One week felt like a month!!!

I haven't been able to blog this last week because of some very tragic events in our neighborhood and ward. The ony way I think I can tell it is by letting you read the email I have just sent to my missionary son, the names have been omitted in some cases to protect the families involved, so here it is:

Dear Elder,

I really don’t know where to begin this email today because the events of last week are still so fresh and painful. I hate to give you the news in the ward but some one has to do the hard stuff in life. Before I begin know that all will be well, faith has been strengthened and love abounds.
Last week began like many others Monday night football and family home evening where we got on the new family search website to look up our ancestors so we can do their Temple work. Tuesday began with my pres. meeting, then I got a haircut and Dad and I went down to tithing settlement. No one was at the church and your Dad and I were puzzled that the Bishop forgot and the clerk too. Dad text the Bishop and he text back that something major had come up. I told your Dad while we were preparing to go to tithing settlement that I had heard sirens and I hoped nothing bad had happened. When we got home the my phone rang and it was the Bishop, He told me to come to the ---- home after I called a few people and he told me Rachel ---- (16 years old) was killed in a car accident. We did as we were told and arrived to witness some really tender and heart breaking events when the mom broke the news to her 2 daughters who live here and 2 daughters who live in Colorado and 1 in California. One of Rachel's sisters was so angry and she put her fist through the wall. Thank goodness she missed the stud in the wall. We watched on as Brother ---- the home teacher blessed the mom and her 2 daughters and peace came into their hearts and home almost immediately. We are so blessed to have the Priesthood on the earth today. Many tender mercies were felt and witnessed even through this event. Rachel had recently got back on the path of righteousness; recently (while we were gone on vacation) spoke in church and shared testimony in YW. She was changing and in the process was bringing many friends with her; they had all decided to change their lives for the better. The other really hard thing in all of this was that Elder ---- (Rachel's brother) was returning home from his mission on Wednesday afternoon and he was on a plane from ---.--- and arrived a day after the terrible accident. What was to be the happiest time for the family became bittersweet, 2 missions complete at the same time. It happened that the Elder ----'s brother in law had just arrived in Florida from Colorado on business when he received the news, he called his father and he was able to book his son on a flight to Atlanta to meet Elder ---- on his lay over and was even able to book the seat next to Elder ---- for the flight to Salt lake, so he was able to break the news brother to brother before he arrived home. Bro. ---- in our ward if you remember is a highway patrolman and was the one to break the news to the family but he was also able to send officers to pick up Elder ----'s father in a different city and get him to his house safely after he had heard the news. He was also able to get the family through security at the airport to meet Elder --- at the gate and then into a private room to grieve together for a time. While they were gone to the airport with members of our ward driving them, the rest of the ward family did their magic. They cleaned the yard and home from top to bottom, brought in enough food to feed an army, put up welcome home signs for Elder ---, even someone bought a car for Elder --- (Rachel had been driving his car at the time) with the insurance paid for a year. We don’t know who it was. The ward pulled together and did amazing things in the days ahead. Many hours were put in babysitting the mom's grandchildren when her other girls arrived, cleaning, cooking, repairing the wall and the money began pouring in to pay for the expense of the funeral; in fact 2 phone calls were received by the mortuary to pay for the whole funeral. What a ward, I love it here, we are so blessed! The funeral was amazing and Rachel was laid to rest but not without other bad news arriving. On Thursday we received another phone call (this one is so much more painful) telling us that Scotty ---- committed suicide. Elder I hate telling you these things, it is so tragic because we know and love his older brother Elder ---- and the pain this will cause him. He is coming home for 2 days, he will go back, and I know it! The grave side service is today at 2 and a tribute to Scotty tonight. His family is so torn up about it with so much guilt and remorse. Gratefully I know we have a merciful and loving Father in Heaven that is the only one who knows Scotty’s heart and I know he has suffered with depression and he will be ok. We need to love and support both families and we will. We are so blessed to have the gospel and know the plan. The plan of happiness! The Atonement is more vast than we can comprehend. The Lord has sustained me through the last week and I know I am where I am supposed to be. I taught RS yesterday and I know the Lord put the words I spoke into my mouth. I have hardly shed a tear when I needed to be strong and when I’ve come home I have wept until I had no tears left. My feet and back hurt but my heart has found comfort and my testimony has grown by leaps and bounds. I love the gospel of good news!!

I love you Elder. Next week will be better! The Christmas season is upon us and we all dream of our heavenly home through the blessings of the Messiah where we can all live together in JOY and no sorrow.
Love,
Mom


PS Mosiah 18: 8-9

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are adesirous to come into the bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are awilling to mourn with those that bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—