a special experience

Dear Mom,Dad, Roseanne, Tres, Zackary, Abigail, Grant, Trisha, Robert, Jacob, Gabrielle, Ben and all.

Again the week has past by with many wonderful things. Sunday was Sam C.'s birthday. Now let me tell you more about this man. He's 59, lives in a run-down trailer, and among many health problems has Schizophrenia. When I first met him(in the first few weeks of being a missionary) he yelled at me. He was a very angry person. I didn't take it personally because he was mostly just angry with the world. I felt very strongly that we needed to teach him. The spirit was very obvious, even in that first encounter, hinting at what great worth and potential he had. Well, we kept at it. Often times, he would yell,argue, and threaten to end all our communications. Underneath it all, we saw a broken heart and a desperate will to know God. This man, even with a learning disability, began reading the Book of Mormon every single day.

I wish I could relate all of the beauty in which has thus transpired. What a treasure, a gift from our Father to allow me to witness this great transfiguration of his heart. Sam is not the same, he is more like my brother who I'm sure I knew before. He is meek, he is softened, he is happy, and he even laughs a little. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to hear him tell us how he has been praying that he might be kinder to people. He understands what love is. He has not spoken it, but it is in his eyes.

I wish you could know all his background to fully understand how wonderful it is for him to know love. Sam has no family. His past is very sad. The Sam I first met had no friends either.

Well the Lord has since remedied that. Not only are we his friends but some ward members have also befriended him.

Yesterday, Sister Mickelson and I brought our Brother Chandley his first birthday cake and sang him his first birthday song. What an honor it has been to bring warmth to a once cold and seemingly forgotten heart. I will never be able to thank Heavenly Father not only for loving me so much to allow me this experience, but to also love Sam so much to bring him sweet comfort and the joy of the gospel. I wanted to share this with you in hopes that you all might be of good cheer. It is more evidence of a Loving Father which we can treasure. And be of good cheer our Savior has overcome the world!

Love,

Sister Colvin

Please include this brother in your prayers.