There’s not much difference between the Sr. and Jr. Comp. except one drives and the other holds the map. Since the APs got a GPS (Happy Birthday Elder Ellett), they gave us their Tommy guide and it is my job to look up all the addresses, consult the map, and advise Hna. Gregersen how to reach the appointment, skirting around construction, avoiding the freeway (You’d be out of the mission before the next exit) and saving on miles.
We were trying to find a through street, most dead end at the freeway – I was sure the map said Rosemont, so we started up that way. I’ve been confused by these streets before, so I double checked – yep, Rosemont. About 3 blocks in, we started recognizing the area.
“Hey, this is where "Joe" lives! Let’s stop by!”
We had run into "Joe" looking for an old referral, but in the chaos of the past week, we had completely forgotten him.
His wife had just recently passed away and "Joe", humble and very lonely, was trying to understand why He had let him stay around, and what purpose he had in this life.
We found him, sitting in his front room going through his wife’s things. We asked if he had read the pamphlet on the Plan of Salvation.
“Well, yeah, I just don’t understand – we lived before we came to earth?”
Hna. Gregersen and I smiled and began to teach the Joyful news of God’s Plan of Salvation.
“"Joe", we know you can see "Nancy" again, and there are things you can do now on the earth to help both of you for all eternity.”
We sang, “I am a Child of God” for him and promised to return to teach him more.
Maybe the hardest part of being a missionary is waiting, patiently, to teach these people about the Joy that has always been there and that is even now waiting for them.
As we walked down Joe’s front steps I checked the map again. Turns out RoseMONT isn’t a through street, but one block over, RoseLAKE, is. As we course
corrected, I thought of the Savior’s words, “Now I go to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them.” What a joy to be part of His work!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
¿Qué es lo que vieron en las alturas?
10 May 2010
I’m serving in downtown L.A.
That skyline that once looked so nondescript is now my skyline. I love driving down the palm-lined blvds, trying to share the gospel through apartment call boxes, and looking up at the reflection of the old cathedral in the mirrored windows of the next door high-rise.
We met "Mary" on our way from a referral on the other edge of town. Twenty or so, and very stylishly dressed, she was sitting outside a complex, balanced on the wall of the parking garage. She leaned way down to shake my hand as I extended it up and I started a conversation with her.
She was smiley & friendly and we talked about LA, her home in Singapore, her work and school, and then our work and the church. Hna Gregersen and I actually taught her the whole first lesson right there (the 1st and thus far only time I have taught a whole lesson to anyone). When I got to Joseph Smith’s first vision, I suddenly realized that I only knew his account in Spanish! I tried translating it back into English – praying that my fumbling Spanglish would not drive away the Spirit, “I saw a columna—er column of light above the brightness of the sun, exactly above my head. . . “
As I finished Joseph’s account, "Mary" leaned forward, her eyes wide, “What did He say?!”
I was taken aback for a moment – the story of Joseph Smith had never really struck me with such excitement as now glowed in her face. But then, I felt it too: God spoke to a real live boy on the earth – not just in a dream, or as a thought or feeling, but God, in glory and majesty. Yes! – we all want to know – What did He say?!
We know what he said and I showed "Mary" the number she could call for a book of Mormon to learn for herself. Not only did God speak then, but he continues to speak today!
What a marvelous work.
I’m serving in downtown L.A.
That skyline that once looked so nondescript is now my skyline. I love driving down the palm-lined blvds, trying to share the gospel through apartment call boxes, and looking up at the reflection of the old cathedral in the mirrored windows of the next door high-rise.
We met "Mary" on our way from a referral on the other edge of town. Twenty or so, and very stylishly dressed, she was sitting outside a complex, balanced on the wall of the parking garage. She leaned way down to shake my hand as I extended it up and I started a conversation with her.
