Hello family and friends. A lot happened this week. I don't even know where to begin. We had a lot of really cool OYM's (street contacts) this week.
When I first got out, I remember my trainer saying that greenies were good luck. That they bring "greenie blessings" because Heavenly Father knows they're under a lot of stress and gives them some extra help. It's true!!! My greenie is like a lucky leprechaun!!! We've had all these extra little blessings because of her.
She's doing really well and she is growing a lot. She has a lot of fears and is kind of shy sometimes so I'm trying to teach her how to be a little braver, or maybe just to talk in a lessons or an OYM. She's always apologizing for not helping. She wants to help but she just gets scared. But I remember what it was like the first transfer so it's all good. Plus it's forcing my Spanish to grow. I'm losing my voice though from talking so much, but that's been a good thing too because it's forced me to ask more questions in lessons because I’m sick of talking.
We talk to everyone in our path and in our area that consists of a lot of crazy people. The majority of them are drunks, but hey, it makes for interesting conversations and great quotes. But Hermana H has been super nervous and doesn't like talking to drunk people so she is scared to say a word! This week she learned that they need the gospel too. We had a lot of cool OYM's with drunks:
1) There was this crazy guy that I could tell Hermana H was praying that I didn't walk up. I can tell when she's lagging behind me a little bit! But we talked to him and it was awesome. He started telling us about how he has a problem and knows that he shouldn't smoke and wants to change but doesn't know where to start. I explained the Atonement and how everyone has weaknesses and asked Hermana H to share her testimony of the atonement. She started crying and gave a great little testimony. SO stinkin proud. Then we asked him if we could send missionary to his house and he said "Yes! Please do!" Then he said that he WAS on his way to a party, but after talking to us he knew that he shouldn't go. So he turned around and headed back home!
2) We were visiting a member family, and as we walked out we noticed this guy who was walking past our car. I will admit he looked cranky and I wasn't super excited to talk to him either, but we did, and it was a good thing. He told us about how he was going through a rough time, how we was an alcoholic but wanted to recover, and how he wanted to go to church but he doesn't want people to judge him. He feels like he isn't good enough to be there so he gets scared to go. I love these missionary moments because as he was talking this whoosh of love came over us and we just loved the man. We told him about how he is a child of God and is always worthy of going to church and feeling God's love and the only person who makes him feel unworthy or not good enough is Satan. We taught him about the atonement and explained how through Jesus Christ he could find the strength to overcome alcoholism. He started to cry and explain how no one had ever invited him to our church before and how he would love to come. We asked if we could send more missionaries by and he said "please do! I'll promise I’ll be friendly and nice to them" Poor guy. You really never know who is going through a hard time until you talk to them. I love when we can actually HELP people it makes it all worth it.
3) Last night there was this cute old man that was stumbling drunk that seemed pretty excited to see us, so we went up and talked to him. It was fun. Turns out he is a member of the church but hasn't been to church in over 20 years. He fell of the track and wants to get back on but doesn't know how. He hates that he is an alcoholic and doesn't like himself and isn't happy, but he knows that Heavenly Father still has a plan for him. He had just purchased alcohol in this brown bag. I tried to get him to give it to me but he wouldn't. We taught him about the atonement too. He got all teary eyed. He's in a really rough situation. We explained how he doesn't have to give up cold turkey today and how no one is going to judge him at church if he smells. The important thing is that he goes so he can get the strength he needs for that week, plus he can meet new friends and have a family with our ward. He asked if he could meet with us so we could show him where to start. We have an appt with him Wed night. We told him we would bring milk and cookies if he brought his book of Mormon and bible and glasses and came as sober as he could. I'm excited to teach him, he's very humble.
So I do love my lil drunks, but we also had some really sad experiences this week too:(
One of our investigators called us and asked us to say a prayer for "L" because he died. I totally cried. "L" was one of our best friends in one of our areas. He was Sister B and my favorite person to talk to. He was hilarious and so sweet. He and 5 of his friends are always sitting in the entrance of this neighborhood, usually drunk. They are the ones who call us "Angelitas de Apache" and every time they see us they yell "LAS HERMANAS" and get so excited to talk to us and tell us to "teach them something" so we always had funny little conversations with them. "L" was the funniest. He always joked with us and introduced us to everyone in the park. His little partner in crime that is around 80 years old and crazy, named "A", and is deaf in one ear. So "L" would always repeat what we said and yell it into "A"'s ear. Also "A" is hilarious because every time we mention Jesus Christ he sticks his arms out and makes a cross with his body and says "la cruz". We’re like “um yes, Jesus died on a cross, good job "A".” Anyway, we loved "L". He is in the picture I sent you with Hermana B and me with the guys playing poker and drinking. He is the one in the hat in between us. (Will post later tonight)
So we got this news as we were pulling up to "P"s house. We had planned to watch Finding Faith in Christ with him and we had invited all the drunks outside his house too. We were all excited to have a little movie night and help "P" understand what it was that Jesus did. We had showed up to watch it earlier that day but we had to come back later that night. I made them all pinkie promise me that they wouldn't be drunk when we came back.
So we walk up and lil "P" is partying. It BROKE my heart! I was so let down I couldn't even talk. Hermano J was with us and luckily started talking to him first. I just started crying, because after hearing about "L" dying of alcohol and seeing that that is where "P"'s life is heading. If he doesn't change or do something he is going to be like every other drunk, homeless person in Tempe. I knew I needed to drop him and that he wasn't ready for the gospel right now, but it was hard. I seriously felt like I was breaking up with him. I was crying and telling him that we weren't going to visit anymore, but he has our number if he ever needs anything. He felt so bad. He kept apologizing and saying it was just one cigarette. He called me the next day apologizing for making me cry (lol) and asked if I was still mad at him. Hopefully one day the kid wakes up because he has potential. It just sucks because we had so much faith in him. Maybe one day though.
We were outside the mission home the other day and Pres. Hansen (in the mission presidency) and the Elders from our Spanish ward were with us. A homeless guy started talking to them. He mentioned how he had an interview for a job tomorrow and asked where he could find a tie. Pres Hansen told him to take his pick of his and the elders. They gave him their ties - it was cool. Then he came into the mission office and they gave him food and water and tried to help him more, but he didn't want anymore help and just wanted to leave. We also tried to give him a Bible and Book of Mormon but he claimed he already read the Book of Mormon in prison. We said a prayer in the road with him all holding hands in a circle at his request…
We have a lot of random prayers with people in the street. Normally I would recognize that yes, this is straight up weird, but at the same time it is cool because people always asks us to pray with them - so why not? It always make the night a little more interesting.
We also had this crazy lesson yesterday. It was interesting. Half the time he was just attacking us and then by the end of the lesson he agreed to read the book of Mormon and said the closing prayer. But hearing his point of view on religion was interesting. I lost my patience a few times and at one point asked him if God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are one person, who is Jesus praying to in the Garden of Gethsemane, and who is he talking about when he says “this is my beloved son in who I am well pleased” and gave like 4 more examples. And he said “Jesus had multiple personalities and was praying to himself”!!!! He said about 50 other crazy things like this. Life is weird as a missionary.
I love you. Hope all is well:)
No comments:
Post a Comment