You must meet Mariam!

We first met 'Mariam' when she was sitting in our courtyard with her cousin 

who is the guard for this apartment building. 

He is very kind to us and we enjoy visiting with him. 

He introduced us to her and she immediately wanted to know 

more about our church.

She is from Sierra Leone, Africa, where she grew up in a Muslim home 

until the age of 9 years when her parents separated. 

Shortly after, she lived with another family 

so she would help with their children and cleaning. 

She learned about Christianity in this home.

The things she has experienced in her life due to war, family, 

broken family, evil, death, destruction, goodness and love,

is amazing all in one lifetime.     

Her voice is wonderful to listen to, as is her heart.

"God start to show himself to me during war." 

She told us: "I don't always go to church 

but I don't joke with my prayers in my heart." 

She told us that she has tried everything the world has to offer too many times 

and it didn't work.  It did not bring her happiness.  

Would we please help her know "how to come closer to God"

We told her that we can show her how to receive her own answers

because Heavenly Father will not lie 

and she assured us that she would pray to know

if what we are saying is true.

That was a Monday eve.  She asked us to come to her home on Wed.

"Maybe I will get my answer tonight," 

she said as we were leaving for an appointment, 

"God don't waste time with me!"

Wednesday evening found us teaching

the Gospel to her in English, the language of her country.  

(so fun for us...although we have to reach for some English words now) 

She had a dream and said, "Yes, this is true".

She uses my scriptures and reads everyday.

When we arrive for our visits in her home, 

she is usually out on the deck of her apt. waiting. 

She was mopping the floor when we arrived for our first visit.

She had washed everything in her apt. and thrown her cigarettes away.

"I was thinking last night that I must quit smoking to be clean."

During that visit she took all the alcohol and coffee 

from her cupboards to the trash.  

She was waiting for us Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago 

by the tree below our apt. She wanted to attend Church. 

I translated the best I could during the meetings 

and she was very touched by the things she heard and felt

as people shared their testimonies.

She read 1st and 2nd Nephi in 4 days and asks great questions.

We love teaching people who have read the Bible.  People who are 

searching for Truth and have real questions are especially fun to share with.

  

I was concerned about just how to tell her about Modesty. 

This is a very warm country 

and modesty is not a natural part of anyone's thoughts...

but the moment we brought up the subject, 

up she jumped and ran to her closet,

and brought out her new shirts.  "I know, I know!" she said.

"I know I must dress betta to be clean. 

Yesterday I knew I must dress betta"

The 3 of us watched the Sunday morning session of  General Conference 

in our apt. on our computer.

She wanted to hear a real Prophet speak and she was  thrilled.

We showed her the Churches website after conference 

and she wanted to see if the Church of Jesus Christ is in her country.  

We pulled it up and YES!  There were also videos about her country.

We watched a short video of one of the humanitarian wheelchair projects there.

During part of it, she stood up! "This is my tribe, this is my home!"

She was filled with joy when she saw the streets she knew in the film.

She wants to know how she fits into the House of Israel and Abraham's promise.

Her questions are sincere from her reading.  

"What does it mean that they crucified their God?"  

From 3rd Nephi 17:  

"What does it mean when the people asked Him to 'tarry' a little longer"

Did they want him to stay overnight?

She is writing her story.  I am humbled as I read it.
She set fruit in front of us for our visit.
Last night was our fourth lesson and she glowed.
"It was difficult to quit smoking for three days", she said
"but everyday I am saving money now...
I tell my friends that I could not be the same person.  If they will not try to
understand what I am reading, they will have to go from my house, because this is my house.
I am happy...everyday I am more happy...I know it is true."

This is a very special week for all of us.
We will walk to the ocean for her Baptism this Saturday.
Her cousin, our guard and friend, will bring his family too.
He sees her smile and he wants to know more.