Melvina goes home, District Conference Miracles

Let's back up a step.

Though we mentioned it in our last post, we want to back up to the days before Mom’s death and before we headed to her funeral and before our temple trip in Cebu.

Melvina Cropper passed away late on the afternoon of Sat. May 26 in her home at 1212 Elm in Provo.  Sherri, David, Linda, Candi, Holly, Sara and Shane were with her.  She died peacefully in her sleep.

We were still in the Philippines, but worked on getting there as soon as we could—there is only so much one can do to rush exit visas and ticketing and such seeing as how we have to travel by truck, ferry boat,  overnight stay in Cebu, taxi, 3 or 4 planes and a car to get there. Our hope was to arrive in Provo sometime Tuesday, May 29, and we were able to make that happen.

We were so sad to think of the empty space that our dear Mom will leave behind her, but we felt joyous for so many the other reasons—no more pain; an eternity with Blaine, Randy, her sisters and parents; the promise of a resurrection into a whole, restored body.  We are so happy for her, and look forward to being with her again.

We experienced so many tender mercies throughout the day, the process, but I will write of just a few right now. We had been feeling, well I don’t know, not really guilty, but I guess just sad at not being there at the last.  Dean especially would really have loved to be there to comfort his Mom as she left this life, and support his siblings in whatever ways possible.  But as we sat in the Tanjay District Conference on the 27th, we each had a confirmation that we were NOT in the wrong place—that we were very much in the right place.

It began when Ian called us in the middle of our night and said that he felt strongly that he should give his Grandma a blessing.  He wanted some counsel from his Dad on how it should be done.  We felt so blessed and so grateful that our son was willing, able, and inspired to stand in for his Dad and perform this sacred service for his grandmother. We were especially grateful that it was not just one of our sons, but was particularly Ian, who had been through a lot recently and who had faced some things and was perfectly situated to be the one. Had we been there, the miracle of her release would have had less meaning to those there.

We learned later that morning that Melvin had gone home.

We went to District Conference.

A few months ago we went to visit a man who had been the 1^st District President in the Tanjay District.  He was truly one of the handcart company captains of the Philippines.  He organized branches, he procured property, he over saw building, and he led and strengthened the early saints on this island and got them off to a solid start.  Then for a number of compounded reasons he stopped fellow-shipping with the saints, he started into a different life style and forgot the covenants and promises he had made with God.  He and his wife haven’t been to church in 12 years.  We first just listened to the hurts he’d allowed to fester, then we apologized for the slights and offenses he and his wife had experienced.  Then we started teaching them, reading from the scriptures together, leaving assignments.  He kept his promises to us to pray with his wife, to read between our visits.  We then suggested he return to church and start the repentance process.  We all agreed the maybe it would be easiest for him to slide in to District Conference for his first visit, rather than attend the branch right off, so we set a date for him to show up: May 27^th.  

He started lining up possible excuses—he had to travel a lot that week, his wife was out of town that weekend—and though we were hopeful and prayerful, we wondered if it would really happen.  But it did.  He walked in just as the meeting was about to start, walked up to me from behind and said, “I’m here.”  Then he waved happily to Dean on the stand and went to take a seat.  Dean quickly wrote a note to Pres. Schmutz that all 7 of the former and current District Presidents were present. President asked for their names, then got up and announced that it had come to his attention that all 7 of the District Presidents were in attendance, and he asked them to stand.  The name of the Brother we’d been visiting was called first and he proudly stood in the aisle while all the names were called. A miracle, and a beginning.

Our Little Friend Crystal

We have a picture on our wall of me squatting next to a little girl, about 4, who is very wary of me.  The look speaks volumes.  Her Mom has since returned to church, and her Dad is now baptized, attends with her, and holds the Aaronic Priesthood.  She and I had almost become friends, but still, by District Conference she was not sure about me.  She doesn’t really get that I don’t understand her language, she thinks I’m kind of dumb, because when she talks to me I don’t respond to what she is saying, I just change the subject and tell her that her shoes are pretty or something simple. She speaks no English, but can pronounce our names—Elder and Elder Propper. (all the missionaries she has met are Elder something, so she just lumps me in with them—another Elder. And, Filipino kids don’t lisp early on—they flip their little r’s like champion Latinos) Anyway, in the conference, I gave a talk about unity and how we are all part of the family of Christ, his spiritual sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.  I told them of Tilly’s death, and how grateful I was that our family in America was gathering to support each other at this time, and that we could be right there in Tanjay feeling supported by the people who we have learned to love as brothers and sisters. I sat down, feeling rather alone in spite of the bravado of my talk, and from way in the back of the room, here comes Crystal.  She skipped up in her pink mock crocs and stood waiting, arms outstretched for me to lift her on to my lap.  I hugged her and buried my face in her hair, and thanked God for her loving gesture that made me feel not farther from my loved ones at home, but nearer. Another miracle

