Hey Little Swift, its good to hear from you. It’s good to hear little Liz & Josher is praying for Samuel. Like I tell my kids, there’s no greater prayer than the prayer of a child. Thanks for your testomony and love. Teresa appreciates your support very much so. Love, The Jewkes

Mike Fitzgerald Family, I’m pretty sure were not saints or even close in ANY way. But we sure appreciate your saying so. Mosiah 3:19 just so happens to be one of my very faviorite scripture. What a good thing it is to be reminded of it once again. And a good time @ that! Your prayers way from Alaska are heard hear in the lower state of Utah very very well. Teresa has a sister in anchorage, so we love the folks up there. Will you be @ the Spendlove reunion this year? Hope so. See you soon, and thanks again. Love the Jewkes

Dave and Cynthia mentioned the power of music. If you have access to the Ensign there is a beautiful article in the July 2005 Ensign titled the Power of the Hymns. Our prayers will continue to be with you and your family. We love you.

Gary and Shelly

Mckay’s we got your letter, it just showed up in our room and were not even sure how it got here? (floated from heaven I guess) Thank you for all your wise words and support. We will see you soon. The Jewkes

What else is there to say!! (smile)

I have always admired your family for your strength, patience and spirituality. Please be strong and patient and remember the Savior and He will do the rest for you. Heavenly Father knows his children and is mindful of them always. Samuel is his precious child, as are you, Tom and your boys. He is watching over all of you and will heal you according to his plan. It will just take time. Be faithful and obedient and all will be well.

I wish I could hug you right now. I’ll see you soon. We love you! Tiffanie, Matt, Josh & Liz

Of all the gosh-darned poopy things to have happen! The Alaskan Fitzgeralds have been vicariously experiencing your ordeal from afar. There are so many things to be thankful for, and reasons to be hopeful. The many positive, inspirational and encouraging thoughts actually recorded here are only the tip of the iceberg relative to the (unrecorded) prayers and conversations in your behalf that are taking place in households around the world (including ours).

But SHEEZ! Just for the record, this is an unimaginably terrible thing to have happen. I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. I’m sure the worst is the not knowing. Considering all of the “what-if”s can grind you down. You deserve to be bummed. You need to allow yourself to be disappointed–who wouldn’t be? This is really crappy, and it’s going to stay crappy for who knows how long. You must know that we grieve for you while we grieve with you.

It is refreshing and encouraging to witness your faith throughout this ordeal. Not just your faith in a good outcome, but the faith that comes from years of righteous preparations for whatever “the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon” you. Check out this scripture (Mosiah 3:19):

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”

You guys are way down the road to becoming saints. You have our sincerest sympathy, our earnest prayers and our deepest respect. Hats off to both of you.

Michael, Kathy, Jamie, Adam and Sarah

We have a bunch of stuff for the garage sale in Orem that I can bring up tomorrow if I can find out where to take it.
It’s so wonderful to read all the support for Tom and Teresa and their family!!!
We spent Sunday up at the Jewkes reunion and Wesley and Ben and Breanna and Shalina had their own testimony meeting before the adult one. They took turns bearing testimony and closed with prayer. what an example of both the strength of these wonderful children being sent down in these last days and the good upbringing they are getting.
We so appreciate the example of Tom and family. They have really helped our family. (luckily my kids don’t remember those early years), but the things Tom and Teresa have learned and come through with are wonderful and they never hesitate to use them to help others which is the most important of all. Like Dad said in a talk when they were serving in their Substance Abuse mission. “There are no bad experiences as long as you learn from them.”
I know the Lord will bless them with whatever they need to get through this trial. If they stay close to him even when it’s the hardest. I’ve seen families where these kinds of experiences have brought them closer to him than anything else could have.
May the Lord bless each of us to learn from this. “Let not the trials be in Vain.”
Love,
Becky (one of Tom’s sisters)