SUMMARY OF FLORIDA EXPERIENCE

This was written in Spring 2020

As we have reached the end of our Florida experience,  I have been thinking of ways to sum it up, because I don’t want to forget what it has been like, what I have learned, or what I wish I/we had done differently. 

We came to Orlando two years ago, with the intention of staying for four years. Some of us came full of enthusiasm, and eager to start a new exotic adventure. Some other of us were a bit more hesitant and reluctant, but gave in nonetheless, in an effort to support the others.

It did not take long to realize that in spite of our best efforts, we were colliding with a culture that was entirely foreign to us, both at church and in the world around us. A culture characterized by an incredible focus on anything fun and on living a pretty superficial life, both in and out of the Gospel. All those values that we have grown up with and which were greatly inculcated in us during 24 years in Boston, were suddenly of no consequence here. I am talking about hospitality, joy of learning, personal progress in all fields, dreams and aspirations, contribution to the communities in which we live....it was all almost entirely gone - except in a rare few cases.

Mark and I were quickly called to serve first as YW counselor and Ward Mission Leader, but in just a couple of months that changed to YW President and Second and First Counselor in two Bishoprics. It became evident, at this point, that we had come to serve and serve we did.

At this point something that Isaac Newton said in 1675 comes to mind: “ If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” Apparently, this concept has been traced back to at least the 12th century, to Bernard of Chartres who, in the words of John of Salisbury, “used to compare us to dwarfs perched on the shoulders of giants. He pointed out that we see more and farther than our predecessors, not because we have keener vision or greater height, but because we are lifted up and borne aloft on their gigantic stature.” This concept has been reinforced by something that Bishop Martinez, our first Bishop here in Orlando, once told me. He said that in his Tongan culture, when they want to teach their children something hard, they tell them something along the lines of “I lift you up on my shoulders” to mean that they should learn from the wisdom of their fathers and mothers and get ahead in life instead of starting from the bottom of the ladder and having to go through a series of pitfalls and mistakes. In their culture, there is no reason to do that. Instead the role of a parent is to propel their children forward. 

These teachings and sayings are something that resonate deeply in my heart - although as a young teenager - I would have told you otherwise, at a time when I felt I was in charge of myself and did not need anyone’s help or interference in my life.

As a parent, however, after going through so much heartache of my own in my youth, I figured my job would be to prevent each one of my children to go through the same situations, and teach them instead - right away - the principles I had learned in the course of many years, put them (the children) figuratively on my shoulders, so they can see further than I can, and I can propel them forward so they can do more good in life, impact the world around them in a greater measure compared to what I have been able to or could ever do. (For this reason, we don’t charge them rent when they are home in the summer, but we do help and encourage them to find meaningful jobs, mentors, opportunities to serve in ways that seem too humongous for them, etc. etc.)

This same principle, I try to apply it to my callings as I serve in the Church and in the world in general. I don’t take lightly the experiences Heavenly Father has entrusted me with - from having a complex childhood with an abusive father and a mother who stood by doing nothing about it, to being blessed by the presence of a wonderful grandmother and a few good friends (angels in my life) who taught me a better way through their examples and love, to marrying a man who made me feel both as a princess and inadequate at the same time, to being blessed by the teachings and experiences of some of the brightest minds in the Boston area, both in and outside of the church. These have all been transformative experiences, through much sorrow and joy. I am a completely different person because of them - I think in a positive way.  As I serve in the church, my goal is to “open the eyes” of those around me and teach them what I have learned, in an effort to propel them forward and allow them to go further than I ever could. Just as I have done and continue to do with my own children. Otherwise, it would all be wasted and useless.

And so, I have spent the last two years trying to teach my Young Women that they should not limit themselves, that there is a world beyond the borders of Florida, that they should pursue the best possible education, seek for mentors, ask the experts, “stand a little taller,” create, create, create until they fulfill the measure of their creation. 

This idea of fulfilling the measure of our creation is grossly overshadowed by the idea that we are here to populate the earth with children. Wrong!! That may be part of it but it’s not all. We fulfill the measure of our creation when we fully utilize our qualities and talents for the building of the kingdom of God, to improve the world we live in, to make this earth a better place.

Sadly, so many people get stuck at the children thing or they prefer to limit themselves and hide behind their usual excuses: I am too old / young for this, I don’t have the means, but my patriarchal blessing doesn’t talk about that, my life is too crazy right now… The results are a bunch of people stuck in their ways, with no hopes and dreams, no vision….

