HELLO ALL!

Hey y'all, 

Very short story here...

Went on a team-up with Mike. Mike is from Rwanda and has seen and experienced a lot of incredibly hard things.... during our teaching appointment, Mike shared an experience that I wanted to share.

Mike was thrown into prison for being a "tootsie"... which is merely someone who looks a certain way. He was set to be executed by firing squad along with a mother who had killed her child (she was mentally unstable) and two soliders who had been charged with theft. While in the prison cell, hiding in the corner, scared out of his mind... the women started to sing a song about Christ. The two soldiers began to beat her to try and make her stop. Mike, sitting in the corner asked "Why are you beating her? We're all about to die... we should stop and pray". The soldiers eventually stopped and the women turned to Mike and said "You're a good man. You will not be killed". Meanwhile, Mike was praying that he would be safe... yet he was still certain that he would be killed and that his prayers would go un-answered.

 A short time later, they were taken out to a garage and lined them up to be shot. The two soldiers were first... as their charges were announced, they both promptly tried to blame the other for their crimes... they went in vain and they were subsequently shot. The women was next (who was still singing)... they ended up deciding to not execute her due to some sort of standard they had to follow to show that she was guilty the the public... so they took her away and next up was Mike. 

They asked for his name and why he was there... he responded and told them why... they asked why he had been brought to be executed for such a small thing (although this was common to execute those considered to be "tootsie") Mike told them that he wasn't sure... and then a miracle happened. The captain in charge of the squad decided to let him live. He was placed back in prison. Some time later (after nearly a month of no food) another prisoner in the jail said "Don't worry. Soon we will go to America". Mike, although praying to be set free, thought the man had lost his mind.

 Some days later, the US embassy discovered their location and set them free... and sent them here to America!!! 

So what did Mike learn from all of this??? God listens and answers prayers... we just have to be paying attention and look for those answers. We have to be open to receive them... and we have to recognize them when they come.

I add my testimony to his that God lives and answers our prayers. Just pay attention and you'll see them answered :) I love you all so much. Have a blessed day.

-Elder Wahlen