We took the Burnetts up to the border today. Bro. Burnett suffered a small stroke last Tuesday. After twenty-four hours in the hospital and with many phone conversations with the Burnett's children the decision was made for their parents to return home. They had agreed to come for six months and this cuts that short for two months, but during their four months here they have made a difference, left a legacy, and will be very missed.
Sister Burnett is amazing. Within six weeks she had all the ordinances memorized and was able to be used anywhere we needed her. Brother Burnett, bless him, struggled with the language the whole time, and yet, he was finally able to go through the veil without help. Both were wonderful examples of humility, and served as participants, cleaners, or doing whatever was needed. They were at the temple four days a week a week and we knew we could count on them. What dear friends at 79 years of age to even consider coming to serve another mission with us (they were with us in Argentina too).
They had brought their guitar and violin and entertained at church parties, and at two orphanages. They made the trip to Poza Rica to sing and teach the members how to polka. Everyone loved them, they were so down to earth. We feel that they completed their mission, even though it was shorter than they had planned.
We were concerned about the fact that they had not come down as official Church missionaries and so they were not covered by Church insurance. However, it turned out that their bill only came to about $700 and that included five or six tests. One doctor didn't charge for his services at all, another translated the notes and studios into English for them. The Bene Hospital itself was clean and modern, and we were very impressed with the care they received.
When we got to Reynosa we found some shade under a tree and ate the lunch I had packed. It took us close to an hour to cross the border because of so many cars going our direction. We decided to stop at the post office to see if we have any mail, and were surprised to find that it isn't an official US Post Office, just a mailing center. It also includes a travel agency, passport photos and who knows what else. I could see into the back room and there were boxes piled up everywhere. No wonder we have had some problem getting packages. At least the location was easy to find. Perhaps that is why it was chosen. We also stopped at a grocery store and stocked up on a few canned and boxed items that we can't get in Tampico. We passed a lovely little LDS chapel and some pretty, American, clean streets. Oh we love the good old USA!
There was no line to return back into Mexico. It was only mid-afternoon and so we decided to detour over to the coast and see the Gulf at Bagdad Beach. Being a double highway we were expecting a tourist destination and thought we might stay there overnight. Unfortunately, it was not developed to the point that we would dare eat or sleep in any of the places we saw. The beach was dirty and the wind was cold. After walking a short way and stopping to take a picture of Toney in front of a great statue of Columbus we backtracked to Matamoros.
We went to our favorite Chinese restaurant hoping to find Gilberto (the waiter I sent the missionaries to visit). Unfortunately, he wasn't working, but we left some Church literature for him and also some with another waiter, Francisco. We ate too much, but it was good food.
Dad agreed to find an American chain hotel with a bathtub. I soaked for an hour in a hot bath! It was fabulous! That is the one thing our little condo doesn't have, and oh I do miss a tubby. We slept in, had a leisurely breakfast, and headed home via a detour or two over to the Gulf. We were disappointed each time in what we found, but there are barrier reefs that run along the coast, and the big sea shells must not make it to where we were. We stopped in Soto del Marino where there is a small branch of the Church and while I found a rest room in the library, Dad got a wonderful "golden contact" for the missionaries.
--
Wendy W. Bentley
0 comments:
Post a Comment