At the end of the day the Sisters from Muskogee didn’t have a ride back to their area. They had called 12 people and no one could take them. Since I was going right by there, I took them. Three months ago a similar situation had happened, and I had taken Sister Bair____ and Sister Web____ to Muskogee.
As we started to leave interviews, I told the Sisters I was starving, and so we had to get something to eat before we went very far, but then (thanks to the thoughtfulness of the Relief Society bagging up snacks for us to take home) we decided to snack and then to go back to Applebee’s in Muskogee and see if a waiter we had talked to 3 months ago was there. We had had a great conversation then. He had given us his phone number. I had gone back early the next morning hoping Applebee’s would be open and that I could leave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and a note. But it was closed. And the Sisters had tried to call him, but there had been no connection. Looking back on the situation as I write, that morning on the way down to Tulsa, I had briefly thought about this waiter, but not long enough to really remember that while we were driving to Muskogee. I had a copy of the Book of Mormon. We made a rough draft (which was fun to brainstorm with Sister Bair___ and Sister Tol____) and then wrote in the front cover. As we pulled up I sat looking into the window of the restaurant. I could see several waiters talking in the corner. My courage started to fade. Thoughts like, “He’s not ready for this.” Came into mind. At that moment, I did the only thing I knew to do. Pray. I prayed the Lord would send His Spirit. I prayed the Lord would give me courage. I prayed the Lord would use his matchless power. I finished my prayer still hesitant. And then Sister Tol___ took over. With faith and determination she said two words. “Let’s go.” It was what I needed to find my faith. We entered, requested to sit at one of Jor_____ tables, and when he came he recognized us. It wasn’t until the end that we told him we had something for him. We explained that we’d written him a message in the front of this book. His demeaner changed. He sincerely accepted the book. We then explained the crazy circumstances that had brought us together again and that I’d thought of him this morning. I know the Spirit was there. I don’t know what will happen, but I know what I hope will happen. That he and his 2 year-old-son will have the opportunity to be blessed by their Heavenly Father like I am.
As we started to leave interviews, I told the Sisters I was starving, and so we had to get something to eat before we went very far, but then (thanks to the thoughtfulness of the Relief Society bagging up snacks for us to take home) we decided to snack and then to go back to Applebee’s in Muskogee and see if a waiter we had talked to 3 months ago was there. We had had a great conversation then. He had given us his phone number. I had gone back early the next morning hoping Applebee’s would be open and that I could leave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and a note. But it was closed. And the Sisters had tried to call him, but there had been no connection. Looking back on the situation as I write, that morning on the way down to Tulsa, I had briefly thought about this waiter, but not long enough to really remember that while we were driving to Muskogee. I had a copy of the Book of Mormon. We made a rough draft (which was fun to brainstorm with Sister Bair___ and Sister Tol____) and then wrote in the front cover. As we pulled up I sat looking into the window of the restaurant. I could see several waiters talking in the corner. My courage started to fade. Thoughts like, “He’s not ready for this.” Came into mind. At that moment, I did the only thing I knew to do. Pray. I prayed the Lord would send His Spirit. I prayed the Lord would give me courage. I prayed the Lord would use his matchless power. I finished my prayer still hesitant. And then Sister Tol___ took over. With faith and determination she said two words. “Let’s go.” It was what I needed to find my faith. We entered, requested to sit at one of Jor_____ tables, and when he came he recognized us. It wasn’t until the end that we told him we had something for him. We explained that we’d written him a message in the front of this book. His demeaner changed. He sincerely accepted the book. We then explained the crazy circumstances that had brought us together again and that I’d thought of him this morning. I know the Spirit was there. I don’t know what will happen, but I know what I hope will happen. That he and his 2 year-old-son will have the opportunity to be blessed by their Heavenly Father like I am.