Dude, you're crazy

Mon, Feb 23, 2009

I love my Life! I love my life! I love my life!!!!!!! (pretend like I'm singing in my operatic voice cause I am, but actually not really cause I'm in the library, but I'm singing opera in my head which is a common occurrence when I'm happy…too much information)
Joshua is getting baptized on March 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So this is the guy who read 80 pages of the Book of Mormon in two days. At our next appointment we taught the Plan of Salvation and really enjoyed it. We asked about his Book of Mormon reading and he said that he had hit some trouble in 2 Nephi. He said that it just wasn't as exciting as 1 Nephi. We told him that 2 Nephi was hard for everyone and that if he wanted to he could skip it. At the next appointment he said, "I didn't feel good about skipping 2 Nephi so I decided to read it anyways and after the third time I really started understanding it." "You read 2 Nephi 3 times?" "Yeah." The member who was with us turned to Joshua and said, "Dude, you're crazy." This guy is awesome!!!! He's one of the nicest people in the world and all of his friends think he's crazy for "going Mormon" on them, but he doesn't care cause he knows it's true.
This week when we were knocking these two kittens started following us around. They were annoying at first, but then after a while they started to grow on me…literally…hahahaha okay, not literally, but that would be funny. Anyways, back to stuff that really matters: these kittens apparently thought we were awesome so they followed us and then started showing us really good tips on how to get into homes when you are out knocking. Just run as fast as you can through the owners' legs into the house and then hide. Genius. So they followed us all the way home and waited for us on our front porch while we ate lunch. We found them curled up in a ball on the front porch and we realized we were going to have to drive them back home cause if we walked them back they would just keep following us. But then the battery in our car died so we walked them home which ended up being providential because as we were walking we saw Carlos (who had stood us up for an appointment). "Carlos!" We pointed out how strange it was that we kept running into him (He's the guy who was running past our house and I kinda ran him down to give him a card). But he let us teach him a lesson which was super good. He's a really honest, sincere man who is trying to find truth and isn't necessarily satisfied with his own church even though he loves the youth that he works with (youth minister).
We finally got Lauren to the singles ward by introducing her to a girl that she felt comfortable enough with to take her. Good. She was feeling out of place with all the babies and diamond rings. However, she was worried when we said we were taking her to a singles ward. "I'm not single!" She's got this amazing boyfriend who lost both legs in Iraq and is now a professional skier and was just in Europe competing where he was announced 10th in the world. Yes Lauren, you can keep your boyfriend. But he's in Idaho right now and he will be until April and we want her to have friends cause she sits at home all day.
We met a lady named Blanca in a parking lot. We've been meeting a lot of people in parking lots. Gold mines I suppose. She has an infant and a three-year-old. As we taught the first lesson the explanation about the apostasy and why there are so many Christian churches today really clicked for her. She says she's been looking for a church for her children, so we'll see.
Saturday was full of really powerful lessons. Sister Davenport and I had started noticing how our lesson weren't really filled with the spirit. They were interesting, but they weren't like when we taught Monica and Antonio the first few weeks I was here (By the way, they're taking a break from Mormonism right now. Not sure if I told you.) So we tried to simplify our lessons, testify more, and ask more questions. At the McFarlanes I shared my own experiences with Brother McFarlane (who's not a member, his wife is) about how I know that there is God. It's scary sharing things that are that important to me, but we've known the Mcfarlanes for a while and I finally felt comfortable sharing. He feels awkward praying outload and I would too if I didn't think someone was listening. We also think he may not want to acknowledge a supreme being who would allow the death of their unborn baby. Life is full of contradictions. The Lord says have children and build a family, and then you can't have kids. Seems cruel.
We were going to invite Joshua and Bonnie (who is also getting baptized eventually) to an eight year old baptism, but they both cancelled. Probably a good thing. We walked in and there was this glamour shot of this eight year old placed on a table-clothed table next to a pretty center piece and guest book. The room was filled to capacity with ward members and family—standing room only. I have no idea why so many people showed up, but this is a really supportive ward I guess. The lady teaching the baptism lesson told the girl to stand up and look around and see all the people that were supporting her. I laughed cause when she got up she had this funny smug grin that seemed to say, "They're mine, all mine…bahahahaha!" It was cute and funny comparing our baptismal services with that one. Our investigators may have been a little disappointed in the baptismal service we would put together for them had they attended the eight-year-old's.
This week I was reading in Ether and found a really interesting scripture. So in Ether 12 we all know the scripture that talks about how we have weaknesses that can become strengths. Well, in verse 37 it says, "And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong" but it doesn't end there, "even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father." By acknowledging our weaknesses we will become strong and essentially be saved one day. Now I don't think that means moping around all day drowning in the knowledge of you inadequacies, but I think it means that part of being saved or part of becoming perfect is recognizing that you are not perfect. Recognizing your challenges so that you know what you have to work on. Since I've been out here I have been made very aware of my weaknesses, but for some reason I'm not super discouraged by them. I think it's a blessing from my family's prayers…I don't know. But if we don't have anything to work on then why are we here. In verse 28 the Lord tells us that showing us our weaknesses is tied to Him showing us that faith, hope, and charity brings us closer to Christ.




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