BYU's Chris Collinsworth had angels on his left and right sides

Six months into his mission in Australia, Elder Chris Collinsworth was headed home with his companion, Elder David Ferguson, out about 18 months, after their last appointment of the day. The two were on what is called “splits” or "exchanges," working with someone who is not your regular companion.
It was about 8:45 p.m., and they thought nothing of the two men who approached. They even stepped off the sidewalk to let the men pass. As they did so, without provocation, one of the men reared back and landed a punch to Chris’ head that sent him reeling. When he struck a second blow, Chris, no slouch and currently a 6-foot-9 power forward on the BYU basketball team, fought back. The second stranger attacked Elder Ferguson. He used both his fists and a knife but fled in the face of Ferguson’s ferocious defense. Several other men quickly joined the attack on Chris, pulling his shirt over his head, driving him to the ground, and kicking and punching him.
The man with the knife returned to join the fray. Elder Ferguson sprang to pull attackers off Chris, taking his share of blows. One car approached, but the driver simply swerved to the other side of the road and drove on. A second car did the same. A third driver, a Sudanese refugee, pulled up, began to honk his horn, flash his lights and yell. The attackers finally fled.
The attack was well-covered in the media when it happened back in 2008. Chris sat in my office in December and related information about the attack that few have heard. When Chris was set apart and given a blessing, as all missionaries are, his stake president stated there would be a point in his mission when there would be “angels on your right hand and angels on your left hand protecting you.” A big, strong 19-year-old, Chris thought little of the promise at that time.
In Australia, once before with his regular companion, they were surrounded by a group of Middle Eastern emigrants who began pushing and shoving them. When one of them punched Chris, an older Middle Eastern man, observing from a bench, yelled at the young men to leave the missionaries alone, and they managed to escape harm. Afterward Chris asked his companion what he would do if attacked. He said he would run.
However, on this occasion, Chris was with Elder Ferguson who jumped to his defense. After the attackers fled, Chris described “blood everywhere.” Elder Ferguson’s hands were severely cut trying to fend off the knife attack. Chris explained, “It looked like the Blue Man Group only red everywhere.” Chris wrapped his tie around Elder Ferguson’s hand to help stop the bleeding, and when the ambulance arrived, he directed help to Elder Ferguson. He only rode in the ambulance so the two could stay together. However, at the hospital, trying to exit the ambulance, Chris collapsed, unable to walk. Taken inside in a wheelchair, he asked to use the phone to call the mission president. The nurses strangely refused. Then a “code red” went out over the loudspeaker, calling emergency room personnel to respond to a stab wound to the kidneys, a dangerous, life-threatening injury. Doctors and nurses left Elder Ferguson’s room and descended on Chris.
At some point in the melee he was stabbed in the back. In shock, with adrenalin flowing, his muscles tightened. Only after Chris had a shot of morphine did blood begin to flow from the puncture. When checked, miraculously, the knife missed his kidney by less than a centimeter. Chris was also able to make that call to his mission president. One of the paramedics was an LDS Church member who lent his cell phone, and when the mission president arrived blessings were administered. Chris estimated that for about 20 seconds his attackers were kicking him full force in the face and head. He stayed in the hospital overnight for observation, but left the next day with no bruises, no concussion, no lasting pain or injuries.
Meanwhile, a specialist was called to attend to Elder Ferguson’s wounds. Anticipating extensive damage to ligaments and tendons in his hands the doctor scheduled surgery the next day. In surgery he was amazed. There was no real damage to the ligaments or tendons, and Elder Ferguson was sewn up and able to recover on his own, although, as Chris explained, “He’s got way better scars. You can barely see mine.”
When the mission president returned, some days later, with the missionaries to the scene of the attack, he recounted to Chris the spiritual intuitions that accompanied the visit. He testified that during the attack “angels were on your left hand and on your right hand, watching over you.” Chris had never recounted to his mission president the blessing pronounced upon him when he was set apart.
So now you have, “the rest of the story.”  Author: Kristine Frederickson : LDS World

Happy Birthday Hermana Park

There are a few days of a Missionary Mom's life that are hard to bear.  First is the day we drop our kids off at the MTC.  It is one of the hardest days of our lives.  You think Kindergarten is hard?  Try dropping off your baby for two whole years!  The second day might be Christmas, but for me it is their birthdays.  Tomorrow will be the first birthday Destinee has spent away from home, and the first birthday I have missed being with her.

I have to think a little about the past 22 years.  Destinee was always preparing for a mission.  I have always said that there is some guy out there who is very lucky because whomever she marries will have the wife it takes to become a General Authority.  Behind every great man is an even greater woman.  Destinee has always done what is right.  She has always made good choices, and has always loved the Gospel.  She has always been worthy.  What a great example that young lady has been to me and others.

