First Floor, First Door

We are doing lots of finding here in Glen Allen, which is so great

because that causes so many miracles!

We get a call in the week from the AP's saying that there is someone

who lives in our area named Roy who wants to come to church! So we

give him a call and give him all of the information he needs and he

says he is excited to come. So we look for him on Sunday and he didn't

show up... so sad. We look up he address and it only has a building

number for an apartment complex. Sister Franks and I say a prayer and

decide to knock on all of the doors until we find him. The first house

we knock on lives this super sweet lady. She was interested in our

message and said we could come back! We asked what her name was,

Eretha and her last name was the same as Roy's! We asked if Roy lives

there and she said that was her husband. Wow! First door, first floor.

We also received another referral from the Spanish elders. They were

walking around these apartments one day when they heard someone

yelling, "no no no!" She yelled back, "yes I'm going to talk to them!"

She went over to them and asked if they could help her. She wants to

stop smoking and help her husband. They set up an appointment and sent

us over there. She said come in the back door so she sees us coming.

When we go to see her she comes out and she just keeps apologizing at

how she is a drinker and is so embarrassed at everything. We told her

that she was fine and that Jesus Christ loves her and that we are here

to help her. She just started to cry and hug us and to cry and to hug

us over and over. Truthfully it was nice to be able to find someone

who recognizes the importance of our message and the effects it can

have on their life. It really built my testimony again on why I am

here. To bring the message of peace and hope to those who need it. The

world is literally going crazy and this is the only thing that can

truly help. Jesus Christ has overcome the world, if we rely on Him we

can too.

The most adorable girl in the whole world got baptized this week on

Wednesday! It was such a sweet baptism. She has worked so hard to be

able to be baptized. Her whole family was able to come along with some

family friends. There was another person there that we didn't

recognize, his name is Peter. We went over and talked to him, he got

baptized about four years ago and has gotten busy with life, but has

decided to start coming back.

Funny story. We stopped by an investigators house the other day we

were planning on dropping because she has dementia we are pretty sure

and not that interested. We knock on her door and no one answers. We

walk outside and there was a guy on her balcony (her son) he said "oh

was that you knocking on the door? Ya I don't answer to Mormons."

Okay... we went to another apartment and on our way back, we saw

Kathy. We asked her how she was and she said, "I'm fine, just looking

for some soul food." "Ooohhh... what's that?" Kathy, "You know the

food black people eat, like collard greens and potato salad." "Oh,

your looking for that in the parking lot?" So apparently we have been

looking in the wrong place for some soul food, so moral of the story

is they only make soul food in parking lots.

The past couple of weeks I have been reading about the life of Jesus

Christ in the scriptures. My testimony of Him has been strengthened so

much! I love my Savior with all of my heart. He truly loves us so

much. He cries with us when we are sad, and He cries with us when we

rejoice. Those days when I start to get lazy, or it is 99 degrees

outside with 80% humidity and we have tracting planned for the next

hour, those are the moments I rely on Him. I think about the last week

of the Saviors life on earth. I think about all He went through and I

am sure at least a couple of times we was tempted to quit. To lay down

and take a nap, to make it all stop, to take a rest. But he didn't. He

kept going, working to the point of exhaustion, working until He

accomplished what He was called to do. And that is what I am going to

do as well. This is hard work. This is the hardest work I have ever

done, but it is also the most rewarding thing I have ever done as

well. The days I want to give up are the days I feel closest to my

Savior. The days that I get the smallest glimpse of what He went

through. That is when the miracles come. When you have worked your

hardest. That is when it is the most rewarding. This church is true.

The Savior is truly the Redeemer of the world, and my very best

friend.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

I LOVE YOU ALL

❤️ Sister Ruffner