Tragic News

This week, Evan learned the tragic news of the death of his cousin, Monte.  We found it difficult to be so far away from Evan at this time and we are praying continually that he will be strengthened by the Lord.  He sent the following e-mail to Monte's mom and sisters and we are all grateful for his missionary insight, his mature reaction, and for the angels that surround him in Japan.  We learned little else about Evan's week except that he had leadership training, celebrated a birthday and had lots of rain.

Kim, Sydney, and Kari,

I received a call late last night from my Mission President informing me of what happened. He told me to make sure I sent you three a message. I have been praying hard to have the Spirit with me as I choose the words I say. I hope my message is one of comfort, peace, and love. I will not preach, but give my simple conviction and love. You may use this message however you like.

What a blessing it is to be a part of this wonderful, true, and everlasting gospel. I would not be here in Japan serving His wonderful children if I did not believe it were true. As I bare testimony of this gospel and testify that I know that through this gospel, family relationships become stronger and we can live with them for all eternity. I don't think this situation is any different. Through this experience and others we have shared, our family has been able to come together and be strengthened by one another. What a blessing this has been. I think about it and look back on what we have experienced and I still see how strong our family is in the gospel. God, our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ love us more than we can imagine. We matter to Them. As it says in 1 Nephi 3:7, God wouldn't give us anything if He didn't provide a way. Kim, Sydney, and Kari, I admire your strength and confidence that this plan is true and everlasting. Through we may not have all the answers, we do know the important principles that allow us to face tragedies with faith and confidence that we can have a bright future and that Heavenly Father will fulfill His side of the promise.

I love you three. I am grateful for the many tender mercies I have been blessed with throughout my life. I know that you three as well have been blessed with many. You three are always in my prayers. I have a promise by an apostle of God to this mission specifically, that the names I pray for will be blessed with peace, comfort, and love. I pray that you three may feel the Lord's love. I would like to express my gratitude that now I get to serve alongside Monte, Scott, and Grandpa as God's army. I know they love you very much, I know I love you very much. You three are a real testimony builder for me. Again, I admire you and your example of strength, courage, and love. As the Lord promised, "Peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment. Know thee, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all."

I don't send this to brag of how wise I am or to boast of myself, I send this out of a pure love for my family, my brothers and sisters in the gospel. I love you three very much and you are always in my prayers.

Love, Elder Evan Parry