Found - But not Lost
Pilar (Hermana Rodriguez), Rosa Garcia, and me (Hermana Livignston)
40+ years ago!
This story is a little long ~ so many feelings of Gratitude and so many miraculous events from the hand of the Lord.
There have been so many miracles that it is hard to put them into words. The story doesn’t always follow a straight line, but that is simply because I can see the Lord’s hand in every twist and turn, working to bring us all together.
Our connection with Elder and Sister Christensen from the Madrid South Mission, serving in Seville, has been a true tender mercy. It began when Sister Petersen, currently serving in Germany, kindly put us in contact with them. I have wanted to return to the cities where I served my first mission for a long time, and serving so close now made it feel like the right moment. We decided to make the trip during the Christmas and New Year break when the Young Adult activities were also on vacations and breaks.
Our journey began with a few days in Madrid for a Young Adult temple gathering. Out of the fifteen couples serving there, we were miraculously assigned to stay with the Christensen’s! During our time together, we talked about our visit to Seville, Granada, and Cádiz—the cities of my mission. They couldn't have been more kind or helpful. We had invited ourselves to stay with them in Seville and while talking we learned that they also cover Cádiz as their assignment. They offered to accompany us there to visit their ward, providing both transportation and a place to stay. They were truly heaven-sent.
We left the conference before the Christensen’s did and went straight to Granada. (on the speed train). The miracles continued in Granada. Pili (Pilar), who was my trainer and companion forty years ago, sent me the phone number for Rosa, another dear friend from those days. Since we were only in Granada for two days, our window of time was very small. I reached out via WhatsApp, and she responded immediately! It was so exciting, though we learned she was at the hospital supporting her daughter-in-law, who was having a baby. While we couldn't meet in person this time, we have been communicating constantly. Now, Pili, Rosa, and I are all back in touch and talking together. We are already hoping and planning for an in person reunion soon!
Rosa’s Conversion Story
Because my memory of the details has faded, I asked Rosa to share her story with me. She admitted she doesn’t remember everything either, but here is the beautiful account we’ve pieced together:
The Elders first knocked on her door, and she found herself looking at a blonde missionary and a dark-haired missionary. When they explained that they wanted to share a message about Jesus Christ, she invited them in. Rosa credited her mother for always encouraging her to be open to the Savior and His Gospel.
The Elders sat in her living room and spoke with her for a while. Rosa isn’t sure if it was that same day or a later visit, but they eventually told her the story of Joseph Smith. They explained how, over a century ago, he saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and that the true Church had been restored through him.
Her response was immediate and heartfelt. In her own words, she asked, 'Why didn’t you tell me this before!' She recognized the truth instantly. She told me that the feeling she had in that moment is exactly what has kept her in the Church all this time. Whenever she feels like 'throwing in the towel,' she is strengthened by the memory of that original witness.
At the time, she loved hanging out with the Young Adults and they became her close friends, but she wasn’t quite ready for baptism. One day, the Young Adults asked if she was going to the Sierra Nevadas that Saturday. As a joke, Rosa replied, 'How can I go? I’m supposed to be getting baptized that day!'
Once she said it, she felt she couldn't back out. Her friends were all so excited. That is when Hermana Rodriguez and I were able to teach her the lessons and help her prepare for her baptismal day. To help her quit smoking, Pili (Pilar) gave her a specific method to track and reduce her cigarettes. Rosa told me it was incredibly helpful and was exactly what she needed to succeed.
Pili’s words, “The missionaries couldn't make any progress with her, not even setting a baptism date. So, they passed their teachings on to us. We set several goals for her, like quitting smoking, and other smaller ones. We also involved the members so they could get to know her better and she would feel more comfortable. I suppose we reviewed some of the talks. The rest was done by the branch members.”
