A FINAL WORD OF APPRECIATION

Where do we keep our most sacred beliefs?

This will be the final posting on our Angel Fly missionary blog:

Where do people choose to keep their most sacred beliefs? Those who gain knowledge and then apply it correctly in their lives obtain wisdom and choose to keep what's most important in their heart. Such people live the truth that they know to be true. Sadly, on the other end of the spectrum, there are also many who place little value on revealed truth; but instead, they seem quite committed to trash the beliefs that others hold sacred.

During this eighteen month full-time mission in east Baltimore we have met and taught people who have been actively searching for more light and truth in their lives. Others we have encountered were and continue to be totally indifferent to anything that might be identified as spiritual . . . they seem unwilling to accept the God who created and sent them here to this earth as being relevant in their world. And finally, we have consistently been aware of a large group of individuals around us who have always been lurking in the shadows. Because they prefer acts of darkness and evil, these lost souls no longer are able to endure the light that is associated with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father has been gracious and kind to Sister Lindsay and me providing opportunities for us to have experiences to help us to grow in so many ways that would not have otherwise been possible except through missionary service. We continue to be amazed at His love and consideration for our needs. Not only did He provide protection from bodily harm with "unseen hands" on the night we we were robbed at gunpoint in front of our apartment building, but He also brought me safely through quadruple bypass surgery and a speedy full recovery without any damage to my heart.

We also wish to express a final word of appreciation to all of you who have faithfully followed our experiences and feelings about our errand for the Lord as we have written about them on the 189 Angel Fly blog postings from the beginning of our mission in September 2011 until the end our service earlier this month. As of tonight, there have been more than 4100 individual visits to Angel Fly. It is our intention to now publish everything that we have posted on the blog in a hardbound book that we will cherish as a keepsake from our mission. Thanks again for reading Angel Fly and for your thoughtful comments along the way.

Thou who hast given so much to me, give me one thing more . . . a grateful heart.

                                                                                                   -  George Herbert

COLOR US GONE !

Our feelings as we end our mission are as different as a box full of crayons

Leaving our Church mission to return to our home in North Carolina has been much more difficult than we had anticipated it would be when we first came to Baltimore in September, 2011. During our time in the Maryland Baltimore Mission, we have tried to mix in completely with both Church members and non-members we have met along the way, much like two individual crayons might fit into a box full of other crayons of different colors. It should be noted that Sister Lindsay is definitely the red one, while I am likely some shade of blue.

As a senior couple we arrived in the mission with sincere gratitude for the blessings associated with the  fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our own lives and an unconditional love for the people who live within the boundaries of the Chesapeake Ward. We soon discovered that for various reasons, not everyone in the local Church congregation had an interactive warm relationship with each other. At the direction of the Holy Ghost, we encouraged the good people in this ward to get to know all the members better and to be more outwardly expressive of their love and concern for each other.

JUST A BOX OF CRAYONS

Shane DeRolf

While walking in a toy store the day before today,
I over heard a Crayon Box with many things to say.
“I don’t like red!” said Yellow. And Green said, “Nor do I!”
And no one here likes Orange, but no one knows quite why.

“We are a box of crayons that doesn't get along,”

Said Blue to all the others. “Something here is wrong!”

Well, I bought that box of crayons and took it home with me

And laid out all the crayons so the crayons could all see.

They watched me as I colored with Red and Blue and Green

And Black and White and Orange and every color in between.

They watched as Green became the grass and Blue became the sky.

The Yellow sun was shining bright on White clouds drifting by.

Colors changing as they touched, becoming something new.

They watched me as I colored. They watched till I was through.

And when I’d finally finished, I began to walk away.

And as I did the Crayon box  had something more to say . . .

“I do like Red! ” said the Yellow and Green said, “So do I !”

And Blue you are terrific! “So high up in the sky.”

“We are a Box of Crayons each of us unique,

But when we get together the picture is complete.”

Although our opportunity to serve has now come and gone, it is deeply satisfying to have heard some of the members during the last few weeks we were with them expressing the thought that somehow there is more of a sense of unity among the saints than may have been present in times past. It's wonderful to witness when the Spirit is able to help individuals experience a mighty change of heart in order to love others as themselves. Indeed, the Creation would be something less than complete in all of its necessary variety had Heavenly Father decided that He only needed a single kind of crayon in the people box here on earth!

THE PIANO CONCERT . . . A GOING AWAY GIFT

Quiana Jones at the piano keyboard in Chesapeake Ward

During the final days we were in the Maryland Baltimore Mission, there were members who found some sweet and unusual ways to express their love and appreciation for our service to the saints in the Chesapeake Ward.

