What a week.... Alright. So, the main thing that happened this week was actually very hard and very sad. I dont know if I have ever talked about this family but there is a wonderful brazilian family that is here in our ward and one of the only two members that live in our proselyting area. But they are just great! they are the ones that us four missionaries here in Las Arenas spent New Years Eve with. They have the biggest hearts I have ever seen. Their family consists of Lynette (the mom), Jessica (the 23 yr old daughter), Dalyson (jessicas husband) and Luis Carlos (11 year old brother). About a year ago, Jessica got diagnosed with lymphoma cancer (not sure if thats how its spelled) but she is one of the strongest women I have met. She had an unshakable faith in our savior and in the church. She came to church every single sunday possible for all 3 hours even when she felt weak after chemo and radiotherapy. We grew close to their family, they feed us almost twice a month and we would do random stop bys to see how they were doing. Last week Jessica spent every day in the hospital, she was not well. The relief society hermanas were taking turns covering a morning shift from 9-1 to stay with her while her husband and mom covered the rest of the day. We volunteered and were with her friday morning. Then Sunday afternoon I called Lynette to ask her if she wanted us and the elders to bring her the sacrament. The three rings on the phone was answered by a broken hearted mother, all i could understand was her desperate call for company when she said, "hermanas" between her tears. A lady took the phone from her and informed me that just minutes ago her sweet jessica had passed away.
Holding back my own tears. I knew what I had to do. I called the branch president, I called the relief society president and we said a prayer and then ran out to go be with this sweet member who answered her phone in a time like this because she needed us there. The rest of the afternoon we were at the hospital, we walked into the room to see lynette sitting in a chair leaning over her daughters body, which laid peacefully in the hospital bed. You can only imagine the hug that i gave lynette. As we held eachother in our arms, even in this very sad situation, I could feel our saviors love and his arms wrap around us.
The relief society President, hermana lopez, served her mission in the south of spain 30 years ago, she sat next to me and my companion in the waiting room and thanked us for informing her, thanked us for our work and love and then asked how i was doing, there were no words that came out of my mouth. I just looked into her eyes and she looked into mine, she placed her hand on my lap and said, "this is the mission."
I know that she was talking about the ups and downs and heartaches and the happiness that every missionary has on his/her mission. But those four words ment a lot more to in that moment. I know that we all have a mission here on earth. We are all here for a purpose. I know that when we have acomplished our mission... we go home. And I know that the Lord takes his best angels to go be by his side. Jessica was an angel, Jessica IS an angel. I know with all my heart that this plan of happiness is really the plan of God. The plan of salvation is just as real as me and you. It is everything.
I also gained a very stong testimony of the organization of the church. It is wonderful to see this little branch push and support eachother through every trial. I knew exactly who i had to call and I knew that they would do the rest. This church is the true and only true church of christ on earth. It is perfect. The organization is perfect. This plan of salvation is perfect. Gods love for us is perfect. I love this church and I am so beyond grateful to have the knowledge that I do and to be able to share it with everyone.
Please pray for lynette and her family. They need all the prayers they can get at this moment. and thank you. Thank you for everything every one does, for your prayers and more importantly for your faith.
con mucho amor,
Hermana Hair
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