Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Old Faces, 7/25/12

So much has happened that hasn't been recounted. Rather than starting some time ago, I'll just go back to yesterday with two events and then go back from there on subsequent blogs.

As one knows, as people get older their faces, hair color, and even women's last name change to the point that we no longer recognize them after a period of time. Well, mom was in the temple and was talking to a sister Swedish temple worker. After awhile the sister's face lit up and she threw her arms around mom. She is from southern Sweden and had known mom through regular Church activities and especially from youth conferences. Her name now is Gunilla Carlsson (mom thinks it was Ekelund back then). 

The even better part is that she now lives in Stockholm in the ward where mom's most favorite Sunday School teacher (and only one) now lives and whom mom has wanted to find in Sweden and to visit. He is now 93 or 95 years old. She gave mom times and directions and we'll go to his Ward next Sunday. He had taken their sunday school class on a 10-day bicycling trip to Gottland - a big beautiful island.

The other event was that as we were working in the Temple, a former Swedish missionary came in with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and a wheel-chair bound member that they had reactivated. The former missionary's last name was Jeffs. When he was a missionary, Kari's family had him and his companion over many times to their home. When Anna went to America, she lived close enough to the Jeffs that they had her over to their home many times and did many other kind things for her. Also, Anna was able to provide companionship for his aging mother. He and his wife are now back in northern Sweden in the Branch Presidency and helping with Home Teaching and reactivation.

His wife told us that the member that they reactivated (she told us the details which I don't remember well like towns and time periods so I'll say generalities so as not to be incorrect). This member was away from his home town when he had a severe stroke. The doctors induced a coma which he was in for sometime. He hadn't recovered but they medically flew him home. He was given a priesthood blessing. The amazing thing to everyone was that the following Sunday he was in church.

His right side was paralyzed, but Sister Jeffs taught him how to use Family Search, etc. He can use his left hand. He is doing work for his family of which he could only remember his mother's birthdate. He didn't know anything else about her nor about his father. He is now doing their work for them.

How great is the work of our Father in Heaven!  ...on earth and on the other side!

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