Written by my sister-in-law, Rachel's, visiting teacher. She was instrumental in Derek and Rachel coming back to church...
"When my Relief Society President was visiting my home one
summer, she mentioned that she might want to add another sister to my route –
but, she said, she would have to think about it and pray about it some more.
A couple of months later she asked me to visit Rachel
Hunter. She said, “Rachel is very hard
to get hold of, but please don’t give up.
And, please, don’t let this be a drive-by visiting teaching effort. Don’t just leave cookies on the door
step.” At this time, I didn’t have a
companion, which interestingly, I think, added to the comfort we both felt with
each other.
The first month I phoned and phoned, and finally reached
Rachel who said I could come. Imagine my
surprise when she opened the door – here stood a beautiful, YOUNG lady with
spiked red and black hair. I know her
in-laws, and somehow just didn’t picture Rachel being part of this very
conservative family.
Rachel warmly invited me in, and we had a lovely visit. I asked if she wanted the message each month,
or would she just prefer to visit. Her
choice was just visiting. And visit we
did! We had great discussions, covering
a myriad of topics, which didn’t include the gospel. I came to appreciate and love Rachel for her
down-to-earth sensibility, and I soon discovered we had many, many things in
common, even though we were separated in age by almost 40 years. I usually visited bearing cookies or some
other gift, but soon learned that this relationship was strong on its own
merit, and a monthly trinket wasn’t necessary, though sometimes fun. About three years later I delivered a
birthday cake on her birthday, which was my custom. She was excited to receive it, and told me
that she’d told her mom she wouldn’t need a cake on her birthday, because she
was sure her visiting teacher would be bringing her one. Whew! Glad I didn’t let that one slip by!
I think our first visit was in August, and when I went to
see her in January, Rachel asked what time the church services were. I was serving with my husband at the MTC, and
told her I attended Relief Society in our ward, but not the other
meetings. I told her I was the pianist,
and so she wouldn’t feel lonely, she could sit by me in the corner by the
piano.
The next Sunday she was up and dressed, and her husband
asked where she was going. She told him,
“To Relief Society”. Derek quickly
dressed and went to church with her, but since I wasn’t there for the entire
block of meetings, I don’t know if they attended all of them. She sat by me the first week, but from then
on she was busy making friends and helping others feel welcome.
It wasn’t long until I learned that Rachel shared her
testimony in Sacrament Meeting. I wasn’t
there to hear it, but that month I asked if I could begin teaching the monthly
lesson. With a big smile, she said I
could.
Several months later, at a ward visiting teacher’s meeting,
Rachel made a comment. We were in the
cultural hall, at opposite ends of the room, so I didn’t hear what she
said. But when she finished the
president (a new president by this time) asked us both to stand. The president said, ‘Look at these two. They’re great friends. Go figure!”
By now Rachel’s hair was jet black, she was charming in her short skirt
and fish net stockings, and I, her friend, was staid and plump, with a few strands
of grey hair.
I don’t believe I was the full reason for Rachel’s return to
church activity, but perhaps my visits became the impetus to help it
happen. I did say to Rachel one time,
“You’ve always had a testimony, haven’t you?
You just needed to be your won person.”
Her grin told me my assessment was spot on. Because I was a visiting teacher, I made a
charming friend, who eventually, with her husband, was worthy to go to the
temple and be sealed for time and eternity.
For this gift, and I consider this experience a gift, I will be
eternally grateful."
Beverly Johansen
July 1, 2009
