Well I will start with a few funny things. A majority of the people here are smart enough to recognize that I am an American....I will get little bits of English throughout the day like Whats Up MAN?! or Good Morning....surprisingly, there are a good chunk of people here that think that I am German....Im not really sure where that comes from....even more shocking, theres a handful of people that have asked me if I am French....ok seriously? Come on people. Do they even know what French people look like? Haha its all in good fun. People have the hardest time with the name McKinley....the first time in my life that anyone has ever had trouble pronouncing my name. When people attempt to say it it comes out like Mack-lee....or Mick-lee. If I introduce myself as Mac-Inley, they can usually handle that. When I tell people I am from California, they ask about two things....surfing and the Governator, Arnold Shwarzenegger. Funny, because neither one of those two things are very popular right now. They also all think that California has the same weather as here....I can testify that it does not. Yesterday (the weekends are always like this) I saw a guy driving his car with a plastic cup of beer pinched in between his teeth. Its not like the driving here is already crazy or anything...Ive probably almost been ran over about 10 times since Ive been here. Elder Lima has a 6th sense for traffic that I need to develop in a hurry. Also, Elder Lima snores like no other....its not really even snoring....It sounds like someone screaming with an apple in their mouth...It scares the crap out of me in the middle of the night. A mission is always an adventure.
Well a little bit more about the actual work. We have been working a little bit better this week. We waste a ton of time throughout the day...its really, really frustrating for me. I understand that this is the Lords work and that he wants to bless us, but he is a God of order and Justice, and he cannot bless us unless we are doing the things he asks. Obedience and Work. I wish that I could help not only my companion, but my district, zone, and mission understand how this simple concept literally is the key to miracles! Elder Lima and I dont always see eye to eye on things either....sometimes its small things, but theres been an occasional issue or two that I cant really let slide. For example, after realizing that I had forgotten my nametag this morning, he thought that as long as he took his off too and we were matching that we would be ok. Or even worse, he thought that one of our investigators was ready to be baptized this week after having been taught half of a lesson, and never even attending church. I honestly dont think he is trying to cut corners or anything, I just think that this was how he was trained and taught that missionary work should go. I realize that my sole responsibility is not just to preach the gospel here. I have a tremendous influence on my companion, and I need to make him a priority.
I'm not saying that I am wise and experienced and that he is foolish and naive. We both have skills that compliment our companionship, and our individual responsibility is to be humble enough to accept advice from one another and from the spirit. I'm not sure that I have ever had my patience tested so vigorously in my life. I am learning skills that will benefit me throughout the rest of my life. There are times when I literally don't think that Id have the capacity to put up with some of these things were it not for the sweet hour of prayer that I have been visiting ever so often here.
Having said that, we have had some positive success here. We have been working with a less active member named Emmanuel. He was baptized about 2 years ago, and fell off the grid after about 3 months. When we first made contact with him, he was drunk and stumbling to make conversation with us. After about 5 visits or so with him, we have truly seen a miraculous change. We have been reading from the Book of Mormon with him, just simple stories such as Nephi retrieving the plates of brass. We talk about the simple gospel principles, and share our testimonies with him. Each time we came back, he was a little bit happier, a little bit brighter, and a little bit more excited to talk about the gospel. He came to church with us yesterday. He looked like a kid in a candy shop. He was glowing. He participated in gospel discussions, interacted with the other members, all while tightly clutching his Book of Mormon close to his chest. It is soo cool to see how the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes people from the inside out. What a miracle it truly is, and it is without a doubt happening day in and day out across the world.
I am not a perfect missionary. I am trying to do my best everyday. I always fall short of that mark. Sometimes, I feel guilty. Sometimes, I feel angry or frustrated. That is when I get on my knees, and ask my Father in Heaven to continue to have patience with his struggling child. This is probably what helps me the most to have patience with those around me....the example of my Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for these 2 years I have to inch closer and closer to God everyday. I love all of you, and continue to keep the missionaries in your prayers!
Until next time,
-Elder McKinley
No comments:
Post a Comment