Story of the Week:

 My companion and I had to walk to and from the public library for online proselyting time. We share a car with the hermanas right next to our area, and that day they just so happened to have it. The walk to the library was super cold and EXTREMELY windy. Needless to say, neither of us could feel our faces by the time we got there. I had some training to do online, and I finished it right before the hour was up. We thought about staying for another half and hour if possible to finish with my training, but decided to just start walking back.

We had just got down the street from the library when we noticed two guys walking towards us. I am going to be honest. I was judgmental at first. One of the men had on a huge set of headphones around his neck, and the other was dressed in such a way that you could almost describe him as 'toned down goth'. As we got closer, I started to walk in such a way that I would not pass by them too close. Before I knew what was happening, we were talking to them. "Hey! You guys are sisters, right?"

My companion answered no. That we weren't. (Funny story... everybody asks us if we are REAL sisters, as in related). But he knew better! "Yeah. Yeah you are! I know who you guys are! I'm a member!" Now this is the 'toned down goth' guy that is speaking. I was shocked..... I couldn't help but feel bad about judging him just seconds before. I thought to myself, "Wow. He IS a son of God. Why wouldn't he be a member?". From then on started a great experience that taught me a lot.

The two men told us that they were in the Circus for Barnum and Bailey! They were in town for a few weeks here in Chicago (we drive by their mile and a half train every day). They both work in concessions for now, but Jonathan (the member), and his friend both wanted to be part of the act someday. One a clown, and the other a unicyclist. I was so dang excited to be talking to people who live on a train and are part of a circus. I seriously felt like I was five years old. Jonathan then explained to us though, that he knew that they had run into us for a reason! He said that he had wanted to take another road to get to where they were going, but decided to take the one where we ended up meeting. He said that he had been telling his friend all day that he wanted to find our church and go. They had that Sunday off, which was rare, and he wanted to go to church since he hadn't been in such a long time. He also said that he wanted his friend to come with him, which we of course ended up convincing him to do. His friend explained that he had been searching for a religion that made him feel at home. I testified that I knew that our church gave that to people here on this earth. So he committed to go! Sadly, they both spoke English, so we had to give their number to the English sisters who are in our area. We made sure that they got a ride from their little train car (SO COOL) to the church that Sunday. And guess what? THEY WENT!!!

I'm so grateful for the little opportunities that I am given as a missionary to be a tool in the Lord's hands in not only helping to uplift and answer others' hopes and prayers, but to also plant those little seeds that if nourished, can grow into great testimonies of our Lord Jesus Christ!

I'm also grateful for the circus. Mostly for the elephants. I love elephants.  (: