Called to Serve

I had one of the best days ever yesterday. And we didn't go anywhere cool, no jumping off bridges or playing with baby lions....

I was able to be a missionary.

I met a girl named Ashrina at one of Ben's soccer games last week. We talked the whole time and really had a blast together. She was amazed at mine and Ben's relationship. She couldn't believe we were married and were actually happy together. She asked me all sorts of questions about how we make it work and why we're so happy and what I love about him and so forth. Man, I'd never had to answer questions like that to a stranger! Good thing it's true so it wasn't too hard...

Anyway, she was in town for this week (she's from Durban) staying with a friend but didn't have a whole lot to do so I told her I'd call her and we'd hang out. Yesterday, I picked her up and we spent the whole day together. We had a lot of fun and we have so much in common! We started off finding out that we were both F.R.I.E.N.D.S. lovers and had fun watching a couple episodes. After that she saw our wedding DVD and wanted to watch that. It is my favorite thing in the whole world so it was really fun to watch. She was really really touched and got pretty emotional. She started crying and said that she hoped she could find love like that someday, but that she was pretty sure it wouldn't ever happen. She went on to say that she was feeling something she had never felt before.

She said, "I am feeling something so strong right now. I felt it when I first met you guys. There was something about you. I called my sister and told her that I had met this amazing couple and they were actually happy together! That there was just something about them. I couldn't describe the feeling."

Enter missionary.

I told her that in all honesty, the reason she felt what she did was because of the church we belonged to. She had never heard anything about "mormons" and was very interested in learning more. I am amazed at how many people there are out here that don't know anything about us. There is so much work to be done!

I have always wanted to serve a mission, and am so happy I am able to have these opportunities. I knew coming here that it would be my "mini-mission." But I really didn't expect to find people as willing to learn and searching like this. This is my second "big one," as well as a girl from Germany from our Botswana trip.

We ended up talking about our church for 5 HOURS! I think I made up my own "discussions" but got through everything I could possibly think of. It was amazing. We connected so quickly and I was able to bare my testimony multiple times and she was crying and I was crying and IT ROCKED.

I gave her a Book of Mormon and some other materials and she is going to read them! She also wants to come to church with us. She's so excited to get home and tell her sister and mom about it.

What a great day.

The church is true folks. It really is. And for the first time in my life, I'm witnessing the things that missionaries get to experience everyday. That twinkle, that light that comes on. The change and happiness it brings to people who are searching.

I love being here in Africa. I am so overwhelmed with happiness and joy and appreciation to my Heavenly Father that I was able to be BORN into the true church. HOW BLESSED WE ARE!