Hermana Anderson: January 7th

Happy New Year! I did not make any official resolutions this year, but I did start a miracle journal, and I have been FILLING it. The greatest miracle of all happened on Saturday in my old area of Bonao when John and Stefany were baptized. I believe I mentioned the beginning of the story looooong long ago. Back at the end of August probably. But let me start again....

...Once upon a time on a faraway island there was a Sister Missionary who was trying to share the gospel. She and her companion mounted a guagua and she was anticipating talking with whoever would sit next to her...until that person was a moustached-man who seemed a bit intimidating. Her companion dozed off on the rather long bus ride and the poor Sister Missionary was having an internal war with herself, trying to decide whether or not to speak to the man. "What's the worst that could happen?" She asked herself. After a good 15 minutes she mustered up the courage to start a conversation. The man turned out to be incredibly friendly! He showed her pictures of his family on his phone and even invited her and her companion to have lunch with them in their home the following Sunday! The Sister Missionary was sure he would forget the invitation, but her called on Saturday afternoon to confirm with them. And so to lunch the Sisters went. Little did they know that it was a BIRTHDAY celebration! They had the grandest lunch and had a total BLAST with the family. The Sister Missionary thought to herself Ëven if this people have no interest in the gospel whatsoever, I think I will just have to keep visiting here!" And visit they did. Many lessons were had in the house of William and Edita Gabriech with their two teenaged children. One day Edita even revealed that she had once been baptized in the Mormon church but had not gone since she was a teenager. The Sisters continued to work hard with the family, inviting them to all the activities and to come to church every Sunday, but they were often busy and could not make it. Sadly, the Sister Missionary was transferred from that area and did not hear much of the family of the man on the bus. UNTIL one sunny day she was walking in the streets of her new area when she heard the jingle of the cell phone. It was her old companion calling to tell her that Edita was now fully active in the church and that her two children, John and Stefany were to be baptized the following afternoon! Pure, radiant joy filled the heart of the Sister Missionary. A scripture came to mind, Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how manyof them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us. 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us. (Alma 26: 3 and 31) And the Sister Missionary will one day embrace this family, filled with pure joy and love. And they will live happily in the mansions of the Lord forever after.

It is always, always, ALWAYS worth it to open your mouth to those around you. I was very fortunate to know rather immediately of the fruits of my labors. That may not be the case with us every time we share the gospel. But there is fruit, even when we don't see it. There is a restored gospel to be shared. There are lives to be blessed. There are families to be united. Open your mouths and the Lord will do the rest.