Rebekah in Burbank
Herman Glauser eating a favorite in this area: Corn on the Cob, MAYO, and Chili powder
Hola hola!
It rained twice this week. One was last Monday when we played
flag football at the park for PDAY and the other was on jueves when the roads
were practically flooded! Best part yet...our car battery died the moment it
started down pouring like crazy!!!!!! Luckily, our handy dandy zone leaders
were able to come by and give us a jump start (they also gave us some delicious
chocolate chip cookies and milk, yummm!) While we waited for them, we knocked on
some apartments, I gave my jacket to Hna G., so I used a cardigan as a
cape-shield type thing. Very fun :) We're just glad that there was rain! We
sure have been needing it!! :) Other than that, it's been super sunny but not
too hot, so I've been loving this temperature! :)
We always go contacting on two busy streets, where we have a few
latino pockets, (Burbank Blvd, and Magnolia) we've walked these streets so
often that the people who always hang out on them know us very well! They
always talk to us and always tell us that they have our backs and if we need
anything to let them know because they know we're of God and doing a good work!
It's very funny, but awesome at the same time! We've nick-named them because a
lot of times they give us silly "gang names" like Solo or Trace-3,
one of our favorite nicknames we've given is "mauy thai kickbox guy"
because it rhymes and he always asks us to visit his gym if he visits
Mormon.org haha it's very fun :) one of them also thinks I have a british
accent, so that's cool too
The best part is, some of those contacts (Burbank blvd) actually
know the Elders too! Because half the street is our area and the other half is
the elders, so sometimes they run into people we've just contacted, so they get
to hear stories about us from them haha it's very funny to hear what they say
about us or how they react to
seeing the elders, like "hey we just met some of you a few
minutes ago, what is this!?"
We saw someone wearing some funny pj-pants crossing the street
and Hna. G goes, "Oh I am so rocking those when I'm a mortal again"
haha :)
I was braiding my hair the other day and MY HAIR CUT MY FINGER? It
was weird.
This week we got to contact someone, pick them up as an
investigator right there, and then commit them to the Word of Wisdom, walking
him over to the curb and (with his permission) dumping out his beer can!!!
The funniest part was we then didn't know what to do with the beer can because
we didn't want to litter. So we ended up putting it into our car (ew) and
having to rush over to our next cita at the iglesia. When we walked in, I had
hidden the can so we could throw it away in the dumpster, but Hna. G went on
and told the story so we showed them as proof. It was hilarious, the YM and
leaders were cracking up. Very fun!
Cookies from Ecuador are very yummy!! and it's very cool to be
meeting all these people from all these different countries! I LOVE IT! :) and
I LOVE THAT I CAN SPEAK TO THEM!!!! :)
We met a viejito cowboy who took us to meet his daughter, who we
then picked up as an investigator! (Claudia) she is very amazing! she said
our message is just what she needed to hear and it was answering her questions
and providing her hope!!!!!! :) we can't wait to see her again this week too :)
So, we went to check on a referral, but he wasn't home. We did
start talking to a guy in the building though. He was outside drinking and
smoking, he was older and he still knew what was going on. We learned a lot
about him. (His name is Alex). He is very cool. I ended up in tears in the
middle of the contact, bearing my testimony about how tough life is but that
the Lord IS there, that He is providing a way, and that He NEVER leaves us
alone. And how that is why we were there, talking to him, and bringing him this
love and this message. He shared with us his story. He wants to quit drinking
but can't because it takes his back pain away, his medicine was taken away and
etc. He used to be a fire fighter and was one of the fire fighters who helped
during 9/11, which is where he got his back injury and had to have surgery and
nails put in and such. He said how he was sick of life and sick of pain and how
no one is there for him. After testifying and such, he shared how he was
actually about to just go out and not come back and just wait to die because he
couldn't stand it anymore. I testified to him once again, but
we weren't getting too far. He thanked us for saving him and for talking
with him. The phone rang, I quickly picked it up and started talking in Spanish
saying we'll be a little late for the cita. Boy was he shocked! He
instantly started talking in Spanish right back to us! We could more clearly
understand now!! It was the coolest thing, suddenly he was opening up and our
testifying was super awesome! Then, out of nowhere, we boldly told him that if
he just STOPPED drinking, even if it's little by little, the Lord would provide
a way for him to have his medicine back and not have such strong pain. We
walked over to a bush and dumped his beer out. We testifiyed more, gave him our
number if he needed any more help, and left him with a book of Mormon, prayers,
and a word of wisdom folleto. To make this long story short, we met with him
the next day. We learned more about his story and boldly testified. He thanked
us over and over, we made sure he knew we were here for him and oh I just love
him so much! He's the coolest and I know he can do it and I know that the Lord
will help him and I loooove the way he asks us questions straight up and boldly
and that I can just straight up answer him and testify back!
We set some goals with him and left him with our testimonies and
promises. It was the coolest thing! Unfortunately, the next day he said he got
his medicine back (we have no idea how) and that he wants us to not come back
because he doesn't want to hurt us and he doesn't think he'll be able to stop
drinking. Anyway, long story short, we had the coolest investigator this week
but only for 3 days. But I learned a lot and he's still in my prayers and I
know we helped him and planted that seed and I know how grateful he is and I'm
just glad to have met him.
Okay, I needa get goin', I get so caught up in these emails
sometimes I forget stuff, but the bottom line is that BEING A MISSIONARY IS SO
AWESOME!!! :) :) I am so thankful to be part of this work and to be here in
Burbank and to be doing the work of the Lord! I am learning so much more about
myself but I am also just loooooooooooooving the people and serving them! It's
the COOLEST feeling ever! I love this gospel and I know with all my heart that
it is true!
I love you all and hope you have a good week :)
Con carino,
Hermana Day <3
No comments:
Post a Comment