Miracles!

So if ever anyone didn't believe in miracles, they just need to look at the last few months of my life. I felt so good and so strongly about things that last month I even bore my testimony in testimony meeting, and that's saying something for me! Even if it was at the prompting of the missionaries. We had had Elder Gorts and Elder Diatel over for dinner and while they were in our home they gave a small presentation and gave us a challenge, to pray for a missionary experience. They also asked us to invite someone to something at church. At this point I was like probably the majority of members, feeling self concious and already making excuses in my head as to why it wouldn't work, like most of my friends are already members and I don't really socialise with non-members, but they were really good guys and we both felt quite a connection to them. We did as they asked and a person came to my mind, a guy from the gym who I'd seen and spoken to a few times and who seemed like a nice guy, and he had just added me as a friend on Facebook and when I read his profile had a good feeling about him. I knew he liked football so I invited him to come and play with us on a Thursday night, and with the pitch being on the temple site it led to a very positive gospel conversation. He asked if he could bring his friend Rob as well, which we said was fine so he did. Everyone enjoyed the game and they were so impressed with the temple site we took them on a tour afterwards. We kind of paired off, I talked to David and Tristram talked to Rob and the questions came thick and fast. We answered them as well as we could and bore testimony about different principles of the gospel, and spent about an hour in total doing so, it was pretty amazing. Towards the end of the night the questions had progressed to practicalities, such as 'what does someone have to do to become a member of the church?' which was rather exciting. After we dropped them off Tristram and I just looked at each other in disbelief at how well that had gone and the miracle that had taken place. My prayer had been answered, and in a way that I never thought possible. I had faith, but this experience increased it to a new level. Not only did I have two potential investigators, who are already pretty clean living guys and wouldn't have to change their lifestyles too much, but I made two great new friends as well. We called the missionaries as soon as we got home and shared with them what had happened and they too were pretty amazed. David has since been taught the first discussion and attended church a few times, but his knowledge is amazing, he reads the Book of Mormon and Bible and prays daily. Every few days it seems he tells me about some new experience he has had, some 'coincidence' or miracle that has taken place in his own life, and now recognises them as God's hand. He basically knows already that the church is true, but just wants time. Rob is a little further behind but is excited about family history and meeting with the missionaries and has said lots of positive things. He knows that becoming a member of the church would be a positive change in his life. I have spent a lot of time with them in the last few weeks and we have become quite close. They really are great guys and would make great members of the church.

On top of that there are two other litle miracles in the form of babies who have made a big impression. My sister in law Alisha is amazing! At just 19 weeks her waters broke and the doctors gave her no chance of giving birth to a healthy baby that could actually survive, but she didn't give up on little Cienna. She got us all fasting and praying and had the faith that it would work and it has! She has astounded doctors and 12 weeks later Cienna is still hanging in there growing stronger and healthier every day, and if she doesn't come in the next 3 weeks they're going to induce her! Quite a change from thinking she was going to be born way to early to even consider saving her.

The other once is own little personal story which has only just begun. After 5 and 1/2 years of marriage and trying to have a baby we finally got accepted to do IVF, finally a chance to have the thing I've wanted most ever since I was about 12! When I was told I would need an operation to give me the best possible chance of success I was a litle disappointed and scared even, as it seemed like yet another setback and delay in having a family, but I knew it was the for the best so I agreed to go ahead with it. Last Friday was D-day, and I went to the hospital for what would hopefully be the last hurdle in the strive for IVF. Everything seemed to be going wrong that day and after waiting 8 hours for surgery something amazing happened. They told me that they had carried out some tests and I wouldn't be having the operation after all because I was already pregnant! They had carried out the test twice and it was positive both times, and a positive blood test confirmed it a third time. It's still early days, but I'm trying to have the necessary faith, while also not getting carried away or get too excited. Ihad doubted that it would ever happen for me, especially naturally, but after the bishop gave me a blessing last year saying it would, I just had to believe. The timing is amazing! I have recently qualified as a level 2 teaching assistant and finished 2 part-time jobs in preparation for starting supply work in September, having opted for that over something permanent. Also there's the physical side. the last year and a bit have been a struggle but I've lost over 3 stone and am now the fittest I have ever been. Just a few months ago I could barely run and hated doing so, no I run 5km a day on the treadmill and just last week I came second in the 400m, won the 800m and 5000m and was part of the winning 4x100m and 4x4oom relay teams. these are feats and I could onlt have dreamed of a year ago. I was so bad at PE at school, not that I didn't try though, but I wish my PE teachers could see me now.

These are just a few examples of what can happen if you have a bit of faith.