This week was full of lots of ups and downs. I can't believe this transfer is almost over.
Let's see. I turned 7 months last week. I learned that our mission President is taking away the option of an early transfer and has asked that all the sisters in this mission stay the late transfer. So much for that. That puts me home on March 20th. Which I guess is fine with me I don't have anything terribly exciting going on at home, except that I will have a nephew/ niece by then.
It hit 103 degrees this week. It's pretty miserable during the day. For some reason it's hottest around 5 at night. Apparently this is early for it to be this hot. That would be my luck:) I can't believe it's going to pick up another 20 degrees. Shoot me!
I feel like a lot happened this week. I need to start writing it down so I remember.
So last Wednesday I wasn't feeling to hot all P-day with a migraine and my stomach was killing me. So we went to our appt that night and they canceled. So we went to go and talk to "Y" (that lady that I mentioned a few weeks ago) because we haven't been able to get a hold of her because she doesn't have a phone. So we went over to her house and as we are pulling up we see her neighbor outside with this sign that says "Jesus is coming." So I’m like let's go talk to him, if nothing else it will be entertaining. WRONG. As were walking up I literally said to Hma Barker "I really hope this isn't an anti because I'm really not in the mood I feel like I’m going to puke." I should have listened to that feeling. WORST ANTI EVER. I don't even know where to start. The second we start talking to him, he's condescending and straight up creepy. I asked him about his belief in Jesus Christ and he looked at me like I was stupid and then started to explain how he had an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. So I was like thats...nice. Do you have a church that you go to? Ohhh man this guy was crazy. So he starts explaining how he is from some church and how Jesus came to him in his room and selected him and "laid his love down on him" and they are married and have an intimate relationship and Jesus is coming back for his bridegroom and he believes that is him. Yep.
So Hma B and I look at each other and are thinking give this guy an invitation to the Easter pageant and let's get out of here. I don't know how to describe it but this guy was dark and slimy. Then his two equally creepy friends come out (he's like 26 or something). He asked us who Jesus Christ was to us so we started to explain a little about how we believe he is our Savior. I don't even know what happened to this conversation and how it got on all the topics but it lasted about 45 minutes and it was horrible. Apparently the three of them have studied all religions in depth and think they know everything. They were so condescending. They asked if we'd ever studied or taken a class on Islam because we have very similar beliefs? (No...) He went on to say that he believed that one day the church would realize that we were wrong and we would join with Islam. They also attacked The Book of Mormon for like a half hour. Hma Barker started to say Heavenly Father asks us to have faith and if you read the Book of Mormon the spirit would witness to you that it is true. He interrupted her and his goal was just to make her look stupid and started to explain how that was the spirit of the devil and how he is out to confuse us and how he can mimic the spirit. I think I bore my testimony like 5 times on The Book of Mormon and every time they would talk down to me like I was naive and believing some fairytale. After he said this I was just pissed off and tried to explain how we aren't here to bible bash or have contention. He interrupted me for like the 80th time and was like all we are asking is to know why YOU personally believe in this. All were asking for is your testimony. Why we would need another book when we have the bible.
We explained about a billion reason why one of them being, the Plan of Salvation which they knew a little about and asked about the spirit world. So we explained how everyone will have the chance to hear the gospel and accept tor reject for themselves, including those who didn't have the opportunity here like those in foreign countries where they don't believe in Jesus Christ. THEN he was like "that's not true. If Jesus cared about them he would appear to them like he did me. If he doesn't appear to you and choose you then you aren't the elect. That's just fairytale thinking" That seriously made me even more sick to my stomach. How twisted. We tried to bare our testimonies of how God loves everyone that's why he sent his son to the world and after we bore our testimonies for the billionth time they attacked every part of it. What the heck is up with that? I thought the one thing people weren't able to deny or attack was a testimony? That hasn't been the case for me lately I'm so sick of being anti'd. So anyway I just wanted to get out of there because clearly the spirit wasn't there and we weren't about to teach them anything. So I bore my testimony and I felt like I had just put it all out there and I asked them if they had even read the Book of Mormon and they were like "parts of it. But that's good enough for me “So I was like then you can't talk, you have to shut your mouth until you have read it and prayed about it because if you do, you'll come to know just like everyone else that has read it that it is true and that this is His church. Then the freaking jerk was like "well you sound pretty convinced" in the most condescending voice ever and then asked "don't you believe you'll have your own world one day." I could not feel an ounce of love for this guy and I could feel tears coming to my eyes so I was like Yep were leaving have a good night and we finally left.
