August 11, 2019 Transitions

As we look back on it, a lot of things have happened this week.  Thursday was Zone Conference, the last for two of our favorite missionaries.  Elder Riehl and Elder Buyungu are finished their work here.  Elder Riehl’s family have come to tour with him and we will get to meet them.  Elder Buyungu, who is an orphan, is returning to an uncertain future in eastern Congo after stopping in Kinshasa to do temple work for his parents.  Both are outstanding young men and we predict they will do good things in life.

Elder Buyungu with Sr. and Pres. Sherman

Elder Riehl with Sr. and Pres. Sherman

 









 We learned several things in that conference.  First, if we accept that repentance is a “turning to God”, then obedience is simply repentance without the sin.  It is so much easier to be obedient than to turn away and then need to turn back.  Both obedience and repentance are possible because of God’s grace.  We were also shown a grid diagram with sociability on the x axis and humility/obedience versus pride/disobedience on the y axis.  Christ would be located on that grid in the corner of ultimate humility and obedience and ultimate sociability.  Wherever we locate ourselves on that grid, as we strive to acquire the attributes of Christ we are heading in his direction, and we are in the process of becoming his disciples.

Friday we took the missionaries to Saioua again.  Our first contact, whom we know as Bro. Trey, was busy with family members and not available for another discussion.  His older sister died and several family members had arrived and were making preparations for the funeral, which is a big affair here - large gatherings, lots of food, etc.  However, in meeting his other sisters we realized that they are the aunts of our good friend and colleague, Serge Zadi, from Accra who is the assistant recorder in the temple.  It is a large extended family, many of whom have been members of the church for a generation.  Bro. Zadi’s youngest brother is now serving a mission in Houston, TX.  We divided into two teams again and were busy teaching all day.

Aunts (L) and mother (R) of Bro.Zadi, with a helpful photobomb assist by Bro. Daliba and Elder Rimaono

Yesterday we were invited to be part of a meeting for stake leaders in Daloa with a couple of nearby district presidents also.  Elder John Koranteng, of the Seventy, led the meeting on the subject of Integrity. It was very well done with a discussion of principles followed by six case studies dealing with integrity in handling the sacred funds of the Church.  We have been asked to accompany a counselor to the mission president in doing the presentation in several districts.  Integrity as we think of it in the Church is in some ways countercultural in Africa.  The meeting ended with a discussion of welfare principles.  Being in the meeting was like drinking from the waters of life - refreshment which will greatly bless all who hear and do.

After we arrived for the meeting, Elder Koranteng said he would call on us to share our testimonies on integrity toward the end.  Sue told (partly in French) the story of her father many years ago being asked to come to the bank in Raymond for a visit with the manager, without being told why.  When the interview started, the manager said they were starting a new system of managing money and would be giving out credit cards to some people in the community.  They had chosen J.O. Hicken to receive the first credit card because he was the most honest man the banker knew.

My story occurred about 15 years ago when I was still working in Rochester.  At that time there was a policy that no physician could accept a gift from a patient that was valued at more than $25, in order to avoid any perverse incentives.  I was asked to provide the anesthesia care for a sheik from the middle east, a very powerful and wealthy man, who needed some surgery on his leg.  All went well.  A couple of days later I received a page from the patient’s assistant who said he wanted to see me to give me something.  I was able to get away from the ICU where I was assigned that day, met him, and received a small package. I realized it was likely a gift and thought it might be a book, or even a watch.  It went into my lab coat pocket and I didn’t think about it until the end of the day.  As I changed clothes to go home, I decided to open the package.  Inside I found one hundred and fifty $100 bills!  Since the administrative offices were closed for the day I took it home and showed Sue.

I admit to thinking about what good I might do with that cash.  At the time, each of our children could have used some of that to help them out.  And no one at work would know if I didn’t follow the policy.  The next day I gave it to our administrative assistant for deposit.  But the question I asked myself was, ”What is the value of my integrity?”  I may not know the answer but I know that it is worth more than $15,000.  Actually, if the son of God had to die for us to receive forgiveness, then our integrity is worth at least as much as his life!

Today we drove a shorter route to Niakia for meetings, on a red dirt road with lush green vegetation everywhere.  It was a good day!