Last week I received this photo from Sister Johnson who is serving a Humanitarian Mission in Kinshasa with her husband.
Sister Johnson explained that she had been preparing for a closing ceremony for one of their water projects in Kinshasa. They were expecting local leaders of the village to come along with many of the village residents to celebrate the new well that the church had donated. Sister Johnson said that this sweet little boy appeared out of nowhere. He told her he couldn't find his mother. He was dirty, hungry and covered in sores. Sister Johnson scooped him up and held him for about an hour. Soon the guest began to arrive and she had to set him in the chair next to hers so that she could greet the guest. When she turned around the boy was gone. This little angel who had been lost and frightened had simply disappeared.
I wept when I read this story. Sister Johnson may never know who this boy was, where he came from or how he had gotten lost from his mother.
I am so grateful for the example of Sister Johnson. I am sure she was very busy preparing for the closing ceremony, but she did not hesitate to lift up this little boy covered in dirt and sores and cradle him in her arms. We never know when the Lord will call upon us to be instruments in his hands. It is often not at the most convenient time when that still small voice prompts us put our own needs aside and serve our fellow man. The Lord commanded us to love one another, and to love our neighbor as our self.
"Thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. That is the first great commandment. " And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Matthew 22:36-39
Joseph F. Smith said, "Charity, or love, is the greatest principle in existence. If we can lend a helping hand to the oppressed, if we can aid those who are despondent and in sorrow, if we can uplift and ameliorate the condition of mankind, it is our mission to do it, it is an essential part of our religion to do it. (Conference Report, April 1917) When we feel love for God's Children, we are given opportunities to help them in their journey back to His presence."
I am so grateful for people like Sister Johnson who are living examples of Christ-like service. What a blessing it is to be a missionary and to witness the wonderful acts of service that our Humanitarian missionaries are providing. I am so grateful for all the missionaries we serve with here in Africa. I am inspired by their selfless acts of service daily.
I wept when I read this story. Sister Johnson may never know who this boy was, where he came from or how he had gotten lost from his mother.
I am so grateful for the example of Sister Johnson. I am sure she was very busy preparing for the closing ceremony, but she did not hesitate to lift up this little boy covered in dirt and sores and cradle him in her arms. We never know when the Lord will call upon us to be instruments in his hands. It is often not at the most convenient time when that still small voice prompts us put our own needs aside and serve our fellow man. The Lord commanded us to love one another, and to love our neighbor as our self.
"Thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. That is the first great commandment. " And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Matthew 22:36-39
Joseph F. Smith said, "Charity, or love, is the greatest principle in existence. If we can lend a helping hand to the oppressed, if we can aid those who are despondent and in sorrow, if we can uplift and ameliorate the condition of mankind, it is our mission to do it, it is an essential part of our religion to do it. (Conference Report, April 1917) When we feel love for God's Children, we are given opportunities to help them in their journey back to His presence."
I am so grateful for people like Sister Johnson who are living examples of Christ-like service. What a blessing it is to be a missionary and to witness the wonderful acts of service that our Humanitarian missionaries are providing. I am so grateful for all the missionaries we serve with here in Africa. I am inspired by their selfless acts of service daily.
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