January 24, 2010
Dear Ones,
This has been a momentous week because we have been so busy and have done a lot.
1. We went to two wedding parties!
2. We gave our final test to our English students this session. Testing has been a joke here - so with his teacher’s mentality, Elder Riser came up with an improved way to foil the “cheating.” We’ve decided it is cheating, but it’s also a cultural-political acceptance of the all for one and one for all mentality. It’s unacceptable to let anyone fail, so in their minds, they’re not really “cheating,” they’re “helping” everyone pass. Elder Riser created three tests - variations of the same test as far as material covered, but in different order and different questions. The tests were given to students so that those sitting close to one another had different tests. It didn’t solve the problem completely, but it definitely was a frustrating turn of events to many of them. We felt we had taught the material well, reviewed and motivated…and still, the results were astoundingly bad. The important thing is we made a lot of friends who enjoyed coming to class and who know some something about the Church now…even if they think it’s the Church of the DIC.
Here’s my observation and analogy of a final exam in Lao (WARNING ! Parallel-itis!): It seems we’re all on earth to learn lessons. In the process of life we all want to help and serve one another…we want every person to “pass” or succeed. BUT…in the end there will be a final examination (or judgment). It will be individual. Some of our students came to be tested without attending too many classes. They expected to cheat their way through. Others came with huge bravado - they are charismatic and expected to bluff their way through. Others came with the kind of quiet confidence obtained only through attending classes regularly and consistently mastering the material. They are they who passed with A’s. The truth is, according to the system in these particular classes, all students will pass with a C or above, just as we will all be resurrected. Those who were prepared received A’s; those of Heavenly Father’s children who are prepared will be exalted. Their reward will glorious - in fact, it will be all that He has. Of course in the life analogy, we can all be grateful we can factor in repentance and the Atonement so we can get an A after all we can do.
3. We went to Thailand to pick up 8,000 plastic bags!! We ordered plastic bags with the DIC logo on them (and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) to put school kits and hygiene kits in - and anything else we think of. We bought materials and put together 50 hygiene kits just to see how the bags worked. Excellent! Now we’ll do a large scale service project with the branch to put together many, many more.
4. WE GOT OUR VISAS! On Tuesday, when we went to pick them up (we started the application process at least 6 weeks ago), we were told our paperwork was lost. So we started again, and with the superb efficiency and cooperation of a woman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ours was COMPLETE on Thursday. Unbelievable! This is the last time you’ll hear the tale of the visas on this mission, unless Elder Riser decides to take up permanent residency.
5. Brother Tod Harris, the manager of scripture translation for the Church, arrived on Wednesday to conduct the Final Ecclesiastical Review of the Book of Mormon. He met with the committee on Thursday from 12-4; Friday from 9-4; and Saturday from 9-4. The first session and half of the second was reviewing a list of 48 key scriptures very carefully to insure they were doctrinally correct with all the key elements preserved in the translation. What an great learning experience it was for me personally to study the heart of the Gospel in such detail, listening to the meaning of words explained, applied, and refined - to feel the Spirit witnessing to me of the truthfulness of the doctrine of Christ in the most simple, abbreviated form - to know again of the reality of the Savior and Redeemer through the Book of Mormon. The next part of the review consisted of transferring all the corrections the committee in Lao had made, making sure the terminology was consistent, resolving differences and coming to solutions. Very tedious, but critical. The last part of the review was addressing specific suggestions and concerns raised by the member of the committee in the United States and the member of the translation committee that Brother Harris met with before he came here. It was surprising (but not surprising really when you factor in the nature of the work that was being done) that major concerns were discovered in both locations, half a world away from each other, and that the resolutions, independently arrived at, were the same. It was another testimony to us that this is the Lord’s work, He is involved in it, and He cares about it because He loves all of His children. The Book of Mormon consists of His words and His message. He wants it to be correct. It has been a privilege and a blessing to be involved in this project.
Today when Brother Harris bore his testimony during Sacrament Meeting, he referred to Alma 26:31 with tender emotion: “Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever.” We add our testimony to his.
Love,
Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma,
Elder and Sister Riser, Scott and Jolene
