward. I cried when
we moved away, after having our 2nd and 3rd babies there. I remember thinking, I will never
meet people as special as the saints were in Milwaukee. By time we left Madison where Doug
finished his master's degree--it wasn't as difficult as I KNEW we would be meeting wonderful
people as we had known in Milwaukee and then Madison.
Well, the church is the same, I believe wherever we go in the world. Wonderful members who
are so loving, kind and such kindred spirits, who are the next best to family. I am so grateful
for the gospel in our lives; as the gospel totally connects us as brothers and sisters of our
Loving Heavenly Father. One of the sister's here who happens to YW President in the first
ward we spoke at, came up to me when I was at the back of the church. She is blessed
with 4 young children under the age of 8( this sounds like Mariah's life, right?) Anyway sometime
in September she asked how soon before we were going home and it took me off guard and
I remember thinking, the members have had enough of us. Of course, all the young missionaries
are only here for short times and frankly up to 6 months is a long time. Also the young missionaries,
even if they stay, may have new companions. Anyway, they've had us in their midst for the whole
time, NO TRANSFERS AND NO COMPANION CHANGES! But getting back to this YM president, she is
really tall, incredibly slim and actually very beautiful. As she hugged me, she said I always made
her feel good or better about herself. She's such a beauty and with a lovely family and then
she has an incredible singing voice, I was surprised how I could make her feel any better about her
self. But I knew she was being very sincere and it dawned on me, we all deal with certain flaws
and shortcomings and need to encourage one another. Even when we think others have it all
together, they may not as much as we perceive. Her hug and loving comments sure gave me a boost.
Years ago, I came to the conclusion-- really only 3 things really matter in our lives: our relationship
with our Heavenly Father and His Son, our beautiful families and great friends.
I'm not going to pretend it has been like a bowl of cherries over here all the time, because there
were a few difficult times here and there; but just as life is mostly good, so has our mission been.
I do KNOW it has been a privilege to serve and it has been the least we can do. Contrast the
Savior's mission which was a mission where He did the most he could do perfectly. We have
worked diligently and hard, but the blessings have truly been out of this world.
Remember the neat saying I believe, by Erma Bombeck, which was; if life is such a bowl of cherries,
how come I feel like it's the pitts every so often?
At this most special time of the year when we commemorate the birth of the Savior in such
humble circumstances, I KNOW that our Loving Heavenly Father sent His beloved Son here and that
they each love us more than we can comprehend.
May you all have a blessed Christmas and enjoy being with your family's & friends.
Love and miss you all,
Mom/ grandma mac aka sis mac
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