She was smiley & friendly and we talked about LA, her home in Singapore, her work and school, and then our work and the church. Hna Gregersen and I actually taught her the whole first lesson right there (the 1st and thus far only time I have taught a whole lesson to anyone). When I got to Joseph Smith’s first vision, I suddenly realized that I only knew his account in Spanish! I tried translating it back into English – praying that my fumbling Spanglish would not drive away the Spirit, “I saw a columna—er column of light above the brightness of the sun, exactly above my head. . . “
As I finished Joseph’s account, "Mary" leaned forward, her eyes wide, “What did He say?!”
I was taken aback for a moment – the story of Joseph Smith had never really struck me with such excitement as now glowed in her face. But then, I felt it too: God spoke to a real live boy on the earth – not just in a dream, or as a thought or feeling, but God, in glory and majesty. Yes! – we all want to know – What did He say?!
We know what he said and I showed "Mary" the number she could call for a book of Mormon to learn for herself. Not only did God speak then, but he continues to speak today!
What a marvelous work.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Placentero nos es trabajar
May 3, 2010
The Mission President met us at the airport, along with 3 smiling APs, one old, one new, one in-between. Sister Blackburn is everything you would expect from her picture-- cheerful, funny, kind and sweet. (She has short blond hair that is always worn spiked up all over her head (-: ). President Blackburn is kind and funny-- always teasing the missionaries, but also totally focused on the work.
We piled our luggage (exactly 100lb a piece) into the mission van and pick up truck, and drove to a local stake center to meet our trainers. There they were-- waiting around their cars-- all smiles and white shirts. These were two sisters waiting for me and Hna. Molena, a tall pretty sister with long dark hair, and... Sister Dickson! She nannied for Holly all last summer, while she was on bed rest-- and we have several mutual friends at the Y. I couldn't belive she was training-- she's only been out for 6 months! We were assigned to be companions for the day- and with a bag full of folletas and a couple granola bars, we each took our temporary companion and spread into the neighborhoods for a few hours of tracking.
I love being a missionary. The day was cool, still a mild LA spring, the flowers were beautiful, and the people in this top corner of the mission were so kind. We knocked a lot of doors, and talked about God, and his love for his children the importance of families, some in English, some in Spanish. I chuckled to myself, as I stuttered out my testimony in English. How many times have I shared my beliefs in my own language? And yet, everything seems so much more natural in Spanish now-- haha! even with my limited vocabulary.
With just a few minutes left, we tried one more complex. Loud music was playing as we climbed the stairs. No. 1, I knocked. The music stopped, and a big man in his 20s answers the door.
“Hey-- what can I do for you”
“Hi, we're from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I'm Sister Dickson”
“And I'm Sister Hales.”
“Ah, hey. 'Marco.'”
“Juan, so nice to meet you. Enjoying your Wednesday morning?”
We exchanged small talk for a little, and then (just like we practiced so many times in the MTC,) we moved the conversation to religion
“So do you believe in God?”
“Well, kinda. I don't know, I mean, I guess I'm kinda waiting for a sign or something. Maybe.”
I smiled. Someone in the MTC once taught us, always ask your investigators questions because, when they answer, they will speak truth.
“A sign?” I answered, “Well, here we are. "Marco," we are servants of Jesus Christ, sent here to talk to you about the Love that God has for you.”
“Yes,” Sister Dickson continued, “I don't think it’s coincidence that we ended up on your door step today. Is there a time that we can come by to talk to you more about this message of Jesus Christ?”
The look in Marco's eyes as we talked about our mission as servants of Christ, I will never forget. We passed on his name and the return appointment to the other missionaries in that area, so I don't know what happened with Marco, but I knew then that he felt something. I could see in his eyes how much he wanted to be found, and I knew that someday, his heart would be softened and he would seek after these things.
The Mission President met us at the airport, along with 3 smiling APs, one old, one new, one in-between. Sister Blackburn is everything you would expect from her picture-- cheerful, funny, kind and sweet. (She has short blond hair that is always worn spiked up all over her head (-: ). President Blackburn is kind and funny-- always teasing the missionaries, but also totally focused on the work.
