A day I will always remember

Our beautiful Haitian friends and ward members are doing okay. They have received many good reports--literally miracles. Many family members are in the streets, with no food and water, but they are alive and there is a lot of gratitude going around. There has also been some heartbreaking news. Death has taken several family members and remembering each phone call that I received with this difficult news is making me cry again. But for most of our sweet friends, they are still waiting. And it has been, and remains, incredibly hard on them.

With all of the emotion of this week, today has been a day I will never forget. Our bishopric sent a letter a few days ago, inviting all of us to fast while praying for the people of Haiti, as well as our own ward members that are Haitian. We were also invited to donate to the Humanitarian Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are doing an incredible amount of good in Haiti right now. It is overwhelming to me to read these articles and to see what the Church has done and will do. I feel humbled and grateful to be a part of something that puts so much time, effort and money into the incredible service of others.

In addition to a day of fasting and donations, the ward decided to end our fast with a meal together. After church, we gathered in the chapel again to sing a hymn and say a prayer, before sitting together and eating a small lunch. I do not even have the words to tell you the feelings I had as I sat in the chapel with our ward family. I sat toward the back, looking at each person in the room and the tears fell down my face. I was overwhelmed with how our ward had come together and the feelings that were there. But mostly, I looked at all of my Haitian friends and remembered the hours that were spent by so many the previous week--praying and calling and crying and worrying and rejoicing. And I realized all of us would do it again in a second if that is what it took for them to feel our love for them and mostly, to feel God's love for them.

As we sang one of my favorite hymns together, I was overcome by how much I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. And by how God always keeps His promises. And that even with the incredible tragedy that has happened in Haiti, His love is enough. If we will just draw near to Him.

Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me.
Still all my song shall be

Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I’d be

Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

There let the way appear,
Steps unto heav’n;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be

Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

Or if, on joyful wing
Cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be

Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!