Because He Lives.

Dear Mom (and all my other lovely friends and family),

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!! :) I hope you all are having such a wonderful day today!

I have so many stories this week, but not a lot of time, so... I'll try to get through as much as I can!! :) 

This week I want to tell you all a little more about our wonderful investigators!! Right now, we are meeting with three of the most WONDERFUL people I have ever met. Their names are Tadeusz, Ola, and Agata! :) 

We were able to meet with Agata and Tadeusz this week, and those lessons were seriously a few that I will never forget. I know I always say that, but, in my defense... You all only hear about the highlights ;) So, this week my companions and I have been thinking SO much about our Saviour Jesus Christ, and because He lives what that means for us. We had such a wonderful and spiritual comp study on that topic this week, and all decided that that was something that our investigators really needed to know. That Jesus Christ LIVES. And because He lives, we live. I don't know if you all have seen the mormon message "Because He Lives", but if you haven't, I seriously recommend watching it! :) (And if you have... watch it again!) It is such an incredible video... Well, lucky for us, it is translated into Polish!! :) So, we watched that short video with Tadeusz this week, and I wish you all could have been there to feel the spirit that came into the room as we watched that video with him. My companions will back me up when I say that there was not a dry eye in the room. It was incredible! After the video, we all sat there for a moment, really just soaking in the spirit that was there, I think. After which, we all were able to testify of what blessings we have received "because He lives". Even Tadeusz was able to look us in the eyes and tell us how grateful he is for Jesus Christ... It was something I had never heard him say before, and I was just so happy! :) Tadeusz later in that lesson told us the most incredible story I have ever heard... It gives me chills just thinking about it. It is very personal to me, but... I think I'll share a little bit of it with you all. Not in detail, but, just a little :) During our lesson, we asked Tadeusz what he thought of the video, and he didn't say anything for a long time. He just looked down at his hands, and played with his fingers. Then finally, after what seemed like an eternity of silence, he said that after the lessons we have had with him, he always takes the same tram home. And he said a lot of things about that, but the one thing I will share with you all is this... He said, "Each time I have been on that tram after a lesson with the three of you.. I have seen my mom, and my dad, and my brother... Every time." Well, the amazing thing about that, is his mom, dad, and brother all passed away just a few years ago... Can you believe that? It literally gives me chills as I think about it. So many other things were said in that lesson, but Tadeusz truly felt the Holy Ghost in that lesson... and that is the most important. So, he is going to pray about a baptismal date this week :) He knows... I know he knows. This gospel is true, and I know he knows that. :) He told us he cannot deny it. 

Well, that is one experience that as I sit here typing I can't find the words to describe it. I really can't... It was a miracle. I wish I could find the words to do it justice. But... I hope that if nothing else, you all can feel a little of the spirit that was felt in that room as we talked about our Saviour, and as Tadeusz shared that miraculous experience. 

So many other wonderful things happened this week. Unfortunately, I don't have much more time. But, I'll just say one more little experience. :) 

This week, I had my first experience of being in a lesson where the person we were teaching (not one of our investigators) not only criticized and degraded me and my testimony, but also my Saviour Jesus Christ... It was just another one of those times that I find myself in every day, where I can choose to testify of Christ, or choose to just stay silent because I am afraid that the person won't like me if I say something to defend Him. But, this time was different. I realized something, as I sat there listening to this woman degrade the man I have grown to love with everything I am... I wear this little black badge, representing the Lord Jesus Christ every single day, but I have never truly had to experience even a little taste of how he felt as he was ridiculed. He was despised... rejected of men. I have never really had to experience that, especially in the way He did. But that day, I felt like I was walking hand in hand with Him a little more than I have before, as I boldly bore testimony to this woman... And I realized, that if I truly want to be able to say I represent the Lord Jesus Christ, I have to be able to "walk at least a little of the path He walked. Shed one of the many tears of sorrow, that He shed." (Elder Holland) And it was in that moment that I defended my Saviour, that I realized how much He truly meant to me. I never really understood the saying, "a testimony is found in the bearing of it" until that day.

But I want you all to know that I LOVE my Saviour Jesus Christ, and I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that He lives. That He lived, and He loved, and He suffered, and atoned, and died, for us. And that He lives again. And because He lives, we live. We are never alone. We are never forgotten. We are never in any place too dark that His light can not shine. He lives, He is our Saviour, and this is His gospel. It is TRUE. And I will use the word "prawdziwa" (true) until the day I die. 

Well, I know that was a long email, and a lot to get through, but... This gospel is true! :) I hope if you all only remember one thing from my emails, it is that I know this gospel is true. I have a burning testimony of that, and I cannot deny it. 

I hope you all have the most amazing 4th of July!!! :) 

I love you all!

Z miłością,

Siostra Kamp