Elder Frei and I, and Elder and Sister Griffin, had been scouting out a campground in the mountains of Tenerife where we could hold the 2002 Seminary Super Sabado. We had planned to go on to Puerto de la Cruz, to attend a Seminary class, but Elder Griffin received a telephone call as we were coming down the mountain from the campground. He was informed that he needed to be in a meeting in about an hour. Elder Griffin was our Spanish spokesman!
First, we needed to take him back to La Laguna so he could get to his meeting and we could get our car to go to Puerto de la Cruz which was at least 45 minutes away. How would we find the church and attend the class where we were scheduled to be. It was total Spanish! Only Elder Griffin spoke Spanish fluently.
The Lord helps those who exercise faith and move forward. We returned to La Laguna, got Elder Griffin on his way, piled in our car and drove toward Puerto de la Cruz. Sister Griffin was with us, but she didn’t know Spanish either.
As we were on the freeway, Sister Griffin and I pointed to a sign on the highway which we thought was the turnoff to Puerto de la Cruz. We suggested that Elder Frei turn–then what? It was still some distance on this highway into Puerto de la Cruz and it wasn’t as if we could just go straight to the building where the class was held. Nor could we call anyone at the Seminary class to ask any questions, get further directions, or let the teacher know we were still on our way even though we would now be late.
I should say we had been to the Seminary building before, but someone else was driving, and it wasn’t as if we went from the freeway straight there.
We proceeded ahead–then it was as if someone was showing me exactly where we should go in this Tenerife Island city of Puerto de la Cruz. It was as if I personally had been shown the exact route we should take. Everything seemed familiar to me, and there was absolutely no question as to how we should go to the Seminary class. I will never forget that feeling as long as I live. I knew!
When we finally arrived to the area where we should park the car, we still had to walk about a block in order to get to the building where the class was held. We finally arrived but the door was locked. We peered through a window and could see way down a hall that a light was on and that the room was occupied. We knocked on the door–maybe even pounded a bit until we were heard. The teacher came and we were invited into her class.
Our miracle didn’t end with just getting there. What took place within that tiny classroom was all part of our incredible spiritual experience. The teacher invited Elder Frei to teach the students for a bit. He stood, his mouth was opened and in his limited Spanish he spoke fluently, taught and bore witness of our Savior Jesus Christ. I, too, bore my testimony–in Spanish, of course. The sweet Spirit of the Lord was there, as we testified of Him in that Seminary classroom in Puerto de la Cruz.
Written by Therel A. Frei
Elder and Sister Frei with Seminary Teacher and Students at Puerto de la Cruz