It's a small world!

Well, what a coincidence! We met one of Lani's family's friends in the Temple Friday night! The families knew each other in Tonga! He even talked about Lani's sister, Lena, who lives in Virginia! He came to church today and became immediately excited when I mentioned Lani's and his mom's name! We have this type of thing happen so often! It really is a small world, especially when you are in the Church! Saturday, as we were helping to run the Baptistry, we learned a lesson in sacrifice and true humility and desire to serve. Elias and I watched as a 40 year old man who could not walk, was helped out of his wheelchair and on to the steps of the baptismal font. Holding to the handrail, he sat down on the top step, then, painfully slow, scooted himself down into the font where the baptizer steadied him on his stronger leg, enabling him to be baptized for several deceased brothers before his leg lost its strength completely. Then with a brother on each side, he was lifted out and carried to the dressing room to dress. When he left the Temple, he just glowed with joy from being able to stand as proxy and be baptized for his deceased brothers who could not do it for themselves! Dad and I couldn't help but weep for the sweet Spirit that was present at the time he did this work! And sometimes we think it a sacrifice on our part to take the small effort it takes for us to hop in our cars and drive a few miles, walk in the Temple on two strong, healthy legs and feet, and serve the Lord there for a short time! Boy! We are going to be more diligent in going to the Temple when we get home!

Today, Bishop Chiles married a sweet, Philippino couple in the chapel right after Sacrament meeting! All the Ward was invited to stay, and we were very glad we did, for we witnessed a beautiful outpouring of love and caring for these two, sweet, young adults! They both are serving under different contracts for different factories. They have to adhere to the factory rules governing those who work for them, and live in the factory dormatories. Another rule is that they have to be in their individual dorms by 7:00p.m. each night, so these two newly weds will not be able to live together while under their contracts! The only day they have off is Sunday, but the same rule applies on Sunday! Neither had any family members that could come for the wedding, so the great people here bought flowers and bows to decorate the chapel with, and a beautiful bridal bouquet for her! Then, one of the Bishop's counselor's wives made her a simple, but elegant wedding dress and veil, (in 3 days, might I add), and then friends brought food for a wedding feast fit for a king and queen, complete with a two-tiered wedding cake, topped with luscious fruits of every kind! More than eighty of us shared a wonderful dinner with them!! Can you imagine that? Even the weather, which has been rainy and cold for the past week, was warm, and the sun came out for the day!! (One of Father's tender mercies, I'm sure)!

It is wonderful here! We are loving it! They have asked me to teach piano in the future, after the Senior Sisters leave to go home! This will happen every Sunday after meetings! I have been playing for a lot of the Temple Prayer meetings, but mostly with one hand! This should be very interesting!