Brooke Shares a Miracle - June 6, 2011

Family, Dahlia, and Michael's Nose;


I'm sorry it's been a while since I wrote you all by hand. Please excuse any spelling errors I make. It seems like forever since I've had a thick, juicy dictionary in my hands. I've really been missing it lately as I've started trying to make my way through Jesus The Christ. Wowee, he uses a lot of big words.

I keep thinking about how everyone should serve a mission. There are lots of reasons, or purposes, why everyone should serve a mission, but one of the biggest reasons is because of what you witness as a missionary The reason the Young Adults of the Church serve missions is so they can witness the miracles God performs. I can't convince someone to be baptized anymore than I can convince Dahlia to learn how to juggle.  But, Heavenly Father has allowed me to witness the miracles that happen when one of His children allows the Holy Ghost into his/her heart. I really have nothing to do with it. I'm just allowed to watch it. I've been thinking a lot about Alma 29 lately. I wish that people would listen to the happiness that's knocking on their door instead of shutting it up before it can get a word in. Still the Lord is allowing me to see miracles.

I love listening to the Mo-Tab. It's comforting to hear so many voices united & telling me that there are people who know Sister Ralph and I aren't crazy. There are millions of people who do know The Book of Mormon is true and that God does speak to His children today. Miracles have not ceased.

Can I share with you a miracle of my own? I've been debating on whether or not I should share this with you all for a couple of weeks now. I've been afraid that if I told you, it would go away. But, I'll tell you anyway.

The day I got to Louisville - the second I stepped off that airplane on to Kentucky ground - I could SMELL. It was faint and only lasted a minute or so, but I knew it had happened. It's been over four years since I lost my sens of smell and about twice a year I'll get it back for about a day and it will be so strong and all at once that I get very nauseated and sick. The, the next day it's gone again. It's been over a year since I had one of those episodes, until my first day in the field. And it didn't come all at once or very strong. It was faint and "under"bearing. Over my first transfer in Corbin I would be able to smell a little her and a little there and for a little long, maybe 2 hours here and 2 hours the next day. I've gotten to the point where I now can smell all the time and I haven't gotten sick once yet because of it. It's AMAZING.

I feel so much more connected with the world around me. Everything has a scent! Your table, your towel, your banana, your moose nightgown, etc. I'm sure y'all don't notice those things anymore because you're so used to it. But, I just sniffed the pen I'm writing this [letter] with and the ink has a smell. Hurray!

Now, I'm sure I could tell this story to someone who didn't know God and he would tell me it was because of humidity and climate and time and whatever else, but that's not true. China is very humid and it didn't work there. I've been to Hawaii and California and it didn't work there. It is a miracle and a blessing from Heavenly Father. That's it. I know it is. [reader: this surprised all of us! She is not exaggerating when she says that she has not been able to smell anything for years - a curse AND a blessing as the case may be]

Y'all also know how allergic I am to cat and dogs, too. I can't stand 3 minutes around one without hives and asthma attack, right? Not on my mission. Every house I go into has a furry pet and every pet climbs all over me and nuzzles me and sheds on me and not once have I sneezed or gotten itchy because of it. Not once. I'm telling you, it's a miracle.  [an even BIGGER miracle - to not have ANY reaction, not even a SNEEZE?!?! We can't imagine it.  This is unheard of - perhaps Nina will get her wish for a kitten in this household after all!]  I don't know if it's just an 18-month blessing or if it will last afterwards, but it doesn't matter. I've been watched over and blessed by Heavenly Father and I'm grateful for whatever He gives me.

I love you all. The church is TRUE!! Share it!!

Love Sis. Nelson
 [final note: we are witnessing the fulfillment of one of the promises in her blessing as she was set apart as a missionary - that her health would "improve" as she served faithfully. Indeed, our Father keeps His promises. We are all so touched and grateful!].