Then twelve men in our district—some from every branch including 4 from ours—received the Melchizedek Priesthood that day.  That’s twelve men who can give their families Priesthood blessings—twelve men who can minister to the sick—twelve men who can serve in Elder’s quorums or in Branch Presidencies—twelve men who can take their families to the temple to be sealed. After the conference, where they had all stood to be sustained, they were all ordained, then many of them interviewed for temple recommends. Oh a mighty miracle.

Melvina's living kids

All these incidents worked to comfort us and prove God’s love.  Ian and Ash, Sara and Shane were in Provo holding our place. Family and friends were making arrangements to gather from all over, our arrangements were falling in to place, thanks to our beyond-the-call of duty Cebu mission secretary, Sister E. and her compadres and cohorts in Manilla--brother S. and Brother C., and we were sitting in conference where we were filled and lifted and confirmed in our purpose here.

Being in Provo was so surreal! We gathered at Mom’s house, more loved ones arriving each day.  We all prepared for the funeral, made arrangements for those still coming, started hauling out boxes from all the corners they’d been stored in for decades and, as we sorted through layers of Mom’s history, recorded in the form of letters to her, jewelry, trinkets, pamphlets, ornaments, linens, newspaper articles, gadgets, treasures, we reconnected in yet further miraculous ways. Tilly’s posterity pulled together—sisters remembered that they needn’t be estranged, brothers softened and remembered to allow others their own process, cousins remembered what it felt like to be connected through blood—a very powerful force.

Only Dean, Johnny, Roger and Carter are missing from the photo: stayed home with sitter

It was marvelous to be able to see, at one fell swoop, all of our children and their spouses and our grandchildren, except Dan who apparently works for Scrooge, because he couldn’t get off work. Again, the feeling was surreal.  It was all so sudden and unexpected to be plunked so abruptly from one reality into another, both so real and both so intense.  We hiked with our family, played with them in their hotel pool, went to church in the ward so many of us have lived in, cooked, ate out, sat up late, and reveled in being together. Our family mingled with their Dad's side of the family, and we all remembered Tilly's legacy of inclusion. They reconnected with cousins and aunts and uncles and were enriched by it.

The funeral and the whole day surrounding it could not have been more lovely.  Bishop C. was perfect in his attention and compassion and proceeding. He brought with him a letter from his parents.  His Dad was the Bishop years ago and was pivotal in bringing Blaine and Tilly back to the gospel—he and his wife now serve as mission president. Alison, Clint, Rebecca and Dean each contributed, and their love of Mom overflowed and enlightened and inspired us. Brian and Candy added their music and brought Heaven into our midst, and Ian, accompanied by Sister G reminded us of God given talents and that they are meant to be used in just such service as this—to invite the Spirit to attend and comfort. Tanner, Taylor, Marcus and Leon each also invoked the Spirit to comfort, dedicate and celebrate in prayer. Friends came to hold our memories with us--even Rachel and Bella and Melissa's parents from far.  Everyone loved each other up.

We journeyed out to Salem for the dedication, and then returned for the lovely lunch served by Relief Society sisters who never fail to nurture and nourish.

By the time family started to head back home—to Oregon, Alaska, Seattle, North Carolina, etc. and us to our island, it all felt like a dream we’d had in the middle of our mission.

Did we really haul a dozen loads to D.I., recycle bins or trash?  Did we really each go home with treasures that will remind us forever of our dear Mom/Grandma/Sister?  Did she even really leave us?  Oh there is so much to be said for the knowledge we have that all this was good and healing and necessary, but it was just a few more steps toward being together in eternity.  Melvina Leetham Cropper will be resurrected with her husband and we will see her again.  Of this I am certain, because I have seen His countless miracles and I choose to accept the whole package He has offered. To reject is would be to deny His grace and mercy which enliven all we do and all we are and all we know.

Thanks to each person who attended her as we all wished Melvina God speed.