Howwwdddyyy!
Hello framily! I hope that everything is going well on the
home front and all of you are lovin' life. Life is so good and so precious. I
am grateful for mine. Being on a mission causes me to wonder everyday, (why on
earth?) was I so lucky to be born into the gospel. There are so many people
without it and I see the gospel as the greatest treasure anyone could ever
have... So why was I born into it?? If anything though, this realization and
gratitude spurs my desire to keep doing the work and spreading what I know to
be true.
Let's cut to one of the SALTIEST contacts I have ever
received. Hermana Bjork and I were out walking and talking on the street when
we came upon a man, who appeared to be working on his car. We ventured into the
contact and boldly invited him to learn more about Jesus Christ.
He looked at us and smiled... "and to what
purpose?" He asked.
We then testified about the joy of knowing Christ and the
blessings of the gospel, which he interrupted in saying that he was Buddhist
and definitely not interested.
The real salt came when we asked for a referral...
"Do you know anyone who needs help right now or would
be interested in learning more about how to come closer to Christ?"
To which he responded:
"What do you even mean? Why are you bothering people?
You say you're here for your church? You guys are too naive to realize this but
they are just using you. Churches take too much from their youth-- (we
interjected that we sent ourselves and this was OUR desire)-- don't you know
that the world does not need missionaries anymore?? We have the internet.
Nobody is going to listen to you guys so GO HOME. Get out while you can. Go
back to your parents and live your lives. There isn't anyone in this world or
California especially, who will listen to you. GO HOME."
Yeeeeetttt.... Tell that to our recent convert who just
served us dinner... shocked and shaken, we bid him good luck on fixing his car,
to which he replied shaking his head and smiling like we were stupid little
children "it isnt even broken".
What?.. Well have a nice day darn it!
Can you believe that?? Missionaries receive this kind of
rejection everyday but this time it hit especially hard. It reminded me of the
time in the New Testament when Peter contradicted Christ and tried to suade him
from accomplishing the Atonement. To such things Christ rebuked him severely.
Peter had no right to try to tempt Christ from fulfilling the most
important act in the whole world. I kind of felt like rebuking this little
man.. "How dare you try to distract me from my calling and suggest that I
go home?"
Hopefully he accepts the gospel one day... maybe far away..
but one day...
On a funnier note... a few minutes later we met another man
who told us very seriously that "if we want to feel the Holy Spirit, we
need to 'Eat God' - because it says so in the Bible. We need to eat God, just
like a hamburger."
.........Ha!
Later that week we had another experience whilst walking and
talking on the street again.
We were walking through a nicer neighborhood at the base of
a mountain and found a heavily gated yard. Intrigued, we stepped a little
closer and observed little cameras everywhere, perched on huge, 6 foot iron
bars that protected the jungle like yard from the dangers of the outside world.
I wondered why such a pretty area of lush bushes and palm trees and nice bark
was so heavily guarded. As I was thinking about this, my eyes fell on a lonely
little orange ball.
"Awhh"- I said to my comp, "-a lost ball that
will never be returned... how sad!"
Seconds later, I heard a rustling of feet, many feet, and I
am ashamed to say that the first thing that I thought of was that the raptors
from Jurassic Park were coming to eat me. However, despite my jump to
conclusions, I was NOT prepared for the three striped greyhounds that came
spriniting towards us. GIANT DOGS.. or horses? (Why is it always dogs?)
I hollered and took off running as they barked and snarled
at us. Oh my goodness, I was terrified!
So that was that and I learned a lot of other things this
week. I am grateful to be out serving and have the chance to be rejected for
Christ. It is a blessing.
I love the work!
Have a great week all,
Stay Safe & God Speed
Love, Hermana Tobler
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