2007.03.20
As many of you know, last Saturday, March 17, 2007, was the dedication of the Galilee Branch house. It seems beyond belief to me that such a momentous occurance can be encapulasted in so few words. I am still trying to grasp the magnitude of all that has happened, and all that this will mean not only for me personally, but for the Church in Israel as well. Three days later I still find myself crying whenever I think about it, which is most of the time!
Just as a little background, there have been branches of the Church in the Galilee since the last part of the 19th century. For several years the mission home was also in Haifa, before Israel became a country. The first members were members of the German Templer faith. Later many Armenians joined the Church, and in the 1930's the Mission president was himself an Armenian. (You can imagine how I felt when Reuben Kahn, a member from Armenia, was called to serve as our branch president after Michael was released several years ago.) The branches later disbanded, and the mission was closed when World War II broke out. In the late 1970s several couples served in Israel as Special Representatives, and there were branches in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and the Galilee. The first special rep. couple in the Galilee, the Ottleys, found and rented a duplex in Tiberius, which is where our branch has met for the past 26 years. Before then, meetings were held in my in-law's home, and several other places, including a bus station once.
The Special Reps were pulled out in 1985, partly because of pressure related to building the BYU Center in Jerusalem. Since that time there have been couples serving in the BYU Center, and then about 3 years ago service couples were again called to serve in the Galilee. We had the blessing of having Ted and Nedra Powell sent to us. To make a long story short, Ted was given the assignment by the District President to look for a new building which would be suitable to meet in, since the building we were renting was falling apart and the landlord would not repair it. Ted and Michael literally combed Northern Israel looking for somewhere appropriate, but kept coming back again and again to a dilapidated house in Tiberius fairly close to the present branch building. The only problem was that it was for sale, not rent. At no time in the history of the modern Church in Israel (since the 1800s) has the Church ever owned any property. Even the BYU Center in Jerusalem sits on land leased for 99 years. But Ted kept pushing for this property, and in a series of literal miracles, the decision was made to go ahead with the purchase. Even more miraculous, the building sits on privately-owned land (very rare in Israel) and was currently being rented by a Finnish evangelical church, so the neighbors were used to living next door to a church. Also, the owner was a close family member of the current mayor, so the expected bureaucratic roadblocks were minimal. Ted later told me that he felt that one of the biggest reasons he was called to serve in the Galilee was in order to find this building. (The Powells were called to serve here only a few months after returning from a mission to the Bahamas.
They hadn't even been thinking of going on another mission yet.) The Powells left before the serious remodeling began, so that headache was left for the Whiteheads to deal with. The intensive building work had just gotten started when the war broke out, so that caused another delay. And in the last month we have gotten more rain than the rest of the winter combined. I think Judy Whitehead has probably spent more time on her knees cleaning away the mud from the workers and the movers than in any other activity these past weeks. Her work at the archaeological dig in Tiberius was just to get her ready!
During the past couple of weeks the things in the old building had to be packed up, thrown out or given away, plus the building cleaned and painted. Most of that also fell on the Whiteheads, but as many of us from the branch as could also came over to help. Imagine to yourselves the sight of 9-10 well-meaning adults, none with much painting experience, 3 of them professors, all together on the same floor, and often in the same room, trying to get more paint on the walls than on the floor or each other. Great fun, and great memories.
The Friday afternoon before the dedication some of us went over to clean the new cupboards and closets (and then fill them up!), wash and put away all the new dishes, pots and utinsels in the new kitchen, then set up all the tables, etc. for the lunch the next day. Irena Sitonin also bought and arranged flowers for the chapel and the downstairs area. We started working in the afternoon and worked well into the evening. I actually find the monotony of washing dishes very soothing when I am not in a hurry, and to stand there at the sink, looking out the window at the lights around the Sea of Galilee was an absolute gift of tranquility in my hectic week. And even though we had actually been meeting in the building for nearly a month (I wrote you about our first meeting in the new building), I still couldn't quite believe that this was all real.
