On Friday, Phil got a surprise phone call from the Alder's. They sent us this letter and pictures and had lots of good things to say about our missionary!
Dear Bro and Sis Tinkham,
We are just returning from a humanitarian trip to Guatemala. We had
not been to the ruins of Copan and went there first on our trip. We were
near the city Plaza and saw two Elders walking toward us. We stopped them
and asked where Church would be held. They gave us the time and
directions. When we arrived on Sunday we found a very small branch but
the spirit was the same as one would find in any LDS church. Your son led the
music. Since there was no one to play a keyboard he sang the first line
of the hymn and then he said on the count of three, uno, dos, tres, and
everyone joined in singing along. He and his companion, Elder Uribe, were
waiting for some investigators to arrive and so the door was left open to the
building that was used as a church. It was right on the street. So
when a car or people would go buy it made it a little difficult to hear.
It was fast and testimony meeting. Both he and his companion bore
their testimonies. One could sense the care they had for the branch and
its members. We are proud to be a part of a worldwide church. We
felt pretty remote in the small town of Copan Ruinas but quite at home in the
small branch there. You have a wonderful son.
The announcement was made of getting ready to go to the dedication of the
new Tegucigalpa Temple. It was exciting to know that Nicaragua was
getting a temple. And that this little branch is preparing people to go to the
open house.
When I called to get your email address, Bro Tinkham said that your son
was getting transferred. We could understand why it would be hard to
leave the small branch and the wonderful people there.
Sincerely,
Francis and Darlene
Alder
