A Week to Remember

This week seems so jumbled, I'm not sure what to share. We had some really crazy experiences and also some pretty amazing miracles. As a sister missionary, people tell you everything. We become really close really quickly with some of these families. After a certain experience at a less active member's house, Sister Cattin and I looked at each other and had to just laugh because of everything that had happened. We figured we must be considered family to them at that point. 

As a quick service update: This week my companion, Sister Cattin, said something very true. She said, "Sister, you will probably help more people move in this mission that you will see baptisms." Ha. yep you guessed it, we helped two more families move this week! 

A story from this week, we got to meet with this young man. His name is Jordan and he's about 16. Long story short, he pretty much announced on Facebook that he was looking for church because he lost faith in his pastor and he wanted to find a better church. Well, one of our less active member friends commented on his post and told him about our church. Fast forward a few weeks...She has now been teaching him with us, and it has been amazing! Not only is he learning, but it is strengthening her testimony so much. 

This young man has some mental disabilities. We have been trying to decide what to do in this situation because he has a hard time remembering things we have taught and we aren't always certain about how much he understands. This experience reminded me of my wonderful cousin who has down syndrome. He is such a huge example to me. Even though he doesn't understand everything in the same way we do, my cousin had the strongest desire to be baptized. Through much help on his parents' part, he was able to be baptized and even receive the Aaronic priesthood later on. While he wouldn't need to be baptized in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven, he still had the strongest desire to because, somehow, he understood that he wanted to follow Jesus Christ's example. Jesus Christ did not need to be cleansed of sin. He lived the perfect life. However, he was still baptized to "fulfill all righteousness." What an amazing experience it has been to reflect on my cousin's decision in parallel with this fantastic investigator we are working with. We are so excited for Jordan. He loves the church so much and we pray his parents will see it truly bringing light into his life. 

Now for a miracle... This week we were talking to members/investigators in the hall right before church started and in walked Susan! Susan was a young girl (one of the most mature 13 yr. old I've talked to) who was so so so ready for the gospel. She was amazing! The only reason she had not yet been baptized was because her dad had suggested she wait a year. We would go read the Book of Mormon with her, she would find quotes for us from apostles, and she would come to church and Wednesday night activities every week. One day she called us and told us she had talked with her dad and hadn't seen how this church had made a difference in her life, so she wasn't going to come anymore. We were so, so sad. We weren't sure what her dad had said, but we just prayed she would be able to feel the difference without the church in her life. Well, out of the blue, she came back for a week! We aren't going to push anything..but we are praying for her with all our heart!

Oh, also something funny I just remembered. I don't know if it's just in the south or if really the whole world is scared, but everyone here believes the world is about to end/world war 3 is starting. ha. To add onto that, Sister Cattin and I both run into the second coming (whether in study or conversation) multiple times every day. So...prepare ye prepare ye ;) But seriously, what an incredible time we live in to prepare the way for the Jesus Christ's second coming! How glorious it will be when we see Him again :) Love yall!

That's all for this week. Love you all. Be safe and trust in the Lord so He may direct your path :)

<3 Sister Brown