Hiya there Family,
It's been a pretty good week. We lost
one investigator and haven't found anymore. :) Just kidding. But really.
Last P-day, we went to Callendar House
with the Falkirk Elders and with K--, our investigator that is no longer our
investigator. It was pretty fun. It is just a huge mansion that has a bunch of
history of Falkirk.
After Callendar House the Elders took
us to this cool spot in the woods that has a rope swing. It was really high to
sit on, but too short to really swing on with your arms, as I found out because
I landed on my knees in the mud. Good job to me!
We have an All-Scotland conference this
next Tuesday, which I am SO excited about!! It's going to be wonderful.
After District Meeting, I went and
exchanged with the Corstorphine sisters. Their flat is giant and really nice.
It was good to exchange. Edinburgh is a lot different from Falkirk. They have
less set appointments and more try-bys and street contacting. That was crazy. I
have never talked to so many people before. They are really good at talking to
everybody.
The following day, Wednesday, could
have possibly been one of the hardest days on my entire mission. We had a few
appointments that didn't go through. We had a lesson with a recent convert, H--,
and she has crazy ideas about God and things--like demons and anti-Christs come
and visit her and she sees wounds being healed and all sorts of stuff. That was
cool and crazy. After, we street contacted on a giant road for about two hours
and then had tea. We went to their new investigator who had committed to be
baptized: M--. We were so excited and had an awesome joint teach set up but the
lady didn't end up coming. We went to him and rescheduled an appointment and
that was good until he texted us and said, "You know what girls, don't
bother coming back, it isn't for me." So we went back to his door and he
proceeded to tell us that he is choosing to leave God out of his life. He said
that it's all about our choices, that God is annoying him, and that he is
choosing to be happy in this life. He said, "I might be choosing hell, but
that's my choice." Sister Clegg cried right at his doorstep. I cried right
after. I have never been so discouraged at seeing someone who completely knew
the choice he was making and chose to make it anyway. It was heartbreaking.
Thursday morning we exchanged back. I'd
missed Sister Nicoll and Falkirk, so it was good to come back. As we walked
from Falkirk High (the train station) to our flat, I really did feel like I was
coming home. That was a nice feeling to have. It was still a good day, even
though almost all of our appointments fell through. Here's some clips from my
journal: "We went to G--, who wasn't there...then Sister R-- fell through
so we went to chap the posh area across from the church, but when we got there
Sister I--, our ride and joint teach, fell through so we had to leave the posh
area before we had chapped and walk to Westfield where our potential, K--,
wasn't home for our appointment." What a day. We did have an awesome dinner
appointment that night though, with the Relief Society President and her
husband. Way enthusiastic. Way good food. Sister Jackson says her husband
"talks about food like it's a friend." Food is a friend!
Friday was Day 2 of appointments
falling through (we had really low numbers this week.) We went to K--'s (our
lady with a date) and she texted us and cancelled. So we went to our potential,
S--, who we'd just seen 10 minutes earlier walk into her house, and then she
wasn't there for our appointment. Ha. We stopped by a less-active lady who
usually isn't home, and she was! That was a nice tender mercy, especially
because she bought us ice cream from the ice cream man.
My favorite part of the week might have
been when we were meeting with F. S. and she said, "I was thinking this
week, and if anyone could get me back to the church, it would be you
girls." That was a sweet thing to say. She also gave us curiously cinnamon
cereal and navel oranges and a Christian CD that was put through her door. She
always wants to give us stuff, and we love her so much. She also asked us to
call her when we got home because she wanted to make sure we were safe. I really
love her.
On Saturday, we had lunch with the lady
who swears, Sister P. It ended up that she'd invited over another missionary
who had baptized her family 40 years ago! We all ate together, which was cool.
He baptized like crazy on his mission and I bet it would be fun to come over
and see those you taught still going to church. Even though Sister Prentice
doesn't, she is really solid and I think doesn't come only because her husband
has issues with the church.
Following on Saturday, we went over to
K--’s to have our "make it or break it" lesson. We couldn't find a
joint teach, so we were just going to do it outside because it was a nice day.
Then, when we got there it was raining. So we went to the church (right by
where he lives) and prayed really hard that if we were supposed to teach him,
the weather would clear up: and it did! So we had a lesson right outside the
church. He believes the Church of Scotland is true but appreciates our
perspective on Mormonism. Ha. He prayed at the end though, so that was good. We
will still be his friend but just not teach or go to his place much anymore. I
felt oddly at peace about the whole thing. I think it was because during Weekly
Planning, we were trying to decide whether to plan for him, so we prayed and
neither of us felt like we needed to plan any lessons for him. So it was expected.
Wish he would make the covenants to get closer to God, but we can't force him.
Sunday was a really good day. We got
appointments with a bunch of members to discuss the Branch Mission Plan and try
and get them to invite their friends to church. Then the Bird Family invited us
over (they are from St. George) and they were having a BBQ. The Irvine family
was there and some of their other American friends who are moving to Edinburgh.
Having burgers, crisps, fruit and veggies was so nice. AH! It was like a little
piece of home. (Also, Brother I told his
sister that the Nephites and Lamanites dug the Panama Canal, and she only found
out years later that it wasn't true. She's not a super active Book of Mormon reader
apparently.)
This week, Sister Nicoll said something
that I thought was quite profound. She said, "A mission is an 18 month
role play for marriage." So true. I am having to learn to communicate much
better. I am having to learn to be with someone all day every day. I'm lucky
that I really get along with Sister Nicoll, but someday I'm going to have a
companion that I don't. And I will have to work on patience. I'm already
learning a lot just about myself and other things. But someday I'm going to
have to choose to be with someone for forever. That's a long time. A big
decision.
I know that the church is true. I know
that God loves us and sustains us in our darkest moments. I know that if we
turn to Him, He can make much more out of us than we ever could. I am striving
to make my will and His will be the same thing. Because Jesus was so proud that
He did the will of the Father, I want to do the same. I am striving to be more
like Jesus Christ every day.
The Church is true! I promise!
Love,
Sister Ricks
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