Today, in the Corvallis 3rd Ward Sacrament Meeting, we gave our "farewell" address to the congregation. Unfortunately, Tom's address has somehow been "lost in cyberspace," but we're glad to share Annie's heartfelt thoughts:
As I look upon you, I see dear friends and feel your love
and support. Last week after we returned
from being gone for 3 weeks, I was overcome with a flood of emotions I felt to
be in your circle again. This has been
our home for 24 years and we can only feel gratitude to have been in your
midst; to have served with you and by you; we have been so blessed by that
association. We arrived here with our 7
children, ages 15 years-5 months.
Schooling was behind us and we were ready to send down our roots. Within 6 months our oldest was in need of a
kidney transplant. I will always
remember young Marcus Rampton bearing his testimony just prior to the transplant
acknowledging that he was fasting for us.
The youth constructed 1000 paper cranes as a gesture of healing support
through Jan Baumgartner’s thoughtful initiative. The day we came back from Portland reeling from the overwhelming diagnosis of a
needed transplant, a delicious and thoughtful pan of lasagna was on our porch. -
Thank you, Diane. Meals were offered and
brought and we even had some visitors at the hospital in Portland. Immediately a loving ward family had
encircled us.
The years that passed brought wonderful friendships for our
children and us. During their Primary
years they were loved, taught or maybe just tolerated by their teachers
depending on the circumstances. Either
way we understood. During their YM/YW
years there were camping trips, water ski trips, snow ski trips, sleepovers,
beach trips, P.P goals set and kept, and Scouting achievements earned. Skills like bike repair, bagel and pizza making,
outdoor survival methods and one on one caring relationships were
developed. Memorable Stake dances with
line dancing to Achy Breaky Heart were rivaled only by the fun pre–stake dance
parties hosted by Kay and Loren Davis and others. Our kids still count these
friends in their circle of close friends even now. We credit the good paths they are on today
much due to what they experienced, felt, learned then. Dedicated seminary teachers, loving YM/YW
leaders, inspired bishops and counselors impacted and blessed their lives
immensely and we are forever grateful.
We leave with assurance that they are each on good paths. They have set their sails and married spouses
that are equally committed to living the Gospel. What a blessing when 2 young righteous people
fall in love, are sealed in the temple and make a united commitment to honor the
Lord with their lives. My reflecting on these things is to acknowledge how a
ward and stake family blesses our lives.
This past week brought a brush with the fragility of mortality
for one of our daughters and her family.
I share this story because we were so grateful for the faith filled response
of all. Emily and her husband are the
parents of 2 little daughters, ages 3 and 1.
They were in Utah visiting her husband’s family and were outside playing
after dinner. No one is sure what might
have been the trigger when their little 1 year old went from being perfectly
fine to suffering a seizure that went on for minutes. Her Utah grandma who was holding her,
immediately offered a silent prayer and a very distinct thought came to her
mind that Heavenly Father was talking to baby Mila and taking care of her. As our daughter called 911, our son- in-law
ran inside with the baby and joined with his father and our son in pronouncing
a very brief heartfelt Priesthood blessing asking Heavenly Father to please not
let their baby die. Obviously no one
knew at the start of the day what was to occur and yet each are living their
lives in way that allowed their faith to flow forth at this time of need. Our
son-in-law did not need to wonder if he was worthy to offer this blessing and
his mother has lived her life being personally committed to always seeking help
from Heavenly Father. How grateful we are for righteous families everywhere and
a Father in Heaven that intervened.
A year ago Tom retired after 37 years of teaching the Gospel
to high school and college age students. His employment was such a blessing for
our family. Completing his career was a huge change yet one that we have
enjoyed immensely. We have loved our
year together and been able to spend lots more time helping, visiting and being
visited by our own children, our parents and siblings. Five new grandbabies have been born allowing
us both to offer help. Many, many
projects have been planned and completed, Tom’s knee had an over haul last fall
and he has had many “walks” on the golf course with Dale Romrell and others. Just when life could be about us, why do we
choose to leave the comfortable and leap towards the unknown? How did we get to this place? As with all callings in the church, we take
our place behind those who have served before us. We walk in those faithful footsteps of the
Romrells, the Kings and 1000’s of others in the Church who left the comforts of
home and love of family to give back to the Lord. We are following wonderful examples.
