This week I felt, along with my companion felt like we experienced a little piece of Heaven and I want to share this experience and what I feel I've learned from it :) Perhaps it will give you some new outlook as it did me!
A sweet 93 year old woman that we love and visit was recently in the hospital, regularly we try and visit her once a week. She always calls me her little girl and our visit at the hospital was just so eye opening to me. She has been diagnosed with dementia and when we came in she kept looking towards my companion saying, "Tell her why I'm here. Tell her what's wrong with me!" And for most of the visit we thought she just would in and out remember us.. but while I was in the room, I felt that there were other people there, spirits from the other side of the veil. As I looked into this woman's eyes, I yearned to see what she saw! I knew that the veil was thinner for her than ever. I thought to myself, how wonderful the day will be when I am completely content at leaving this earth to return to my Father in Heaven. What an amazing feeling that will be, if I live my life right! She received a blessing and she is so loved from both sides! This woman is ready to meet her Father in Heaven and I believe the only reason she is here is to teach other people something and she has been teaching me for 9months. It´s amazing how our Father in Heaven places people in our lives for us to learn from! I await the day I can feel as ready as she does to return to Him! I finished the Book of Mormon this past week and this is what the prophet Moroni said as his last words: 34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.
I want to be like Moroni and this beautiful sister, where I can feel a peace and know that I will have a joyful reuniting with my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. While I was in that room with her I could feel Heaven surrounding me. I could feel love for this beautiful soul from the other side of the veil. Heavenly beings are with us.
I felt lucky enough to leave afterwards taking a little peace of Heaven with me to another Family in a completely different circumstance. Isn't that what we do as missionaries? We bring a small piece of Heaven to every door in hopes that the person on the other side will recognize it and desire to have a part... a cure for all their ails. The next family we went to I had visited before months ago and there was no interest.. but this time they had their heart strings pulled though the trials they'd been given the last few months. I saw that this young wife and mother needed her Heavenly Father in her life.. she needed to feel their love and we had brought her a little piece of heaven. We read with her 3Nefi 17, I invite you to read this chapter, but I'll place just a small part in here.. which I may have done a month or so ago... but it's as good as ever: 5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.
We shared the message with her that this gospel can and will bless her life as she turns to her Savior to be healed.
I know that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ can bless every life, regardless of which stage of life you are in, it is a cure all. I am so grateful to have it in my life and to be sharing the joy of it to the people of Tennessee! Remember that You are Never alone. You have people on both sides of the veil rooting for you, praying for you, and loving you.. even if you can't see them.