This week has been pretty crazy! For New Years Eve we went and had dinner with the Bascom family. They are the sweetest people and I’m so grateful I have gotten to know them! For our thought before we left I asked the kids if they knew the story of Nephi going and getting the plates. Both the boys, who are pretty young, wanted to tell the story. They knew it so well it was wonderful! One of them said, “Laman and Lemuel couldn’t get the plates because they didn’t have enough faith.” How perfectly put. Laman and Lemuel limited their own ability by being unwilling to trust God. I was so impressed with those two little boys 🙂 Someday I hope to raise my own family with that same faith and trust in the Lord that I see in those two little kids 🙂
Thursday we went to a horribly sad funeral for a still born little girl. The couple that lost the baby are not members of the church, but their sister is and she offered the church for the memorial service. A brother in our ward that is very close to the family offered to conduct and he asked us to attend so that there could be missionaries there. He wanted the sisters and not the elders because he didn’t want us to seem intimidating. The two of us and the Brother conducting were the only two that were not family. He spoke first and tried to give words of comfort and then the time was opened up for members of the family to stand and give their condolences. The grandmother said a few words and by the time she was done the mother was just sobbing on the dad’s shoulder. No one else stood to talk for a good five or more minutes and all that could be heard was the mother’s sobbing. The brother conducting then asked me to stand and offer my condolences and share some words that might bring comfort to this poor hurting mother. I had no idea what to do, but just as I was rising to stand a woman stood and motioned for me to sit back down. She then said that she didn’t feel like anyone should have to say anything. She said that the couple had everyone’s number and if they needed to talk to someone they could just pick up the phone and call. She made it very clear that she didn’t feel like we should be having the memorial service at all because none of us had even known the baby. There was nothing about the way she talked or what she said that made it seem like she was hurting for this poor couple. The room was uncomfortably quite after she sat down and no one got up to speak. Then the brother conducting asked me again to stand up. By this point I had tears just streaming down my face. The pain I felt for that poor mother was so real. All I could say was how sorry I was for her and that I knew God was aware of her situation. I felt impressed to promise her that she is very loved, not just by those in that room, but by her Father in Heaven, and that she had not been forgotten. The savior said to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. The mother needed people who were willing to mourn with her. She needed to be told that her pain was important. Then the brother conducting asked Sister Rigby to stand and say a few words. Sister Rigby has two still born siblings. She was able to share her testimony of the Plan of Salvation and promise that hurting mother that she would be able to see her child again. After the service ended hugs were given and then everyone went their separate ways. The knowledge of the gospel gives such amazing peace and comfort. That couple’s pain was very real, and even more intensified by their lack of understanding. I hope and pray that we will be able to share the gospel with them soon.
That evening we went and visited a woman that has been battling cancer for over a year. She was told that she would be dead by last February, but she has proven them wrong. She told us that in more than one blessing she has been told that she will recover from this. The doctors say differently, but her faith is incredible. She says, “In the blessing they told me I’ll get better, there must be something I’m supposed to do down here, so I’m not going anywhere.” He positive attitude during these horrible adversities is so inspiring. The entire time we visited with her she was happy and grateful. Grateful she has been able to live this long. Grateful for her job. Grateful she is out of the hospital. She spent Christmas in the hospital and I haven’t heard her say one negative thing about anything! The chemo has made it so she will never be able to have children. She isn’t married because her man is afraid of commitment, and she just says oh well. God is good and he is looking after her. What an incredible woman! People like that are just a such wonderful inspiration. She is happy, loving and patient in all things!
Saturday we went and tracted our lives away! Good news though… We found a potential investigator! She had lots of questions about Mormons and then we were able to lead her questions into a doctrinal discussion 🙂 Right before we ended with a prayer she shared that she had goen through a rough time were she had been angry with God. Now she wants him back in her life 🙂 It was so great! Everything just flowed so perfectly! When we offered her the Book of Mormon she was wanted to pay for it! We are supposed to go back and talk with her again next Saturday and I’m so excited. The Lord was truly there helping us with that tracting experience 🙂
I love you all so much and I hope you are all doing many wonderful things! Remember every member a missionary! You don’t have to go door to door to be a missionary, just be a friend. Lift someone up today 🙂 Simple words and loving action go a lot farther than you know 😉
I love you and the gospels true!
Sister Mignonne Rogers 🙂
P.S. 1 John 4:18-19
Don’t be afraid to love your neighbor 😉
This dog tried to go tracking with us!
Sweet little girl had us accompany her performance! 
Sister Mignonne Rogers 