Climbafamilytree123: August 2014

Whenever I Touch a Velvet Rose: Fairy tale and a Turning of a Page

Maria Ligia

Ruth

Remember Maria? (see left.) I met Maria one day helping a beautiful new Sister Ruth Tardencilla (right) from Diriombo, a little city outside of Masaya Nicaragua. Quick as she was slender and slight, Ruth was introduced to me by Sister Cazier, who informed me that the young sister who was preparing to serve a mission in Guatemala, had made a goal to attend as many temple sessions as physically possible. I met her after her fourth (in one day.) Maria smiled as escort, or ayudante, because Ruth's mother and father were not able to attend.

With our October 2013 temple maintenance visit to Nicaragua pending, it was clear that we would be well to ask ahead to find people who could direct us to chapels and places that Val wanted to visit. And a trustworthy taxi driver might be in order. As the days before departure were nearing, I summoned presence of mind to ask Maria if she knew of an LDS or friend taxista that could help us.

After working in the rear cubicle for some time, Sister Maria emerged with a smile and another idea. "I have a car. What if you come and stay at my home and let me drive you where ever you need to go?" Val likes to pay his way, especially in a place where people would share their last bit of dinner, when they had not enough for themselves. However, after missing our scheduled international bus, trudging through mud, and being dropped off at a gas station out of town sans friends or land legs, we eventually accepted, enjoying Sister Maria's comfortable, tiled and adequate residence, and vacant bedroom of missionary daughter. During trips to visit volcano or mountain, Sister Maria queried if we would stop with her to visit neighbor after neighbor fulfilling her responsibility as Stake Relief Society counselor, ward member, friend.

Maria, in orange Showing us her beautiful Lake Nicaragua!

At the top of Catalina Mountain, we shared how Val and I met, and she shared a small interest in someday finding a worthy friend/companion, a longing that many single sisters in our acquaintance share verbally or only with wistful eyes. I did not know what to imagine in my prayers for this amazing attorney, seminary teacher, advocate of future missionaries and friend to others.

But during succeeding months, our paths would cross when she came with every group she could--to feast in the peace of the beautiful edifice on a Honduras Hill. July brought a visit. Maybe two weeks following, Val and I received a letter stating that she would be returning shortly. The story later unfolded: in February, she had a dream. Serving at the temple, she looked over to see someone struggling to complete a task. Later, in the dream, she saw herself in another part of the temple performing ordinances of sealing. The same person was there. She felt dignity, solace, love, purity and happiness . She then saw herself in a place where she had been married, and again was treated with great respect. She awoke. It was only a dream.

"A man firm in the faith"

But she could face the sunrise with joy and the idea that there might be someone for her to love and care for in days ahead, her own "Moroni."

Days, months flowed past, and the feelings passed. In her prayers, she simply acknowledged that she would accept Heavenly Father's will and timing. She would trust Him.

Jorge Maldonado

In November, during her various stake visits to surrounding wards, Maria visited the Las Flores, Masaya ward and met a Honduran named Brother Maldonado who had lived in her country for many years--polite, attentive, eager to serve. Because of her stake position , she did not think about this person in a special way, as her calling was to serve each and all.

As the Masaya stake prepared for the nine hour bus trip to Tegucigalpa, she began to have health challenges, discouragement in her calling, troubles with family members and then she lost her job. She had watched neighbors and acquaintances sell things of value to attend the temple, but never had she had to sacrifice in such a way to attend the temple. She made the decision that she would go, even when it meant that she would not eat. She made her way to the chapel and prepared to board the bus.

Brother Maldonado, counselor in the Flores ward, asked for her help in securing his car early that morning. While doing this, she met a woman who was very excited and happy that Maria would be going to be sealed to Brother Maldonado. Trying to explain that she was only trying to assist a man with his car, she arrived at the chapel to find two others congratulating her on her engagement. Brushing this off as a joke--not so funny to her--Maria boarded the bus and traveled east and north.

At the end of the Masaya group's first day in the temple, she looked to one side and saw someone struggling to accomplish a task. The same as in her dream. Not thinking twice, she simply wondered--"How long has it been since this man has visited the temple, anyway?"

