May 29, 2016

Dear Stevie--

I would like to make it known first of all, that I am not dating anyone.  I have gone on 2 dates with a boy, and they both went well (although we haven't touched . . . like hardly at all) and mom is exited because I have finally found a guy that kind of interests me.  So . . .  if you consider 2 dates with no touching and a lot of talking and joking around dating someone . .  then i am dating someone.  

But on to the coolest part of the week . .  I got to the to prison for 3 hours on Saturday!  Brother Oborn from the ward heard my homecoming talk and he wanted me to share a couple stories and stuff to the women inmates he teaches institute to every week.  It was such a neat experience.  The spirit was super strong there, starting from the opening prayer.  The woman, Shauna, prayed for all those that are suffering, prayed for their kids (of the inmates), that they could know they are being prayed for,  thanked God for everything they had in their lives, for the love they could feel when they are together, for the institute program and the spirit they could feel when they come to the chapel, for Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice, for the chance they have to repent of their sins and be made clean again.  I mean I almost cried hearing the prayer.  It was so sincere, so humble.  All of these women are LDS, and all of them are in some kind of church discipline status.  They are all going through the cleansing repentance process right in this very moment.  They are all so humble and loving.

I taught them for three hours.   There are 3, 1 hour increments, and 2 of them stayed for all 3 hours.  I just kept on going and going, teaching about the greatest thing that I had ever discovered on the mission.  The power of the atonement.  It just changes everything.  Changes you.

After sharing a little bit, one of the women raised her hand and said that when she first got to prison, she felt so guilty, and frustrated for what she had done.  She prayed for God to help her change and she said that first God helped her, for the first time in her life, take a good, long, honest look at herself.  And what she saw, she didn't like.  But then one day she felt the pure love of Christ, had an experience when she saw herself not how others look at her, or the justice system looks at her, but how God does.  Then she said she had to learn to stop doing bad behaviors (in prison I think this is more of a thing because if you do "bad behaviors" their are punishments, certain privileges can be taken away, or your sentence lengthened.)  And she said that she learned that God could help her be strong, so when she had bad emotions, and wants to yell or think bad thoughts, or be mean, she just hurries to her cell and falls down on her knees and "prays it out" until she is calm and happy again.  I just love that. Here she is in prison, and she understands the gospel better than some members.  She may not know the deepest parts of the gospel or be worthy of a temple recommend, but she tries everyday.

But anyway, I love you lots!  Keep working hard!  Your work saves lives!

Love, 

Liza

Friday night, I went on a sunset hike with Marybeth, Lina, Spencer, and Kaleb.