I was not expecting to be able to write about all these experiences so soon, but I found that when I put my whole heart on the line willing and wanting to serve, i was able to just tell people what I believed. I was blessed because I got to meet some really cool people whom I greatly respect and adore now that I was able to serve them. I have the coolest stories to share.
I want to tell you about my friend I met at the beginning of the school year , I shall call him F. (though if you are reading this you know exactly who you are. *wink wink* ) F. is not from this country and probably one of the coolest young men I have been able to work with at all this last semester. He is a little older than I am and he has a good head on his shoulders. He is very polite and very sweet. Our story together started when I mentioned I was a Mormon. He told me he had never met another LDS member and had some questions. I have done the best I can with answering his questions. Just a few weeks ago he even came to church with me and was able to see what our service was like. He felt really comfortable with the people and liked the sense of community we had. He's been reading the Book of Mormon I bought him in his native tongue ( The book in English is hard enough for those who have spoken it their whole lives. ) He seems truly interested, just to know the truth. I have no idea if he'll ever convert and to be honest I don't think I care if he does or doesn't because I know I opened a door for whenever he is ready. I know we shall always be very close friends and I hope he'll continue to ask me questions. The missionaries want to teach him but I am not sure he is truly wanting to be taught right now. But I am grateful the Lord placed him in my life to be able to serve him as a wonderful child of God. I love him very much and i hope he knows it! I couldn't imagine my life right now if I hadn't been given the opportunity to share with him what makes my life so perfectly happy!
My second story is extremely close to my heart. A close friend of mine from last year, reentered my life. She and I have had very different schedules and since her trip to Europe last Summer I haven't really had much time to sit down and talk with her. Well today I saw her, (I shall call her R.) in the cafeteria. I asked R how she was and she said she was doing really well and we chatted for about 10 minutes while we waited here and there for different food lines. I went to sit with some friends and she went to sit with some of her other departmental friends. After I was done I walked outside to go back to my place, and I saw R. sitting by herself. I laughed at her and we started up a conversation. (My class that hour had been cancelled due to the holidays.) She told me she felt frustrated and confused and just all around depressed. I felt terrible. This was a day for full rejoicing classes we're almost over and here she was about to break. So I let her talk. She and I are close enough that i knew some of her family stories and a little about her background (she had lived in Utah and grown up the LDS faith). I was ultimately surprised when she mentioned that she missed the LDS faith. She felt abandoned, lonely, and really confused. So we just talked about remembering to chose the right. Not just the right choices, but the right life style for her, the right timing of her and the Lord. We talked about finding the little things that school sometimes tries to take away from us. She went on to say that her CTR ring really didn't fit anymore but she was wanting to find one. ( I remembered that a few weeks ago when the church store was going out of business I bought a really nice pink one (even though my cursive ring is still in great condition and the pink one was too small)) and automatically knew I had bought that pink ring for this exact purpose. To remind R. that she is a beloved daughter of God, who knows when she needs to be heard. She needed a reminder that the school does not define who we are (EVEN THOUGH THEY TRY!) I was so grateful that the Lord gave me an hour to spend with this lovely young lady who had thought she didn't matter. This school, did that to her. She lost her individuality, she lost her faith in herself, she felt inadequate and unnoticed, and I was given the opportunity to remind her who she was, that the faith was inside her and that in the end, this school would be a piece of paper nothing more. we don't have to let a liberal arts school define us as a person. I love R. so much and I was so touched that she opened up to me. I sincerely hope that she knows I care deeply about her and that I know the Lord is still looking out for her!
Then on Sunday of last week the sister missionaries in our ward asked me if I would like to teach Sunday school. I of course said yes, i really do miss teaching! I did a quick prep and ran in blind, but in the end it all went really well! I am so grateful that the lord is trusting me to fulfill his work! Not just because I am not on a mission but because i am living the standards and the gospel to a point that i can be led by the spirit! The Lord has been able to place in the lives of F. and R. not just for me to have them but the Lord can work miracles through a steady hand! i hope to always remain this faithful! I love being able to do the work. While here or while on a mission. Because even though I am not called I am still wearing the badge. It is engraved upon my heart and there to stay. I continue to pray to be given the chance to serve a full time mission, but I also see the good in being able to serve your fellow men (and in my case women ) while living your life day to day and following the examples of Christ.
Those were my 3 chances in the last few weeks to live in the example of Christ. Thanks for taking the time to read this and share the knowledge that Our Heavenly Father lives. Truly and fully, that he knows each of our needs individually. He is so aware of each of us and our current situations! I am so loved and grateful for the opportunity to share the knowledge of that love. My Heavenly Father and my savior Jesus Christ, both know my hearts desires and I know that i can always turn to them and continue to ask for patience, love, growth and an opportunity to serve. Because as long as I live the gospel and want to share it, I will be able to!
~ Rach
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