Powerful Experiences and Continued Support

Here's Evrett in the Mission Office with Elder Pannier. Both he

and Elder Stephens continue to be towers of strength to us.


After being out for a great (but rainy and cold) day of interviews

with missionaries all day yesterday, we dropped off the AP'S at

the Mission Office, and then we came back to the Mission

Home and enjoyed a relaxing dinner together.

Then, about 8:30 p.m., a Stake President called Evrett from the

United States to tell him that the 21 year old sister of one of our

missionaries had passed away suddendly and unexpectedly.

Evrett jumped in the car to pick up the AP'S again and drive the

l -1/2 hours through the continuing rain to the apartment of the

missionary to tell him of the sad news from his home.

While Evrett was driving, he asked me if I would call the

missionary's parents. I looked in the missionary's file, and

found a beautiful, handwritten testimony of the Gospel he had

written when he had first arrived at our Mission in April of

2007. I read the testimony over the phone to his family, who

had gathered around their speaker phone to hear it.

As I read the testimony, I knew this Elder was going to be OK,

because of his strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

He said of the Savior,"I know Christ is my Savior. I know He

has always been there for me. He has carried me in my darkest

times and has walked beside me when I have not been able to

carry myself. He is my personal Savior. He has lifted me from

rock bottom and has hoisted me to where I am, and where I am

going. He has saved me from myself and I cannot deny that. His

power has healed me physically and spiritually. Through him I

have overcome many trials in my life. I love Him with all my

heart and am honored to wear His name on my chest and in my

countenance."

After I finished reading the testimony to the family, the

missionary's mother tearfully asked me if I would give her son a

big hug for her when I see him. Well, I was crying too, and

I promised her, from one mother to another, I would give her

son a hug.

As you can imagine, the news about his sister was a huge blow

to the missionary when Evrett told him but thankfully, Evrett

was able to be there to comfort him, along with the AP'S, who

continue to be a strength and comfort to us all. (For one

thing, Evrett could never have found the

missionary's apartment, in a remote area, on a dark, rainy night

without the AP's, who know their way around everywhere

here.) Evrett was able to lend the missionary his cell phone

so he could talk with his family in the States and he was able

to show him that we all care about him very much. Evrett got

back to the Mission Home at 1:30 a.m.

I am thankful for powerful testimonies of the Gospel that can

give us strength in times of crisis, and for the help and support

we all get from each other.