One of those special people was Quiana Jones who was one of the individuals we taught the temple preparation class lessons and then took to the Washington DC Temple to receive her temple endowment. Her husband still hasn't made a commitment to join the Church, but he is a good man and will ultimately make the decision to be baptized.

Sister Lindsay and I became aware a few months ago that Quiana, who has been a faithful member of the ward choir, was taking piano lessons from the choir director, Carol Lee Ford. What we didn't know was that Quiana had been working diligently to learn a hymn that she could play for us after Church on our last Sunday in Baltimore. This was intended to be a special going away gift for us to express her thanks for helping her prepare to go to the temple.

We were honored to be the recipients of this musical gift of a private piano concert. It was a thoughtful gesture on the part of this wonderful young woman. Quiana plays remarkably well for someone who has been taking lessons for such a short period of time.

Prayer is when you talk to God.

Meditation is when you are listening.

Playing the piano allows you to do both at the same time.

                                                                 - Kelsey Grammer

UNITED IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Sister & Elder Lindsay with Janette & Brian Folk, Sr.

If full-time missionaries could have the opportunity to personally plan their final act of service on the day of their departure for home, it would undoubtedly be to perform a baptism or some other priesthood ordinance in support of building the Kingdom of God here on the earth. Imagine the joy that Sister Lindsay and I experienced when we were blessed to be able to lead the non-member wife in a part-member family into the waters of baptism; and then, to confer the Melchizedek priesthood upon her husband while ordaining him to be an elder.

Brian Folk, Sr. first joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about sixteen years ago; but in the ensuing years, his involvement with the Church was sporadic at best. We first met Janette when she came to Church with two or three of their sons last October. Not recognizing her as someone we had previously met, we immediately introduced ourselves and asked if we might stop by the family home to visit during the coming week. Assuming that we wanted to meet her husband who was a less-active member, Janette said, "Yes," and the appointment was set for the following Tuesday.

Janette and Brian Folk have six sons, five of whom are still at home. Brian, Jr. is a senior in high school, and his younger brothers are Geoffery (age 11), Austin (age 6), Daniel (age 3), and Derrick (age 1). From our very first meeting with the Folks, we were accepted by everyone as being family members. Brother and Sister Folk insisted that we eat dinner with them each week when we came to teach the gospel in the home, because "that's what families are supposed to do when missionaries come to visit!"

We taught the Folks how to pray, encouraged them to read the scriptures, answered their questions about the restored gospel, and invited them each week to attend Church. We also showed them how to plan and conduct a weekly family home evening program and gave them a framed chart that gives everyone in the family an opportunity on a rotating basis to perform each family home evening assignment (prayers, lesson, music, family game or activity, and dessert).

Over time, incredible changes occurred  in the home as the Holy Ghost began to positively influence each member of the family. Hearts were touched, and the good seed of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ began to sprout and grow. When Janette was convinced that the Lord's Church has indeed been restored to the earth, she committed to baptism, and she asked me to perform the ordinance. During this same period of time, Brian, Sr. admitted that while he had previously joined the Church, he was not really converted. Through prayerful study of the scriptures and other related materials that we provided, Brother Folk was truly converted and developed an earnest desire to have his family together with him in the Church. He asked me to confer the priesthood and ordain him an elder, which was done immediately after his wife's baptism.

What a wonderful gift from Heavenly Father to allow Sister Lindsay and me to be instruments in the Lord's hands to unite this family in the Church at the end of our service in the Maryland Baltimore Mission.

CRABS WALK SIDEWAYS; WE WALKED STRAIGHT

Founding of Fell's Point predates the creation of Baltimore City

Sister Lindsay and I accompanied by another senior missionary couple, Elder & Sister Clasen, spent the last full day of our mission exploring the historic Fells Point area of the Baltimore. It was a beautiful yet somewhat chilly day with a steady wind blowing from the north. We had a wonderful time meandering along the old city streets, some of them are still cobblestones, while browsing in many of the interesting shops that are found throughout this old community.

Founded in 1730 by William Fell, the town of Fell's Point became a shipbuilding and commercial center that grew quickly, and eventually incorporated with neighboring Baltimore Town and Jones Town in 1797 to form the City of Baltimore. Some of the first vessels commissioned for the US Navy were built in Fell's Point shipyards, including the original USS Constellation in 1797, which was the first U. S. Navy vessel to put to sea and to engage and defeat an enemy ship (the original Constellation was decommissioned in 1853 in Norfolk, Virginia). The second USS Constellation, which was completed in 1858 in Norfolk, is the last surviving Civil War sailing ship still afloat and is now permanently anchored in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Elder & Sister Lindsay in Fell's Point

Fell's Point, however, became best known for producing topsail schooners known as Baltimore Clippers and the skipjack, a traditional sailing fishing boat used for oyster dredging in the Chesapeake Bay. During the War of 1812, Fell's Point built and supported dozens of privateers who preyed on British shipping vessels. Thus, Baltimore became a principal target of the British during the war, which eventually led to the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

When we weren't walking from place to place during the day, we were riding the Charm City Circulator, a free bus service that conveniently operates on a frequent schedule over three connecting inner-city routes. Before we left for home on the light rail train, we completed our day long fun adventure with the Clasens by having dinner with them at Amicci's, a nice restaurant in Little Italy located between Fell's Point and Inner Harbor.