22 years ago I was in the hospital, urging her to come out and meet the world.  Just after midnight, at 12:28 am, she entered this world, determined to make it a better world.  What a glorious day that was!

Missionary Moment: I Really Miss My Mom

Missionary Moment: I Really Miss My Mom   By Mark Albright

This is a contribution from the files of President Mark Albright of the Washington DC South Mission. (It was published in Meridian Magazine)
It was a bitterly cold December day in 2009. Elder Curt Anderson, a missionary from the Washington DC stake who was serving in the Manchester England Mission, decided to go with his companion to the Bolton shopping district to try and find people to teach.  Busy with pre-Christmas holiday shopping, person after person passed by the two, but no one was willing to stop and listen to their message. Elder Anderson and his companion were getting very discouraged when Christine Rohkele, an African woman who had moved to England in 2004, rounded the corner and headed for a store. As the elders approached her, she gave them a glare that said, “I know you’re trying to sell me something–-but whatever it is, I’m not interested.”
As she brushed by them, Elder Anderson blurted out, “Well, can I just say one thing?” She stopped, turned to him and said impatiently, “I really don’t have time, but go on then.”
Now that he had her attention, thoughts quickly raced through Anderson’s mind of all the possible things he could say that might get her to listen for a few minutes. While she stood impatiently waiting, the words came to him and he suddenly blurted out: “I want you to know that I REALLY MISS MY MOM!”
All of a sudden, she stared intently at this young man and realized that, like her, he was far away from home. Before his eyes, the woman’s face transformed from agitated to emotional. She then explained that she hadn’t seen her own mother in more than 12 years because she had died in a car accident and, in spite of all the time that had passed, the memories of that were still really painful.
Elder Anderson then felt inspired to bear a personal witness to her of why he had left his own mother behind to come here to talk to people like her about the Plan of Salvation, the restoration of the gospel and the Book of Mormon, concluding with an invitation to attend Church the following Sunday.
To his surprise, when Sunday came, Christine walked into the chapel, followed by her two little boys, dressed in their Sunday best. After the service, the elders asked her how she had felt. She responded, enthusiastically, “I’m home. This is where I belong!” Baptized seven weeks later, she then began preparing to go to the temple. Because of the gospel, she knew that she would see her mother again.
Since then, Christine began raising her boys in the church and the oldest one was baptized. Church members helped her find a different job that allowed her to partake of the sacrament each week and still support her family. She has given the church many referrals that have been sent back to the missionaries in serving in her homeland in Africa.  She helps the sister missionaries in the ward fellowship people and plays an active role in the Relief Society each week. She is truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ–all because Elder Anderson felt inspired to share his honest, yet heartfelt longing for home.

Christmas phone calls!!!

Our Christmas phone calls were terrific.  We thought that Elder Park would call at 10 am, and rushed home from my moms to be here for it.  He didn't call that early but Hermana Park called a half hour early.  We didn't plan questions a head of time, but just let it be spontaneous. We put her on speaker phone and at the last minute I grabbed an old micro cassette recorder.  She had us on speaker phone too.  So, it was a big party, with me and my hubby, the kids older brother and younger sister, and her companion.  We never ran out of things to say, and got to talk to sweet Hermana Benavides too. Destinee read us the words to a Christmas song in Kaqchikel.

Elder Park tried calling when we were on the phone with Destinee, and had to call back later.  We used the same set up--tape recorder, speaker phone, all of us and he was also on speaker phone.  We got to talk to his companion, Elder Torres also!  And then they sang a Christmas song for us.  It was so sweet and so filled with the Spirit.

Both of my kids had tamales for Christmas Eve and Christmas and also went Caroling that night.  Yesterday we got pictures of their Christmas festivities in the emails.  It was a wonderful Christmas, and not at all like I was worried about.

Were doing all of this......twice :)

TEN REASONS WHY A MISSIONARY CHRISTMAS IS DIFFERENT

-Written by Missionary Mom Sally Tielemans of Henderson, Nevada

1. Last Christmas we were counting our money; this Christmas we are counting our blessings.

2. Last Christmas we were giving thanks for gifts from stores; this Christmas we are giving thanks for gifts from God.

3. Last Christmas we valued things that were costly; this Christmas we value things that are holy.

4. Last Christmas we were wrapping gifts; this Christmas we are wrapped up in the work.

5. Last Christmas we looked into people's eyes when we spoke; this Christmas we look into their hearts.

6. Last Christmas we prayed to obtain a testimony; this Christmas we pray to share our testimony with others.

7. Last Christmas we were impatient with the weaknesses of others; this Christmas we are working on our own.

8. Last Christmas we read the scriptures as a duty; this Christmas we read them as a joy.

9. Last Christmas we thought it was enough to celebrate the holidays; this Christmas we are finding ways to consecrate them.

