Hey there fam.
First things first, before I forget. Macsen! I met a boy with your name. I know you thought you were the only one but not true my friend. Although he spells it Maxson, it is still very much the same, sounds the same. When he told me his name I had them repeat it a couple times. I should have taken a picture, but I didn't and unfortunately I don't think we will be going back to that home any time soon :-).
Dad, I do remember that dog experience in Tijuana. That was hysterical. May I just say that the other day I saw something that totally one-upped it. I don't even know how to describe it....I'm not going to discribe it, but don't worry, I got pictures. Dogs are disgusting.
I bet the days are getting shorter at home now.
I'm just sitting here, I don't know what to write and the clock is ticking. Last week we found 9 new investigators that said we could come back and teach them. This week none of them wanted anymore. Love it when that happens.
We went hunting for souls in my favorite part of our area, Padang Kerbau. It is so so so pretty, I love just riding around out there. Last week we scouted out a place we had not been before and decided to go check it out yesterday. Much to my disappointment they were all chinese homes. It was hysterical because I would talk to them in Malay but they would also talk to Sister Wong in Chinese, and why wouldn't they? she's chinese! Poor Sister Wong would just look at me and say, "they're talking to me in chinese again what do I say, I don't understand." It got to the point where she would stand a little ways off if they were chinese just to avoid the whole mix-up. It makes me laugh every time someone talks to her in Chinese, but I fear it is at her expense. We are going to have to send the Chinese Elders back to that area, I'm sure they would have a bit of success. We were a little dissapointed but finally, when we came to the end of a very long farming road, we found a cluster of Iban shacks. sing it: ''Miracles happen..." We came up to the first shack and an enormous Iban lady walked out. I'll admit her person and the look on her face was a little terrifying. But we started talking to her, she softened, invited us in, like the Ibans always do, and then went on to invite her two neighbors and all of their kids over. It was great. They are excited for us to come back, at least they seemed like they were. We always carry the game, "Pick up Sticks" in our bag to play with families who have a lot of kids. I think the game is quite boring but the people here loved it. We took out the game and played with them fo a while. Every time the huge lady moved a stick on accident she would let out a huge belly laugh. Oh man it was so funny, I have no idea why she was laughing so hard. There was a shoulder-high book case jammed packed with empty alcohol bottles in front of her shack, that should be a fun issue to address when the time comes....
After we left her shack and continued down the road we came upon another home that looked abandoned. It was in the middle of nowhere. We looked at the door for clues as to what kind of people lived there. People here always hang religious peices on their doors or above their doors, whether its muslim, buddha, taoist, christian, hindu, iban traditional, ugama lama etc. The Chinese always have something bright and usually red on their door. On this house we saw something brightly colored hanging on the wall near the door and assumed it was Chinese. We were standing pretty far away on the road though so we thought we should bike in closer for a better look. It turned out to be a bag of laundry soap hanging there. So much for assumptions, glad we went closer.
The lady that lived there had been taught by Elders some time ago. She said she had been to the 'latter day church" once before. We talked to her for awhile and found out already had a book of mormon. We asked her if she would allow us to come back and continue teaching her. She replied, "but sisters how? I already entered the latter day church..." My thoughts were, A. she went once and thinks she entered and B. ITS THE SAME! I thought we had made that clear but I guess not. We assured her it was the same church, she seemed pleased, we're going back on Thursday.
People are so funny, sometimes we teach people only once and they start telling people they are a part of our religion. We met one lady once and taught, she wasn't interested so we havent' gone back yet. But the elders, a few weeks later, met someone who said she was part of our church and that the sisters taught her. It was the same lady! We taught her, she said she didn't want, and then she goes off telling people this is her church. How does that work? I guess we should go back and try again, since she's claiming mormonism now.
We had a good experience with somes guys named Tia and Juana (pronounced Jonah) last night. We have taught them before but they both went back to Kampung for about a month and haven't seen them in awhile. They both got back yesterday so we went to see them and teach. Juana was on date to be baptized before he left but he was gone so long we had to change his date. He just picked up and left without warning, happens all the time. So last night, after we taught again the Restoration we reminded Juana that he was already on date to be baptized but we needed to pick a new date. He was still wanted to be baptized but was shy to be baptized alone. Tia was there, and previously when we taught him we invited him to be baptized so many times but every time he said he wasn't ready yet. After Juana expressed his concern Sister Wong turned to Tia and asked, "hey Tia, you wanna be baptized the same day as Juana?" Kind of have jokingly have not. I totally expected him to say he wasn't ready yet, like he always did before. But instantly without hesitation he replied, "boleh (can)" very seriously. My thoughts were, "wait what? are you sure?" Luckily i didn't voice them. I couldn't be more thrilled, I don't know what changed but I guess while he was back at Kampung he started thinking about baptism more seriously.
Amidst all the frustration miracles happen.
Today we are going over the the Senior sisters home with a member to learn how to make delicious curry! I'm so excited. I've been wanting to learn how to make this stuff for over a year now. It's gonna be boss.
I love you all, happy thanksgiving, I grateful for you!! And I'm grateful to be here.
loves,
sis v
No comments:
Post a Comment