Editor’s note: The exact moments the Savior shows up in our story may vary, but His role is the same. He comes to save. To save us from pain, stagnation, sin, fear—the list could (and does) go on and on. The Savior of us all offers to rescue us all from anything that impedes our joy or progress. The mortal journeys of God’s children are evolving and complex, and they rarely feel to us like a straight line forward. But wherever we are or wherever we’ve walked, in each of our stories the comforting line repeats: because of Him, because of Him.
In this series, which first appeared in the March/April Issue of LDS Living magazine, we explore the way the Savior can help us take the unexpected chapters in our lives and turn them into something beautiful. Delia Rochon, one of the youngest people to serve as Primary president, shares how she responded to an unexpected call from the Lord to increase literacy in Haiti.
In the scriptures, we read of instances where, symbolically or literally, people must be willing to step out and get their feet wet before they can walk on water. That has been the case many times in my life.
I grew up in a Swiss colony in Uruguay. My family was very active in a Protestant church, where I learned about Jesus Christ. I do not remember a time in my life when I did not know about and trust in Him. When the Latter-day Saint missionaries visited my family, my family members rejected the idea of living prophets. To me, however, the account of the First Vision was a most powerful message, and I readily accepted the Prophet Joseph Smith. Even though I was only 13, I walked into the cold water of a river to be baptized and was among the first 30 members of our small branch in 1962.
Four months later, I was called to serve as the Primary president. Taught by the Spirit and guided by the Lord, I learned then the basic principles of leadership: keep the commandments, follow the prophet, love the Lord, and serve His children.
Throughout my life, I would live in or visit around 40 different countries as I sought to accept the Lord’s invitations for me. About seven years ago, I was called on one of my most life-changing assignments: a mission to Haiti to work with local educators and the Church Commissioner of Education team to help more youths have access to education. At that time, I had also recently been diagnosed with melanoma on my face, and, according to the oncologist, a Caribbean island is not a great place to be when you have skin cancer.
With that diagnosis, why would the Lord assign me to a sunny place? It really seemed impossible. I trusted the Lord and, with no hesitation, I sought a priesthood blessing for guidance and a blessing of healing. I was blessed that I would go and accomplish what the Lord had for me to do. That was enough for me—I knew then in my heart that I would make it to Haiti. My call was put on hold until the cancer was in remission, and then I left to serve the Lord (taking all necessary sun precautions). And I loved that beautiful country; I love its people. My faith was deepened forever as I was reassured again and again that God’s children are never forgotten.
If there is one thing I know, it is that when Jesus Christ asks us to take His hand and walk with Him onto the water, we should have no fear in saying yes.
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