Meet our new South African friend, Tina. Tina wears many hats. She is a working gal— vivacious and talented, energetic and thoughtful. She is a healer, registered medical therapist , and has several other jobs to keep self-reliant. She works at the temple on Fridays and is also a self-reliance resource for the people in her ward. Months ago, she was helping her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren prepare to go to the temple to be sealed together forever. She needed a couple of books she had heard about that would help prepare her family to understand the eternal significance of temple covenants. These books are not available here in South Africa. Church publications are scarce and hard to obtain. It takes many months to order things. She talked to Sister Baldwin, the temple matron, and asked her if she could help her get the books. Sister Baldwin asked two excited missionaries if there might be a little room in their suitcases to get the books and bring them to South Africa when they come. Those missionaries were us, the Nelsons. Amazon dropped them off at our
house in Utah within two days and they were packed in our suitcase, ready to go to South Africa. Fast forward, a month or so later, the books arrived in the Nelson’s suitcase in Durban. Elder and Sister Nelson took the books to Sacrament meeting. When Sister Nelson gave Tina the books, there were hugs, tears, joy and gratitude. The Lord had blessed Tina for her great faith in granting her righteous desire and blessed us to witness her goodness and faith. Tina led the music for Sacrament meeting, and also was one of the speakers. Like I said, she wears many hats.
Last Thursday, Tina’s handsome son, David and his beautiful wife, Jade, were sealed for time and eternity in the Durban Temple. Their darling children joined them, hands across the alter. Families are forever.
