the devil in the red blouse

Miracles happen everyday. Dissappointments happen, too, but dissappointments are much more rare than the miracles which is why dissappointments seem to take the forefront of our thoughts. We are surrounded by miracles every second of every day. photosynthesis--a miracle, the growth of our fingernails--a miracle, the allignment of the solar system--a miracle. Miracles are everywhere, but our society defines miracles as phenomenons that we understand to a degree, but that we mostly don't understand, and the miracle is only a miracle if it doesn't happen very often and if it is clearly attached to a source (like a prayer or the wave of a magic wand) and must happen within a short amount of time otherwise it's not a miracle. To me, a miracle is any beneficial creation or action that exists or happens beyond my own efforts...but my favorite miracles are the decisions made by individuals to act in faith.

Anyways, last week we contacted a lot of people, talked to them about the gospel, and then most of them rejected the message for one reason or another. We met a man that was drunk, but coherent enough to understand a bit. He wondered why God made commandments that went against the natural man. He questioned whether we were from God or not, and then he started calling me the "devil in a red blouse"! it was weird because we felt strongly to go to this fellow, but he was not really interested at all, plus he was drunk so who knows what was actually sinking in. We feel strongly to go talk to a lot of people and usually we don't every see the fruits that explain why. So we left. We had a bunch of people lined up to come to church this week, but none of them came. however, one of our members randomly met a woman on her walk. They started talking about pologamy and then the conversation turned more to the gospel and then she invited her to church. The woman loved it! But we found out she lives in the neighboring ward which is good for her, sad for us, but we're just glad Sister Lambe invited her to church. Then we had a referral from the Eden elders. Her name was Sonya. We had a ride for her so she could go to church, but she told our ride she couldn't go to church because the maintenance guys were over putting in her AC. Well, after church we went to see her and the maintenance guys were still over. We invited her to go to 1pm Church, but she declined because the maintenance guys were still over. Well, suddenly the maintenance guys started leaving. "Where you going?" Sonya yelled at them. "We're going home! Today's the Lord's day." So they left and then we invited her again. "You really want me to go to church with you, don't you? Alright, i'll come." So then she came, and then she bore her testimony at sacrament meeting about how she feels comfortable and not judged at our church and then Sister Wesley bore her testimony about how that comfortable feeling comes from the Spirit. Going back, on the way to church we get a call from the 1pm ward elders. "Sisters, a guy you EBP'd (contacted) just walked in so he's sitting with us. His name is james." James? whose james. i went through the week and i thought about all the people we talked to. We had some really extensive conversations with some people and they were pretty interested. one guy told us about how he died, another one said he'd give us a call when he had time. We walked into the building and there stood the man who called me the "devil in the red blouse!" he stood next to the Elders weeping...and he's a tough guy! The elders put their arms around him and took him to the restroom to get some tissues. We don't know why he was sad, but after the meeting he said we wanted to come back because he liked what he saw. We're seeing him on Wednesday. Miracles happen. i used to look at moments like this and wonder about people's motives and their sincerity. but I've learned something: Every single person on this earth is a child of God. Every single person. When I understand this, my own motives become pure and I myself become more sincere. God answers my prayers, miracles surround even the spiritually blind, and because of Christ, the angels continue to strive with each one of us.