Hello To All,
How's everyone doing? I'm doing great, and I hope you are too!
This past week has been a roller coaster for sure, crazy, exhausting, funny, scary, hard, but all in all it's been a really good week. I've learned lots and have grown so much!
So this past week we had a meeting where we were assigned an area and a trainer. Lucky for me, I get 2 trainers which is really awesome. It's like one big party all the time. They are Elder Casey and Elder Rodriguez, both are from Utah (or La Fábrica, as a lot of people like to call it!) Anyway my first area is Downtown Baltimore, and ohhhh my goodness, I've only been here one week but do I have some stories! It's 100% a lot like Ensley, so it was almost a coming home for me, HA! It has been so much fun, and I would rather be here than anywhere else. Things here just make life more fun.
So Baltimore is literally a melting pot, people from all different types of nationalities and walks of life live in Baltimore, and I get to see it all. But the hardest trial I have had this week has been trying to get used to the different types of Spanish. It's been really really tough. I learned Mexican Spanish, so when we talk with somebody from Mexico I can understand a lot of what they are saying, but then you throw in somebody else from another nationality and I'm done for. We talked with people from Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Peurto Rico, The Dominican Republic, and Salvador. They speak so fast and cut off parts of words that I can barely understand anything. We literally went into one lesson with a lady from Honduras and she spoke softly and really fast. We were probably in there for almost 45 minutes, and probably the only word I understood was pantalones. It was so bad! We had a couple of other lessons like that so I have felt a little useless at times this week. But there was one day that was really really tough, and I just wasn't feeling it at all. I wasn't happy and wasn't feeling the joy of missionary work, but I figured out what was wrong. I was focusing on myself and my weaknesses instead of reaching out to others. I was focusing on the natural man instead of focusing on the character of Christ and reaching out to people anyway I can. So I came up with a plan that has really helped me.
1. I talk with everyone I see (hablar con todos!) It is weird because there are a lot of people in Baltimore who don't speak Spanish. And with our primary focus on Spanish people, it is kinda weird talking to them. But I still say hi to them as we pass by. Trying to share the love of God with all men. But it is really hard contacting most of the day in English and then trying to switch of Spanish, but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthenth me." So it requires a lot of Patience right now, and I dont know why the Lord is giving me so many different circumstances to grow my patience, but I know that "all these things shall give me experience, and shall be for my good." So it's really difficult because I want to share what I know and Express my personality, but I can't do that because I either dont understand the person or can't truly Express how I feel in Spanish. But in the Lord's time I will learn Spanish and be able to preach the Gospel. But I do know that talking to everyone makes life better and happier. It also makes some really fun stories.
This week we were walking by a package store. And an old white dude with some thwispy wispy hair was standing outside. We said hi and he called us over. He had no teeth and told us his name. He told us that he needed a prayer for him and his momma. So right there in the middle of the sidewalk we said a prayer. What was really funny is he handed is cigarette off because I guess he wanted to hold hands. So we had 3 guys in white shirts holding hands with a toothless old guy in the middle of the sidewalk in Baltimore, saying a prayer. I bet it was quite a sight! Ha! After the prayer he said, I got something for you. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some candy. And it was the best stuff I have had in my entire life! No I'm just kidding, you never take candy from a stranger!
The older story is a little scarier. So we were walking in a pretty sketchy place at like 7:30 but It was pitch black. We were walking by a bar and this dude yelled at us hey mormons. I immediately turned around and he said yeah you. One of trainers turned but the other didn't hear him and kept walking. The dude yelled, dont you run away from me mormons! Come here right now! The dude said I know you kind let me talk to you. (He looked exactly like samuel L Jackson from Glass but had a nasty black and grey beard). He said come close, closer, closer, until we were almost touching heads in a huddle formation. This man reeked of beer, and you can bet that my heart was beating so so so fast and ohh buddy was I praying. But this dude was actually really cool, he said he met with mormons before and really respects and admires what we do. He threw some nice expletives in there, but he invited us to his house to talk. Haven't gone back yet, but maybe this week.
2. The other way I figured I could help is a little funny. I came up with a title for myself. I am the listener. And I figured out I am really good at it. I sit there and look into the peoples eyes and give a nod every once in a while, or a little chuckle. And the whole time I have no idea what is going on. But the people feel like they are being heard and someone cares about them, so I'm doing my part. I also get to bear small testimonies when my companions ask me to, so it's all good!
But yes this week has been so so crazy but so much fun! I love the ward and I love the people of Baltimore! It's already been a ride and its only gonna get better!
I love you all, and I hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Elder Jorgensen
Pics:
1. Me and my trainers
2. President Mutombo and his wife
3. Me and my Latinos (love 'em)
