A Miraculous Week in Long Beach Visiting Jessica's Mission

Jessica and I had an incredible experience as we visited her mission in Long Beach this past weekend.  I was so touched by our experiences there that I’ve decided to write it down and include it in Amanda’s mission book (that will be made from this blog) at the end of her mission.  Amanda knew some of these converts so I think she will also find it very faith-building.

As Jessica stepped off the plane in Long Beach in September of 2015, the reality of a mission had hit her.  She was overwhelmed, tired and homesick.  As in many missions, she was put to work proselyting that very day.  One of the first doors she knocked on was Mike and Lurene Flynn.  Lurene told me later that she will never forget Jessica’s tear-stained, blood-shot eyes and the sweetness of her demeanor. 

A few years earlier, Mike and Lurene’s daughter had passed away at the age of 22.  She was beautiful (like Jessica) and even looked similar.  When Lurene saw Jessica and started visiting with her, she was vividly reminded of her daughter.  Over several months Jessica and her companion taught these two and they accepted the invitation to be baptized.  It was a wonderful day and my parents (who were also serving full-time in the Long Beach Mission) attended this baptism with Jessica. 

Then a few months ago we got a call from Lurene telling us that she and Mike were going to be sealed and would love us to attend!  We got our plane tickets and made arrangements.  We boarded a plane last Thursday to be there for this BIG day.  

The BIG day was Saturday at noon. On Friday we got a text from Lurene asking Jessica if she would stand in as proxy for her daughter, Natalie, who had passed away.  Jessica was ecstatic and accepted this invitation.  We also learned that Mike had lost a 3 year-old son several years earlier and he would be getting sealed to him as well.  

At the temple, Jessica rented a white dress and we were unsure if all of Natalie's temple work had been done and if Jessica needed to put on the temple robes.  After much asking and no answers, a sweet lady from Lurene's ward came in.  She was Lurene's visiting teacher and her husband was their home teacher.  She told us that they were temple workers in the Newport Temple and that earlier in the week she had personally done Natalie's initiatory and endowment in preparation for this sealing!  Jessica quickly put on the temple robes and we were escorted to the sealing room .  Two other couples from their ward were in attendance.

As Mike and Lurene walked into that room, true joy came over all of us.  When the time came for Jessica to join them at the alter, the veil became very thin and we knew their loved ones were nearby.  This was an expereince we will never forget and and are so grateful to share with this faithful couple!

Julie, Jessica, Lurene, Mike, the Home-teacher, the Visiting-teacher and the Weiks 

Jessica made several appointments with investigators and new converts that she wanted to see and wanted me to meet.  We spent the day Thursday doing this and it was a day I'll never forget!

Our first visit was Sarah.  Sarah was baptized a few months ago and is the only member in her home.  Her husband and adult children don't have any interest.  We sat with Sarah at her kitchen table as she told us how happy she's been since her baptism.  She had her Book of Mormon marked in 2nd Nephi.  Jessica asked her how her reading was coming and she said she is enjoying and understanding the Book of Mormon.  She got teary as she told us about the passing of her sister.  Jessica quickly opened up to Alma and marked a chapter for her to read.  She was so humble and had such a great desire to believe.  It was also evident that Jessica had such a great love and concern for her.  We all left with big hugs!

Jessica and Sarah

Our next visit was Tami and her darling 4 kids.  Tami had been married to her best friend for 21 years when he came home one day and told her he wanted a divorce.  It was devastating to her.  Her step-father is a member and asked if she would be willing to listen to the missionaries.  She consented and Jessica and her companion began teaching her.  She felt the Spirit very quickly and her girls connected with Jessica very well.  Within a short time Tami and her 12 and 10 year-old daughters were baptized.  Tami is truly converted and expressed her gratitude for the peace and comfort she has felt since accepting the gospel.  She has been embraced by an incredible ward and her 12 year old is headed to her first Girls Camp on Catalina Island today!  

Tami and her family

Wonderful member families that have taken in Tami and her kids in Westminster.

Our next visit was to Jake.  Jake has had struggles with addiction.  He comes from a very active LDS family and grew up in the church.  He is only a few years older than Jessica.  Jake's mom is the Relief Society President in their ward and asked the missionaries to reach out to Jake.  They challenged him to go through the 12-step program the church has provided.  He did it and reported to us over lunch that he is now 11 months sober!! It was humbling to visit with him and hear how difficult his decision to stay sober is EVERY DAY!  He is clinging to the gospel and making plans to further his education and become the man he wants to  be.

