Something I
forgot to mention a couple of weeks ago... The previous mission
president, President Bradford C. Bowen, was made a general authority at
general conference. All the missionaries who had served with him puffed
up their chests with pride and whispered a quiet, "Yes!" Haha,
Congratulations President Bowen! You will serve everyone well!
To be honest, I do not have any story that can top this next story, so I will keep my random tangents to a minimum.
I
have mentioned, as I worked in the south area, about working with Maria
and her family. She and her boyfriend (the father of their three
beautiful little boys) live together. We have been trying and trying for
six months to get her to the point of being willing to marry him, which
she has been unwilling to do for reasons of her own. She has been
progressing wonderfully and is keeping every commandment except the Law
of Chastity (living with a man when they are unwed). However, because
she and her boyfriend could not be baptized because of this issue, they
can not progress anymore. Most of the FHEs and lessons we had with them
were to help them maintain the testimony they had already developed. We
had discussed this week that a very bold, straight-forward conversation
would need to be had with Maria and her unwillingness to marry her
boyfriend. Maria and I have quite the bond, and she has told me all of
her concerns and worries. She does not have the same trust for any of
the other missionaries, although she is friendly with them all. Knowing
that I would be transferred out of the area, we decided it would be best
for me to have this chat with her before I left.
Sunday
came and we waited for them to come to church, as they had promised. I
sat and prayed the entire day for inspiration and revelation concerning
what to say to Maria and how to say it. I could not think of anything. I
received some wonderful counsel from some missionaries. I even shed a
few tears worrying about what to do. However, Maria and her family did
not come to church. Knowing the conversation still needed to be had, we
decided the four south missionaries would go down to the family's house
after the baptism later that day.
I was so
scared to have this conversation. I did not know how angry Maria would
be for my honesty. She might not even want to see me again. I knew I was
not exaggerating because of her reactions before when I tried to show
some bold honesty. Driving to and walking up to that house was so hard.
You know that feeling you get when you have to go to the doctor for
something you don't want to get (i.e. a shot or bad results or
something)? You are scared out of your mind and your knees are shaking
and you can barely move, yet your body somehow still pulls itself
forward towards the doctors office? That's how I felt driving to and
walking to her house. I was so scared. Maria is one of my favorite
people, and I did not want to hurt her at all. I love her so much.
We
walked in the house and immediately the three other missionaries sat
down with the boys and read the scriptures so I could have a chat with
Maria. I was already starting to cry. I told Maria I was being
transferred out of the area so this was the last chat we could have for a
while. We sat down at the kitchen table. I said a quick prayer and
immediately started crying. Maria was a little confused (people tend to
be very confused and shocked when I cry, as I do not seem the kind of
person who has those kinds of emotions). All I could do was testify. I
testified of how much I loved her and how much I was willing to do for
her happiness. I testified to her of the life of Jesus Christ. I
testified of the redeeming power of His Atonement. I testified that if
she put her life in His hands, everything would be ok. I testified of
the love Heavenly Father has for her. With tears flowing openly, I
begged, yes, begged her to obey all the commandments, because if she
did, she could be with her family forever. I begged her to do everything
she could to be with her family for eternity. I begged her to allow
Christ to help her. At the end of my monologue, I sat there and waited
for her response. I knew I had said everything I possibly could to help
her understand the gravity of the choices she had to make.
She
was quiet for a moment. Then she looked me in the eye and asked, "Do
you promise me that my family can be together forever?" My tears started
again as I said, "Maria, I promise you in the name of Jesus Christ that
you can be together with your family forever." She said she understood
everything I said and was actually a little floored. I asked her to
ponder more about what I said, and she agreed. I asked her to say a
prayer, and she did. She prayed to Heavenly Father about the things I
had told her, and I had the relief of knowing she understood everything I
had told her. She even asked Heavenly Father to help me stop crying.
She did not hate me, nor did she refuse the missionaries to come back.
In fact, she asked when she would get to see me next. I did not waste
this opportunity to encourage her to go to church every week, even if it
was just to see me.
I love Maria so much, and I
sincerely hope my testimony impacted her. I hope with all my heart that
she will choose to follow the plan Heavenly Father has for her. I hope I
can be there when she gets baptized, and even when she becomes sealed
to her family in the temple for all time and eternity.
I love you all and hope you all realize the tender mercies of the Lord in every day you live.
Sister Smyly Crawford
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