I wanted to share a sweet experience from my mission that has truly touched my heart forever.
I was in my first area, Valdivia, Chile, and it was cold, rainy night. We were in the poorest part of our area: tiny houses and dirt roads. Well when you've got dirt roads, and lots of rain...that just makes for a really big mess!!
On this particular night we went to visit Carmen, our sweet investigators with 2 adorable sons. When we got there we found Carmen stressed out to the rafters and not 3, but 4 rowdy boys! Their cousins had come to play, but it proved too much for Carmen to handle. She had a lot of cleaning to do and those
little boys were not being good minders!
We decided to teach those little hooligans a lesson! First off I taught them ´´COWABUNGA!´´
(For all those who
aren´t members of my immediate family, let me explain the significance
of this word. When the parents say, ´´Cowabunga´´ you need to jump up, but your hands under your bum and then sit down on your hands and close your mouth!)
...Let me tell ya...it
worked like a charm!!! :) hahaha They loved it!!! They sat on their
hands and kept their mouths super quiet....but if they got all rowdy and loud again I would call out: ´´COWABUNGA!´´ and
back to little angels they became.
We taught a great lesson about
obedience...and I learned a great lesson about service.
During our lesson, the youngest little boy, Juanito (5 years old), got up and left the room. When he returned, he had a wet rag in his hands. Without a sound he came over to me, got down on his knees and began to wipe the dirt off of my boots.
During our lesson, the youngest little boy, Juanito (5 years old), got up and left the room. When he returned, he had a wet rag in his hands. Without a sound he came over to me, got down on his knees and began to wipe the dirt off of my boots.
I lost track of what my companion was saying, as my mind was filled with the image of our Savior when He
washed the feet of his twelve Apostles.
´´There,´´ said little Juanito, as he looked at my clean, shiny boots. He left the room again just as quietly as before, put the rag in the hamper, and then sat down and listened intently to the rest of our lesson.
My heart
was so touched by the little tender act of service by this small child. He saw a need, and quickly responded without being asked to do so. He shared his love with me through his tiny hands. Our Savior
Jesus Christ is not here with us physically...but He is here through our
hands. We can be His heavenly hands by giving service and loving others.
I will never forget little Juanito, nor the sweet feeling of peace and I love I felt that night. He truly taught me that I too need to become like a little child and love so freely, give so much more, and serve without holding back.
