Light Within The Storm

There are moments when my testimony that God exists & loves me are so very strengthened. There are others when I know of a surety that Satan exists. This week was filled with both. Saturday especially, we started the day off by visiting a friend who just so needed to hear about the plan of happiness, redemption, & salvation. The spirit was so present as we were able to tell her of the love that God has for her. As we shared the hope that we have as we follow Jesus Christ. As we explained the Atonement & those sacred moments in Gethsemane. Jesus knows every single fear, pain, sorrow, & loss. He knows happiness, hope, love, & peace. Remember that. 

We kept going about our day, ran into some kids playing soccer. Happiest day. Took a picture with them & went on our way. We stopped by a tree & all the sudden a dog shows up barking at us & a kid on his bike. The kid on his bike told us we should leave that area & to be careful. He told us there could be gunshots. So we began to walk away, pretty quickly. I got my wallet out of my backpack, my phone, & my pepper spray & had them all in my coat pockets. As we walked, a guy in a yellow bandana began to run behind us. He was yelling saying stop. We didn’t know if he was talking to us or not, but we did not look back & just kept on walking. I said a prayer out of pure fear. Ran into the kids who were playing soccer again, asked if he was talking to us & they said no & fear filled their eyes. We turned. Hearts racing & no idea what is going on. Turn at the next street that followed & the same guy with the yellow bandana was right there in front of us, this time walking with a gun in the air. I asked my companion if it was a gun & she said yes & tears filled my eyes & my heart still raced out of my chest. My eyes stayed directly forward as we walked right past this guy. 4 minutes later, we heard gunshots. I have never been so scared in my life. We spent the next 30 minutes sitting on a park bench after getting far enough away. Hermana Hoopes said a prayer & as soon as she said "Heavenly Father" tears filled my eyes again, chills came over my whole body, & so much peace filled my soul. The promise came true for us. "For I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." I know we were protected that day. I know God loves me. 

Then the light came. Isabel was baptized that night. It was a long week as she was filled with nervousness leading up to the big day. She almost didn’t make it & showed up about 30 minutes late. But she came & with her, came her dad & her younger sister. We were filled with joy. She changed into her baptismal dress & when she saw herself she just cried. It was just what she wanted & she felt so happy. The service was beautiful. Heaven worked really hard that day & I am so happy about it. 

We have been teaching a kid who is 21 years old. His name is Julio & he is special. Last week, he walked with us to church. This week, we went to go see him & we talked about the goals that he has. He has been struggling with smoking. He normally smokes a pack a day & so we've been helping him smoke one less each day. We asked him about his desires, if he really wants to stop. He told us that it depends, sometimes yes & sometimes he just feels like it's impossible. & we told him how he is a son of God. & he was surprised. It is possible. All things are possible. Julio has hope, just like each & every one of us. 

We went to Rauch. A sweet little town, maybe 4 hours away. Hermana Ruiz & I got to go make some little visits. Met a lady who has been reading the Book of Mormon when she feels down & it helps her feel better. She told us of the things going on in her life & it's heavy. She has what she needs though, faith. Faith that things will get better. Even when maybe it doesn't feel like it ever will. 

I assume you have all read in Ether 6, when the Lord caused the stones to shine for the Jaredites. Oh how beautiful it is. The Lord prepared them with the stones, they prepared themselves with a few necesites, & set forth onto the sea. While they were on the way to the promised land, the Lord caused great winds to blow to send them forth across the waters. The waves buried them sometimes, but there was no water that could hurt them. No water that could hurt them because it was the Lord's whole plan. They cried unto the Lord to bring them back up, & He did. The wind did never cease. It never stopped, because its purpose was to get them to the promised land. In it all, they did have light continually. They spent a whole long time on that ship, being tossed & turned. It was 344 days. But they made it. 

They made it because it was the Lord's doing. He prepares us to pass through the great storms, He gives us the things we need to do it. He will cause storms because we need them but He will also be the One who stops them. There will be light continually, sometimes it is harder to see. I promise it's always there. Sometimes it feels like it lasts forever. I promise it doesn't. The wind will keep pushing us, always. We may be buried, but we will be brought back up. Because it's Jesus. He is the light. So go find the things you need to get through the great storms. The Lord has got it all prepared. We're all on the dock, let's go.

You're all so officially invited to watch general conference this weekend. One of the great things we need to get us through the storms. I promise I am happy as can be. 

Oh how I love all of you. I just want to thank you all for your prayers. I sure feel them. I hope you feel mine. I sure pray for you.

With all my heart, 

Hermana Morley <3