Carol Jefferson

May 1980-Nov. 1981

My mission was an incredible experience for me. It changed me as I assume it may change most missionaries. I looked at things differently. I came home and realized our cars live better than so many of the people in Bolivia. Our cars have a sturdy home to protect them at night, they are fed and cleaned regularly. We spend money on their upkeep and helath....so different than the people who struggled to survive day by day.

Anyway, I came home and since I had already graduated from BYU before I left on my mission I went to get a job. I returned home to Wisconsin where I lived in the country. After being home a few months I came back to Utah where my grandparents and other family lived. I had a Social Work Degree and with that degree I could find NO job. I searched for a few months and then finally out of desperation I took a job as a nurses aide in a Care Center in Bountiful.  I worked there for almost a year and then moved to Provo to be with a sister whose husband was leaving for the summer and she was pregnant. In Provo I had been transferred to another Care Center. I had the graveyard shift. While there I met a young man who had returned from a South American mission. We would speak our spanish and talk a little of some of our experiences. After a month or so I saw that he brought his scriptures to work with him and would read them during our down time in the middle of the night. I began bringing mine and sometimes we would discuss things. At the end of the summer one night before I was to leave during our scripture time, he turned to me and told me that he had been sent home from his mission for immoral conduct. He had come home and been excommunicated. He said he was angry and stopped going to church or being a part of the church. When I started working there and talking to him about our missions it reminded him of what he had loved about the church. He had been back to his bishop and was on the path to getting back into the church. While he was telling me these things it was like my mind was opened and I saw all of the frustrations and set backs I had had with getting a job I wanted. It seemed that everything that had happened had led me to being there at that facility at that time to be with him. While on my mission, after splitting with the proselyting sisters a few times I realized what I was missing on my mission. The spirituality of teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and testifying of Him was not something we Welfare Service sisters experienced often. We served in other ways, but I know I missed out on that. Now Heavenly Father had given me the opportunity to be a small part of the change in someones life. I was so overwhelmed with the spirit and I was so grateful. It taught me that when I am frustrated or discouraged about how my life may be going, if I am doing what I should Heavenly Father will lead me where he wants me to be...and which will always be for my benefit, eventually.

Moving on, I ended up getting my Master's in Social Work and eventually became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I met my husband, Sid at the Utah State Fair and I was 27 when we married. We lived in Portland Oregon for two years and then we moved back to Utah to be closer to his family. If it had been up to me I would have stayed in the Pacific Northwest forever. I loved the people and the area so much. We have raised four kids and they are now all married and on their own. My mission was the hardest thing I had done in my life until I had children. Then raising four children that were very close in age was also incredibly hard. I stayed home with them and I realized just like on my mission it was a complete sacrifice of my life for theirs. I also loved being with them and I was incredibly happy raising them. We have had a very happy home life for the most part. I love that our children like to still be around us. I eventually went back to work part time and have been doing counseling/therapy for the last 15 years. I have loved it as it is another way to serve Heavenly Father's children who need a little help. I have had some of the most spiritual experiences of my life while in sessions with clients. 

I would like to share one story from my mission that changed me. I was in my first area in Oruro with Hermana Jan Anderson. I had been on my mission a few months when suddenly I became sick. It was so strange. Everyday I would wake up feeling great. I would get ready and we would go out and then by 10 o'clock I would begin getting sick. I would throw up in someone's house or on the street.  The sickness was so bad that I had to go home. Then I would feel sick on and off for the rest of the day. This was going on when Hermana Caro died leaving her nine children. I was so frustrated and angry that I couldn't be helpful but had to stay home due to illness. I hated being sick. Then one evening we went to a FHE with Elders Sanchez and Elder Branning. The family was very sweet but by the end of the evening Hna. Anderson could tell I was getting sick again. As we were walking home the Elders were in front of us and she told me to ask them for a blessing. I did and they came to our place and Elder Branning gave me a beautiful blessing, promising me I would be healed. That night I pled with Heavenly Father to give me the faith to be healed. I knew the elders held the priesthood and that Heavenly Father could heal me if I had the faith. The next morning I woke up feeling fine, just like always. We went out and began working. Every so often Hna. Anderson would ask how I was feeling, I always said 'Great'.  In reality I was beginning to feel sick again, but I wouldn't let my mind acknowledge it. I kept a mantra in my mind saying, I have been healed, I am well. We ended up going to see Hermana Herrera where we sat in her kitchen while chickens and children were coming in and out of the open doorways. She was young and was tearful as she explained that she had an illness that they didn't have enough money to treat and that she believed she may die. I looked at those beautiful children that might one day be without their mother. I was overcome with love for them. As we returned on the bus I realized I wasn't feeling sick anymore. From that time on I never was sick like that again. Other than an occasional complaint I was never severely ill again on my mission. I began viewing faith as an action word. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had acknowledged my feelings of illness and returned home that morning. Throughout my life I have tried to remember to act with faith, but to act. This has been one of the best life long lessons that I have kept with me. I am grateful beyond words that I was able to live among those wonderful people, and have the friendship of the missionaries.