TMM Love Matters All Around

TMM—Love Matters All Around

Jim wanted to write our blog this time, but two weeks later… 

We came home from church two Sundays ago filled with the spirit. All the speakers were inspiring, including Brother Burwell from the stake high council. His talk was about yielding to the Master. He told of going deer hunting in the Texas brush when he heard a herd of wild pigs from his perch in the hunting tower. He waited, still and quiet, above them. As they emerged from the bushes, he set his sights on a medium-sized javelina of about 100 pounds that he thought would be good eating. As they came routing around below him, he pulled back his bow and bagged the wild beast. Texas’ wild pigs have stiff, dark hair and long snouts for digging. Brother Burwell explained that these are the same animals as those much nicer pigs raised by farmers—with a few differences. Domesticated pork donors have shorter noses, lighter hair, and more charming personalities. All because they have a master. The Master makes a difference to all of us.

Attending sacrament meeting in Laredo is an experience that reminds us how turning our lives to the Master changes all of us. Look around. Love is all around us.

Last Tuesday we drove four Sisters to Rio Bravo for their appointments. Two sisters went to find one of our YSAs, but went to the wrong house. They came back to the car, hurrying to get in before the dogs could take their pound of flesh, literally. As we headed out to find the other companionship, the Sisters were mad at themselves for not making an appointment at the “wrong house.” The man sitting outside of his trailer had said off-handedly that he would like them to teach him. The Sisters asked if we could go back and leave him a pamphlet. Elder Flanagan went up with them. It was dark. There were packs of dogs barking. The man was sitting outside with no shirt on, AND our Sisters are pretty cute. They talked to Johnny for a few minutes and came back with an appointment to teach him the next day. The appointment had to be changed to Thursday, and we couldn’t go, so a sister from the stake went with them. Johnny’s baptismal date is December 21! Jim and Cam went back with the Sisters to teach him. Cam LOVED that! Johnny had lived in Twin Falls and had talked with our YSA who lived next door. He was determined to buy Sunday clothes to go to church and cover his tattoos from his younger, wilder days, he says. (Most people at church DO have tattoos, including the sister who helped teach.) Now, do you really think it was an accident that we dropped those beautiful, determined young missionaries at the wrong house?

We love the holidays here in south Texas! Palm trees sway. People’s hearts soften. The Spirit is strong. We are so grateful for all of you, our call to the Texas-McAllen Mission, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Happy Thanksgiving!

TMM Matters of a New Life

TMM Every Little Bit Matters

Sammy received the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday. He asked that Jim give the ordination blessing, and it was beautiful. We all had tears in our eyes as he was made a priest, but it was Sammy who had tears running down his cheeks. As he shook hands around, he said, “I never imagined such a great blessing would come to me!” As we waited outside the Bishop’s office, Sammy told the story of his first encounter with the missionaries. He was going through a tough time three or four weeks ago and praying for help when there came a knock on the door. The Elders then explained what happened to them that day. They were guided by the spirit to knock on one door of an apartment complex. Just that one door. On the other side was Samuel Mackey, alone, praying for help in the name of Jesus Christ, though he never really went to any church in his life. And that is the beginning of Sammy’s new life!

At least seven people were baptized and confirmed in the Laredo Stake on Saturday. Those are just the ones we know. It is a very exciting time for the gathering. Sunday in the 4^th Ward, Elder Peterson (one of Sammy’s elders) gave an excellent talk about the apostasy. He told how one day in high school he was asked to take charge of a class when the teacher had an emergency. The first thing that happened was a student asked from the back of the room if he was going to take attendance. Elder P. shook his head and said he didn’t even know how. The student picked up his backpack and left. That’s what happens when no one has authority to keep things from chaos. I thought it was a perfect example of what happened when Jesus and His disciples were gone and along with them the authority. 

After his talk, the Elders and the Sisters sang “Army of Helaman.” I glanced down at two children right in front of us on the first row who had been coloring. They were on their knees, intent on their pictures when the song started. I wish I had snapped a picture, even though it was in sacrament meeting! Their little faces turned intently on the young missionaries and they stared up at them with glowing faces and shining eyes. One of them sang the words silently along with them. Yesterday was full of amazing moments like that! We also saw a friend we hadn’t seen since right after her baptism, months ago. We are so grateful Idalia was well enough to come! She was sitting with Cindy, recently baptized, who is her ministering sister. I love the gospel!

 The field is white, all ready to harvest...

TMM Blog: Sammy Matters

Three weeks ago we met Sammy. We started giving him rides to church meetings and talking to him about his life. We saw his countenance change, even from that first day when he showed me the Plan-of-Salvation pamphlet and told me he knew it was true—that it rang bells for him. Like many who hear of Heavenly Father’s Plan, I believe he was remembering rather than learning something completely new. He started reading the Book of Mormon every day and gave up substances willingly in exchange for gifts of the spirit. Saturday we gave him a ride to his baptism. Brother Bermuda was conducting his first baptism service and performing his first baptismal ordinance. The opening prayer was given by new member Laura Botello. The closing prayer was by Sister Bermuda, who nervously told me she had never been to a baptism since her own. But this is a story about Sammy. The Bermuda children and the Botello children gathered around the font. A couple of the Botellos said they wished they could be baptized again, and then after a few tries with the sacred words of the ordinance, Sammy was washed clean in the waters of baptism. We all rejoiced with him as Brother Bermuda welcomed him as our newest “brother in Christ.” 

Sunday we picked up Brother Samuel Mackey and drove to the church where Elder Flanagan had been asked to confirm him and ask him to receive the Holy Ghost. Sammy chose to sit with us during the testimony meeting, so we had a front-row seat to his growing testimony. I showed him how to follow the hymns by verse. Elder Flanagan gave him a beautiful blessing. Sammy took the sacrament for the first time as a member of Christ’s church. When Brother Petters opened testimonies with his own heartfelt thoughts, Sammy wiped tears and whispered, “Oh, I needed to hear those words.” Other beautiful testimonies also brought tears of gratitude. He was amazed at 8-year-old JJ’s sweet words and Sister Nigliazzo’s inspiring stories of God’s tender mercies. Our seminary students students in that ward gave strong and faith-filled witnesses. At the end Sammy said, “You know, this morning when I woke up, for the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged—not only to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but to Jesus Christ! It is the most wonderful feeling!” Then I was wiping away the tears. 

The little boy, one of the Bermudas’ children, wanted to know why you can’t wear shoes when you are being baptized. Sister Bermuda turned around and asked us. Elder Flanagan said, “Because we don’t want to get them wet!”