Hanna Flies to Toronto

 When Hanna was on her mission, they would offer free English classes, and then they would share a spiritual thought at the end. They met a really great couple through English class that they taught them the gospel and they got baptized. Alonso was baptized first, ordained to the priesthood, and then baptized his wife, Marine. 

Time goes by and they are prepared to go to the temple to receive their endowments and to be sealed. Hanna and her who taught them, Anna Churchhill, made plans to fly to Toronto to go to the temple with them.

They flew to Toronto on Friday night and were able to visit some friends. Then Saturday morning they were going to have breakfast with more friends before the temple, and they got a text that Alonso and Marine had been detained for immigration that morning.

So it turns out that they were applying for refugee status and they had a hearing that week, but their attorney told them he would go to the hearing and that they didn't need to come. So they didn't go. But neither did their attorney. So Saturday morning at 7 am, the day they were going to the temple, the police came to their door and took them to prison.

Hanna texted us, "Satan sucks." "I guess the church is true." "PTSD from the mission."

Hanna and Churchhill still ended up going to the temple session with all of the other members of the Brampton Ward who were planning to go with Marine and Alonso. She said it was really an amazing and emotional session, and they all hugged and cried in the Celestial Room at the end of the session.

On Sunday morning, Hanna and Churchhill were able to go and visit them in prison. They could only visit with one of them at a time, so first they saw Marine through the glass and then Alonso. Hanna said she hasn't ever cried so much. Marine said that when she got there to the prison, she knelt and prayed and at first everyone stared at her, and now the other ladies pray with her. Another member had brought her a Book of Mormon the day before, she had that to read also. They also had a good visit with Alonso. They are good people. They gospel is written in their hearts. And Hanna experienced a true Christ-like love for them.

Hanna sent us this teary picture after leaving the prison.

Hanna went to church to two of the wards she had served in. On Sunday night, they went to Niagara Falls, which she said was very cool. On Monday, they did a little shopping before they flew home.

Marine and Alonso got released from prison a couple days later and had a day before they were sent back to Mexico, so they did go to the temple to receive their endowment and to be sealed. So Hanna was happy they made it to the temple, but still so sad that she wasn't there for it.

"I was in ^bprison, and ye came unto me.

 Or when saw we thee ^asick, or in prison, and cam"e unto thee?

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have ^adone it unto one of the ^bleast of these my ^cbrethren, ye have done it unto me."

Alma 36:21  21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.