Elder Fernandes

Just a couple of months ago, we heard that one of the young men that was in our ward in Massachusetts had received his mission call...to Bakersfield, California. And that he would be leaving the first part of December to enter the MTC to prepare himself to serve the Lord, and the people of California, for the next two years. When Jacob heard all of this, he asked if it would be a problem to have Samir with us between the time that he flew into Utah and the next day, when he would actually enter the MTC. We both jumped at the chance.

And the privilege of having the incredibly good young man you see below at our home for the last 24 hours has touched my heart deeply. I have cried on his mom's behalf a few times since yesterday afternoon. And he has sure reminded us how much we love and miss our Boston friends.

Last night, as we were all getting ready to go to bed, we had our regular family scripture study. And Samir joined in. Just by chance (no such thing), we were in a specific chapter in the Book of Mormon and Samir took the last turn reading. The last sentence that he read, that ended the chapter, that ended scripture study for the night and that ended our time together before Jacob took him to the MTC this morning, again brought tears to my eyes.

"Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell." (Alma 37:47)

God loves His children. This I KNOW.