The One Where I Hit Mile 8

Wow so today marks 6 months of being a missionary. It’s probably been the slowest 6 months of my life, but at the same time it has all passed like a dream. Today it actually feels like a chunk of the time I have here has passed.

            It’s like I am at mile 8 of a marathon. Finally those starting pains and aches are gone, but so is the initial excitement. It takes more effort to remember that starting line and the flame of motivation that has gotten me here. I’ve made it up Veyo (The big hill at mile 7 in the St. George Marathon) and maybe I feel more tired and worn out than I think I should at mile 8, but it’s okay that I feel a little tired and have a side ache because it will only last for a little. Eventually my pain will shift and it won’t always feel like this. Dad has already made 900 friends along the course, and laughing lightens the mood that is so easily unsettled thinking about another 18 miles to go. But I don’t think about those miles yet. I know that cruise control is about to kick in.

"No one said it would be easy, but it will be worth the pain"

            We had 10 minutes left of lunch when we left this member’s house. We sat down on a bench and were just talking and 2 guys came up to us. They probably are in their low 20’s-25. He said, “Sorry, excuse me. What countries are you from?” I said the United States and he didn’t even let my companion answer before he asked, “Okay can I get a picture with you?” We just kind of laughed and said sure. So his friend pulls out his phone and takes a picture of us, and then they thanked us and walked away. I died because I felt like we were back in HAWAII with all of those Asian tourists taking pictures of our family! Ah good times and happy memories.

A family made us food from Columbia for my companion!

            All day my companion has been telling me that my happiness is suspicious. She says that usually people who are always happy are a fake happy. So we got talking more about happiness and how true happiness comes only through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

                Today we went to visit an investigator who hasn’t really been progressing. We prayerfully decided to visit her to see if we should keep visiting her, or stop for some time so she could feel the difference without us constantly visiting. As we began to talk to her, she was so kind but still hadn’t read the chapter we left her or the pamphlet. She still hadn’t really changed anything in her strong Evangelic lifestyle. But then she started talking and telling a story. It all of a sudden got really hard for me to understand her. She started speaking quietly and using words that I don’t know. I sat there trying to listen, trying to understand what she was saying. But at this point I had no idea what her story was about so I know my only option was to listen to the Spirit. Because the Spirit knows what she needs and the Spirit speaks English. I said a quick silent prayer and just listened. After a couple minutes I still didn’t know what was going on.

Then her phone rang and she got up to go turn it off. In those 5 seconds, my companion looked at me to see if I understood this long story of strange words. Right then I knew that we couldn’t leave this investigator. I didn’t know why, but I was so sure that we have to keep visiting her. I quickly whispered to my companion, “We can’t leave her.” Then this sweet lady came back and sat down. As both of them looked at me I didn’t know what to say because I had no idea what her story was about. I felt something so strong in my heart that I had no fear and I just opened my mouth and started talking about the Atonement. A scripture popped into my mind so without hesitation, I shared this scripture in Alma. My companion followed and shared her beautiful testimony about the Atonement. Then she agreed to read her Book of Mormon and truly ask God to help her know of His plan for her. This lesson was honestly such a spiritual experience.

            As we walked away to our next appointment I asked my companion what her story was about. She stopped and looked at me so surprised and said, “Wait, you didn’t understand her story?” I told her no, and she asked, “So how did you know that we have to keep visiting her?” I didn’t know how to explain it. Just that the Spirit told me. Then she asked how I knew to talk about the Atonement. Again I told her it isn’t me! She told me that the story I didn’t understand was about how this sweet old lady was abused her whole life by her dad. Ever since she was 8. To this day (60 years later) her mom still doesn’t believe her, and her pastor told her that God doesn’t love her because she hasn’t had the strength to forgive her dad. So she stopped visiting her mom and her pastor stopped visiting her. She said that she’s never felt happy in life. 68 years and NEVER has she felt happy? My companion said that she told us that no one understands her loneliness and pain. Today I learned that it is 100% up to God and we need to be completely focused on listening to the Spirit.

                We FINALLY were able to find all of the people we have been looking for all week! As we were walking down the street, one of our investigators passed and asked us, “Hey do you have 10 minutes to pass by my house right now?”

            We told her yes and we walked with her back to her house. She started to tell us that she has been visiting a psychologist for the past few months because of depression. She said that her doctor asked her to become much closer to Christ and make changes in her life to find peace. So she decided that it’s time to join the church. I almost died sitting there like, “you’ll do it if the doctor tells you to? WE SHOULD CONVERT ALL OF THE DOCTORES IN CHILE so they can tell everyone to become closer to Christ!” But she began to tell us how every time we come, her house is filled with light and there is a special joy when we are with her. It was so special to testify of the Spirit and as she makes little changes in her life, she would start to feel a light in herself grow too. We taught a short lesson and literally 5 times, she stopped and told us how much her heart was burning as she looked into our eyes. In that moment I understood a little more about what it means to shine so that through you, people will want to know Jesus Christ.

            My companion and I were talking and she told me that she’s never met anyone whose happiness is like mine. She told me that everyone’s happiness comes from being pretty, popular, rich, or other superficial things. But she told me the greatest compliment I have ever received and that’s why I am writing it down. She said, “Your happiness is real. I don’t know how you did it, but your happiness comes from honestly knowing you are a daughter of God. Your happiness comes from your deep and personal relationship with God. What did you do to find real happiness?”

Exchanges with Hermana Morrell

It's about the little things that bring beauty to every day, even just a flower on my bike basket.

Ice cream after her companions doctor appointment