Compare that with Sr. Ellen Leon who at the tender age of 80 hops around the world on humanitarian trips to Africa, religious freedom conferences at BYU and elsewhere, and volunteer work at the local hospital.  Contrast that with a bunch of people who devote several days of their week to temple service - which is a wonderful thing -  and theme park visits but when everything shuts down because of a tiny virus, they go stir crazy because they have nothing to do (or so they think) and are unable to reinvent themselves, nor do they show any interest in doing so.

We have tried to get young and old interested in art, music, cooking, eating healthy foods,  saving people from themselves and the ailments of depression but we have essentially received no positive feedback, rarely a thank you.

A DIARY OF MIRACLES

Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. (Russell M Nelson, 2018)

Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life..Only your unbelief will keep God from blessing you with miracles to move the mountains in your life. (April 2021)

In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,”¹ He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful. ..As you make the continual strengthening of your testimony of Jesus Christ your highest priority, watch for miracles to happen in your life.¹³(October 2022)

Since reading about the ability of faith in Christ to remove mountains and the ability that we each have to directly order the mountains to remove themselves (2021), I have been trying to pay attention to the mountains in my life, how they are removed, and the miracles that are brought to pass.

Following are some of the more memorable examples. 

I am going to try to record miracles from now on when I experience them.

Miracle #1

In the Winter of 2021, during the Covid Pandemic, and at a time when missionaries could not reach the original destinations to which they had been assigned, I learned of Elder Stockton Lott, a young missionary originally assigned to the Italy Rome Mission, where Simon was serving, but temporarily reassigned to the Boston MA, Mission. 

When Anziano Lott contacted me to possibly set up a daily schedule for Italian lessons, I was elated. It was a magnificent way for me to serve the Lord using my talents and feel close to my son, Anziano Sivers, while he was serving in Rome.

Anziano Lott turned out to be a delightful young man: hardworking, well mannered, humble, desirous to achieve great results, driven, committed to the work, pleasant, cheerful and even good looking. Needless to say, I soon adopted him as my fourth child.

Soon I discovered that Anziano Lott had not submitted his visa application. The travel office of the Church had simply been silent. They had abandoned him in Boston. I think the Boston mission presidency was hesitant to give him any leadership assignment because he was a visa waiter and could have left unexpectedly at any time. In essence, his talent was being wasted.

I contacted President and Sister Smith, of the Rome mission, to ask if they knew anything about his situation and predicament. They really didn't. Then an idea that I had already explored, resurfaced in my mind: have him apply for his visa at the Italian consulate in Boston as now he was a New England resident, just like a local college student is allowed to do. I quickly devised a way to find out from the consulate if this was indeed possible. I bribed a friend with a traditional Amalfi cake to access people at the consulate until I got my answer: what I was thinking was indeed true. All that was needed was a local address and a letter from the mission office confirming that all his utility bills were paid by the mission. Fortunately, Keith Dionne, a long time friend, was in the mission presidency. He helped me obtain such letter in no time. 

I then asked Elder Lott to contact the travel office and explain the situation. Permission was granted to apply in Boston. However, we needed paperwork from them which took weeks to arrive. Those weeks were interminable. Nobody knew where those documents were. The Sister at the travel office would not respond to calls or emails. I should add that she did not have a great reputation and was known for creating big messes. 

This was about the time when President Nelson promised that through faith we can remove mountains. I studied that scripture, and it became clear to me that I had the power to order the mountain to remove itself. I then proceed to say a prayer and order the Sister in question, by name, to remove herself out of my way so I could help Elder Lott. 

The following day, when I made another attempt to call the travel office, I was told that the Sister had been moved to another department and that now there was a new person I should talk to. The new Sister was easy to reach, accommodating and ready to work with me.

Within a few weeks, the documents arrived and Anziano Lott was able to present his visa application in June 2021 and leave for Rome at the beginning of August, just in time to meet Anziano Sivers who was getting ready to return home within two days.

I am so proud of Anziano Lott and the incredible work he had to do to serve the Lord in two missions under four different mission presidents. A challenging task in the middle of a worldwide pandemic which he overcame with dedication and contagious enthusiasm. He is an amazing young man!

Miracle #2

Since moving to 54 Campbell Road in Wayland, I have hated the house. I won't go into the details now. It's sufficient to say that I greatly dislike it. However, buying another house is an unsurmountable obstacle: financially it is simply not possible as no bank will give us a loan given the weird income situation we face through Mark's work. As an independent professional, the income is never really stable and is unpredictable, something a bank doesn't like to see.

