Aug29
August 29th, 2016 // #35 of 2016
Hello there.
How was the Box Elder County Fair this year? I miss those famous Fair
Burgers and Corndogs, as well as the crazy carnies and overpriced
rides. Crazy to think that summer is officially over and school will
be starting up here in a few hours. The time has flown by, holy
smokes. I hope everyone had themselves a good ole week and I hope that
everyone is doing well. Here are some of the highlights and
experiences from this last week.
First off, there was an earthquake last week over here in Italy. Bari
wasn't hit, but Rome area got hit pretty hard. My heart and prayers go
out to those who lost their lives, to those who lost their family
members and friends, to those who lost their homes.
We received a call from a potential investigator that neither I or
Elder Borough knew. We set up an appointment for Wednesday at 5.
Wednesday came around and the man showed up and brought three friends
along with him (1 guy and 2 girls). We asked them what they believed
and they replied, "We are Christian" which is a response that receive
quite often. We got to know them a little bit and their religious
background, but they never really gave us anything in specific.
Something felt strange about the whole situation throughout the lesson
and I couldn't really discern what it was. We taught them the
Restoration, and introduced the Book of Mormon. Once we got into the
Book of Mormon and after we had shared the Joseph Smith story, things
started to change. The atmosphere of the lesson changed. The guy, who
was not the original potential, asked the girl sitting next to him for
a bible, from which he began different scriptures trying to confound
us and confuse us. The girl that brought out the bible was going off
on how there was no need for baptism before Christ's time and it was
something that wasn't practiced before the coming of Jesus Christ. We
didn't want to fight with them, or argue with them because that does
nothing for anyone. The guy who was reading from the bible began
talking about Joseph Smith and how he was murdered. He than went to a
few scriptures in the Old Testament that talk about a false prophet
and a dreamer or dreams who shall be put to death because he was
trying to lead others to believe in another God. We quickly, and I
mean quickly, halted Mr. Hotshot with our testimonies of the prophet
Joseph Smith. I can take it when people throw some heat at the church,
but when someone talks negatively about someone individually, and
especially the Prophet Joseph Smith, I lose my patience real quick. We
answered all of their questions in a polite and respectful manner, and
we closed the lesson. I don't appreciate when people walk into a
lesson with a smile and a handshake, they listen to what we have to
say and then they sit back and try to destroy it all with what they
believe. For me, those moments and lessons are tests; tests of faith,
testimony and courage. We testified of the truthfulness of our message
and we invited one of the four to say a closing prayer. She began
praying, and I immediately knew that these young people were all
evangelist. She said The Lords name about 3.5 million times, and every
single time that she said something that the others appreciated..they
would moan and make strange noises. It was the weirdest thing I've
ever heard and seen. It honestly got to the point where I lifted my
head up, unfolded my arms and opened my eyes. That is no way to pray,
and the Lord doesn't need to hear you moan or make abstract noises to
know that you agree with what is being said. It was one of the most
disturbing things I have ever been apart of. We stood up, shook hands
and they left. Let's just say that Elder Borough and I spent the next
few days preparing our Bibles, not for Bible Bashing or anything like
that, but we want to be prepared. Our next appointment ought to be an
interesting one.
Following that fiasco, we headed out to the Musicco Families house for
a lesson. Early in the week last week, the husband, was having a hard
time getting rid of his smoking habit. We went out there with a simple
message that he could do it. In a month he has given up alcohol and
coffee and had nearly given up smoking. He has made so much progress,
he just needed to get over the hump. We offered to give him a
priesthood blessing and he accepted. He had never received a
priesthood before, actually nobody in their family has received a
priesthood blessing before so they didn't really know what to expect.
We briefly explained to them what takes place, stood up, put our hands
on his head and starting giving him a priesthood blessing. The room
got really quiet and the Spirit filled the room. Now you have to know
the husband, he is a man of few words. He doesn't talk a whole lot and
doesn't show a lot of emotion. He is an incredible father and husband,
he just doesn't talk very much. After the blessing, his eyes were full
of tears and he sincerely thanked us. During the lesson I had a
thought come to mind that I hadn't thought of in a long time. That
thought was a piece of advice that I received from a dad of one of my
friends before I left on my mission. He said to me, "If you can make
it one day, you can make it another. If you can make it a week, you
can make it another. If you can make it a month, you can make it
another month." He told me, "Just don't give up." I told the dad the
story of the beginning of my mission and how difficult it was for me.
