America the Beautiful

for spacious skies

 July 4, 2022

 

Dear Family and Friends,

 The opening song in church Sunday was America the Beautiful.  The words brought tears to my eyes because I’ve seen a lot of beautiful things about America this week. These are some of my observations.

 

watermelon

In our ESL class we talked about Independence Day traditions.  We discussed traditional foods.  One of the foods mentioned was watermelon.  So I was happy that the food I delivered to refugees this week included watermelons.   Turns out that watermelon is also a favorite in Afghanistan.  The previous week a kind donor provided food for the soul for some of our refugees: Qurans and prayer shawls.  It made me proud to be an American 😊

Frequently when I am delivering food, these refugees will invite me to come in.  I usually decline because I’m in a hurry, but this week one woman was insistent.  “Come, come, come,” she said motioning me into her apartment.  (That might have been the only English word she knew.)  I followed her in and she poured me a glass of juice.  Her husband carried the watermelon from my car.  It was a hot day and I didn’t mind the help.  I believe that kindness is inborn and shouldn’t be discouraged.

 

welcome home

The next day I had the privilege of helping a refugee family move into their new home.  The mother and one of her children rode in my car.  In her limited English this mother told me of the many moves and temporary living situations her family has endured since leaving Afghanistan. When we arrived, the homeowner was waiting for them on the porch.  She had placed flowers and cupcakes in the kitchen and was genuinely happy to see them.  (They were a little camera shy, but I was able to snap a selfie with them in the background.)

Hermanas

 

Friday evening I had the opportunity of accompanying Hermana Morales and Hermana Johnson in teaching some new friends about the restoration of the gospel.  And on Saturday Elder Parsons, Elder Ellsworth, and I had the privilege of sharing a gospel message and a picnic with Kenneth and his sister Darlene.  I am continually grateful to live in a free country with an inspired constitution where the gospel could be restored.  

 

cousin fun

Then Sunday, the missionaries and I were blessed with another family meal.  But this time it was my family.  Yes, I found more cousins in North Carolina.  The Goodrich family are my second cousins (twice removed.)  (The family Search app is great for finding relatives!)  I was super happy when they invited me because I got to meet their extended family and because my 4th of July tradition has always included lots of family and cousins.  I had no plans for this holiday weekend, so it was a blessing!  They treated us to a “southern fish fry.”  They told me since it was my first “southern fish fry” I had to eat the tail of my fish.  Actually, it wasn’t bad--tasted kind of like a corn chip!   🤪

 

Happy birthday America!

 

I love you all!

 

❤️Sister Manwaring

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