We have had some fun in contacting and ringstunding this week. Highlights from both: contacting this week, it was raining a little bit as we went, so it wasn't too weird to see umbrellas, but there was one pink umbrella tilted so far down that it was pretty obvious the person was blocking their face. Right as the bright pink umbrella got close enough for us to contact whoever was underneath, a little old grandma started slowly lifting it up to see if we'd gone by. The second she realized we were close enough to talk to her, she flicked it back down and ran away as best she could; we didn't even see her face for more than a split second, but it was enough to see the total alarm that we were close. And honestly, all I could do was laugh. Really loud. Right there on the street. It was just so overdramatic. What's the worst we're going to do- offer you a pass-along card? Invite you to church? Oh, the horror of either of those options! We also managed to contact a 'helpful atheist' who wasn't interested in our church because she was living the practical application of it. She was very nice, but as before said, not interested. 
And then ringstunding. I just love calling people- it's like a box of chocolates; you never know just what you're going to get. We called one man from the potential investigator list, and all of a sudden, I was under interrogation.
'Who's Jesus?'
'Um, the Son of God?'
'Very good, very good. And who's Mary?'
'His mother.'
'Okay, okay. Where's Mary now?'
'With God?'
'Where?'
'With God. In heaven.'
'Okay, I might come to your church.'
As you can see, there's been a lot of going by less actives and old investigators along with calling everybody in our phone. Things for the next week are finally starting to look like they're going to get better, But, we did actually manage to teach a few lessons. It's been so much fun getting to know the members here. We had one lesson we were trying to teach about getting answers to prayer using Ether 2, but the sweet older couple (who talk 100 miles/minute in thick Finnish accents) was somehow convinced we were talking about family history work. Somehow, we were able to swing this into answers to prayers about family history work, but I'm still not entirely sure the intended message got through. We've also met with some really sweet recently activated members and with some less actives too, getting to know them and start thinking through what they need most right now.
I think one of my favorite lessons from this week was going to visit a family from Syria. The dad and his daughter had both gotten baptized within the last year, and the Spirit in their home was unreal as they both talked about their own conversions and their faith in the Savior, along with their journey from Syria to Sweden. I remember the dad talking over and over again about the blind man who the Savior healed, who was then brought before the authorities, trying to get him to deny that it was through the power of God that he was healed, and all the man would say, 'I know nothing but that where I once was blind, I can now see.' (John 9:1-41 for those wanting to know what the non-butchered actual scriptures say), and he was talking about how everything he had, came in and through God and Christ. It reminded me a lot of 2 Corinthians 12:9,10- '9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.'
It is something I feel like I've gained such a strong testimony of on my mission; that God brings us low so we'll be humble enough to rely on His strength rather than our own and be able to become something bigger and better than we were in the beginning.
I love you all tons, and I hope you have a fantastic week! And a special shout-out to my grandparents (because this is the most effective way a message from me will get to them)- happy birthday to you both! I hope your birthdays are fantastic! Puss och kram to all!
Love,
Syster Maxwell
No comments:
Post a Comment