Learning at the Feet of an Apostle

Last Thursday morning at 4AM almost all missionaries in Cauayan Mission were awake.  Most were too excited to sleep and wanted to be ready on time.  Sister Craig and I managed to sleep in until 5AM.  Typically missionaries are up at 6:30 but this day was an exception.  A man esteemed by members of the Church as a prophet, seer and revelator, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, would meet with the entire Cauayan Mission at 8AM in Cauayan.  With over 16 million Members of the Church in almost 200 countries across the world, this would be a rare treat indeed.  Few if any of our young missionaries had ever met a member of the Quorum of the Twelve before.  Their excitement was contagious.  Elder and Sister Renland made a 10 day trip to the Philippines and our mission was fortunate enough to be chosen to be one of the missions he would visit. 

The sheer volume of travel and work that the Apostles and other General Authorities of the Church undertake is amazing to say the least.  Over the past 3 years, we have watched our Area Presidency work like Trojan soldiers (or carabaos?) to get their work done.  I once remarked to Elder Bangerter that I kind of felt sorry for him with all his travel and work.  He kindly brushed off the comment and thanked me for my work (nice deflection).  

 The amount of preparation for such a visit is daunting.  The Facilities Management Group and Church Security worked almost non stop for a week to make things almost perfect for the physical aspects of his visit.  We spent 5 hours driving the previous Thursday to obtain all the ingredients required for the food we would provide during his visit.  I spent 13 hours the Saturday and Monday delivering mattresses to the closer missionary apartments.  

Our mission is so large geographically that it would be impossible for the missionaries in our southern, eastern and northern provinces to be at the Cauayan Stake center by 7:15 that morning.  We had them travel into closer areas and stay over Wednesday night so travel would be easy the next morning.  The Cauayan Elders apartment slept 14 elders while the nearby Paddad apartment slept 13 and our 3 apartments in Ilagan and Gamu slept 22.  The missionaries are so very social that they loved the big sleep overs (except for the crowded bathrooms -- which required scheduling!).

The day before Elder Renlund and our Area President Elder Wakolo arrived, we welcomed 19 new missionaries from the Missionary Training Center.  They were originally scheduled to arrive on the first day of Elder Renlund's visit.  Their arrival was moved up a day so they could attend (and the departure of 5 missionaries was also delayed until Friday and Saturday so they could attend).  We picked up the 19 missionaries at the airport and got them to the Mission Home at 1PM.  Over the next 5 hours we fed them, oriented them, interviewed them (10 minutes each for 3 and a half hours), encouraged them, prayerfully chose their trainer companions and got some of them headed to their areas (whew!).  Those going to far areas would stay in closer apartments until after the meeting on Thursday.  After 6PM many could no longer obtain travel, so mission vehicles drove them to their areas (home by 930).  

The next morning we were up early cutting up vegetables and fruit and preparing food.  Mid morning we were on our way to Tuguegarao to meet Elder Renlund and Elder Wakolo.  They would meet with the Laoag mission, then a group of Stake Presidents and then a member devotional.  After the member devotional which ended at 7:30 pm, and knowing it was over a two-hour drive back to Cauayan, Elder Renlund graciously took the time to shake hands with everyone in attendance who wished to (I believe that almost all of the approximate 1,100 people in attendance shook his hand).  That is remarkable.Elder Renlund as a person is tall and thin, with a remarkable mind and dry wit.  He is kind and gracious.  He lifts everyone he meets.  It was a joy to be with him and watch him teach.  Some of the things he taught are as follows:

• "Two 70's and an apostle come to you today with a message....THANK YOU."
• "I am not special but He whom I serve is very, very special."
• "Once we receive temple blessings there really is nothing to fear." 
• "The Lord can make the willing able but he cannot make the the able willing."
• "You get to a sure foundation as you go back to the Sacred Grove and see the reality of revelation."
• "It does not matter if you are a perfect messenger because the message you deliver is perfect."
• "God cares more about who you are and what you are becoming rather than who you once were." 

And my personal favorite: 

"President Craig isn't scary but Sister Craig is.  You do not want to disappoint her."  

What added exponentially to our joy was that we were able to be with our all of our missionaries all in one place for one last time.  These last days with our missionaries are tender indeed.  How we love them.

It is our firmly held belief that prophets and apostles walk the earth today, just like in days of old. We have been privileged over the years to have met all of the members of the Quorum of the 12.  Each such occasion is sacred, inspiring and joyful.  We love this mission experience.