We walked next door to contact "Y" and as we were waiting for someone to answer the door I was trying to calm down. I don't think I have ever been so offended in every way in my entire life. It wasn't that he attacked me that bugged me but more that this guy had no idea who Jesus Christ was and how twisted and dark everything was. Especially that he really believed that God only loved some of his children, that made me sick.
So "Y"'s son comes to the door - "H" who is 17 and he's been kicked out of high school 3 times. He just is an angry kid, kind of scary at first (he’s big and buff). The first time we met him he was kind of a butthead but ever since we talked to his mom he has been so much nicer to us. So he opens the door and right way he's like "My mom isn't home but what's wrong- your eyes are red. Do you want to come in and get a drink of water?" So we went in because I started crying and I didn't want his stupid neighbor to see that they got under my skin. I seriously think I have cried more on my mission then in my entire life. What the heck?! I never had my heart broken so many times. BUT there is a good part to this story. "H" asked what happened and I said "Your neighbor is the anti-Christ and he doesn't understand who Jesus Christ is and how much he loves him." and I asked "H" if he believed in Jesus Christ, which ended up being the COOLEST conversation. He broke down to us and started explaining what happened that made him doubt his testimony and leave the church and how he feels like it's too late to come back and he's gone too far. He doesn't feel like God cares about him anymore and he doesn't answer his prayers. At this point I’m still a mess, but the difference was when I bore my testimony to "H", he listened and the spirit was there. We told him how much Heavenly Father loved him and how he loves ALL of his children and how he will never forget him. It's never too late and you've never gone too far. His love is all encompassing and never ending. We explained the atonement. He said “I was such a jerk to you the first time - why did you guys come back? Why do you keep coming back? What is your goal? Why do you come? I said “Yep, you sure weren't a sweetheart the first time we met but we still loved you because he still loves you. We come back because He wants you to come back.” HE MADE A 180, just like his mom, and said "I know. I can feel the spirit. Everything you and her are saying I can feel it. I feel like he is sending you to me and I need to change and this is my sign. I could feel the spirit when you guys taught my mom the other week I was pretending not to listen in the other room but I was listening and I could feel it and I got scared and I went back into my bedroom"
He asked if we could come back and teach him! He was like would it be okay if I cleared off the table and you guys came back and taught me and my family? We can make you dinner!
It was really cool. The kid has a really big heart and he's holding that family together. After that everything we had just been through with his stinking neighbor was worth it. I think it would be so cool if "H" went on a mission would day he would be a really good missionary.
Turns out I was legitimately sick, I spent all Wednesday night and Thursday throwing up. So fun. I always thought it would be nice to spend a day inside because then I could read the scriptures all day (which yes I realize does not sound like me but we never have time) but being sick and staying in just sucked it was the longest day ever.
Really quick!
"P"- I LOVE this kid. So he came to the visitor’s center with us- we thought he was going to bail but he didn't. So that was good. We watched the Restoration again. Then we explained how it was going to be conference and we said we could have someone pick him up and he agreed. So Sunday morning we were kind of expecting to get there and he be drunk on this couch outside his house. BUT we pulled up and there he is all clean and dressed up with blue button up shirt!! I felt like a proud lil mom!! He came to conference and he really liked it. I'm excited for him.
"S"- our pain in the butt investigator that has been taught for a year and has a problem with the idea of a Prophet. He always calls President Monson "Thomas" "what has “little Thomas” said about this." SO there was a baptism in our ward one of the elder’s investigators and we invited him and had a quick lesson before-which was awesome! We asked him how he felt about baptism. It was the LONGEST pause ever it was killing me. He looked us and said "Tengo ganas a bautizarme." (I have wanted to be baptized) We practically jumped up out of our seats we were so happy. But he is not married to his girlfriend that he's been with for 13 years and has a child with and he doesn't see a future with her so he doesn't know what to do. So either we need to get them married or move him out.
A ton of other stuff happened that I’ll write you about.
Okay I'm out of time and this computer hates me.
I love you.
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