What
a wonderful week! The work here in Jersey City has continued to
progress and this terrific trio is contacting every soul within sight
and sound. What a wonderful work we have to do!
The
week got a bit jumbled up as we had to change all of our meetings and
plannings around, due to a "severe snow storm". The bitter cold just got
colder; 3 layers of clothes has turned into 4.
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| Hermana Carter and me (in the "Bear Suit") bundled up |
Wednesday
night, all of our appointments had fallen through and so on our way to
our back up plans, we would contact. Hermana Carter was on a split with a
member, and so I found this to be a great opportunity to practice
contacting with Hermana Vernon. Hermana Vernon doesn't like getting out
of her comfort zone and talking to strangers on the street, but as I
have learned, there is no such thing as a comfort zone on the mission. I
would tell her that I would start contacting someone on the street, and
then I would look to her and wouldn't say anything, so it would be her
job to continue the conversation. Well, we did this back and forth a few
times with a few people on the street until my idea turned back on me. I
had spotted a young Dominican lady walking down the street with what I
thought was a really neat necklace. I stopped and called out to her to
compliment her on it. When she turned back, I noticed that it wasn't
what I had thought it was. She was carrying a snake around her neck. Not
wanting to be rude, I tried to carry on a conversation about her snake.
She told me it was a python. My companion, being fascinated by snakes,
asked if she could hold it. With pleasure, she removed it from her neck
and placed it in the hands of my companion. Occupied as my companion
was, I continued to talk about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with
her. She didn't seem interested. Instead, she took the snake from my
companion's hands, and put it around my neck.
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| My new python "necklace" |
haha. Maybe I have learned my lesson from throwing my companion under the bus in contacts ;)
Thursday
brought in snow and an attitude of gratitude. The day started off with a
frosty turkey bowl tournament with all of the missionaries. We were so
bundled up I'm sure we looked like marshmallows running around on the
snow. haha. We played 2 hours with all of the missionaries, before
splitting off to elders and sisters for the last little while. It was
super fun! It was nice to take a break and see some of my other
missionary friends and then to put my nose back to the grindstone and
work in the Lord's vineyard.
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| Hermana Vernon, me and Hermana Carter at the turkey bowl |
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| Presidents daughter and me at the mission turkey bowl |
Straight
from the turkey bowl we went to a Thanksgiving lunch appointment with
our investigator Veronica. We had a very special time talking about all
of things that we are grateful for, including her boyfriend (Paco)'s
papers going through so that they can finally be married and then she
can be baptized. She cried as she expressed her gratitude to her
Heavenly Father for her challenges that she has faced during the last 10
years of working towards baptism. Accompanied by her killer mole (a
special Mexican dish) and the spirit, we were all fed.
Canceled
on by the rest of the appointments we had for the night, we were back
to the back up plans (I am so grateful for back up plans) and
contacting. It had gotten particularly chilly that night and we had all
pretty much frozen to the bone when one of the members called us. Her
very inspired husband had asked her to call us and make sure that we had
a dinner appointment for that night. Ours had just cancelled, so the
invitation sounded wonderful. We arrived at their house and were
welcomed by all of their family and a beautiful dinner. It truly was
something to be grateful for.
Usually with
Thanksgiving dinner comes pumpkin pie. They just go hand in hand. Well,
Heavenly Father knows I can't eat pumpkin pie and He might have thought
that I was feeling left out so He gave me a different kind of pie,
humble pie.
I
have been served quite a bit of humble pie this week. Pretty sure I've
eaten at least 3 whole pies. ;) They weren't that yummy or fun to eat,
but as is well known for Spanish missionaries 'when food is placed
before you, you just don't say no'. But......hey, with a little exercise
(of faith) and some help from the Lord, I think i'll be able to lose
the extra "weight".
Many
times I was brought down to my knees in humble prayer, asking Heavenly
Father for help. The trials as a missionary, aren't always easy, they
never are. Through these experiences, I was reminded of a general
conference talk given by Elder Christoferson in April 2013. The
following was what came into my mind.
Through
these humbling experiences, I have found the good in them, and I am
grateful. I am grateful that Heavenly Father trusts me with these
challenges. I am grateful that they are helping me grow and change. I am
grateful for the help that I have to get through them. Even though
these moments seem hard, it is too hard not to see the good in them.
I love being changed.
I love being a missionary.
Hermana Childs
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| Part of my area. Hoboken city at night. |
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