Doctrine and Covenants, 18:15-16
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
Truer words have never been spoken. I just visited the Bata Ward - the ward to which I was assigned for 6 mo. in 1996 - my second area. I had one prayer before I went: Please Father - let the Batic-Batic family be there.
A little history...
One day around January 1996, Elder Huff had just been called to serve as a Zone Leader in the Binalbagan Zone of the Bacolod Philippines mission. This was his first leadership calling and he was very excited. On the bus ride down, sitting alone, he made a simple decision: I will open my mouth and proclaim the Gospel to anyone who will hear. I will be a better missionary - starting right now.
He turned to the person sitting next to him and struck up a conversation. The lady was nice enough and consented to allow missionaries to visit their home. Elder Huff wrote down her address, then got off the bus. He then sent the address into the mission office so the appropriate missionaries assigned to her area would be able to contact her. He then went about serving as one of the greatest Zone Leaders and missionaries I'd ever met. He had just been transferred to my zone.
On my birthday, June 11, 1996, I was transferred to my second area - Bata Ward, Bacolod City. I was now senior companion to a native Filipino who had been serving longer than I. I was humbled and anxious to do a good job in my new position of authority and leadership.
Elder Buno and I were assigned to replace 2 sister missionaries. They introduced us to all the members of the ward, and the investigators they were teaching. One of the families we met during the transition was the family of Joel Batic-Batic, his wife and 3 small children: 4, 3 and 1 yr.s old. We helped the sisters teach them the 2nd (2 of 6) discussion.
Soon after we taught them the third and fourth discussions, but during the fourth discussion my companion had a mental breakdown that severly disrupted the Spirit of the meeting and concerned us all quite a bit. Luckily a Stake Missionary (a member from the local Bata Ward) was with us and he helped me forcibly carry Elder Buno out to a jeepney which delivered us to the mission President's house. He wasn't there. So I called the couple missionaries and they interviewed Elder Buno that night. The next day he was flown to Manila for observation and psychiatric care. (and I promise it wasn't having me as a companion that did him in)
For 2 weeks I had no companion, so I worked with the local members as much as I could. We continued to teach Joel and his family, as they hadn't been swayed by the weirdness they'd seen. They were amazing investigators - truly golden and prepared by the Lord.
Side-story:
While teaching them, I asked Joel how they came to begin listening to the missionaries. He explained that one day his wife was riding a bus to visit her sister and a young missionary named Elder Huff sitting next to her had begun speaking with her...then a few days later the sisters knocked on their door.
Main-story:
As my next companion, Elder Pesidas and I prepared the young couple for baptism, trials and struggles fell upon them in the form of no work. Joel is in construction and there just wasn't anything for him. Things were looking dire, then he got a job - but it required him to work on Sundays. I was very depressed and we prayed very hard for him to be able to find a job that allowed him to worship. To our surprise, Joel told his boss that he would not work on Sundays, as that day was set apart for the Lord and rest. Amazingly his boss accepted this and allowed him to work other days.
The night before their baptism, the Zone Leaders interviewed Joel and his wife. Joel was ready, but they felt that his wife needed some more time to gain a testimony of some things. Saddened, but excited by this - we explained to Joel that we would baptize him first, then next week or the week after, when his wife was ready, he himself could baptize his wife!
So that Sunday, I entered the waters of baptism and baptized Joel Batic-Batic.
By the time the Batic-Batics were ready for baptism, Elder Huff had been transferred to Bacolod as one of the Assistants to the President. This particular calling allowed him to travel outside his area, so we invited him to the baptism.
So, after I baptized Joel, Elder Huff confirmed him and gave him the Gift of the Holy Ghost. A very unique and special experience indeed - to see the fruits of your efforts so quickly, or at all! 1 week later, having by then received the Aaronic Priesthood, Joel baptized his wife, and Elder Pesidas confirmed her.
A few months later I transferred out of the Bata Ward and never saw the Batic-Batics again - though just over a year later I did receive a beautiful letter of them w/ a picture of the whole family in white outside of the Manila Temple as they received their sacred endowments and were sealed together as a family for time and all eternity. It made me incredibly happy to see they were still progressing.
Today, 12 years later, I entered the now expanded, improved and air-conditioned chapel of the Bata Ward. Most of the faces were new, some I recognized, but couldn't remember names. I waited and waited - then I finally asked - whatever happened to the Batic-Batic family? Are they still here?
The answer came - yes - he's the Elder's Quorm President, and she was just released as Primary President. My heart skipped a beat!
Then, in walked the handsome, tiny little man I so longed to see. I jumped up in the middle of our class and ran over to him and threw my arms around him. I had to work very, very hard to choke back my tears of joy. He hugged me just as hard. It was a quick, but joyful reunion (we were in the middle of a class), and after class we chatted much. He now has 6 children: 4 boys, 2 girls: 1 priest, 1 teacher, 1 deacon, the youngest boy isn't quite old enough for the priesthood yet. His girls are beautiful. 2 of their children have been born into the covenant since they were sealed.
Then - for sacrament meeting, 1 son blessed, 1 son passed the sacrament to me. Another son of his spoke as the Youth Speaker. As we sang the rest hymn, "I am a child of God" I had to stop singing I was so choked up w/ inexplicable joy, sitting next to this beautiful, faithful family.
Other meetings were joyous as well, but none quite as sweet as the joy of seeing a family I had a part in sharing the gospel with continue in faith and testimony for so long, and so true. I'm guessing my feelings can only scratch the surface of how it must feel to be reunited with friends and family in the here-after when we and they have been true to the faith and endured to the end, having participated in each-others salvation.
Below is a picture of us after church (the oldest boy is missing).
Oh - and a few months later I received a letter from Elder Buno - he was feeling much better, had received an honorable release and returned to his home in Mindanao.
The story continues...
This last Sunday Joel's youngest son was ordained to the Aaronic priesthood and the office of Deacon - and I got to stand in the circle. 12 years ago I did not envision this awesome occurrence at all. It's just freaking amazing.
