Alicia, Madeline’s mother, was able to have lunch today with Hermana Peter, the sister from New Guinea who was Madeline’s last companion in Puerto Rico. Sadly, I have a pretty bad cold that I don’t want to give anyone, so I stayed home. I am looking forward to next time when I’ll be able to meet this valiant daughter of God in person.
Alicia wanted to share her experience, here is what she wrote:
This was my favorite part of the week. I was awoken on Saturday morning by a phone call that I quickly silenced because I didn’t know the number (and I was trying to sleep in). It rang again and I silenced it again feeling totally annoyed. Then I got like three texts in a row. Couldn’t ignore those.
Brett was sick, so I picked up my phone quietly and read. I was so excited to see that is was Hna Peter! I immediately felt horribly for ignoring her phone calls. Bad mom. But I was so happy she kept trying, what a good girl she is.
She asked if we could have lunch. I said “YES!” Dad decided that he shouldn’t go because he didn’t want to get them sick, which I agreed with. Too bad for him because I had the best time ever.
Anyway, we arranged to meet at their apartment at noon. I wanted to bring them a little gift, so I left early. I stopped by Bath and Bodyworks and got some Fall and Christmas scented hand soaps for their cute apartment. But
But bad timing on my part, that put me 10 minutes behind. I texted them and they weren’t worried at all. In fact, they were still out and about and weren’t sure if they would be there at noon. She said to give them a call when I got in the area. I planned to call them when I got to their apartment… I was a block or two away when I saw two girls walking ahead of me. Then I saw Hna Peter’s hair. lol. I’m sure you know what I mean. 🙂 So I knew it was them. I pulled over and rolled down the windows. I
I planned to call them when I got to their apartment… but I was a block or two away when I saw two girls walking ahead of me. Then I saw Hna Peter’s hair. So I knew it was them. I pulled over and rolled down the windows and said, “Hi, I’m Alicia.” I should have said Maddie’s mom because they didn’t really know why I pulled over…. it was kinda funny. I took dad’s car… a little nicer place for them to sit. I asked them to go ahead and get in the back if they’d like. We sat and chatted for a while. Hna Peter was actually on splits with a Sister
I took dad’s car… a little nicer place for them to sit. I asked them to go ahead and get in the back if they’d like. We sat and chatted for a while. Hna Peter was actually on splits with a Sister Wallintine who had only been out a month, so I didn’t get to meet her companion. 🙁 We talked for a while in the car then I realized I had better get them to lunch!
They suggested Wendy’s. I said NO WAY, I want to take you to a restaurant. The problem was finding one in their area. I used Yelp and it was so frustrating…. it kept telling me that Smashburger was close but it wasn’t. So we were going to a BBQ place, but I totally couldn’t find it. While I was turning around, we saw an all-you-can-eat Chinese food place. Oh, how Hna Peter’s eyes lit up! She said she LOVES Chinese food and missed it. So that is where we ended up. It was pretty good for a hole-in-the-wall in Orem.
Can I tell you how Hna Peter extolled your virtues? She loves you so very much. She spoke of how you took care of her and her anxiety and trained her so diligently. I believe she misses you more than you can imagine. You’ve got a forever friend in her. Eternal. Lucky you, she’s a good one. She said you have addicted her to Takis though. Naughty Maddie.
She shared with me why she decided to go on a mission. It started when she was a primary girl. Her mother made the difference when she was 15 years old as she told her that a mission would make the biggest change in her life.
She told me that she has all brothers and lots of other fun little things. I shared with her that I was a convert and my story. She was a lovely listener. By then we had been to lunch for an hour and a half, it was time to go. We went out and took a couple of photos, I gave them the gift and took them to the stake center. She promised that we could have a dinner next so we could have more time together. I can’t wait.
