Miracle day: Los Zarzuela y Innovación Ortopédica

"Miracle day: Los Zarzuela y Innovación Ortopédica

Elder Darrel L. Hammon

Los Hammon, Los Zarzuela, Bennie Lilly, Carlos

                There are days on one’s mission when you know why you are serving the Lord. Today was one of those. The Church has a humanitarian project with Innovación Ortopédica, a group of incredible people—Cristina, Carlos, and Daniel. The Church provides prosthesis to this group and then makes referrals of members and non-members who need a prosthesis. One of those members is Hermano Zarzuela from Santiago.

Hermano Zarzuela’s bishop called me a few weeks ago to ask me about a prosthesis that Elder and Sister Atkinson had worked on. When I called Cristina, she told me that since Hermano Zarzuela is a diabetic, they had to construct a different kind of prosthesis, one that could expand and contract, depending on the leg swellings and contractions, and it was going to take some time because of the way they had to build it. This week I received an email from Cristina, saying it was ready.

Hermana Zarzuela

I had talked to Hermano y Hermana Zarzuela at the Casa de Huéspedes on Monday night after Family Home Evening (FHE). Elder Snow had seen them and then came over and told me they were there. We had not previously met Hermano y Hermana Zarzuela. But they are instantly likeable. He is about 66-years old and still in pretty good health. When I visited with them on Monday evening, they were ecstatic because he was going to receive a new leg sometime that week. They were going on Tuesday morning to Innovación Ortopédica to be trained on how to us  a prosthesis.

So at 10:00 a.m., Hermana Hammon and I along with Bennie Lilly, the Area Welfare Manager, met Los Zarzuela at Innovación Ortopédica to witness la entrega of a prosthesis to Hermano Zarzuela. As we waited in the lobby, we had a wonderful conversation with Hermana Zarzuela who could not contain her joy. She thanked the Church and Innovación Ortopédica for their great work and expressed her overwhelming job at what was going to be happening today.  Soon, Cristina came out and said it was time.

Hermana Zarzuela

Just at that moment, Hermano Zarzuela walked into the lobby. His smile was grandiose. He was a new man. He then showed us how he could walk. It was truly an incredible sight to behold. While he was walking, Daniel and Carlos explained how Hermano Zarzuela learned to walk on his new leg. They told us that he took to the new prosthesis as quickly as some of their younger patients. Carlos and Daniel showed us the material from which they made the prosthesis. It is a gel-like material that allows for expansion and contraction.

Cristina served cookies and orange juice. As we enjoyed the treats, we talked about the project and the Church’s involvement with Innovación Ortopédica and what a great partnership it was. While we talked, I felt joy like Ammon did when he talked about the People of Ammon. In actuality, this partnership is truly a miracle. People who cannot walk or use crutches or even use wheelchairs can now go out and lead very productive lives. And here was Hermano Zarzuela whose eleven grandchildren had never seen him walk with two legs.

Interestingly, Daniel commented that Los Zarzuela should gather their family together on Family Home Evening night and explain the process to their grandchildren. Although Daniel is not a member of the Church, he knows enough that we gather our families on Monday evenings and spend time together, enjoying each other’s company, sharing gospel truths, and learning about Christ.

Los Zarzuela, Carlos, Cristina, y Daniel

We enjoyed such a wonderful time at Innovación Ortopédica. Thank you once again, Cristina, Carlos (“Freddy”), and Daniel, for your miracle-working abilities and your willingness to work with the Church and with people like Hermano Zarzuela.

Perhaps, the frosting on the cake—to use a very old cliché—was that evening in the temple. Brother García asked me to officiate the 6:00 p.m. session. As I stood there, waiting for the members to enter the room, in walked Hermano and Hermana Zarzuela. Oh, what joy I felt! He walked into the room. He still needs to use a cane to balance himself for a while. But he walked in. His smile was huge. We probably didn’t need the lights this evening as both of them glowed.

