9th
Fast Sunday. A delight.
This past Sunday I was able to visit the home of Elder Perry who married my mom’s cousin Barbara Dayton. He told us he was traveling to Guam this week to establish the first Stake there. Our visit was brief but Alyssa got to meet him and shake his hand. Any time I can help her solidify her faith in Jesus Christ, I’ll know I’m doing what I should do as a Father. Alyssa also bore her first testimony in church that day. Come to think of it, that Sunday was probably one of the best Sunday’s I’ve ever had. From the moment I woke up, I had so many experiences that, each of them alone, would’ve made for a great Sunday.
1. Help give an infant blessing to a good friend’s daughter in church.
2. Bear my testimony in church about good associations with family and friends who uphold and bless us.
3. Alyssa bears her first testimony from the pulpit, in the second testimony meeting I attend that day. Mom, Kailey, Anne, Colin and Rachel are there for it. Alyssa melts my heart. I was so proud of her. She says, “Dad, I’m scared and I’m shaking, but I’m going to do it.”
4. I follow Alyssa’s testimony with a second and unexpected testimony of my own, tell her I love her and talk about Dad saying in his later years, all he wanted was good kids. Alyssa made me so happy that day and she was my good kid!
5. Came home, broke my fast and had the best soup I’ve ever tasted.
6. Went to the Perry’s and visited with an apostle in his home with my daughter. Upon him telling us he was going to Guam this week to establish the first Stake there, I told Elder Perry the 30 second version of the famed “Ejeloka Rudder” story my brother experienced while serving in Guam and we had a good laugh.
7. I call my brother Jon and tell him what I’ve just been doing. He laughs about Ejeloka Rudder and tells me the interesting implications of Elder Perry establishing the first Stake in Guam. Jon tells me he was a soldier there many years ago.
8. Taking Alyssa to Arianna’s, I shared with her Alyssa’s testimony meeting experience and we both feel a deeper love for her and for the Gospel.
9. Come home and share with Anne and Mom my conversation with Arianna and Alyssa. We all feel blessed that we have the Gospel and each other.
10. I call Jessica, knowing I’m coming home the next day. Again my heart is full of gratitude to the Lord for the blessings of my life and how the trip to Utah for so many reasons was meant to happen last week.
11. I realize that the Sabbath day truly is a delight. At least this one was.
