Faith & Trust
My name is Josephine Baratta, and I live in the Glenville Ward in the Albany, NY stake. I know our lives here on earth are full of challenges. But since we are members of the Church, we know the reasons behind everything that is going on in our lives. My family became members of the church in the early 80’s and we were sealed in the temple in the year 1991. I have three children. Two of them are married. My second child is living here in the US and my eldest and the youngest are in the Philippines. I first came to the US with my husband in 2009 to visit my daughter who lives here with her husband. At the time, my husband was a member of the Stake Presidency in our stake in the Philippines.
When I came back to the US in 2012, my husband stayed in the Philippines because of his new calling as the Stake Patriarch. The most challenging experience happened to me when he died of a heart attack. I was devastated since I was not there with him at the time of his death. I thought that the death of my husband would be one of the most painful experiences I would ever have. However, during this pandemic almost eight years after losing my husband, my youngest son died of severe pneumonia with complications of COVID. He was faithfully serving as the Stake President in my stake in the Philippines. Again, for the second time, I was here in the US during my son’s death and have not been able to return to the Philippines. The pain I felt when I lost my son was so much for me to bear. During that time, my two daughters were my source of strength. I couldn’t help but ask Heavenly Father why he took my son. I thought everything would just be okay for as long as I was faithful to Him. I keep praying to our Heavenly Father for more courage so I can get over these challenges.
I know that He knows us more than we know ourselves. He knows our capacities and abilities to overcome trials and challenges. We can overcome everything as long as we have faith in Him and trust in His plan.
I want to thank my two daughters, my granddaughters, grandson, my daughter-in-law and my son-in-law for their continued support, love, and example to me.
-Josephine Barrata, Glenville Ward