Jake & Jessica

Since we had already had some amazing sushi for lunch (right across the street from Jessica's apartment in La Mirada), we next joined Bob and Judy for a drink as they ate lunch nearby.  Bob and Judy met and married around the age of 40.  They both grew up in NYC and were active in the Jewish religion.  They both experienced some health challenges about 2 years ago.  Judy had a life-long friend who was Mormon and they found each other living in California close by.  One day Judy's friend suggested that the LDS missionaries come by each week and take out Bob and Judy's garbages.  This was becoming very difficult for them with their health.  Judy accepted this invitation but was adminant there would be no "preaching", just serving:).  Jessica and her companion began going over weekly to empty and take out their trash cans.  Judy told me that they came faithfully for about 3 months and one day Jessica asked if they could come in and offer a prayer.  Judy said she was taken back, but couldn't refuse a prayer.  The next week Jessica asked if they could come in and visit with them about the church. Judy said she felt guilted into inviting them in because they had been serving her and Bob so diligently:)  Within a few minutes they had shared the story of the Restoration.  Bob knew a lot about Joseph Smith and wanted to hear more.  He was very well read in the Bible and had studied Mormonism over time.  

Within a short time Judy had a strong witness of the truthfulness of the gospel.  She told me how amazing it was to see Jewish religion and Mormonism come together so naturally.  The only obstacle was teaching her that Jesus was the Christ.  Jessica said once that moment came, Judy was ready for baptism and has been on fire ever since.  Bob was not ready to be baptized, but was supportive of Judy.  Judy was baptized in October of 2016.  Then about 5 months later Judy said she went to the store with Bob and ran inside to get something.  When she came out, Bob had tears in his eyes and told her he was ready to be baptized as well.  He said while she was in the store, the Spirit had come to him and told him this was the true church and he needed to join it.  He was baptized in April of 2017.

As we sat and visited about their experience, they talked about the love they felt when the missionaries would come.  They made sure they ALWAYS had cookies, a drink, and a pack of gum to send home with them.  They grew to LOVE Jessica and Judy sheepishly asked if I was OK if she referred to Jessica as her daughter!  I said ABSOLUTELY YES as Judy had been a loving, caring MOTHER to Jessica on her mission.  

Then Bob and Judy told us that they were preparing to be sealed in the temple in April of 2018, one year from Bob's baptism date!  They asked if we would come back for it! YES YES YES!

Bob & Judy

We stopped by a few homes of wonderful members that were instrumental in missionary work during Jessica's mission.  We also visited all three of her apartments.  Only one of them made me nervous!

Our last stop of the evening was at Jenny's.  Jenny is about my age.  She has been married to her husband for 20 years and they have 3 beautiful daughters together.  Jessica was referred to Jenny upon arriving in Westminster, but told that Jenny did not want to be baptized.  She just wanted to be friends with the missionaries.  Jessica told me that with this preface, she went in to LOVE Jenny and her family and that is exactly what happened.  

Jenny's husband has struggles with the LDS church.  He came from an active family and served a mission but has been inactive for several years now.  Jenny grew up Catholic. In the earlier years, Jenny's husband introduced Jenny and his 3 daughters to the missionaries.  His oldest daughter, Rebecca, accepted the gospel and wanted to get baptized.  However, she was told by her father she must wait until 18 years-old.  She did and is now baptized.  

Jenny told us that she knows the church is true and she loves the Book of Mormon.  She talked about how she "visits" with Heavenly Father all the time.  She runs a house-cleaning business and recently was in desperate need for a reliable, hard-working employee.  She said she prayed about this and pleaded with Heavenly Father to help her find someone.  She then went to work making a flyer to post.  She woke up early one morning to print these out and distribute them, but her computer wouldn't connect with her printer.  She was running out of time and needed at least one.  She made a deal with Heavenly Father that if He would help her print at least one flyer that would help her find a good employee, she would be diligent in the gospel and continue going to church.  Suddenly her printer turned and ONE flyer printed. She was in shock and couldn't get the computer to print anymore after that.  She hung the flyer up and within a week had a wonderful new employee.  

Right before Jessica went home, she and her companion were alone with Jenny and asked her to pray.  Jenny is terrified to pray in front of anyone and so this was a big request, but she knew Jessica was leaving and loved her.  Jessica asked her to pray out loud and ask Heavenly Father how He feels about her and her being baptized.  Jenny told us that as she started to pray, a wonderful feeling came over her.  She felt as if Heavenly Father was resting His hands on her shoulders and the words came to her that "Everything will be OK.  Keep doing what you're doing."  Jessica described this as one of her most spiritual moments on her mission as the Spirit filled the room and was undeniable.  Jenny grew up a Seventh-Day Adventist and told me she has never had an expereince even close to what she felt that day.  

Jenny is still not baptized, but wants to be.  She is waiting for her husband's blessing and feels his heart is being softened every day in miraculous ways.  Jenny is one of the most humble, kind, responsible, and earnest women I have ever met.  She LOVES her family and is teaching her daughters and wants the blessings the gospel has to offer them, but realizes she must be patient and continue trusting Heavenly Father! 

I know that Jessica (and every missionary for that matter)  is sent to their mission for very specific reasons and people.  She found them!  It has been the greatest blessing of all to see the full blessings of the gospel being received by these wonderful people and we look forward to another sealing in a few months!

Jessica's love for these people is about as Christ-like as I've ever witnessed.  She was truly given CHARITY and continues to feel this love for her brothers and sister in California!