Every Monday I stare at this blank white
screen, with the intention of confining 7 days’ worth of emotions and
experiences into a few typed words. I can tell you that this week won´t even be
a fraction of the reality happening here overseas.
Because of that, I´m not going to say much or
go into much detail about this last week regarding the attacks from Tuesday
morning in Bruxelles. In essence, we started Tuesday studies with the call
about the Zaventem airport bombs and that the Bruxelles Zone Leaders were
unaccounted for after being in the airport. We called President and told him
first, while he was in Schiphol. Then the second bomb went off and we heard
that the missionaries were rushed to the hospital. We have visited Sister Clain
here in Antwerpen twice, and she is a rock star. Such a stud through
everything. We had the opportunity to give her a priesthood blessing and bring
her the sacrament. The nurses in the hospital ended up asking Sis Clain how she
gets so many visitors. After all, she´s not even from here. The Lord opens
windows and doors for us to introduce people to the Gospel. Even on a hospital
bed after trauma, surgeries, bandages covering her face, head, and arms, Sister
Clain was fulfilling her missionary purpose and proclaiming the truths of the
restored Church of Christ, together with the fact that followers of Christ are
family, no matter the culture or distance.
Using that in contrast to the saddening events
on Tuesday, you get a decently accurate range of the emotions going on in this
beloved country right now. Let alone inside us as the missionaries. I know
Elder Empey and Elder Wells personally. A month ago we went to Bruxelles to
play basketball with them and spend Pday together. Elder Empey showed me what
missionary work was like with an iPad (because we really do have no idea) and
Elder Wells and I planned a couple school things together for the fall. I can
tell you how strong those two are. Even after what has happened, I know the
testimony and faith that grows inside of them to bring about good from this. To
play it to their advantage. You have to do that a lot as a missionary, take
weak, broken, bad things and make them good. And I know that is what they do
every moment the lay in those hospitals. They are all over the news in the
states, Belgium and France. People know us. They ask about our companions. They
ask how we are all so closely interconnected. I testify that the Lord knows
what he is doing. I don´t think there is any coincidence that Elder Wells has
been around 3 terror attacks like this, wants to enlist in the US Armed Forces
and is now inspiring others across the world. The Lord hastens His work. And
before this life, we agreed to do all we can and go through all we could to
make it happen. In perhaps their weakest state, they perform their strongest
work.
Investigations have been done and the plan for
the bombing was intended for today, Easter Monday in the airport, with twice
the bomb material and crowds filling the halls. It´s a long explanation dealing
with arrests, timing, torture, and logistics, but if one of those things hadn´t
gone how it did last week, the missionaries would not be alive right now. I´m
pretty sure of it. And so are the police forces.
The whole country feels the prayers from
around the world. We feel them and give them through to those directly
affected. It hits home being here and loving the guts out of these people.
Too many tremendous and terrible things have
happened in the past week for me to be able to forget them. So I will tell you
more when I´m home, if you would want. My second week in the MTC is when ISIS
came about as an international threat. As of Tuesday, I was 30 minutes away
from their actions. Every missionary in this mission travels through the metro
halte Maelbeek to get to legal offices to verify our visas. We have all been
there. Yet we are all still safe and doing better.
We may see Elder Empey this week. Elder Wells
has limited visitors right now. Our investigators and less active members have
been scattered but once again, our message of the restored Gospel has brought
peace to their situations. You still wondering if this is truly the work of the
Lord?
He is evident in every heart we touch.
Paying back the love from Belgium,
Elder Trevan Scott Reese
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