Well, I might as well start out with this. Sunday
night (last night) we were at our recent convert´s house eating some
arroz con pollo when we got a phone call from a return missionary in the
ward named Toño...He´s the unofficial assistant ward
clerk..."
He asked us where we were, and then told us the unthinkable news: the
bishop had died. (The bishop´s family lives on the same
street as the church about a hundred meters away). I hung up and told my
comp that we had to go, not saying anything to the recent convert or
the investigators there. A couple seconds later, the ward secretary
called saying the same thing. On the way there, another sister in the
ward called us. Nevertheless, we hoped for the best. We finally arrived
at the house where probably 100-200 people were waiting, talking,
crying, and praying. The Stake Presidency had already arrived as well.
We went inside where we saw him on the table laying lifeless. We
received permission to stay there and help as long as we stayed together
and went home with a member. We stayed there helping out, talking,
cleaning up and preparing the church for the funeral the next day
(today) until around midnight. Very very tough to describe all the emotions and I won´t be able to say everything that happened. We had the funeral today around 3:00
and then we went to the cemetery where he was buried. Hundreds of
people went. The bishop was loved by many...he had his enemies too (he
was firm in his decisions as a bishop so to say) but even they came to
the funeral and even they cried. He was also a leadership figure in
Ocotillo and many nonmembers went. It was tough to see the bishops
family...the 18 year old son who will leave on his mission in December
or so received the Melchizedek Priesthood earlier that day at a Stake
Priesthood Meeting. The youngest daughter is 10 or 11 with three older
sons of 16,18, and 22 (return missionary). I have heard a lot of
different stories of what happened so I will try to say basically what
might have happened: he was feeding his pig, he slipped and fell on the
concrete pila, ruptured an artery or something internally, and died
shortly after. Tough, tough, tough. Life is a fragile thing.
I´ve
had a lot to think about because of this experience. First and
foremost, I am grateful for the knowledge that I have about the Plan of
Happiness that our Heavenly Father has for us. I´m grateful for our
Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and what he did for us. (Video-Gracias a
El ... I think it´s thanks to him or Because of Him in English) I love
my family...and I know that whatever happens we will always be together
if we keep covenants. I also want to live my life in such a way in order
to touch the lives of others. I´m full of emotions and thoughts and
can´t write clearly right now, but this has definitely been a
life-changing experience.
In other news, we had
two baptisms this past week. J (11) and A (8) are the sons of
a recent convert (R) from 3 weeks ago. It was awesome to see them
get baptized. She has another son who is 6. I hope they continue in the
gospel so that one day all 3 can serve missions and help bring others
unto Christ. Anyways, during the official ordinance, Christian (7) one
of the children of our investigators (Irma) asked "Hey how do you
feel!!!!" super loud through the glass in front of the font. Frustrating
at the time but kind of funny looking back at it. I asked them after
how they felt. They both said "super limpito de mis pecados." I´ll
send pics next week.
I had an interesting contact at Wendy´s today, but maybe I´ll tell it another week or when I get back.
Well, that´s all I have this week. Take care.
RIP Samuel Ramirez. Que le vaya bien.
-Elder Lund
Ocotillo, El Carmen, SPS 9/15/14 - 9/22/14
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