Front Row left to right: Sisters Hall & Ho Kum; Elders Romeril, Leu, Benyo.
We welcomed these missionaries without any unusual fanfare despite the trauma at the office. The plan was to be as calm and collected as possible. All went well with the arrival.
On Tuesday morning, President Murri was able to send them all off with trainers, hoping they all had some extra money.
The main missing items from the break in were the passports of all our foreign missionaries, the new debit cards for the incoming missionaries, and cash for baggage fees for the departing missionaries.
Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
We had worries as to what we would do with our departing missionaries, especially those two who had to return home to a foreign country. Finally, on Tuesday evening, we could summarize some answers. We had to reapply for passports, visas, and I-94s, in person at the consulates in Los Angeles. We needed passport photos and we needed a police report. The police report would not be ready for about a week and a half. We had to call stake presidents and parents to tell them that their missionary wasn’t coming home. The flights of our two foreign elders had to be cancelled. All were being brave, but it was much more somber than the usual departure party. Imagine me trying to keep 14 missionaries occupied and positive while President is trying to compile information and get answers and do final interviews of all of them.
Tuesday evening I had a phone call from a police officer. He happened to be a member of the church. He said he had a police report for us so that we could take the elders to the consulates on Wednesday and hopefully get them home in a few days. This was a wonderful breakthrough. He asked that President Murri call him in the morning at 7 am when he got on duty and he would get the report to us.
Hebrews 11:1 - 2
1 NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
We were hopeful but still overwhelmed at the task of replacing all the passports from a variety of countries: Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, Australia, Tonga, Samoa, Guatemala, Japan, and the United States over the next several weeks.
Matthew 21:21
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Wednesday morning, just as President Murri was about to call the police, his phone rang. It was the policeman. He said, "President, you are not going to need the police report any more. We recovered the passports last night."
WOW, A MIRACLE!
2 Nephi 26:13
13 And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.
President hustled down to the police department to pick up the passports and to verify that they still had the I-94s attached so that the missionaries could leave the country. As soon as he verified their presence, I called the church missionary department, we were connected to their marvelous travel department, and the original flights were reinstated!!! We had 10 minutes to get our Peruvian elder off with the rest of the missionaries departing from LAX. He made it. He only forgot a few things. . .
We got our Canadian elder off with his group at Santa Barbara.
After so much turmoil, all ended just as it had been planned originally.
As we drove home after seeing our missionaries off at Santa Barbara Airport, we had such peace and such marvel that the Lord would be so mindful of us. It was indeed a tangible miracle.
We needed to call some parents and stake presidents with better news than the last time.
The debit cards were also recovered. The police had made a "routine" stop of some persons known to steal to support their drug habit. They recovered the passports and cards which they had with them in their car. We did not recover the USA passport, or a few other things. But we are blessed. The door is repaired, the safe is replaced, and a few other things have been done to improve security.
After reporting on this in our zone conferences this last week, I am sure that our missionaries are very aware that our Father in Heaven is mindful of them and He knows the needs of the California Ventura Mission.
James 1:3
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
Our passports, safe at home!
Farewell to these missionaries. 
Front left to right: Elders Nelson, Warnick, Cowley, & Panchaud;
1 comment:
What a marvelous story! Miracles do happen. Thanks for sharing.
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