She's Seen It All

She is a 77 year old widow who works full time as a volunteer advocate for people living in a "project" apartment tower. When the Philadelphia Housing Authority challenges a resident and threatens to evict them, this woman and her team of volunteers (and attorneys) investigate the claim and then, if appropriate, help the resident overturn the challenge. She is wise, strong, courgeous and experienced.

For 50 years she has lived in her attractive townhouse directly across the street from the apartment tower. In the late 1960s it was a good safe place to live -- there were even water fountains in the courtyard. The residents took pride in their apartments. Now it is a dark and dreary place.

The neighborhood, and many like it, fell apart in two phases: (1) The introduction of hard drugs 30-40 years ago. Men started using heroin and other dangerously addictive drugs. This removed them from their families. They were no longer dependable nor were they a source of income or support. The women became the matriarchs and kept things moving forward. But then the next shoe fell. (2) The introduction of crack cocaine enticed many women into easy usage. Crack did not required sticking a needle in one's arm. It could be easily smoked. Women got quickly addicted and abandoned all responsibilities.

Now there are drug dealers on many local street corners. Children are raising themselves without parental support, supervision or guidance. The result is predictable -- social decay on a massive scale.

Amidst this decline, two missionaries recently knocked on her door. Without hesitating, she invited them in and loved their message of the restoration of Christ's original teachings. She attended church and made new friends. She is getting baptized this Sunday.

Not All Invitations Are Created Equal

When I was a child I frequently received invitations to the birthday parties of my school friends. Sometimes receiving the invitation was as exciting as attending the party. As we get older, invitations can open doors that we otherwise would never enter. Here are two such examples in my own life:

In the fall of 1993 my wife and I received an exciting invitation. We were invited to attend the private wedding of Bill and Melinda Gates on the Hawaiian island of Lanai. The wedding took place on January 1, 1994. It was a terrifically fun event and we were very grateful for that invitation.

In October 2006 I was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Stanford University LDS Convocation, held in the architecturally beautiful Memorial Church in the center of the campus. This was a very special event for me because I attended Stanford both as an undergraduate (B.S. 1977) and a graduate student (MBA 1981).

Though we try not admit it, most of us would enjoy being invited to special events. For instance, would you turn down an invitation to the Presidential Inauguration? How about the Academy Awards? The Superbowl?

Not all invitations are created equal -- and this is the point of this blog posting. Consider the following from Henry B. Erying of the First Presidency: "“The words ‘come unto Christ’ are an invitation. It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person. It is the most important invitation anyone could accept." (Come Unto Christ, Ensign, March 2008)

In the spring of 1975 I accepted this invitation. I was baptized on April 19, 1975 in the LDS Institute Building on the Stanford campus. All that I now am has been built upon my "coming unto Christ". I do not have a separate philosophy of life.

Our 130 missionaries are in the invitation business. This is a new idea for them. They are offering "the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person". Can you imagine a better way to invest 18 or 24 months as a young adult? I can't!

Eat Well - Do Well

In 2000 some friends and I created Unitus (www.unitus.com), a Seattle based organization that helps poor people throughout the developing world become economically self-reliant. Working with 22 partner organizations we are now providing microcredit loans and other basic services to over 7 million poor women and their families. Each woman is contacted weekly and over 97% of our loans are repaid (better than ANY commercial bank during this period of financial crises).

Interest in this life-changing idea is catching on! You can now eat well and do well at the same time. Whole Foods Market shoppers have the opportunity to empower the poor through microcredit by donating at the registers at all U.S.-based stores during the Whole Planet Foundation Prosperity Campaign that runs from February 18 through March 31, 2009. One hundred percent of contributions will go to microlending projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the United States.

To find the Whole Foods Market closest to you, go to http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/all/index.php

Happiness -- Coming Soon!

One of the simple tastes I have acquired since living in this area is that of water ice from Rita's. My favorite flavor is cherry. Unfortunately, they close for the winter. As you can see in the photo, happiness will return on February 27!!

The story of Rita's Water Ice dates back to the sweltering summer of 1984 when Bob Tumolo, a former Philadelphia firefighter, decided to open a small Italian Ice business to augment his income. Tumolo opened his first store in Bensalem, Pa. and named the business after his wife, Rita.

Bob and his mother, Elizabeth, set to work – making their product fresh daily. They collaborated to perfect the flavors and consistency of the frozen treat. The mother and son team added chunks of fresh fruit to the recipes and threw away any unused product after 36 hours. The Italian Ice, also referred to as water ice, was a big hit with Philadelphians, who are arguably the most discriminating water ice eaters in the United States. Today there are over 500 Rita's.

On their corporate website they boldly proclaim, "We promise happiness." These are my kind of people.

Replacing Fear With Faith

She runs a tiny corner store in North Philly. One could easily mistaken it for a similar store in a developing country. A few weeks ago she stepped out the front door and found two missionaries on the sidewalk. Unfamiliar with these young men, she asked them who they were and what they were doing. One thing led to another, in a very good way, and this good women has started down a new path in her life.

She was born in Haiti and came to New York at age 14. During the week she lived with a local minister and his wife, and on weekends she would be with her mother. She always believed in God, but her actions were often in conflict with her beliefs.

She now reads the Book of Mormon and the Bible daily. She is eliminating addictions and is preparing for baptism.

I have the greatest respect for people like this woman who are open to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and are able to replace fear with faith.