counter-intuitive priorities

wonderful thing for Thursday, Jan. 8: a changing heart. We have a vision of how things can be for these young adults. We've had a lot of personal experience since we were their age, we've seen the Gospel in action in our family and in the Church. Here in Italy, the Church is still young, even though it has grown and deepened its roots in profound ways in the forty years since we last served here - at that time, only about six years had passed since missionary work had begun again in Italy (after the days of Lorenzo Snow). So, even though they're looking at their second and third generation of members, there is still "an effectual struggle to be made" (Mosiah 7:18). One of our big challenges is to be patient in the melding of our vision with the reality of where the Church, as reflected in the paradigms of its members, is today, here. Example: together with the presidency of the Institute program (the young adult arm of the Church Education System), we plan these great activities, and weekly home evenings. As a senior missionary couple, we work hours on preparing weekly Institute lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants. WE can see what a blessing all these experiences will be in their lives. Then...they don't show up. They're overwhelmed with studies and work; they have transportation problems, they have family problems. Life is happening, we know that. We want them to see that, when we place the Lord, His will and His work first in our lives, all these other things take their rightful place; we don't find ourselves swallowed up in the thick of things, albeit important things. So yes, what we plan and what we desire for them is sooo good - but as the saying goes, "They won't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Case in point: I asked one of our young men to take a small responsibility for the home evening Sunday. I know he is super busy, but it was just a small thing, and it would encourage him to be there. A couple of DAYS later, he answered, saying he was sorry, he had this and that to do, (and they are important things), which would keep him from doing that small thing, and from being there Sunday. My ire was rising. Yes, I thought, I know you're busy (did you know that BUSY can be an acronym for "bound under Satan's yoke"?), but I can see that your priorities are off center and that you're missing out on growth and blessings, and you have so much to offer, and ... Okay. How would any of that, blasted back at him, really prove of any benefit? You know what I wrote back? "Wow! How can we help?" We're learning to cool our jets, and to put things in the Lord's hands. Isn't that what He wants THEM to do? fun thing: got my hair done yesterday. I have learned over the past decades that for my personal sense of self, it's really important to have a cut and a color that makes me happy when I look in the mirror. It may seem counter-productive to give the time and the money for it, but when you think about it, three hours every four months is a small time investment. Beyond that, I found out that a member of the bishopric in Florence has his own salon and gives good rates to missionaries! Good cut and color: check. Yes, every four months.