Doris!

Alright, time for another update on Elder Hoffman's mission thus far! So, as we all know, missions are a lot of hard work, but they are filled with a rich amount of blessings. These past couple of weeks, Elder Hoffman and his companion, Elder Williams, have been enjoying their share of these promised blessings. After a lot of hardship and work, they were able to see and experience many miracles. They now have about twenty people currently in their stewardship, and every single one of these people are miracles. I would just like to inform you about a very special one. Her name is Doris, she is 52, and she is a prime example of what makes these two years worth it for these missionaries.

So before Elder Hoffman left on his mission, I shared with him this story, and I would like to share it with you now.

I FOUND MY FRIEND

The following event took place in a ward in Salt Lake City in 1974. It occurred during Sacrament Meeting and was told to me by a Regional Representative of the twelve, who was in the meeting.

A young man, just before leaving on his mission, stood in Sacrament Meeting and bore, in essence, the following testimony. "My Brothers and Sisters, as you know, during the past few weeks I have been awaiting my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream I was in the pre-existence and was awaiting my call to come to earth. I was filled with the same excitement and anticipation that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream, I was talking to a friend. He was a very dear friend, and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked, a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement my friend and I opened the letter I gave it to him and asked him to read it aloud. The letter said: You have been called to earth in a special time and to a special land. You will be born into the true church, and you will have the priesthood of God in your home. You will be raised with many advantages and many blessings. You will be born in a land of plenty-a land of freedom. You will go to earth in the United States of America. "My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call. And while we rejoiced, the messenger returned. This time he had a letter for my friend. We knew it was his call to earth. My friend gave me the letter to read aloud. The letter said: You have been called to go to earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be fraught with political and social difficulties which will hinder the word of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica. We wept, my friend and I as we read his call. And my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "when we are down on earth, you in your choice land and me in Costa Rica, my friend, come and find me." Then this young missionary, with tears in his own eyes, said, "Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica. There is a special sequel to this story. About a year after this Sacrament Meeting, the Bishop to this Ward received a letter form the Missionary in Costa Rica. The letter had one sheet of paper in it, and on the sheet was written in inch-high letter four word: I FOUND MY FRIEND. (From the Journal of Floyd A. Hill.)

Elder Hoffman said that when he met Doris, he felt as if he knew her, and that he knew her very well. The spirit was so strong, telling him that this woman that he just met was special. Then it hit him. Alright, now you may have already guessed where I am going with this, but I am so happy to tell you that Elder Hoffman has found his friend!