Lilacs
Posted By burtons on May 31, 2009
We left Twin Falls for the MTC (Mission Training Center) Monday April 13, 2009. As I looked out of my kitchen window one last time, I saw my lilac bush covered with leaves, but not one bud. I wailed, “I won’t get to see my lilacs this year”, but we were late, and time was pressing and we needed to move out quickly. DeVere assured me that they would be there to see when we got back in eighteen months. It just seemed another thing that I loved that I was leaving behind. We spent five days in the MTC, where it rained and snowed and not even the tulips dared open their petals. On Friday we were released and allowed to find our own way to the airport where we would fly out Sunday morning. We went to Kaylyn’s house on Friday night, spent the day Saturday with our three children in Salt Lake, and on Sunday, early in the morning, we boarded an airplane on the first leg of our trip to Russia.
On Tues Morning, Armenia time, we landed in Yerevan, Armenia. It was early, the sun was not up yet and our driver took us to the Congress Hotel where we went immediately to bed. For most of the week we stayed pretty close to the hotel, but we were able to walk to one of the churches’ buildings with some of the Armenian missionary couples, and on the way we saw flower stands selling lilacs. Oh, how I loved the smell and sight of those flowers and was grateful that at least I was getting to see lilacs this spring. We finished our conference on Friday and on Sunday, the mission president arrived to pick us up, take us to church and then move us into the mission home for the next two weeks. In the minute backyard of the Mission Home was a fledgling lilac bush just beginning to bloom! Over the next two weeks, we walked and rode up and down the streets of Yerevan and everywhere we went we saw lilacs. It caused me to think that- like Noah’s rainbow- those lilacs were a symbol of the love the Savior has for me and that He even knows my name and that I like lilacs.
On Friday, May 8, we boarded a plane for the four hour flight to Moscow. How joyful I was to see lilac bushes lining the street where we walk to and from work each weekday at the service center . They were just beginning to bloom. For the past three weeks we have seen and smelled lilacs each day as we have walked to work. When I think of those lilacs, I feel loving arms being wrapped around me to assure me that I am remembered, loved, and watched over. Did you know that lilacs bear testimony of the Savior?
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It is great to read your blog. Yesterday my brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Aliene Overly from Cedar City, Utah got their mission call. They are going to Moscow Russia to set up seminaries and institutes!!!!!!! I am sure you will meet them at some point and they are so great. Aliene is Brent’s sister and she has been up for Scott and Julie’s mission farewells/homecomings so you may have actually seen them. Love you both–it is my opinion that the lost tribes are in Russia / Mongolia. What you ya think?
What great news!! Arva just found this message. The Gregory’s from Blackfoot left a little over a month ago, and they had the CES calling. We were called in to fill in with Young Single Adult activities and Family Home Evenings until a new couple could be called. We will most assuredly get to know them much better. You might want to give them our e-mail address so we can advise them on some things they may want to bring with them (like chocolate chips and nylons).
At least some of the members of the ten tribes are here. The patriarchs confirm that they have given blessings to members of all 12 tribes here in the countries of Eastern Europe. Some believe that at the scattering of the 10 tribes, many stragglers were left behind in these countries. The young members of the church are very strong in their commitment to the gospel, and they truely act like the faithful sons and daughters of Abraham.