A Story of Change

FAMILY AND FRIENDS. 

Ahhhhh my heart. Let me just say for the thousandth time, I really love Indiana. And I love these people. I am so happi here!!! 

Blessings on blessings on blessings. 

This week was so good. && lucky me I get to do it all with my homies aka bffs aka companions hahaha. 

Funniest moment.... We were in a lesson with this guy and we were talking about the fall of Adam and Eve. While talking about when Eve partook of the fruit, He just looked at us and said, "I would've just eaten the snake." We busted up laughing. Hahahaha, how have I never thought of that before. I promise It was hilarious, you just had to be there. 

We got to harvest some more honey this week and it was so much fun!

The boys from Kenya invited us to the African food festival and it was such a good time. I loved everything SO MUCH. We had a blast getting to see them show us all the things they love and miss from back home! We got to have lessons with them this week as well and they are just so so awesome. Humble and prepared and they have such a sweet spirit. Best part was they came to Jimmys baptism after the festival and Morgan brought 3 friends with him hahahah. They all loved it and were taking pictures with Jimmy after. Whatta HAPPI DAY!!! :) 

Jimmys baptism was seriously the best ever. It was a beautiful service and we had so many people there! It was surreal seeing Steve up there speaking to Jimmy about how he's come to love the gospel and how he's loved getting to watch Jimmy change and grow through the process. It's crazy how in February, we were all just strangers knowing nothing about each other.... && on July 27th, we were family. Steve sharing the sweetest testimony with his now long time friend, Jimmy soaking it all in with the biggest smile on his face, and us just crying with so many happi tears because of all that went into the moment we were living in. 

I still remember the very first day I met Jimmy on Tennessee Ave. We delivered him the Book of Mormon, and felt inspired to mark Alma chapter 36 for him to read. A chapter all about change. About second chances. About God's never ending love and grace. About how you don't have to be where you've been. About how Christ can take the darkest parts of us, the immense pain and anguish, and the piercing guilt and shame, and turn it into exceedingly great joy, into strength, and into peace. A chapter about deliverance and finding new life in Christ.

What I didn't know then, but I know now, is that chapter is about you and me, and now Jimmy. The story he read very first in the book of Mormon, is now HIS story.

Jimmy's story is about change. About second chances. About God's never ending love and grace. About how he is NOT who he's been. About how Christ has taken the darkest parts of him, the immense pain and anguish, and the piercing guilt and shame, and has turned it into exceedingly great joy, into strength, and into peace. Jimmy's story is about deliverance and about finding new life in Christ. 

I know that this is God's work. It simply has to be, in order for real change to occur. I have seen it for myself. I have seen it in Steve. And I have seen it in Jimmy. 

I am so grateful for this sweet gospel that helps us become more than we ever could on our own. I am grateful EVERY DAY for the decision to come on a mission despite all my fears and insecurities.It has been everything and more than I ever thought it would be. 

I love this gospel, I love my friends and family here in Indiana, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. 

I love you all, too. It means more than you know to have support and love from back home! I'm your biggest fan! 

ALL MY LOVE, 

ox sister rich