April 15, 2018 (Happy Birthday, Jon!”)
Dear Loved Ones,
Sorry that I missed writing last week. I had my friend Daisy and her children over for dinner and games, last Sunday night. She recently remarried, I think I told you. Her new husband works in Arizona and she can’t leave Idaho for 60 days according to her divorce settlement. She is a delightful person and I enjoyed playing games with her children.
I had a chance to visit with Jennifer Finlinson last week as her son Andrew had a Lacrosse game here in Pocatello at our indoor stadium. It is so nice to sit in comfort while watching the game. It had been a very cold and windy day, so we were all delighted to be in out of the storm. Great that Andrew’s team won!
Last Monday, was my Empty-nester Fireside. We had a woman from Iran come and talk to us about her experiences as a refugee. She is not a Muslim, but a member of the Baha’i faith. Their basic beliefs are that there is one God and He is the foundation of all religion. She said they believe that all prophets are messengers from God- she named Moses, Mohammed, Christ, and Joseph Smith. They focus on the oneness of humanity and equality. She said when the Revolution began in Iran in 1978 there was terrible confusion and things were falling apart, so Khomeini did to the followers of Baha’i what Hitler had done to the Jews. He blamed all their problems on them and began arresting their men. The children were not allowed to attend school. This sweet women’s father was sent to a prison a long bus ride from their home. Once a week they would let family in the gate if they were there right at 7:00a.m. This woman was only 8 years old at the time that she and her mother would make the long bus ride to be there promptly at 7:00. They were not allowed into the prison until 4:00 p.m. They had to stand outside in the cold or snow all that time. Then when they finally got to see her father, there were guards all around and you were fearful to say anything. She loved her father dearly, so you can imagine the trauma when one week, as they were showing their papers at the gate, they were told that her father had been executed. Her mother gathered all the money she could because she knew they would need to leave Iran. It took time to find smugglers willing to take them. They knew that they needed to go to a country with a United Nation office where they could be declared refugees. They determined that Pakistan was their best hope. When the day arrived for the smugglers to take them, they were informed that their bus was broken, so they would be going on camels. What they thought was going to be a 4- hour ride turned into 8 days with no food. As they were nearing the border, the smugglers told them to be very quiet, because they were passing a village of militia that would kill them if they discovered them. It wasn’t long before they were surrounded by these men. The smugglers threw back the blankets on the pack camels and revealed weapons they had brought with them. They tried to hand them to the 15 women and children in their group. Baha’i teaching forbids killing, so the women and children huddled together and prayed. Apparently, Iranians are very conscious of their family relationships (even to 2nd cousins once removed) One of the men in the militia recognized a cousin among the smugglers – they embraced each other and the militia escorted the group to the border. Their hope was to get a cab to take them to the United Nations building, but unfortunately, they were arrested and taken to a prison. It was more days before they could even get a call to the UN. At last the UN officials came and literally bought their freedom. Then they were taken to a refugee camp. It was obvious that few ever have a hope of leaving the camp. Eventually, she and her mother were taken to Germany. She was able to continue her education. Later, she applied to come to the US to study American Literature. She was accepted at a small college in Southern California. She was so happy to get there and sit in a classroom of multi-ethnic and racial students. She said it was the first time she felt like a real person. In Iran she was labeled Baha’i, in Pakistan she was a refugee, in Germany she was a foreigner, finally, she felt she was just a person like those around her. At the University she met an American man from Oregon who was also Baha’i. He was studying Middle East history. They graduated and ironically, she taught American Literature and he taught Middle East history. She is here in Idaho getting her Ph.D. She has since become an American citizen. She said we should all go to see a citizenship ceremony, that it is a very moving experience. What an amazing story of triumph over adversity. We all went home realizing how easy our lives have been.
Tuesday, my quilting group came up to see me. I think I told you about the service quilt that we did for the daughter-in-law of one of our members. I was so pleased that they had waited until they were here to give her the quilt. I got to be in on it! I will try to include a picture. They met me at my office and then we went to Perkins for lunch. Afterwards, we came to my apartment to eat the brownies I had made. Afterward, we visited the quilt store here that has moved to a new location. Then they headed home.
That night was the farewell dinner for our missionaries leaving. There were just three, so at the beginning of the testimony meeting President did something different. He had us all tell what our favorite hymn was and why. What a beautiful way to bring the spirit. Sister Loring bore an inspiring testimony of what she has learned on her mission and her renewed desire to go into Indian Law after hearing Elder Echo-Hawk at Conference. She grew up on the Papago Reservation and went to Lehi school. Every time I saw her I was thrilled to think what she was doing with her life. She had some College before she came and will continue studying. Elder Roberts will be meeting his parents in Florida before traveling home to Wales. He has been an effective missionary. One of the young men that he taught when he first came to Pocatello, now has a mission call. Elder Turner told us about how he is the kind of person that would just like to live alone in a library. His friends couldn’t believe he was going to serve a mission when they knew he didn’t like talking to people. He said it had been the hardest thing he had ever done, but he was so grateful that he had made it. He suffers from depression and anxiety, but with medication he was able to have a successful mission and he bore a sweet testimony of how his faith in the Savior and his Heavenly Father had grown and had helped to see him through. It tears my heart out when these missionaries leave! – It won’t be much longer and I will be the one leaving.
The rest of the week was filled with new missionaries coming – transfers. Tuesday, we start with more Zone Conferences! The time is flying by!!
Love and hugs to all,
Grammie/Sister Shill
