We were scheduled to visit Steffani. She had surgery today so she was in bed and couldn’t receive visitors. We had a nice chat with her husband who is not a member on the doorstep. (He waved big and friendly to us early the next morning as he drove by us.)
We next saw a black grandma herding her 16-month-old granddaughter down the road. We smiled and waved. She came right over to us to talk. She read our nametags and said she was a Christian too and she could tell we were people of God because we had smiled and waved at her. (She said if you smile and wave to others you have love in you and that is from God).
She shared with us her love for Jesus and told us a little bit about her life. She is from Zimbabwe and lives with her daughter in Ohio. She asked us to pray with her. Her son is in Zimbabwe trying to get his Visa Papers signed so he can come to America to live and she wanted our prayers in his behalf. Scott offered the prayer right there in the parking lot next to our car. She was so happy afterwards. We gave her our card and invited her to church. She said she would let us know what happens to her son. Nice lady. We will watch for her in the complex.
Decided to try again for the 3 time and see Lisa. She is an inactive lifetime member that no one can get in to see. We knocked on her door about 7:20 pm and she opened up a crack. She said, “Thanks, but no thanks.” She said she was taking a vacation from church. We kept her talking and bit-by-bit she spilled out all the things that had offended her about ward members and the church.
She evidently had taught Gospel Principles for 3 years and had many other teaching assignments but she got her feelings hurt and she was tired of not fitting the Mormon mold by being “SINGLE.” She then said that every time she goes to church she hears the same thing. She stated very forcefully that she is a very intellectual woman and she needed to be simulated mentally.
I asked her if she was reading the Book of Mormon and she said honestly that she was not. I invited her to start at the beginning of the Book of Mormon and read it and to pray and ask God to teach her something new. I told her we would be back in two weeks with cookies and we would discuss what she had learned. I only asked her to provide the milk! She laughed said she would.
I asked her if I could give her a hug and she was so taken back she let me. All her prickles melted in that hug. I then asked if I could get my picture taken with her so I could say to my kids, “Here is my friend, Lisa, the writer.” She liked that and let Scott take our picture together. We plan on going back in two weeks with cookies. She definitely needs a friend.
We then drove out into the county to see the new investigator, David. We found his home with our trusty GPS. With out that sweet device we would be hosed! David wasn’t home but his wife, Diane was. We talked to her on the doorstep. She was quite friendly. She seemed surprised we came for a visit. Diane had followed David into baptism in their last church and she isn’t too happy about him looking for something different. Bless her heart. Change is hard for sure. We just need to befriend her.
David wants to be baptized right now. He keeps telling Scott, “It just makes sense!” He is fascinating to watch in class. He loves the participation, he loves the doctrine of prophets in these last days and he loves the fact that there are answers to all his questions.
Mission Office
1 comment:
YAHOO! Sounds like the best Sr. Missionaries EVER!!!!....just broke open some new territory in the Cincinatti Ohio Mission.
Way to go you two! Sounds like your are really finding your way into the hearts of the people. We are sure proud of ya,
Ty and Suz
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