President Trythall
I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kiev, Ukraine from September 2001-March 2002. For the first nine weeks of the mission, I was in the training center learning to speak Ukrainian and how to be a missionary. I landed in Kiev on November 9 and that's when I met President Frank Trythall and his amazing wife, Nancy. They were in charge of all of the missionaries in western Ukraine so from November until they went home in June, they were the ones looking out for me and making sure I was safe and well while in Kiev. I met regularly with President Trythall for interviews where he would ask how I was doing and work with me through my challenges and answer any questions I had for him. I also wrote him weekly letters so that he could know what was going on with me and my companion.
I've written before about some of our experiences but I hope you'll indulge me to write them again quickly here. The first major teaching moment we had together was when my companion and I were both relatively new to the country and struggling to find people to teach. We were trying so hard to be obedient and when an appointment rang long one night, we found ourselves running to make it home by our curfew. Imagine our shock when President and Sister Trythall were sitting in their van waiting for us in the parking lot of our apartment building. They didn't live far away but had never visited us before and I instantly felt guilty because we were a few minutes late and now had been caught. I expected him to ask us where we had been and why we were late but his question was, "Why were you running?" His love and concern was so evident and then we found out they came to cheer our spirits by bringing us milk and cookies. I was overwhelmed by his love for us and the Savior's love for us as his servants, trying our best to share the gospel even when it was challenging. Instead of being rebuked for being imperfect, we were loved for trying our best.
The second most instructive experience I had with President was while I was with that same companion, still struggling to learn the language and teach and feel like we were accomplishing anything. He asked us to make a list of all of the reasons why he didn't have to worry about us. We were able to make a long list that helped us realize that there was a lot we were doing right and that we were good missionaries, even if things weren't going perfectly or we made mistakes. That lesson has blessed me over and over again in motherhood and I will forever be grateful that he taught me to look at the good and not be weighed down by imperfection.
He also taught me that while as a missionary the most important result would be if my children and grandchildren were living the gospel. He gave me a broader perspective that helped me handle the rejection and heartache that was part of the mission experience. That focus allowed me to see that serving with all of my heart to teach others about Jesus Christ was changing me and strengthening me, which would someday be a blessing to my posterity. Anyone that accepted the gospel in Ukraine was just a bonus to my service, he said. I am grateful for his wise counsel and how it has profoundly affected me. My heart swells with love for him and his wife.
They just returned from serving another three years in Ukraine, this time as the temple president and matron. Their devoted service and absolute desire to do the will of the Lord is inspiring and I hope to be like them someday. Sister Trythall is as gracious and kind as you can imagine anyone being and she radiates love. I've seen them twice since those mission days and we were only in Ukraine together for those seven months but their influence on my life is immeasurable and I'm so grateful for their goodness, love, faith and wisdom.
I've written before about some of our experiences but I hope you'll indulge me to write them again quickly here. The first major teaching moment we had together was when my companion and I were both relatively new to the country and struggling to find people to teach. We were trying so hard to be obedient and when an appointment rang long one night, we found ourselves running to make it home by our curfew. Imagine our shock when President and Sister Trythall were sitting in their van waiting for us in the parking lot of our apartment building. They didn't live far away but had never visited us before and I instantly felt guilty because we were a few minutes late and now had been caught. I expected him to ask us where we had been and why we were late but his question was, "Why were you running?" His love and concern was so evident and then we found out they came to cheer our spirits by bringing us milk and cookies. I was overwhelmed by his love for us and the Savior's love for us as his servants, trying our best to share the gospel even when it was challenging. Instead of being rebuked for being imperfect, we were loved for trying our best.
The second most instructive experience I had with President was while I was with that same companion, still struggling to learn the language and teach and feel like we were accomplishing anything. He asked us to make a list of all of the reasons why he didn't have to worry about us. We were able to make a long list that helped us realize that there was a lot we were doing right and that we were good missionaries, even if things weren't going perfectly or we made mistakes. That lesson has blessed me over and over again in motherhood and I will forever be grateful that he taught me to look at the good and not be weighed down by imperfection.
He also taught me that while as a missionary the most important result would be if my children and grandchildren were living the gospel. He gave me a broader perspective that helped me handle the rejection and heartache that was part of the mission experience. That focus allowed me to see that serving with all of my heart to teach others about Jesus Christ was changing me and strengthening me, which would someday be a blessing to my posterity. Anyone that accepted the gospel in Ukraine was just a bonus to my service, he said. I am grateful for his wise counsel and how it has profoundly affected me. My heart swells with love for him and his wife.
They just returned from serving another three years in Ukraine, this time as the temple president and matron. Their devoted service and absolute desire to do the will of the Lord is inspiring and I hope to be like them someday. Sister Trythall is as gracious and kind as you can imagine anyone being and she radiates love. I've seen them twice since those mission days and we were only in Ukraine together for those seven months but their influence on my life is immeasurable and I'm so grateful for their goodness, love, faith and wisdom.
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