We met the Silva family when we first got here and have visited them off and on and they just recently become active. On our visit she said "You should go visit our daughter, Ana". We kept putting it off and finally went to see her this week. She lives with her boyfriend Jo-Jo (Joseph). She has 21 and has cerebral palsy. She reminisced about when she was baptized and when she went to church. Now her parents are coming back to church, she wanted to come back also. She said "It would be so fun to have people see her and have them say "Hello Ana, it is so good to see you." Today her parents picked her and Jo-Jo up and brought them to church. They arrived late and sat in the back and then before the end of the meeting they went out into the foyer on the opposite side that most of the ward members use. After Sacrament Meeting, I went out to give her a hug and Beth Roach (who always goes out the other way) came out and saw Ana. She said "Hello Ana, it is so good to see you" and gave her a big hug...Ana just beamed!! I told Sister Roach after she said the very words Ana had wanted to hear. Coincidence...I think not!!
The missionaries had dinner with the Silva's on Friday and Ana and Jo-Jo were there. They said they taught about the Plan of Salvation and were talking about the Resurrection and how our bodies would all be made perfect and whole. Ana stopped them and said...."Wait, are you telling me in heaven my body will be perfect" and they assured her it would and Elder Bittner said she wept and wept with joy. He said it was such a tender moment and the spirit was so strong testifying of that, that her parents and him wept with her. A moment he said he would remember forever. Her parents told him that she has at times been very distraught and attempted suicide.
Miracle #2. A few months ago when the Elder were teaching Betty, she told them that her divorce had been final for over a year, but that the legal papers with all the final distribution of the house and funds was still tied up waiting for the Judge's signature. Elder Bittner felt prompted to tell her if she was baptized the papers would be signed. Elder Howard reaffirmed it also. After we left, I said "Elder Bittner that was quite a promise you made to Betty". He said I know...please pray that it will happen. We all have!! When we went back the week after she told us that she was going to get baptized, she said her attorney had called and the papers had been sent to the judge. Her friend Joan asked her if she thought the timing had anything to do with her deciding to be baptized and Betty said yes she believed it did. She was baptized three weeks ago and Friday she found out the Judge had signed the papers!! A time to celebrate for a lot of reasons, but money has been so tight and now the house is hers and the money is released....what a huge relief for her.
It really is incredible to be here and see close up the Lord working miracles in people's lives.......
We went with the Elders to teach a new investigator, Tina. She is renting a room from one of the members and came to church with her last Sunday. Her brother is a member, and she had lots of questions. In our visits this week, we found a couple more people who have moved, a few not home and had a great visit with Sister Usher who is 80 years old and has lived here all of her life. We enjoyed hearing all about her life and what life was like when this area was open spaces!!
On Friday evening our little group of MLS Senior Missionaries got together for a monthly meeting, we are now down to just three couples. President and Sister Clayton have joined us in the past, but had family coming in this weekend. They came down here and after our meeting, we walked out on the pier for dinner at the Tin Fish and an ice cream cone after at the Cow-a-Bunga! The Farmer's Market was going on at the plaza, so we walked through that and had a great time. Neither couple had been down this far south and have not been around the ocean, only to play when family comes..so they really enjoyed it. Food was great and the company was incredible!! We also took a ride down near the border so they could see into Mexico. They certainly have become dear friends.
We end on a sad note...one of our dear little Filipino sisters, Marie Dalisay, 82, died on Monday of a stroke. She was such a faithful sister, attended the temple once a week and was such a happy, loving sister. She would come up to Elder Medsker about once a month and ask him to help her fill out her tithing slip. We will miss those Sunday hugs and smiles... Funeral will be on Saturday.
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