I have been in this branch for 25 years. For many years there were no more than 3 active adult members. Several times it was strongly recommended that the branch be closed, and once it nearly was. But Elder Ballard, who was in charge of us at that time, was inspired to keep the branch open, and told us that the time would come when the branch would grow, and there would be a need to have a meeting place in the North. This was about 15 years ago. And remember, the Church has asked us to keep a low profile, and not do missionary work of any kind. We can't even invite non-members to our meetings, or talk about the church with others. So the only growth in the size of the branch would have to come from our own families (I did my part - 4 children!), or from people moving in. Soon after that we also had the Russian immigration, and our branch numbers multiplied. Still, to think that the Church was willing to invest this much to make a permanent meeting place for us is very humbling, and sobering. We still have only about 60 members on paper, and seldom have more than 20-25 people at a meeting. And there is an inspiring serenity just being in this building, especially when you look outside. I think Fabricio (our Brazilian member) said it best when he said, "This isn't like a church; it's like being in a temple."
2007.03.21 2
>From Ann in Israel, Galilee Branch Chapel Dedication (pt.2):
Saturday was glorious. It had been stormy all week, which always intensifies the colors. The hills were green, the mountains deep purple, and the skies turbulent with various shades of gray. And if that weren't beautiful enough, the waters of the Sea of Galilee absorb all these colors and reflect them back. At times like this I wish I could paint! I kept hearing in my head the words ". . . the Master of ocean and earth and skies . ." (hymn #105). Nothing on this day happened by chance. We even got Bryan and Fabricio awake on time!
We got to the new building just after the Jerusalem bus with Elder Holland and all the others arrived. And people kept coming and coming. There was such a festive atmosphere! Among those who had come especially was Haws Marble, whom Michael has known for 34 years. M told me that one of the biggest factors in his decision to serve a mission was the advice, friendship and personal example of Haws. He has been connected to the Church in Israel from the beginning, and I was so happy that he could be there for this day. I was also thrilled that Michael and Maria Moody could be there as well. I think they are an adopted part of our branch! Brother Moody also played the prelude music.
Most of our branch members were there, and nearly as many visitors. Even Uri and Mariette Zionance from Tel Aviv made it. Uri has had several strokes, is in very bad health and in a wheelchair, so it is not easy for him to travel. Uri at one time was the president of the Tel Aviv branch, and was the man who translated the sacrament prayers into Hebrew. Mariette met him while she was a member of our branch. They are dear, dear friends and were among the first people who befriended me when I moved here 25 years ago. I have been praying for weeks that his health would allow him to be there with us and to share in this blessing. To give you an idea of how much Uri and Mariette have done for the church here, after the dedication the Hollands headed straight for them. Elder Holland enveloped Uri in a huge hug and said over and over, "Uri, I love you. Uri, I love you."
The meeting itself was quite intense. Before the meeting the choir met in a back hall for a prayer before the meeting began. We sang the same opening and closing hymns as we had in our first meeting in the building: "Now Let Us Rejoice" (3) and "The Spirit of God" (2). Halfway through we also stood and sang "I Am a Child of God". Michael, who has served in branch presidencies for about 20 years (13 of those as the bishop, and most of those without a councilor), gave the invocation in Hebrew. Anatoli Sitonin, a past branch president, gave the benediction in Russian. The choir sang "This is the Christ", which was written by President Faust and Michael Moody. President Faust has been in charge of us for decades. In fact I met him on his first visit here just after he was made an apostle. That was back in 1979 in Jerusalem. I was a kibbutz volunteer and had come to Jerusalem for a conference, and we met at the home of one of the Special Rep couples. It is a beautiful song, and I am glad that Pres. Faust's words were a part of this special day. And how often do you get to have the composer singing with you?! Of course, I didn't actually sing very much of it. I started thinking about the words and the occasion and I couldn't stop crying, which is bad enough, but when you are standing on the front row because you are short, it is even worse. There is nowhere to hide! Tracy Hall, who is here with the Barretts doing math research on a project, sang the second verse as a solo. He has a beautiful voice anyway (and is a very good wall painter!), but this time he really did have the voice of an angel. We also sang "Redeemer of Israel" (#6).