Los Zarzuela

My feelings today overpowered me on several occasions. What the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does around the world with humanitarian projects is impressive. Some may be large; some may be small; some involve lots and lots of people; others involve just a few. But the Innovación Ortopédica project helps one person at a time. And today, it helped Hermano Zarzuela. Because of this single event, it will affect many, many people—his family, his friends, his community, and others to see his courageous example to walk again on two legs. Thank you, Hermano Zarzuela.

Baptism in San Pedro: Los Llanos y Consuelo

"Baptism in San Pedro: Los Llanos y Consuelo"
Elder Darrel L. Hammon

                 

       Two Saturdays ago, we had the opportunity to go to Consuelo and pick up one of the little families and take them to San Pedro for a baptism. The young son who was almost ten was going to be baptized. We arrived a little early to the capilla. As we were sitting there along came the branch president and his little son. He seemed surprised we were there. Either he had forgotten about the baptism or we were really early. I’ll take the latter. He hopped in, and we took him to his home where he changed. Then, we headed to the capilla to pick up the family.

                When we arrived, there was the Hermana with her four little children. We loaded them up in the back—the branch president, the mother, and her four little children. It was a tight squeeze for a Honda Civic. I suspect we would have been pulled over in the U.S. But we trundled forward and arrived at the Kennedy building, which is also the District building.

                Soon, Elders Anderson and Cowley came and then Elder and Sister Eickbush with Elder and Sister Yturralde. They drove all the way to Los Llanos to pick up the young man who was going to be baptized from their branch. He was about 39 and was ready. They had brought Presidente Vasquez and Brother Fernandez, the first counselor in the branch presidency. Before the baptism, we took several pictures of the candidates and their families with the missionaries and branch president. They love having their picture taken.

                Joanne and Sister Eickbush had brought three cakes between them. By the time we were finished so were the cakes. I cannot believe how much cake can be eaten by such a few people. I guess, though, there were probably twenty people when the final headcount was taken.

                What a great baptism it was. I was able to bear my testimony once again of the truthfulness of the gospel.We enjoy doing this.

Tuesday Devotional with Elder Wilford W. Andersen

"Tuesday Devotional with Elder Wilford W. Andersen"

Elder Darrel L. Hammon

What a wonderful day today! It started off with our regular Tuesday devotional for the week. This was a special week, come to find out. Every second Tuesday, a member of the Area Presidency comes and speaks. Today, Elder Wilford Andersen came to speak to us. His Spanish is flawless. I was very, very impressed with his language skills. What was more impressive, however, was his ability to bring the spirit to the meeting. His topic was Cuba.

                The Area Presidency has been working with Cuban officials to have the Church become an official and recognized entity. It was been a lengthy struggle, but these men have seen miracles. Just a few months ago, the BYU Ambassadors were able to go to Cuba and deliver a wonderful program. The Cubanos loved it. One of the government officials was there and enjoyed it immensely. Elder Andersen said they have a solid friend in this person.

Elder Wilford W. Andersen

                A miracle occurred before all this happened. They had received visas to go to Cuba to begin the conversations, but they had to go to Miami to pick up the tickets because they didn’t deliver them electronically. To top it off, this was one or two days before they were supposed to go, and they were about to resign themselves to the fact they couldn’t go because of the time crunch and tried to find someone who could obtain the tickets. They called around about how they were going to get the tickets because that office was going to close in one hour. One of the people from the office, I think it was Rafael from the PR Department, said, “Let’s call Esteben de la Cruz. He knows lots of people.”

Rafael called Esteben and asked him where he was. As Rafael was listening, his face blanched. He turned to Elder Andersen and said, “He is in the Miami Airport.” So they made arrangements for him to go pick up the tickets. Elder Andersen said, “What are the chances of that happening? The Lord knew we needed those tickets, and he also knew we were not going to be able to get to the airport.”

                Just incredible! The Lord definitely has a hand in all things. And we look forward to hear more.