I told him that on more than one occasion I wanted to throw in the
towel, pack it up and head on home. On my first Friday night down at
the MTC, homesickness and feelings of inadequacy were taking their
toll on me. I remember looking at my companion and saying, "Hey man
can we go get a drink of water?" We got up and left the room where we
were studying, when one of my friends from my district who I am very
close with, asked me if I was okay. I kind of broke down in that
moment, and immediately my companion and the other two guys from my
district pulled me into another room and gave me a priesthood
blessing. I explained to the Musicco father that if it wasn't for that
priesthood blessing I would have most likely went home and I would not
have been sitting at their kitchen table in that moment. I bore
testimony that we can truly call upon the powers of heaven when we are
trying to change, trying to become something better and that heaven
will always have our backs. I bore testimony that if he could go three
days without smoking, which he had done from Monday to Wednesday
evening, that he could do another 3 days without a cigarette. It was a
powerful lesson, probably one of the most powerful lessons I've had in
a long time.
Fast Forward to Saturday Morning. We have an investigator with who we
are working with right now. His name is Vito and he is a good man. He
is probably around 55, but he is humble and very sensitive to the
spirit. Every time we bare witness of the Savior and His invite love
he gets teary eyed. He can feel something, and we can feel something
while we teach him. We have taught him the Restoration and the first
part of the Plan of Salvation. He has been reading from the Book of
Mormon and he says some pretty powerful prayers. Anyways, that's a
little bit on Vito for you. We will see him on Wednesday where we will
finish the Plan of Salvation.
Immediately after our lesson finished up with Vito, Elder Borough and
I walked downstairs and to start filling the baptismal font. That's
right....The Musicco family was baptized Saturday evening. I didn't
want to say too much about it last week, because we weren't 100
percent sure if it was going to happen or not...but it happened! We
started filling the font up at 1:30, giving ourselves 4 full hours
until the service started. While it was filling up we ordered some
lunch and took care of some of the other things that needed to be
taken care of before the baptismal service began. I looked in the font
at 3:30 and let's just say that the water was nowhere near where it
should've been. I started to panic a little bit, because at the rate
that the faucet would spitting out water....it would have been
impossible to baptize them. I grabbed a few buckets and began dumping
bucket after bucket after bucket of water into the font trying my best
to raise the water level as fast as I could. At 5:10, after nearly a
hour and forty-five minutes the water level was high enough. I was all
sweaty and water was everywhere, but it got the job done. Safe to say
that I will never forget that.
After filling the font dowstairs, I cleaned myself up a little bit and
walked back upstairs and there were quite a few people in the chapel.
I saw Nicola (the husband) and Vittoria (the wife) standing there and
it was one of the greatest feelings that I have ever had. They looked
a little nervous and weren't sure exactly what to think, but it truly
incredible to see them standing in the chapel, preparing for their
very own baptisms. A few days before, Vittoria (the mom and wife)
asked if I would be the one that would perform her baptism and
confirmation. I was honored and humbly accepted her request. Her
husband asked if a missionary who had just barely finished his mission
in July could baptize and confirm him. I chuckled at the request at
first, because this missionary and I are very good friends, but then I
realized that he would be in Bari that night with his parents because
they were coming back on a tour of Italy. We talked to the mission
president and he gave us the okay. After greeting some members, less
actives and non members it was about time for the service to begin and
so we went and changed into our white clothing. It was a priceless
feeling sliding into my baptismal pants for the first time, after over
20 months of missionary service. We got dressed in all whites, took a
picture all together, sat down and the service began. My goodness
gracious the spirit was so strong right from the get go. Vittoria and
Nicola chose to sing the hymn, "We thank Thee, o God, for a Prophet"
as the opening hymns which I thought was incredible. The chapel was
full and it was the best I have ever heard Italians sing. It sounded
likeI was sitting in my ward back home. It was beautiful. We listened
to two powerful talks on Baptism and the Holy Ghost. Following the
talks we headed down the stairs making our way to the baptismal font.
