So let me tell you about the Harts. Rick is a member, and has
been since the 1960's, I think. But, he hasn't been to church since the late 1070's.
He got confused and offended and so he quit coming. Later in his life, he married
Linda. And after that, he got into pinball. Not just playing, but the machines themselves.
he has about 10 of them in his basement. It's kinda crazy. He does all kinds of
fundraisers down there for soldiers (both he and his wife are veterans), and he
loves showing the machines and everything else down there off. Saturday night, they
had us for dinner. We were both inducted into the Bigfoot Club, which included going
through Bigfoot U, a series of 3 tests, which both of us passed with flying colors.
And then we got down to the meat of it. It started with Sis. Johnson making a witty
remark about him coming to church. Now, Sis, Johnson is very smart, but not the
witty type. She's the quiet observing, calm one. I'm the one with the smart alec
comments. But she got started, and she just kept going. I have never seen her act
like that before. He would make a comment, and she would bring it back to church.
And I was just there to back her up. He would try and say something, and I would
go to her defense. At one point, he asked what had gotten into her. I told him is
wasn't the hand tricks, hula hoops, or kitkats, all part of the evening, or anything
else we had done or talked about or eaten that night. I ran through a huge list
of things that wasn't what had gotten into her. And then I said, "That, Rick,
is the Spirit. That's why she's acting that way." It was like a rock wall of
Spirit had hit him in the face, which was rather amusing. And all the while, he
was trying to get his wife to help him out. She was telling him that if he wouldn't
go to church with her, they needed to go to his church. And every time he would
try to get out of it, we all were telling him that he needed to just give in and
commit to coming to church. The coolest part is that Linda is NOT a member. But
she is willing to go to church with us because she knows that he needs to come to
church. Also, at one point, he said something and I brought the conversation right
back on topic. He asked me how many segways I had. I asked him how many distractions
he had. He was a little speechless. But he finally committed to coming. We left
there feeling so awesome. And shocked. The way Sis. Johnson had acted was awesome
(look up the definition, and if you need help, ask Bill Engval), and also powerful.
She had not acted like herself, but she had opened her mouth and let the Spirit
speak. I love that feeling!
Next, Dennis. He is about 40, and is inactive. But he's AWESOME!!!
He loves talking about the Gospel to anyone who will listen. Unfortunately, he doesn't
live what he talks about. But he has an amazing testimony of the Gospel. He's just
very apathetic. He tells us that at some point he will come back, and that he loves
being there. He said he loved being the Elders' Quorum teacher. But I have been
trying to get him back since I got here. And this weekend, we had a miracle. He
got Sick! Sounds like a bad miracle, but it was perfect. We texted to remind him
of church, and he told me he was sick and he wanted a blessing and he asked me to
get that set up for him. I was more than happy for him. Anyway, I was looking at
the roster to find someone, and there was a member that kept standing out to me.
So I finally called him. He said he would be more than happy to. So there he was,
standing outside the chapel when Sacrament was over. I got bishop and Bro. Stanfield
over to meet him. They were looking at each other, and then Dennis says, I know
you...And Bro. Stanfield says, I know you. And then it hits that Bro. Stanfield
was a friend of Dennis's father. It was a priceless moment. So anyway, they went
and had the blessing, and then Dennis came to class, which was AMAZING!!! He participated
and he said things that made sense and didn't distract from the lesson. He acted
like he was completely comfortable with talking in class. I was over the moon that
he was there. Man, so happy. Now we just need to get him to marry his girlfriend,
and get his oldest daughter baptized, and his other two girls active, and my life
will be complete, as far as Dennis goes. Mah, so happy!!!
I will say that Rick and Linda didn't come to church...blah. Oh
well, we'll get them anyway. And we also had these two Hispanic guys walk into church.
One asked me if I spoke Spanish. Unfortunately not. Then in broken English he told
me that he brought an investigator. We have one guy in the ward who speaks Spanish,
and he was late. Blah. But these guys came to class, and then Bro. Cardoza translated
for him and he bore the most powerful testimony. It was great!!!! The Spirit was
so strong and beautiful. I had no idea what he said until Bro. C. translated, but
I had such an amazing day!!!!
Ok, also last night I helped with a Stake RS fireside and as
I was helping clean up, I got a charlie horse in my toe. It dropped me like a rock.
I was in a lot of pain, and letting people know, especially the Stake President
who happened to be right in front of me as I was laying on the floor holding my
toe. A rather comic story or epic proportions. But the fireside was WONDERFUL!!!
Ok, I have to go. I love you all so much, and I know that this
is the true Gospel. We have to keep our head up and keep moving forward, even when
life sucks. That's when the sweetest miracles happen. I love you all, and I love
my Savior and my Heavenly Father. I know they are with me and with this work. In
the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love, Sister Worthen
No comments:
Post a Comment