Adrian

Adrian was in at a low point of his life. It had been months now that his body followed the same steps: eat, sleep, go to school. He felt empty and alone. His addictions were his only constant companions. He had hurt and let down his family so many times that there was only distance and pain behind any interaction with them.

As he got on the bus for his normal 45-minute ride back home, he ran into an old friend from high school. His friend looked up at him and smiled wide, "Hey Adrian, How's it going! Take a seat!"

As the bus moved through the country roads between the neighboring towns, his friend began to tell him of the church he was going to currently and how he was preparing himself to go somewhere else to teach about God. Although Adrian, didn’t have any beliefs about God or religion, it caught his attention how happy and free his friend seemed. Hadn’t this friend of his also been wrapped up in drugs that he was? How did he get out? What had changed?

His friend asked him if he’d let some missionaries from his church come over and tell him more about God and how he could also change his life to be more satisfying. "Sure," Adrian said. What could it hurt?

The missionaries started to come by. They were also so happy. So friendly. For the frist time Adrian saw something that motivated him. He wanted to be like them. He felt a small pillar of hope.

The missionaries gave him a book to read. It was about Indians, or something; other people that talked about God. They told him to read about a young boy, named Alma who also did bad things that had hurt his family and loved ones. Adrian knew how Alma felt. He had felt that same pain and regret many times. He continued to read how Alma prayed and his pain was turned into joy and light. Adrian at last had found what he was looking for. He didn’t have it yet, but he could see the light, and he knew that he wanted to change his life.

Repentence is a long and rocky road, but when one has tasted the bitterness of sin, it keeps one moving forward.

We’ve been working with Adrian for several weeks now. He is now down to one cigarette a day. His family has seen the change in his spirit and have also started to listen to the lessons. They have started to have family prayer and read together in the Book of Mormon. More than anything they want Adrian to be happy and to quit drugs. Keep praying for them; they are an amazing family!

Love you all

Sister Suswha