Sister Marli MacLay: "Elder Ochoa from the Quorum of the 70 came".

Our zone at mission tour

Hey y'all!

This week was awesome!! We had mission tour in Midland this week! Elder Ochoa from the quorum of the 70 came. We had a long drive there, and half of the time we were driven by this tiny little sister missionary who is the worst driver I've ever seen. We almost got in multiple accidents, had I not been an attentive Co pilot lol. One of the times, I was inches away from being decapitated by a flat-bed semi. It was a mighty good time. I got to see a lot of my favorite people at mission tour though! People from my MTC district, past zone leaders, and a friend from Gilbert!

We had the First Baptist church food pantry this week as well! They absolutely love us coming. I got hugged by a lot of old men. We were also invited to come to a play being put on by their church. It's called "Heavens Gates or Hells Flames." It was the cheesiest thing I've ever seen. The whole play was basically all these people who would die and if "they accepted Jesus into their heart by saying a simple prayer while they were here on earth, their names would be found on the Book of Life and they could enter Heaven." It was so intense. Satan was super creepy and looked like Darth Maul. They acted out all these scenarios in which people would die, and then go to heaven or hell. Mothers were separated from their daughters, families with little kids dragged down to hell together by Satan and his little demons. Y'all, it was literally crazy. At the end, this super eccentric guy got up (think Ty from Home Makeover) and gave a rousing speech about it. Every sentence had an Amen in it. He invited everyone who wasn't right with God to raise their hands, come to the front, and say that prayer so they would enter heaven when they die. Seriously, so nuts. I wanted to throw Plan of Salvation pamphlets out to everyone. He also said the way you can show love to those around you is by asking them, are you going to Heaven or hell?

Tanner, the 1 youth in our branch, had his eagle scout project this weekend! We went out to a cemetery in Rockwood and cleaned it up. It was super fun! Sister Breaux grandson, Brady, came and I got a pic with him. He's the cutest. He was picking up twigs and trying to help the whole time.

The main theme of our mission tour was "faith unto repentance." Repentance is such a great gift! And preceeding it must be faith, centered in Jesus Christ. We need to grab onto our faith, not our doubts. This reminded me of Alma 36 when Alma is telling his son about his conversion:

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

This is absolutely my favorite story about faith unto repentance! Alma caught hold upon the thought of Jesus Christ and his atonement for us, asked for repentance, and his soul was filled with such great joy! I know that Jesus Christ has his hand outstretched and is waiting for all of us, even the 'vilest of sinners.'

Love you bunches!

Sister MacLay