This is a favorite story. Elder Tobler from O´Fallon, IL and his companion Elder Gonzales Poot from the State of Quintana Roo (Yucatan) were working in trio with Elder Yebra from Mexico City. They were assigned to Acayucan. More than a 90 minute bus ride due south is the Paraiso Branch in Oaxaca. We have been there. It is remote and beautiful, another tiny pueblo with almost no one living there. For the missionaries to go there, well, it is not time and cost effective. They are very busy where they live. But, they got a referral.
The referral was from the branch president. It was that his son-in-law wanted to receive the missionaries. But, the referral had no data. It was only the propect's name and that he was the son of the presidente in Paraiso. The struggled with what they felt, but feeling that they should go, they did.
They got off the bus at the Paraiso bus stop. The town is another 3 kilometers off the highway on a mostly dirt road. As they disembarked, a young woman holding a baby said, "Hola, Elders!" What a surprise that was! As they spoke they told her that they were looking for a certain man and shared his name with her. She said that she knew him. In fact, he is her husband. They don't live in Paraiso at all, but in another pueblo, Jesus Carranza, 13 km farther south on the highway. She said that he was at their little store and she would take them to him. Miracles? You bet.
So, they met him. He told them that he has closed his little store on Sundays and has been going to church every week for four months. He expressed frustration that he couldn't do anything to help the branch because he doesn't hold the priesthood. He doesn't hold the priesthood because he isn't a member of the Church. He asked the elders to baptize him. So, they taught him and the next week they baptized him in a rainstorm-swollen river in Paraiso. Paradise. That is what Paraiso means.
3 comments:
Great story ... you will need to write a book and compile all of the "mission miracles" you have seen!
Presidente, I'm really going to miss your posts when the 1000 days are over! This one really touched me, as many of them do. Please give our best to Sister Hansen. We will always be grateful for all you have done for our son (who, by the way, has still not entirely lost his Mexican accent, and endures much good-natured ribbing at BYU).
I had the great opportunity to interview him for his baptism. It was a great experience and an amazing brother. I remember him expressing to me his desire to hold the Priesthood and his general desire to progress spiritually.
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