I'm seriously at a loss this week... I don't know what to say. I feel like it was just yesterday that I emailed you last. Has it been a week already?!
How's everyone's Book of Mormon reading going? Still keeping up with me? ;)
Mom and Dad: Thank you so much for the package! I quite enjoyed that. :) Getting mail is like Christmas. Seriously. It's a big deal. I keep that laminated quote in my scriptures now. And Dad, we started listening to that talk! Notice I said "started". Eyring has such a soothing voice..... haha. But, from what I DID hear, it was awesome and inspiring!
We were in Nyssa because... well... we had to move into a double wide. Bleh. Now, not all trailers are bad- but this once was disgusting. There were bugs EVERYWHERE. Gross. My companion jumped on a chair and screamed, "I do NOT do bugs! I can't do this!" Haha! I didn't think that it was that bad... I just went to bed praying that nothing crawled on me. ;)
So we had to drive 15 miles into Parma every day, and then 15 miles home. We've moved back to our house in Parma though. My companion finally had enough. ;) (The reason we moved was because the people that we lived with had family staying with them for a few nights.)
We started out the week getting dropped by some investigators... That always makes you sad. People don't want to change their lives.
Hannah pretty much dropped us. Granted, she's only 9 years old. But we asked her if she'd get baptized- since she's heard all of the lessons 3 times, attends church every Sunday, lives the gospel, and totally has a testimony of it- and she said no. We tried to talk to her about it, but it was just a big NO. She never wanted to get baptized. ...Sad. But she asked us if we could still "come over and play". Man. That was a hard conversation to have with a 9 year old- telling her that we were there to teach her and help her to progress in the gospel, not to come over and play. She still continues to come to church, and we still drop by and read a couple scriptures with her. Hopefully she'll come around one day.
We had our lesson with the Johnston's- seriously the most famous family in all of Parma. Everyone and their dog knows them, and they know everyone and their dog. They are seriously the hardest family to figure out. Bottom line is: They believe everything that we believe, they just don't believe in "labels". So they attend their church, but are open to spiritual discussions. We are their first experience with LDS missionaries though! And we seriously go over there once a week- just to chat about the gospel, about families, and about the community. They're a great way to find referrals! haha! And, who knows, hopefully as we build our relationship with them something will come of it. :)
HAHA! Ready for the awkward moment of the week? I'm not sure how much of this I should tell you.... ;)
We went over to Angel and Matthew's house, but they weren't home. So we walked back to our car. As we were walking back, this guys head pops up over the fence (he looks SERIOUSLY intoxicated) and he says, "Hey! I'm LDS! You girls wanna come talk to me? We can all come and sit in my backyard." <---Now that was said in the most suggestive voice ever heard. Creepy. This obviously was not a good situation. My comp just FREEZES and almost agrees to go and talk to him! hahaha. Oh man. I engaged the guy in conversation for a few minutes (from MY side of the fence)- and after determining that this guy was most likely drunk, on drugs, and super messed up- told him that we had a meeting to get to and we couldn't stay. As we get into the car he yells, "I love you! Be safe!" BAHAHA! I get in the car and start CRACKING UP! I thought that was the funniest encounter ever! And I started laughing even HARDER as I looked over at my companion... She was in shock! And she said to me, "Gubler, thank goodness you were here... Otherwise I would probably be dead right now." hahahaha
We had another lesson with Mariah and Dallas. Mariah is scheduled for baptism on July 26 and we're praying that it goes through. Normally in our lessons with them, they can't seem to focus. They'll just talk and talk about things that don't have ANYTHING to do with what we're talking about... Which is fine. We can normally get it back on track. But during this lesson, I felt like I needed to share with Mariah MY conversion story.
I mean, I've been a member all my life. And I've always had a testimony of the gospel. But there comes a time when that testimony is really put to the test and you have to find out if you really can apply the principles of the gospel in your life. We sat down and read Alma 36 together, verse by verse, as I explained how this chapter had entirely changed my life. For the first time, Mariah and Dallas listened. And I mean really listened. You could feel the spirit so strong. There was no denying that the spirit was there.
And she agreed to be baptized.
This week has changed my entire perspective of my mission. I think I've gotten over the hill...
I no longer go to bed almost in tears because I miss home.
I no longer wake up almost in tears because I miss home.
I no longer go throughout the day and think that I'm a terrible missionary for not having any baptisms.
I no longer feel like I haven't made any contribution to anyone's life.
I no longer think that "if I just share my comp's water bottle, I might get mono and get to go home".
I no longer agonize over having to talk to people.
I've been praying every day for the Lord to help me enjoy myself while I am here. And, over the last 2 weeks, He has answered my prayer. I wake up each morning excited and ready for the new day! I LOVE talking to random people at their doors! I enjoy teaching lessons and helping people to progress! I KNOW that I'm making a difference here in the Idaho Nampa Mission!
And I really think that it's because I made 3 committments: a committment to MYSELF, to my COMPANION, and to the LORD that I will never give up.
--Sister Gubler
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