February 4, 2013

Missionary Slim almost makes amends this week with a longer blog entry (Week 52 in Pennsylvania, Week 16 in Washington, PA)


I beg the pardon and forgiveness of everyone. Not writing for this blog last week was an unexplainable and inexcusable act, and I apologize, most sincerely. 

With that having been said, the past few weeks have been pretty excellent. Looking back, I can't believe how much has happened in these two, short weeks. I have a few interesting experiences that will highlight.

You know those random times when, for some reason, you are in the right place at the right time? Well, that happens quite a bit for me. I was on exchange with another missionary and we took it upon ourselves to knock every door of an apartment building. It was only three stories, so it actually wasn't as big a task as I make it out to be. And, as can be expected, we got just about the same response at every door. "Not interested." "We don't believe in God!" or "I'm already a member. Go away!" (Actually, she was really a member - she just really didn't want visitors) We continued until we got to the very last door. After the gentle knock, a voice came from within: "Come in." I looked at my temporary companion (he is one of the few missionaries who I actually look up to - he stands at a good 6'5" - he's a big boy!) shrugged and turned the knob. We cautiously walked in. A woman was listening to heartthrob country music in a recliner eating a bagel. Oh, and she was crying uncontrollably. She managed to subdue the tears and told us "Sorry, I would have gotten up to get the door, but my brother died two hours ago!" With that, she surged into another round of sobs. 

Having never had any of my relatives die (save my 101 year old great grandfather who I had met once before), I had no idea how to react or offer empathy. I just sat there, as she explained that her brother had just passed from a battle with cancer, how she only had one surviving brother who was ill with heart disease, and how she herself needed to eat the bagel because of her diabetes. We tried to offer comfort by sharing the Plan of Salvation, we said a prayer with her, but I don't know how much comfort we gave - she was in pretty bad shape. After spending some time with her, she told us thank you and we bid farewell. Since I wasn't in my area, I have no idea what became of that woman. 

Another interesting incident of a similar nature - we were driving around, trying to find someone to teach when we decided "Let's go see Sis. Southern." It seemed like a pretty good idea, so we drove over and knocked on the door. Lo and behold, Sis. Southern was sick - very sick. She has had a heart attack before (in church, even) and was having some relapse issues. We gave her a blessing - I anointed, and her son-in-law gave the blessing (it was funny, because her four year old grandson, his son, came over and put his hands on her head too. I'm pretty sure it didn't make a difference either, because...) Sure enough, when we came by two days later, she was fine and fit as a fiddle (banjo, actually - she comes from the deep south. Hence the last name.) I would say her recovery was pretty miraculous.

On that note, we visited another brother who had a bad dog bite on his legs recently, received a blessing by the hands of a member with my companion and I participating, and recieved word from the doctor that he was having a miraculous recovery. The man was walking within days, and without the use of  a walker or anything. I would say it's pretty miraculous.

We've  been teaching Laurie lately. She's a super sweet, mom-of-a-member who can't come to church but is paying tithing regardless. Well, we came by this past week with a nice, shiny copy of the Triple Combination which we gave to her. She loved it, and was so excited to read it. We started her off with Section 89 - the Word of Wisdom. Before we even got to verse 5, she was talking about how many times she's tried to quit smoking, how much her daughter and son-in-law hate her smoking, and how she wants to quit so badly. The VERY NIGHT BEFORE we came to teach her, she prayed for help to quit smoking. Sure enough, we arrive the next day to answer her prayers. We'll be giving her a comprehensive stop smoking program this week, and within two weeks, she will be a non-smoker. How's that for Heavenly Father answering prayer?

We were put on the hunt by our bishop - We got a new membership record for someone who lives at this address, but we don't have a phone number and I can't remember his name. Go to the address, find the member, and report back to me. Awesome. I love these kind of assignments. We got them all the time in Pittsburgh, and you could never guess who or what you would find.

We went to the address. Come to find, it was an apartment building with four apartments. Shoot... So we knock on the first door. A very nice woman came to the door, but wasn't the member and wasn't really interested in becoming one. She gave some good information on her neighbors - two had moved in recently. Nobody at the next door. The third door was a very interesting gentleman. He was quiet, with an unkempt beard and tousled hair. He was wearing what appeared to be two sweaters and pants that were not long enough and his fingernails needed trimming. Grocery bags, energy drinks, and clothes were strewn all over his apartment. The only furnishings we could find were a blue tarp with sheets, a computer and internet modem, and a refrigerator. He invited us in, but told us that he was not the member we were looking for. He says that he's travelling, and plans to leave the area soon, but was totally fine with us teaching him a lesson right then and there and setting up another appointment. He was very knowledgeable, and while staying pretty quiet the whole time, seemed to understand and was pretty interested. The whole time, though, I had to keep reminding myself "No matter how odd this man might be, he's still a Son of God." We'll see where this goes.

One more really big thing. I'll just show the picture:



Hannah, a little girl who we've been teaching for a little while, was baptized by her father just this past weekend. We started teaching her way back in October and she turned 9 since then. Her dad is a full-time State Trooper, which means that he is saving the world most Sunday mornings. Her mom is not a member of the church, but has been taught by missionaries for at least 10 years. She just hasn't made the choice to be baptized. Well, Hannah did make the choice. That was something which was commented on over and over again is how this choice was totally Hannah's and that she wasn't pressured or coerced in any way. She seemed really happy about it and really excited when she was confirmed yesterday. 

We've been talking about her mom for a while, and how we can help her mom choose to be baptized. This is probably the best thing that could have happened for this family. It's going to make a huge difference for them and bring them closer together in so many ways. 

Isn't that what the Gospel is all about? Bringing us together? It brings our families together, it brings our neighbors together, and most importantly, it brings us and God together. It serves to reconcile man to the maker, and can turn any sinner into a Saint. I love the quote by Elder Jospeh Wirthlin: "We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities." How true that is. I know that it is true. How? Because I have seen it in my own life and in the lives of those I serve with and around. This Gospel is so amazing.

As always, a humble follower of Christ,
Elder Alex Anderson

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