At the right place at the right time

On new year's eve we met the sister of a recent convert. Darrel is the convert and his sister is Christy. She is very shy and has had a very hard life. They both grew up in foster homes. She asked me if I could help her read " that book of mormon bible". I told her I would love too.

Our first meeting was one to help me evaluate where to begin. I didn't know if she could read at all. We talked and set our next meeting. I took scriptures from Bible and Book of Mormon that talked about our being children of God and put them on cards. The reference and a couple of words with the scriptures meaning. She is able to read a few words about first or second grade level .(She doesn't comprehend what she can read.) We marked the scriptures and then put the cards in the scriptures for her to find and go over. On my way home I called Jessie and asked her to go the Citizen and find a couple of picture books with simple words about the scriptures. She did and sent to me a book about the Savior with Greg Olsen pictures and one called Nephi, Nephi the scriptures are true. Rich and I took the books over to Christy to look at before our next appointment. When we arrived she was very excited to get started. She wanted to start with the Savior book. I asked her why and she said because the pictures are so pretty! Rich said he wished he had a camera to capture her face and expressions as she looked at each picture, read a few words and then listened as we explained what we had read. One of her favorites was the Savior with John the Baptist being baptized. Another was the Savior holding the hand of a little boy and walking. But her very favorite was a mother kneeling with her little daughter, by the bed. I asked her why she liked this one so much. She said "cause it makes me feel good." She wanted to know how she could know that Heavenly Father really heard her prayers. We felt the spirit there and so did she. If we do not teach another lesson while we are here, I feel that we were able to be instruments in the Lords hands that one afternoon last week. We were able to communicate spirit to spirit with Christy. A forty year old women now knows her Father in Heaven loves her. She felt his love through those pictures and a few simple words.

We have now requested Jess send us a book about Joseph Smith. We will continue to read with Christy each week. I know the spirit will guide us to be able to teach her the gospel. The worth of even one soul is great in the sight of the Lord!

Rich had an interesting experience this last week also. ( In addition to this one with me) On Tuesday evenings we hold Family Home Evening on base for the Officer training Cadets. They are not allowed to leave their training facility, but they have a few minutes to come by a room the Chaplains have set up for Religious study, meditation, a break! I had the bug Tuesday so Rich went alone. He dropped by the Chaplains office to thank him for the use of the room. There in the Chaplains office was a young LDS man from the Air Guard training. He was at the end of his rope. The Chaplain had sent him there to call his wife. (The Army Training for this course is apparently even more intense than all other services.) Any way he had been here for two weeks under tremendous pressure and stress. He left a wife and 4 kids at home and no contact with them. He also had not recieved word on church services or had not been given time to worship. He was feeling very alone. Rich was able to talk with him a few minutes. Chris was able to realize he was not alone. Rich said, Chris was in tears. He didn't know if he could make it . Rich gave him a blessing and mentioned the atonement in that blessing By the time Rich left him he was feeling much better He said he never really look at the Atonement as something to help him with his everyday trials.( Rich has a way of talking with people and making them feel important. He also knows just what to say!) He was also able to relay to him he wasn't alone. Isn't it amazing how the Lord works. He knows our every need and he does answer our prayers! So like I said if Rich and I do not touch another person's life while we are here, we will still know that our being here has been totally worth it. We have met Christy and Chris at just the right moment in their life. We were told in the MTC:" as missionaries on the Lords errand there are no chance meetings!" Heavenly Father loves us and has a plan for each of us! I know this is true.

The Gospel is true! I see the evidences everyday in my life. I know you do too. Let us all live our lives so we can live the eternities together as family!!!