Regardless, we have gone to see homes from time to time, if only just to dream that we could move closer to the city in a community where we can actually have human interactions. We have seen new homes, old homes, crumbling homes with ridiculous price tags, mostly in Belmont - where we long to be. Nothing has ever transpired.

For the last year, we have been working more closely with the missionaries in our ward, trying to help and support them in their efforts. We have come to the realization that the city of Waltham is where they find the greatest percentage of new friends. However, even if they join the church, these people quickly fall away: reaching the Chapel in Weston is impossible without a car. Most of these people are immigrants and rely on public transportation to move around. There is no public service between Waltham and Weston.

It is evident to me that a branch of the church needs to be established in Waltham. I have asked the Lord if this is indeed true. I have not received a clear answer but have offered Him our availability and desire to work towards that direction if it is His will.

In September 2022, a few new construction homes became available in desirable areas of Waltham. We visited the neighborhoods, evaluated pros and cons, dreamed...but money was always an issue.

On a Thursday in September, I showed Mark the listing of a new house on the market in Waltham and asked him to schedule an appointment to go see it on the following Saturday while I would be out of town for the day with friends. He went and told me that he loved the house in all its features (which doesn't happen often). We went back to see it together the next day, during a Sunday open house. The builder and owner was there and gave us a detailed tour. Mark was even more impressed.

As I was standing in one of the bedrooms, I gazed outside the window. I could see the neighbors' back yards, a swimming pool, trees. Nothing really glamorous but for a moment I saw it through Eleni's eyes and a voice in my head said "Eleni will love it here!" Tears came running down my cheeks. I had to hide from Mark for a moment. But I quickly sent the voice and those happy thoughts away. It could never happen! This was the most expensive home we had seen so far. No bank would ever give us a loan.

We came home, thinking. I suppose I was thinking of the missed opportunity but Mark must have been thinking of the possibilities! Loving the house meant finding a way. And he did. He realized we could borrow money from our pension fund and pay it back on monthly installments. 

Not knowing beforehand how things would exactly work out, we proceeded in faith. We made an offer. It was accepted. Within less than a week we put 54 Campbell Road in order, took photos, posted the listing online, had an open house and received an offer of $220 thousand above asking price. A miracle indeed!

The miracle continues with every box we pack. Just the two of us have been able to pack an entire house with no stress, minimum effort and with peace in our hearts. We are literally those talked of in this verse "But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

This miracle will essentially allow us to buy the new home for about $300 more compared to what we paid for our current home. I don't know if we are moving to lead the effort to create a branch in Waltham but we are certainly willing and excited at the prospect. I know God will direct our path as we act in faith and observe our covenants with Him.

THE REPAIRER OF THE BREACH

After a dense weekend of General Conference talks, I am now reading Isaiah 58. The topic: fasting; how to approach it in the right way and consequences of a good fast.

Fasting is hard for me. It always has been. Thirst and hunger seem to be impulses I can't control very well. It is definitely the case that I need to learn to control my appetites!

And so I am grateful for this chapter because it teaches me the proper way to approach fasting.

Fasting is not to reach God with our personal wishes or to inflict unkind actions and words unto others (perhaps as when fasting puts us in a bad mood because we are focused on those appetites we can't control). Fasting is not a time to be sad and mournful either.

Fasting is meant to:

1. Break the bands of wickedness - as in everything that prevents us from seeing and experiencing the light of Christ in this world.

2. Set free the oppressed and break the yokes that oppress them (maybe those around us who are experiencing hard trials).

3. Share our bread with the hungry and open our homes to the poor, cover the naked, welcome our friends and family (I wish we could do community service on fast Sundays instead of Sunday school classes! and I suppose we can. We just have to make it happen).

Consequences:

1. We will be able to share the light of Christ / others will see that light in us. Our light will shine in the darkness.

2. Blessings of health.

3. We will personify righteousness in the world.

4. The glory of the Lord will protect us (as in "a shadow by day and a pillar by night").

5. The Lord will answer when we call upon Him. He will be available to help us.

6. The Lord will guide us continually and feed us spiritually and materially.

7.We will be as "a spring of water, whose waters fail not" - maybe this means that we will be able to share words of eternal life - teachings of Christ - which never fail, or that we will experience charity which never faileth.

