Home Away from Home

Are you a traveler or a home body?

In the last 5 years I have been able to do things I never thought to do in my life.  I spent 2 weeks in England, Scotland and Wales, and I went to Walt Disney World TWICE.  (Two of those trips were GIFTS, can you believe it?!) In fact, I just got back from WDW with my oldest daughter, Sariah,  and her family.  While in England and in Orlando, I attended church there locally.  What a wonderful thing it is to be so physically far from home and yet to feel so at home there.  The same gospel is taught.  The same sacred ordinance of the Sacrament. And although I do not know the people’s names, I know their core values and know that they are my brothers and sisters, and potential friends and helpers.

          It is possible to sit quietly in the back, go unnoticed and walk away without talking to anyone.  I have done it. Although Mormons are friendly, they all have concerns and responsibilities and don’t always see.  Or, like me, are basically socially backwards and awkward.   I get to know people rather slowly.   I tried once to overcome my natural reticence.  I walked up and introduced myself – to someone who had been in the same ward with me for years but I didn’t know well and she had changed her hair!  Now, I know it’s better to just say “Good to see you” and let things go from there.

          It is almost easier when you are the visitor or the new one, because then you aren’t expected to know anyone.  Then you can go up and say, “Hi!  I am visiting.  Where do I go now?”

          Sariah, is great at getting to know people.  She chatted with people very comfortably everywhere on our trip.  Once early in her marriage she accompanied her husband on a training trip for work.  She called me when she landed and said she was going to take a nap.   It wasn’t all that much later – that evening or the next day? That we spoke on the phone and she said she had to go because they were going out with friends.   I said, “You don’t know anyone there!”  After her nap, she had looked up the local ward, called the Bishop, went with his wife to some Relief Society function, met and made friends with another young married gal.

          But whether we are outgoing or shy, wherever we go in the church we can find brothers and sisters who truly are friends we simply haven’t met.  We have to stretch just a little and we will be at home wherever we are.

          It is one of the blessings of the church – besides that little detail of the Gospel and Plan of Happiness and Salvation.