Letter Home

Dear Ones,

While dad is out braving the storm and following Ryan's good example of working through the wind and rain, I thought I would send you a little update on what is happening here.  The storm came in late Saturday night and is taking it's time to pass on.  Although bushes have come down as well as palm frons, branches and banana trees, we are fine.  They are encouraging everyone to stay put for now so our teaching appointments have been postponed until we know what is the future. Two Elders from Rambi Island ferried to Vanua Levu just before the cyclone arrived since one is painfully dealing with shingles and had no medicine available for relief.  We had hoped to take some medicine over this week when we plan on going but there is no pharmacy on Taveuni and the government hospital here does not dispense what he needed.  So glad they got out.

As we ride out the big storm (Cyclone Evan) we are also in touch with Ba.  Sounds like they are better prepared and time will tell how hard they get hit. They are several hours delayed from us in receiving it.  It started Saturday night here and is still going although it comes and goes in strength.  All is well here, we stayed home from church because we didn't want to get caught out somewhere with trees falling down and or blocking the road to get home.  Had a great productive day with art projects, blog creation and loving the huge gales blowing through the house.

I do admit to a bad night after hearing of the terrible tragedy in Connecticut.  After personalizing it to our own dear grandchildren I just couldn't sleep.  That is a selfish admittance because the tragedy exists without it being applied to just little me.  How can we make sense of such evil?  Little children in a place that should be safe with trusting parents who sent them off thinking all would be well.

This morning as I was reading, I came upon this,  "Among all the glorious verities given of God to his people there is scarcely a doctrine so sweet, so soul satisfying, and so soul sanctifying, as the one which proclaims- "Little children shall be saved.  They are alive in Christ and shall have eternal life. For them the family unit will continue, and the fulness of exaltation is theirs.  No blessing shall be withheld.  They shall rise in immortal glory, grow to full maturity, and live forever in the heaven of the celestial kingdom-all through the merits and mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah, all because of the atoning sacrifice of Him who dies that we might live." (Bruce R. McConkie Ensign 1977)  This is such a beautiful blessing and reassurance to help grieving parents go on.  What wonderful truths in the Restoration!

We know too many of you are dealing with very difficult circumstances and we are sorry we are not able to help.  Please know you are always in our prayers. Could there have been more of a testing and trying year then this last one?  I think each of us has been pushed in ways we could not have imagined.  Thank you for your faithfulness!  We love each of us so much and continue to know that Heavenly Father will watch over us even when we wonder why we might not have been spared our personal trial. 

Love you so much,

Mom