Trying to listen

I just found out that I was exposed to someone who has Covid,
so now my companion and I are quarantined L 

January 9, 2022 

Dear Family and Friends, 

I’m trying to be a better listener.  As I have done this, I’ve been blessed to meet some wonderful people. 

On Monday I met an interesting woman in the Post Office.  I had a letter to mail, and could have just dropped it into the mailbox outside, but I felt impressed to go inside to mail it. A woman was inside going through her mail.  She was very friendly and we started a conversation. I learned her name was Diana.  She spoke of a friend of hers who had health problems.  She said several of her friends were praying for her friend.  I offered to pray for her friend.  I also offered to put her friend’s name on our temple prayer roll and she gratefully accepted.  I listened to my new friend as she told me of her relationship with God and how God had guided her many times to help others.  I thanked Diana for sharing these examples with me and told her I had made it a goal to daily look for evidences of “the hand of God” around me. When I was about to leave, she told me she recognized my name tag and wanted to talk about the church.   

On Thursday I had a very nice conversation in the Walmart parking lot with a man named Larry who was rounding up the shopping carts.  As I listened, I learned a lot about Larry's concerns and tried to validate his feelings.  He spoke of his father who had recently passed away.  I offered to help Larry create a family tree and identify his father and other relatives.  Larry was interested.   He said he had wondered about his ancestors.  I gave him my phone number and offered to meet him in the library and help him identify his ancestors.  I also went inside Walmart and told Larry’s boss complimentary things about Larry.  (I like to do this for people who seem to be working in thankless jobs and I encourage you all to do the same.) 

Wednesday Zone meeting with President Despain, a counselor in our mission presidency.  
He dressed up like an astronaut to teach an interesting lesson. 

Thursday afternoon I went to a medical appointment for a monthly shot I get for my osteoporosis.  I was chatting with the nurses about the difficulties of these Covid times.   The nurse practitioner (Felicia) who gave me my injections told me she was working in a long-term care facility at the beginning of the pandemic.  She described how lonely the residents were because of the quarantine.  Felicia told me she would call the families of the residents using her smart phone so that the families and the residents could speak to each other face to face.  It brought tears to both of our eyes when she spoke of it.  I told her she was an angel doing God’s work.  She spoke of her faith in God.  When I got up to leave and put my sweater back on, she saw my missionary name tag and asked about my church.  She told me she thought her father-in-law was a member of my church, although inactive.  I gave her a little background on the Book of Mormon and offered her a copy which she accepted. 

C.S. Lewis said, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal….Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”  I pray we may all listen to each other. 

I love you all, 

Sister Manwaring