TThe Tender Mercies of the Lord

Hi Dear Family,
I post so seldom that I keep forgetting how to do it and so I have to acquaint myself with it all over again. But, now I am in the groove again, and so here we go. I think I have related this to a few of you, but we were so touched by this that I want all to know of the care and great love the Father and His Son have for all of us-especially elderly missionaries ( but you young ones, too)
Dad/Grandpa and I went to our first Stake Conference last Sunday. We went alone and were given a map to which building in this particular city the conference was to be held. The city, San Francisco de Marcoris, is about a two hour drive from here up in the North Central part of the Island.
We left about 7:00 am and arrive at the city in about an hour and a half and I am thinking boy we are going to be over an hour early. But since Grandpa would rather be two hours early than two minutes late, OK we'll do it and not say anything (which is hard for Grandma sometimes.)
But then the trouble starts, as we find the neighborhood where the chapel is supposed to be (on the map anyway) and we can't find it. We stop and ask a man who is outside in his yard, and lucky us he speaks English. We show him on our map where the chapel is supposed to be and he insists it is not there. I think he looks at us, the color of our hair and the perplexed expressions on our faces and says he will guide us there. Well, bless his heart, he does. But, it is another chapel on the other side of the highway and it is locked up tighter than a drum. But we thank him and smile and he goes on his way.
Well, we know this is not the building and so Grandpa goes back over to the neighborhood where we just left. I am begging please do not go back to that same man as that would be very embarassing. (I still care what people think of me, I'm afraid). We go one street over and there is another man out in his yard. After Grandpa gets out and talks to him the man invites several neighbors over and they all discuss it. Muchas palabras. Then he gets in his car and motions for us to follow him. We do and he drives downtown. He stops at a corner where there are a bunch of men standing around and gets out and again muchas palabras. Finally, a man on a moto motions for us to follow him. We thank the other neighborhood man and off we go, but it only takes a couple of seconds to discover that he is taking us right back to that chapel that is all locked up. We do follow him and here we are again. This time, though, I think he sees a soft touch and makes the money motion with his fingers. I find a 50 peso note and give it to him, with not as many thanks as the 'free' man got and off he goes.
Well, we are left with a cell phone which we try to use but since it is brand new with a 'boysenberry' and everything we have not a clue as to how to use it and of course we did not try before we left home. So we are sitting there and I look up and there goes a young man in a long-sleeved white shirt and dark pants on a moto. He stops at the gate of the chapel and tries the lock. We drive over and ask him if he by any chance knows where the building is that the stake conference is being held? He says yes, because he is the stake secretary! He hops on his moto and tells us to follow him which we gladly do.
Of course, it is way on the other side of town, the building which is not even on this wonderful map that was given us. He leads us right into the parking lot. I have wished that I knew enough of the language to inquire of him, why he happened to be at that particular building when there was not meeting going on. I have my own thoughts on that. The Holy Spirit whispered to him that he needed to swing by there and make sure no one forgot there was Stake Conference that particular Sunday, knowing that we would need his help.
We had a wonderful conference. The General Authority ask us to sit on the stand and Grandpa had prepared a 5 minute talk which he had had translated for him. But I was asked to speak and I had not prepared anything. But, children and grandchildren, we are always prepared because we have our testimonies which we can share anytime and anyplace we need to or the Spirit directs us to. Mine was shared in Espanol and it was alright because I had help when I needed it, which we all do.
Please know that your parents and grandparents know that Father in Heaven lives and loves all of his children. When we are doing what we should be doing He and His Son, our Savior, will always be there for us. They will never ask us to do anything but what they will be standing by our side waiting to help. WE KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE.
We love you all and pray for you always. All our love to you, Grandpa and Grandma Harris