Christmas Aloha from the Tropics

We have been full swing into Christmas for a while now. There have been many end-of-semester activities, concerts, parties and decorations. The semester is over and maybe things will slow down a little. It has been so delightful to see the students perform their native dances and songs. Graduation was Friday and as you can imagine, there were lots of leis and loud cheers and even drums. 

We attended graduation where Elder Cook spoke. There were 221 graduates from 22 states and 26 countries. We knew a few of the graduates and are so impressed with their stories and their accomplishments. 

We had one class we taught this semester. It was a study skills class. It was a challenge and a delight. The students all spoke English as a second language. They all worked 19 hours on top of classwork. They were stressed, hungry, anxious, sleepy, sick and everything else students are facing today. The pandemic was hard on many college students.  We really loved the students and kept reminding them that they are here at BYUH for a reason and God wants them to succeed. That has become our theme song. 

Many of the students at BYUH are returned missionaries. The students are encouraged to be temple workers.  We attended the temple last night and the officiator and his wife were young Asian students.  In nearly every campus devotional, including the one by President Eyring, the speaker talks about the divine mission of BYUH, which is to serve the people of Oceania and the Pacific Rim. We give them a good education and teach them how to be leaders in the church and in their communities and teach them how to work in the temples. Think of how prepared they will be when they return home.

We have a department devotional almost every morning before we start meeting students. There are three couples in our office, and we all take turns giving a thought. But it ends up being more that a thought, more like a talk. The other missionaries are so interesting and always give beautiful talks. It’s hard for me (Paula). I’m kind of boring and don’t have many great life experiences. Mark has embraced the opportunity to give the devotional. He prepares for many days and then gives beautiful thoughts. I thought I would share his recent talk. It was especially well written. 

Before I do, let me say again how much we love you all and appreciate your prayers on our behalf. Sister Soderborg

Elder Soderborg's devotional 

My parable for today comes from Matthew 19:16-22

Matthew writes:

• 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life.
• 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
• 18 He saith unto him, Which? 
• (I wonder how serious this young man was about following Jesus’s instructions. I imagine him saying to himself, “Surely, he can’t mean all the commandments, which one am I supposed to keep?)
•  Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
• 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
• 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
• 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
• 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

So, he had great possessions. That must be why he is referred to as the rich young man.

So, how can this apply to our work with the students. 

We can imagine them saying, “Good Master (well, not good master, but maybe good teacher), what good thing shall I do to attain another semester?

We might respond, follow all the rules of being a good student.

And they say back to us,

 “I’ve been a student most of my life and my study habits have taken me this far. What’s the problem now? What lack I yet?

Hopefully, this is where we fit in. We can help them see what is missing in their routine. What practices they should value instead of just the ones that have always served them in the past. 

In the second to last verse of this parable, Jesus says, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

I can’t exactly go to students and say, “If thou wilt be perfect, attend class and do your homework.” But I can say “attend class and do your homework and you will be blessed.”

Some of the students do respond like the rich young man, hanging their head and walk away thinking, that is too hard.

We are certainly not perfect, like Jesus was, but we are a little more experienced than our students.

Most of the blessings we and our students hope for are subject to obedience to some law or principle.

It seems that every problem we encounter can be solved by one simple step -- obedience.

So, how can we apply this parable to ourselves? I doubt that any of us are in the same position as this man who had great possessions. I mean, we all worked in education. That pretty much takes us out of the wealthy category.

I wonder to myself; suppose I were the one Jesus was talking to. I could tell Him, like the rich young man did, that I don’t murder or commit adultery or steal or bear false witness. I could even say that I pay my tithing, attend my church meetings and say, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”

That is where I would probably run into trouble. Jesus knew that the rich young man’s weak spot was his wealth and possessions. He would surely know my weaknesses and vulnerable points. He would probably know that I am pretty fond of my recliner back home. I like my weekends free. And there are a whole lot of things I should be doing or doing better.  I’m not going to mention all those here, but I frequently wonder what those things that I’m failing at are keeping me from becoming. 

But instead of turning away sorrowfully, like the rich young man, I can resolve to rid myself of those weak spots and make myself worthy of eternal life. 

Since this is Christmas time, maybe what I can do for Christ is to try to be a little more perfect. I think it would make both of us happy.