Last Tuesday and Wednesday we had an exchange with Elder Jacob and Elder Quayle. Elder Jacob and I went together, and basically all of our plans fell through. There was a pretty good list of people we were planning on visiting that day, and there was only one of them that answered the door or the phone. The lady we met was named Ida, and she is probably in her 60s. She was baptized several months ago, and we were talking to her about family history, which she has started working on in preparation to going to do baptisms at the temple soon. I could tell that she was just really frustrated with family history because she had been struggling to find people. She actually told us that she wanted to go to the temple, she just didn't want to do her family names. And then she just said, "I don't really want to get baptized for my ancestors. They're all wicked!" Haha, it was pretty funny, but in all reality she was completely serious. I explained to her that when we are baptized in behalf of the dead, we are not forcing baptism upon them, nor are we forcing wicked people to be righteous, nor letting "wicked" people into heaven. We are simply giving them the opportunity to accept it. It's still up to them, but they need that chance should they decide to take it. She was understanding, and I hope she has the chance to go to the temple sometime soon.
After most of our plans fell through, Elder Jacob and I were just knocking doors, and Elder Furgeson and Elder Quayle were doing the same just a few blocks over. At the very first door we knocked, someone came to the door but didn't open it. We just heard a really loud gun cock and then a "who is it!?" We just said that it was the missionaries and then we kinda just dipped on out of there so we didn't get killed. Several similar experiences followed (minus the gun) where people just yell through the door, "Who is it?!" and then tell us to go away and come back when it's not dark. It wasn't very productive, but we did have fun and we did come home with some fun stories.
I'm sure y'all remember a couple weeks ago when I told you about the Freys, who have an 18-year-old chihuahua. Sister Frey is a member of the Church, and Brother Frey is not. However, they both currently attend a Baptist Church in town. When we met them on Super Bowl Sunday, they invited us to a steak dinner that their church was having on Valentine's Day. We aren't really supposed to proselyte (or even just be anywhere) near or in other churches, but if we are invited then it's okay, so we went. I learned quite a bit about some of the reasons that some people go to church. Now, of course these things are not true for all those of other faiths. Don't think that I'm just being rude to all Baptists or all non-Mormons, but here are a few things I learned and observed during the worship service after the dinner: 1) Some people just go to church to be entertained. To me, that's what the whole night was, just a big show. They had a band (a Methodist band, no less, from another church) come and perform. 2) Here's a weird experience: Near the beginning of the service, Pastor Rick gets up and relays a quick story about one of the youth in his church who has been having seizures recently. He then flips open his Bible and reads a verse, James 5:14-15. It says, "Is there any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up..." Well, Pastor Rick reads this, and then yells out for this kid who has been having seizures to come up to the front. He plops a chair down, has the kid sit down, and then says, "All who are ordained, please come forward!" In my mind I was just thinking, "Ordained to what?" Anyway, like 25 old guys come up and they all get around this kid on the chair. Then the Pastor kneels down in front of the kid and gives a prayer for him to be healed. It was definitely different. I know that in the Lord's Church, there is an order to all things, including the correct way to provide annointings and blessing for the sick and afflicted. How grateful I am to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Church to which the Lord had given his Priesthood and His direction for administering to those in need. I know that Pastor Rick was doing what he did in the best way he knew how. It was an act of faith for all involved. However, I know that the correct way to bless, and the proper authority needed to bless is found only in the Church that the Lord Himself has designated as "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 3) In the place where hymnbooks would normally be, there were Bibles instead. I'm not sure what version or edition of the Bible it was, but I was reading through it and it was so weird. I also looked at the introduction of it and here are some quotes (yes, these are all real) found in this Bible: "The Bible is the only book that can give us a correct understanding of God," "Bible translation is both a science and an art," and "Every new generation needs a new translation of the Bible so that it can be better understood." As I read those things, I was just dumbfounded. How crazy is that? Weird stuff. Anyway, enough about the Baptists. They are great people, I just wish they knew what I do. That's why I'm a missionary. I have a very strong testimony of this Church, and of our Savior who stands at its head, and I love doing my very best to share those things with others.
On Thursday we got to meet with Amir, one of the Baja Angels haha. When we met him for the first time, he told us that he didn't know who Jesus was. When we actually met with him, we learned that he actually knows more than we previously thought. He asked some awesome questions, and we did our very best to answer them super simply and clearly so that he could understand. He asked us a few things like, "Who was Moses?" and so we were able to talk about prophets. He asked, "Why did God create the Earth?" and so we talked a little bit about the premortal life and the creation, and our purpose on earth. We also talked about the importance of the Savior, among other things. A seems really interested in continuing to meet with us. I'm excited to keep meeting with him, too. It's going to be a challenge, as he doesn't have a Christian background like most we teach do. However, it's kind of nice because his beliefs aren't really tainted by tradition and things. He just genuinely wants to hear what we have to say (unfortunately, that is not usually the case in the South.)