Nicola and my good buddy Josh Nomellini headed down into the font as
Vittoria and I watched from the top of the stairs. Vittoria put her
arm around me and I put my arm around her as we watched her husband
get baptized. They came up out of the font and we handed them their
towels to dry off with. Vittoria and I headed down into the font and
Vittoria was baptized. The experience was priceless and indescribable.
If I could put it into words, I would...but I cannot. It was simply
one of the happiest and most beautiful moments of my entire life, an
afternoon and an event that I will never forget. Smiles filled the
chapel. Saturday evening I felt like I was on cloud nine. I was full
of peace and happiness, and still today I am feeling that same way. I
can honestly say that it was one of the happiest days of my life.
Sunday was another very, very special day. We headed out to the
Bitonto Branch, which is the branch that there were baptized into and
we went to church out there. We walked into the chapel and saw Nicola
and Vittoria standing there amongst the other church members and it
looked perfect. They looked so happy and they had this light about
them that wasn't there before there three days before when we went out
on Wednesday evening. They both looked at peace, they looked happy.
Once again, smiles filled the chapel. Sacrament meeting started and it
was time for them to be confirmed members of the church and it was
time for them to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Once again,
Nicola went first and my good buddy Josh Nomellini performed the
blessing. Right after, Vittoria sat down and I was lucky enough to
perform the blessing for her. It was another powerful moment and one
that I shall never forget for as long as I live.
After church, we headed out to their house for the biggest lunch that
I have ever eaten. Oh my goodness, there was more food on that table
than there was space to put it all. We ate for, and I am not joking,
three hours. From seafood, to pasta. From meat, to some more meat.
From potatoes, to cheese and bread. From sweets, to more sweets. It
got to the point that I seriously had to loosen my belt. I was STUFFED
to the brim. Driving home was tough because my stomach was so full, it
was making me tired. Their two little boys, Domenico (who is 6 years
old) and Francesco (who is 9 years old) were climbing all over me as
if I was some kind of jungle gym. I loved every minute of it. It took
me back to when Tyke and I were just little, little and we would play
like that. It was a blast and it felt like I was back at home for just
an instant.
Saturday and Sunday have easily been some of the most emotional and
best days of my mission so far. I have been blessed to come across
many, many wonderful people who have done so much for me...but being
able to participate in that baptismal service was truly one of the
greatest things that I have ever been apart of, if not the greatest
thing that I have ever been apart of. Now their sights are set on the
temple. One year from now, they will be sealed in the Swiss Temple for
time and all eternity.
Finishing up this email, I would like to talk about what the Temple
means to me. Friday, the day before Nicola and Vittoria had their
special day, marked 16 years since the day that we lost someone very
special, someone very dear. 16 years ago we lost a beautiful wife,
mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Momma Mandee's
passing has easily been the hardest thing that I have ever had to go
through, without any doubt. As August 26th rolls around, my mind
replays again and again exactly what happened that day. I remember it
like it was yesterday. We loaded up in the car and pulled out of our
driveway for what would be the last time all together. We weren't 3
minutes from home when our car starting to violently roll and Momma
Mandee was ejected from her drivers seat. During the accident I
remember putting my head down in between my legs and covering the back
of my head with my little hands trying to protect myself. When the car
came to a stop, I remember looking up and not seeing momma Mandee
anywhere. Tyke was crying and unfortunately out of my reach, I
couldn't free myself from my car seat and Mom wasn't responding. I
remember calling her name over and over and over, begging for her to
come help us. I remember looking over my left shoulder and I remember
seeing sunflowers. I remember the Anderson couple coming down from the
side of the road and pulling Tyke and I from the destroyed car. I
remember climbing up into the ambulance and watching the paramedics
work on Tyke. I remember arriving to the hospital and immediately
being taken into the emergency room. I remember many doctors working
on Tyke and lots of activity in the room we were both in. I remember
it all. I'm grateful that after all of these years, no matter how hard
it may be and no matter how bad it hurts to remember, that I can still
remember what happened that August day. When I think of it, still to
this very day, it hurts... BUT... There is one thing that brings me
peace, and eases the bitter sting of her passing, that being what took
place less than a month earlier at the Salt Lake Temple. I also
remember that day, not as clear as the day of the accident but I
remember being inside the temple and feeling at home there. I remember
being in some kind of nursery type thing where there were all of these
old grandma's that took care of tyke and I. I remember they made me a
little snack and helped me get ready for the sacred ordinance that we
were about to be apart of. I remember walking into one of the sealing
rooms at the Salt Lake Temple and the one person that I remember
seeing is Grandma Roche. I remember kneeling next to my hero Papa Jon
and my beautiful Momma Mandee. I don't remember much after that, if
anything...but what I do know is that what took place at that alter
sealed us together for time and all eternity. Those promises that we
made bound and still continue to find us together and they will bind
us together even after our time here upon the earth is finished. The
temple is a place that gives eternal blessings, that go passed the
grave. The temple is the place, and the only place, where families can
truly be sealed together for time and all eternity. I promise each of
you that it is worth it. The sacrifices that are necessary to receive
the eternal blessings of the temple are worth it. The blessings of the
temple are real and they are available to each and everyone of us. It
is my eager prayer and deepest desire that someday we will all be able
to head to the temple together.
