Wednesday, October 08, 2014

          Perhaps you remember my friend Lupe.  She is the young mother from Mexico who was raised in Utah, met her husband there (he is from Honduras) married in the U.S. and had three children there.  After a legal misunderstanding, they were forced to leave the United States and her husband had to return to Honduras.  It was her mother (who still lives in Utah) who sent gifts, clothes, and toys (with Jeff’s help) back with us to Tegucigalpa for her sweet little family when we were in Utah in May.   It is Lupe who occasionally takes us to PriceMart for shopping and who invited us to her home for Christmas Eve dinner.  We are in different wards now since the recent division, but we still keep in touch.

         Anyway, she called a couple of days ago and invited me to her son’s baptism tonight.  I told her that we were in the temple in the evenings this week, but I would come if we happened to finish a little early not expecting to be so lucky.  Sweet Sister Starkey arranged with the coordinator for me to leave early since once the last session started, the work was rather slow.  I was very grateful and so happy to support this family. 

         As usual, they needed help with the music; so Lupe found me a Primary Songbook, the cords and pedal for the electric piano, and gave me page numbers for songs they wanted to sing.  It was scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and started about 7:00.  I played prelude for twenty minutes to the background sounds of the font filling with water and light chatter among those waiting for the start time.  Moroni (mo ro` nee) was the only one being baptized and they had a very nice program for him including a short video with cute pictures, testimonies and remarks from family members, songs from the Primary children, and a few short talks.  It was a very touching scene watching the dad take his son into the water and baptize him with his family, including a great grandmother, and lots of little Primary kids gathered around and anxiously watching.  It was emotional for me and I thought about the family baptisms we have had to miss.  Afterward, they served small sandwiches, chips, and had a big beautiful cake.

         It was Moroni’s birthday today so he will never forget what day he was baptized.  It was an emotional night for Lupe.  Her family is still in Utah so they were not able to be here and it was hard.  She has such a great attitude, however, and feels that they were meant to be here at this time to serve the people here and grow and learn from the hard things they have faced.  She is a valiant servant.  I was so happy to be a part of this special night for her family.

         All is well.  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.  Sending Love---

Lupe and her daughter Malorie who will be nine years old tomorrow.

Moroni, who was baptized tonight on his birthday!!