Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. D&C 64:33
As missionaries, Elder Rulon and Sister Sandee Barlow have had one over-reaching goal: who can we serve? And for the last 18 months, they have worked tirelessly fulfilling their goal.
Elder Barlow's career was in hospital administration which took the family from Utah to Washington, California, Alaska and back to Utah. The final fifteen years of his career, he was the director of the student health center at BYU Provo. When he was nearing retirement, an attorney friend of his, who works with BYUH, asked him if he would be willing to come here to work on special projects for the BYUH health center. Some of the projects have included doing the comparisons necessary to insure that the health insurance here is the best for both students AND the university; helping with plans to remodel the health center and working with others to recruit a new doctor to replace the retiring Dr. Nielson.
He has served on a committee which helps students with unique medical problems. The committee evaluates and recommends the best course of action and the university does all it can to help. He admires the students, who "...figure out how to make it work. They do without a lot of things we think are necessities."
Sister Barlow arrived in Laie with a desire to serve. She accepted the assignment to assist the Give and Take and dove right in, sorting and organizing myriads of donations.
Once Give and Take was self-sustained, Sister Barlow looked for her next assignment and was directed to the EIL department as a speaking and listening tutor. In that assignment, she has been a loving auntie to many students who come to fulfill an assignment and leave as family. This semester, she added the VOICE program and volunteers there as well.
You would think that the above assignments would have kept them busy enough, but not so...in addition:
Sister Barlow scheduled time to go to the apartments of non-student spouses and tutor them in English. When there was a typhoon in Vanuatu, she helped a student load boxes and suitcases with supplies to send to the island in relief. She has made friends with a woman who is homeless and has tried to give her help and support and wrote the words to a song that the sister missionaries shared at FHE. She even played "matchmaker" and the two have adjusted their departure date a few days so that they can attend the temple ceremony for the successful match.
They also serve as temple ordinance workers and PCC volunteers which inspired
Elder Barlow to take up jogging, just so that he could enjoy the macadamia nut ice cream at Prime Dining once a week. He's built up to a five or six mile run nearly every morning before work and takes a bag with him to gather garbage as he goes.
The Barlows spent three weeks this summer on the Big Island, serving as MLS missionaries in the Ka'u Ward on the southern tip of the island. There they visited active ward members as well as less active and made made many friends in a short period of time.
The Barlows spent three weeks this summer on the Big Island, serving as MLS missionaries in the Ka'u Ward on the southern tip of the island. There they visited active ward members as well as less active and made made many friends in a short period of time.
Everything they have done has been rewarding for them, but the "icing on the cake" is their experience as advisers to the Mongolian Club. Sister Barlow makes "Costco" runs, and they participate in activities, gospel forums, service projects and even the culture night in May when Sister Barlow sewed costumes for the performers.
Now their mission is nearing its end, but we can be certain that their service is not for two people who will be not weary in well-doing.
Mahalo, Elder and Sister Barlow.
Now their mission is nearing its end, but we can be certain that their service is not for two people who will be not weary in well-doing.
Mahalo, Elder and Sister Barlow.
