Expect Miracles

That's what they tell us all the time about the Mission Field.

This is George 

He and his family joined the church a while back and came to the temple last week to be sealed as a family for Time and All Eternity. Mom, Dad, 8 daughters and George, their only son.  They traveled with their bishop, his family, and other ward members many hours on a bus in order to have this blessing in their lives.



That's the Bishop and his son on the right.


Until he was 9 years old,  George was like every other normal kid - running, playing, enjoying life.  Then something happened for which doctors have given conflicting diagnoses - from allergic reactions to medications to undiagnosed problems at birth.  At any rate, George now has lost control of most of his muscular functions.  He can't walk.  He has difficulty holding his head up.  The only thing he has retained control over is his sense of humor.  In this aspect, he is still a totally normal Filipino youngster. 

So for the last 3 years (he's 12 now), his family has had to carry him everywhere.  They are very poor and the prospect of getting a wheelchair for him was nearly impossible.   But after the sealing ceremony, the inspired bishop came across the street to the Area Office and asked to speak to the Humanitarian Couple, Elder and Sister Smith.

 First miracle - they were in town.

The Bishop explained the dire circumstances of the family - 9 children, very limited resources. 

 And he asked if there was any chance a wheelchair could be found for him. 

Second miracle - they had a chair in the building. 
Most unusual. 

Elder Smith took some measurements - the boy and the chair. 

A perfect fit.

The final miracle.

Not a dry eye in the house.

Anywhere.

The Downside ...

To being 7,000 miles from home...

You can't be there when grandchildren (and their parents) hurt!

What grandparent doesn't want to just grab our little Jered 

and kiss his hurting away?

We're a little short on details, but we know he was at the park, fell on cement and broke his femur.  But look at all that had to happen to stabilize that femur!  A cast from his chest to his ankle on one leg and his knee on the other.  He won't be able to sit up for 6 weeks.  We can only imagine how long the full recovery will take. 

But he was given a blessing by Eric, and so Maddi sent us an email detailing it.  Here it is in her own words:

 "Eric told him that he was going to say a special prayer to help him feel better, then he put his hands on his head.  Jered was laying down in the bed and Eric knelt on the floor next to the bed (so Eric's arms were above little Jered's face). Then Jered reached up and held onto Eric's arm very gently with both hands.  It was so sweet.  As Eric gave the blessing, Jered repeated each word that Eric said in a tiny whisper! He was truly listening to each word that Eric said, I could just tell that he knew he was receiving a special blessing from his Heavenly Father.  Eric blessed him to be comfortable, not feel pain, sleep well, and that all would go well with his procedure today.  He also blessed him to heal quickly and to have no side effects of the injury later on in life.  Most importantly he blessed him to know of his Heavenly Father's love for him and of his parents' love for him.  When the blessing was over, Jered started to fall asleep."

I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who provides for the needs of His children in such a loving way.  I'm grateful for the Priesthood that gives man the power and authority to act in God's name.  And I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows and loves each and every one of His Children.