We often say here that the mission
is like one long roller coaster - it's full of highs (really high) and
lows (really low). This week in and of itself was a roller coaster, as
mom kinda anticipated. Hit some highs, and took a pretty sharp plunge
around Tues-Thursday,
but recovered. I was really pretty down in the dumps around the hump,
but I can't quite determine why exactly - what counts is that we climbed
out together and are back on the horses.
Monday
night, we out of the blue ended up taking Fab. and Flo. to a
members house to teach them! It was kinda a tender mercy moment as we
didn't plan it or anything, and everything turned out great. The Aldape
fam fell in love with Perla, their 7 month old baby, and they also
provided great testimony.
Tuesday,
we had a Zone Meeting - long story short I tend to get irritated with
these meetings. The ZLs do their job really well, which is iron out
problems and help us set and reach goals, but it always ends up feeling
like a pre-game locker room speech with them raising their voices and
calling people out. They tend to deflate my confidence rather then build
it up - I'm working on loving and trusting and following the leaders.
Their intentions are all there but I feel like the spirit of trying to
serve like Christ and become like Him kinda gets lost under the goals
and quotas for baptisms. Kinda makes me scared if they call me as some
sort of leader (and also bothers me that since the MTC people around me
have been telling me I'll be AP some day). Just trying to stay humble
and love the people, one day at a time.
Anyways, riding some pressure, Wed and Thursday failed miserably. All they talked about was finding new investigators, and Mon-Thursday
we had 0. Standard for the week is 10. I kinda just spiraled down and
had to work hard on keeping the faith. It felt like within a matter of 3
days I went from being on top of the world to in the bottom of a well.
Still not really sure why - I think a lot of factors, and a lot of
negative thinking.
I think the biggest would be a principle in these verses in D&C 58:
31 Who am I, saith the Lord, t
Wed, our comp study just wasn't that focused or worthwhile - a
lot of distractions etc. I felt like such lack of focus, diligence, and
obedience just killed us. Started the day off showing the Lord it
didn't matter as much, and he thus tried our patience and faith. If ye
are prepared, ye shall not fear. We weren't prepared...
Well, I repented, and was very grateful for the Sacrament yesterday.
Friday we got up and decided to change our circumstances, and the weekend was really good (despite the fact I lost my voice).
Speaking (hahahahah) of losing my voice... turned
out to be a huge blessing in disguise for our companionship. Elder Mino
dominated this week - he's been a little scared that he doesn't know
enough to be teaching and controlling lessons, but he was forced to this
week... and he killed it. He's riding 3 weeks, but is already way
farther ahead than I was with 3 weeks. I love this kid, he's a boss. We
really bonded as a team this week, especially with him stroking his
confidence and me on the sidelines a bit. Great all around.
What's more, there's nothing like having a brother at your side when everything falls through and everyone rejects us. Thursday,
we were just knocking on doors, and there was one contact in which we
persisted and persisted, but nothing. The 3rd intent, Mino came in with
his testimony, and as I watched him, I was filled with love for him and
the blessed woman rejecting us, and the Lord, and this work. A moment of
peace in a day of chaos.
Friday
morning had one of the best lessons of the mission. We were teaching
Hy., Ma., and Lu. - our family of 4 plus more. They have
problems not limited to their family - the kids are always fighting. Friday,
Hy. told us the problem isn't improving, even though they read the
LdM and pray together. We were able to tie in this problem with principles of the Plan of Salvation, obedience, and baptisms for the
dead. We both felt very guided by the Spirit as we taught these
principles that we had planned. We reached a point in which I just bore
my testimony and shared my love for them. It was powerful. I freakin
love this family, and through some tears I told them. Left feeling very
edified and inspired.
We had a miraculous coule of church attendances. The work is picking up, despite my stupidness.
Looking forward to teaching and loving and serving this week
Love you all,
Go Raiders!
Elder Blake
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| Me and L. - CAPO. Gonna be baptized Sat! |
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