Dear Youth Chorus,
Well, I'm already missing you like crazy. I absolutely love riding on the bus and I feel so incomplete not finishing the journey with you. I know you are probably missing me too and wishing I was on the microphone right talking at you (my favorite pastime) so I devised a way to do it through proxy. :)
I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that I already lost the Book of Mormon you gave me. No, it's not because I lose everything (by the way, has anyone seen my sunglasses?) there is actually a story behind this one. Which brings me to the good news...
When I got in the cab, I was completely exhausted and ready to nap all the way to the airport. There was a woman driving with her 17-year-old son in the passenger seat. She began asking me questions about our tour and what we were doing. I told her about us and, naturally, this led to a discussion about the gospel. She said she has a friend in Washington who is a member and that once she attended a church service with her. She said, "I have never experienced a feeling quite like that before. It was an intense feeling of love and welcoming." (Later in the conversation I had a chance to explain what that feelingreally was.)
She asked about our belief in the afterlife and our purpose for being here. I told her how we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father and that he has a plan for us to be happy and, ultimately, become like him. She got somewhat emotional talking about how she's felt like she has been missing something in her life but hasn't been able to put her finger on what it is. (At this point, I was sure I was being punked.) I told her about how much I love being a member of the Church and how it has been the source of every good thing in my life (the truth.)
When she dropped me off at the airport, I had an intense desire to share more with her, but I knew all I had in my bag was the Book of Mormon that you had just given me. During the meeting, I had thumbed through it, seeing your testimonies and the scriptures that you had carefully highlighted. I knew that it was going to be one of my greatest treasures. I know now that those testimonies and scriptures were never meant for me. I wrote my name and contact info in the front and gave it to her. She emotionally thanked me and promised to stay in touch.
What are the odds that this woman would be picking me up in Hermiston, Oregon to go to the airport? God is real and he works in mysterious ways.
I am so grateful for the incredible experience that I've been able to have with all of you these past ten days. The whole experience has been so sacred and I will never forget it. God bless you for your goodness, humility, and faith. I will anxiously await our first rehearsal in September.
Much love,
Mr. Swenson
