"The title is my favorite line from a song we have been listening to on repeat in the car. I know that it is true. Missionary work is not a constant thing. There are thousands of different emotions that run through my mind every single day! We are happy one second because we have gotten someone to commit to coming to church and then the next moment we are discouraged because that person never showed up. However, there are always more happy moments than sad moments somehow. I always finish a day or a week feeling so fulfilled and happy about everything :) Even when we only have one person in an entire day that is willing to talk to us without arguing, or even when I cannot understand a word that an old babushka is saying, I still finish the day happy. I know that is because of the Atonement and the hope that I feel from knowing that I have a loving Father in heaven and that he sent His son for me! And for everyone! It's hard sometimes to explain the Atonement to people and why they need a Savior. However, in learning how to do this, it has just strengthened my faith and made me realize the need we truly do have for Jesus Christ. I just want everyone to know that!
A few funny things that happened this week:
1) There is a man from Ukraine that we had been visiting and
every time we went, his father-in-law would sit there and argue with us and
tell us that we were breaking the 2nd commandment because we had a picture of
Jesus (which was ironic because he had a painting of Jesus hanging up on his
wall...) but anyways we went over at the beginning of the week and had a good
conversation because the father-in-law wasn't there and it was awesome.
However, we were leaving and we found that he had just gotten back and thought
that we didn't see him and he was totally making a beeline right for us! So we
started running and I had to back Sister Orr really quickly out of the parking
space and jump in the car all without making it toooooo obvious that we were
running away! It was so funny and we were both laughing so hard. In all the
haste, I accidentally called Elder Peterson, one of the senior missionaries and
he was laughing with us. (the Petersons are an awesome couple who served a
mission a few years ago in Russia and are here helping with the Russian work in
Washington now).
There is a miracle that is directly related to this story
though! So the father-in-law was really argumentative and didn't agree with
anything we had said. However, we went back again and his demeanor had
completely changed! Now he wants to learn! He wants to be baptized! It is sooo
amazing to see how his heart was softened. It doesn't even seem like he is the
same man as before. We are so excited about continuing to teach them!
2) My mom sent me glasses and I was wearing them for the
frist time and we went to go meet people and one kept saying the Russian words
for "Oh it's a new sister." We tried to explain that it was still me,
but he didn't seem to understand and so now he thinks that I am a new sister.
pretty funny experience.
3) We shared the gospel with a random guy from Walmart who
texted us. We had a short conversation trying to figure out who he was and then
found out that he was looking for someone else, but we replied saying that we
were missionaries and told him that we could tell him about God if he wanted us
to and he didn't reply. No surprise there. Oh well, we planted the seed.
4) We saw an investigator holding a sign on the side of the
road that said "Jesus is the answer." Let's just say that he's pretty
comfortable in his own church...
5) Another man that we were meeting with tried to hug Sister
Orr and then got really offended when we said that it wasn't allowed. We tried
to explain that it's a rule for safety reasons. He didn't understand and every
time we tried to teach something he would just bring it back to how offended he
was. For example, I said something about following commandments from God and he
was like "You don't follow the commandment that we must love one another"
so basically he was calling us bad people. It was so weird and ridiculous. We
laughed about it afterwards haha
Wow, a lot of funny things happened this week I guess! A lot
of spiritual things also happened. I learned that when you change your heart,
your actions really do change in return. I think that's why the teaching of
Jesus Christ are so incredible! He teaches us to have a true change of heart
and truly forsake the things that are bad in this world. I know that it takes
time to change a habit, but wow I promise that if you try our hardest, you can
do it! I have seen it a million times already. Instead of changing your
behavior and hoping that eventually your heart will change, try changing your
heart first.
It's so cold here! It's humid and wet and it rains a lot and
I have been wearing tights and a jacket every day! A little bit worried for the
winter, haha. We were sketchily in west Seattle the other night and it was dark
and wet and no one was answering their doors and wow I really wanted to just go
sit by a warm toasty fire or something! It's still summer in Alabama haha.
Things are different here for sure, but I'm grateful to not be in Siberia like
some people I know ;)
A quote I loved from my studies this week of Jesus the
Christ, written by James E Talmage:
Treasures of Earth and of Heavenb
The transitory character of worldly wealth was next
contrasted with the enduring riches of eternity. Many there were and many there
are whose principal effort in life has been that of amassing treasures of
earth, the mere possession of which entails responsibility, care, and
disturbing anxiety. Some kinds of wealth are endangered by the ravages of
moths, such as silks and velvets, satins and furs; some are destroyed by
corrosion and rust—silver and copper and steel; while these and others are not
infrequently made the booty of thieves. Infinitely more precious are the
treasures of a life well spent, the wealth of good deeds, the account of which
is kept in heaven, where the riches of righteous achievement are safe from
moth, rust, and robbers. Then followed the trenchant lesson: “For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
We had some awesome experiences this week and continue to
have awesome experiences. I am so grateful to be here! Everyone please send me
your address because I want to write letters to people! I love writing letters,
it's kind of like a therapy for me. I don't have a ton of time to write lengthy
ones, but I love sending notes to everyone :) Love all of you SO much! Remember
that if you love your problems, you will love life as well.
LOVE,
Sister Jenne"
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