Stories: Mike Sanders Memories
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| Wayne,
I never had a companion I didn't like even though Pres. Komatsu told
me at the end of my mission that he had assigned some "difficult
cookies" to me because the alternative was to send them home early.
When I met my first junior companion, Steve Martinez, again after all
these years, he told me how great he thought I was (when I thought I
was a terrible senior companion) -- I loved that guy (at one time he
told me that he had been fasting for me every other day and it worked
for both of us). So I don't know about having to "cleanse my soul,"
but I do know that I loved each and every companion I had at the time.
(BTW, his physical condition with Parkinson's Disease has deteriorated
to the point where he can no longer use the iMac I gave him and he has
given it away -- so I am concerned about him but know that a kingdom
of glory awaits him and that comforts me -- I know that the story we
told our investigators and converts was true -- he had converted from
Catholicism and I had converted from atheism -- we were a mighty
combination).
I had one primary rule in the mission field: if there was not a
feeling of love between me and my companion, then we would not leave
the branch to tract because without the Holy Ghost it would be futile,
and the Holy Ghost would only dwell with us if we as companions loved
each other charitably (we know that "charity" means "brotherly
love" (agape)). It worked, and we had great success -- at least one
baptism with every companion I had and often times many more in each
branch in which I served. I attribute that to the faith of my
companions and our complete reliance upon the Holy Ghost.
So thanks for reminding me to think about these "boys" -- we were a
band of brothers engaged in struggle and we bonded from that
experience despite our differences; some came home with enough
experiences that tempered their testimonies in the fire of trial and
tribulation and some didn't. Some served 912 1/2 different days and
some served the same day 912 1/2 times -- but the fact is that those
who stuck it out unless they were ill, whether they believed it or not
showed guts and determination, and that they were young men who could
be trusted and depended upon: they had character and thankfully we
were all characters of one sort or the other -- and we taught and
converted a lot of characters -- bringing a new sense of the meaning
of joy to them (along with the irritating, misguided, unnecessary
feelings of guilt so common in our faith -- the antithesis of our
message). Some came home and continued to stick it out and some fell
away -- but I hope everyone realizes that they have nothing to be
ashamed of for embracing D&C 4 and trying their best -- they had a
desire to serve God and were called to the work -- and no matter what
their present mental, spiritual, psychological, or physical condition,
nothing can take from them that time long ago when they learned to
know their mettle and to know themselves.
Yeah, I love all you crazy guys for whom you are and for putting up
with me.
If a smile doesn't break out on your face when you think of those
characters who were your companions then I think you missed an
important and necessary part of a mission. It was "the best of times,
and the worst of times" but no one said it would be easy.
Mike
Elder Michael R.E. Sanders
Served: 1965 - 1968 |
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