I have spoken of my heritage before. I want to be true to my valiant ancestors. One of them whose name I bear, Elizabeth
Horrocks Jackson was a member of the Martin Handcart Company. Although she lost her husband due to the
harsh elements they experienced on their way west from England, she and her 3
children survived the experience and she remained true to the covenants she had
made at her baptism. She writes:
“I have a desire to leave a
record of those scenes and events, through which I have passed, that my
children, down to my latest posterity may read what their ancestors were
willing to suffer, and did suffer, patiently for the Gospel’s sake. And I wish
them to understand, too, that what I now word is the history of hundreds of
others, both men, women and children, who have passed through many like scenes
for a similar cause, at the same time we did. I also desire them to know that
it was in obedience to the commandments of the true and living God, and with
the assurance of an eternal reward – an exaltation to eternal life in His
kingdom – that we suffered these things. I hope, too, that it will inspire my
posterity with fortitude to stand firm and faithful to the truth, and be willing
to suffer, and sacrifice all things they may be required to pass through for
the Kingdom of God’s sake.”
I think this may be one of those opportunities for
some sacrificing. I don’t want to meet
her after this life and feel like I squandered what she valiantly sacrificed
for.
Yet even if I did not have a great great
grandmother who had passed her testimony to her posterity, I feel a debt of
gratitude to the Lord for the goodness of my life and our family. Hopefully there will be opportunities in Fiji
to assist our brothers and sisters there in realizing the fullness of the
blessings available through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that as we learn and embrace what our
Savior taught that we can have happier, fuller lives here on earth. As we align our lives on that path we enable the
Lord to share in His eternal goodness even after this life. Living and recognizing the truth during this earth
life protects us from potential miseries physically, emotionally and
spiritually. It also allows hope and assurance
that our family associations are beyond the grave and that our purpose for
being here exceeds any earthly pursuit.
I foresee us having opportunities to share heartfelt concerns with
humble families and individuals who are seeking better understanding of life’s
purposes. They will love the Lord and
will want to more fully understand His teachings as restored through our
Prophet Joseph Smith and continue to be taught by our modern day prophets. If we can extend and multiply the kind of
relationship and experience we have had with the Bohan family as they have come
sincerely seeking eternal truths, then we may not want to come home. They truly are a gem of family. Perhaps we will be asked to assist newly
called branch or ward leaders who are young in the Gospel. As a lay church, we ask so much of
members. Isolated off on some little
island, maybe we can lend some support. Hopefully some things we have
experienced along the way here will help someone there. I hope we will be able to be instruments in
the Lord’s hands to help fill whatever needs we can. Life seems like it must be pretty simple when
all you are taking is 2 suitcases and your companion. Not many distractions and
a whole lot of focus. And isn’t it great that I already know and love my
companion! We look forward to meeting and loving these
people, learning about their culture and then lifting where needed. I cherish the associations I have had through
service here, I can only imagine our hearts will be drawn out to our yet –to-
be- met brothers and sisters in Fiji. We will miss you all immensely and know
that you will be growing just as we will be growing. Are we intimidated, anxious,
apprehensive? Yes, yes, and yes, but we
are assured this call came through revelation.
We’ll go with open hearts and confidence that we can do what the
Lord needs us to do. Our family will be
blessed in our absence just as we were blessed as they served on their
missions. I know the fullness of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ is here upon the earth.
Christ suffered through the Atonement that we could become one with Him
as we repent of our sins. We will bear
His name as we represent Him to the people of Fiji. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
