07-25-2016

Hola mis personas

It's always a great week over here in California. Sunshine for days
and days. I don't even know what a cloud is because they don't have
them out here. It's always perfect weather. We'll sort of its 90
degrees at 8 pm. 67 is cold and calls for jackets and under 60 is just
plain horrid. And of course it's been great in California because Im
companions with Sister Abbey Morrison I mean what could be better

Sister Morrison is one of a kind. This week we were helping a family
who was moving pack and clean up their house. We were assigned to
clean the bathroom. We start cleaning and I start in the tub and she
starts cleaning the toilet. We are chatting and scrubbing away and I
turn around to go grab something on the sink when I see sister
Morrison's whole ARM in the toilet and I can't even see her hand
because it's in the hole in the back. SISTER MORRISON WHO ARE YOU. You
should have seen my face. I was like honey honey there's gotta be a
better way. Oh my oh my. hahaha it was the funniest thing but also I
was questioning who my companion is because well toilet brushes are a
thing. I'm still not over it haha at least I know that any toilet
sister Morrison cleans is one CLEAN toilet.

This week we met with Rick a few times. He is doing awesome so awesome
that he has agreed to be baptized on August 27th. I can't even tell
you how happy I am. I just pray that he has the faith to overcome his
addictions. One night he asked us so why do we come all the way from
Colorado and Utah to sit and talk with a homeless man like me. Well
the answer is simple. Because I love my savior and I want you to
experience his joy and plan for you. Because We want to share what we
have. I don't think I have ever prayed harder for anyone in my life.
Rick is the best.

We had a lesson with one of our investigators named Mel this week. Our
lesson with him last week did not go so great and so I was feeling
really nervous to teach him this week. It's stressful because sister
Morrison is still learning the ropes so I have to always have her back
plus my back and sometimes I feel really inadequate. As we were going
in to teach him, I went into the bathroom to say a quick prayer to
help me be aware of the spirit and what God needed Mel to hear through
me. As we went into the lesson I forgot that in last week's lesson I
had asked him to read some scriptures. It was such a rough lesson last
week and was really hard to teach him because he was trying to teach
us. I didn't know what he should read so I thought for a second and
felt impressed to write down two of my favorite scriptures. Alma 26:12
and ether 12:27. Those scriptures talk about weaknesses and relying on
Christ. He began to tell us that he took these scriptures very
personally because they talk about weaknesses and if we think he has
lots of weaknesses. I began to be worried, I thought oh no I shouldn't
have given him these scriptures. He's not happy now oh no. Why did I
feel impressed to tell him to read these scriptures oh boy oh boy.

But then he said something that surprised every one in the room, he
said as I was reading these scriptures about weakness the thought came
"i may be able to teach law and I may be able to be in charge of
thousands of men in the air force , but the gospel isn't either of
those things. So I  need to allow myself to be taught" I couldn't
believe it. I was seriously in shock. The Holy Ghost softened his
heart. It was such an amazing moment. It was a testimony to me to
follow promptings that the Holy Ghost give us.  Never doubt the power
of the lord works the lord works in miraculous ways in order to help
bring his children back to him. We had an awesome lesson with him and
he even said the closing prayer. During the prayer, the spirit was so
strong and this 70 year old man broke down in front of us while
pouring his heart out to God. There is nothing better than being a
missionary.

I live for moments like this.

I was reading In the Book of Mormon this week and I came across a
scripture in Alma 36. And it reads " Yea, and from that time even
until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls
unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy
of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be
filled with the Holy Ghost."

That scripture is why I am out here. I have felt what His infinite
love can do and I can't help but want everyone to taste how good it
tastes to know Him. There is nothing better than watching someone
realize that they have finally found the path that leads back home.

I'll say it again even though I say it every time haha

these past 6 months have changed my life. I can't express enough
gratitude to the people that have gotten me here. Being a missionary
isn't like anything I have experienced. It's praying in every
bathroom, before every lesson, on street corners, by your bed side
because you realize your feet are too small to fit into the shoes of
this great work unless the Lord helps you fill them.

He Lives. Those two words mean everything to me.

love always,

sister thurgood