We place great pride in our organization. You need help immediately? Done with one phone call. Natural disaster needing teams? Again one phone call, crews respond immediately. We are a close, nurturing bunch of people. We also do not choose where we attend church. One of the blessings of our world-wide organization is that we all believe and teach exactly the same thing. "One faith, one baptism." Geographical boundaries are set for our Wards (congregations). Several wards become a Stake. As the church continues to grow, new Wards and Stakes are formed and the kingdom continues to grow, "the stone without hands that fills the earth." Exciting to participants and observers.
Our family began attending the Pinnacle Mountain Ward, Little Rock Stake 33 years ago, after moving from Minnesota. Because our church has no paid ministry, we have each served in almost every calling there is. Our family fingerprints are literally all over that lovely building on the corner of Rodney Parham and I-630. We have taught, prayed, sung, blessed babies, seen our children (and many others) baptized. We have cleaned, organized, and gardened at the building. We can find anything in that kitchen for you. The stage and gym have seen basketball, volleyball, roadshow, Christmas, primary talent shows, always with Pierson, Gustafson or Clausen family members participating. Testimonies have been strengthened and borne thousands of times in the sacred chapel. Each of our children were taught "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" within those walls by hundreds of devoted, loving saints whom we love with all our hearts.
This weekend changes are occurring. Sufficient growth necessitates the creation of a new stake, moving the Maumelle Mormons into North Little Rock Ward and Stake. Our daughters and families will lead the way for us as they are part of this weekend's reorganization. Upon our return from our mission we will attend church in a different building with the opportunity to learn to love many new saints. Families we have loved for decades, many in their third generation in the gospel in Arkansas, we will rarely see.
We have had some very fun discussions lately about the challenge and joy of change. We came upon an analogy that seems right for us. Would you like to see some photos of our early Spring Arkansas garden?
Now our connection. As our garden has grown, we have become great at dividing plants, sometimes brutally. When the once- beautiful plant becomes root bound, the growing and blossoming is compromised. All of the energy goes inward. When this occurs, we dig it up, shake the soil from the roots, look within the roots for the beginnings of a new plant then pull it apart carefully, if possible. When that doesn't work, the spade or shovel comes out and force is applied. We can get as many as 6 new plants from the "mother". We then lovingly place the new plant in a well prepared spot with loose, fertile soil and nutrients already placed in the hole. Watering and watchful care results in strong, beautiful plants with strong root systems of their own.
The same thing happens to us as we allow our roots to become root bound. We may treat ourselves too gently and resist opportunities to grow. Change is hard and not always convenient. We love the truth that nothing is so unchanging, so inevitable as change itself. The things we see, touch and feel are always changing. Our relationships are always changing. However,there is a constant that allows us to use change for our own good, and that constant is the revealed eternal truths of our Heavenly Father.
When we added a rock path leading from the street to the front door, our boys were not pleased. Gone was second and third base. In fact the front yard ball field was cut in half. As they "participated" in ground leveling, sand and stone hauling, excavating and planting the azaleas, they were really not happy. When we were done, they agreed the results were worth the effort.
We have always loved this C.S. Lewis quote;
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
As we were enjoying the spirit, testimony and love from our new friends in the Zelenograd Ward today, we both commented how much we have learned and grown through our mission experience. The change from this life to a life with Him who is our Eternal Father is the ultimate goal to which meaningful change can bring us. As we allow ourselves to be pruned (changed), nourished and sometimes have our roots shaken a bit, we continue to be drawn toward His light. We can then "bloom where we are planted".
We are posting more garden pictures..
Thanks to Alyssa and Ed, we will return just in time to enjoy this beauty in 2015. Arkansas springs almost hurt your eyes.
