Mission Talk   January 2019

Shukran (shook-run) Arabic for thank you. Thank you for coming today.

Our mission call is to the Middle East Africa North Mission. It is from Morocco, Africa over to Cairo, Egypt. All of Israel, Jordan and Kurdistan.

I would like to share some random information:

Two months ago Elder Perkins and Sharon Eubank visited the Middle East to have a conference with the senior missionaries. He said the main reason the DC Temple is being renovated to allow one million people to be able to walk through it for the Open House. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints needs more money for temples, not church buildings. The church is growing so fast in countries that don’t have buildings to hold church that the buildings cannot be sustained. I wonder if that is one of the reasons we are learning to teach more Sunday lessons in our homes? Elder Bednar said several months ago in a meeting Ken attended, “The church is growing faster in Africa than any other part of the world. all you need to have church is people, the priesthood, scriptures and a tree.” (for people to sit under in the hot sun)

The church is also growing fast in China, India, South America, AND in Kurdistan—many areas where there are not church buildings. (we will be having church in our apartment for the branch members in Erbil, Kurdistan)

Elder Perkins said that 97% of the Middle East are Muslin, 3% are Christian. That 3 % represents 16 million people. Joining the church in Egypt can mean death, Indonesia means a fine, Pakistan means prison, and in Kurdistan it is allowed. There are 3 branches there. We get the assignment to organize a temple trip, for those able, to go to the Johannasburgh, South Africa Temple.

In Kurdistan there are many refugee camps. These people are displaced by Isis. One camp, for example, has 6500 people in 2400 tents. There are 800 widows, many orphans, 700 single parents families. The day Elder Perkins was there for the conference a flash occurred in a camp. The meeting was stopped and all rushed to help. 70 people were missing. Some were killed. Many tents were washed away.

People have said to us---What can we do to help? We will gather up clothing, etc. and send them over to you. The truth is that the church spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on Humanitarian efforts all over the world (by the way, we are only asked to minister to our families and ward members) Our leaders have a greater vision. The best way to help is to contribute to the Humanitarian found on our donation slips. The church studies very carefully the needs all over the world. For example, one stake gathered all the used shoes they could find and sent them to another country---the result---it put the local cobbler out of business. We need to be careful. The millions of dollars come mostly from donations of $15 or less, per family throughout the church. Think of the song, “Because I Have Been Given Much”.

We will be teaching English in the refugee camps, working with other charities, the local government, checking for worn out tents and finding ways to teach the people how to help themselves. Helping them to want to be self-sufficient and rise about camp/refugee living. LDSCharities supplies all the tents and a lot of medical supplies. The Kurdistan government supplies their food, which is one drop-off a month of tomato paste, rice and flour. We will be working with the members there and helping support them. Most importantly, we will try to bring the light of the Savior into their lives.

Liza is a young adult recent convert in Kurdistan. She was volunteering at a Red Cross center several months ago and an older woman came up to her and said, “God bless you.” That is not said there! Later Liza went to the woman and said, “How did you know I was Christian?”  The old woman said, “I could smell it on you.” 

How does one smell like a Christian? I have thought about it over and over. Will I smell like a Christian? Have I received His image in my countenance? Doe we let the light of Christ shine in OUR eyes?

I don’t feel like I’ve ever been asked to sacrifice—to me the meaning of sacrifice is giving of oneself to the point of painful. I have a feeling I will be able to say I’ve sacrificed after living for 18 months with Arabic language all around me, no family near, no family events, missing sealings of grandchildren while we’re gone, not living in our own home, not being in the United States, etc. but I have a desire to leave this earth knowing that I, at least once, really sacrificed for the building of the Kingdom of God on this earth.

I love my Father in Heaven. I saw His love for me as I witnessed my parent’s love for me. I love my Savior. I am thankful for His ultimate sacrifice for me---for you. I know He loves me---I know He loves you---I know He loves the people in Kurdistan. He wants them to have their eyes opened more fully to Him, His life, His mission on earth. It is my prayer that we can help with that cause. That we will SMELL like Christians. That we will stand out. That we will teach, preach, prophesy and write of Him so that our children and grandchildren, and the people of Kurdistan may know of whom to look for remission of their sins.