Closing, momma Mandee is always very near. She is always watching of
us, loving us and comforting us. She may not be visible to the human
eye, but we can feel her spirit and we can feel of her love, for it is
tangible. She was truly an elect lady and I cannot wait to see her in
the near future and thank her for the sacrifices that she made to get
herself worthy to enter the temple. The sacrifices, along with the
sacrifices that my old man made, that she made blessed my life and
still continue to bless my life in ways that I cannot fully
comprehend. That's what the temple does, it blesses us as well as
future generations to come in ways that we nor they can or will fully
comprehend.
Our reunion will be priceless, and will be another one of those
experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime.
D&C 84:88 says...
"I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be
in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
I testify that there are angels round about us, that are constantly
baring us up...and I testify that one of those angels is that
beautiful lady we lost 16 years ago. She is always near, and her
spirit shall always be in our hearts.
Family and Friends, I love you all so much. I apologize for the novel
I wrote today, I had a lot that I wanted to share and talk about. I
hope you all have a wonderful week and a great first week of school.
I'm praying for each of you. Let me know if I can do anything for
anyone. I love you all. Thanks for everything! I'll talk to you all
next week.
Peace be the Journey,
Jardman
How was the Box Elder County Fair this year? I miss those famous Fair
Burgers and Corndogs, as well as the crazy carnies and overpriced
rides. Crazy to think that summer is officially over and school will
be starting up here in a few hours. The time has flown by, holy
smokes. I hope everyone had themselves a good ole week and I hope that
everyone is doing well. Here are some of the highlights and
experiences from this last week.
First off, there was an earthquake last week over here in Italy. Bari
wasn't hit, but Rome area got hit pretty hard. My heart and prayers go
out to those who lost their lives, to those who lost their family
members and friends, to those who lost their homes.
We received a call from a potential investigator that neither I or
Elder Borough knew. We set up an appointment for Wednesday at 5.
Wednesday came around and the man showed up and brought three friends
along with him (1 guy and 2 girls). We asked them what they believed
and they replied, "We are Christian" which is a response that receive
quite often. We got to know them a little bit and their religious
background, but they never really gave us anything in specific.
Something felt strange about the whole situation throughout the lesson
and I couldn't really discern what it was. We taught them the
Restoration, and introduced the Book of Mormon. Once we got into the
Book of Mormon and after we had shared the Joseph Smith story, things
started to change. The atmosphere of the lesson changed. The guy, who
was not the original potential, asked the girl sitting next to him for
a bible, from which he began different scriptures trying to confound
us and confuse us. The girl that brought out the bible was going off
on how there was no need for baptism before Christ's time and it was
something that wasn't practiced before the coming of Jesus Christ. We
didn't want to fight with them, or argue with them because that does
nothing for anyone. The guy who was reading from the bible began
talking about Joseph Smith and how he was murdered. He than went to a
few scriptures in the Old Testament that talk about a false prophet
and a dreamer or dreams who shall be put to death because he was
trying to lead others to believe in another God. We quickly, and I
mean quickly, halted Mr. Hotshot with our testimonies of the prophet
Joseph Smith. I can take it when people throw some heat at the church,
but when someone talks negatively about someone individually, and
especially the Prophet Joseph Smith, I lose my patience real quick. We
answered all of their questions in a polite and respectful manner, and
we closed the lesson. I don't appreciate when people walk into a
lesson with a smile and a handshake, they listen to what we have to
say and then they sit back and try to destroy it all with what they
believe. For me, those moments and lessons are tests; tests of faith,
testimony and courage. We testified of the truthfulness of our message
and we invited one of the four to say a closing prayer. She began
praying, and I immediately knew that these young people were all
evangelist. She said The Lords name about 3.5 million times, and every
single time that she said something that the others appreciated..they
would moan and make strange noises. It was the weirdest thing I've
ever heard and seen. It honestly got to the point where I lifted my
head up, unfolded my arms and opened my eyes. That is no way to pray,
and the Lord doesn't need to hear you moan or make abstract noises to
know that you agree with what is being said. It was one of the most
disturbing things I have ever been apart of. We stood up, shook hands
and they left. Let's just say that Elder Borough and I spent the next
few days preparing our Bibles, not for Bible Bashing or anything like
that, but we want to be prepared. Our next appointment ought to be an
interesting one.