In the gardens, later, she met him again--Brother Maldonado. In their conversation, she learned that he was a widower, sealed to his deceased wife two years before. A widower. "I don't like widowers." She shared portions of her life with him, but this was clear--she could never marry a widower. Sisters traveling with Maria, counseled her that she was selling herself short. She should open her mind, and consider. How annoying!

Next day, a full day in the temple with a friend from her ward, Sister Damaris--and Jorge Maldondo. A special day, spiritual feast...except that every time she looked up, Maria felt like this man was looking at her. How could she be comfortable with that? When she had some time alone, a strange feeling came when she was reminded of the conversation of her friends and the encounters that she had had with the father of two. Could this be the same man who waltzed into her dreams? She decided that maybe she should pray about it. With no concurrent lightning bolt feelings, she put away her worry.

Later, as she was helping to bring names of deceased family members to seal together in the temple, she looked up to see someone eyeing her with great tenderness. Something happened that was difficult to explain. "Father, bless me to concentrate," she inwardly voiced. But again, she looked up and collided glances with his. "I flinched and lowered my eyes, but looked up again, and the feeling was more strong. The group rotated so we were sitting together across from the mirrors looking to see ourselves for eternity. My heart was touched, and we both began to laugh." Two minutes later, the session closed.

Sometime later, Maria returned to the room with more cards. She handed them to the sealer, who asked her to immediately act as proxy for her aunt, to be sealed to her grandparents. Maria's friend Damaris and Brother Maldonado represented her grandparents. As Maria listened to the words of the ordinance, she trembled to look up and realize that she was experiencing the very moment of her dreams: "Solace, love, tenderness, and dignity were before my eyes." A touch of fright triggered laughter--everyone caught it as contagion, and the sealer asked if he had said something wrong. Exiting the temple, Jorge and Maria talked. And they talked the eight hours back to Masaya.

Six months earlier, when Maria had visited his ward, Jorge had pointed and said on impulse to one of his children, "That is woman I will marry," indicating the vibrant visiting stake leader, Maria. Of course, the comment was not ignored by either son or daughter, who began henceforth to pester Jorge to hear if had mentioned any such intent to Maria.

But no word was said--before, during, or after the temple trip. After arriving home, Jorge, armed with Maria's email address, penned his thoughts. He wanted to know if she would allow him to make her his queen and the happiest woman in the world--a woman with dignity, who loved serving wholeheartedly in Heavenly Father's work. Visiting shortly after, Jorge came to assist Maria with household tasks.

Elgin

Maria's son, Elgin, peeved at his mother's preoccupation, was won over with kind words and friendship of another set of hands working busily together to remedy household fixings.

After a lovely breakfast, alone time came. This would be the hard part for Jorge, who had shyly avoided facing the topic head on. Clearing away dishes, Maria sat beside him: "I read what you wrote to me in your email. Now, tell me face to face!" So tell her, he did.

That Sunday, visiting with Stake leaders, declaring their intentions to court, Maria met with one of the counselors, whose interest awakened in hearing of a man who could fill a great need in a neighboring branch. Now that the requirement for their new leader to be married could be met, the counselor offered applause, blessings, and encouragement--in essence "May you consider this arrangement sooner than later!"

Tuesday, August 5th, they married civilly. We greeted them Thursday first thing as they arrived hand in hand, prepared to participate in the first session. Sister Casteneda, attendant from months earlier--having shared Liahonas galore for Maria to earmark and glean in a thirst to know and learn and serve, came three hours early for her shift.

(Sister C, surrounded by Wyoming Bassetts)

Brother Bassett served as witness. Sister Bassett came.

Sealer Guillermo Contreras,

counseled, sealed, and blessed them in their lives ahead.

After a few smiles and flashes,

Ivy Corrales,

pressing to prepare piano piece for devotional, joined us all in our home for waffles, berries, papaya, pineapple, mango and watermelon...and pastel (dessert!)

Some traditions translate straightway!

Following their second (and finally, a third session) assigned as attendant to the Celestial room, I watched a couple as their heads touched in tenderness, whispering plans and kind words. Later, assigned to work in the sister's area, where Maria had by chance happened to serve, I was deeply touched with the reality and implicitness of God's promises.

(Bev P.)

