Quiver full of Quincys: The Bitter with the Sweet!

What a week! I was experiencing pure joy on Saturday with the wedding and baptism of a sweet sister we have been working with since October. I got a voice mail as I was sitting in her baptism. I didn't get around to listening to it until an hour later as we were cleaning up after the after baptism dinner. The news that my dear friend's only son had died about dropped me to the ground. I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach.
Today as I've been fasting for Nedra, I've learned a few things or rather been reminded of some things. This life is about making and keeping covenants. Michael did those things. All of us will die. We don't choose when or how we die. What we can do is try to live so that we die ready to meet our Savior. My pain about Michael's death isn't for him, its for his mom living without him for the next 30 years or so. He and his mom will be together again

“Life is a homeward journey for all of us, back to the presence of God in his celestial kingdom. Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into His presence. To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality” (Boyd K. Packer)

That said, I'll get on with the week. Jon had surgery Monday. It was hard to not be there to help, but its nice to have good people there to take care of him while I'm here. We went to Robin's funeral. It was a nondenominational funeral with lots of sad people there. The highlight for me was as we filed up and past the casket at the end (they do that here) they played primary songs!
We had a wonderful lesson with the Allen family Monday night. We talked about loving others and not judging them. Elder Anderson said something I love; he said that everyone at church has someone who loves them and is thrilled that they are there. He's learned to treat everyone like he wants his converts to be treated. Just love them and be thrilled they made it to church. Somewhere there's a mom and/or a missionary who thanks you.
We taught Bridget the rest of the commandments this week. She is so awesome! She really has been living them for a couple of years. She asked if she should start paying her tithing before she's baptized. I love her!
We took the Elders to teach Cody, a member's grandson, who really wants to be baptized, but has a hard time getting to church since his grandma started feeding the homeless every Sunday. His grandma had left to rescue a family who's car broke down. They came to her shop where we teach Cody a few minutes late for the lesson. We invited them to listen with Cody. They listened and loved it. The mom said that she's almost thankful their car broke down so there could be there. When we talked about Cody's baptism date; July 22nd, Elder Brinkerhoff invited them to prepare to be baptized on the same day. She started sobbing and said that date is really significant to her; her daughter who died in infancy was born on that day and her grandpa died on that day and she thought that was a sign.
Luke's boys are coming from Virginia to spend a couple of weeks here. He is thrilled! I'm excited to meet them.
Our new mission president arrived on Friday, President Hewlett. We get to meet him on Thursday. Also on Saturday the Martinez family was sealed. And then I heard that Ruby took the kids and left Antonio and went back to Missouri. Yet more bitter and sweet!
Br. Sneed was called to be an Assistant Ward Clerk! We're excited! I helped Angela Graham to find 3 family names to do baptisms for!
We started teaching one of Tammy's employees at her preschool. We asked her if she's noticed changes in Tammy since her baptism. She said that she used to be scared of her and that she was unhappy most of the time. She said that now "she glows" she's so happy. I loved hearing that!
Living the gospel is the key to happiness! Bad things still happen, but we are supported in our trials. That's what I'm praying happens to Nedra, that she'll be blessed with peace in the midst of her sorrow. We went with the Sisters after church or they came with us to take the sacrament to Sister Rigli and the Masons. We went to teach the Estradas. The son is interested, his mom only speaks Spanish, so they couldn't tell for sure about her. She is a sweet lady and I had the great opportunity of teaching her the whole first lesson, the restoration, in Spanish. She wants to hear more and so we'll send the Spanish Elders to teach her.

Christina ready for baptism!