An Amazing Reunion!

This is a story our family will not soon forget and will cherish forever!! It all started a long time ago back in Bolivia when Fred was very young. His parents, Damingo and Justa Suxo-Sanchez where introduced to some Mormon missionaries and chose to take the discussions. They were later baptized and always had a special place in their hearts for the missionaries that taught them the gospel.

When Fred was 13 years old his father wanted a better life for him and wanted him to have the chance for a better education than what he could get in Bolivia. He made arrangements for Fred to come to the states with an LDS missionary. Not knowing any English and being so young he left Bolivia and his family and came to the states to live with the missionary's family in Sierra Vista, AZ that brought him to the states. Later in his life he would have 3 other siblings that would make their way to the states and make a life here for themselves and their families. In 2008 Fred's mother, Justa, came to the states and is now a resident here living in Orem, Ut with her daughter Veronica and her family. She had two previous visits here and both times had asked the children that live here if they had had any luck in locating the missionary "Elder Thomas" that had baptized her back in Bolivia. None of them had really tried looking, thinking it would be a long shot in ever finding him.

Well, Justa was determined she would meet him again and so she took matters into her own hands into trying to locate him. She was in Salt Lake one day and was at some convention or something like that and she stopped at a missionary booth asking if there was any way possible she could locate a missionary that served in La Paz, Bolivia back in the late 1960's. She gave the missionaries name and left her name in hopes some how Elder Thomas could be found. This is where the story takes a huge turn and becomes truly amazing! We later hear the story of Elder Thomas and learn how his side of the story comes about, leading to a truly amazing reunion!!

So, Elder Thomas gets this call from a missionary asking if by chance he remembers someone by the name of Justa Sanchez, that he baptized while serving his mission in Bolivia. He stated that she was looking for him and that she was now in the states in Spanish Fork, Ut. He thinks back and doesn't recall anyone by that name. It kept nagging at him until he decided to get out his mission journal and look through it. He found entries about teaching and then baptizing a Damingo and Justa Suxo-Sanchez. He knew that had to be the woman that was looking for him and he did remember her. He was so excited and wanted to be reunited with her as well. He called the number she had left with the missionary that took her information and she happened to be gone but he got to talk to Betty, my sister-in-law. Come to find out, Elder Thomas also lived in Spanish Fork!! While talking to Betty they made a plan to surprise Justa with a meeting between the two of them.

Betty told Justa that their plans for their house fell through and that she wanted her to go with her to look at some more houses. She took Justa to Elder Thomas' house and when he opened the door she recognized him right away. They were both so excited and happy to see each other. They visited for awhile and enjoyed catching up. About a week or so later Elder Thomas called Fred and they were on the phone for quite awhile talking to each other and Elder Thomas so he would love for our whole family to come and stay at his house some weekend and to have a big get together with Justa and all her family that is here in the states. He also wanted his family to be there so we could all meet and have a big party. So, it was planned, and we were all excited to meet the missionary that baptized Grandpa and Grandma and who played a huge part in changing the lives of the Suxo family forever.

I can't remember the exact dates of the weekend that we all got together, but it was a truly amazing weekend. We all had so much fun and Elder Thomas' family was incredible!! His house was absolutely gorgeous and great for the entertaining. Before we all got together his daughter helped him put together a DVD of pictures from his mission. A lot of the pictures were of Grandpa and Grandma Suxo and of Fred when he was just little. They have a huge theater room that we all went in to watch the DVD. It was perfect and the DVD was amazing!! Elder Thomas gave each family a copy and we were all so grateful. What a keepsake!!

I just can't say enough about the Thomas family and how incredible they are. Sister Thomas is soooo sweet and an amazing hostess. The Spirit in their home was so strong and we couldn't help but feel it and the love that was there. It was great to get to know them, but it was kind of weird because as soon as we got there and started to visit it was like we had all know each other forever. Fred and I both felt the same way and we felt so comfortable with them, like we were all family. Which in retrospect, I believe we are. The weekend went so fast and I don't think any of us were ready to leave when it was time to go, especially the girls! It was such a great experience and we all feel so grateful to Elder Thomas and his sweet and beautiful wife for making it happen!! WE LOVE YOU!!