The Gift

We spent some time with Grandpa Tingey yesterday. I asked him for Erasmo Fuentes contact info so we could buy a statue of Christ with the baby in His arms for Kate. He liked the idea and asked if we would take his to give to her. He wanted us to tell Kate that "her girl will be in the Lords hands."

 

We hope the message and intent of this gift is felt. Not only will her girl be in the Lords hands, but so will she.  Things will work out. 

We have this same sculpture at our house too. It is a priceless reminder always in front of us. One day this will go to our daughter and she will have the matching sculpture that her birth mom has.  To us it will be a reminder of the Lords love and concern for us and also the Christlike and selfless and courageous example that Kate showed. 

Erasmo Fuentes, the sculptor is an artist and guitar player from Mexico. Grandpa Tingey once saw his sculpture of an Eagle and was impressed and felt that Boyd K Packer would feel the same because of his passion for sculpting and painting birds. He took Erasmo to the packers home to introduce him. He was right, President Packer was impressed by his work. The two hit it off. It was on President Packers birthday. Erasmo asked Grandpa to give the eagle to President Packer. Grandpa smiled at this part of the story and told him he wasn't going to give away his eagle!  The two did exchange gifts of their art though. 

Grandpa suggested that the Church hire him to sculpt down at the MTC. You'd laugh to hear the way Gpa tells the story. He told President Packer that "the church has a lot of money and this man needs work-- go ask President Hinckley and see what he says. Gpa told him that he would even find a donor for the work if necessary. Sure enough, President Hinckley said yes to the offer and the Reams donated the funds for the large sculpture at the MTC of two missionaries on bikes titled, "anxiously engaged."