When Friday, Jorge and Maria visited for a final typical Central American breakfast, my musical missionary friend Beverly Peterson joined us as we walked to the chapel to say good-bye. Beverly had worked with me to prepare Sally deFord's "I am a Child of God" duet. But at the last moment, we became aware that two other children would play the same song. On the same website was another piano duet. (To hear this, press the blue link--it is another duo, but it sounds close.) I thought the music might be easier. (Not true. But saving the children from feeling disappointed, it would be worth the effort...and besides, the second choice offered a music box quality fitting for a fairy tale. We would serenade our special friends waltzing "once upon a dream.")

The parking lot was full. Thursday night, my friend Gladys Lagos had responded to a temple embrace, reporting news of her grandson who had come two months early, then struggling for life, at seven weeks and weighing one kilogram-- 2.6 pounds. Cradling, rocking, singing to, and loving this little bundle, Thursday evening, they watched him fade. Through the tubes and into his little bed, over and again, they listened to a lilting tune: "Whenever I hear the song of a bird, or look at the blue, blue sky; Whenever I feel the rain on my face, or the wind as it rushes by; Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by a lilac tree, I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.

(Amber's outdoor catch)

Tiny Lisandro passed in the night, leaving heartbroken first time parents and physician grandfather and uncle scratching their heads, grandmothers, aunts and cousins torn in sentiment. In Honduras, if a family member dies, a 24 hour viewing is held. Cars had begun to gather as friends and neighbors offered their condolences. I approached the chapel front, nearing a perfect white box beneath a picture of Christ with a child's face in his hands--one whose eyes followed me on my wall as a child, and comforted me as a young missionary. Arms again around Sister Gladys, hand in hand with daughter (mother) Alejandra,

Alejandra with husband Lisandro Molina

tears flowed easily. Yes, it is natural to mourn with those who mourn, as you watch them reach, strain and ache in effort to lift burdens one from another. The woman helping to orchestrate the meeting, affirmed to me that Beverly and I could walk to the piano, and Maria, Jorge, and Val took a rear bench. She would squelch the compact disc reverberating with a familiar aqua colored "Songs for Children."

Grandpa Lisandro Molina helps in the temple Saturdays

We laid out our pages, and began: "Whenever I hear the song of a bird, or look at the blue, blue sky...Whenever I feel the rain on my face, or the wind as it rushes by...Whenever I touch a velvet rose...yes, I know Heavenly Father Loves Me! In spite of my putting page six in front of page five and after watching it flutter to the floor with butterfly wings as I tried to self-correct, I learned Sunday that the Molina family (unbeknownst to us) was physically and visibly moved as they heard the music box melody of a song they had tirelessly played while their bundle of light passed into Another set of arms.

I resonated with another missionary, Joseph Millet, who once penned in his journal: “You can’t tell me how good it made me feel to know that the Lord knew there was such a person as Joseph Millett.” (see Rank and File of the Church, Packer, 1980.)

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Jorge and Maria journeyed directly to Masaya, where Saturday Jorge accepted a call to serve as president of the Nindirí Nicaragua Branch. Prince and princess resonate with interest, joy, and light--preparing a home, open to each of four children, reaching out to more and more neighbors. And we care about the neighbors.

So whatever happened to their neighbor, our missionary Ruth Tardencilla's father--the man who had decided not to return to church after being called to be Elder's Quorum president in his branch? On a 2013 October night, we watched his stake president encourage him to take his place as head of the home--active or no--to bless a departing daughter.

Ruth, on far left with parents (directly right) bros, sis's family, stk president and wife; Maria

Traveling with stake president and extended family to the airport--off to Guatemala, she went. The family decided, "Well, maybe, it would be all right if we thought about going back to church." Back they went. Today, Brother Tardencilla serves as president of the Diriomo Branch.

Another neighbor--Sister Dominguez has returned from her long term Managua hospital room,
recovered

sufficiently from her stage IV cancer treatment, to care for husband and the last of their 12 children not on missions or away from home, accepting invitation to serve in her ward Relief Society presidency.

Sometimes, when we decide our tasks are too hard and way beyond our scope, the Lord finds a way to put skin and bones to our dreams, to assist us in doing things we never thought we could.

Blessings to you each. May the wind of a Primary song catch your sails. May wistful evening wishes blossom in morning rays--today, this week, this month.