Elder Holland Came to Jordan!!

We have known for a couple of months that Elder Holland MIGHT be coming to Jordan for our humanitarian couples conference, but were sworn to secrecy.  We didn't want the word to get out and then have people be disappointed if he changed his plans.  His wife, Pat, has been very sick for the past year and everything depended on if she was feeling well enough to make the trip.  About 10 days ago we received the word that he was coming--AND he would be interviewing each one of us.  Now that's something to keep me awake at night.

The Hollands, Elder and Sister Lawrence from the Seventy, and the McMillans (executive secretary for the Presiding Bishopric and Director of Temporal Affairs for the Middle East) flew in from Turkey where they had been to see how a new mission was doing.  They arrived in Amman, Jordan on Wednesday evening, just in time for dinner.

It's been a tradition for the couples to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for the November conference, so this past week has been very busy with preparations.  We only had an hour and a half between the last meeting and the arrival of our guests to get the potatoes mashed, gravy made, turkey sliced, etc. etc.  My assignment was to make pies and yams.  I practiced making pies for a week before and Lynn was the happy taster.  We practiced lemon, cherry, banana cream, coconut cream and pecan, plus 4 different recipes for pie crust.  We were able to get the American ingredients at stores located near the U.S. Embassy.

Sharon Eubanks, Sandi Hammond, Myrna made pies

Lynn, Elder Jensen and Hammond prepared the turkey

The Hammonds insisted that everything be done "just right."  The Amman Center was spit shined and super clean, even the bedrooms in the couples living area where we were staying.  Our clothes and suitcases were stuffed into the closets, the dirty dishes were all cleaned up and the turkey was ready to go.  In the end, I felt like the staff of Downton Abbey, all lined up for inspection when the dignitaries arrived.

We didn't need to be so uptight, because Elder and Sister Holland and the others were not pretentious in any way.  They were friendly and warm and comfortable as our own family.  We visited, ate and had a good time together.  Elder Holland teased the men about how much they had helped (or not helped) cook the meal.

Elder Holland took a piece of my pecan pie!

An elegant feast for our tummies was followed the next day by a spiritual feast with an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Elder Holland talked about our influence on our families and told us if we keep our covenants we will keep our children.  He also taught us a great lesson about the Book of Mormon.  He said the Book of Mormon is a book of revelation about revelation.

The first chapter in the book tells us almost everything we need to know about the gospel--prophets, obedience, revelation, visions, love of God, Jesus Christ, repentance and so on.  The people who only read the first chapter can gain a testimony of the book.

The Book of Mormon is so important that the prophet Joseph Smith concentrated most of his efforts and focus into translating and publishing the book prior to the organization of the church in 1830.  The restoration of the church took place after the book was off the press.  

After Elder Holland was finished, we were each given the opportunity to bear our testimony.  I never imagined I would be bearing my testimony to an apostle.  It was a special experience we will never forget.  

The next item on the agenda was for each missionary couple to be interviewed by Elder Holland and Elder Lawrence.  While the interviews were taking place, Sharon was able to spend a few minutes with our dear Muslim friend and United Muslim Relief partner, Jamal Iqtish.

 Jamal was delighted that we had arranged for him to meet with Sharon Eubanks.  He brought her some special olive oil as a gift.  He loves Sharon and goes to see her when he is the United States on business.

 Elder Holland sent Jamal a letter last June wishing him a happy Ramadan.  Jamal shows it to everyone.  We're not sure if he knows exactly who Elder Holland is, but he knows he's a leader in the church.  Jamal gave him a blanket made from camel hair as a gift.

We invited Jamal to stay for the fireside that evening, but then remembered that it's illegal for a Muslim to attend a Christian church in Jordan, so he had to be uninvited. 

The members of the Church came to a fireside that evening and 21 people from the North Jordan Branch traveled to Amman.  

Elder Holland oversees the Middle East.  He loves the area and is optimistic about the future.