President Browning, the district president, sat with the Russian speakers and did simultaneous translation for them. I sat with the Spanish speakers and translated for them, with my back to the speakers. I wasn't able to take notes, but this is what I remember from the talks. Most of the speakers spoke of faith, and gratitude, and the challenges and blessings connected to this building. And everyone spoke of the view! Sister Samuelson had used the story of a small boy praying to show gratitude. After he had thanked Heavenly Father for his parents, his friends, etc., he said "and I am even thankful for the stupid old cat." After the meeting when we went outside for pictures, Yaron pointed out to me an old cat rolling around in the parking lot "just like in the lady's talk!" I loved it.
David McMillen from the Presiding Bishop's Office read Malachi 3: 16-17. He said that the verses refer to all those who remain faithful, but especially today referred to the faithfulness of the Galilee Branch members throughout the years. He told us to remember that our names were being recorded in heaven and that we needed to remain faithful until the end.
Pt. 3 coming next...
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33: 2007.03.21 3
Galilee Chapel dedication, pt. 3
Elder Samuelson spoke about the need to stay on the right track, and the danger of even small deviations. Jim Kearl spoke a little about the history of the building, and the First Presidency's desire to have a permanent meeting place for us.
Sister Holland spoke also of gratitude, and of the gratitude she had felt for the priesthood blessing which had enabled her to be in good enough health to make the journey to Israel. She also spoke of the changes that she had seen in the country and the church in the nearly 40 years that she and her husband had been coming here.
Elder Holland spoke of the Savior, and just a few of the events in His life which had occurred in the Galilee. He read from Matthew 4: 12-16, and from Isaiah 9:2. He told us that the prophecy had been fulfilled with the coming of Christ, but that it had also been fulfilled a second time with the dedication of this building and the dedication of the branch members! He emphasized the geography from verse 15, and the bringing of light in verse 16. He spoke about how they had all come over one evening earlier in the week to sit on the balcony and look at the lights around the lake, and how the lights from the chapel would be brighter and more beautiful than them all, because it was the Lord's house. He spoke of the need to remain bright, and thankful, and faithful. He also spoke of the difference between those who have ears to hear but hear not, and those that do. He also brought up an interesting point. To do the things that he needed to do in order to fulfill the prophecies, Jesus went to Jerusalem. But when he wanted to restore his soul, he came to the Galilee.
Elder Holland also used a lot of humor, and a very personal touch. He talked again and again about the cultural, national and linguistic diversity of our branch. At one point he pointed over to the wall where the 4 song boards were (Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, English), and laughingly said that this was probably the only unit in the Church where there were more languages than people. He also spoke of how many people, including other General Authorities, would have given almost anything to have been there on that day, and to be where we are every day of our lives. He also made personal reference to the members who have been here a long time. We have been told by at least two district presidents that the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve pray for us by name, but it is still very sobering to have this confirmation from the mouth of an apostle.
After his talk, Elder Holland asked us to all join in the prayer of dedication, with himself as voice. I wasn't sure if I should be translating the prayer, so I asked President Browning, who asked Elder Holland. He immediately said, yes, of course, it was important for everyone there to understand the words of this prayer and blessing. I have been translating in Church for years, but I have never, ever translated for something of such solemnity (Elder Holland did not write out the blessing beforehand). I can't describe how that felt, but it was further confirmation of the power of the Spirit. The blessing itself had two parts - a blessing on the building and a blessing on the branch members. He blessed that the building would be protected against natural disaster, vandals and thieves. He also blessed it that it would be an island of safety in times of violence and war. And what particularly struck me was when he stated that in the future the building might be used "for whatsoever purpose the Lord sees fit". My soul shook with those words. He blessed the members of the branch that we would be more united and that our faith would be strengthened. During the blessing he also said that the Lord had made this building possible for us because of His love for us, and His recognition of our faithfulness throughout the years. That was also very, very humbling.
After the blessing, as a congregation we sang "The Spirit of God", and then Anatole offered the closing prayer. Everyone spent a few moments visiting, and then we all went outside for pictures. Everyone was euphoric. The Jerusalem group had to leave to go down and speak at conference for the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv branches. Our branch stayed and had lunch together. It was such a luxury to have tables and chairs for everyone. And only after half of the people had gone home did I remember that we hadn't taken a branch picture!
It was a glorious, glorious day.
Ann
