Sister Milkbone

Dear family,

Where to begin?

It was quite the eventful week, with a trip to the emergency walk-in clinic that put me out of commission for the first few days! You know that stereotypical missionary story where the elders get chased by a dog but they barely get away? Well I guess I've now lived that story, but unfortunately this time the missionary didn't get away! Sister Smith and I went to drop off some things for a member on Tuesday morning, and right when she opened the door her dog started going crazy. She tried to restrain him but he got loose and bit Sister Smith! Luckily, he didn't break skin, but then he came at me and... 7 stitches later, I now have a great mission story to tell! When the doctor asked me what happened I told him, "I got bit by a dog," and he looked at my leg and laughed and said, "You didn't get bit by a dog, you got chewed on by a dog!" The doctor said that I had to stay off my leg for a few days, and it was pretty painful at first, but we've taken it easy the last few days and even though it's still sore and very bruised, I'm healing great! Bishop Bushman now calls me "Sister Milkbone," and according to Sister Smith I seem quite a bit more "holy" than she has ever seen me!

The positive side to the whole experience is that I got to have an awesome missionary experience as a result of getting bit by a dog! When Dr. Tu was stitching me up I started asking him about his family. He told me that his dad died a few years ago, and that he had a brother who passed away on Father's day this year. I asked him if he believed in life after death, and he told me that he didn't. He grew up in China, and he has no real belief in a higher power, but that he simply believes that when we die there is nothing more. He asked me what I believed and I was able to share with him how I gain a lot of comfort in my life in knowing that there is life after death. I explained how I believe that we aren't just made up of physical bodies, but that we have a spirit as well, and that even when our physical bodies cease to live, I do know that our spirits live on. Afterwards he took a mormon.org card, and told me that his sons (who both happen to be YSA!) had a nanny for almost 15 years who was Mormon and who the family grew very close to! So maybe Heavenly Father knew that I had to get bit by a dog so that I could meet Dr. Tu. :)

Despite having so much less proselyting time than we normally do, it was so cool to see how Heavenly Father consecrated the time that we did have and provided us with miracles! The absolute highlight of my week was yesterday! Sister Smith turned to me in the middle of sacrament meeting and said "You'll never guess who is sitting by Heather... LJ is here!!!" I can't count how many times we've invited Heather's boyfriend LJ to come to church, and he's always told us that even though he has a very strong faith in Christ, he considers himself to be "spiritual" and that he only believes in following the "red road." (LJ is Native American and very connected to his culture.) We have always invited LJ to sit in on lessons with Heather, but he has never shown interest in actually learning more for himself, until the last few weeks when we have really been seeing him heart be softened as Heather continues to change and prepare for baptism. LJ's situation is similar to Heather's. Because of things that have happened in his past, if he was baptized he would have to be in the singles ward for life, even though he is in his 50's right now. I have developed such a huge love for LJ as I have gotten to know him better over the past months! We went to have a lesson with Heather last night, and it was very powerful! We talked about repentance, and the spirit. LJ was quite emotional, though he tried to hide it. It's crazy that I don't even remember most of what Sister Smith and I said, but somehow we came out of that lesson (which happened to be a chastity lesson haha) with LJ having agreed to take the discussions and telling us that he really wanted to go into this with an open heart and open mind, to find out for himself what it was all about. In that moment I wished I could have the feeling in that room and the joyful look on Heather's face forever ingrained in my memory. SUCH a MIRACLE! I see Heather and LJ in the temple.

There truly is no sin and no sorrow that cannot be overcome with the help of the atonement of Jesus Christ. When we accept Him into our lives the power is real. I know it is. I have seen it over and over again, not only in my own life but in the lives of so many people that I have been able to meet since coming on my mission. There is not one individual on this earth who Heavenly Father has not very lovingly and carefully devised means and plans to save. He knows us individually. He loves us individually.

Lots and lots and lots of love,

Sister Slade