Our mission is over, and we didn’t get to tell about it, so here is an online you overview. We served for 2 years and 4 months--first as teachers of EnglishConnect classes, and later as the directors of the Community Resource Center. Beyond the staffing for 17 classes a week of English, we offered rotating US citizenship and computer classes. In addition to the communication, managing/training staff, ordering supplies, and teaching/subbing…I personally developed and taught (including notebooks, handouts, manipulatives, slideshows, practice tests, etc.) 2 different Citizenship classes (since the Citizenship test changed midyear in 2025). I also taught one of the computer classes (and my husband taught a couple). Lastly, I developed an English reading library in the building.
We managed all that had to accomplished with the staff, students, and Spanish-speaking missionaries--(who attended the classes to help translate and practice English in small group conversations as a service) since most of our students were Hispanic. The missionaries were also there because part of EnglishConnect is teaching principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that help us also in our learning. Those Principles of Learning also allowed us to share scripture stories from all standard works, and personal examples of that principle (always sharing our testimonies when we taught them. Those Principles of Learning were to be taught in their native language so they could understand what we taught. That was why we needed Spanish-speaking missionaries. But the relationships they developed with the students when we had conversation, often allowed for testimony bearing, clarifications of the scripture stories, and whenever we came, or at dinner hour, or when we left the Center, the missionaries were there in multiple rooms, giving discussions to our students. Just for the short time I taught, I had 4 of my students join the Church. Many more students joined the Church from other classes. We were an integral part of the Gathering of Israel.
The missionaries served with us every Tuesday and Thursday, during the dinner hour, so it also meant we fed about 14 missionaries every Tuesday and Thursday for dinner—and at least twice a month, we fed the entire staff of about 20-25 teachers/missionaries to allow time for the staff to celebrate birthdays, share ideas, and allow me to give inservice training. We turned over our service to our replacements about a month earlier than planned, due to my siblings telling me my mother was dying, (but we still were able to train them before we left.)
Since I was so rushed to see my mother, I didn’t feel I had closure the way it would have normally happened…but today I got it. I went to a random temple session and there were 6 of the missionaries we had worked with in the same session as us. One of them started his mission with us one day out of his language training in Mexico City…and now, he was leaving. The mission president was there to hug all the departing missionaries, and when we walked in the chapel, I immediately heard my name from several sisters. “Sister Wideman!” I turned and saw them showing ‘hearting’ me and mouthing, “I love you.” I was overjoyed to see them there.
Then, when we went in the session, all the temple workers who I had previously served with for at least 5 years (we changed shift days since we couldn’t serve on Tuesdays and Thursdays on our mission) were serving us. I was overcome with joy to see them all and have them greet me. The lady next to me asked, “Do you know everyone here?” I felt like I did.
When the session started, I was already weeping; I mean, what are the odds of this random ‘meeting’ in such a sacred place, being with such special people I had served with? I felt like it had been orchestrated just for me, because I miss serving with all those missionaries. I was able to say good-bye and hug them. It was the closure I wanted and needed.
PS: Another bonus: When I was set apart as a missionary I was promised 2 things. I was promised that my health would be such that I would be always able to serve (I was not sick a day in the entire time I served) and that the students would feel and know how much I loved them. I loved every on of them. One of them is our 'adopted nieta' who helped interpret and serve the entire time we were there.
PPS: We had many classes all over Houston come to see how we ran our Community Center. We had Salt Lake City come visit us twice. The writers of the course (BYU language studies) came and tested some of the classes that were at the beginning of the course, and will come to measure the growth at the end of the course (this month.) We are the only Community Center they are testing. That means that almost all our students do not belong to our Church and the classes are free because all the teachers are volunteers. We have even had some students come and volunteer for credit hours from their high school extra-curricular requirements.
