eternal life

One of the unexpected challenges of the mission has been dealing with death. Almost every month, we receive the news that a family member of one of our missionaries has passed on. Normally, it is a grandparent, but not always. In the first year of our mission Presidente’s father went and yesterday we learned that his mother has gone on to join him. We celebrate their love and the eternal family of which we are the beneficiaries.
Presidente’s mom has been dealing with the effects of Alzheimer's Disease for many years now. In 2009, two years before we left for our mission, the whole family got together to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. His mom really didn’t know anyone in the room, but she did comment that she enjoyed being with all these members of the church. When I told her that they were all her family, her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, she was amazed. We took lots of family pictures that night, and I have this one of our four daughters with their grandparents.

The real joy of the gospel is that we have the happiness of knowing that they are

Together Forever.

Uno de los desafíos inesperado de la misión es tratar con la muerte. Casi cada mes recibimos noticias que un familiar de uno de nuestros misioneros ha fallecido. Normalmente es un abuelo pero no siempre. En el primer ano de nuestra misión el padre del Presidente falleció y ayer su madre fue a reunirse con el. Celebramos su amor y la familia eterna lo que somos los beneficiarios.

La mama del Presidente ha estado tratando con los efectos del Alzheimers hace algunos anos ahora. En 2009, dos anos antes de salimos para nuestra misión toda la familia nos juntamos para celebrar su aniversario de 60 anos. Su madre en realidad no conocía a nadie en el cuarto pero ella me comento que disfruto estar con estos miembros de la iglesia. Cuando le dije que todos fueron su familia, sus hijos, sus nietos, y bisnietos ella no pudo creerlo. Sacamos muchas fotos esa noche y tengo esta con nuestra 4 hijas con sus abuelos. El gozo real del evangelio es que tenemos la felicidad de saber que ellos están juntos para siempre.