Why Santa Cruz?

Shortly after he began serving in his new assignment, he went to teach a family. He finished teaching the lesson, and the lady took out a picture from her wallet and showed it to Elder Hinostroza. She said, "The reason I'm here in Santa Cruz is because I'm looking for my daughter, whom I have not seen in 10 years. Somebody told me that she might be here."

More than a million people live in Santa Cruz. The chances of a mother finding her daughter in a city of that size were very slim. Elder Hinostroza looked at the picture, then looked at the mother. He said, "I know your daughter. When I served one year ago in another ward, your daughter was there. She's a member of the Church." That night Elder Hinostroza took this mother to find her daughter who had been lost.

Heavenly Father cared so much about one mother and one daughter that He found a way to bring them together again. After that evening Elder Hinostroza called me and said, "I now know the care Father in Heaven has for His children, and I know why I was transferred. That knowledge has changed my life."

Episodes such as this one and many others that I have witnessed make it evident that there is a loving God who looks over us, cares about us, knows who we are, and works in very special ways to give us experiences to let us know how important that relationship with Him is.

He works with us by using the promptings of the Holy Ghost. He works with us seven days a week, 24 hours a day. He doesn't sleep. After we have done our part, He does the rest. He tells us when we are doing right. He tells us when we are making a mistake. He helps us avoid the things that can mess us up. What we need to know is that it doesn't matter whether we are young or old; Heavenly Father will talk to us if we are willing to listen. He will help us with our goals to become better, to achieve eternal life.