Miracle of the week:

Randomly, I called Lény. I say randomly, but you know how the spirit works, nothing is really random. I picked her and her son Ulrich (6) up to come to church one of my first weeks, and she did stay for all three meetings with her son but never showed up for our appointments. She had disappeared pretty fast. Her name wasn’t even in the Area Book. But she was so grateful to hear sister wilson’s voice! Oh, she said, I need you so much. I need your message. Life is so hard right now, can you come this Saturday?

We went and she opened up to us. We taught half in English and half in French as she is from Cameroon and prefers English but her son doesn’t really follow in English. She has amazing internal values and character. She is so strong. I cannot tell you all the challenges she has, but she is living in a hotel right now (has been for quite some time) and really needs a place to live. She is being cheated out of money everywhere. And men are trying to take advantage of her. She was married to her husband in Africa but was promised a visa if she came to france. Her husband could follow. Well, her husband could not follow and she is stuck here. Without a visa. This was a long time ago. But she still won’t date or let the men take advantage of her because ‘I am married! I do have a husband even though he is far. And I still will love him.’ Not at all of the typical african wishy-washy commitment pattern, she is so strong and fierce. I love her so much. I am not sure how. She will not ever leave my thoughts. Can you please put her name on the temple rolls? She gobbles up our message, trusts us as servants of God, and knows that inspiration has brought us to her.

thoughts from studies:
And ironic that mom is practicing Faith in Every Footstep because, of the theme of faith this transfer, this week is Faith in every footstep. In every step I take. Direction towards Maëva, or towards Lény, or towards my companion, or towards Giselle and other ward members. I was chastened in some of my prayers… I should be doing MORE more more… update the area book, call more numbers I’ve received, talk to more people!

and then I read, My (daughter), despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, for whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth. But he chasteneth us for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. … afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore, make straight the paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

love you all,
Soeur Mariah Wilson

ps< thanks steven for your letter!