A Missionary Story: The voice of an Angel

Of course, I want to include some stories from my mission in my series of ME Stories. It was an amazing and hard experience but I love it and learned and grew a lot from my experience.

I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 17 July 1977, at the young age of 29. On 5 July 1979 I entered the MTC (Misionary Training Center) I went to the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission as a Welfare Sister (Hermaña de Bienestar). 

My companion and I were working with the Young Women and their leader ship, having a training meeting. We had an opening song, and I was conducting. Now you need to know, that I am not the best singer. I enjoy singing and I don't hesitate to sing, I know sometime I sound like a frog croaking but I have the spirit. And I know the power of sacred music.

We were singing the Hymn, Secret Prayer (There is an hour of peace and rest.) (Oracion Secreta). The sisters were just dragging the hymn. And I mean dragging it and it was painful to listen to. I made them stop, I told them to feel the words, read them and bring them into there hearts. This hymn teaches us about the importance of prayer and the peace it can give you. I testifies that hymns are like prayers to the Lord and He hears them. 

We started singing again. Suddenly my voice changes, it wasn't my voice any more. It was sweet and angelic and strong and confident. My companion looked up at me in wonder. She had also noticed the change. The group was singing with more feeling. I don't know which angel it was that helped my voice but I am grateful for the experience. 

It was a special experience for me, and even after all these years it still touches my heart.  Here is the link to the words of the hymn. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/text/hymns/secret-prayer?lang=eng

144
Secret Prayer

31243, Hymns, Secret Prayer, no. 144

1. There is an hour of peace and rest,
Unmarred by earthly care;
'Tis when before the Lord I go
And kneel in secret prayer.

[Chorus]
May my heart be turned to pray,
Pray in secret day by day,
That this boon to mortals giv'n
May unite my soul with heav'n.

2. The straight and narrow way to heav'n,
Where angels bright and fair
Are singing to God's praise, is found
Thru constant secret prayer.

3. When sailing on life's stormy sea,
'Mid billows of despair,
'Tis solace to my soul to know
God hears my secret prayer.

4. When thorns are strewn along my path,
And foes my feet ensnare,
My Savior to my aid will come,
If sought in secret prayer.

Text and music: Hans Henry Petersen, 1835-1909

Matthew 6:6

Alma 33:3-11

On This Day in my Personal History

Over the weekend I was thinking about special 4th of Julys and of course the day after the 4th one year was very special to me. So I also reflected on that over that day over the weekend.

On July 5th of 1979 I entered the MTC or the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah. I had joined the LDS church on June 17, 1977 at the age of 29. A mission was the furthest thing from my mind. I wanted to get married but the Lord had other things in store for me. I was raised Catholic and telling my Dad I had joined the LDS church was hard enough but to tell him I was going on a mission are even harder. My Dad didn’t understand anything about any religion except being Catholic. It was also shortly after Jonestown, that I decided to go on a mission. 

So my Dad was worried I was going to go to South America and would drink poison. And where did I go, Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission. He knew he couldn’t stop me and he never understood about my conversion or the desire to serve a mission. But he did promise to write and he kept his promise.



Cover of my Mission Scrapbook

Actually I think he got off easy because when I was ten I wanted to be a Nun Nurse in Africa after seeing the movie the “The Nun Story” at least I would be home in eighteen months.

Above is the cover I made for my mission scrapbook.  The little card in the center is what we wore on our name tags while in the MTC.  While in the MTC you were to speak only Spanish to anyone  going on a Spanish speaking mission.  The Bolivian Flag is red, yellow and green and the national flower is the Kantuta.  After eight weeks of being submersed in Spanish, I thought I could really speak it until I landed in Santa Cruz.  What a rude awaking.



Mission Name Tag

I bet every missionary who ever stayed at the MTC has a picture of themselves in front of the world map pointing to their little spot in the world and I am no exception.

Me in front of the MTC World Map

I loved my mission and I loved the people I severed in Bolivia.  It was a great growing experience and I have many cherished memories of my mission.  The memory of entering the MTC and officially starting my mission is indeed a very found memory.