As Sisters.....

Sister Jumo-as opens her Christmas box

Sisters' Conference

December 6, 2005

This morning when Elder Lowry and Elder Dela Paz returned from the Post Office it was quite an event. They were loaded with boxes and packages and the office was crowded with sisters gathering for a sisters’ conference. Some of the boxes were the ones from Del Mar Ward and went to sisters in the room. They couldn’t believe they were for them and kept trying to guess who would send them something. Then, of course, they began to open then. What a scene – showing the candy and stickers, and carefully putting things wrapped in Christmas paper back in to save to open on Christmas. I got a picture or two and was glad to be able to share in the excitement.

Today was the first day of a two-day sisters’ conference held at the President’s condo. The focus was on improving our missionary efforts and was very well run and taught. But, the thing I enjoyed the most was getting to know the sister missionaries better. I spent a few minutes visiting with Sister Saniel. She came on November 17 and about a week later had her purse stolen and lost her ATM card along with her wallet and many other things. I was telling her that I had my purse stolen in Paris and was so glad that my temple recommend wasn’t in it. She started to cry. “Mine was in my purse,” she said. She told me she wanted another one and had talked to her Zone Leader three times and he said it wasn’t important since there is not temple here. But, I could see it was important to her. I suggested she talk to the mission president right now. She said, “I am shy.” I stood up, took her by the hand and walked her over to the president and held her hand while she asked him. Of course, he was delighted to give her an interview and scheduled it for tomorrow morning. Walking back to the couch, she was softly crying and thanking me for helping her. I then asked her how she joined the Church. This is what she told me:

“Two missionaries were teaching my neighbors. I was a Methodist, President of the Methodist Youth Group. I was curious about what they were doing and teaching, so I went over and asked them what they taught. They invited me to stay and so I did and they kept coming back and teaching more and more. I took my cousins and my uncle with me. I wanted to be baptized and so did my two cousins and my uncle. All four of us joined the Church. My mother didn’t like me getting baptized, but she didn’t say much since we live with my father’s family, and my uncle and his two daughters were baptized too. After I had been a member six months, I told my mother I wanted to go on a mission. She laughed and said, “Sure, sure.” So just before the one-year mark, I got my papers ready and turned them in when it was time. My mother didn’t say anything until I began packing. Then she cried and cried and asked why I didn’t love her. I am the only child and she didn’t want me to go, but I had to do it.”

At dinner, Sister Ledesma told me that she worked for the Police Department before her mission, but she couldn’t go back to that job because there was too much that was against the teachings of the Church. Sister Legson told me she had been a high school teacher before she came. What capable and wonderful young women these missionary sisters are. It was such a privilege to be with them.