Following that fiasco, we headed out to the Musicco Families house for
a lesson. Early in the week last week, the husband, was having a hard
time getting rid of his smoking habit. We went out there with a simple
message that he could do it. In a month he has given up alcohol and
coffee and had nearly given up smoking. He has made so much progress,
he just needed to get over the hump. We offered to give him a
priesthood blessing and he accepted. He had never received a
priesthood before, actually nobody in their family has received a
priesthood blessing before so they didn't really know what to expect.
We briefly explained to them what takes place, stood up, put our hands
on his head and starting giving him a priesthood blessing. The room
got really quiet and the Spirit filled the room. Now you have to know
the husband, he is a man of few words. He doesn't talk a whole lot and
doesn't show a lot of emotion. He is an incredible father and husband,
he just doesn't talk very much. After the blessing, his eyes were full
of tears and he sincerely thanked us. During the lesson I had a
thought come to mind that I hadn't thought of in a long time. That
thought was a piece of advice that I received from a dad of one of my
friends before I left on my mission. He said to me, "If you can make
it one day, you can make it another. If you can make it a week, you
can make it another. If you can make it a month, you can make it
another month." He told me, "Just don't give up." I told the dad the
story of the beginning of my mission and how difficult it was for me.
I told him that on more than one occasion I wanted to throw in the
towel, pack it up and head on home. On my first Friday night down at
the MTC, homesickness and feelings of inadequacy were taking their
toll on me. I remember looking at my companion and saying, "Hey man
can we go get a drink of water?" We got up and left the room where we
were studying, when one of my friends from my district who I am very
close with, asked me if I was okay. I kind of broke down in that
moment, and immediately my companion and the other two guys from my
district pulled me into another room and gave me a priesthood
blessing. I explained to the Musicco father that if it wasn't for that
priesthood blessing I would have most likely went home and I would not
have been sitting at their kitchen table in that moment. I bore
testimony that we can truly call upon the powers of heaven when we are
trying to change, trying to become something better and that heaven
will always have our backs. I bore testimony that if he could go three
days without smoking, which he had done from Monday to Wednesday
evening, that he could do another 3 days without a cigarette. It was a
powerful lesson, probably one of the most powerful lessons I've had in
a long time.
Fast Forward to Saturday Morning. We have an investigator with who we
are working with right now. His name is Vito and he is a good man. He
is probably around 55, but he is humble and very sensitive to the
spirit. Every time we bare witness of the Savior and His invite love
he gets teary eyed. He can feel something, and we can feel something
while we teach him. We have taught him the Restoration and the first
part of the Plan of Salvation. He has been reading from the Book of
Mormon and he says some pretty powerful prayers. Anyways, that's a
little bit on Vito for you. We will see him on Wednesday where we will
finish the Plan of Salvation.
Immediately after our lesson finished up with Vito, Elder Borough and
I walked downstairs and to start filling the baptismal font. That's
right....The Musicco family was baptized Saturday evening. I didn't
want to say too much about it last week, because we weren't 100
percent sure if it was going to happen or not...but it happened! We
started filling the font up at 1:30, giving ourselves 4 full hours
until the service started. While it was filling up we ordered some
lunch and took care of some of the other things that needed to be
taken care of before the baptismal service began. I looked in the font
at 3:30 and let's just say that the water was nowhere near where it
should've been. I started to panic a little bit, because at the rate
that the faucet would spitting out water....it would have been
impossible to baptize them. I grabbed a few buckets and began dumping
bucket after bucket after bucket of water into the font trying my best
to raise the water level as fast as I could. At 5:10, after nearly a
hour and forty-five minutes the water level was high enough. I was all
sweaty and water was everywhere, but it got the job done. Safe to say
that I will never forget that.
