I want to know why music brings the spirit so strongly and connects us to heaven. We were sitting in church yesterday (I'll write more about church later) but 8 investigators were there and then Eugene, our recent convert who now holds the priesthood, was sitting on the front pews with the other people passing sacrament. We started seeing the opening hymn, the "First Noel". I started thinking about the blessings of the gospel in these people's lives - 5 months ago Eugene was alcoholic and smoked a pack a day. Now he's passing the sacrament. I looked at the people we had in church and my mind went to where they are now and where the light of the Gospel of Christ is going to take them. I don't know why, but the Spirit just hit me in the middle of the hymn. It impressed on me that I actually am making a difference. That what we do changes people. And for some reason, I guess that music was the medium of the Spirit at that time.
Another family came - we received a "bible referral" (where somebody requests a free Bible to be brought by) for a lady, Angela, and have been trying to teach her for a while. We went over Thursday night and were invited inside. The whole family was there - Angela, her fiancee, her two daughters, and her mom. They live in a small trailer with one room in the back next to a cramped kitchen. They have a folding sports chair but that's it for furniture. Her daughters, 6 and 10, sleep in the little entryway right by the kitchen. We taught them and they all wanted to come to church. Neither of these families have cars. So, we arranged rides and they all came to church Sunday and loved it.
Busy busy busy for us making sure that everybody was in the right place - primary classes, relief society, priesthood meeting, Sunday school, etc. But they had a wonderful experience there and they all want to come to our ward Christmas party on Friday.
I have so much love for these people, mom... There are so many things that I love about them. They are all southern black baptist, and firmly rooted in that tradition. When the 1st counselor in the bishopric got up to begin sacrament meeting, he said, "Good morning, brothers and sisters!" So what happens right after that. Well, all of our investigators reply back "Good mornin'." Because that's what they do! And I love it! They were nodding and whispering "Mhm, amen!" during sacrament meeting and in classes afterward. They have so much faith, so much honesty, so much SOUL!!!!
Seeing them smiling during church made me look around at the members in our ward and think, "Are you as excited about the gospel and about the Savior as our investigators are?" Anyway, I just love the people and will miss them big time when I go back. We're going to make them cookies and try to make their Christmas special. Because there's not a penny in that home to buy any Christmas presents.
