We had a visitor at church today who stood and shared an experience that was very moving. His name is Ernie and he is from the Ivory Coast in Western Africa. He now lives in Logan with his wife. They have seven children, but only the youngest few are still at home. Ernie works as a janitor at Mountain Crest high school, as well as another job in the evening.
Many years ago, Ernie and his family lived in the Ivory Coast. Ernie was a college professor and also owned ten different restaurants in the city. They had a large home and several nice automobiles (with drivers). They lived near several other family members, including Ernie’s parents whom they helped in various ways. They were very well off and they were quite happy with their lives. Ernie had a friend, Charles, who decided that he wanted to go to the United States. Ernie wished Charles the best, but indicated that he had no desire to go to the United States. He was quite happy with his life and family in the Ivory Coast. Charles went to the U.S. Embassy to apply for a visa to enter the United States. While completing the application, Charles felt like he should also apply for a visa for Ernie. Unbeknownst to Ernie, Charles obtained a second application and filled in Ernie’s information.
Weeks passed, and Charles finally received notice about his visa application. He visited Ernie and explained that his own visa application had been declined. Charles then proceeded to tell Ernie that he had completed a second application for Ernie, which had been accepted. Ernie had been granted a visa to enter the United States without any knowledge of or desire to obtain the visa. Ernie explained to Charles the he did not want to go to the United States. He did not speak English, nor did his family, and they had no reason to go to the United States. Charles replied that he did not know why he had completed the application for Ernie, but had felt something prompting him to do so.
Ernie explained the situation to his family and they all agreed that they wanted to stay in the Ivory Coast. They had many blessings and a comfortable life and were not at all interested in going to the United States. Ernie’s parents were aging and need help, and his sister was ill. It was important for them to stay with their family. Ernie continued to think about the visa and wondered why Charles had filled out the application. After a few weeks, Ernie’s family was having family home evening and discussed the story of Lehi in the Book of Mormon. Lehi led his family out of their comfortable circumstances, even though some of them really did not want to leave. Ernie mentioned this to his family, but they replied simply that Ernie was not Lehi and they reaffirmed their desire to stay in the Ivory Coast. Shortly thereafter, Ernie had a dream that left an indelible impression upon him. He still did not know why, but he knew that he needed to take his family to the United States. Ernie soon bought tickets for himself, his wife, and his children to come to the United States. The only person they knew in the entire United States was a missionary that they had come to know in Ivory Coast. This man was living in Salt Lake City, so Ernie called him and explained the situation. The man offered to have Ernie and his family stay at his home. With much trepidation, Ernie and his family boarded a plane and began their journey to the United States – leaving all that they knew and loved behind.
The family had a difficult time adjusting to a new country, a new language, and a new culture. None of them spoke English, and they were very discouraged and lonely. On more than one occasion, Ernie found his wife and children in tears wishing that they could return to their home in the Ivory Coast. Ernie felt sorrow for their despair, but he knew that, despite their challenges, the Lord wanted them in the United States. It was only a short time later that Ernie received news that a civil war had begun in the Ivory Coast. His parents and sister had been killed, and much of their city had been destroyed. Had Ernie and his family dismissed the prompting to move, they also would have been killed. Ernie immediately knew that the Lord had led his family from destruction to salvation. They continued to have challenges, but they now knew that they were in the right place and that the Lord had blessed them immensely. They still do not have all of the material things that they had in the Ivory Coast. But they are alive and they have each other and they have a knowledge that the Lord loves them.
The Lord works is small and mysterious ways to bring about much righteousness. We need to be willing to receive blessings from the Lord, even if doing so means that we experience some discomfort. We do not understand all things, but we need to have faith in the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding. Ernie is a great example of faith and courage.
