3 Miracles, Part 1

Have you ever felt you’re a small part of something much bigger? There are three moments in my life--probably many, many more really-- but there are three that come to mind that really leave me in awe and have an impact on how I live my life every single day.  

I feel I never have words adequate enough to express how these moments came about, or why I ever had the privilege of being a part of them. 

I consider it part of something much, much bigger, and yet something so small and personal that God has designed for me to learn again, and again in my life. Because He loves me, and lets me know that as I get to see Him do His work for others. 

There’s a theme to all of these moments for me you’ll come to know.

First one--back 20 years or so in Luxembourg-ville, I was living as a missionary. My new friend, who’s story of how we met in and of itself is a miracle--I should probably start there...

I was riding back to my apartment on the city bus with my missionary friend. I was at the back of the bus and she was at the front, and I could see that woman was trying to catch her attention to ask her something. I made my way to the front and introduced myself. (We’ll call her Leni here.) She was so happy, had recognized our name badges, and quickly gave us her address and asked for us to come by. 

We met her and her 3 daughters in her amazing, city apartment a few days later and learned her story. Leni was Finnish and working in banking in Luxembourg. She told us the story of how she and her ex-husband had met and become good friends with a missionary in Finland 20 years earlier. They were such good friends that they had kept in touch all those years and even visited him in the United States, becoming close to his whole family. 

When Leni saw us, she wanted to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints again. The timing was right for her and I felt grateful to be a part of that. 

Leni was anxious to get some books and materials in English for her and her daughters to further their gospel learning, so when a work trip to London came up, she planned to visit the Church of Jesus Christ visitor center near Hyde Park to see what they had for her to bring back home. 

When she returned, she invited us to dinner and was so excited to share with us what had happened. She had found the visitor center but it was quiet and empty inside.  She didn’t know where to go and no one was around to ask for help. She was about to leave, disappointed, but a young man suddenly appeared and asked if she was lost and if he could help. He was kind and helped her find what she was looking for. She told him a bit of her story and that she was learning about the Church and he scribbled a quick note to her and included his name, phone and address in the United States in case she ever needed anything in the future. 

I was so relieved and happy to hear of the help she received, right when she needed it. I felt so grateful to whoever that young man was for noticing her, and offering to help. 

Leni handed me the note he had written her so I could see it, and my jaw dropped!

I saw the name and address of the young man and his note, “There are no coincidences in the process of conversion.” He was someone I knew! We had both been students at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies just a year before. What were the chances?!

“I know him! I know who this is!”

As I shared this with Leni and her girls we all felt a tangible feeling of warmth and love in that room with us. 

It was a sweet confirmation that God is truly in the details of our lives and, oh! How we are connected to each other!

It could have been anyone who had helped her. She could have sought out missionaries years, even decades earlier, but this was part of her story and mine, with a seeming coincidence to bring us even closer together in the process. 

This simple story has in fact changed the lens with which I have viewed my life. It has helped me to act more quickly on inspiration and promptings and to watch for the hand of God at work in not only my life, but also the lives of those around me. 

We are interwoven and connected in the most beautiful ways. You just have to look for it.

xoxo

Dayna