Family 3-5-17

MARCH-ONE YEAR?!? Seriously never thought this would come.

This week was incredible. Sister Kafoa and I were able to go every single day to the hospital to visit an investigator who is living in an area near by. The hospital is in our district, and a lady in our ward care gives for a man in a wheel chair who is the Investigators fellowship in his ward. I have NOT fully understood the Atonement until this week. This man has been in prison 2 times in his life, in and out of police stations, and he has been an alcoholic his whole life and he is 57. He met the missionaries and they told Him he cannot get baptized if he doesn't quite drinking, so he put himself into  the Henry Bennet section of the hospital which is the Alcohol recovery section, and he is staying for a week, so far he has been sober all week, and we have seen him every single day. He said he has never felt love or hope ever in his entire life until he met the missionaries and the members of the church. This week we tried helping him learn to pray because we knew that was the only thing that could help him through, and we followed up and he didn't pray, followed up again and he didn't pray, he said it was too awkward, then we followed up the next night, and he said he prayed TWICE. He said he just cried, this man is NOT a softy, and he said he felt humbled to the dust of the Earth, as he prayed. He said that he felt "marshmellowy" inside and that he KNEW that Heavenly Father was listening to Him. He is incredible, and I am so sad that he is leaving tomorrow back to His area, who knows maybe that will be my next area, he has influenced me a lot, and I sure love him so much. He is the definition of the Atonement! I know people can change!!! 

The coolest thing is one day we went to see Berry, that is his name, and while we were there, this other guy in the hospital was like are you Mormons? We said yes and he said his family was mormon and he was less active and wondered if we could come visit him too, haha it was so cool. We may as well just proselyte in the hospital!! We were able to invite him into our discussion, and something I learned from both of them, is no matter how low you get, or how lost you get, you will NEVER forget the way you were raised or the things that you learned. It was incredible, especially to see how Jesus Christ really is the only way to get better from dark times.

We had this EVIL man stop us on the side of the road, haha and he was like bashing us as hard as he could, and right then this lady in our ward ran by, just on her evening run. We waved and she kept going, and then up the hill you saw her turn around, and she came back and stood as a member present. It was so cool because she was able to give her witness that she too knows what we are sharing is true, she then told us after how when she ran up the hill, she literally felt the spirit stop her  and say "TURN AROUND" that is when she ran back and came to us. :) 

We have a new investigator, her name is Lachey  (la-shay) and she is 14. Her Auntie is in our ward, and we had a lesson with her the other day and it was incredible. We were talking about prayer, and Lachey shared that she only prays on her own, and has never said one out loud. We invited her to say the closing prayer, and it was incredible, the spirit was so relevant. She prayed out loud, and she couldn't even muster the words to get through the whole thing. After she expressed that how she was feeling right now, was a feeling she has never ever felt. We were then able to bare testimony that is the spirit, and that what we share with her is true. It was incredible, and she came to church on sunday so YAY!!! 

If you remember that family we helped on the side of the road last week, well anyways if you remember the Dad said he would find us and thank us, and this week sure enough he came to the Visitors Centre TWICE!! But the most incredible thing happened, our Relief Society President has been dropping off food daily at their house, given them a lot of money, and asked our ward if we will be willing to help a refugee family. Well anywho our Relief Society president, Sister Wairepo had us for dinner on Saturday, and we walked in and GUESS WHO WAS SITTING AT THE TABLE?? YES, she invited the family for dinner and we were able to teach them the first lesson. It was incredible, and we were so grateful for the compassion she has shown them, it is true that Charity never faileth!!!! 

I have been so blessed this week, and the best blessing is having a companion like I have. I am so grateful for Sister Kafoa, she is someone who constantly wants to do and become her best, she has been such an example for me, and I love her heaps. I assume she will be training in a few weeks, and I know that I will be heading out into the field. It will be quite a change for me, but I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for me!!! I love the Sunnyhills Ward, and I love the people here. This week we had 11 member present lessons, and 8 of them were members coming out with us. They are incredible here, and I love them so much.

I hope you have the best week, I am so happy I received multiple letters from Delta Seminary, I think it is missionary week. So weird to be a part of that now, as a missionary!! I love you all heaps, and heaps, hope you are doing well and HAPPY :))) 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach