Tender Mercies of the Lord

On Tuesday we had to role play to practice teaching the gospel to an investigator. In talking with the lady we taught, after we were through, we learned that her son served his mission a couple of years ago in the Philippines. We had fun talking to her and she was able to tell us a few things about the Philippines even though he had served in a different mission than us. We felt that it couldn't have been a coincidence that we were assigned to her.

On Wednesday we had to role play again teaching a different part of the gospel to another investigator. He said he was a widower and that he had never joined the church. He missed his wife who had been an active member and had raised their family in the church. He said the Bishop told him if he came there to take the lessons he could get ready to join the church and prepare himself to be with his wife when he leaves this life. He was so convincing that it was a real experience. What had been so frightening became quite fun.

We needed to go to the Travel Office to ask a few questions. We didn't have much time so I thought we had better stop and ask someone in one of the offices for directions. I passed by one office and was determined to stop at the next. It just so happened that working in the office was a couple who returned from their mission to Tacloban last year. What a find. I call it one of the tender mercies of the Lord. Neal and Jackie Beecher have become great friends. They were so wonderful to tell us all about our mission area. They really went out of their way to make maps, type directions to restaurants, stores, banks, show us pictures and souveniers and spend their time to answer all our questions and tell us all they could in the time we had. They were so excited and enthusiastic about Tacloban and told us how they loved the people and wished they were going with us. They told us a lot of undesireable things about the culture there but also showed how much we will love being there. We feel we will be much better prepared to go because of what they did for us.