Wow, so I got here to the computer lab at the library and I looked over to the right of me and saw a man that we met one day at the library. He is hispanic and he was reading his Bible so I had started talking to him and actually gave him a Book of Mormon. Well I just sat down next to him and as I was about to start writing you all he leaned over and asked me "Te gustaría a cenar conmigo?" He whispered it and I was like thinking in my mind that he asked me if I would like to talk about the gospel but I felt a prompting to say no but instead I was like "Si claro" (yeah sure) and he was like "Enserio?"(seriously?) and then I had a sick feeling in my stomach so I said "Perdon, no se esta palabra 'cenar'" and he said "You want dinner with me?". I then tried really hard not to laugh and said "Oh, no, no, no, soy una misionera...no puedo." (I am a missionary...I can't). So...I just said yes to a date as a missionary. Okay on accident. But it was funny. He then proceeded to ask me for how long I will be a missionary. Man. Oops. When you don't know exactly what someone is saying, DO NOT say yes. Lesson learned.
So our week was good! Lawanda and Tiana, the mother and daughter that are getting baptized on the 29th of September came to church again yesterday and they both loved it. I can't even express to you all how much I love this family. I think I sent a picture to you guys of them awhile back, the family consists of the mom, Lawanda and her six kids. They are black and these kids are the cutest little kids in the entire world! I LOVE THEM. Yesterday as Lawanda and Tiana were about to go home after church Lawanda asked Tiana if she could feel herself changing for the good inside, and then she said "Cuz I sure can!". They are really excited for their baptism and so am I. We have worked really hard with them for months now and finally they are really close to the waters of baptism and we can see the changes in them. It is the greatest thing that I have ever seen in my entire life. The youngest of Lawanda's kids is named Maria and she is my little buddy. As a missionary we are not allowed to pick up kids and it is the hardest rule for me. Instead I just pinch her little cheeks and play with her. At first when we were visiting them she would not even come near us, now she runs to me and tries to get me to hold her. I need to take a good picture with her and send it to you all.
I have been thinking so much this week about the way that we as humans choose to set the tone of our homes and our lives. I see so much abuse and neglect going on in the homes of a good amount of the people that we visit and even our neighbors right now. Yesterday we witnessed this man yelling his head of at his little boy who could not have been more than 4 years old. He yelled horrible words and profanities at this cute little kid and called him horrible names. Man, what must this man have gone through that made him think that it is in ANY way okay to say things like that to a small child, let alone to anyone? I was talking with my companion about it because it made both of us sick and I told her that I wonder who yelled at him that way and if he remembered how it made him feel as a little kid. We have so many choices in this life. We can choose to use the things that have happened to us in the past as a crutch and repeat the cycle of abuse that may have happened to us, OR we can use the atonement of the Savior to help us let it go, and then use the example of the Savior to teach us how to be the best parents, friends, brothers, sisters, etc. that we can be. I then look on the other hand. Tonight we are going to eat with the daughter of the bishop in our ward. Her and her husband are not perfect people but they have chosen to have Christ be the center of their home and the difference compared to the kind of homes that we visit normally is HUGE. There is love and respect and the Spirit of the Lord abides there. I feel like I can breath so much easier in their home. I want to raise my children with a good sense of discipline and at the same time I am going to love them very much and that is one thing that they will never wonder about. Sometimes I just want to cry because I want to pick up so many of these neglected kids that we see and hug and kiss them and tell them that they are so very loved. I always wonder if they ever have anyone tell them that they are loved. I wonder if they every have anyone touch them lovingly and tell them how special they are. People need to be loved. The more love that you give the more you will receive.
I am sending some pictures of a night that we went and at soul food in one of the most shady areas of the city. It was so fun. The place is called Mama R's. They gave us SO much food! I had sweet potatoes, fried corn, fried pork chops, salad and mashed potatoes and gravy Cajun style. I thought I would burst after we were done. I did not even eat half of it. Hmmm...soul food. They should call it "make your hips big" food.
Well I love this gospel. It is everything to me. I am continually learning so much. I really appreciate your love and support!
les quero mucho!
Hermana Thorne
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