We are now officially "visa waiters". Missionaries have great opportunities to develop Christ-like attributes and are encouraged to pursue these attributes actively. Patience and humility come to mind as we try and understand purposes and blessings buried in the frustration of not being able to be in Norway as we had anticipated. Our hearts go out to Elder DeMille and Sister Kinder, two Norwegian missionaries who are "visa waiting" in a California mission. We now better understand the feelings of those whose visas do not arrive as planned.
As we contemplate how to approach this delay, two scriptures come to mind. The first is Ether 12:27: "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." The second comes from the time Joseph Smith sat in Liberty jail trying to understand the reasons for his being incarcerated for several months. "...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (Doctrine & Covenants 122:7)
We do feel blessed by having the chance to get to know the missionaries in the MTC. For the time being we attend the instructional classes each day with them, and they are being blessed as they learn Norwegian. The spirit of the MTC is uplifting and comforting.
