COLD BUILDINGS - WARM HEARTS!
Today we visited the Volcanes Ward, Ixtapaluca Stake (yes, we do live within sight of, but not dangerously close to Popocatepetl, an active volcano). At 8 AM this morning, when Sacrament Meeting started...it was cold in the chapel! Here in Mexico all the chapels are built of cement block, and have tile floors. I have only seen carpet a couple of times. Chapels (nor homes) have central heating. Homes, including apartments of our missionaries, have small electric radiators, but chapels have nothing. We don't have any snow or rain in the winter, but it can be cold, especially in the morning, evening, and any time you are in the shade.
All the members know to dress warmly with their coats, boots, and occasionally, even little blankets to cover their laps. Today, one of the priests was wearing a scarf around his neck and rubbed is hands together to warm his hands.
However...even though the chapels are cold, the rooms are "warm", in fact, "toasty warm" with fellowship!
Let me tell you about Relief Society today.
I entered the room and sat on a plastic chair, along with the other ladies in the ward. With no curtains, no padded chairs and no carpet - it was frosty inside. One sister wheeled in her sleeping baby in stroller all bundled up with nice cozy blankets.
Of course, every sister is very friendly and welcoming - that is just how Mexican people are...always! We all greeted one another with hugs and kisses on cheeks. Pretty prelude music was playing from a phone with speakers set up on the window sill. A blue table cloth with "SS" in gold braid (Sociedad de Socorro) made the table in front look festive. The Relief Society President began the meeting with an infectious smile, and led us all to "warm up" by lifting our arms above our heads and stretch to the right....stretch to the left....stretch high...and stretch down low. Then she said to turn to your neighbor and hold each others hands...(I was lucky, my companion's hands were actually warm!) and then she told us to stand up and hug each other "heart to heart". She explained if you hug with your head to the right side of your companion, your hearts touch. We all hugged each other and held on to get a little warm! We were all laughing, smiling, and truly feeling the warmth of sisterly love.
Next we had the opening song, prayer, announcements, and then we all stood to repeat the Relief Society Theme together...."We are beloved daughters of Heavenly Father...". The lesson followed with much participation by the class members.
The hour came to a close with another song and prayer...but nobody left...and I wasn't sure why...but I soon saw. December marks the birthdays of two members of the RS Presidency so they always celebrate their birthdays together right after Relief Society. From somewhere appeared hot tamales, cups of hot chocolate, and a birthday cake! Quick as could be, we were each served the birthday meal!
Somehow or other I started explaining to the sister sitting next to me that I really wanted to learn to cook Mexican food while I am here, but since I don't belong to a ward, (mission presidents don't have a "home" ward...there are 55 wards in our mission and we usually attend a different ward each Sunday as we try to visit all the areas in our mission) I really haven't participated in any Relief Society activities. Immediately the sister told the President that we should have an activity where we all made tamales together and they would invite me! Then they showed me their ward Facebook page and "friended" me. Then several of us started talking about "comida de la navidad". Another lady came over with her smart phone and started pulling up images of different foods that they make only during the Christmas season here in Mexico. Their eyes danced as pointed to the pictures of this food and that and how yummy it was. Even though I understood very little of the words being said...I understood exactly what they were "saying", and felt so included.
We had all enjoyed our time together and now it was time to go home, and unexpectedly, I felt tears coming. And I knew exactly what those tears were: it had been 5 months since I had felt the sisterhood that is in Relief Society and I had missed that warmth, caring, sharing and love that being part of a Ward Relief Society feels like. Yes, I have 140 missionaries I love and adore, we are blessed with a senior couple that we feel so close to and I am with my husband for more time than at any time in our lives...all incredible blessings in my life...but I didn't realize how much I missed my sisters in my own ward Relief Society.
I quickly gave final hugs, kisses and thanks to several ladies then hurried out to door and found Lindsay working in one of the offices down the hall. Finally the tears could flow, and I was able to express how much I missed and yearned for this sisterhood in my life. And what a blessing -- Relief Society exists everywhere in the world. "Hurrah" for Relief Society and "hurrah" for tamales! I know that my sisters in Volcanes will be in the kitchen soon and ready to teach me, laugh with me, hug me (heart to heart) and be my sisters!
