Hello family!
My mission went from being a "Novella" to a "Bollywood" film this past week. We met a man from India named Ekambaran. His wife just left him and he was devastated. They had an arranged marriage in India and then she moved here with him while he's at UCLA doing research, and she hated it so she went back to India. We found him walking to a dinner appointment in the UCLA village family housing and he invited us to come over right after dinner, so we went by and he just broke down crying. We couldn't come into his apartment because he was there alone, so we said a prayer with him in the doorway and then sang "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" The next day he came to the Visitors' Center, because he felt something compelling him to be there. He felt peace. It is hard to teach him because he is still working on his English and has no Christian background, so we have to take a lot of baby steps. We taught him what baptism was and then asked him if he would be baptized if he knew it was true and he said yes. He really wants his wife back, and so that is all he prays for and what is motivating his seeking God in his life. We asked him if he was just looking for a quick fix or if he would be committed if he knew this was God's path for him, and he said that he would be. He came to church on Sunday and really seemed to enjoy it, so we'll see how that goes. We also found a 60 yr. old African American man named James Epps who wants to be baptized, so things are starting to pick up in Mar Vista. We don't know how serious they both are about it, but just the fact that we have started to find people that want to be baptized is such a miracle!
Things really are starting to bloom in Mar Vista! We always pass a fig tree on the way up to our apartment, and it has been bare for a long time because of the winter, and it is barely starting to get leafy again, so the other day I saw it and turned to Sister Olsen and exclaimed "We are like this fig tree!" She was really confused, as she often is, poor thing, but especially confused, so I had to explain to her how we were slowly starting to see things bloom and progress, and eventually we are going to see the fruits of our labor. It is funny because this week we decided that our companionship is like "Pinky and the Brain." I am always thinking and plotting. And as Sister Olsen said "You think too much. But I probably don't think enough." It balances out though and we make a good team.
I've started teaching a morning aerobics class for the sisters which is so fun! It has kept me motivated to exercise and helped me get those much needed endorphins to keep me going and to keep me happy. They all like to tease me for my enthusiasm in doing aerobics, but I don't care because I really like doing it.
I've been reading in Jesus the Christ and I found a really deep quote that I liked a lot. It says "Mere pleasure is at best but fleeting; happiness is abiding, for in the recollection thereof is joy renewed." -James Talmage. So that is my spiritual thought for you for the week. When we do good things the joy and happiness lasts because we can always look back on those memories and it gives us even more joy thinking about them.
I love you all! Have a great week!
Sister Dansie
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