![]() She could not even speak the language of her present benefactors. She had been abused and driven through the forests and jungles and finally out of her own country. Some of her family members had been killed. I learned that this woman had been driven from her home. She gently pulled this woman’s head over onto her shoulder and smoothed her hair with one hand as she put her other arm around her to comfort her. In a refugee camp in Bataan, Philippines, I watched as one of our lovely lady missionaries sat down on the dirty floor beside an old woman who was weeping and confused and afraid. They did this, and now, as a reward, each has a memory and a pride which they recognize as one of the finer and more important things that they have ever done. Let them feel the joy and gain the treasure in their heart and soul that come from silent, selfless service.” It is carefully and quietly recorded there. Then I said, “You might consider helping your young people learn a higher law of recognition. They asked if they could come and bring the check and have their picture taken with me as they made the donation, and could they have the picture and an article put into the news? They wanted to sacrifice their adventure trip and donate all the money to the general missionary fund. ![]() ![]() Later, the bishop said he had talked to the young people and they had caught the vision and spirit of our previous conversation. I have just said that there are finer things to do.” I explained that I was not against the kind of project they were planning, but there must be a balance, and, by comparison, some things are interesting and enticing while other things are important. He said, “Are you asking me to have these young people donate these funds to the general missionary fund of the Church?” I said, “No, I have not asked you to do that. We talked about the relative value of an adventure trip as compared to that of missionary service. I explained that the amount of money these fine young people had earned would keep several of these missionaries in the field for their entire missions. Fashion is whatever is available, and in many cases that is not much. For the family to have enough food is often a challenge. I told him of the struggles of young people in those areas to obtain the needed funds to support themselves on missions. I know of their challenges and sacrifices. I explained that my ministry takes me into countries where the people are less privileged than where he lives. He was even more surprised and asked what I meant. ![]() I answered that although it was commendable that the young people had worked hard to earn this money, some things are interesting while other things are important, and that there may be a higher purpose for the funds they had obtained from all the energy they had expended. He called and asked if I would help him get some news publicity so these young people would be recognized for the fine things they were doing. I had had some acquaintance with their bishop. The young people of a certain ward had worked to earn the large sum of money needed to go on an adventure trip. ![]()
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