Communion with God

Dear Family-

Well this was a different week- really weird week- but hey- who said a mission would be easy! Even with the disappointments there were some amazing things that happened throughout the week. 

The first one i wanted to share was meeting Taylor. Taylor is in her 20's she just had a baby, and moved out here from Utah 3 years ago. Her whole family is active- she just kind of got lost in the shuffle, and she is now engaged to the father of her baby. Well, her little brother is on a mission right now- he sent us a referral to go and see her- begging us to help her get back to church, he said, "i know she wants it she is just scared." we were so touched- this elder out there just like us is away from his family- so he reaches out to us, while we are away from our family but near his, to strengthen her. Missionary work is the coolest! Well when we got there she started crying and couldnt believe we came bc she said she has been wanting to come back ever since she had her daughter and then she cried and said, "the most important thing i can do is get her back safely to heavenly Father." she said she has been scared- i asked why she's scared and she said she's scared of being judged and coming back to church now that she has a baby, tattoos and no husband. I have never felt such love for someone. We assured her no one will judge her out here and that we will be there every step of the way. She emailed her brother on his p-day and told him we came by and that she is going to be meeting with us every week now, she said he said, "Are they kind and loving to you?" she said Yes, and she said he was overjoyed. Pretty cool.

We also met a woman named Kristel, most amazing story ever- only in Tallahassee can you find such people, seriously! she is from Jamaica- she was converted and baptized at age 9 then converted and helped baptize her whole family! she then went out proselyting with the missionaries until she was 13- and she said she was on fire and loved and had such a burning testimony! then when she was 13 she came to America, and got pregnant when she was 15, and apparently, the church treated her poorly and kind of "kicked her out" or at least that was her perception, and her family disowned her as well, so she was devastated and heartbroken because she already knew she had done wrong and couldn't handle the judgement, and hasn't been to church since. its been 10 years. we met her daughter, who is now 10 and she is beautiful, spiritual girl. well- we listened to her- and she she said, "so now is where you can leave like every other missionary bc i am too far gone." well- we just bonded- i had her laughing up a storm! she kept saying, "oh you are hilarious! I have never met a missionary like you!" and she would just crack up haha and i have never felt more at home with anyone! i felt like i had known her for years! and i told her that. well- then we got down to it- we explained how sometimes the people, even thought the doctrine they are taught is sound and true, they can still use their agency wrong. I urged her to not let the poor actions of others interfere with her testimony and hold her back from the blessings i know Heavenly Father wants to give her and her family. We asked her if she still had a testimony of the Book of Mormon- she said she wasnt sure anymore- we urged her to read it again for her sake- I proposed that she take the lessons again and experiment and see if she could re-discover her testimony- regardless and separate from past experiences we told her, its about the doctrine- go to god, and ask him as you learn if these things aren't true and he will  answer her. We told her how much we know God loves her, especially considering that she had been missionaries like us and helped many people enter into the covenant of baptism in Jamaica! we told her, "God loves you for that! He loves us even if we mess up." I told her that if after taking all the lessons again and reading the Book of Mormon if she still didn't have a testimony and that fire again then fine, and she will be no worse off then she is now- but she has everything to gain! she was silent for awhile- but then she said, "I have had a lot of missionaries try- i've never listened in the past. or i will just lie and then cancel on them later- but because of your spirits- i will sincerely pray about taking the lessons." ah- it was so amazing.....she then ended up digging out her old photo album of her baptism and missionary work in Jamaica as a girl- it was so cool- she was so happy talking about it! and sis. Harris was explaining the Book of Mormon to her daughter- it was incredible.

 We also met with Philip again- and he really opened up! we had a great lesson. Harmyni and raykell and Cierra all got to come to the General Women's Broadcast! so that was awesome- and yesterday at church i sang for the first time in this ward- i sang, "If you Could Hie to Kolob"- the Lord really blessed me. Our investigator Tosh and Phil both came to church to hear it :) that meant so much to me. I register for classes today! crazy. 

Much Love sister b