Elder Fairbanks: Sister Buxton, if I shoot this (holding up a ball of paper) over my back and into the garbage can over there, will you wear a piece of BYU apparel for a day?
Sister Buxton: Hmmm........ on one condition.
Elder Fairbanks: What's that?
Sister Buxton: Well..... if you lose, then you have to wear a piece of USU apparel for a day. I happen to have a brand new game-day shirt that will fit you just fine.
Elder Fairbanks: (Groaning) I may regret this.
Sister Buxton: You realize this could be quite painful if you lose.
Elder Fairbanks: Yeah, but I've played a lot of basketball. I can do this.
Now you have to understand that Elder Fairbanks is from the heart of BYU country; from a staunch, obsessive, true-blue, multi-generational BYU family. He bleeds BYU blue. Season tickets and BYU sports are a big deal to the Fairbanks. I'm afraid wearing anything labeled USU would be a criminal offense to this clan. Pictures below. Self explanatory.
The good news is that this fine Elder kept his word and wore a USU shirt all day. And it was painful. The really bad news is that he may be disowned. Bless.
But he did repent. For the wager.
 |
| You'll notice what he was wearing under the Game Day shirt. Just couldn't help it. Brother and Sister McEvoy - you were inspired to send this shirt to us. |
The good news is that this fine Elder kept his word and wore a USU shirt all day. And it was painful. The really bad news is that he may be disowned. Bless.
But he did repent. For the wager.
We have had a crazy two-weeks with zone conference, and a batch of great missionaries coming and going. Last week we also met Stephen, a huge man from Ghana, who was scheduled for baptism. The sisters had found him a few months ago and taught him the discussions at the church and at the president's home. He came into Copenhagen with a friend to borrow a baptismal suit from the temple, since the Gladsaxe Ward did not have a suit large enough for his big frame.
President O'Bryant told us this miracle story: one night at the president's home, they were discussing the Book of Mormon and the president opened a cabinet to show Stephen some old, dusty, Books of Mormon stacked in there. He pulled one out and handed it to Stephen. Stephen opened the Book of Mormon, paused, and turned in amazement to the President and said, "This book is written in my language, Twi." The president had never heard of Twi, nor did he know that it was Stephen's native language because they had always spoken English with him. Stephen was thrilled to be able to read something from the church in his own language.
We are so happy that Stephen has found the church. He has all the makings of a faithful member. As so often happens with those who commit to baptism, he has had his share of trials lately. He has not been able to get a work permit or find a job in Denmark, so has had to return home. The day we met him in the office, he had come for a blessing from the President. He had just learned that his 3 year old daughter had been electrocuted back in Ghana. We were so sad for him. We know that the Lord will bless him. The President has been in touch with his Ghana church brethren and they are waiting to welcome him into the fold.
And Stephen's friend who came with him into the office? He is also being taught. He is a big man as well, with a bright smile and outgoing personality. He tried to teach me how to say Twi, the name of their language. If you say it right, it comes out somewhere between a whistle and a spit down in your throat. He laughed every time I tried to pronounce it. And, this was after he tried to convince me that their language is easy to pronounce, unlike Danish.........Ha! We are praying that he, too, will join the church.
President O'Bryant told us this miracle story: one night at the president's home, they were discussing the Book of Mormon and the president opened a cabinet to show Stephen some old, dusty, Books of Mormon stacked in there. He pulled one out and handed it to Stephen. Stephen opened the Book of Mormon, paused, and turned in amazement to the President and said, "This book is written in my language, Twi." The president had never heard of Twi, nor did he know that it was Stephen's native language because they had always spoken English with him. Stephen was thrilled to be able to read something from the church in his own language.
We are so happy that Stephen has found the church. He has all the makings of a faithful member. As so often happens with those who commit to baptism, he has had his share of trials lately. He has not been able to get a work permit or find a job in Denmark, so has had to return home. The day we met him in the office, he had come for a blessing from the President. He had just learned that his 3 year old daughter had been electrocuted back in Ghana. We were so sad for him. We know that the Lord will bless him. The President has been in touch with his Ghana church brethren and they are waiting to welcome him into the fold.
And Stephen's friend who came with him into the office? He is also being taught. He is a big man as well, with a bright smile and outgoing personality. He tried to teach me how to say Twi, the name of their language. If you say it right, it comes out somewhere between a whistle and a spit down in your throat. He laughed every time I tried to pronounce it. And, this was after he tried to convince me that their language is easy to pronounce, unlike Danish.........Ha! We are praying that he, too, will join the church.
I still laugh at this Elder's wager. True Aggies through and through. Someday he'll see the light. Go USU!
ReplyDeleteDon't hold your breath.
ReplyDelete