Four Forever Families Formed

I don't know if you remember, but a friend of ours in the states had read a story of President Kimball receiving a gift of money and being asked to use it as a gift for the Savior at Christmas.  Our friend offered a bus trip to the temple for our branch in the same spirit.  Elder Cobba created the card which stayed on the bulletin board for 2 months while we planned and worked together.  With a date chosen and much excitement, the couples prepared to be sealed.  We believe at least one couple, maybe two wouldn't have gone without this incentive and help.

Yesterday was our promised temple trip.  As of Friday, the bus was way over subscribed and we wondered if we would need to sacrifice our seats, but the day came and we did have room.  What a blessing!

The bus parked a block away from the church.  We all trooped to it at about 1:30 A.M. 

The Smith family, the first of our four

We arrived at the temple early, about 4:30 a.m.  I don't like to hurry, either, but the baptisms didn't start until about 6:30.  We had the guest house so we could prepare food and rest, but there isn't much in the way of entertainment.  Once again I was grateful for my time of life with no little ones to be responsible for.  I went outside to check out photo possibilities.  We ended up inviting people out for what we thought were just the first of photos we would take thinking we'd wait until after when we had light.  After, the bus was ready to leave within 10 minutes, so we had no time and lots of gratitude for the photos we got. 

The Borbon family

This is the Borbon family, one of my favorites.  Only the grandparents were sealed, but Ledes was able to do baptisms.  The boys kept me company for an hour or so while we watched the Smith baby during baptisms.  They were wonderfully behaved.  I was able to be the helper for Sister Borbon.  Rod ended up between Brother Smith and Brother Borbon.  He was busy.

I'm out of order here.  Sister Chang was outside but without her husband so we did some joking.  She is a lovely returned missionary.  When we first came her husband was a bit bitter, but he seems to be softening.  We were soooo glad they came.

Ahhh!  Space filled.

The Savedra family

Our third family, the Savedras.   Their daughter, left, was sealed to them as well.

The Trejos family

The fourth family, the Trejos.  He is a counselor in the branch, and was essentially in charge of the trip.    Even though it must have been stressful, he seemed to enjoy himself.   He was with the youth doing baptisms while his wife went through the temple.  When he couldn't be found on time, it was a bit stressful.

Someone asked us to pose, and Rod was serious, as usual. 

I tried to make our sandwiches after we got out of the temple.  Brother Trejos was rounding us up for the bus.  I ended up draining my tuna and putting it in my zip lock bag of celery.  From there I made sandwiches on the bus.  It was very efficient.  I think I may do it that way again.

I don't think I saw a grumpy person all day.  All wasn't perfect, in fact I was amazed at how much coordination was required.  In the temples in the U.S. it always looks easy.  People waited patiently and sweetly.  Our sealing room in the temple was packed and the Spirit was strong.

A bit of frosting on the cake--three more pianos were sent--the first three gifts, not loans, for our students here in Aguadulce--and we could just bring them from distribution so they didn't even have to ship them.  The distribution person ran out as the bus was closing the door -- having remembered Aguadulce and the music missionaries, so we ran and put them on.

We got home about 6 p.m.  Our friends across the street put our car in their protected driveway while we were gone and invited us to dinner when we returned.  What a grand and glorious day.  Many thanks to our bus donor.  I think at least one family could not have been sealed otherwise, and many others wouln't have gone.  We agreed it was much better than Christmas.  For many of the youth, this was their first time at the temple and for the couple sealed in December, they grinned broadly when we asked if they understood more this time.  We had 40 go from our branch and 10 from the leadership of the District in Chitre.  We asked at the temple whether they had ever had 4 couples sealed from one branch or ward at a time and the most they could remember was 3.  Almost a miracle to get 40 on a bus from a branch with average attendance in the 40s last November and averaging close to 60 now.
The brethren have to worry about nice things being said about them and having it go to their heads.  Several people have said that we were responsible for the success of the temple trip.  We know better, we connected the donor to the branch and encouraged two couples, but it was the work of the Lord -- coordinated by the members of the branch.