Hello hello hello! This week I realized how fantastic organic grapes are! No, that’s not a joke.
Linda called inbound a few weeks ago, crying hysterically & when I offered to have missionaries visit she said, “Thank you for being my angel”. She’s from NC & she’s very sweet. We’ve taught her a few times & are excited to hear how church was this week. She is bipolar – just like Jessica 1 from my 2nd transfer. She got a new counselor & finds prayer to be very soothing. I love helping other children of God to find their special place in this world.
Justine is my #5J from Chat. Remember the four Jessicas from my 1st & 2nd transfers? Well here is Justine – not a Jessica but still a “J” – so I’m pretty sure that counts. She is a Junior in college in PA & got in touch with the missionaries this last week. She had some questions about the life after this, that we were able to briefly cover in our last phone call. We’ll call on Friday again to hear how things are going for her. She’s fantastic.
DJ is ½ Jewish & ½ Pagan…not sure how those two mesh – and frankly he didn’t either J But it’s all good! We took him & his friend, Charlie around on Friday. Charlie was very quiet, we were asking our most effective questions & somehow he was still answering very quickly. Master of brevity & clarity, that one. DJ told us he finds peace in nature, most of us do, but that’s where the source of his “religion” really comes from because he knew nothing of the scriptures or doctrine etc. His parents died when he was young & now he lives on his own…with his cat. He’s about 19 or 20 years old. He didn’t refer to meet with missionaries but I gave him a card for MORMON.ORG & hoped for the best!
Nicole was sitting by DOOR 13 of the Tab – also known as the quiet room (for those screaming children…or particularly rowdy guests…jk) so we stopped in the shade to talk with her. She accounted to us a fantastic story: As of a few months ago she has been struggling financially in her new found college-life. She had to get rid of her bed & couch, leaving her to sleep on the floor. After months of desperation, she finally placed a food order with the student ward. The RS President came by to drop it off & discovered their lack of furniture. She was then given the explanation of why they didn’t have anything to sleep or sit on & leave without a word. The next day, Nicole came home from school to find two beds in their bedroom with beautiful comforters & a very respectable couch in their living room! “I knew the church was true…but this moment made me think, ‘This church is SO true!!!’”. What a wonderful experience she had had, and was then able to share with us.
Please, everyone look out for those like Nicole – who on the outside appear to be doing fine. Take the time to really check in on them & see how they are getting by. Maybe they don’t need a couch but they could use a listening ear, a hug or someone to help organize their Tupperware cupboard :)
This church IS so true. Every day here at TMSQ strengthens my testimony of this. I know Christ lives. I know He leads this church & I know that Thomas S. Monson is called as His prophet in our day. I am so grateful that a 14 yr old boy was humble & curious enough to ask God a simple question that changed MY life. Shall we not go on in so great a cause?
Sister A. Despain
