Christmas. So far removed from all that is Familiar. Traditional. Loved. and yet, Oh, how much I have learned, about others...and myself. I realize that One may have "seen the world" and Never really seen the world at all! It makes me think of the gentleman that I met in the MTC. He exclaimed: "Oh, I have seen Borneo!" I found out that he had "seen Borneo" from the deck of a cruise ship!
Vanessa: lives on a construction sight where her father works. She has psoriasis, which disables her at times to having to be carried everywhere because her skin is so painful.
Vanessa's feet. This is the best they have been!
I had thought that having been here nine plus months, I would no longer be "shocked" at anything. Then we went caroling with the Youth. They were dressed in their "Sunday Best" boys in white shirts and ties, leaders too.
It was dark, very dark, as we made our way into the kampong. We stopped at a members' house, asked which carol they would like us to sing; sang it , had prayer with them, then Left singing, "We wish you a Merry Christmas"
From House to house, we made our way deeper into the jungle...over rickety boardwalks and makeshift bridges, which were an attempt to keep us out of the mud and putrid water. On we went, through debris, refuse, junk, moldering buildings and the smell of stagnant, dirty water. I was straining to see every footstep ahead so as not to fall through the boards or slip off the path. When we left the boards; we continued on paths covered with shattered glass.
Stopping at the homes of people that I knew at Church; My mind would rebel. No! George could not live here. I can't believe it. Brian? Not Brian, Brian,that I see each Sunday...He helped lead Youth conference...Brian, here? Defeni: No! darling Defeni that I teach piano to? and the loveable Ayah and Ibu the sisters adore? The "disconnect" of person and place was too great!
(I have tried to think how I could help you "see" the setting. Perhaps, a dark, dank, scene from a frightening Halloween movie... in which you thread your way into the black unknown...although, I don't think even Steven Spielberg could create this!) The sounds, the smells, the wet dampness, the uncertainty of the path, the heaps of garbage...
Later as Dad and I pondered what we had seen and I tried to talk through my disturbing shock, We decided that this life is so very very very much shorter in the space of eternity than we can realize. That these people are NOT meant to live this way, in such difficult circumstances, And they won't. Always...
Giraud: Father of Vanessa. An exceptionally strong member. His eyes are in terrible pain because of his work in the intense sun and heat on a construction sight.
Because of their poverty; they are also greatly blessed for they are humble and teachable, and recognize the truth of the Gospel.
Through baptism, they are called the Children of Christ.
"And now because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons and his daughters; for behold this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
(Mos. 5: 7; Mos. 27:25; Alma 38:6 Alma 22:15, Alma 19:33)
They shall inherit ALL that he has. They shall at length live in a Celestial home befitting their spirit
They have reason to be happy as they sing: "We Wish you a Merry CHRISTmas." Their joy that rises above their circumstances is ALL about Christ.
This is the miracle of how they emerge from their most impoverished and difficult home settings with dignity. And they DO have DIGNITY. It is remarkable.
Yes, I have much to learn. There are many peoples in the world to learn from. I am certain that this is education that I needed. I have seen much of the world; but how little I know.
Merry Christmas! and next year: Jerusalem.
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