Kneaders and the time we taught the whole place

Pday again! Man time is FLYING. I got to go on a couple good exchanges this week, one with sister Sisto where we were part of a legendary miracle: We wanted to go somewhere fun for lunch, so we prayed to know where we needed to go. (Because He literally can tell you all things, even where you need to go for lunch. And then He'll use you if you follow.) Kneaders came to mind and felt right for both of us, so we went to Kneaders. It was PACKED. Like nowhere to sit FULL. When we get to order, a random lady who was a member of our church came up to us and said "Sisters, I want to buy your lunch." We were so grateful and it was kind of her and a tender mercy, but IT GOT BETTER. This woman pulls her credit card out and holds it up in the air and YELLS in front of the whole restaurant "I am going to buy these girls lunch, because they are missionaries!" Everybody stopped what they were doing and looked at her, mostly with weird stares. She then asked, "Do any of you know what these girls do?" She asked where we were from and when we said Italy and Canada she proclaimed, "They leave their home and countries and families to come here to teach people the truth! So I am going to buy their lunch. And all of you should listen to them." By this point there was no turning back, a scene had been made. She made us buy soup, salad, sandwiches, and dessert, and as we were about to sit down to enjoy our feast, I saw a couple sitting by the window just staring us down. The spirit told me to sit with them, so we went over and asked if we could join them. They had already finished eating and when we sat down they said: "okay wait, what exactly do you do?" We explained it all and they went off with all of their questions about the gospel and church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because of the scene that was made, they weren't the only ones curious. A couple of people gathered around our table and other ears were leaned our way to pick up what we were saying. Our food came and we didn't touch it, but continued to answer questions until we taught all about the restoration and plan of salvation. An hour went by and they said they had to go. Turns out they were traveling across America in an RV and just stopped in for lunch. We answered all the questions they had and hooked them up with the church and missionaries at their next destination. They told us that they felt like everything we shared was right and were excited to learn more. They knew that God sent us in there for lunch and that our paths crossed for a reason. A couple of other people thanked us and then the Kneaders staff came by and asked if they could warm up our food for us because it had gotten cold while we taught for an hour. Even they seemed grateful and receptive to what we were doing here. All thanks to that bold member who wasn't afraid to share her faith and extend an invitation, even in a public place and where people could've easily laughed at or judged her. She knew how important the truths we teach are. Other than that and my awesome exchange with sister Appriou from Tahiti, this week was harder than most. Of our apartment of sisters, we had one of us missing a funeral and time with loved ones, one battling health problems and fighting to stay here, one with an arrested brother, and another who's parents are going through a divorce. There is power that comes from mourning with those that mourn and comforting those that stand in need of comfort. The Savior knows exactly how to succor us. Saturday morning a member of our Stake Presidency gave us each a very powerful and specific blessing. I haven't had a blessing in a long time and am so grateful for it and was reminded of the power of the Priesthood that you can find and feel wherever you are in the world. That power has been restored and we can access it whenever we want or need to. When someone gives a blessing they are acting as a mouthpiece for God and I know our ever-loving Father is so aware of each and every one of His children and understands everything that is hard about our lives and cares deeply about even the deepest desires of our hearts and wants to grant us them. We need only wrestle with him in prayer and put our shoulder to the wheel and Faith to do the work! - Sister Hardy (I also saw my first Havalena... it was dead but still.)