Well today has been crazy, as
usual, and had lots of trouble finding a place we could e-mail...with
the economy the way it is, and the part of town we live in, EVERYONE
goes to the library for the Internet...so I just barely got to a
computer and have but a few minutes to share some more of my missionary
miracles from this past week.
One of the sweetest moments was this last Monday. We
went to visit a dear member who is in a nursing home, Brother Pearce.
He is an older, sweet gentleman in a wheelchair and he is one of the
Sunday School teachers and he had been sick and also got his feelings
hurt at church and was needing a friend. We went to see him and he
resisted us at first and didn't really wanna hear any scriptures or
songs....but we talked to his roommate for a minute and sang him a
primary song and then once Brother Pearce had been settled into his bed
we asked if we could sing him a couple songs...we sang "Give Said the
Little Stream" and "Whenever I Hear..." and just spent some time with
him and he thanked us several times for coming and said he was on the
mend and would be back at church and hopefully teaching. He was an
English teacher for several years and considers it a gift to teach...he
always puts so much in his lessons...even makes note cards....again even
being in his 80s and in a wheelchair...but the part that touched my
heart was at the end, he asked if he could pray and we said of
course....I have never heard such a heartfelt prayer and a prayer full
of nothing but asking blessings for us....he spoke of his great
gratitude for us coming....he mentioned how he had been feeling
discouraged and down and how the gift of companionship through us Sister
Missionaries lifted his spirits and brought him much joy and comfort.
He then prayed for us to be strengthened but then asked, "If Thou wilt
permit me to pray for these sweet sister's parents...he prayed for their
blessings and health and comfort in being far away from their daughters
and how hard that must be....I cried through the whole
prayer...afterward I said, "We came here to cheer you up, but you've
cheered us up and blessed us!" Such a sweet sweet man. Oh how our elder
loved ones need us to the very end. I was so glad we went...he wasn't in
our plans, but as things fell through, I just kept thinking...Scotty
needs us to go see him....prompting!!!
I had a few more experiences throughout the week
where a simple thought or name came to mind or stood our on paper and I
followed it and saw it truly was the spirit guiding me...After a dinner
appointment the other night I for some reason skipped right passed the
other names listed and read this one like it was the plan to go see this
family we had street contacted and hadn't been able to get a hold of
yet. We went and they were home and invited us right in and they want to
learn about the restored gospel. Both the mom and dad are so open to it
and so kind and already have a strong belief in Christ. They are a
sweet family from Iraq and I can't wait to see the blessings come to
them as they discover these amazing truths for themselves.
We also had finished our appointments the other day
for the morning and were headed to lunch but I couldn't get another name
out of my head and thinking about going home without seeing her made me
feel awful inside and I just thought..."I think she's home right
now..." again, someone we couldn't get a hold of...we couldn't get in
the complex (the previously broken gate we were able to get in was now
fixed) and I was trying to figure out how to call someone through the
intercom and the gate opened to a car coming in! So we got in and guess
who was home??? Teresa! We added her as another new investigator!
And THEN....again, we were going along our day and
had some extra time and I read through our whole back-up list and one
name kept standing out to me...I was thinking..."Is that just because
it's at the bottom of the list orrrr??? Welp let's just follow it." The
person we were looking for wasn't there, but we discovered a less active
who was baptized about a year or so ago and stopped going, and she
wants us to teach her two teenage daughters!!! Crazy right? I have just
been so thankful every single day for the guidance and promptings of the
spirit....it always makes my heart leap for joy when I realize it was a
prompting! I just always follow!! No matter what! That way I never have
regrets!
We had some other amazing lessons and experiences
this week that I don't have time to share...but so many miracles. We
taught 23 lessons last week and contacted and taught many that counted
in our hearts...we taught 7 just in yesterday alone! I am working hard
and moving my feet along and sharing my testimony with all who will
listen! I read D&C Section 75 and was so inspired! It tells us what
we need to do as missionaries and all the blessings that come...and WHOA
do I want those? Yes indeed!!!!
I love you all so much and miss you every
day...living in a home now instead of an apartment makes me awfully
homesick...especially since the house smells like Nana's did and has the
same furniture Shannon and I shared growing up! But thoughts of my
family make me work even harder! I want the blessings for YOU!
Have a wonderful week! Write me letters! They are my medicine!!
XOXO
Your Missionary,
Sister Riggs