All the members know to dress warmly with their coats, boots, and occasionally, even little blankets to cover their laps. Today, one of the priests was wearing a scarf around his neck and rubbed is hands together to warm his hands.
However...even though the chapels are cold, the rooms are "warm", in fact, "toasty warm" with fellowship!
Let me tell you about Relief Society today.
I entered the room and sat on a plastic chair, along with the other ladies in the ward. With no curtains, no padded chairs and no carpet - it was frosty inside. One sister wheeled in her sleeping baby in stroller all bundled up with nice cozy blankets.
Of course, every sister is very friendly and welcoming - that is just how Mexican people are...always! We all greeted one another with hugs and kisses on cheeks. Pretty prelude music was playing from a phone with speakers set up on the window sill. A blue table cloth with "SS" in gold braid (Sociedad de Socorro) made the table in front look festive. The Relief Society President began the meeting with an infectious smile, and led us all to "warm up" by lifting our arms above our heads and stretch to the right....stretch to the left....stretch high...and stretch down low. Then she said to turn to your neighbor and hold each others hands...(I was lucky, my companion's hands were actually warm!) and then she told us to stand up and hug each other "heart to heart". She explained if you hug with your head to the right side of your companion, your hearts touch. We all hugged each other and held on to get a little warm! We were all laughing, smiling, and truly feeling the warmth of sisterly love.
Next we had the opening song, prayer, announcements, and then we all stood to repeat the Relief Society Theme together...."We are beloved daughters of Heavenly Father...". The lesson followed with much participation by the class members.
The hour came to a close with another song and prayer...but nobody left...and I wasn't sure why...but I soon saw. December marks the birthdays of two members of the RS Presidency so they always celebrate their birthdays together right after Relief Society. From somewhere appeared hot tamales, cups of hot chocolate, and a birthday cake! Quick as could be, we were each served the birthday meal!
Somehow or other I started explaining to the sister sitting next to me that I really wanted to learn to cook Mexican food while I am here, but since I don't belong to a ward, (mission presidents don't have a "home" ward...there are 55 wards in our mission and we usually attend a different ward each Sunday as we try to visit all the areas in our mission) I really haven't participated in any Relief Society activities. Immediately the sister told the President that we should have an activity where we all made tamales together and they would invite me! Then they showed me their ward Facebook page and "friended" me. Then several of us started talking about "comida de la navidad". Another lady came over with her smart phone and started pulling up images of different foods that they make only during the Christmas season here in Mexico. Their eyes danced as pointed to the pictures of this food and that and how yummy it was. Even though I understood very little of the words being said...I understood exactly what they were "saying", and felt so included.
We had all enjoyed our time together and now it was time to go home, and unexpectedly, I felt tears coming. And I knew exactly what those tears were: it had been 5 months since I had felt the sisterhood that is in Relief Society and I had missed that warmth, caring, sharing and love that being part of a Ward Relief Society feels like. Yes, I have 140 missionaries I love and adore, we are blessed with a senior couple that we feel so close to and I am with my husband for more time than at any time in our lives...all incredible blessings in my life...but I didn't realize how much I missed my sisters in my own ward Relief Society.
I quickly gave final hugs, kisses and thanks to several ladies then hurried out to door and found Lindsay working in one of the offices down the hall. Finally the tears could flow, and I was able to express how much I missed and yearned for this sisterhood in my life. And what a blessing -- Relief Society exists everywhere in the world. "Hurrah" for Relief Society and "hurrah" for tamales! I know that my sisters in Volcanes will be in the kitchen soon and ready to teach me, laugh with me, hug me (heart to heart) and be my sisters!
What a touching story of your day at church and in Relief Society. We moved, just across town, a few months ago and what I've missed most since the move has been the dear Relief Society sisters of my previous ward. I've been blessed to be able to reconnect with them at times and also blessed to have a new, loving Relief Society as well. May you be blessed as you make all kinds of connections as you serve on your mission, but especially, with Relief Society sisters when you can! This is actually from me, Martha, not my husband, Wandal, as Google indicates.
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully written, and well understood. How the saints must love you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan - you know exactly how it is, don't you! I can't imagine how you even functioned the first 18 months without a senior couple!
DeleteWhat a great story! Can't wait until you make us tamales!!!!
ReplyDelete