Friday, August 08, 2014

         Another Friday arrived and with it came some very sad news for a young couple here.  Their new little baby was born pre-mature and developed serious complications.   He underwent surgery last night, but I think he was just too tiny to survive the trauma and passed away this morning.  We know the grandfather who is a stake patriarch and comes to the temple often.

         Laurene and I went to the chapel to practice our duet for Sunday’s recital this morning when we learned about this family’s tragedy.  The services they have here are so different from what we know.  A bishop’s wife told us that the chapel would be open all day and people would be coming and going all during that time.  There was a more “formal” funeral at about 11:00 a.m.  A CD provided a few Primary songs in the background while people visited.  I have never seen such a tiny little casket and it just broke your heart to look at it. 

         We ended up playing our duet—a very nice arrangement by Sally deFord of “My Heavenly Father Loves Me”—and it seemed nice to have live music.  Sister Ocampo and I were going to practice her song at the chapel as well, but that was pre-empted, too.  So instead, an impromptu group including the Ocampos, our bishop and his wife, and a couple of other people sang several songs from the Primary Children’s Songbook and I played for them.  It was very nice.  Everything was so informal and protocol seemed to be missing, but people just seem to “go with the flow” here and everything works out fine.  They really love and care about each other.  It was just so sad and we felt bad for this sweet young couple. 

         It was a great day in the temple, however; and I saw many sweet sisters who have become my dear friends—both workers and patrons—and I loved the exchanges of smiles and hugs that really make my day and keep me going.

         Hug your children tonight and may we all count our many blessings.