Monday, March 12, 2012

3-5-12

 Hey family and friends-
This week I want to share an entry from my journal.  This was written on Saturday March 3rd.

Today I found out that Grandma Meyer passed away this week.  We were just about to head out the door and PResident called.  Hermana Mamani answered and then handed me the phone.  We were both pretty confused (I thought for a split second about Grandma but pushed it out of my head because she had been doing better this week so I hoped for the better).  I knew right when he said ´I´m going to speak to you in english´ that it was about Grandma.  He told me that my dad had called him and told him that she had another stroke and passed away this Thursday.  He said a lot of other things but I don´t really remember... I was all shoked up and couldn´t really say anything but ´yeah... thanks President´ as I sat down.  We hung up the phone and I sat and cried.  My sweet companion Hermana Mamani comforted me and hugged me.  President told me that I could take the afternoon and stay in if I wanted.  I thought about it, but thought about what Grandma would want me to do and I know she would want me to be out working.  She served 2 missions with Grandpa... I know she had a great testimony of missionary work and would always be wanting me to do my best and work my hardest, so we went out and worked.  It´s weird... it doesn´t seem real that she´s gone.  I have been fasting each week for her and praying every day for a miracle, but I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us and she has fulfilled everything she needed to do in this life.  I am so grateful for every letter I have received from her on my mission--each one is special and precious to me.  In every single one she always ended with her testimony of the Savior.  She had such a strong testimony and I am so grateful for her example in the gospel.  I really appreciate all of the support she always gave me... making sure to be there at my high school graduation, my endowment, my farewell, and my setting apart.  I have so many memories at the old house on main street in smithfield.  Sitting outside and chatting, going up for Christmas each year, sleeping over with Julie when we were little and eating nilla wafers and watching berenstein bears.  I specifically remember Grandma´s house being the place I felt the most safe when I was little. I remember telling my friends in junior high how stylish my grandma was because she wore capri´s.  And of course I will never forget her purple feet :).  I loved all of her homemade cards that she made on the computer.  So many memories at the family reunions at Bear Lake, and Sunday ham and rolls at the old house.  Also, the picture I took of her and Grandpa for my film class at BYU.  When I was developing it in the dark room everyone commented on it and said it was the cutest old couple :).  I am so grateful for the example grandma set as a wife, a mother, and a member of the church. Serving 2 missions and always serving in the church and sharing her testimony has really influenced me.  I also have been really influenced by her love for music.  It has been such a huge part of my life and I got my musical genes from her.  I will always try and honor her by always staying involved in music and sharing my talents.  She has also motivated me to be a better missionary and fully dedicate myself to the Lord.  I have been studying lately about how when we are baptized we take upon us the name of Christ and we carry his name with us.  We must honor his name in all we do and be worthy to carry it, or we will lose it.  On my nametag is written my family name and Christ´s name--2 names to remind me every day who I represent.  The other day I was reading in Helaman 5. Versus 6-8 talk about this carrying of a name. Helaman is talking to his sons Nephi and Lehi, and says:

 6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first aparents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were bgood.

 7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.

 8 And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves aatreasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that bprecious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.

My middle name is Karren--which is Grandma´s maiden name.  I also carry her name.  I am privileged and honored to carry it, so that I can remember her good works and do my best to live up to them.  My greatest desire is to strive each day to be a better disciple of Christ, so that one day, it can be said and written and remembered of me-my good works, as it is with my grandma.  Not so I can boast, but so I can make it there--make myself a place in the celestial kingdom.  Since I´ve been on my mission I have really regretted not getting to know my grandparents better and my biggest plan for hen I get home was to spend more time with them and interview them and write their life histories.  I have thought about it my whole mission and have been really excited about it.  I can´t wait for the day when I will meet with my grandma again and we will talk for hours as she tells me all about her life and experiences, and everything she has learned.  I´m so grateful for the life of my grandma and the example she set for my mom, for my family, and for me.  I miss her already and I can´t imagine Grandpa or the family without her.  But I know she is with us and will be with me every day on my mission and in my life as I strive to be more like Christ every day and live up to the example she set--carrying and honoring her name and His in everything I do.

I love you Grandma

¨Hasta ver, hasta ver, hasta vernos con el Rey, hasta ver, hasta ver, para siemple Dios esté con vos.¨ 

If you could all please keep my family in your prayers at this time, it would be greatly appreciated.  Especially my grandma, and my mom and her siblings.  Have a great week!

--Hermana Hunt

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