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| Shazia Aziz, Janette Connell, Debbie and Norm, and Mohammed, Shamir and Fatima Aziz. |
This week, we've had lovely, mild fall weather to do our temporal and spiritual work. With a team of outside helpers, Norm helped put new Tiwi devices (they help missionaries drive more safely) in the mission cars at three days of zone conferences. He had to be out early every morning and arrive at the conferences by 8 a.m., driving unfamiliar vehicles in rush hour. Tuesday, he removed Tiwis from 33 cars—arduous work which they didn’t finish until late—we got home at 6:50 in the evening. He was very tired. However, the Connells, a senior couple that live near us, had asked him to come and help give a priesthood blessing that night at 7 p.m. So we went to the two-bedroom apartment of the Aziz family from Pakistan, Connells’ neighbors.
Mr. Aziz works for the US government. They have two young adult children, son Shamir, and daughter Fatima, and Teenzela (they tell us to call her Tonya because we struggle to pronounce her name.) She is nine. She has a sweet face and glossy, wavy black hair. Tonya has been severely disabled since birth, with little mental and physical ability. Her parents brought her to the United States seven years ago, hoping that a cure could be found. They can’t return to Pakistan because of his work. If they communicated with their family in Pakistan, it would put their family members in danger.
Tonya is on oxygen, a ventilator and a feeding tube, and hospice helpers are coming. A doctor has suggested that the family end life-support: one of those agonizing decisions that no one can make for parents. They feared that Tonya will feel pain in the process, and reached out to Connells for support. They are Sunni Muslims.
After Elder Connell explained that priesthood blessings are based on faith in Jesus Christ, Norman anointed Tonya with oil consecrated for that purpose, and Elder Connell gave a blessing to her, which he extended to her family, to bring them peace and strength. Then we visited—they wanted us to stay; I imagine they feel quite isolated. They had prepared lovely trays of food.
Saturday, I gave the Aziz family my Holy Holly book, which I wrote about the life and death of my baby sister, Holly. As I looked at my Mom and Holly on the cover, I felt that they were with us, trying to impart empathy and comfort. Once again, Aziz's were so kind. Later, they sent some delicious potatoes that they had cooked. Tonya’s condition is about the same. Please join us in praying for Tonya and her wonderful family.
Norm took out another 33 Tiwis Wednesday, and on Thursday, 12 more, making a total of 78 for the week. He shipped them to SLC. By Thursday evening we were exhausted. Zone conferences are hard work for senior sisters, too. We load and unload a lot of food, prepare and serve it, and are on our feet all day. However, our neighbor, Julia, was moving Friday. So she and I had a good chat. I gave her three cards: one for the Washington DC Temple Christmas light display, one with our name and phone number, and one with which she could download a Book of Mormon. I told her we came two thousand miles to testify to her (and others) that the Book of Mormon is true and that Jesus Christ loves her and died for her. She received this graciously, and I'll miss her as a neighbor.
As office workers, we don't get to share our religious feelings with anyone but other missionaries, so this was a blessing. Missionary work —and our small contribution to it—is paramount to us. We're thankful that the Lord is teaching us so much as we work in a variety of ways here in Maryland and D.C.
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| Trees looking into their looking glass. |
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| Mission cars waiting for their new Tiwis. It is estimated that these devices prevent 650+ major missionary accidents every year in North America. There's a 99% reduction in traffic violations, too! |
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| At sunrise on the way to Annapolis for zone conference. |
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| Sunset a few blocks from our apartment (which isn't as posh as these homes!) |
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| We've seen this fox several times and he just stares us down! |
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