Yes that is right Elder Packer came to TAIWAN!!! but.. it was Alan Packer and not Boyd K Packer but I personally think that it is almost just as cool to have the son of an apostle here and shaking my hand!!! He taught all of us missionaries about family History and how important it is. He then extended an invitation to us all so I am now following through.
I would like to share a precious family memory I have. This memory takes place in my Grandmother Thornley's house. My sister Alicia and I would often run over next door to avoid any boring house choirs our mom would inevitably assign to us if we were in sight so we would run for safety to play at our Grandmothers house. We would run up into her upstairs and dress ourselves in the fancy old hats, gloves, pins, clip on earings, rings and any other goodies we could find. Then walk back downstairs and sit in front of our grandmother as we would pretend to be her visiting teachers there to share a message. I remember she would instruct her granddaughters to always remember we are beautiful and Beauty is as Beauty does. Her counsel and love for me to always act as I would have others see me has become significant counsel in my life. What a perfect example she was of this saying. I saw her faithfully attend church every week until her body was no longer able to do so. I am grateful for the touching experience it was to live with her the last year of her life and see her beautiful spirit each day as she would so lovingly counsel me her grandaughter as I would leave or come home from the day to day life. I know that God has given us family to help us, to love us,. and to teach us of the relationship we have with him. We are not just creations. We are his Children. He loves us he wants to counsel and to guide us just as our parents and grandparents here do. Look around and reflect upon the precious moments you have had with your family. And know that they are a gift from Heavenly Father to help us learn of what it was like for us before we came to this earth. I testify it was not much different.
This week was a great learning experience for me to conform my will with the Fathers. There were many hours where we worked and thrusted with seemingly no benifits or profits. But as I read in my studies this morning the field is white already to harvest. I know that this work is no longer a time of planting. The planting has been done and the members of the church are now called to the labor of harvesting! Each effort is not wasted! Its all a part of harvesting.
And for the funny moment of the week from Taiwan this week as my companion were preparing for our english class we were deciding to share the story of Jonah and the whale. And conforming our will to the Lords. Then for some reason I said something along the lines of- yeah or else we get swallowed and then spit out later to go do it anyways! To which Sister Gruwell responded- "Wait what! Jonah was not spit out! He came out of the spout!!!"" Haha now I extend one last invitation to you all. Go and ponder for a moment at what that would look like for a grown man to pop out of the spout of a whale... :) I love you all have a great week!!
-Sister Thornley
Oh also the other part of Elder Packers invite was for me to ask you all to share a family memory that you all have :)
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