I'm still not really sure what exactly happened Japan. We keep hearing different things.
Tempe is crazy – literally!!! I have so many stories and not enough time! It actually makes the day go a little faster when we are entertained. So many weird things happen in one day I’m starting to think it's normal. Yesterday this creeper asked me to be part of his porno! No joke - he was serious and went into a disgusting amount of detail. So we gave him the elder’s number when he asked for mine. Sick…but he said he would come to church?
We have had a lot of miracles the last week so I think it will build up quickly and we'll find more solid investigators.
It’s hard being back in just Spanish work. I really love the people so much. I've had a cool experience with Spanish this last week though. My Spanish has grown SO much it's not even funny; literally I’ve spoken more Spanish the last week than in my entire mission. Mainly because I’ve been forced to because my companion also struggles with Spanish so I HAVE to talk. I was so worried for this transfer with Spanish but the Lord is definitely qualifying me and preparing me for training or whatever happens next transfer.
We have this awesome recent convert. His name is "J" and he is so excited about the gospel. He's adorable. He goes around telling EVERYONE about it, he is such a good little missionary. He carries little pass along cards in his front pocket and gives them to everyone as he bikes to work. He always says "the other day when I was on the mission with the Hermanas..." He will bike clear across town to come out with us and he gets all dressed up in the only nice outfit he has. He's an example to us ...if only we all were as excited as him. We take it for granted.
So we are teaching this guy "P" and he is hilarious, especially when he tries to speak English…it kills me! His kids were watching "Alvin and the Chipmunks," and he kept trying to say "chipmunk" but it comes out as "chisma" and he has started calling his kids "chisma"! So I'm totally using that when I have kids one day. Anyway so we spent an hour with him and he was pretty hard hearted and stubborn. So I wasn't thinking he was necessarily going anywhere, but then we stopped by yesterday and he was a completely different person! He was teary eyed and telling us how he had been thinking a lot lately and wanted to tell us how much respect he has for us and how he wants to change his life and come to church and make new friends and how he had a dream that he went to a lesson with us. So that was pretty cool to see a complete 180.
Probably the coolest thing though--
We went to contact this referral of this kid named "H". We got to his house wasn't very nice. We found out his family used to be members but now they hate the church and there is no way they are ever coming back because all the leadership? He said "You're going to have to talk to my mom and she is not going to be nice to you at all -she hates you guys." So as he is saying this the mom pulls up in the driveway. Joy:) But she walks up and is totally sweet and kisses us on the cheek and invites us in. We went in and start talking to her and she tells us how she doesn't want to be a member anymore and would like her and her families name removed from the church and if we could do that for her. It made me sick. So we were trying to figure out why she stopped coming, but she was really vague and kept saying it was not the way God's church should be and the people are terrible. So we explained how the people aren't perfect but the church itself is perfect because Jesus Christ is perfect and this is his church. And she was like I know that. So we were confused and kept digging and she became really cranky. She was all over the place. After her going on about tithing and the temple, I just interrupted her and said “HEY- forget everything you have EVER know about the church, forget the people, forget tithing, forget temple, everything- forget it. All that matters- if you get anything out of the church- is Jesus Christ. Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” And she said Yes and then started telling us what was really wrong. 15 years ago she had a bad experience with a member but I guess no one believed her and they wouldn't let her talk to the prophet (imagine that). So then she starts going off about the prophet and how he doesn't care and how he's corrupt, and goes back to temples and tithing. She tells us that she has been thinking about being other churches because they have places that are similar to temples and EVERYONE can go even if they don't pay tithing and they have a leader that would probably listen to her. So I was blunt and said “Well you could do that but you and I both know that would be stupid. You and I know what they don't have and that you wouldn't be happy there either.” I asked her if she'd been through the temple and she said she had but she had no idea what she was talking about. So we explained how it doesn't really work like that, which shut her up for a second and then she went back to how it all isn't fair, and how she HATES and wants to kill this one person that is a member of the church but she knows it's against the law. So I said “Once again, forget everything that has ever happened to you because there is someone that has been through a heck of a lot more and his name is Jesus Christ. When he suffered he suffered for YOU, for you sins, for those days when you are cranky, for those times when you have hate that you think nobody understands- he does- he's felt it, he's had every bad moment, every bad day, pain and sickness you've ever had and more. And he did it all for YOU so that you can change and repent and learn to be better and continually try again and again and so he could help you get through these times when you can't figure out how to forgive someone, he will show you, when you can't figure out how to come back, he will show you.” I started to get teary eyed because I was so frustrated because it didn't seem like she was listening. I told her about how we are literally representative of Jesus Christ and we were there to help her. I explained the way I felt for her and how my heart was so full of love and hope that she would just listen because if she did listen to us she would know how much he loved her. I told her how she's not alone, how we have a branch that would be her family and help her though this.
THEN she said “I will not go to a Spanish branch I HATE Mexicans! (She’s from South America) That statement took us over the edge. We were both silent for a minute because we were completely offended. I half debated whether I should chew her out or if we should just leave. Hermana Barker bore her testimony and then I did mine and told her when Jesus Christ suffered for you. He suffered for everyone…INCLUDING MEXICANS and he would hurt so much to hear you say that. I hurt when I hear you say that because I have fallen in love with the Hispanic culture including the Mexicans and they are my family here and they may not be perfect but at least they try to be Christ like and that is all that is asked of us.
Then I noticed she was crying and she said "I need to come back to church, I know it's true, I’m sorry, I know he sent you to me and I’m thankful that you came, I know I need to change. What time does the Spanish ward start on Sunday?" COMPLETE CHANGE. SO COOL. We were both shocked! She just kept hugging us and asked us to help her come back. Then her married daughter and has also gone inactive had been listening in the kitchen the whole time came over and hugged us and thanked us over and over again.
We are going to start teaching the family now. It was really cool to see someone change so much and to see her heart soften. We walked out to our car and just couldn't get over what just happened. Some days really, really, really suck but those little moments are really cool.
It's FREAKING HOT now. I've gotten burnt the last 2 days. Yay for sweet tan lines!
Okay well we are going to have a BBQ.
I LOVE YOU :)
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