A Missionary Blessing

 April 2024

A very beautiful experience for me, while we were in Utah, was getting together with the Morales family.  This is a family I taught on my mission back in Glendale, California in 1995.  Gloria was a single mom of two young boys: Chris, 13 and Mikey, 7.  Gloria had three jobs, was always smiling and was never still when she was at home.  I remember following her from room to room as she did laundry and dishes. Sister Filianga and I did our best to help lighten her load while sharing gospel messages.  

Chris, me, Gloria

I served a mission a couple of years before email became accessible to the public and well before cell phones and social media became a way to communicate.  Because of this, I have lost touch with many of those I met and loved on my mission.  I am so grateful that Chris found my mission business card which had my parent's home address and sent a letter before he set off on his mission.  Many years later, he has been really thoughtful to reach out over Facebook from time to time to keep me updated.

I really can't even describe the joy I felt at this reunion.  Being in Chris' Christ centered home felt sacred.  Meeting his beautiful wife and handsome sons and watching them interact was so sweet.  Gloria lives with them and Chris, Becca and Gloria help care for their disabled nephew/grandson.  

Chris, Becca & their nephew. 

A few years after  she was baptized, Gloria shared the gospel with her sister.  I was able to meet her sister, Virginia, and some of Virginia's family at this gathering.   To witness the continued faith of Chris, Gloria and Virginia and have a glimpse of some of the blessings the gospel has brought into their lives was a tender mercy. 

Chris, Becca w/ Noah, Brinley, Derek, Oliver, Leo, ?,  Brian, me, Gloria (black skirt), church friend, Virginia w/ son-in-law and two grandsons and church friend on the end
 

This gathering made me think of Alma when he unexpectedly encountered the son's of Mosiah and he “did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord...."