wonders beyond the ken

Wonderful thing:

Patrick is a wonderful thing.  He was baptized July 5.  We visited him today at his house, which he shares with other Africans.  They are all waiting for their official documents of residence.  They live in a lovely neighborhood in a house rented by the government.  They keep it very clean.

Patrick is a happy young man.  He is a dedicated young man.  He told us how he asked a lady why she drinks beer if she is a Christian, and invited her come to his church to feel the spirit there.  He was dismayed when she told him she doesn't believe in any of that.

I've never been to Africa.  In the last few months, three young African men have joined the church in our ward, and one in Florence.  It is clear that they come from a culture that values real Christianity.  They take it seriously in a way that is rare in the Western world.

Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of problems!  From what I've seen, most young Africans who escape the realities of life in west Africa don't really fare much better here - Italy has too many problems of its own.   I see an awful lot of them begging or selling stuff on the streets.  I hear of worse.

Young men like Patrick, though, with the light shining in their eyes and the gratitude flowing from their fingers, and the will to come and partake...young men like Patrick will work wonders.  It was a privilege to meet with him.  It was a privilege to hear his friend Stephen, who is taking the missionary discussions, pray.  I felt like he has a spiritual maturity that I am just barely acquainted with.

I don't know how things will go for them.  I think God has this.  Patrick will probably be baptizing Stephen in the next few weeks.  That's a wonderful thing.

fun thing:

A few days ago we bid Francesca farewell.  Her fiance' Agostino has been serving as a missionary in the Rome mission for a couple of months now.  She enters the Provo MTC tomorrow.  She'll be serving in the Colorado Ft. Collins Mission!  Give 'em heaven, Francy!

AFTER LIGHT

AFTER LIGHT

By Linda Hyde

“Whom seek ye?”
“Jesus of Nazureth.”
“I am he.”

(Wise men still seek Him)

“Where is he that is born King
Of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the East
And are come to worship him.”

“Whom seek ye?”
"Jesus of Nazureth."
"I am he."

The Great I Am.
They fall back before such majesty,
Those servants of the dark
Who come out as against a thief,
With swords and staves.

“Whom seek ye?”

“Let us now go,” said the shepherds,
And see this thing which is come to pass.”
And they found the babe,
Wrapped in swaddling clothes
And lying in a manger.

Herod said, “Go and search diligently for the young child;
And when ye have found him, bring me word again,
That I may come and worship him also.”

“Whom seek ye?”

“Betrayest thou the Son of Man
With a kiss?”

“Whom seek ye?”

For light or for darkness -
We all seek Him,
To follow, to become Like -
Or to destroy, to make
Nothing.

Be not mistaken:
The Prince of Darkness seeks Him
With fangs bared.

Lord, let not anger turn me
From the Light;
Let not pride make of me
A servant of the dark.

"Woman, why weepest thou?
Whom seekest thou?"

May I say,
Always and ever:

"Lord, Thee."