Hello Family and Friends, how's everyone doing. This week has definitely been an interesting one. My companion made it a goal this week to study and improve the christlike attribute of humility, and let's just say the Lord blessed us to improve in that area!
Let me tell you about 2 of the days we had this week, so you'll kind of get what I am talking about.
So Wednesday was transfer day. My companion was getting transferred with one of the zone leaders and their ride was leaving at 4:30 AM. So the zone leaders got to our apartment around 3:45. So it was an early morning. I couldn't really go back to sleep, so I was pretty tired. We then had our other Zone Leader with us all morning because he was waiting for his companion. So we did our normal morning stuff and then his companion finally came around 1:30. So we went out that afternoon and tried contacting some people, but no one really answered their door. We then came back for dinner. And had a super set night. We went to a man who is less active and we had a really really good talk with him. He told us how he feels the Lord's timing is different for everyone, but he feels this is his time to come back to church, and how he wants to help out in the missionary work. So cool, so we have a meeting with him every Wednesday now! We then were going to a next appointment and we decided to stop by the house of someone we were teaching but hadn't been in contact in a while. We knocked on the door and a man opened. He told us the lady we were teaching was content with her church and then asked us what church we went. So we said the Church of Jesus Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He then asked why we worship Joseph Smith. And went on some other rants and called Joseph Smith a liar. My companion tried to explain what we actually believe, but the man repeatedly cut us off. My companion was starting to get mad, which was really weird because I have never seen him mad before. So I cut in and said I know that God is our Heavenly Father and that the Book of Mormon true and Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. He called me a liar, so. I Just started walking away. So we then went to a lesson with someone else we are teaching, we knocked on the door and called him and no answer. I said to my self I'm not going to let this guy go, so I went and knocked on the door with an adequate amount of force. And then he opened! He said he was sleeping but he was so happy to see us. We then told him the experience we just had, and he said, well I guess some people are ready and some aren't. But I am!!!!! We then went inside and taught him the second half of the restoration and he was all over it. Had no problems with Joseph Smith or the book of Mormon and the spirit was so strong. Oh my goodness it was going so good, and then his friend walked in. And his friend attends some online church with some interesting beliefs. But he talked to us for about 35 minutes straight about his beliefs. He wasn't bashing or anything just talking. And we actually had to cut him off because we had to go home. So we felt pretty bad, because we had just had a great lesson and then this man came in and destroyed the spirit. But the Lord was aware of my feelings because as we were walking home, the song Celebrate Good Times was blasting. A little tender mercy to end the night.
The next day was my companions birthday. We had a nice morning and a member took us out to lunch. So the day was looking good. And then we went out to work in the afternoon and all our appointments fell through. No one was home or didn't want to answer the door. And no one wanted to talk to us on the streets. So it was pretty discouraging. We then came home and had dinner and went back out for the night. And guess what? All of our night plans fell through. So we were waking, talking, and knocking not really being able to do anything because no one wanted to talk to us. We then were finally able to get into a member's house and visit with them. We then left and had a for sure appointment at 8, but guess what? That fell through too. So my companion was trying to call someone to see of we could come visit them, and these Latinos walked right by us, and I was able to do a street contact by myself. So I felt good about that. So since we had no plans and we couldn't knock on doors since it was after 8, and we could go to any members, we decided to make it a finding night. Because there are always Latinos in the streets and we just need to talk to them. So I was feeling good about my contact I made and I knew the Lord would place someone in our paths to teach. But guess what? For like the first time, there was absolutely no one in the streets. We walked all over and there was no one! And so it was like 8:55, and we were right by our apartment. But we decided to do one last lap, because we can't return to our apartment until 9. And we walked by this little public library thing they have in a park. We had left a book of Mormon in there a couple of weeks ago, and it was finally taken. We dont know by who, but it will change their life. We then were walking and this lady who was in the shadows picking up her dog poop called out to us, are y'all from Salt Lake. I said I was from Alabama, and she was like no way, my nephew plays on the BAMA Lax team. We then got talking and her dog's breeder is LDS and she's going out to Idaho to be a fixer upper. She said she was really impressed with our church's culture and how we care so much about the youth and the elderly. She said that when she moves out to Idaho she wants to get involved in the culture. So I have her a pass along card and told her if she had any questions visit the website. So it was a successful day!
There were two major lessons I learned this week:
1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. There were days that I wanted to go give up and go back to our apartment, but the Lord sustained me in my efforts and gave me the strength I needed to go on.
2. The lords will is not mine at times. He has a plan for me and he is molding me into the person he wants me to become. I have learned to put his will over mine. And if the lord will give me the days he wants me to have. The lord knows best and I will go through whatever he wants me to.
I also had some pretty funny moments this week too:
1. We were in a lesson with a part member family. The non member husband told us we needed to marry an authentic Latina because the Amercian women dont know how to work. (I thought obviously you haven't met my mom) but nonetheless it was pretty funny.
2. I got offered a job this week. Some guy selling energy stopped us and asked if we wanted a job. So if anyone needs a job. Let me know! Ha!
Yeah so it's been a fun week. We sometimes have tough weeks and sometimes have awesome weeks, but they are all great weeks if we choose to look at them like that!
Happy Turkey Day,
Elder Jorgensen
Pics:
1. My first district
2. Los Tres Amigos
3. The public library
