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| Albert and his wife, Maria |
In the 4 days since I last wrote you, one of the most special experiences of my mission occurred.
11 days ago, I was on an exchange in my area with a new zone leader and we just “got lost” contacting people up in the mountain of our area. After climbing up a tall and very steep flight of moss-covered stairs, we came across a house and we contacted it. Immediately, a woman came outside and told us to come in. As we passed through the doorway, we saw a bed placed in the middle of their living room with a very frail old man placed in it. His name is Alberto. He was baptized by missionaries 10 years ago and the only movement he has in his body is in his arms, neck, and face. The rest is paralyzed. Due to his condition, he has not been able to come to church since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We started to get to know him and his wife and we heard Alberto's conversion story and learn of his deep faith for the restored gospel and his deep desire for his wife to get baptized. We felt prompted to teach them about the temple and we proceeded to feel the Spirit very strongly in this small, humble home. Alberto expressed to us his desire to go to the temple open house and we told him that we would help him get their.
Fast forward to this past monday, we receive a call from a member of the church here in San Pedro, an old friend of Alberto. He told us he has organized everything to accommodate a tour of the open house for Alberto. A reserved parking spot, wheelchairs, etc. He only needed help to get him down the mountain. Elder Dávila, Elder Perry, Elder Muñoz, and I ended our preparation day early and headed up the mountain. We entered the house and saw him all dressed up with his hair combed and a smile across his face. He explained to us that to get him down the mountain, each of us had to take a corner of his bedsheets and hoist him up and carry him down the tall, steep stairs leading to the road. After saying a prayer in my heart that we would have the strength to do it, we carried him down, step by step, to the car waiting for him. Elder Perry whispered to me as we were carrying Alberto, "Bro, we're like the 4 friends carrying the paralytic to Jesus." It was a very special moment to be a missionary.
We arrived at the temple and hoisted him into a wheelchair and began our tour. Him and his wife were amazed by each room and left the temple with so much joy, and with many questions about temple sealing for all time and eternity.
We returned to the mountain, hoisted him up in his bedsheets and carried him back up to his house.
This week, we have stopped by a couple of times to hear their thoughts and teach them more about the temple. Yesterday, Alberto asked us if his wife could baptized and sealed to him on the same day. We explained to him that there is a little bit more of a process and he then explained how she is ready to be baptized. She expressed some doubts, but also the love she has for her husband and her desire to be with him for eternity. We are trying to help her faith and testimony to grow so that she can make her first covenant with God so that a little further down the road, she can live with Alberto for eternity. Please keep María Serrano in your prayers.
I am so grateful for this time I have to be a representative of Jesus Christ and give everything I have to share His Gospel. Temples are the House of the Lord and they have power to touch the hearts of all people. Please go and worship in the temple and please share the good news of the restored gospel and temples with those who don't know of these life-changing covenants that bind us to Christ and our families eternally.
With so much love,
Élder Snyder
P.S. I also got attacked by a massive German Shepherd while on exchanges in a different area and was miraculously protected by God. The dog completely bit my leg and pulled but only got a hold of my pants. I felt the teeth on my skin, but after escaping I looked down at my leg and not a scratch was to be seen. All I could find was a ruined pair of pants.
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