Week 57

This was a very crazy week, filled with many emotions and experiences that have strengthened and uplifted this group of missionaries for all eternity.  Due to the devastation caused from Hurricane Maria (category 5 Hurricane that directly hit Puerto Rico), all missionaries in Puerto Rico and neighboring islands have been evacuated to the United States due to a lack of basic infrastructure needs, i.e., power, water, food, fuel and roads.  This was a logistical challenge and monumental effort to evacuate more than 150 missionaries off the island and temporarily reassign all missionaries to new missions, until they can return safely to Puerto Rico (once basic infrastructure is restored) and help the people and communities rebuild. 

Sept. 22, 2017

Hermana Green and the San Juan Puerto Rico Missionaries:

We received a call from the Church Headquarters Mission Department. They confirmed what we had been told previously, that the Church is temporarily closing the Puerto Rico Mission and all missionaries are being evacuated and reassigned to new missions as soon as possible. Hermana Green is being reassigned to the Orem, Utah Mission. We are supposed to get a call from Hermana Green once she arrives in Orem, which likely will not be until next week. If they re-open the Puerto Rico Mission soon, there is a chance Hermana Green will get to go back and finish her mission there, but if not, she will have wonderful experiences, witness miracles at the hand of the Lord, and accomplish great things in Orem.

We were very touched, when it was explained that two Apostles of the Lord knelt in prayer and sought the will of the Lord in reassigning Hermana Green and all the other missionaries of Puerto Rico. We know this is where the Lord needs Hermana Green at this time, and the Lord has made preparations for her arrival. Hermana Green will shortly see the hand of the Lord and His plan unveiled, and we can't wait to hear of her new experiences. 

We remain grateful for the safety of all missionaries and know the Lord is watching over them. These experiences will build great faith and strength in these missionaries, and great blessings are in store for their future assignments - they truly have learned that they can do hard things! I am positive our daughter and the other missionaries will be very sad leaving the people they have grown to love behind in their time of need, but the Lord knows what is best! “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things … righteousness … wickedness … holiness … misery … good … bad. …” (2 Nephi 2:11). “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven. …” President, Spencer W. Kimball

Please continue to pray for the missionaries and all the people of Puerto Rico. Additionally, we have been asked by the Mission President to pray that they will have enough fuel to get all the missionaries safely to the Airport and off the island!

Thank you for your continued, love, support and prayers, it is greatly appreciated!!

Gina & Gary

September 26, 2017

The following post form President and Sister Smart captures the intensity of the events from last week, but also shows the great faith and trust they had in the Lord and how He protected and delivered them out of harms way.

President & Sister Smart- I have had little to no Internet service for about a week.  We have felt your love, concern and prayers.  You may not see your son or daughter in the pictures but be assured everyone is accounted for.  We ALL are headed to the airport to fly to Miami now.  Two days before hurricane Maria President Smart and I received a strong confirmation from the Lord:  "bring them home".   We then decided to bring the 55 sisters to our home and the 100 Elders to the mission office.  If that counsel had not been given, there would have been different results.  Amidst chaos, there were miracles too many to mention here.  The missionaries are all TEMPORARILY assigned to serve stateside while President and I work from Santo Domingo with Humanitarian aid to help restore the Caribbean islands and bring our little army home again.  While I am beyond grateful we are all well, my mommy heart hurts to be separated. Que Dios Este Con Nosotros Hasta Vernos. (God be with us until we meet again) #puertoricomission

Quote from Pres. Smart, "The sisters are wonderful!" They are in a more upscale neighborhood doing service for those affected there. It has truly softened the hearts of those who were hesitant to listen before.  Historically this area has been very closed minded to the missionaries, but after being touched by the service these missionaries we so freely giving to these people, one of the residents asked the Sisters, "what can we do to repay you", the Sisters replied, "when the missionaries come back, open your door to them and listen to their message."  President And Sis. Smart have spoken to many people in the neighborhood who are impressed with the service and attitudes of the sister missionaries. A doctor who lives there has offered his services if needed, although he has not been needed. Another family opened their home to the sisters to use their pool water to wash their clothes and bathe. They haul buckets of water into the home and use a large bath for their washing. What a blessing!! The sisters are in great spirits and are an influence for good there.

Sister Wilde shared one of her favorite things to come out of this plight. She says that this experience has created a very unique bond between the missionaries. They have connected in ways that most missionaries can't while serving in their own areas. They truly love one another as brothers and sisters and have cared for each other as such. She has loved watching them serve each other and bond over games, cooking, and even cleaning.

One of their biggest disappointments is that they can't proselyte anymore. They miss sharing the Gospel in that way. Two days ago they were able to share their testimonies and hand out two entire boxes of Book of Mormons! That was one of their highlights of this experience.

The Hermanas Gathered together at the Mission Home

Continued Prayers for Hermana Green and All the Missionaries who are leaving their Hearts in Puerto Rico. May they be watched over and protected as they all make their transitions to their new mission assignments. They will forever have a special place in their hearts for the people and island of Puerto Rico.

President & Sister Smart making sure that all Their missionaries are accounted for and in their Hotel Rooms and ready to depart.

September 27, 2017-

Today 23 of the 150 missionaries that were evacuated from Puerto Rico landed in Salt Lake City for their new mission reassignments. We are grateful for the Lord's watchful care of all the missionaries from Puerto Rico, and we were excited to see our daughter in the News video. Continued prayers and blessings to all the missionaries in their new assignments.

What a blessing and yet another tender mercy from the Lord. We could not be in Salt Lake City to greet and hug our daughter, but Sister Killpack and President Killpack were there to shower our daughter and the other missionaries with love! How grateful we are for the Killpack's and their example of Christ-like service! We talked to Hermana Green tonight and she is doing really well, and loves President and Sister Killpack already. She is upbeat and knows the Lord has a plan and a work for her to do in Orem, she knows this is where she is meant to be at this time, and can't wait to get started. What a blessing and comfort this phone call was to us! Love this missionary too pieces!!!