About 6 months ago, Elder Christensen and I knocked into a lady named Alana. She was baptized as a teenager on a small Caribbean island (i can't remember which one) but when she had turned 18, she moved to new york but fell away from the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her life got pretty difficult after 10 years up there, so she moved down here to Florida to be closer to her daughter (who lives with her ex) and her mother, which is when we found her.
We started going by to see her and she started having really strong desires to come back to church and live the Gospel, and to have her daughter become involved as well. Unfortunately, things took a really bad turn--her boyfriend she was living with was abusive, and things got so bad she told us she was going to leave and not come back. She had no phone, and we went by several times to see if she was ever there but we never heard from her again.... until a couple nights ago. I was driving by where she lived and I saw her door was open and a I saw a woman who lived there that looked just like her. I didn't think it was possible, but it kept sticking in my mind, so after we dropped off Elder Toews and a member from the branch to visit recent converts, we went back instead of knocking doors. Sure enough, Alana was back! She'd completely flipped her life around. She's been reading in the scriptures daily, has a job, a car, and is out of the bad relationship. Her daughter is also with her now, and they're coming to church next week!
Awhile ago, we were also teaching the Reyes family. They're an awesome family, but when we were teaching them, life was coming at them 1,000 mph from 11 different angles. They had just moved from New York as well--had 3 kids, 1 on the way, and the father was working double shifts every day detailing cars. They got too busy and too distracted and stopped meeting with us. After Alana, we went and stopped by their house, and the situation has completely changed--they have a car, the father has a 9-5 job selling insurance, their house has furniture now, and they seem a lot happier, and less stressed. We shared the #lighttheworld christmas video with them, and the spirit was instantly there. They asked us to pray and bless their house, and invited us to come back and start teaching them again.
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| Doral For Life |
Awhile ago, we were also teaching the Reyes family. They're an awesome family, but when we were teaching them, life was coming at them 1,000 mph from 11 different angles. They had just moved from New York as well--had 3 kids, 1 on the way, and the father was working double shifts every day detailing cars. They got too busy and too distracted and stopped meeting with us. After Alana, we went and stopped by their house, and the situation has completely changed--they have a car, the father has a 9-5 job selling insurance, their house has furniture now, and they seem a lot happier, and less stressed. We shared the #lighttheworld christmas video with them, and the spirit was instantly there. They asked us to pray and bless their house, and invited us to come back and start teaching them again.
It's amazing what time can do in peoples lives! It's also amazing how God can work in our lives over time. But what really stands out to me is all the little seeds that we sow, what they can really develop into. Sometimes as a missionary, I can get frustrated. I'm giving my all to serve people and give them what I KNOW will help them have more peace and happiness, and they just don't want to be served or they just don't understand. Serving in this area for 7 & 1/2 months has been a huge blessing, because normally I wouldn't have been able to see those seeds I planted develop into what they are now. Never underestimate small acts of service and the ripple effect they can have on someone's life, or their eternity.
Elder Juanes
Elder Jace Johns
Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission
7951 SW 6th Street, Suite 110
Plantation, FL 33324
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