8. We will be called the "repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in" - or by rectifying and sharing our witness of the eternal truths of God, we will be able to correct the wrong perceptions so many have of the Eternal Father and Jesus Christ and will be able to bring them (back) on the safety of the Covenant Path. Another word for this concept might be "reconciliation". Our assignment is to reconcile the world with God and Christ:

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

Missionaries, Prophets and Apostles do this. We can / should too!

All this + honoring the Sabbath (not doing things in our own way, not looking to satisfy our own pleasure, speaking the words of Christ - and not our own) will bring about the ultimate and most desired consequence: "ride upon the high places of the earth" and be fed by the Lord with the heritage of Jacob. These are blessings for covenant keepers: riding upon high places for me means to experience the incredible miracles President Nelson is asking us to watch for when we act with faith in Christ and actively stay on the covenant path. They are the most sacred experiences we will have in this mortal life, signs from God to us that He is real, present, aware, generous, loving.

May we actively seek to learn how to better be the "repairers of the breach" and how to restore the path to those who have wondered off or don't know of its existence - through fasting, prayer, studying, personal revelation, understanding of our talents and spiritual gifts that we can use to reconcile men to God and Christ / gather Israel.

JEOVAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Deuteronomy 6

15. Jealous God, can get angry and destroy

24 . Commands us to keep commandments, to fear Him for our benefit so he may preserve us alive.

Deuteronomy 7

4 When angry can destroy us suddenly

8-10 Loves us, keeps oaths/ covenants and mercy with those who love Him and keep his commandments for 1,000 generations, brings us out of bondage with mighty hand, repays those who hate Him to their face

13 He will love, bless, multiply us, bless the fruit of our womb and our material possessions

15 will take away all sickness

19-24 will deliver us from all those we are afraid of, will destroy them with a mighty destruction. He is a mighty and terrible king

Deuteronomy 8

5 He chastiseth

7-8 brings us to a blessed and fruitful land

18 We are to remember that He gives us power to get 'wealth", to establish his covenant with us.

Deuteronomy 15

10 The Lord will bless us in all our works.

Deuteronomy 18

Will bless us with a prophet/ Christ

Deuteronomy 29

20  and 28 The Lord will not spare those who walk in the imaginations of their heart/ worship other gods. He will curse and destroy them/root them out of his people with indignation

Deuteronomy 30

3-7 When we repent the Lord "turns away our captivity", has compassion and gathers his people from all the nations. The same happens in heaven. He will bring us to a promised land and multiply us. He will circumcise our heart so we can love Him with all our heart and that we may live. He will curse and persecute all who hate his people.

9. He will rejoice over his people and multiply them in all they do and possess.

20. He is our life and the length of our days.

Joshua 1

5, 9, 17. The Lord is with us wherever we go, He will be with us and will not fail and forsake us/ The Lord is with His prophet!

Joshua 2

11. The Lord is God in heaven and in earth.

24 The Lord has delivered into our hands all the land.

Joshua 4

23-24 The Hand of the Lord is mighty - as a consequence we fear the Lord forever.

HOLY WEEK 2022

The day before at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had asked His disciples, “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40). 

While in the English language the verb "to watch" is most commonly used with the meaning of "look/ looking" (you can watch TV just as you can watch a sunset or watch children playing at a park), in Italian, as in the rest of the romance languages, the verb used in this scripture passage is "vegliare". Now, this is interesting because in Italian you could not "vegliare" the TV or a sunset or children playing at the park, unless the objects or people being watched were in some sort of physical or emotional precarious situation (danger, disease, etc).

"Vegliare" means first and foremost to "be awake", particularly in the hours or in situations when someone is supposed to be asleep. "Being awake" in the sense of being vigilant and on guard, being responsible, protecting and taking care is the true meaning of "vegliare".

If we go to the same Scripture in Greek, the verb is gregoreo, used 22 times in the New Testament.

This is how it can be translated:

Be alert, be vigilant, be awake/ stay awake, wake up. 

So, Would I be willing to watch with Him one hour? What is the equivalent in my life today of standing by the Savior’s cross or watching with Him for one hour?

What exactly is the Savior asking of us?

The Savior is possibly inviting us to overcome ourselves and go beyond our physical and emotional comfort zone/ limits/ constraints.

If "vegliare" means to stay awake when we should / could be asleep this is already asking us to overcome our physical needs of rest and rely on Him for physical strength and stamina to do His will even when we know we need rest, when it's not "the appropriate or ideal" time or circumstance to be giving more.

