Picture made by children using various things including wine bottle corks. Picture of feet hanging in Cornelia's shop where she does her work of people's feet.

JUNE 4, 2009 THURSDAY

We got a call from Elder Harris early this morning (7:00) to see when we would be able to be at Susan Serfoezoe’s home to finish installing lights and putting furniture together. We told him we had an appointment at 9:00 with Cornelia Schaer and we wouldn’t be to Susan’s until about 10:30. Elders Harris planned on being there at 10:00, a half hour before us, so he asked us if they could borrow our tools so they could get started. We arranged to take the tools to a bus stop near them which we would pass on the way to Cornelia’s. Just as we were getting close, he called again and said they were needed elsewhere and so they wouldn’t be helping at Susan’s, so we would have to do the work by ourselves. That also meant we had to lug the tools all the way to Cornelia’s and then back to Susan’s apartment which was not far from where we live. And so goes it.

We arrived at Cornelia’s shop and she was excited to show us all that had been done to make it look good and have a separate station for each of the services she provides customers, nails, feet and a tanning bed. Just a little more work has to be done for the nail station. After the quick tour we got down to business and taught her about the Plan of Salvation, where we came from, why we’re here on the earth and where we’re going. She had some good questions that we answered and she listened intently. At one point when we taught her about the resurrection, she asked us if we really believed that our bodies and spirits would be reunited again and, if they were, where would we go or would we float around in space or something. We bore testimony that we indeed would receive our bodies again only this time they would be perfect and immortal, that Christ had made it possible that everyone who ever lived on the earth would be resurrected. We continued on with the lesson a little bit, but then a customer came and we had to leave. When we talked about the spirit world and baptism for the dead, she remembered that she participated in being baptized for the dead when she was young and that she enjoyed the experience. She said she really didn’t understand a lot about it, or maybe she had just forgotten. It was good to be able to teach her again and, when she has time, we’ll continue. She said she would see us Sunday in Church as we left.

Next we went over to Susan’s to begin with the rest of getting her apartment put together. On the way over there Elder Harris called and said they would be able to help after all. We got there and began to work and shortly after, the two elders arrived. I worked on installing the ceiling lights while the elders worked on the cabinets. Diana spent quite a bit of time talking with Susan and found out she is becoming more open to hearing about the Church. She said at one time she was totally against learning anything about the Church, but her heart is softening and maybe as time goes on, she’ll want to know more. Susan is originally from the Philippines and didn’t know about the Church there. Her husband, Serge Serfoesoe, wasn’t active at the time of their marriage, but now he is. Anyway, there is hope she’ll accept the missionaries. The elders didn’t stay too long, but their help was sure appreciated.

After the elders left Diana, Susan and I continued putting the rest of the furniture together. Serge came and helped install Susan’s TV etc. We installed a metal shelf in the kitchen and Diana worked over the kitchen door handle and finally got it so it would stay shut. The last thing we did was to help hang pictures in the living room. Once that was done we spent some time just talking and getting to know one another a little better. Before we left Susan asked for a prayer and that is a good sign she’s willing to believe. After the prayer we talked a bit more and then left. By the time we got home again we were beat. We had a little time before we had to be at Charlotte’s so we both took a nap. Someone told me once to “beware of the afternoon nap” because once you start taking naps, you’re next to dead. Well, I guess we’re next to dead because we needed one.

Charlotte invited Elders Ehlen, Roberts, Harris, Nilsson and us to dinner tonight to say goodbye to Elder Ehlen who goes home a week from tomorrow. At first Charlotte found it hard to see missionaries transferred away. She said she’s gotten used to it, but she’ll miss him anyway. Charlotte just returned from a vacation in Geneva where she spent time with her brother and other relatives. This was her first time away from the “nest” since being baptized and she knew she would be put to the test by her relatives. She said the pressure to drink alcohol was intense and they said she’d lost her mind joining the Mormons. They made a concerted effort to put glasses of wine in front of her, told her she just needed a man and that she had gone crazy after her husband died some years ago. For the three days she was there the missionaries kept sending text messages of encouragement to her. She said that gave her courage and strengthened her resolve to stay true to her covenants. She returned as strong as ever and never tasted a drop in spite of them making fun of her. We spent a nice evening together and then Elders Ehlen and Roberts had to leave. Before Elders Harris and Nilsson left they gave a spiritual thought on a talk Pres. Uchtdorf gave about a three legged stool. The three legs represent faith, hope and charity, and all three are necessary to keep the stool (us) from falling down. Elders Harris & Nilsson left and Diana wanted to see the daycare center Charlotte worked at before she retired and where she occasionally still helps out. Charlotte mentioned several times they were preparing the children to put on a circus for their parents. The daycare center is in the same building where she lives. We took some photos of some of the decorations and krafts they’ve prepared and she showed us some of the costumes the children will wear.

One more inspirational note. Charlotte mentioned that on the Sunday she was away that she felt an emptiness, or that something was missing, and realized how important it is to go to Church and participate in the meetings. She was glad to get home and be among the saints again. These experiences are what makes a mission worthwhile, to see the changes that come into the lives of people as they accept and live the gospel.


Video clip of Cornelia's shop.

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