Last Tuesday, we hosted a group of sixteen English Second Language missionaries from the Auckland Missionary Training Center. This Auckland MTC has been an all English program until now. This is the first group of missionaries to come and stay for nine weeks to learn English.
The English speaking missionaries who have a three-week MTC stay come to our Centre to learn about the history of the Church in the South Pacific and to connect with their own background or the place they will be serving. This ESL group came for an outing, to learn about the history of the Church, to connect with their background or the place they will serve AND to practice their English.
With that is mind, we introduced them to the centre and the museum as usual and then tailored a simple experience for them. We ask them to find a story in the museum that demonstrated faith, repentance, keeping covenants or following the direction of the Holy Ghost. They needed to take notes and prepare to share their story with the others.
I found Sister Matakite from Kiribati in the "Mission" room by herself, struggling to understand the following story about some young men from her home country.
She wanted to understand but wasn't confident in her ability to speak. I told her the story slowly over and over and then we read it together a couple of times. She especially had trouble understanding the meaning of the government restrictions. At first, she was so hesitant to try and said she couldn't do it. I encouraged her to keep trying and after considerable effort on both of our parts, she could finally tell the story. Her eyes started to shine. Sister Dil came by and cheered her on as well. Then Sister Dil told her that her Stake Presidient had attended Liahona High School in Tonga. I encouraged her to find the lesson that from small beginnings the Lord does his work. Suddenly the light went on and I exclaimed, "You are the fruit of those first missionaries!!!" Her smile lit up and her eyes shone as we did a "high five."
Later when Sister Matakite stood in the front of the theater to share her story with the group, I held my breath like a mother at her child's first dance recital. I admit I was surprised when she took several moments to get control of her emotions and hold back the tears. Then she held her head up high and told the story simply and clearly. She ended with, "I am the fruit of those missionaries!!" It was so great! In the photo below, she is the one standing against the wall in her purple sweater with a shy smile. She hugged me so tightly when she said good-bye and I hugged her right back and assured her she would be a great missionary!
It is all about love. It is all about the one. What a blessing to be able to love someone every day!
Point of interest: President Kenneth Palmer mentioned the story above is Elder Garlick's uncle.
