Dear Family,
It was a wonderful Christmas week in the field. It was great to feel of the spirit of the season. Sister Boyd and I have been praying mightily for opportunities to share the gospel. Especially around this time of year when a lot of people feel alone. Christmas day we didn't have any lessons planned but after I finished my phone calls a family from the ward picked us up and took us to the church where they had invited other families to come and play games and eat. Only one other family from the ward came by, but a wonderful "Christmas Miracle" happened.
We had been in the church for a couple minutes when a young woman walked in. She told us her name was Stephanie and she asked us if we were having any services during the day. We told her no but that she was welcome to come back Sunday and come to church with us. She seemed a little disappointed. Sister Swan (the member that picked us up) asked her if she wanted to stay and eat food and play games with us and she said "Could I?" She told us she lived a few blocks down the street but that her family didn't want to spend Christmas with her.
As the Swan's got things prepared Sister Boyd and I sat with Stephanie for a few minutes and got to know her. She's 20 years old, and she told us a little about her past and family problems. She told us she was searching and that she'd been to a lot of different churches and was raised Baptist but hasn't really felt anything yet. She's heard several things about our faith and she asked us questions about those things. She was relieved to find out none of them were true.
Sister Boyd and I invited her to learn more about the things we believe by talking to the Taylor Elders (She's in their area) and she said she wanted to. When we had a minute we called the Elders and they stopped by the church not too long after. We all answered more of Stephanie's questions while eating ham and playing Uno Jenga:) The Elders had another appointment to get to but Stephanie stayed at the church for a couple of hours and throughout the time she spent with us she kept saying "I don't know why people think ya'll are crazy, you're some of the nicest people I've ever met."
Sister Swan gave Stephanie a ride back to her home and the Elders arranged for her to get a ride to church the next morning. The Taylor Ward meets right before the Old Settlers Ward but Brother Swan goes to church early for ward business and he saw Stephanie there with the Elders.
My testimony of our Heavenly Father watching over each of us, individually, has been strengthened. Even though it wasn't a big turn out the Swan's were guided to have a little "get together" at the church. If it were not for that Stephanie would have kept walking. I'm so glad I got to be a part of something so wonderful.
After Stephanie left we were talking about how Heavenly Father reaches out to "the one." Sister Schorr (the wife of the other family that came with us) talked about how Elder Bednar once asked "Do you think the Lord would send me to a place for one person?"...Of course He would." I remember when Elder Bednar came to see us in February and he allowed us to ask him anything we wanted. There was an Elder who spoke up and he mentioned that he was a recent convert to the church. He didn't get into too much detail but his past still troubled him and he wanted to feel of God's love more in his life. I remember Elder Bednar pausing for a moment to listen to the Spirit and then he spoke directly to this Elder. He promised him blessings for keeping his covenants and told him of things to do in his life to help him feel of God's love. He also told him the Lord accepted him. It was a powerful moment.
I love the gospel. Anyone who is sincerely searching for truth will be led to our Savior's church. It's been an unforgettable holiday season. Thank you all for your warm Christmas wishes.
Love you,
Sister Green
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