¡Saludos!
I hope all is well everywhere else, because things are great here in Baltimore. Crazy like always, but good! (Also Baltmore apparently has a rat problem, and I see one almost everyday so that's fun...)
But this has been a good week, still getting adjusted to this crazy and fast missionary life, but I have learned a lot and really feel my testimony being deepened. There have been 3 big lessons that I have learned this week:
1. Why am I here? Duty or love
This past week we had a zone conference with our mission president and he have us some really really amazing insights. He is so funny, he calls us all "his beloveds" and tells us to be strong like a dolphin, and whenever we speak we need to stand up and speak with the voice of the church! He is also super energetic and loud so there's never a dull spot with him.
Anyway, he said something that really struck me to my core. He asked us all to reflect on why we were here. He then said if you are here because it is simply out of duty you will hate your mission, but if you are here because you love the savior and the people of baltimore, even if you aren't the best missionary in the world, you will love your mission. And I can 100% testify to this. There have been times this past 2 weeks where I have felt I am here out of duty rather than my savior. I was focusing on myself and my setbacks, and having the me me me mentality, but that's not the way christ was. He was always looking to help and talk with others. So after that meeting I have prayed to be filled with the Christ like love for others and I tell myself constantly that I am here for the Lord. It is not my time, but the Lord's. And as I have been doing that, the days aren't getting easier, but my days are much brighter and happier. It is really interesting, the mission is really really tough and the hardest thing that I have done, but also I have never had so much joy while going through hard times. It is simply amazing!
2. Send it with the Spirit
The second lesson I learned came from the zone meeting as well. We had a "breakout" where we go as a group of missionaries and real-play (we real play no role play) situations. So I was a companions with my zone leader Elder Randall and my real companion Elder Rodriguez. We were talking and teaching and it went pretty good. I said some stuff and it was good. Elder Randall then took my aside and said "You were quiet, you need to speak more." I immediately thought It's my second week, chill out, I don't really know a lot of stuff. But he told me, you are called to be a missionary now, not in a couple of months when you understand, but now! He told me, that what he did when he was being trained was try to listen and if you can catch some words, bear testimony on that. It maybe a little weird, but the Holy Ghost will testify of the truthfulness of my words. So we came up with the phrase, Send it with the Spirit.
It has been really fun putting this into play, and a little difficult. The hardest part is actually figuring out when to interject my comments, because Latinos like to talk. And they have good stuff to share, you just have to pick a good time to jump in and say something. Pretty funny! But it has been really good, sharing small but powerful testimonies. They maybe small and conjugated incorrectly or something else, but I bearing testimony.
3. It's good to stand out
When I first got to baltimore, I really hated going outside, because I felt like everyone was watching me and judging me. But how I have changed. I can't help it because three things make me stand out:
1. I'm wearing a white shirt and tie. Sometimes a suit.
2. I am tall
3. I am white
And I realize that these differences can actually be used for good, because they are great conversation starters. When people notice me, they just come up start talking to me about different things. We talk to lots of people because of the way we look, like I've gotten "why y'all dressed so nicely" or "hey look it's the professors" or "why you white boys out here!" And when people come talking to you it is so much easier to share the gospel.
But the hardest part is most of the people we make contacts with, dont speak spanish. We we start really good conversations with people, and then we give them a pass along card with the number of the English elders or a pamphlet, and go on our merry way. It's a little hard because some of these people would be really cool to teach if I could, but they are for the English elders. I realized that I just plant seeds, and that is a really important part of missionary work.
Like the other day we were on our way to an appointment and we get on the bus and go the back and sit down. But before I sat down I said hello to the man behind us. We then sat down and the man said to us, "Dang, I thought y'all were the police coming to pull me off the bus, because I just spilled my beer everywhere." Great Icebreaker, we then said, no were the missionaries coming to pull you off the bus and put you in the front. Nah JK, but we did have a really cool conversation about God and his love for all his children and how we need to work together to make this a better world, and some other good stuff. He then was going to get off so we handed him a pass along card and he asked for another one so he could give it to his boss. Not one but 2 seeds planted, BOOM!
But life is a go go go here in Baltimore lots of people to talk to and lots of people that need to hear this message, because they really need it. Baltimore really needs the gospel, there's a lot of sad people who could be lightened by it. So that's why I'm here. To share the love of the God to all of his Children. To being people the joy I feel everyday as i read the book of mormon and follow its teachings.
Also, don't throw a tortilla in a Hispanics house or they get really mad. Jajajaja
Love,
Elder Jorgensen
Pics:
1. Be a star or whatever this shape is trying to be. Just call it a "Baltimore Star"
2. The professors
3. Were not sick, just thought it looked cool
4. Took a walk through a golf course, because it was pretty