THE CULTURE OF HACKING

"Hacking" is a common way to get a ride in Baltimore

In today's world of sophisticated computer programs, there is an underground group of people who seek to exploit weaknesses in systems and networks by "hacking" into those programs for a multitude of reasons such as profit, protest, or challenge. In the unlicensed cab culture in Baltimore, however, hacking has a totally different meaning. To get a ride by hacking, the person stands outside either on the sidewalk or near a parked car, motioning rapidly with one down-turned index finger, indicating to passersby that he would like a ride up, down, or across town.

Although hacking is illegal, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail, there is a booming economy built around people in the Charm City's black community who prefer to call or flag down drivers of unlicensed vehicles for hire rather than taking public transportation or using licensed taxicabs. Church missionaries and everyone else who travels on Baltimore's city streets and encounters those finger-wagging people looking for a ride, know it is a common part of life here. Hacking can be dangerous, too, both to the drivers and passengers. While people sometimes get killed driving illegal hacks; more frequently, carjackings, robberies, and assaults often go unreported.

So why has this illegal and dangerous activity become part of Baltimore's culture? For those individuals without a car, hacks are perceived to be convenient, less-expensive than legitimate cabs, and will deliver you directly to your destination. It is a fact that black people often have difficulty catching cabs in predominately black neighborhoods.

If our ultimate destination is to arrive at the Kingdom of God rather than some street address in east Baltimore, there is but one legitimate way to reach that place safely, and it is not accomplished by standing on the street corner rapidly waving our turned-down index finger at a passing car. 

Anne C. Pingree, former Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency tells us, "Where else would we look, where else would we reach, where else would we come but to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith? He pronounced: 

Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.                                                            - 3 Nephi 9:14

"His promise invites us not only to reach towards Him but also to take the all-important next step: to come unto Him. This is such a motivating, cheering doctrine. The Messiah extends His arm of mercy to us, always eager to receive us—if we choose to come to Him. When we do come to the Savior with full purpose of heart, we will feel His loving touch in the most personal ways."

There is no free ride or reduced fare from this life to Heaven. All of us must enter by the straight and narrow path, accepting Jesus Christ as Our Personal Savior, repenting of our sins, being baptized by one having the proper authority, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and by living the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the best of our ability for the remainder of our days here on earth.

THE EXIT INTERVIEW

Maryland Baltimore Mission President Mark Richards

It is difficult to deny that your mission is coming to a close when you get called into the mission president's office for your final interview. Monday morning we had that experience with President Mark Richards who treated us with much kindness as he expressed his sincere appreciation for our service to the Chesapeake Ward and the Maryland Baltimore Mission during the past 18 months. Most missionaries have mixed feelings about going home at the end of their mission call, and we readily admit that we are having similar thoughts and emotions.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

                                                         - Theodore Suess Geisel

We were told that both President Halsey, the Stake President, and Bishop Fox of the Chesapeake Ward have said that we have made a positive difference while serving as a senior couple here in Baltimore on our mission. With less than a week left until we pack our car and drive home to Greensboro, North Carolina, this is certainly a difficult time for Sister Lindsay and me as we continue to say goodbye to ward members.

       

We have also made many friends among the young elders and sisters as well as with the other senior missionary couples in the Maryland Baltimore Mission during our time here. President Richards also thanked me for the photographs that were taken with my camera during mission activities. Sister Richards has posted many of them on the mission blog and some of these images were included in the recently published 2012 mission yearbook.

And so, we are about to make the transition from teaching missionaries back into our role as Church members supporting missionary work in our family and home ward. But the importance of the message of the restored gospel remains the same, and our testimony of its truthfulness continues.

RAISE YOUR VOICES TO THE LORD

Evan Stephens (1854-1930)

Raise your voices to the Lord,

Ye who here have heard his word.

As we part, his praise proclaim,

Shout thanksgiving to his name.

Shout thanksgiving! Let our song
Still our joy and praise prolong,
Until here we meet again
To renew the glad refrain.

Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church, has counseled all of us to fill our minds with truth, to fill our hearts with love, and to fill our lives with service. Truth is found by searching, studying, and living the revealed Word of God. Peace is found in this troubled world when we lose ourselves in the service of our fellowmen.