"Stars, in your multitudes
Scarce to be counted ,
Filling the darkness
With order and light
You are the sentinels ,
Silent and sure,
Keeping watch in the night
Keeping watch in the night
You know your place in the sky ,
You hold your course and your aim
And each in your season
Returns and returns
And is always the same.
(A song the character Javert sings, from
"Les Miserables)
No photo here, just a memory of traveling late last Sunday night, from General Villegas to Buenos Aires, with the APS.
We were on a very long, dark, two lane highway, and suddenly, we noticed the brilliance of the stars above and the hugeness of the "Milky Way". Evrett commented that this was the first time he and I had been able to see the stars in the "Southern Hemisphere" sky.
We pulled off the highway, and drove a little ways down a dirt road. Then, we all got out of the car and gazed at the bright stars for a few moments. We talked about the scriptures that refer to the Lord creating "worlds without number", and the scriptures in the Book of Moses that tell about Moses' reaction, when he saw all the inhabitants of the earth and the vastness of the Lord's creations. Moses realized then that "man is nothing".
On Monday, the verses from the song "Stars" popped into my mind, and I have been humming that song all week as we've worked with our missionaries various ways.
Last night, I realized that the words from "Stars" remind me of our missionaries and our wonderful family and friends.
It's a dark and cold winter in Buenos Aires right now, and it seems like we've been encouraging our missionaries all week to do their best to stay out on the streets day and night, even when faced with illness and danger, proclaiming the Gospel to the people. A few missionaries have told us that some of the people here call them "angels"and want to serve and help them in their work.
Yes, they are angels, and when they are out among the people, they are "filling the darkness with order and light".
They are the "sentinals" who "keep watch in the night" and "hold their course and their aim, and are "always the same", because they are proclaiming a Gospel that is always the same.
The missionaries give comfort and hope to the people of Buenos Aires.
We want our dear family and friends to know that you are all the "Stars" in our lives, who give us strength and direction.
Because you are our own personal "Stars", we send a big hug and a big kiss and "Thank You" to you all.
We love you all and we miss you all!
Hermana Sasha Lopez
Buenos Aires Argentina LDS Temple
About Us
- Hermana Cheryl y Presidente Evrett Benton
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- We have been assigned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve as "Mission President and Companion" in the Buenes Aires, Argentina West Mission, from July 1, 2008, to July, 2011. The boundaries of our assigned Mission in Argentina will begin on the west side of the city of Buenos Aires, and extend over 300 miles of the "campo"(countryside) West of the city of Buenos Aires. During the three years we will be working in Argentina, our assignment will include teaching, training,and caring for a great number of valiant young men and women from North, South, and Central America, who will be serving as missionaries in the Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission. We will also be working with local Church leaders, to lead, teach and train Church members. We are happy and excited about this opportunity to serve the Lord in this capacity. We truly appreciate the love, support and prayers of our family and friends. We express our love to you all.
2 comments:
i just uploaded my les mis cds to our computer and so they've been randomly playing every once in a while and chloe, ever the intent listener, started asking me about the story. as i was telling her, she burst into tears and was so so sad. it's difficult to explain how much beauty and truth is found in the sometimes suffering and hardship, so we quickly switched over to the annie get your gun soundtrack.
but your sentiment rings true. and that song is perfect. plus, there is just something so amazing about the sky. stars or clouds-- they get me every time.
xo
Cory and I have a blog. If you would like to take a peak at our lives you can go to veronicachapman.blogspot.com
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