Missionaries

 Wayne and I are missionaries!  

We are called as Addiction recovery missionaries working with the Water Tower Branch which is part of the Jail District that goes from SLC,  Tooele, Park City all the way up north to Logan and Evanston.  Our Water Tower Branch is really unique. Mostly men– with a few women volunteers and women who are partners of some of these men.  It’s really different to start a meeting saying, no smoking, no hanging out outside, and no going across the street to 7-11… and hearing swears while people talk. I loved the realness of it all.   We don’t serve the sacrament– we sing a sacrament hymn, have the sacrament scriptures read by two different people and then reflect in silence for a few minutes.  IT’s very powerful. 

Our meetings are so different… and the men who share their feelings about faith, Jesus, and trying to be good people are so touching.  They are not in an easy place, and have made some decisions that have really impacted their choices, but they come on Sunday to hear the good word and feel the spirit.  Many are not from the LDS tradition..but they love Jesus. 

We had messages one Fast Sunday from one guy who shared he’s been shot twice in the head, 4 times in the back, stabbed 27 times… including once in a maximum security cell– and he’s lived through it all by the grace of God and his grandmother’s faith. He was raised catholic and his grandma would sneak him communion.  She’s in her 90’s and he loves her so much.

 Another guy told of not being able to take the sacrament of 24 years, and how it fills him with light.  

Another guy just thanked all of the volunteers who help run this branch, and pick up people and bring to church and our Wednesday night dinner.  It’s all very sweet.  

One guy shared that he’s an active alcoholic and he’s now gone 25 days without any..and we are so proud of him.  He put in a big plug for our Thursday night addiction recovery meeting and getting out of shame and bringing things into the light. 

We get two different badges- because in ARP-- everyone goes by their first names.