I was asked to do the camp wide devotional, and as I pondered and prayed about what to say, I had a couple of memories come to mind. I could not remember if I every wrote about them on my Micronesia Guam Mission Blog, so I thought I would share here.
They are good memories and wonderful lessons I learned, Maybe they can help someone else also.
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| Explaining about lanterns and flashlights |
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| Sweet Sis. Way |
Light House’s and the Lower Lights
I love light houses, whenever I get the
chance I go and see them.
The history of why we have light houses
and lower lights is fascinating.
Light Houses were originally built and lit
with a flame. They were there to show mariners the way safely into the harbor.
In really tricky harbors, one’s with
reefs, cliffs and large rocky areas, there was a system formed where lower
lights were used and placed all the way around the harbor, with extra lights at
the entrance, because if you did not enter in exactly the right place, the
ships would be crushed on the reef, rocks or cliffs and lives would be lost.
On nights when there were bad storms or
fog would set in, and the main light house could not be seen, the lower lights
were crucial because many times the Light house flame was not visible to the
ships.
On such a night the alarm would be sounded
and the villager knew that a ship was in trouble. They would quickly grab their
lanterns and run to their designated spot and hold the lanterns high.
It did not matter if it was the middle of
the night, if they were sick or having a bad day or night. They knew lives were
at stake and everyone( even the children)came running with their lanterns, to
surround the harbor, so the ships and sailors could get in the safety of the
harbor and out of the storm.
To me the Light House represents the
Savior. We represent the lower lights.
There are so many children of God out there
lost and searching for that Light House (the Savior),. But for some reason they
cannot see Him.
We must always keep our light bright to help
those that are searching, find their way back to the Savior.
A Walk in the Jungle ( by Melanie
LeFevre)
In Pohnpei, Micronesia, the average
rainfall a year is 400 to 600 inches. When it rains, it is like nothing you
have ever seen before. Some rivers
become raging rivers and rise quickly. You know when it is raining to stay out
of the jungles that small rivers run through.
There are 2 set rules of the Jungle;
1. Don’t get stuck in the jungle after
dark and 2. Always have your flashlight
with good batteries.
So now I have set the stage, let me share
an experience we had on our mission to Pohnpei, Micronesia.
We had just returned from teaching
Institute Class when we received a phone call from Elder Davis.
I knew when he said “ How are you Sister
LeFevre” in such a friendly way, that they needed us to go with them to teach a
family. ( which we loved to do), and when He said “ Before you answer, listen
to my whole request” I knew we were hiking into the jungle and were probably
going to get a little wet and dirty.
So, of course, we said yes, we would love
to come.
We only had about 1 ½ hours of daylight
left, so we dropped our Institute stuff, grabbed our water bottles and left to
pick up Elder Davis and Elder Gasu.
We drove as far as we could go, until we
ran out of road (you might call it more of a wide trail) then we started
walking. Just as we started, it started to rain lightly. We had walked about 15
minutes and came to the 1st of 2 rivers we needed to cross. As we crossed both rivers the water was only
as high as my ankles, so not bad. Then
we finished hiking in the jungle, until we arrived at the family’s home, where
we were teaching. The rain had become harder and now was a full blown
“Pohnpein” downpour.
This wonderful family brought us in
quickly and we got settled in their humble home. As we sat on their dirt
floors, we made mud puddles, because we
were so wet.
This sweet family wanted to give us the
few small blankets they had, so we could get warm. We told them we were all
just fine and we were sorry we were making mud puddles in their home.
They did not mind, They were very use to
the mud and dirt.
We had a wonderful lesson with them, the
spirit was so strong as we told them about the Savior, Jesus Christ and bore
testimony of Him. Many tears were shed as they felt the Holy Ghost bear witness
to them of the truth.
We stayed longer than planned and it
rained the whole time we were there. We finally left and by now it was dark and
there was no moon that night. There are no lights in the jungle and when it is
dark, it is like being in a cave. You can’t see your hand in front of your
face. We knew we were walking out in the
dark and because of all the rain; it would be muddy and slick to walk out. We
would have to go slow.
