Rewind to when Meredith transferred to Guaymas--Olga had told me that Burr and Maren had a condo and often visited in that same area. I asked Olga to ask them if they might be willing sometime to take a package to Meredith. This was back when I was desperate to get Meredith's Christmas packages to her and was losing hope. So, Olga nicely asked the McRaes and the next day Maren called me to confirm and tell me that they would be more than happy to help get something to Meredith. Then or anytime. Check. Very nice of her. It turned out, I had a different little Christmas miracle getting those boxes to Meredith and didn't need to ask Maren for help with those boxes--except for 1 that came back to our own doorstep just 3 days before Christmas!
Well, I already had found out that Meredith received all of the other boxes so I wasn't feeling as franctic to send this one off. Holidays mostly came and went. And then just this last Saturday I called Maren back up to ask her when she was headed to Guaymas next and ask if I could send that box to her address. Turned out that they were actually headed to Mexico the very next day! Sunday! Which meant there was no hope for my box this time around, but we talked (for much longer than I had anticipated) and she offered to just go ahead and pick Meredith and comp up and take them shopping. Well, I thought, if that worked for Meredith, that could be a real treat. And then agreed and told her a dollar amount that I would be happy to pay her so Meredith could get a few things, and thanked her, and wondered how it would all go. But Maren also, logically, asked me for Meredith's address and I genuinely have zero physical address for her. But I told her that I would ask Meredith for it on Monday when I wrote to her and we could go from there.
Well, BAM! The next day on Sunday, while I was in church (about 1pm my time), I get a text from Maren McRae that says exactly this: "Just talked to Meredith. We stopped at the mission home in Hermosillo and got her number. She said she would call me this evening and we will make arrangements to meet tomorrow. {smiley face emoji} Maren."
I guess Maren doesn't mess around...
So, here is Meredith's side of the story. Her letter to me yesterday. Enjoy! Gotta love "when the relatives come." I can't imagine what Meredith's mission president and wife are thinking about this whole thing. Classic! But the last part of the letter is the clincher for me. Wanted to share with you whom I love and I know can appreciate this:
My, was I surprised yesterday when I got a random phone call that said,"" Meredith? This is your aunt Maren McRae. Your mom called me and told me to find you and take you shopping and buy you stuff and give you a big hug. When can I find you and where? Tomorrow is your prep day, where can I pick you up?"" I was flabbergasted to say the least, and had NO idea how to respond or what to say, and sounded ridiculous trying to think of some English to say to this crazy unknown lady saying my first name on the other side of the line. I told her I had no idea, and that I would talk to my comp and call her in the night. I told her later that I could meet her at the church at 3 pm today. I had NO idea what to do. And I am SO talented at being really awkward. But this kind of randomness and craziness is SO normal in my life that I just went with the flow. Around three this Suburban pulled in and this lady trying to speak Spanish was telling everyone that she was my aunt. And I didn't know what to do. Actually, she speaks good Spanish! She gave me a huge hug, and then I was like, ""okay, so how do I know you? How are you related to me?"" And told me that her husband was Grandpa Rulon's brother. But Uncle Burr didn't do much talking.. he is funny but quiet. She told me she wanted to take me shopping, go to the beach. go to dinner, and I don't know what else. I have to still be a missionary....... but we ended up going with her to Walmart and bought food, then they dropped me off at my house, because my pday ends at 6 and I still had to come here and email.. She is awesome, but this was definitely a funny experience!!! She told me that she has a house here, so we can come visit after my mission!! hahaha
I was thinking about how funny of an experience this was, but it was also awesome. It was cool to meet part of the family of my grandpa, your dad. And think that I am a missionary here, and that he is a missionary too, but in the mission of heaven. Maybe heaven east... or west.. I don't know, there has to be lots of different missions, and lots of work to do! :) But it was really cool to come to this mind set, and I don't know how to explain, but feel a little bit of his love, even though I have never met him, and know that he is also a missionary. I remembered what you told me about your experience in the temple, seeing a man's hands that looked like your dad's hands... and I was looking at the hands of Uncle Burr, and don't know how to explain but felt like the presence of your dad, and a testifying witness of the plan of salvation, that one day I will get to know your dad.
A member in Hermosillo told us, that lots of times, in the streets, when we pass cholos, that these people see more than just us walking. They see more than two missionaries walking. We can't see them, but many times we have angels walking with us, and protecting us. I don't know if this is doctrinal, or apostasy, but, I think that maybe sometimes your dad and our family who is on the other side of the veil watch over us, and protect us. And maybe he walks with me here in the streets of Mexico and scares the cholos away. I hope this makes a little bit of sense. I love you so much!!!!
I am so excited for this new year 2016. Cant believe that it is 2016, and that in this year I will come home... you should know that I brought in the New Years right with some yummy chocolate ice cream and a toast!!!
Mares de mucho amor,
Hermana Pearl
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The pic and explanation Meredith sent with the picture. Ha ha ha!
"How do I know you???????????????????? haha
Of course I had no clean clothes on the one day I have visitors.. and look like a Jehovah's Witness... super nice!!!!! Or Cara Mitchell... ooopppsss That is bad to say.... Fred....
But they are super cool and awesome people!!
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