After filling the font dowstairs, I cleaned myself up a little bit and
walked back upstairs and there were quite a few people in the chapel.
I saw Nicola (the husband) and Vittoria (the wife) standing there and
it was one of the greatest feelings that I have ever had. They looked
a little nervous and weren't sure exactly what to think, but it truly
incredible to see them standing in the chapel, preparing for their
very own baptisms. A few days before, Vittoria (the mom and wife)
asked if I would be the one that would perform her baptism and
confirmation. I was honored and humbly accepted her request. Her
husband asked if a missionary who had just barely finished his mission
in July could baptize and confirm him. I chuckled at the request at
first, because this missionary and I are very good friends, but then I
realized that he would be in Bari that night with his parents because
they were coming back on a tour of Italy. We talked to the mission
president and he gave us the okay. After greeting some members, less
actives and non members it was about time for the service to begin and
so we went and changed into our white clothing. It was a priceless
feeling sliding into my baptismal pants for the first time, after over
20 months of missionary service. We got dressed in all whites, took a
picture all together, sat down and the service began. My goodness
gracious the spirit was so strong right from the get go. Vittoria and
Nicola chose to sing the hymn, "We thank Thee, o God, for a Prophet"
as the opening hymns which I thought was incredible. The chapel was
full and it was the best I have ever heard Italians sing. It sounded
likeI was sitting in my ward back home. It was beautiful. We listened
to two powerful talks on Baptism and the Holy Ghost. Following the
talks we headed down the stairs making our way to the baptismal font.
Nicola and my good buddy Josh Nomellini headed down into the font as
Vittoria and I watched from the top of the stairs. Vittoria put her
arm around me and I put my arm around her as we watched her husband
get baptized. They came up out of the font and we handed them their
towels to dry off with. Vittoria and I headed down into the font and
Vittoria was baptized. The experience was priceless and indescribable.
If I could put it into words, I would...but I cannot. It was simply
one of the happiest and most beautiful moments of my entire life, an
afternoon and an event that I will never forget. Smiles filled the
chapel. Saturday evening I felt like I was on cloud nine. I was full
of peace and happiness, and still today I am feeling that same way. I
can honestly say that it was one of the happiest days of my life.
Sunday was another very, very special day. We headed out to the
Bitonto Branch, which is the branch that there were baptized into and
we went to church out there. We walked into the chapel and saw Nicola
and Vittoria standing there amongst the other church members and it
looked perfect. They looked so happy and they had this light about
them that wasn't there before there three days before when we went out
on Wednesday evening. They both looked at peace, they looked happy.
Once again, smiles filled the chapel. Sacrament meeting started and it
was time for them to be confirmed members of the church and it was
time for them to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Once again,
Nicola went first and my good buddy Josh Nomellini performed the
blessing. Right after, Vittoria sat down and I was lucky enough to
perform the blessing for her. It was another powerful moment and one
that I shall never forget for as long as I live.
After church, we headed out to their house for the biggest lunch that
I have ever eaten. Oh my goodness, there was more food on that table
than there was space to put it all. We ate for, and I am not joking,
three hours. From seafood, to pasta. From meat, to some more meat.
From potatoes, to cheese and bread. From sweets, to more sweets. It
got to the point that I seriously had to loosen my belt. I was STUFFED
to the brim. Driving home was tough because my stomach was so full, it
was making me tired. Their two little boys, Domenico (who is 6 years
old) and Francesco (who is 9 years old) were climbing all over me as
if I was some kind of jungle gym. I loved every minute of it. It took
me back to when Tyke and I were just little, little and we would play
like that. It was a blast and it felt like I was back at home for just
an instant.
