"It's okay, you don't need to be an independent woman." (Week 18)

Y’all this week was nuts!! It was normal and then it caught fire and burned to the ground and then it ended on top of the world. I will try to not make this too long but here we go.

Like I said Monday was normal. We went bowling for p-day, and that was lit. Then we chilled at the mission president’s house for a few hours just because we had nothing better to do. It was fun. Then we had a dinner appointment with a really cool couple who invited their non-member opera singer friends who were hilarious and sang some songs for us :)

Tuesday was district meeting. Then we went to visit a member in a rest home, but she was pretty stoned so we shared a scripture really quick. She fell asleep during the scripture so we left.

Wednesday was AWESOME as far as missionary work goes. We woke up early and went to a lesson with a new investigator, then we did service. Then we visited a bible referral, who is really serious about changing her life. We taught her the restoration, and she was really intent on reading the Book of Mormon. She has a lot of promise!! Then we visited another member in a mental group home, but she wasn’t back from her group therapy yet, so we waited with this other crazy old man who told us about all the people he has killed in the war, and he gave us a very wobbly karate demonstration lol.

Thursday is when it gets to be very not normal. First we had some lessons that didn’t go too well. In between two of the lessons we decide to check on M, the autistic less active that we try to help out. She didn’t answer the door, so we decided to come back in a few hours. We come back at 5:30, and again she doesn’t answer, and I get the feeling that something is wrong. I call the bishop and ask where the spare key is, we find it and go inside. Inside it is burning hot, and smells foul. We find her laying on her bed, unconscious, breathing really quickly. There was clearly fluid in her lungs, and there is foam on her face. We yell her name and shake her but she doesn’t wake up. I call the Relief Society president, and then 911. The cops get there first, and her breathing gets really slow. Then the paramedics come and shoo us out of the house while the cop takes our information. The Relief Society president shows up, and we wait for a while. The cop comes back out, and tells us that it isn’t official, but she is dead.  They took her to the hospital to try to save her, but it doesn’t work, and they call it. They said she died of a septic infection. We were left to turn off her electricity, and lock her house up. The whole thing felt kind of surreal. Even though it was really intense, I still feel like I am cut out for the medical field. I was calm in the moment. It wasn’t until afterwards that I got sad about her passing. M was really struggling in life. I met her when she was on a low, then she got much better and was really funny and nice, but then she got sick and her personality changed and she went back down fast. I feel really bad that the last time I saw her she got mad at me. I didn’t try to make her upset, but the sickness had gotten to her brain and she wasn’t the same person. I am just so grateful for the knowledge we have of the other side, because I know she is doing much better now, and free to be herself.

Friday we were super out of it from the events of yesterday, and we took it slow and mostly spent time with members.

Saturday we went to a baptism, then we had a lesson with C and P that a member took us to, and we put P on date!! Then we helped someone paint their house, then had a church movie night!

Sunday was lit!! We had regional conference, and a random lady called us and told us she wanted to come to church. Some members picked her up, she loved it, and on the way home she told them she wants to get baptized!!! Then 8 of us BR Sisters piled into the Varner’s van and drove down to NEW ORLEANS!! That was my first time going down there! A group of 68 missionaries from NOLA and BR sang at this Baptist worship service for MLK day. There was lots of ‘amen’ and ‘praise the Lord’ and clapping and dancing and it was awesome. But going to another church helps me to strengthen my testimony that our church is God’s Church. We have the priesthood, and I am so grateful for that. After the service we drove back up to BR and had a sleep over at the mission home!

Monday we woke up early and went back down to NOLA. We participated in this huge MKL day march and it was the most amazing thing. We got to walk all through the city, holding signs about love and pass out pictures of Jesus. After the parade we walked through down town and went to lunch. I made some new friends and it was the best. I love missionaries. Then we drove home, chilled at the mission home for another few hours because we were waiting for something I guess, then we went to FHE with the LSU sisters.

So yeah, this week was crazy. I wish I had more to say about the MLK march, but the library just decided they are kicking us out in 15 minutes so I am scrambling. I will send pictures though.

I love you all!!! Keep your light shining!!! The church is true!!!

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~Sister Danielle Reid