Modern Day Miracle

Aug 4, 2008
Dear Loved Ones,

The pass two week have just passed so quickly. It has been such a special time for Dad and I to know that you have all been together having fun at the house. We had hope that you would do that, but did not really think that it would happen. What a great way to show honor to our family name. Nothing brings us more joy than to tell the people out here that last week all or our children and their children were at the house for cousin days or week. The one day I called home, I thought it was Krystal that answered the phone but later I was not sure. However, the question was, "What are you going to do for fun today?" She replied, "Play with my cousins." Grandma's heart was so happy to know that these wonderful grandchildren just love being together with each other. Thanks to all the parents for making this happen. I hope that we can always have cousin week. A tradition that my mother tried to start years ago. Those few times that we were together are still some of my most precious memories. I hope that we can do that again with your cousins.

Now thank you for fasting as a family for your family. Particular the missionaries. I want to share with you what happen this weekend inconnection with our family fast. As you, all know we have been teaching the lesson to Mark Ward who is from Blue Ridge. His wife Brynn is from American Fork or Hidden Oaks area. Her and her brother actually went to American Fork High. Her folks separated the year she was a senior and her mother came to Georgia. Her dad lives in Lehi. She married Mark four years ago and they have a little boy name Rhett. I know that we have told you about them, but I just want you to understand which family I will be talking about. Mark and Brynn have been going to The Baptist Church one week and then the LDS Church the next week. We have been fellowshipping them. Brynn's dad is a motivational speaker and flies out here to do presentations. He was here at the first of the summer and we got to meet him. Up to this point Mark thought he could just attend church, but his father-in-law told him that he needed to have the missionaries teach him the lessons. He had already taken to Dad, therefore, they were comfortable in getting the lessons started. Brynn's father had helped him a lot with his question. A couple of weeks ago we were teaching the lesson to them at the home of the Elder Quorum President. President Thompson started to push a little, Brynn followed, and Mark said, "Just a moment I have something to say about this." Brynn backed off and realized that he was in control and would be the one to decide when he would be baptized. We realized that they had not better be pushing him. Some like the Elder Quorum President do not think that Dad and I are aggressive enough. They forget that you meet with people sometime twice a week and you get to know what theyare feeling. Mark has been telling us that he knows the Church is true and we knew that he would eventually be baptized. Last week he told us that he was not ready to commit to baptism because he did not know if he wanted to commit to having to do a church calling. He did not think that he would be up to doing some of the things that he sees the members doing. He has already been helping with service projects and just loves helping others. Well, Sunday we ask them to come lunch. They had already been here the last two Sundays so they were feeling like the probably shouldn't. We told them that we were just going to do something simple and we would really like them to come over. So they did and we had simple --Hay Stacks. They had never had them before. (Must be a Heritage Tour meal.) Just before we were to eat dad started to ask me to pray and Mark said, "Do we want meto bless it?" and he just bowed his head and bless the food. I thought that it was great. But the best is yet to come. After we finished eating Dad started to ask him if he had any question.

I think that we told you about President King and his {Bracket Moments} and to find some each day. Well this was definitely a Bracket Moments. Mark tells us that he read the priesthood lesson and the Sunday school lesson which was on the Word of Wisdom and he said that he could answer the all the question at the end of the lesson. He then told us that he told his wife that if Bother Echard didn't show up he could teach the lesson. Here just a week ago he didn't think he could do a calling now he is volunteering. Then he said to us "How do I announce that I want to be baptized? All this is happening while we are having a family fast. We still thought from his comments that baptism might be weeks away. Of course, we know that the devil will work on him now. Brynn was to call her Dad on Sunday night and see when he can come. Then they will set the date. We hope that it is soon. We feel that because of the family fast he felt the spirit and ask what he had to do to announce his baptism!

Another Bracket moment-- Mark plays softball and he had invited us to come and play. So we drove to Blue Ridge which is about 30 minutes to watch the game. Just after we got there it started to rain hard. In Utah when it rains hard it only last a few minutes. In Georgia when it rains, it rains and it may rain hard for several hours. So when it started a downpour and the lighting started they cancelled the game. He was so glad that we came, yet felt so bad that the game was rained out. He asked us to come back to his next game. So we decided to go. They wanted to get something to eat before the game. We didn't think that was to good an idea, because we always think about Randy Hansen. He said he would be fine. Long story to tell you that when the food came Brynn just starts to eat and he nudged her and said "Aren't you forgetting something?" And then he blessed the food. We are so glad that he takes the principles of the gospel so serious. Everyone out here usually blesses the food even if it is just a moment of bowing our heads and pausing for just a moment. Dad and I felt uncomfortable at first because rarely do people in Utah offer a blessing in a public places. But here in Georgia the Missionaries and the members bless the food. Another side note last week when we taught the Word of Wisdom as I finished my part I turned and ask Dad to share the Creed Hammond story. This had not been in the lesson plan but I thought that Mark would enjoy hearing this story. Remember these are two of our favorite Mormon Athlete Stories. You can not tell the Creed Hammond with outadding the Clarence Robinson story. The BYU runner from Fillmore. Who also for years was the announcer at all the BYU Basketball Games. Uncle Dave will remember him. There was not a dry eye when dad finished telling these two stories. I had felt that Mark would really relate to these stories. He is a professional Wakebroader. Did I spell that right?

Aug 5, 2008
Today has been a very busy day. We did a couple of service projects early this morning, then we met Elder and Sister Bishop (the couple from American Fork). We help them move in some more furniture for the sister missionaries. I finally found out today what is crippling Elder Bishop. He has muscular Dystrophy, and it is advancing more all the time. I do not know how he does what he does and Sister Bishop can hardly walk herself. We got everything moved in and Dad mended the bookshelves for the sister so they are more settled. Elder and Sister Bishop have been planning this day for over a month. They took their P-Day today. They wanted us to show them around. We really have not been to any sites here, so we didn't know what to show them. Therefore, we just took off and went and introduced them to the members of the Branch. Showed them the chapel. Took them to Blue Ridge so they could see how far we have to travel to teach and how far the members have to come to attend church. We did go by and show them Blue Ridge Lake. (Where Mark Ward does his Wake Boarding. ) We took them by to meet the Foote's. Who found out that the Bishop's love to Dutch ovencook also. They hit it off so that was nice. Then we had dinner at the Hall's. I believe we told you once that Brother Hall was a quarterbackfor BYU. Some of the members are so good to us. Then the best thing of all is that Brynn called and Mark has set hisbaptism day for August 17. They told us that they have the wholefamily flying out for the big day. We are so EXCITED! Thanks for the family fast. Tomorrow we will be taking our P-Day and going to the temple. We have our car filled with two couples and 2 sisters who do not get to the temple as often as they would like too. We really enjoy this little trip to the temple on the first Wednesday of every month. We love you all and we are so grateful for all your support and for this wonderful opportunity to serve and to testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel. Love you, mom