Love Story Part 2

I was serving as a "service missionary" in Sunnyside (an English Area) due to my health. I was serving with one of my favorite companions ever- Hermana (Sister) Cordova. She has RA as well and it was nice to finally have someone who understood what I was going through and did not treat me differently or damaged because of my diagnosis.

Sunnyside Area takes in pretty much the sketchiest part of Houston, also known as 3rd Ward. As sisters we were not allowed to go to certain appointments alone, so the Elders would accompany us. This gave us the opportunity to get to know them better. They are by far some of my closest friends even now.

I served in this area for 4 1/2 months before Elder Mitchem (also known as "Elder Smiley" by those in Choir) was transferred into Sunnyside. The Elders had to drive down to Pearland the day of transfers to give me a blessing (kidney stones and sketchy urgent cares- YUCK!) and then they went to pick up the new elders that would be serving in the area.

Two nights later we met those that were going to be serving with us for the next transfer. Nothing happened for me when I first saw him that night. I was a missionary after all.

That weekend was General Conference and Zach had been receiving impressions that I was the one he was supposed to marry, but like I had to do a little bit later on- he shoved them deep inside and tried to ignore it. We had all been invited to go to a members house and have a less active member join us for conference. I was laying on the ground next to the member's (Monika Sampert) son, Jaiden. We were doing puzzles and playing games to keep him focused on Conference. Zach was sitting behind me. All through conference he received the same impression over and over again- with me sitting in front of him. By the end he decided that he would just accept the revelation, store any feelings away and wait until we could talk like normal people on December 18th, the day after we returned home from our missions.

My revelation came the following Tuesday. We were at a less-actives car dealership washing his cars and teaching he and his friend about the Gospel. Zach was standing a ways away talking to his companion, when I looked up and saw him. I heard a voice tell me, "This is the man that you are supposed to marry." I always doubt myself. So instantly I said, "Nope! Nice try!" but again it came- louder and stronger. Again I denied it, and again the voice came.  (There is much to learn here- study 3 Nephi 11:1-12 and the Nephites at the Land Bountiful did the same thing- they heard a voice and did not understand.I heard and did not understand, nor did I want to. It wasn't until I was willing to give my all to understand and hear that I was able to- and now I am married to my best friend!!) Finally, I did the same as Zach.I accepted the revelation and stowed it away as best I could. Knowing that we could not say anything, but also knowing exactly how the other felt without saying anything- we waited until December 18th to really talk. :)

Love Story Part 1

This is us...back in the missionary stage :) 

This is our story. How we met. Why we love each other. Why we love life.

We both served LDS Missions in the Texas Houston South Mission. I was called to serve Spanish speaking, Zach was called to serve English speaking.

What Zach remembers as the first time we met:

It was about 2 weeks into my mission when we had a Zone Conference. This was at the beginning when the English and the Spanish areas met together. We were paired off with our companions to role play together. He saw that I was in pain, he naturally wanted to help, but when he prayed about it he was told he could not help- yet. When we role played together he says that he thought I was amazing, but he still had his ex-girlfriend writing him and he was a missionary so there was nothing there.

What I remember as the first time we met:

About two weeks into my mission I became really sick with pain all over my body. I went from doctor to doctor- until I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. I was living with a senior missionary and working as an office missionary. Had I been healthy it would have been my dream mission. I loved it and was able to use my organization skills.

I was working on organizing all of the Christmas gifts as they came in for the missionaries from their parents. Some parents (mine included!) sent huge boxes. I could hardly hold a pen at this point and had no grip- so I was unable to lift these boxes. Zach was serving with the English Assistant at the time and was in the office often. Each time he was there, he always offered to help and always lifted those stinking heavy boxes for me. He was always a gentleman- not something I experienced much prior to my mission. But I had decided prior to leaving that I would NOT under any circumstance marry anyone I met while on the mission. ;) ( Funny how things rarely go the way we plan!)

However, both of us agree that we did not "officially" meet or get to know one another until we were both serving in SUNNYSIDE :)