Hurrah for Zion!

This is an update to the weekly letter Bonnie sends out. Isn’t she great about sharing our experiences with all of you? Anyway, to the update..... last night I returned from taking the Elders home after dinner. The usual routine went on as we prepared to turn in for the evening. As usual, I emptied my pockets and placed my wallet, watch, etc. on the dresser in our bedroom area. We locked up the house and turned in about 10:00 PM. The night’s rest was uneventful except that sometime in the night we heard what we thought were cats out on the veranda.

This morning Bonnie arose, showered, and was preparing for the day (P Day) when she went into the kitchen. She returned to the bedroom and asked me, “What are your shorts doing on the floor in the kitchen?” Of course I had no idea. Then she asked , “Where are the car keys?” We usually leave the keys on the kitchen counter. The key ring contains car keys, house key, and keys to the doors of the church. I told her I didn’t know where the keys were if they weren’t on the counter. She then walked out the kitchen door and reported the our car was missing. We then began looking at what happened, and piecing details together.

It seems as though while we were sleeping, someone took out the screen over the kitchen sink, climbed through the open window and proceeded to burglarize our house while we slept only a few feet away. Apparently he came into our bedroom area, took our watches and picked up my pants. He must have found nothing in them and thrown them on the kitchen floor. Apparently, he picked up the car keys from the counter and used the house key to open the deadbolt on the door from the inside. He then must have made his getaway in our church owned Kia Sportage. Some of the neighbors were also victimized but to a lesser degree.

We believe we were blessed in that it could have been much worse in many ways. We of course have spent most of the day completing police reports, talking with the mission home, etc. Oh yes, I didn’t mention that Bonnie had a habit of leaving her wallet in the car. And that wallet contained her driver’s license, Military dependent ID, and many credit cards. So, she as been on the phone (thank goodness for Skype) all day canceling cards and notifying financial concerns. We’re also waiting for a locksmith to arrive to change the house locks.

We received a call from the police that they believe the car has been found. We are told that it appears to be in good shape inside and out. We didn’t dare ask about the wallet for fear that if perchance it is not missing...it would be when the police saw it. The keys were not in the car that was found. So that means whoever took them knows where we live and has a car key. The mission home folks told us that although it is expensive, they want the car re-keyed. The Church PFR said he doesn’t think we need to change locks at the church since there is nothing to indicate what those keys are for.

In retrospect, as I mentioned, it could have been much worse. Our good neighbor told us that 3 years ago in a house close by, the airline pilot occupant awoke while his home was being invaded. He confronted the thief and was killed. My first thought was that I wish I had awakened. But, maybe I was blessed by being fast asleep during the invasion. Anyway, all that was taken can be replaced. And they could have taken our laptop, MP3 player and dock, my wallet, Bonnie’s camera, etc. They were all within mere inches of the watches and that pair of pants. All those items would have been much more difficult to replace. Nevertheless the Gospel is true. I suppose the adversary was not happy that we had five baptisms yesterday...this was his payback!

Hurrah for Zion!

Elder and Sister Herbert