In February 1965, now 45 years ago, my companion and I baptized a young lady in Brazil who had come from Ohio to work in the Peace Corps.

Six years later, after returning home from my mission and moving to Ohio, I tried locating her. My map book was incomplete, or I had faulty information, because I couldn't find the town.

I gave up looking but, over the years, I wondered many times what became of her.

Now these many years later, it's been my privilege to serve in the Columbus Ohio Temple twice a month. Following a Spanish-language session one Saturday, a returned sister missionary who had served in Argentina overheard my discussion with a fellow worker about our missions.

She asked if there was any way to find the missionaries who baptized her mother in Brazil. She recounted how her mother went to Brazil to serve with the Peace Corps and, longing to speak English, sought the missionaries.

I asked her mother's name. "Rebecca Dye" was her maiden name, she said.

I dropped my notebook. I must have looked startled. "I confirmed your mother," I said.

She couldn't believe that I was telling the truth until I recited her mother's full name, Rebecca Dale Dye.

After a moment of contemplation, she started to cry. We were elated; our excitement had us emotionally bouncing off the walls.

In the course of sharing that experience a little later with the temple president, the president realized that the baptizing missionary was his friend, George Leavitt.

We tried several times that night to call Becky, as we referred to her, but no answer.

When I returned home that night, I got out my missionary journals to check details. George baptized her on Feb. 21, 1965, then I confirmed.

Shortly before 11 p.m. that night, I received a phone call from the returned sister missionary. Without giving her mother any explanation who I was, she handed the phone to her.

I said, "Becky, fala Portuguese ainda?"

"Um poco. Who is this?" she answered. After introducing myself, she exploded in as much excitement as her daughter. We talked for 45 minutes and made arrangements to meet at the temple several weeks later where we sat in the foyer and shared family photos. Becky detailed the lives of her now extensive posterity. We culminated the reunion with a temple session.

There was great joy in her baptism, and there is great joy in a righteous reunion. — Paul M. Hardy