schizophrenic mangervous...

I found a fische in our area book that does not have my handwriting on it! Her name is Hermilie and it only has a record of a few lessons that took place about 10 years ago. I called her and we sang 'we wish you a merry christmas' to her answering machine. She said that our voices awoke something in her that she had forgotten and would like to see us.

I met her at the metro stop and recognized her right away. She's haïtian. and she was there with a 10 year old daughter Emmy. She has trust in the missionaries already, but ranted about things that block her 'chez les Mormon.' -- Baptisms for the dead. Things they do for other people, Living prophets like the ancient prophets, authority ....

then we figured out that she is a baptized member of the church! she had a calling 10 years ago when St Ouen had to go to Paris Lillas because of construction. when her daughter was an infant.

she kept on ranting, almost angry, but we just listened. Slowly, very slowly, she started remembering things-- talked about how warm, familial and kind the Mormons are. despite all that. and then how she always accepts the missionnaries. and then I asked to sing a hymn. We did and she sung in harmony. it was beautiful.

Then she started to bear powerful testimony of how there is a feeling that you only get in a Mormon church that is not anywhere else. about how the Book of Mormon says true things even though she doesn't really understand how it came to be. About how she sometimes defends Mormons to the Protestant at the church she attends. About testimony meeting, about the Loisel family...

I reminded and reminded her to come to church, but she didn't show up. so I called after RS and stayed on the phone until she agreed to wake up her daughter (i have a suspicion that she was already awake) and come before Sacrament Meeting.

and they came. and had a wonderful sacrament meeting. She Loves church. Her daughter is our new amie. and she-- she is a lost sheep that is found.

can't wait for anOther baptism on Saturday, Fabianne! her baptismal clothes are in our room and she is shining already. Happy New Year everyone. and thankyou Brad, Maggie, Micah, Mal and Jen for the birthday / christmas wishes. love you all.

Soeur Mariah Wilson