Wednesday, November 19, 2014

         While I went to the church to practice the concerto with Gina, Glade called his taxi friend and went to swim.  When he was finished, David picked him up and they started back here in the taxi.  David has always been good to stop and give people a ride if their destination is within the range of his current fare, and he doesn’t charge them.  Although he is not a member of the Church, he has learned to recognize the missionaries and people dressed in their Sunday best who might be going to the temple and will stop and give them a ride. 

         Today, as the taxi approached the steep hill that starts the journey back to our apartment, David noticed a man dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt, tie, and dress pants and a woman companion also dressed in Sunday attire.  He turned to Glade and said, “Is that a missionary?”  Glade looked and said he didn’t think so because they weren’t paired as companions.  Then David said, “Do you think those people are going to the temple?”  Glade said that maybe they were; so they pulled over, rolled down the window and asked them if they were going to the temple.  They said “yes, yes,” and started hurrying toward the taxi.  They were so grateful for the ride.  They had taken a bus or a van that had dropped them off near the Casa Campo just off the main highway, and then faced the difficult mile and a half walk to the temple. 

         Glade had seen the man in the temple before and they recognized each other, the man calling Glade “Presidente” as many of them do.J  He introduced his wife to Glade and said that they were on their way to the temple and this was her first time ever to attend.  The last session always starts at 6:00 p.m. and it was about 5:00 p.m. when they got into the taxi.  Of course, people are asked to be at the temple at least an hour or hour and a half prior to the session when they are going for the first time.  Obviously, they would never have made it on time without the ride.  It was more than a tender mercy for them—more like a small miracle—to have David and Glade stop for them and make sure they arrived in time for this special experience.  They were so grateful for the help.  It would have been such a sad disappointment for them had they not been in time.

         Sending love and prayers your way from us—Good Night!