This week has been such an abundance of tender mercies!
I always pray for missionary opportunities. I often pray for certain people that have come into my life. I learned deeply from my son, Derek, during his mission, from a man in his mission presidency, President Christensen. He wrote a big on missionary work. I read that book. He helped me learn and see that if I am just extending invitations to my brothers and sisters who are not members, it counts as missionary work. I do not have to get someone baptized to count as missionary work. Just befriending, inviting, loving, helping those people is missionary work.
I put the challenge to the test this week. Whenever there is an event, sponsored by the Church, I figure it's a free, wonderful opportunity to invite non-members. The RS Presidency gave out the invitations early. I took three - one for me and two for my non-member neighbors - AH and HB. I knew they probably would not want to come, but I drove the invites to their homes and invited them.
I can tell this next part, because the woman told a lot of people at my church, so it's ok if I tell now. I took care of a patient at the hospital, a man in his late 60's. His wife's name was Billie Ann. They were from deep Arkansas. They were a darling couple. They have the thick accent (at least for here). I won't tell all the details we spoke about, because they would be a breech, but suffice it to know that we became good friends, just I prepared him for surgery and spoke to them both.
When he left for surgery, she started to cry. It turned out she has a lot of emotional things going on in their lives. It turned out that Blaine was able to give her a blessing of comfort, with another member man who works at the hospital. I talked a lot with Billie and helped her as much as I could.
When I went home, I thought of her all evening. I received the prompting that I should invite her to our ward's RS Birthday party, which would include a nice meal and a program and a game.
I didn't dare call on Wednesday, because it was the day after his surgery, but I still had the feeling. I called her on Thursday morning, the day of the event. I thought she probably wouldn't want to come, for one reason or another. But I knew she was really trying and wanting to make friends. And I knew my older group of RS sisters would be there, and many others. So, I called.
I said who I was. She was so excited, and so grateful for the care I had given. Then I invited her, telling her about the meal, all the ladies from 18 to 100 that would be there. She gladly accepted! I was stunned, grateful, thrilled!
All day I prayed and worried she would cancel on me. But at 5:30 she called me on my cell, and told me she had just left Felt. I told her that was fine. She didn't get to the church until 6, that's when it started. So, we hustled into the cultural hall. I took her first to the older ladies table. Here would be my dear, friends I've had all m life in Bates - Barbara Knight, Shauna Jamison - Barbara's daughter, Tess Dalton, Janeane Driggs, LaRue Ripplinger, Leora Wood - I can't remember who else. I just took Billie right there, asked if I could introduce my new friend - introduced her - they had to ask a few times about her name --- Billie? Dillie? She is a character and loves to talk, so she immediately felt at home and was gracious. My heart filled with warmth and joy.
Their table was full, so I looked for friendly women I knew would be welcoming to her. I saw Chelsea Peterson and Kortnee Woolstenhulme sitting there. I went to that table I introduced Billie. They introduced themselves, and later Becky Clayton, Jessica Beard, Sarah Henderson, Beth Brinkerhoff and maybe another sister came and sat with us and introduced themselves. These ladies are about my sister, Kortnee's age or younger. So, they're 7 to 10 years younger than I.
Again, bless their souls, my heart filled with warm and sweet peace and love, as they opened their "arms" and circled her and welcomed her and made her feel part of us.
Oh, the joy that filled my soul to overflowing! The program was a beautiful presentation about Emma Smith, Kortnee Woolstenhulme sang a beautiful song about Emma. There was a video from the church about the organization of Relief Society, how Emma said "We are going to do something extra-ordinary!" And we have.
Afterward, I introduced Bobbie to a few more sisters. When we left the building, Billie was only happy and complimentary about the whole evening, so grateful I had invited her. I just melted with love and joy that the Savior and Heavenly Father let me be an instrument in Their hands to touch one sister for this few days' time.
Billie still carries a heavy load of home problems and trials that won't be solved easily. But she loves the Bible, and now she's been in a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When we were outside the church, I told her what it was, a bit about the Relief Society organization, etc. She didn't seem to really catch all that I said, who would?, but I planted a seed. And for that day, it was enough and more for me!
There are more tender mercies - a trip to Idaho Falls with my mom and my sister, and then a beautiful young women's in excellence program tonight, a talk about a team of chariot racing horses - both answers to my own prayers. I'll write about them next.
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