What happened next is a testimony to the love of the Savior reflected in the lives of His faithful servants—and an amazing story of how the gospel brings together those who need help with those who are happy to help. It was President Spencer W. Kimball who said that our prayers are often answered through other people, and this story provides a poignant example of that truth.
Enter Elder Jerry and Sister Judy Giles of Montana, who were just finishing up the first of their two missions to Africa. The Giles offered to carry a number of Jackson's paintings back to the United States, where they would try to sell them for $25 each.Upon returning to the United States, Elder and Sister Giles felt inspired to enlist the help of Genesis member Susie Augenstein to sell Jackson's paintings. Elder and Sister Giles had met Susie while she was in Ethiopia adopting her children—and the senior couple had provided tremendous service to Susie and her family. They hoped that Susie might catch the vision of Jackson's dream and might be able to help sell his paintings.
Susie did catch the vision, and felt inspired to double the price of each painting in an effort to bless Jackson and his family even more. She and her husband started by purchasing two of the paintings themselves. "We adopted our last two children from Ethiopia," Susie says, "and these paintings are such a beautiful reminder of where our children are from."
With a heart brimming with love for someone she had never met, Susie set out to sell the paintings. And that's when she witnessed a miracle.
"Many miracles happened while selling the paintings," says Susie, pictured here with her family. "We sold them all in a two-day period, and every hour I was guided to a person who felt inspired to purchase a painting."I was in a store and overheard a woman talking about her parents, who were on a mission in Africa," Susie continues. "I then introduced myself to her and told her about your family and your dream to attend the temple. She started to cry and said that she would love to buy a few paintings to give her parents, who had to return from their mission early due to her father's serious illness. She said that the paintings would help him to get over his sadness.
"Another person also bought some paintings to give to couples who were trying really hard to prepare themselves for the temple. This person thought that this would inspire them to reach their temple goal. I met one of the couples who received a painting and they also shared so much gratitude and love for Jackson's story. Jackson inspired them to work hard to get to the temple.
"There are many other stories as well, but I know that the Lord was a part of this," Susie testifies. "There is no way that we could have sold that many paintings in that short of a time, without the help of the Lord. He knew that Jackson had a very righteous desire, and he also knew that many lives could be blessed here as well. I know that his paintings will remind our children of the sacrifices that people make to go to the temple. Our temple here is only five minutes away, and our children do not always understand the sacrifice it takes for other people in the world to get to the temple just once."
And then the real miracle happened: Jackson Faustin and his family left Addis Ababa on December 18. On December 20, they were sealed as a family in the Accra Ghana Temple. Jackson and his wife were sealed, and their daughters Mulunesh and Anunga were sealed to their parents. Mulunesh and Anunga were then able to perform baptisms for the dead for the family's beloved ancestors.In a letter to Elder and Sister Giles, Jackson wrote, "We thank you very much for your effort to help us to go to the temple. This is the reflection of your love for the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. We return back home satisfied. I believe you are not alone in this matter of helping us. We thank Elder David and Sister Linda Adams for their generosity and my beloved sister [Susie Augenstein] who is living in Salt Lake City, who did a great job by selling my paintings. God be with you until we meet again."