May 21, 2012

The Best Day of My Mission


 "Today was probably one of the best days of my mission. Up there with the experience of Carla in Martí, when Ana María Salazar told me how much I had helped her family, knowing that Francisco Beltrán was able to be baptized, etc. Well, a few weeks ago, Olga Morataya gave us a referral of her friend Gilda, and in our second visit with Gilda (age 50ish) we met her daughter, Marian (22) who also wanted to start listening to us. We've visited them several times since then, and they have always had great questions for us and been very interested in our message.


"Ever since we gave her (Marian) a Book of Mormon, almost 2 weeks ago, (she) has started reading it. She has also read the pamphlets we leave for them. To top it all of, they also came to church on Sunday, the 13th. So that sets us up.


"Well, our previous visit with them was Friday, May 11th, and we had set up the visit for this upcoming Thursday, the 17th. Well, on Sunday night, Marian called us and asked if we could pass by on Tuesday instead, so we of course said, 'Yes!' Right, now we're all caught up to be able to talk about why today was so great.


"So this morning we stopped by to pick up Olga, and then went to Gilda and Marian's house, and there they were, waiting for us. They had several questions about what happened in church and some other little questions. Now, I don't remember exactly how the conversation was brought up, but there was a silence, and Marian became very pensive and looked like she was about to cry.


"She started to tell us that for the last little while, (months), she hasn't been sleeping well, but ever since we started visiting them, she has slept well. Even more, she is afraid of the dark and sleeps with a little light in her room. But she has been reading the Book of Mormon right before going to bed and then sleeping with the Book of Mormon next to her pillow and she can now turn of the light. She also told us that the other night she went to lock the front door, and it was extremely dark. Usually when this is the case she turns the lights on all the way down the hall, but she didn't, and when she got to the front room, she wasn't afraid, and she felt as if we were sitting there on the couch, watching out for her. She said she could feel our presence. 


"This sounds unreal. But it is true, and I know it. When Marian turned 15, she changed schools from a catholic school to a "normal" one, where those who wanted to search for God could, and those who didn't, didn't. Every once in a while she has had friends invite her to different churches, but she never went. She told us, however, that listening to us, reading the Book of Mormon, and the pamphlets has filled an emptiness in her life and is making her very happy and giving her a new sense of peace. It is such an incredible feeling to know that our message is making such a difference in someone's life."


I know that this gospel is true, and that is truly does change lives. The Plan of Salvation has been given to us for our own eternal happiness. 


Love,
Elder Andrew A. LaPray