There is a lot of joy in serving.  Sometimes there is some frustration.  But one of the most happy parts of serving (as a Senior Couple) is the interaction with the missionaries and occasionally their parents.

We had a new batch of young missionaries arrive.  A few days later, Mark (as the Mission Secretary) got a text from the father of one of the new missionaries.  The exchange went like this:

Good afternoon.  My name is XXX Lastname.  My son’s name is Elder Lastname.  I believe today is his preparation day.  We have been texting him, to no avail.  This is the number I see on our paperwork to call.  Do you know if everything is alright for Elder Lastname and his companion? Thank you for your help.

We had been out at a branch the previous Sunday to review the flats in that area and had seen this Elder.  There was something in the back of our memory and after researching it, Mark's response went like this:

Good afternoon.  This is Elder McCuistion, the Mission Secretary.  You have the right number!  Give me a moment to query the field.  Your missionary is definitely here. I think I know the reason; let me confirm….. Yes.

Elder Lastname accidentally took his phone with him into the baptismal font.  They placed it in rice, but the next day, it was still not working.  So we are routing him a replacement phone.  But his companion has a phone, and Elder Lastname can use it, so let me ring their bell and see what’s up.

We had another interesting experience.  A couple very nice ladies from Botswana Immigration stopped by the Mission Office. They were reviewing the NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) that are in Botswana, including churches.  They wanted to know how many missionaries we have, and the breakdown of Native/Foreign, Male/Female. Mark had those numbers right at hand.  He first gave them a tour of the mission office, showing them the transfer board in the President's office, the general area where we have our medical missionary advisor, the vehicle coordinator, the Visa Elders, and the financial secretary.

They were very interested in the transfer board, and asked if we knew where all of our missionaries were.  Of course, we know which city and area of the city they are in!  They were very interested in the dates under the pictures of the missionaries on the transfer board. Mark explained that this was their End-of-Mission date.  Even if they got a Ten-year visa to stay in Botswana, at the end of their service, we send them home.

They were very impressed.  We think they were also checking for Human Trafficking activity as well as reviewing the NGOs organization.  They went away happy that we were not running some sort of brothel or whatever.

While we serve in the Mission Office, we occasionally get to go to other parts of the country.  We joined the Mission Leaders for the Zone Conference in Francistown, which is north of the capital city.  We rode up with the Mission Leaders.  We expected to stay longer in Francistown reviewing the flats, and when they asked how we were returning to Gaborone, we said we planned to use the local bus system.  We think the President was super happy to hear that.

We were able to see all the flats as well as two of the Landladys.  We found our way through the maze at the Bus Rank to our appointed bus, and rode it for 6 hours back home.  It did not have Air Conditioning, but it did have USB ports at each seat.  And at every stop, 500 hawkers would immediately explode onto the bus with their wares of water, snacks, USB cords, drinks, and many assorted versions of chicken. The people were all very nice, and for a measly 155 pula ($11/person), we easily made it back to Gaborone.

At 7:30pm, when the Mission Leaders picked us up at the bus dropoff point, the President exclaimed: “If Sister McCuistion can ride the bus, the Elders can, too.”

Thus, his joy in having us take that route.  It would be hard to ask us to do it, but when we did it voluntarily, it greatly enhanced his ability to instruct the young missionaries.  They all want the zone leaders to come and give them a ride.  But now, how can they say it’s too hard to ride the bus, if an old Senior Missionary Couple could do it!

Little things you do can have a great impact.

Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things - I am tempted to think there are no little things.

(Bruce Barton)

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Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realize they were big things.

(Kurt Vonnegut)

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We can do no great things, only small things with great love

(Mother Teresa)