Grant Me the Serenity....

"God... grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

This weekend, we had to tell two of our missionaries, Elder Wall and Elder Fish the very sad news that each one of them had suffered the loss of one of their parents, as both parents had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Utah during the weekend. Elder Wall lost his father on Saturday, and Elder Fish lost his mother on Sunday morning. Both parents were only 48 years old.

These unfortunate tragedies were beyond our control, but, after telling them the distressing news about their parents, we were able to bring Elder Wall (on the right) and Elder Fish (on the left) to the Mission Home, where we spent a Sunday afternoon with them, along with their Missionary Companions, and our Missioinary Assistants. We were finally able to coax a brief a smile from each of these missionaries, after expressing love to them, crying with them, praying with them, counseling with them, reading scriptures with them, walking with them, and feeding them a delicious lunch topped off with homemade brownies, ice cream and strawberries.

We are all profoundly grateful for our knowledge of the Gospel, its principles and ordinances, and for the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Now, as Elder Fish and Elder Wall return to their missionary work, and their mourning process, we send them on with our great love and some encouraging, comforting words from prophets of old:

From the "Book of Mormon", the elderly prophet and righteous King Benjamin, at the end of his life, as he delivers departing words of wisdom to his beloved people says:

"Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that He has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."

(Mosiah 4:9)

The Prophet Nephi, writing in the "Book of Mormon":

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men." (2 Nephi 31: 19)

As the Prophet Joseph Smith states, "indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul---We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely,or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." (13th Article of Faith)

Finally, we hope Elder Wall and Elder Fish will carry President Benton's refrain in their hearts with them as they go on:

"Adelante con fe y esperanza!" (Go forward with faith and hope!)

We love you Elder Fish and Elder Wall, as if you are our own sons!

P.S. We are all looking forward to tomorrow, because tomorrow, an Apostle of the Lord, Elder Russell M. Nelson, will be here in Buenos Aires to speak to us! We know that Elder Wall and Elder Fish will be blessed and comforted by Elder Nelson's visit.

P.S.S. We were able to arrange a meeting for Elder Fish and

Wall with Elder Nelson, our Area President, President Bowen,

and their wives and us, after Elder Nelson's meeting

with all the missionaries from the Buenos Aires North

and Buenos Aires West Missions. The Nelsons and the

Bowens were able to provide great comfort to our beloved,

grieving missionaries.