He might be asking us to stay awake and vigilant when others around us are "asleep". This reminds me of the BoM invitation to "come out of the deep sleep" by Lehi to his children :"...awake form a deep sleep, yea even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe." In other words, if we do not heed His invitation, the opposite will be true: being bound by the chains of hell (while still alive on earth).  

But why be vigilant? the scriptures are clear: so we can recognize the signs of the times and not be caught off guard when the Lord comes again as thief in the night (Matthew 24:42-43, 25:13, Mark 13:35). To those who are in the "deep sleep" Christ will come as a thief in the night with direct consequences...but if we are awake and alert, we will not be caught off guard and shall be ready and prepared for the event.

While in Gethsemane, the Lord told the disciples that His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, even to the point of death. He asked them to "watch" with Him - or "remain here and stay". As disciples of Jesus Christ, we covenant to “mourn with those that mourn” (Mosiah 18:9). There will be moments when we see clear ways to help someone. However, many times mourning with those that mourn does not mean having the right answer to a question or giving a person the perfect resource. Many times, mourning with those that mourn involves listening, waiting, seeking to understand, and supporting the person through the journey.

Now, it is evident that even though the disciples were physically present at Gethsemane (they could have replied "But Lord, we are here. We have had a long day, and tomorrow will be another big day. We need our rest, even if only for a few hours. Can't you see that we are doing our best? can't you see that we have never done this, it's not what we are used to and frankly we want to continue to sleep at night..."), that was not enough for the Lord. He had some clear expectations. He wanted them present in "HIS WAY". 

I wonder what this means when we succor someone: how are we to succor? in our way? in their way? or in HIS WAY? How would Christ have succored himself in this situation if he could have been a disciple and Christ at the same time? 

Are we to be stuck on "This is the best I can do right now, take it or leave it!" or do we seek higher and holier way to be present "in the language" of the person whom we are succoring and in the ways of God? 

We go back where we begun: watching with the Lord / vegliare/ gregoreo is a way of personal growth and development to overcome the natural man/ woman in us. It is a form of holy repentance ("change of mind, knowledge, spirit and breath" according to the Bible Dictionary and President Nelson).

Palm Sunday 2021 - 28 marzo

 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." - Zechariah 9:9

LUKE 19

29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

We know from the history of that time that a colt was a very prized possession, one of the most valued possessions a household could own. It would one day serve as transportation, pull a plow, cultivate fields and carry items to market. In short, this young colt was going to play a major role in the health and prosperity of this family.

I suppose we can assume from the story that the owner of the colt recognized Christ as his Lord and when he understood that the Lord was making such a request, no more questions were asked. What a sacrifice of faith on the part of this man and his whole family. But what a reward to know that the King of Kings would ride on his family donkey!

35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the ^acolt, and they set Jesus thereon.

36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and ^aglory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the ^astones would immediately cry out.

41 ¶ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Does Christ still cry for us because we do not understand the things that bring us peace, we don't understand his message of peace, because we lack the faith and feel that his message is too demanding, complicated, hard that we are not willing to give away our indispensable colts for Him?

What will it take for us to turn unto Him? In the parable of the prodigal son, famine first forced the young man to focus on his physical needs of hunger and lack of money. He got a job feeding swine and he would have gladly eaten the same food pigs eat, until "he came to himself." He had a spiritual awakening and realized that his father had the ability to feed all  his servants, even during that same famine. The young man realized he needed to focus on his spiritual hunger, on the well being of his spirit and knowing that the Father would be welcoming him back, he set off to return home.

43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine ^aenemies shall cast a ^btrench about thee, and ^ccompass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

44 And shall ^alay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one ^bstone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy ^cvisitation.

WHO THE MEEK ARE NOT

WHO THE MEEK ARE NOT

By Mary Karr

Not the bristle-bearded Igors bent
under burlap sacks, not peasants knee-deep
in the rice-paddy muck,
nor the serfs whose quarter-moon sickles
make the wheat fall in waves
they don't get to eat. My friend the Franciscan
nun says we misread
that word meek in the Bible verse that blesses them.
To understand the meek
(she says) picture a great stallion at full gallop
in a meadow, who—
at his master's voice—seizes up to a stunned
but instant halt.
So with the strain of holding that great power
in check, the muscles
along the arched neck keep eddying,
and only the velvet ears
prick forward, awaiting the next order.