Thursday we also called Dawn and David to confirm our appointment for that night. Dawn answered and just said to us, "I feel kind of rushed. I don't know about this whole baptism thing. Plus this book you gave us is way too big to have gone through since last time." I was pretty bummed, but I just told her that the last thing we wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable. We just know that the things we teach are true, and that they will bless your life. And yes, the Book of Mormon is long. You aren't expected to read the whole thing in a week. That's part of why we want to meet with you again, is so we can talk more about it. Most of all, however, we just want to help you build your faith in and come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. That's our whole job as missionaries. Well, she seemed satisfied with that. Unfortunately, our appointment for that night was cancelled, but she did tell us to keep in touch, and hopefully we can meet this week.
On Friday morning we woke up, did our thing in the morning, studied, and walked out of the house to the car so we could go to the Villalobos and mow their lawn. They had recently received a "long grass warning" email from their landlord haha. As soon as we went to get in the car, we realized that one of our tires was flat for some reason. So we real quick grabbed the spare donut and used some redneck Alabama ingenuity to put it on. After going and mowing the grass (more like mowing the weeds) we called Elder Barker, the vehicle coordinator, and then went to Firestone to get it fixed. That was cool, because Taco Bell is right next door (the not burned down one) and so we hit it up. Fixing the tire actually took way longer than expected, and by the time they were done, it had been about 5 hours. We spent that time walking around at stores nearby talking to people, and we also went to Faulkner University campus across the street to do our weekly planning. We met a less-active lady at one of the stores who Elder Furgeson says hasn't been to church "in 50 years." She was really nice and told us we could come to her house and visit her sometime, so that was cool.
On Sunday, Sister Bentley came to church - for all three hours! That was her first time ever coming to all of Sacrament meeting, and she also attended all of gospel principles and all of relief society, so that was awesome. I look forward to continuing to teach her as well. Brother Bentley (her "almost" husband) didn't come to church, but we talked to him on the phone and he said that he has been working on getting the whole marriage situation figured out, and that he would be at church next week. I'm excited for them!
Also on Sunday, we got a call from a lady in the ward who told us an awesome story. Here's the back story: Last Sunday (the 11th) this lady, Sister Duncan, comes up to us at church and says, "I want to get a Book of Mormon to someone, can you help me?" and we were like, "Of course!" Then she says, "One thing....he lives in Africa....and he doesn't have a phone.....or an address..." We were just like, "Oh crap, how are we supposed to help with that?" Anyway, we went onto the referral center on lds.org last week and got Sister Duncan the phone number of the Branch President who lives probably 3 hours away from where her friend in Africa lives. The Branch President responded to her super quickly, and they were able to somehow coordinate the missionaries in Africa getting a Book of Mormon to her friend - and this all happened in a matter of 3 days! She told us about this friend on Sunday, and by Wednesday he had a Book of Mormon in his hands. Pretty cool. So a few days later (Sunday the 18th) she calls us to tell us the news. And there's even more to it. She told us that her friend skipped going to his church this week because he was too busy reading the Book of Mormon. I guess he's been reading it like nonstop since he got it. He keeps asking her questions about it, and then she just asks us and we answer it for her so that she can answer it for him haha. It's not the most effective way of teaching, but it gets the job done. I'm excited for him too. That whole story is just full of miracles.
Before we went in on Sunday night, we stopped at the Wheelers. They are a less-active couple with 2 little kids who we have met a couple of times. They had some of their friends over who were from Texas, and so we got to meet them as well. We visited for a bit, and then we got to share a little bit about the Book of Mormon. The Wheeler's friends were not members, but we introduced the Book of Mormon to them and gave them a copy. Maybe they will look up the missionaries over in Texas, you never know. Either way, that was a good way to cap off the night.
On Monday (which was not pday for us, unfortunately) we were asked to be two of the pall bearers at a funeral for a lady in the ward. Her name is Sister Martin, I had never met her, and Elder Furgeson had met her once. By her request, there wasn't really a funeral, just a really quick viewing and some time where the family could meet and talk, and then a like 15 minute graveside service. Bishop Wardell spoke briefly about her, about the Savior, the Atonement, and the Resurrection. Many of Sister Martin's family in attendance are not members, but I saw several of them go up to Bishop Wardell and thank him for his words after the service concluded. I'm so thankful for the knowledge that we have of the Plan of Salvation, the Savior, His Atonement, and the Resurrection. I can't imagine how sad life would be without it.
I love being a missionary. It's such a wonderful thing to do what we do. There is truly nothing that can compare to it. To close, I just want to share a quote from "The District 2" (which is basically missionary game film that we watch regularly). This one is from Elder Murray. He says, "If someone is worthy to serve a mission and doesn't, he's making the biggest mistake of his life." I know that is true. There are so many wonderful things I would have completely missed out on had I not served. I'm so thankful for the people I have met, for the things I've learned, for the experiences I've had, and for the testimony I've developed. I love y'all. Thanks for the prayers, and always remember that you are in mine. Have a good week, and keep smiling!
Love,
Elder Beach
#RollTide
Just another day in the life of an Alabama Birmingham Missionary!
A beautiful night in Montgomery!
Awesome Eagle Scout award cake!
Never a dull moment!
Amazing history in Montgomery!
No comments:
Post a Comment