Bermejillo

Toward the end of my mission in Mexico, I was living and working in Torreon, Coahuila. I met and worked with a very special family. The picture to the left is of David and Tomasa Castaneda, Tomasa's brother Pablito and three of their children. They were a humble, hard working family. When Elder Fillmore and I worked with them so many years ago, they lived in the desert near Bermejillo, Durango, Mexico. They were eager to hear our message and accepted it completely.

When the time came for their baptism, we had a difficult time getting them to the chapel to baptize them. Finally one day, after a rainstorm, we found enough water in a deep hole in the desert floor to baptize them. David dropped a rotting tree down into the hole so that he could use it to climb down into the hole. As he lowered himself into the muddy water in his pure white clothing, a scorpion scurried out from under the loosened bark and stung him. He had a painful hand and got very ill, but his spirits were not dampened.
At the same time, the other elders were working with a local community leader. He and his entire congregation joined the church.

I came home from my mission, and many years later, I decided to call Elder George Fillmore. We visited and he told me that he was still in contact with the Castaneda family. They were in the United States for October conference. George made arrangements and we were able to meet with David and Tomasa.
What a wonderful treat! They had one of their sons, Benito and his wife Alma, with them. We laughed and cried and got caught up with one another's lives.

As we were saying our goodbyes, Benito and I traded neckties. The tie he gave me is faded, but I dearly love it. I told him that even though we had just met, I felt that we had always known one another. "Brother Vance", he told me, "we knew each other in the preexistance"

I really hope that the time comes that we can visit again.