Well this week was another interesting one....a bit rough to speak the truth. Elder Chapuis got Dengue....that kind of kills your rhythm and work flow. We spent all day Thursday and Friday inside our apartment, as my mission prep teacher stated it, "watching the paint on the walls peel". It was weird to have a birthday as a missionary, especially to do absolutely nothing during the whole day while my poor companion sat in his bed itching himself all day. I got several phone calls from the members, and even a few missionaries wishing me a happy birthday....I have no idea how some of them knew that it was my birthday, but I was nonetheless thrilled to be remembered! My family managed to send me a piece of home life.....I got some new white shirts (I'm needing them....badly!), ties, peanut butter (yes!), pancake mix (already used it), syrup (gone already too), cheerios, an Alabama football t-shirt, and some other goodies....It was really nice! It made my simple birthday just that much better!
We had two solid baptisms scheduled for this week...investigators that we have been working with for almost 3 months....and they both fell through. Mical, the older lady, has a bit of a problem with committing to paying tithing, but also with doing a baptismal interview. She thinks that we are invading her privacy and questioning her worthiness by asking her if she has ever "committed a serious crime"....we are working with her. Her son isn't helping us too much....he likes to drink and yell a lot, especially when we are around...he's actually really smart and knows the bible pretty well. I got a chance to talk to him when he wasn't drunk one time, and I explained about the restoration, the Book of Mormon, basically the missionary downlow. He actually understood, and he felt the spirit testify to him that what I was telling him was actually true. Unfortunately, the drinking and yelling side of him appears to be prevailing. I'm developing patience without a doubt with this family.
The other girl, Babi, was all ready for baptism, but her parents wanted to visit church before allowing her to be baptized. All of this news came falling down on us basically the same day. Oh yeah, it was raining too. Haha, looking back I feel bad for myself.....It was a rough day....I had a choice to make....sit around and be sad or get on my knees, ask the Lord for help, and get to work. The Lord helped me A LOT this week. Being inside your apartment for extended periods of times, especially when you yourself are completely healthy and capable of working, is probably the most difficult thing that I have done as a missionary....patience, patience, patience!
We did a companionship exchange in Caetes. There's an Elder there who is on the last month of his mission. He is coasting out these last six weeks. They aren't really planning or organizing at all. His companion is a greenie still, and is more or less just following the leader. We had to help them stay on focus with the work. It's a delicate situation....you have to correct another person without offending them. It's like walking on thin ice on a hot day with track spikes on your shoes. We have to follow the spirit a lot with things like this, and especially the counsel that the Lord gives in D&C 121:44-46. Everything worked out fine, and this Elder is determined to finish out strong!
You probably saw some of the photos that I sent out. On our Pday, we went to Alto da Sé, in Olinda, which is right next to Recife. Wow was the view amazing from there. I often forget just how beautiful this land is! I am so lucky to serve in such a beautiful place with such a wonderful, blessed people. There's a big temptation that comes with the nature of the work....often, we let the little, ugly, difficult things block our perspective and view of the grand and beautiful things. I frequently have to stop myself and remind myself of the marvelous work of the Father that I am participating in. I love getting up every morning and reciting D&C 4 to myself, and realizing that I AM HERE. I am doing the work NOW! It's not something distant or something to come.....it's the work that I am privileged to take part in NOW! This week was a bit discouraging, but the perspective that the Lord gives us from to time to time really helps us to understand how everything fits into place! Thank you for your continued support and prayers. Thank you....all of you!! I feel the effect of your love and prayers even all the way down here!
Until next time,
-Elder McKinley
No comments:
Post a Comment