An Experience that Changed Me

So I talked to my companion and she agreed to stop scheduling work on our P-days (preparation days) so we can actually rest from serious business. Hooray for real blog entries!! And hooray for hard-working companions who understand my need to wind down!! (She's Tahitian...it's so oxymoronic!) 

I also want to express my gratitude for all the wonderful birthday messages I received but not yet had the chance to respond to. I still love you!!

FACTS I LEARNED:

• Aix-les-Bains + Faverges = paradise

• Spaniards are just as bad as Italians when it comes to physical contact in conversation. Or maybe my American cultural bubble of personal space is bigger than normal. Comme même.

• Fact I keep being reminded of: I have the greatest family and friends. Ever. 

So I only have an hour of computer time each week now because I'm not willing to pay 5 euros for an hour and a half. Basically, I'll just quickly share an experience that changed me and hopefully will change some of your perspectives as well. 

I was on an exchange in grand Lyon last week and I had the chance to teach a Muslim man for the first time. He had told us he had snuck out of his house to hear our message because he can't let anyone find out he's learning about another religion. That's how dedicated this man was. As we dove into our lesson, we realized that we had to start at square one because this man didn't even know who Christ was or what He did. All he knew was that He was some kind of "prophet." So, as expected, we shared our testimonies. But I felt something very different this time. 

I felt gratitude beyond what I've ever felt before while teaching about the Atonement. What a crucial piece of knowledge it is to know that there is someone who loves you so much that He was willing to die for you to be able to return to live with God. How crucial it is to know that you can find happiness in your trials here in this life. 

We then went into the concept of prayer once we felt he understood who Christ was. He did not understand at all that prayer was a conversation between us and God and that we can communicate to him through the Spirit. He was incredulous for the entire lesson up until my companion and I prayed for him so that he could hear and feel what a real conversation with God was like. Immediately after, we asked him to try. 

I cry thinking about this. Never on my mission have I gotten the chance to hear someone talk to God for the first time and describe the feelings that they felt. How blessed I am to have seen that. How blessed I am to know about prayer and God's love for each of us. I encourage all of you who have all had the opportunity to utilize this blessing in your life to think about that when you are praying this week. I can't describe it really, but for me, I feel a new level of sincerity and peace. Que Dieu vous benisse, tout le monde. Je vous aime avec tout mon coeur.

Sœur Green