We had the opportunity to attend his homecoming meeting with his family on Saturday. This is actually a good way to do this as the family can all attend and it does not impact their ability to attend church as needed on Sunday.
There was a short program where there were a couple of priesthood leaders who spoke on the ward’s gratitude for Elder Bomela serving with such distinction. The Elder spoke to the group but kept this fairly short expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to serve. I thought his remarks were perfect given the audience. However, the joy of the event were the words of his mother. The stories she shared about her son getting ready to leave and then being delayed because of no visa were a real treasure. Then to hear her tell it, poor President Bell had his hands full of a tearful mother, who felt like throwing herself on the floor of the airport in a basket of tears. She told of how she wanted sneak into Zimbabwe to bring her boy home when she heard of her son’s bicycle accident. Again calmer heads prevailed and she did not go. Finally, she had the opportunity to travel to Zimbabwe and when she sent an email to her son telling him she would be coming, her faithful missionary son told her he would not even greet her if she came for a visit. After a few days of contemplation she decided not to go.
In this jumble of emotion it was a faithful Latter-day Saint Mother giving voice for what most all other mothers of the church feel as they find the strength to stand back and let their sons and daughters leave and head into the mission field.
Yes, President, we will watch and help in every way we can and we have delivered a copy of each of the teaching pamphlets to Brother Bomela in Xhosa as requested. However, this mother and son are truly faithful and committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a joy to behold.
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