Missionaries who feed me!

We have had the great privilege to feed the missionaries about once or twice a month. I didn't realize just how important this was until a great friend who moved from here to Utah said that the one thing she misses most is feeding the missionaries. It made sense cause I cannot every remember growing up ever having the missionaries over to eat. That really opened up my eyes to be more grateful that I have this opportunity to show my children the spirit that these young men and women carry with them.

I've enjoyed it through the years while living here in California. Each time they come they challenge us to be better about letting others know about us and what we are about so that they can get the correct information from the right source.

This evening for some reason their message touched me in a way that I've never felt before about missionary work and the simplicity of it. Maybe because their was 3 of them instead of the normal 2. Our ward currently has a three some until transfers next week. The power of 3 is incredible and if you look at it we have 3 witnesses whether it be in a presidency of the church, or bishopric, etc.

The story they shared really hit me hard and I would like to share it with you:

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The following event took place in a ward in SLC in 1974. It occurred during a Sacrament meeting and was told by a regional representative of the Twelve (Arther Cottle), who was attending the meeting.

A young man, just before leaving on his mission, stood in Sacrament meeting and bore, in essence, the following testimony:

"Brothers and Sisters, as you know, during the past few weeks, I have been awaiting my mission call. During the time I was waiting, I had a dream. I dreamt that I was in the pre-existence and was awaiting my call to come to earth.

I was filled with the same excitement and anticipation that I had felt before I received my mission call. In my dream, I was talking to a friend. He was a dear friend and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life.

As we talked, a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew that it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement my friend and I opened the letter. I gave it to him to read aloud. The letter said:

"You have been called to earth in a special time and to a special land. You will be born into the church and you will have the blessing of the priesthood of God in your home. You will be raised with many advantages and many blessings. You will be born in a land of plenty... a land of freedom. You will go to earth in the United States of America."

My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call, and, while we rejoiced, the messenger returned. This time, he had a letter for my friend. We knew that it was the call to earth for him. My friend gave me the letter to read aloud. It read,

"You have been called to go to earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be frought with political and social difficulties which will hinder the work of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica.

We wept, my friend and I, as we read his call. And my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, 'When we are down on earth, you in your choice land and me in Costa Rica, my friend...come and find me.'

Then this young missionary, with tears in his eyes, said, "Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica."

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There is a sequel to this story. About a year after this sacrament meeting, the Bishop of this ward received a letter from the missionary in Costa Rica. This letter had one sheet of paper in it, and on that sheet, written in inch-high letters, were five words.
"I HAVE FOUND MY FRIEND."