VISITING COLOMBO FAMILIES

Today, Colombo Branch had set up appointments for us to visit two more families with Brother Tandiman. First, we visited Darshani Sellar and her children: Deyan 18, Anju 16 (friend-convert), and Casy 14.  Darshani is the Colombo Branch Primary President and a hairdresser. The young man pictured in the back is Shamika...he drove us to Colombo today. Darshani  told us how 10 years ago she taught a group of 19 young Buddhist girls English...they all ended up getting baptized. At that time, she owned land (inherited), which she sold, so she could take all 19 girls to Hong Kong to be baptized for the dead in the Temple! Seven years ago, her husband disappeared. She was angry with God and stopped going to Church. However, when Elder and Sister Condie were here, she came back, and is now thriving with her hair and wedding business. Her three children (the 16 year old boy is not shown) all are preparing to go on missions. They read scriptures as a family and individually every day! Darshani has brought many into the church, and continues to bring more. The Colombo Branch has a goal of 100 baptisms in 2017 and 200 attending Sacrament!...she may be accomplishing this goal single handedly!! She lives in her beauty shop with her three children.

Our 2nd appointment was with Brother Anton’s family:  Roshani (mother), Shehani 13, and Jennifer 15. They were baptized in May 2016 and are hoping to go to the Temple. The girls are dancers!! During the Revolution, the Mother's family was on the "wrong side" and were in danger of being killed. They were also in danger by association and were able to escape. They sought asylum in the U.K., but it was not granted. After their visas ran out, they were deported in the middle of the night. The girls are beautiful, but forlorn in their countenance. Their mother handed Elder Lee a letter from the girls as we left. The letter told their story, and was pleading for us to sponsor them, so they’d be able to move to Utah to live with their Mother's cousin. We felt so sad for them, but are not in a position to help. We gave the letter to Lathens who are assigned to serve the Colombo Branch members.

At the end of our day, we had a meeting at the Colombo Branch Building. President Nishan, his wife, Sandamali, and darling boy Garrett (oldest of 3) felt like family when we met tonight! Elder Lee has been messaging them for months on Facebook. Our meeting was with President Nishan, his counselor from Saudi, President Anton, the Lathens, and Brother Tandiman. The Spirit was energizing!!