Elder/Sister Meyers

We started the week out with a death. One of our less active members died on Monday. His name was Rodney Perera. He would have been 47 on Wednesday. The doctors said he had a stroke. His wife, Sonali and son, John were very upset. It had happened so fast and unexpectedly. Sister Ann went with us to see the family at the mortuary. It is so hard to know what to say. We are getting more comfortable in this type of situation. This is our 4th death since we came to Sri Lanka. At least we know how it feels to go through this sort of ordeal.
On Wednesday we went to Crow Island to visit one of our members, Quintus George. He is a wonderful man that is very active in the branch. He was a school teacher for many years so he and Elder Meyers had something in common. His daughter, Marina, is a member but less active. She was at work when we went to visit.
We also saw several temples that were in the area. One was a Hindu Temple, the other a Buddhist Temple and we saw a huge Catholic Church that was very old. I think they said it was build in 1875.
When we told our English Class that we had been to Crow Island, they said that Crow Island is a bad place. We found out that during the war several people had been killed in that area. It fit in with our theme that we were doing in class. We were having the students ask: when, where, what, why, who and how questions. Then their partner would have to make up a story to answer the question that was asked. The person asking the questions was visiting their friend who was in jail. It was hilarious! We had a lot of laughs.
On Thursday Sister Ann went with us to Negombo. We went to say our goodbyes to the Fluckigers. They will be going home at 3:00 a.m. on Monday, August 1st. We took them out to lunch at the Bijou Restaurant and we also attended the last English class that they taught here. We will miss them. They have been very helpful in answering any and all questions that we had for them. We will be the only senior couple in Sri Lanka for ten days.
While we were in Negombo, Elder Meyers interviewed Sirani Padmini Korale Gamage for baptism. She had walked into the Negombo Church several weeks ago and asked to be baptized. Brother and Sister Fluckiger visited with her and asked why she wanted to be baptized. She said, "My son taught me about the Church in Malaysia and he is getting married in the temple in a year. I want to go to his wedding." The Fluckigers continued to teach her and she gained her own testimony. At the interview she told Sister Fluckiger, "I thought I was doing this for my son but I know the Church is true and I am doing this for me." She has a beautiful testimony of her Savior, Jesus Christ. She was baptized today, Sunday, July 31st.
We have included the story that was told by President Anton. He is our District President. This story is just like President Anton. He is a humble, gentle, and loving man. He loves everyone. We hope you enjoy the story. It is in the August 2011 Liahona and also the August 2011 Ensign.