Happy New Year Friends and Family!
I am rounding on 3 months out in the field and I am just
astounded. How has time gone by that fast?? I am grateful that I beginning to
lose myself in this work. There are so many wonderful things about missionary
work that I simply can't describe them all. As I have come to love the people
and this work more, people's agency has a greater affect on me as well. And
this week we certainly had a few downer moments.
Worse than a Break Up... It has to be!
Hermana Bjork and I began teaching an adorable couple in
their 50's about a month ago. They received the message of the restoration with
excitement and agreed wholeheartedly to every thing we taught. I was overjoyed
because I could literally see Rosa as a Relief Society President and her
husband Javier as a Scout Master. It was perfect! Baptism was around the
corner, and more than 1 occasion Hermana Bjork and I would dance to the car
singing and talking excitedly of the possibilities. So with the holidays it was
super hard to have another cita with them at a time that would work for both of
us. So this week we decided to pop by unannounced. We excitedly greeted Rosa
who answered the door and she welcomed us in. The next 20 minutes were 20
minutes of acute sadness and heartbreak. Right away Rosa proceeded to tell us
that she and her husband wanted to stick to what they knew and only study the
Bible. She said that her Jehovah's Witness Step daughter and reminded them of
only adhering to the Bible and that all other books were an abomination. She
picked up the 2 Book of Mormons and pamphlets we gave them and brought them to
us. As she stood above us holding these books in her hands, I felt time freeze.
It was a moment where she could choose to accept a message that would change
her life or it was a moment where she could turn her back on the sweet spirit
she felt and knew was true. As she handed the books to me, I literally felt my
heart break. Why? Why did this wonderful woman and her darling husband decided
to ignore the spirit of truth, joy, and blessings? I testified as well as I
possibly could in Spanish and I prayed fervently for her in the lesson, but she
was closed. I think she felt guilty because we looked at her as though she had
just killed our puppy. We left in silence and when we were safely in the car,
we both wept. We wept out of sorrow and out of grief for the loss of these
beautiful people. I take comfort in the fact that maybe our job is simply to
plant seeds. Perhaps she will open the Book of Mormon that we begged her to
keep and find an answer that will change her life. I have faith in that. But
for now all I can say is that it was one of the hardest moments of my mission
and I know that I really love these people.
Okay! On a lighter note! Hermana Bjork and I continued to
eat our weight in tamales and pazole. I LOVE the Moreno Valley ward and I am so
grateful for the darling members. Ahh they are so cute.
I have noticed the funniest thing as we have been contacting
out on the streets at night. A lot of men (and some women) like to get in their
cars and do drugs with their buddies. It is hilarious because we will go by and
(because we need to talk to everyone) will introduce ourselves and usually
crazy responses follow. They are so high out of their minds, they cant think
straight at all and they often say inappropriate things so we have to turn and
book it. Some times they straight up yell to us that they are doing drugs and
they need Jesus! Anyways,I just think it is such a weird idea to go sit in your
car and get high like nobody knows... Of course we know you are smoking! We can
see the cloud and smell it a block away! LOL....
Well folks. That is all for this week, besides working hard
nothing much else has really happened. Hermana Bjork and I go through heck and
back to reach the standard missionary goal every week and we are so blessed
when we do it. I am grateful that we have goals to shoot for, they make it so
much fun. I love you all and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.
Take care and make this year a good one!
Love,
Hermana Tobler
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