TONGAN UPDATE 12 JUNE 2008- GOD'S MAGIC

Tongan Update, 12 June 2008, God’s Magic

What can be more magical than the birth of a baby? Today Mandy Diane Thompson stepped through the veil and has joined us on this earth. She weighs seven pounds and is seventeen inches long.

Dusty, the proud dad, said she has dark hair and is beautiful. She’s our eighth grandchild, and our third granddaughter. What a blessing!

We waited all day yesterday to get the phone call about her arrival. It didn’t come! We knew Melissa was going to have this little gal C-section on June 12. Where was the phone call? Needless to say, Ding-dong Diane forgot to factor in the time difference between Utah and Tonga. But Mandy is here now and all is well. New life is not only magical, it is a miracle when you consider how cells divide, multiply, organize, and define body limbs and parts.

We’ve had other incidences where God has worked his magic.

One of my responsibilities of being the mission secretary is recording the information on new converts onto a computer program and then submitting that information to the Salt Lake Church Head Quarters. One of the new convert’s card was not complete so I could not file this person’s baptism and conversion. I tried several different means to get the information that was required, but no luck. I was getting discouraged and was trying to come up with a new game plan when the bishop of our newest Church member called on the phone with the information I needed. I was able to submit the information and now this individual is officially on the records of the Church! That was pretty good timing you’d have to say!

Whenever Elder Thompson has to speak in church, he has this cunning ability to look over his audience and adapt his talk to meet the needs of the congregation. To me that is magic. I like to follow my script, and I don’t diverge very far from it.

Last week I attended a branch leadership meeting where everything was spoken in English. I understood what was being said and was very comfortable. At the same time, John was in a stake meeting where everything was spoken in Tongan…everything, except the talk he was to give. Instead of being calm like me, he was nervous and worried about his talk delivery. A silent prayer was offered before standing at the pulpit, then, he began his message. After giving the talk, he learned that most of the congregation understood what he said. How is that? It is magic.

I went to a wonderful Stake fireside sponsored by the Young Women Organization of the Church. About four hundred sisters were there. The decorations were amazing, the use of technology was incredible, and the speakers were excellent. Sister Shumway, the temple matron, was the main guest speaker.

The whole evening was uplifting and spiritual. Then it was my turn to say the closing prayer. I usually say very simple prayers, but this night I really wanted to end the evening with the spirit that the others had radiated. I said a little prayer to help me to find the words that would be meaningful and appropriate. Oh my…I gave a beautiful prayer. You would have never guessed it was little old me…because I had a lot of help.

You can see Heavenly Father’s magic all around us in the beauty of the land-- the sunsets,

splashing ocean waves,

and swaying coconut trees.

You can feel the magic through the smiling Tongan people, the faithful members,

and a reverent temple session. ‘Ofa ‘atu, John and Diane