The blinds were always closed, and the lights were dim. It was hard to see, and the darkness felt slightly suffocating. With the sadness of disease in their home, everything was gloomy, and the Spirit was not often there.
When we pulled up to their home, we said a quick prayer and knocked on their door. Once, twice, nothing. They didn't seem to be home either. Or they were ignoring us.
As we got back into the car, I wondered why God would have us drive to the farthest part of our area to visit people that day. We were finding no success. Even the sky was cloudy and grey.
As my companion looked over the ward list for what seemed like the hundredth time, I began to drive. We didn't go far, when I saw an old, frail man raking his leaves by himself. Quickly pulling over, and sending another quick prayer up to Heaven, we got out of the car and made our way to him. He seemed surprised that we had stopped, and at first was not accepting of our help. He then saw our name tags and a smile lit up his wrinkled face. The man was deaf, making it a little harder to communicate with him. But somehow, I understood everything that he signed to me, and every word he could vocally get out of his mouth. He understood me too.
He told us that we could only work for one hour, and that he would pay us. We respectfully declined the money, and began helping him to rake. He had his own little technique for it, and it was enjoyable to work with him. He kept giving us thumbs up and telling us that we were strong when we lifted the bags of leaves into the wheel barrow.
The hour went by quickly and the man told us that our time was up. He then expressed that we were women of God, and that He sent us to him. He told us that he grew up going to a Christian church, and that his sweet companion lived in a nursing home, and suffered from amnesia. He expressed that he visited her as often as he could. He thanked us over and over again, and told us once more that we were angels from above. And he sent us on our way.
When we got in the car, my companion asked me how I could understand him.
"What do you mean?" I asked, "Couldn't you understand what he was saying?"
She quickly expressed that she could not.
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I think back on that experience sometimes, and think how lucky I was to experience something so special. No major event occurred, we simply stopped and helped a man rake his leaves. But it meant the world to him, and it filled me with joy to serve him.
I believe that the Spirit guided my companion and I there. We sacrificed time and miles on our car, and it was worth it to find that one man. I also believe that the Spirit helped me understand and communicate with that man.
There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon that talks about the gift of tongues, it states:
"Then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels...." (2 Nephi 31:13)
I know that the Lord guided me and blessed me with this gift, even just for that moment in time.
The Holy Ghost can do many things for us, like this story, he can guide us to places we need to go, things we need to do, or even people we need to see. John 16:13 tells us,
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
I know that the Holy Spirit is there to help lead and guide us. I have seen it time and time again, throughout my life, and also the lives of others. Sometimes it is hard to see why God prompts us to do certain things, but I know that when we are obedient to the quiet whispering's of the Spirit, that we are blessed.
~Perfectly Imperfect Girl
