I received the blessing of serving as an usher before worship services in Zion. At first glance, greeting members at the entrance may seem like a small task, but to me, it is a precious opportunity given by God—to help create a joyful and warm atmosphere and make Zion a nest of love where members can feel truly happy. I wanted to treasure this duty and carry it out with sincerity, remembering the teaching: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Lk 16:10).
When Zion family members enter, I greet them with a bright smile, saying, “God bless you,” and bow politely. Since I can see members walking toward the entrance through the window, I can often sense who is tired or feeling a little down. I can also tell which members made extra effort to come to Zion—whether by taking several buses, cycling, or walking long distances.
Recognizing these efforts, I came to understand how meaningful it is to welcome them warmly. As the first person they meet upon entering Zion, my greeting has the potential to lift their spirits after a long, tiring journey so they may worship God with a peaceful and joyful heart. With this in mind, I started thinking more deeply about how I could greet members in a way that would help them feel the love of Father and Mother the moment they enter Zion.
Zion is very multicultural. In Second Edmonton Zion alone, members come from many countries and continents, yet English is usually the only language spoken. I wondered whether hearing their own language—even just a phrase—might comfort members who rarely hear it while living in an English-speaking country.
I remembered a video where Heavenly Mother spoke phrases in the languages of the overseas visiting group members at a meal. Seeing how touched and happy they were hearing their own languages, I wanted to follow Mother’s example. Through this, I hoped members could feel comforted and loved when they entered Zion.
Aside from English, we have members who speak Tagalog, Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, and more. To greet them well, I thought I should at least learn to say “God bless you” in each of these languages. Whenever I had a chance to talk with members between worship services or at gatherings, I asked how to say “God bless you,” “thank you,” and “I’m sorry” in their language. I created lists on my phone and practiced at home.
It wasn’t easy. I struggled with the different tones in Mandarin, the gendered expressions in Spanish, and the respectful forms like po in Tagalog and nim in Korean. But I wanted to greet members with the same heart as Mother, so I practiced again and again, hoping that even my small efforts would make members feel happy and cared for.
At first, even though I had practiced, I felt shy and hesitant to actually use these greetings. My pronunciation was far from perfect, and I worried that members might not understand me at all or feel awkward. So sometimes I defaulted back to English. But little by little, I pushed myself to try—starting with the languages I felt most confident about. As I saw members approaching through the window, I would repeat the phrase in my mind several times before greeting them at the door.
To my surprise, even with my imperfect speech, members smiled brightly when greeted in their own language—sometimes even laughing (probably because I said it incorrectly!). Those who didn’t expect to hear their mother tongue became cheerful and visibly uplifted. Through this, I realized that even small gestures can share the love of God in Zion and give strength to one another. I felt sorry before Father and Mother for not having made greater efforts sooner to comfort members and share Their love.
Going forward, I want to continue making every effort to bring smiles to the faces of my brothers and sisters—and through that, to make Heavenly Mother, who earnestly prays for the wellbeing of Her children, smile as well. I give sincere thanks to God for allowing me to share even a little of Their love, and I pray that all my brothers and sisters will continue to feel joy in Zion and receive abundant grace through the word of God.