No, that is not salami, which is a sandwich meat.
Salome, with the accent on the "e". is the name of a brand new convert here in the Pocuro Ward where we go to church. I want to record her conversion story for the message it has.
Salome is a woman, about 40ish, who came to church with the two young sister missionaries one Sunday. She was wearing pants. You can always tell the investigators because they are wearing pants instead of a skirt. I greeted her with the latina abrazo, which is a hug and a kiss in the air as we touch right cheeks. She came the next Sunday, still wearing pants. Pants has nothing to do with her conversion story, but is just to paint a little picture of her.
Sister Memmott, the mental health advisor missionary, seemed to be friendly with her even though she doesnt speak much Spanish. Her calling is to assist the young missionaries in the Santiago Chile East Mission, and she also attends the Pocuro Ward. One Family Home Evening she shared the following story with us about Salome, which I will now share.
Sister M. was walking back to her apartment after getting her hair cut one afternoon. She was feeling a little "not ready to meet the public because my hair isnt fixed, just cut." She kept getting the impression she needed to go to her office in the administration building. She argued with herself, but found herself headed for her office. As she approached the building she saw a woman there and said hello. The woman seemed to be troubled or anxious about something. Sister M greeted her and asked if she could help her. The reply was that she really wanted to talk to the pastor of this church. M said, Let's go into the building and get you some help. The woman replied that she had already been inside and the man told her that there was no one there who could help her. He is a member of the Church, employed BY the Church to greet the public. Sister M then said, "Let's go over to the temple. We can find help there." The lady said she had already been over there and nobody would open the gate to let her in. Sister M. said she knew how to open the gate, and they would go together to get her some help. They went through the gate, went into the foyer of the temple where a member of the Church sat at his assigned seat, prepared to greet members as they entered. He asked what did they need, and Sister M. started to explain that this woman was not a member but needed to talk to someone about the Church. He told them that the woman couldnt come in there, and that she would have to leave. He asked Sister M if she was a member, which she admitted to. He then told the two women that one could come in, but the other (and pointing at her) couldnt and she would have to leave. Now this is true, but it also is very harsh the way he put it.
Back they went to the administration building where Sister M was able to help this woman make an appointment with the missionaries. And that is where we go back to the beginning of this story.
Salome thought she was ready for baptism. She had friends somewhere who were members and admired the way they lived their lives. When she returned home from visiting them, she wanted to tell the pastor she wanted to be a part of his church. At her first missionary discussion, she told them she wanted to be baptised. They taught her the discussions, and she accepted eagerly. But......somebody forgot to tell her about coffee! In a little over a week, she had lost the desire for it, and the Bishop called her every morning to see how she was coming along. Finally! After three weeks this woman who was clamoring to join us finally was baptised. I was honored to be the organist (on the electronic keyboard) for the service.
P.S. She wears a skirt to church now. Sister Memmott, in her calling, does not have opportunity to preach or teach investigators. Her clients are missionaries whom she helps. She thought one day how nice it would be to somehow have the experience, just once, of being a part of a conversion. She didnt think it would be possible. The Lord, in his tender mercies, blessed her with the righteous desire of her heart. This all happened within the last month of her mission. Today she is flying home.
1 comment:
It is amazing how the Lord blesses us, even when we think it impossible. I know He has blessed me many times in such tender ways in things that really don't matter in the eternal scheme but are seemingly important to me. Sometimes all I have to do it THINK about such a gift and it comes. I think my Father spoils me much of the time. :)
Post a Comment