Blessings

Dear Family and Friends,

While serving as a narrator on the wagon with Elder Long, we shared a special experience. As the ride ended, a man of around 40 years of age asked us where we were from. When we answered Morgan, he asked if by chance we knew a of a man named Jonathan Barrett.  We replied that we once knew a young missionary from Morgan named Johnny Barrett, but he was killed in Africa while serving on the Ivory Coast.  He teared up and said that Elder Barrett was one of the six Elders that he lived with while serving there.  He and Elder Barrett were close as they were the only two Americans of the group.  He wanted to contact Johnny's mother after all these years and tell her what a difference that event made in the rest of his life.  Elder Barrett had been a model to him of how he wanted to serve the Lord and made him grateful for every day he had on this earth.

Johnny was the same age as our kids and made a big difference in each of their lives.  We told him about the funeral and that Elder Monson had spoken. At the end of the service as he left the stand, he silently saluted Johnny's picture.  That quiet respect for an Elder meant the world to each of us.

It's wonderful the Lord allowed our paths to cross.

The Lord is in the details of our lives.  So many tender mercies happen each day to testify of that. I believe that sometimes we are too busy to notice.  Many times we run into people we know and have great conversations.

 One tender mercy we've had recently is doing the baptism in the temple for Elder Long's 2nd Great-grandmother.  He has looked for her name for over 35 years and when he found her, knew he needed to have her work done.  It is a exceptional privilege to do it here in the Nauvoo temple.  As I was baptized by Elder Long for her, it was an experience to treasure.  The Nauvoo temple will always hold a sacred place in our hearts.

As we get to the last weeks of our mission, we remember all the blessings poured out on us and our family and friends as we have served here.  Many we can count and I'm sure there are many we aren't even aware of.  One thing for sure, we know the Lord lives and directs His church on the earth through prophets. How blessed we are!

Love you all and hope you have a great week ahead.  I know we will.

Sister and Elder Long