This is when we realized we had broken
both rules of the Jungle. We were stuck
in the jungle after dark and as we all reached for our flashlights, we realized
that Elder LeFevre and I had forgotten ours, Elder Gasu’s batteries were dead
and Elder Davis had the only working flashlight. We were not prepared.
Now at this point I have to tell you I
have 2 BIG fears; 1. I HATE the dark and 2.
A GREAT fear of drowning. I was soon
to discover I had a 3rd fear. 3.
Fear of drowning, in the dark, in the jungle.
I also learned a powerful lesson that
night. That the Lord, when we turn to Him, can help us do anything, even face
our worst fears.
Well, we put Elder Davis in the front and
we all followed him very closely as we made our way out of the jungle.
As we were walking, I started to hear a
roaring sound and ask Elder Gasu what it was. ( This was my first trip in the
jungle after dark, I had no idea what I was hearing with all the night sounds.)
Elder Gasu and Elder Davis stopped walking
and looked at each other, and I knew right then that the sound we could all
hear now, was not good.
Elder Gasu looked at me and said, “ Sister
LeFevre, do you remember the 2 small rivers we crossed walking in?” I nodded
yes and he continued, “ Well, they are now 1 very big river.”
I thought about that for a moment and then
as we neared the river and had our first look at it the thought ran through my
mind that I was going to sleep in the jungle tonight. I was actually O.K. With
that, because it seemed a better choice then crossing the river.
But Elder Gasu and Elder Davis calmly told
us that they knew the way and they would get us safely across.
Suddenly I was faced with my 2 worst
fears, and that was when I discovered I had a 3rd fear.
Elder Gasu explained that he would take
the flashlight and take me across first, and then he would leave me on the
other side and go back, with the flashlight and get Elder Davis and Elder
LeFevre.
He put his hand out and said, “Do you
trust me, Sister LeFevre?”
I knew that we were with the 2 best
Elders on the Island, Elder Davis and Elder Gasu, and if the Lord would protect
anyone, it would be these two Elders, because of the great work they were
doing. I also knew I trusted the Lord, so I put my hand in Elder Gasu’s hand
and said,” Yes, I trust you and I trust the Lord, just don’t let go.” Elder Gasu laughed and promised me he would
not let go of me, then told me to do my best to step where he stepped and for
me to make sure I did not let go of him.
We started across, I prayed the whole way,
I slipped many time and Elder Gasu never let go of my hand. He and the Lord got
me to the other side and up the bank a little ways. He then instructed me to hold onto the tree
that was by me and told me that when I could feel the water lapping at my feet,
to just back up a little. He shined the
flashlight on the trail behind me, so I would know where to back up and then
ask me if I would be o.k. in the dark and turned around and headed back across
the river to get Elder LeFevre and Elder Davis.
It seemed like hours as I stood there
straining to see that light come back. I
moved further up the trail as the water rose higher and prayed like I had never
prayed before.
When we had crossed the water it had come
up to about my waist, and it was higher now. I was concerned they would not
make it across. I prayed for all 3 of them to get safely across.
After what seemed like hours, I spotted a
tiny pin prick of light. I did not take my eyes off it. As they slowly made their
way across the light got bigger, until, at last, I could see all 3 Elders
coming up the bank and we were reunited.
We safely made our way out of the rest of the jungle and to the car.
We took the Elders home and went home.
We gave a prayer of gratitude for the
Lords watchful care that night.
I have often thought about that night and
the Light House and the Lower light. Often I have thought of the millions of
God’s children, our brothers and sisters, who search in the dark for that tiny
pin prick of light. The light they have either never had or have lost.
In my own life I have had times when I
have not only been in Physical darkness, but emotional and spiritual darkness.
Times when I have searched for that light, times when I could not see the Light
House anymore.
The Lord always has sent me that “Pin
Prick” of light, those lower lights. It has always been sent in the form of
another person.
May we be those “ Pin Pricks” of light and
“Lower Lights” to all those who cross our path, that we might help them find
their way back to the Savior, the source of the light that is within each of
us.
