This week was my last zone conference! I still can't believe it! But it was definitely one for the books... We had an amazing conference, and then at the end, all the departing missionaries were bearing their testimonies. And about 3 minutes after I sat down, the brother who was installing our new Tiwi's ran in and told us the neighboring building was on fire, and they needed help getting people out!!! Immediately all 80 of us raced out of the church to help- but as soon as we got out and looked at the 4-story senior center blazing on fire we all had to take a second to catch out breath! I have never seen anything like it. We started running towards the building, the elders were flinging their suit coats off, and sisters were kicking off their shoes- we were all ready to go straight into the flames! But thankfully, a responsible policeman wrangled us in a little and gave us some jobs to do that would actually be beneficial... So some of us started escorting seniors out of the building, while others set up chairs in the church gym and passed out water bottles, and left over food from our lunch a few hours earlier. There were many elderly people who had pets with them, so me and another sister got bowls of water for them too.
Needless to say we quickly cancelled all our appointments, and the 80 missionaries there all just went around and visit with those who were evacuated, and made sure they were taken care of. We let them borrow our phones to call loved ones, and helped them get to the washroom, and find their friends and family members.
Anyway, here are a few little excerpts from news reports of that day:
“It’s nothing short of a miracle that there wasn’t a single person hurt in this fire," Richard Hildebrand, Lethbridge Fire Chief stated, “This sort of fire is a fire chief’s and a firefighter’s worst nightmare,”
It was a terrifying afternoon for almost 150 Lethbridge seniors who were forced to flee their burning retirement home on Tuesday.
As for the evacuation effort, the neighboring Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints played a crucial role in helping get residents to safety.
Evacuated residents were sheltered at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints next door and were provided with food, water and conversation.
“When these old people get displaced like that, they’re confused and really upset. So, our missionaries are just kind of settling them down, making them feel a little bit better; that things will be okay,” said Steve Miles, a mission president with the LDS Church.
But they didn’t just provide shelter.
“We have about 80 missionaries that are here and all 80 of them left and went over and helped the older folks as they came out of the building,” Miles said.
“Normally we don’t have this many missionaries here. Today happened to be one of those days that we did. All these missionaries are just young people and they’re here to help.”
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/
The real miracle of it all is that we weren't even supposed to have our meeting that day, or at that building! Originally our conference was scheduled to be in Taber (another city about 40 minutes out) the following day! And all I really have to say about that is God knows His children, and He knows their needs before they even happen! I am so grateful for Heavenly Father's evident hand in this miraculous event, and for my mission president who followed the spirit and gathered all 80 of us in that building that day.
As for the evacuation effort, the neighboring Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints played a crucial role in helping get residents to safety.
Evacuated residents were sheltered at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints next door and were provided with food, water and conversation.
“When these old people get displaced like that, they’re confused and really upset. So, our missionaries are just kind of settling them down, making them feel a little bit better; that things will be okay,” said Steve Miles, a mission president with the LDS Church.
But they didn’t just provide shelter.
“We have about 80 missionaries that are here and all 80 of them left and went over and helped the older folks as they came out of the building,” Miles said.
“Normally we don’t have this many missionaries here. Today happened to be one of those days that we did. All these missionaries are just young people and they’re here to help.”
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/
The real miracle of it all is that we weren't even supposed to have our meeting that day, or at that building! Originally our conference was scheduled to be in Taber (another city about 40 minutes out) the following day! And all I really have to say about that is God knows His children, and He knows their needs before they even happen! I am so grateful for Heavenly Father's evident hand in this miraculous event, and for my mission president who followed the spirit and gathered all 80 of us in that building that day.
And just as a side note of the other great things that happened this week:
~we picked up 4 new investigators...nbd
~we picked up 4 new investigators...nbd
~1 of our ysa investigators is on date for July 29th!
~we met with 2 Less actives that had completely fallen off the face of the earth for over a month
~and we got to sing 'If the Savior Stood Beside Me" at the edith cavell (a different seniors center) sacrament service, and it was hands down the most spiritual musical number I have ever been a part of in my life!
~We played quidditch for fhe... haha
~aaaand we made Canadian cookies:)
Anyway, i don't have as much time as i'd like this week to write my e-mail, but here is a quote i found this week I really loved:)
"All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our character, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God." -Orsen F Whitney
Put simply, I know this is true.
God has great expectations of us all because He knows the great potential that is in each of us. He put it there. So please- follow that path, and do it His way. there is unimaginable happiness that comes when we do:)
love you all so so much!
have a good and safe week!
Sister Dobyns
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| zone conference fire- |
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| Quidditch! |
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| (Mine is the OCD one of the right...) |
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