From Jonah Bench
Teaching in New York,
USA
Karen is an excommunicated member who recently got
re-baptized! She was a drug addict, an alcoholic, a smoker, coffee drinker, and
had three of her four kids out of wedlock with two different men. She's broken
most of the commandments and, as a result, ended up in a really dark place. But
one night she prayed for help and the missionaries stopped by the next day. She
let them in and started taking the lessons.
This was about the time I got transferred here and the first
thing she said to me when I walked into her house was "I know you from
somewhere!" There's no way I have met her on earth. But I very firmly
believe that we were very close friends before this earth. She quit smoking, read
the entire book of Mormon, quit coffee, kicked the people out of her life that
were a bad influence, and completely changed to become ready for baptism. We
went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead last Saturday and also went to
the sacred grove. It was awesome!
There may only be one person that you will find on your
mission who you are able to see change. "But if ye should labor all your
days and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with
them in the kingdom of my Father." It's true! Keep going!!
