When Sister Anderson and I first arrived in our assigned
area of the mission we stopped and ate at a little Hamburger place called
Cookies in the neighboring town of Pleasanton. While in the restaurant we met a
young lady who was a high school senior at the time. Even though it has been
over a year since we first met her, I still remember meeting her and thinking
that she had a very fun, outgoing and engaging personality. This young lady worked at the restaurant
along with her mother who we also met. The mother was working at the time, but
the young lady was not, so we sat around the same table and talked while we
were waiting for our food to be prepared. This little restaurant only had one
large table so the set up made it easy to make conversation with others sitting
around the table. I also remember there
was another person, a middle aged man sitting at the table who joined in on the
conversation, but who obviously had some type mental limitation. I remember at the time being impressed with
how kind and considerate this young lady was of the gentleman with the
handicap.
As I paid for the food, I talked to the mother of the young
lady and mentioned to her, what an impressive daughter she had. I believe at
the time the mother explained that she was actually her step daughter and that
her real mother had abandoned the father and two children. The mother explained
what a delight these girls had been. I
don’t know why, but I remember thinking at the time, these are good people. I
remember the young lady saying that she had met some of our young elders that live
and serve in that town. Sister Anderson had written down her name. One of the
things we have been pretty good to do is write down the names of everyone we meet.
Well, even though she left a great impression with us, we never really saw this
young lady or her mother again for over a year. As we got to know people in the
community, we learned more of the young lady, and heard that she was the Rodeo
Queen several years ago. Here in the county to become Rodeo queen you need to
sell the most tickets. So the young ladies that achieve that status have to be
hard working and ambitious.
Then about a month ago this young lady came into the fitness
center when Sister Anderson and I were there. Sister Anderson was good to talk
to her and tell her that we remembered meeting her. This young lady explained
to Sister Anderson that she had graduated from high school and had joined the
Navy. As they talked some more, this young lady volunteered, “if you give me
your address I will write to you”.
Sister Anderson did that and sure enough last week received a letter
from this young lady. Sister Anderson
wrote back and hopefully we will get to meet with this young lady when she gets
to come home on leave.
