This week, all 3 of the other couples that were assigned to India got their visas. Wah! Even one couple who came to Church Headquarters 3 weeks after us and going to our same mission will be leaving before us with a reassignment-- to Pakistan! They will all fly out the Tuesday after Christmas. We will truly miss them all as we have felt a real bond with them, along with other couples who left for Czech Republic and Kazahkstan. We sorta feel like we're the only ones still here holding down the Visa-waiters Fort, (well that's not really true, there are still couples waiting for Australia, Surinam and Norway) But the consolation is that now that all the India mission couples have their visas and travel itineraries, we were able to submit our application to obtain our visas on the 16th, as the Indian government requires it to be done in batches. When some leave then more can come in. We will be in the same batch with 6 young elders. It will be a treat traveling with young missionaries and worth the wait!
Us yearning to dip our hands in the pools of Agra.
Upon further reflection, we have felt like this time here has been designed by a loving Heavenly Father completely for our benefit. We can't imagine now if we had gone straight to India from the MTC. For instance, Friday night we went out to dinner with my daughter Maddy and her husband Franklin. They treated us to a marvelous place within walking distance of their apartment in the Aves called The Shambala for Tibetan food! It was such awesome cuisine, we loved it! But more than the meal, it was a real joy having the opportunity to talk to them and get caught up on their lives, hear of their courtship, see their wedding photos and learn of their future plans. Being here for that meant everything to us. We have plans to meet again, spend Christmas Eve together at Aunt Lolly's, and hopefully make the most of these next 6 weeks before we leave. And if that isn't happy enough, now 2 of my other daughters Cassandra and Rachel have made plans to come to Salt Lake after Christmas so it will be a marvelous reunion with 3 of my 4 daughters! I just couldn't be more grateful for that. Other people have told us many times there are blessings for serving missions and now we too can testify of tangible blessings that have come to us and our families while serving the Lord full-time.
I posted this last picture on Facebook so most of you already knew about this but for those not connected with us through social media, I'll repeat the story. When we randomly kept running into Vaddi for the 3rd time, this last time at Music and the Spoken Word last Sunday, we felt the Lord was placing these Indian young adults in our path for a reason. So spontaneously and with not much food in our larders, we asked Vaddi and Sowmya to come to our home for dinner that afternoon, and then Sowmya brought her friend Gideion who's attending BYU and was in SLC visiting.
We had the best time with them! They are so intelligent, fun-loving, and filled with light. We laughed together and learned so much about India and it's customs and culture, within the subculture of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We promised them we must gather again before we leave and keep our friendship growing. So there's yet another reason we feel it is so very right for us to be here.
In our ongoing report of chance encounters, we had another one this week at Chuck-a-rama, (Auto correct called it Church-a-rama. Hah!) We met a lovely couple, the Ulriches who were past mission presidents in Manchester England, who joined us at our table for chuck and chat. Rob enjoyed talking about his days in Nottingham with them. They told us we simply need to meet another Indian member- Eb Solomon, who they work with at the Jordan River Temple. He is the Temple Recorder and knows everything there is to know about running a temple. (Gee, I wonder what role he could possibly play in India's future?) We sent him an email and he was kind enough to reply to us, even being literal strangers. If we can get a ride some p-day out to S. Jordan to attend the temple, we hope to meet him in person. Until then we'll be singing the song from Bye Bye Birdie~ "Eb Soloman...Eb Soloman...we're going to meet Eb Soloman!!"
Brother & Sister Ulrich
And the week ended on a perfect high note. We had a marvelous full day beginning at 8:45am at the Discovery Center, helping people build their family trees followed by our Zone Christmas Party and for their gift to us, we received tickets to the Choir and Symphony Concert at Temple Square. Talk about winning the lottery! We had no idea we'd be able to see the concert, although we dreamed about it knowing we'd be here. The music was so moving and the stories made us cry. I especially bawled during the song about mothers carrying their child in their wombs sung by Lea Solanga and we both wept at the story of Nicky Winton and the refugee children in Czechoslavakia during WW2. The parents willingly sent their children onto England, knowing it meant the possibility of life for them with the almost certain knowledge staying meant death for those left behind. Not a single one of the parents was ever reunited with their children. (well, just in this mortal life, but we know the great Plan of Happiness for them and the joyous reunion they eventually had!) Nicky was reintroduced to the children he saved decades later as grown adults at a special tribute for him. Pull out the hanky again. It was once again an evening to remember as we felt the Holy Spirit along with immense gratitude for God's goodness and blessings. We hope and pray all of you dear friends are feeling the joy and happiness of this season of Christ's birth as a time to remember His life and mission. We thank you for your prayers for us, they are being answered! Well it's past bedtime for good missionaries and it's been a long day so we must end. We are grateful we have been detained.
The Dunlaps
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment