Hey ya'all!
Spring is doing it's best to get here in iola. We had a big ice/snow storm that cancelled church again last week. But after that, the sun tried to find it's way here and it actually warmed up a little bit. Hopefully it will stay that way!
A few weeks ago I wrote about a lady in the ward that has had cancer for the past few years...we had visited her and had an incredible experience with her. She had received the news that she was cancer free a few days before we went, and was able to share with us that she believed she was able to endure the cancer so that she could continue share her testimony about the plan of Salvation with others.
Last week she was told that the cancer had returned and that there were additional spots on her liver that could potentially be cancerous. After enduring what she thought was her last round of chemo and thinking she was cancer free, her heart was broken to know her battle wasn't over. In addition to her many health problems, she lost her 13 year old granddaughter last week in a very tragic car accident. The trials seem to keep piling up in her life.
At the end of last week, she called us and asked if we could come help her clean her house before the funeral. While we were there, she said the only thing she really cared about being done was her kitchen floor. Having cleaned houses for so long, I got right to work, down on my hands and knees. She had left the room for a while, and she came back just as I was finishing the floor...still on my hands and knees. When she walked in the kitchen she was so surprised....she said: "Oh my goodness, you're on your hands and knees. This floor hasn't been cleaned like that since I started Chemo last year!" As she glanced at the freshly mopped floor, she began to sob. She could barely talk as she said: "This floor has never looked so good. You will never know how much this means to me...." Then between sobs, she said: "Thank you...so much." Then grabbed me and hugged me like I've never been hugged before. Her gratitude was sincere. I was filled with the kind of joy you can only receive by serving others. I never knew that doing something as simple as cleaning a hardwood floor would mean so much to somebody, and would be able to bring me so much joy.
Saturday was her granddaughter's funeral. We were able to attend and I was asked to say the closing prayer. As I sat there during the service, and especially as I said the prayer, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the knowledge I have of this Gospel. How comforting it is to know that our Heavenly Father loves us enough to allow us to return to live with Him and our families for eternity.
At the end of the funeral, With tears in her eyes, this sweet, incredible strong woman once again hugged me and thanked me for my service...Although I am simply doing my best to fulfill my purpose as a missionary and deserve no special appreciation or attention, it meant the world knowing I had helped someone in need. I'm not sure who was more grateful--her, for having the help she needed...or me, for having the opportunity to serve her. I am so blessed to be able to serve each and every day and am so grateful for the joy I feel as I do so!
I love you all.
Sister Hyer
exchanges with sister Albrecht. We made cupcakes for our friend!
Our cute cupcakes. baking is part of preaching the Gospel when you're a sister missionary! ;)
picture of a picture...but this is too cool not to share! Since our mission is so geographically small, we were able to get together as an entire mission back around Christmas time...that doesn't happen very often! So our mission president had a photographer come and capture the event. What a good lookin mission! ;)
I couldn't resist sending a picture of this. Evidence that I live in a small town...in the middle of nowhere...with a bunch of awesome farmers. This has been in our fridge for the past 6 months. Yes, your read it right, that does say BarBQ Coon...as in Barbeque Racoon...as in Racoon that has been bottled with BBQ sauce. haha. Oh the life of a missionary!
So Happy on a Sunny PDay!
I've had more slumber parties on my mission than I have had my entire life. haha. This is how we fit 4 sister missionaries in one tiny room. We love sleepovers with the Stanley sisters!
This is a very common view I have from the driver's seat. Love the big Kansas Skies!
