It is getting close to the time when Eric, our exchange student from Brazil will be going home! Like I have said before we did not apply to have an exchange student in our home! Eric came to our home by the way of our Stake President, President Pugmire. Eric is not a member of our church but wanted to know more about it when he came to the U.S. Eric decided to take Seminary and Brother Sterling is his teacher. When the first host family did not work out, Eric spoke with Brother Sterling and that is when Bother Sterling contacted President Pugmire and then that is when President Pugmire contacted us! President Pugmire had met Eric and had spoke to him several times! He also said that he thought that Eric would fit so well in our home with Rhett and Walker! I was hesitant but... Tom and the boys thought it would be good. I can say now it was not just good, it has been incredible! We have gown to love Eric more than we could of ever imagined! Eric has fit in our family just as if he has been here his whole life! He goes home teaching with Tom, goes to church every Sunday, prays during family prayer, has played sports all this school year and even has regular chores! Eric ALWAYS has a smile on his face and is always willing to help and will always asked what he can do to help! He makes us laugh constantly and has so many funny sayings! I have to say that Eric is 100% There have been many tears over the past few weeks from Eric and us as well,as the time comes for him to go! There have been many spiritual talks as well. One that I want to share is... Eric and Rhett had the opportunity to go on a tour of the new Gila Valley Temple! Dennis Ray, their Young Mens President took them up there. They went up on Friday went on the tour and then Friday night they went to a church dance. They stayed the night and the next day Rhett and E
ric did a mini triathlon. When they got home the next day Eric came in my room and I could tell he wanted to talk. In Eric's language, Eric said, for him the triathlon was to hard, only 5% but for Rhett it was 100%. For you that know Eric he said "My Legs hurt so much, I need Advil, It was the Worst"! He said,"Rhett so fast, top 50, how he do that"! He also told me he met his wife at the dance! We laughed for a while and then he got very serious. He preceded to tell me about his feeling he had while in the Temple. As he try to describe his feelings I could see that he was having a hard time expressing the feelings he had in his heart. He finally just said to me " I guess I just do not know the English words to explain the Temple to you"! Eric has lived with us since the beginning of October and his English has grown by leaps and bounds. I explained to Eric that it was not his English that he was having trouble with. I told him that when you feel something in your heart that powerful, that that is the spirit of your Heavenly Father talking to you, and it is very hard to describe the spirit and those feelings he felt! With a few tears shed, he agreed. It was a powerful weekend for Eric! I know Eric will never forget that weekend and I will never forget our conversation! It is going to be so hard to put Eric on a plane and say goodbye to him! Eric will for ever be a part of our family. He has already told his mom that he wants to come back and stay with us! He will try to get a work visa. He told Tom if he can't find a job when he comes back that he will pop popcorn at the dealership for Tom!
Joe and Erin wanted to take their kids and Colette to tour the Temple as well. Cita and Ralph wanted to see it too..... So Walker took the day off work and drove us all up to the Temple. We met Joe and his family their and we all tour this gorgeous Temple together! It was a beautiful day! Eric was right, the spirit in the Temple is hard to explain!
ric did a mini triathlon. When they got home the next day Eric came in my room and I could tell he wanted to talk. In Eric's language, Eric said, for him the triathlon was to hard, only 5% but for Rhett it was 100%. For you that know Eric he said "My Legs hurt so much, I need Advil, It was the Worst"! He said,"Rhett so fast, top 50, how he do that"! He also told me he met his wife at the dance! We laughed for a while and then he got very serious. He preceded to tell me about his feeling he had while in the Temple. As he try to describe his feelings I could see that he was having a hard time expressing the feelings he had in his heart. He finally just said to me " I guess I just do not know the English words to explain the Temple to you"! Eric has lived with us since the beginning of October and his English has grown by leaps and bounds. I explained to Eric that it was not his English that he was having trouble with. I told him that when you feel something in your heart that powerful, that that is the spirit of your Heavenly Father talking to you, and it is very hard to describe the spirit and those feelings he felt! With a few tears shed, he agreed. It was a powerful weekend for Eric! I know Eric will never forget that weekend and I will never forget our conversation! It is going to be so hard to put Eric on a plane and say goodbye to him! Eric will for ever be a part of our family. He has already told his mom that he wants to come back and stay with us! He will try to get a work visa. He told Tom if he can't find a job when he comes back that he will pop popcorn at the dealership for Tom!Joe and Erin wanted to take their kids and Colette to tour the Temple as well. Cita and Ralph wanted to see it too..... So Walker took the day off work and drove us all up to the Temple. We met Joe and his family their and we all tour this gorgeous Temple together! It was a beautiful day! Eric was right, the spirit in the Temple is hard to explain!
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