That is the message I would like to share this week.
Yesterday, Sunday, we met with Brother S. He is a church member that is 52 years old and lives alone. He is kind and caring. He is a hard worker and has a job where he works as a kind of journalist for a company in Seoul. Brother S is happy; he smiles a lot and likes to laugh. He is learning English, and enjoys asking us questions about English and practicing phrases and pronunciation. He is giving. He loves to feed us and generously gives what he has.
Brother S is also blind.
About 10 years ago, Brother S lost his vision because of diabetes. He was unmarried. After 40 years of being able to see, he lost that ability. Think of it--can you imagine? The simplest things become so difficult without the miraculous gift of sight. I watched as Brother Sun tried to replace a full trash bag in a can to throw it away, but what he didn't see is that it was sideways and too wide for the can. He pressed harder, unable to see why it didn't quite fit. I reached and gently guided the bag into the can. I watched as Brother S carried a tray of food through the door. Unable to see the width of the tray, Brother S accidentally bumped the tray into the door frame before backing out and trying again to walk through. Readjusting, he was able to make it through. All these things that we do without a second thought become so much harder.
An interesting thing about Brother S is that he is still very independent. He told us that he cleaned up his house before we came, and true to his word, it was quite spotless, although he couldn't have seen which parts needed cleaning. Yet he managed to do it!
Another interesting thing about Brother S is his testimony. He loves God and Jesus Christ so much. He told us that he knows that God and Jesus Christ have helped him make it through. Without them, he couldn't have lived, he said. He loves them with all his heart. He can't travel to church because of his blindness and the distance, but we had the opportunity to bless the sacrament in his home yesterday. I could see how much it meant to him as he paused a moment before partaking, bowing his head in prayer to God. He knows what the sacrament truly means.
Brother S also told us that, although God didn't heal his sight, he is certain that He is there. It doesn't matter to Brother S that he can't see now what lies ahead of him. Things are so difficult for him, but he recognizes God's hand through it all. I was humbled and taken aback as I heard this faithful man's story and tried to contemplate the difficult life he lives. Although he cannot see, and perhaps doesn't understand many things because of that, he does his best to continue.
I know that God can see perfectly. He knows all that is around us. All circumstances, all needs. He knows why things are the way they are, and He also knows how things are going to turn out. He loves us. He is perfect. He guides our hands. He is there. God has a perfect plan. For you, for me, for all of his children. Because He loves them, He wants us to be happy, and although it can be really hard to recognize that sometimes, I often look back and see great growth and change in my life. My heart is filled with gratitude for my Father, my God, and His willingness to send my Brother, my Savior, to experience all things, so that I could have the knowledge that I am not alone, and that He knows and loves me. Nate. Elder Beckett! In Songin! He knows it all.
Although we all feel blind, uncertain of the future, of what will happen, I pray that we, as sweet Brother S, can learn to rely more fully upon He who sees all. May we pray to Him. May we read His word, and look for His hand in our lives. As we do, I know we will see it. I know he lives and loves us, more certain than ever before in my life.
Love you all,
Elder Beckett
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