We piled our luggage (exactly 100lb a piece) into the mission van and pick up truck, and drove to a local stake center to meet our trainers. There they were-- waiting around their cars-- all smiles and white shirts. These were two sisters waiting for me and Hna. Molena, a tall pretty sister with long dark hair, and... Sister Dickson! She nannied for Holly all last summer, while she was on bed rest-- and we have several mutual friends at the Y. I couldn't belive she was training-- she's only been out for 6 months! We were assigned to be companions for the day- and with a bag full of folletas and a couple granola bars, we each took our temporary companion and spread into the neighborhoods for a few hours of tracking.
I love being a missionary. The day was cool, still a mild LA spring, the flowers were beautiful, and the people in this top corner of the mission were so kind. We knocked a lot of doors, and talked about God, and his love for his children the importance of families, some in English, some in Spanish. I chuckled to myself, as I stuttered out my testimony in English. How many times have I shared my beliefs in my own language? And yet, everything seems so much more natural in Spanish now-- haha! even with my limited vocabulary.
With just a few minutes left, we tried one more complex. Loud music was playing as we climbed the stairs. No. 1, I knocked. The music stopped, and a big man in his 20s answers the door.
“Hey-- what can I do for you”
“Hi, we're from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I'm Sister Dickson”
“And I'm Sister Hales.”
“Ah, hey. 'Marco.'”
“Juan, so nice to meet you. Enjoying your Wednesday morning?”
We exchanged small talk for a little, and then (just like we practiced so many times in the MTC,) we moved the conversation to religion
“So do you believe in God?”
“Well, kinda. I don't know, I mean, I guess I'm kinda waiting for a sign or something. Maybe.”
I smiled. Someone in the MTC once taught us, always ask your investigators questions because, when they answer, they will speak truth.
“A sign?” I answered, “Well, here we are. "Marco," we are servants of Jesus Christ, sent here to talk to you about the Love that God has for you.”
“Yes,” Sister Dickson continued, “I don't think it’s coincidence that we ended up on your door step today. Is there a time that we can come by to talk to you more about this message of Jesus Christ?”
The look in Marco's eyes as we talked about our mission as servants of Christ, I will never forget. We passed on his name and the return appointment to the other missionaries in that area, so I don't know what happened with Marco, but I knew then that he felt something. I could see in his eyes how much he wanted to be found, and I knew that someday, his heart would be softened and he would seek after these things.
y el perserverar hasta el fin
April 22,2010
I asked the Lord to call me
to labor in his field.
I showed to him my faith in Christ,
obedience, and zeal;
I fortified the strengths I had
and buried what was weak,
'I promise to give all my good
to gather thy lost sheep.'
Then He, with perfect vision,
looked at my sacrifice
And took what I had hidden
and brought it to the light,
'I give to men their weakness
to make them more like me;
If they will but come humbly
then I will make them free.
I call you to be patient.
I call you to be wise.
I call you to ask pardon,
and to see through others' eyes.
I call you to be selfless.
I call you to stand strong.
I call you to feel charity,
and to quickly forgive wrong.
I call you to be perfect,
but I also beckon you
To let me lift you where you lack
and teach you what to do.
I call you to serve humbly
for your good is not yet best.
Come now and give me all you are,
and I will supply the rest.'
I asked the Lord to call me
to labor in his field.
I showed to him my faith in Christ,
obedience, and zeal;
I fortified the strengths I had
and buried what was weak,
'I promise to give all my good
to gather thy lost sheep.'
Then He, with perfect vision,
looked at my sacrifice
And took what I had hidden
and brought it to the light,
'I give to men their weakness
to make them more like me;
If they will but come humbly
then I will make them free.
I call you to be patient.
I call you to be wise.
I call you to ask pardon,
and to see through others' eyes.
I call you to be selfless.
I call you to stand strong.
I call you to feel charity,
and to quickly forgive wrong.
I call you to be perfect,
but I also beckon you
To let me lift you where you lack
and teach you what to do.
I call you to serve humbly
for your good is not yet best.
Come now and give me all you are,
and I will supply the rest.'
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