Saturday and Sunday have easily been some of the most emotional and
best days of my mission so far. I have been blessed to come across
many, many wonderful people who have done so much for me...but being
able to participate in that baptismal service was truly one of the
greatest things that I have ever been apart of, if not the greatest
thing that I have ever been apart of. Now their sights are set on the
temple. One year from now, they will be sealed in the Swiss Temple for
time and all eternity.
Finishing up this email, I would like to talk about what the Temple
means to me. Friday, the day before Nicola and Vittoria had their
special day, marked 16 years since the day that we lost someone very
special, someone very dear. 16 years ago we lost a beautiful wife,
mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Momma Mandee's
passing has easily been the hardest thing that I have ever had to go
through, without any doubt. As August 26th rolls around, my mind
replays again and again exactly what happened that day. I remember it
like it was yesterday. We loaded up in the car and pulled out of our
driveway for what would be the last time all together. We weren't 3
minutes from home when our car starting to violently roll and Momma
Mandee was ejected from her drivers seat. During the accident I
remember putting my head down in between my legs and covering the back
of my head with my little hands trying to protect myself. When the car
came to a stop, I remember looking up and not seeing momma Mandee
anywhere. Tyke was crying and unfortunately out of my reach, I
couldn't free myself from my car seat and Mom wasn't responding. I
remember calling her name over and over and over, begging for her to
come help us. I remember looking over my left shoulder and I remember
seeing sunflowers. I remember the Anderson couple coming down from the
side of the road and pulling Tyke and I from the destroyed car. I
remember climbing up into the ambulance and watching the paramedics
work on Tyke. I remember arriving to the hospital and immediately
being taken into the emergency room. I remember many doctors working
on Tyke and lots of activity in the room we were both in. I remember
it all. I'm grateful that after all of these years, no matter how hard
it may be and no matter how bad it hurts to remember, that I can still
remember what happened that August day. When I think of it, still to
this very day, it hurts... BUT... There is one thing that brings me
peace, and eases the bitter sting of her passing, that being what took
place less than a month earlier at the Salt Lake Temple. I also
remember that day, not as clear as the day of the accident but I
remember being inside the temple and feeling at home there. I remember
being in some kind of nursery type thing where there were all of these
old grandma's that took care of tyke and I. I remember they made me a
little snack and helped me get ready for the sacred ordinance that we
were about to be apart of. I remember walking into one of the sealing
rooms at the Salt Lake Temple and the one person that I remember
seeing is Grandma Roche. I remember kneeling next to my hero Papa Jon
and my beautiful Momma Mandee. I don't remember much after that, if
anything...but what I do know is that what took place at that alter
sealed us together for time and all eternity. Those promises that we
made bound and still continue to find us together and they will bind
us together even after our time here upon the earth is finished. The
temple is a place that gives eternal blessings, that go passed the
grave. The temple is the place, and the only place, where families can
truly be sealed together for time and all eternity. I promise each of
you that it is worth it. The sacrifices that are necessary to receive
the eternal blessings of the temple are worth it. The blessings of the
temple are real and they are available to each and everyone of us. It
is my eager prayer and deepest desire that someday we will all be able
to head to the temple together.
Closing, momma Mandee is always very near. She is always watching of
us, loving us and comforting us. She may not be visible to the human
eye, but we can feel her spirit and we can feel of her love, for it is
tangible. She was truly an elect lady and I cannot wait to see her in
the near future and thank her for the sacrifices that she made to get
herself worthy to enter the temple. The sacrifices, along with the
sacrifices that my old man made, that she made blessed my life and
still continue to bless my life in ways that I cannot fully
comprehend. That's what the temple does, it blesses us as well as
future generations to come in ways that we nor they can or will fully
comprehend.
Our reunion will be priceless, and will be another one of those
experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime.
D&C 84:88 says...
"I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be
in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
I testify that there are angels round about us, that are constantly
baring us up...and I testify that one of those angels is that
beautiful lady we lost 16 years ago. She is always near, and her
spirit shall always be in our hearts.
Family and Friends, I love you all so much. I apologize for the novel
I wrote today, I had a lot that I wanted to share and talk about. I
hope you all have a wonderful week and a great first week of school.
I'm praying for each of you. Let me know if I can do anything for
anyone. I love you all. Thanks for everything! I'll talk to you all
next week.
Peace be the Journey,
Jardman
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| -Before |
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| --After Smiles filled the chapel. |
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