10. Last Christmas, Guatemala and California were just places on a map; this Christmas, they are places in our hearts.

getting in the Christmas shopping spirit

Don't get me wrong.  I have no problem getting into the Christmas Spirit.  What I am having trouble with this year is shopping for Christmas.  First of all, I hate shopping.  Second, two of my kids will not be here for Christmas.  Yeah, yeah, I know that I am blessed, that I have been given the best gift, and that other mothers wished that they could have two missionaries, BUT, that doesn't stop me from being sad.  I am sad in the stores.  I try to find stuff to send Kade in his box, and find myself tearing up and not accomplishing anything.  I just went through this a couple of weeks ago trying to get Destinee's box sent off to Guatemala.  Why is it so easy to be sad and yet happy at the same time?

Missionary Stories.......from other's

I hear a lot of missionary stories through other moms.  I thought it would be fun to share a few of them here since this is my Missionary Mom blog.

From Collette: "

I had a cool experience yesterday that I wanted to share with all of you.  My oldest son served his mission in New york and one of the sisters he taught and baptized there about 10 years ago (who now lives in Provo) just returned from a mission to Tonga.  We were able to go to her homecoming yesterday and see the full circle of her conversion and my son's mission service.  You never know how far reaching their service will go.  She talked about missions being a university and how much knowledge is gained, and the testing and growth that occurs.  She is so grateful for my son's mission service.  It changed her life!.  It was awesome to see and talk with her and to hear her testimony."

From and elder in the North mission:

We came to church early in the morning to set up. While there, an 18 year old, ***** told me to come with him to go get a sister in the ward. We took off and one mile later, I found myself in the home of a very, very old member who could no longer move much of anything anymore.
***** told me it was our job to get her all the way to the church. He left the house for a second and returned with a tiny, half-broken wheelbarrow.
"We always use this," he said and I could not protest because there was nothing else around that I could use. So we placed her in the rickety wheelbarrow and off we went.
Of course I got stuck as the one who pushed because ***** told me I was the strong one and needed to.
The problem is, the path to the church is REALLY rocky. So there was no way to avoid the crashing bumps and jerks that came. So here I am pushing a 90+ year old lady in a wheelbarrow down a rocky mile-long road.
I felt so strange. She kept saying something and I asked ***** to translate so I could help her. (He speaks Spanish and Ke'kchi). He just kept saying, "She's gonna die!" Joking I assume, but who knew....
All the way the people on the path saw me and were just laughing their heads off.
Finally we made it to the church and unloaded her onto a chair. Suddenly she burst into tears and started shouting something. "UH OH" was my first reaction.
I asked the branch president to translate. He told me she was just exclaiming how happy she was to be at church.

And here is a funny one that still has me laughing:

"Last night I was waiting to call in the numbers for the work week. While I was waiting for my leaders to call me. (Take note that I cannot call from my house and I hike about an hour away to find signal.) So while I was waiting I go to call another Elder to ask him a question. Anyway a Sister missionary answers the phone. I was a little confused and for some reason only talked to her in Spanish. (it was very clear she was a North American missionary). She starts going crazy and tells me she didn't understand. I tried to talk to her again in English but for some reason I couldn't. So she goes to get her companion. I was shocked to all of the sudden be talking to a man. I was thinking what the heck is an Elder doing with a Sister. Anyway so I start to talk to this other Elder and he yells at me. "Elder Briggs you speak English, speak to me in English!"

Then he asks me why I was calling his wife. I was starting to get really confused. Then he tells me "Elder Briggs I am your mission president." I was certain it was some Elder playing a stupid joke on me. So I tell the Elder (man) that he isn't. Then he starts to freak out and worry about me. "Elder Briggs, how are you doing? Are you feeling alright?" He asked me over and over.  This went on for about 5 minutes. Both of us really confused and not sure what was going on. Finally I ask him..."Wait...so are you like a senor couple or something." he clearly upset now tells me again. "Elder I AM YOUR MISSION PRESIDENT!" Finally after a few seconds of silence and thinking who it could be all I say is. "I'm in the North mission" He started to lighten up a little and told me he was the Central mission president. I guess it turns out that there is an Elder Briggs serving there too. Anyway! I thought it was pretty funny. It has to go in the books for one of the best misdialed numbers ever!!"