Hola! How's everyone? Great, I hope! What a great week though! So much happens, it's difficult to remember everything. Thank goodness I'm a pro now at writing in my journal and taking notes!
Tuesday. Hmna Stassforth and I wanted to stop by our investigator, Fatima's, house and see how she was doing. Did she stand us up? Yes. But it worked out perfectly! There were two men standing outside the door of the apartment complex smoking, (both about my age, and lets just say from first impressions, I was REALLY scared to talk to them). Since Fatima wasn't there, and we had time, Hmna Stassforth made me start talking with them. After explaining why we were there, and what we do as missionaries, they opened up hard core, and one of them, Joshua, told us how he and his mom are looking for a new church - but haven't been able to find one that they like. Did we teach them the lesson of the Restored Gospel on the front door step? Yes. It was so awesome! People will listen, but you could feel the genuine interest that they had...again, Joshua specifically. He asked if he could buy a Book of Mormon from us, because he wanted to read it - and was thoroughly excited when we said he could have it for free. We're going back to his place tonight - hopefully he's home, and has read some! Lesson learned from this? Even people who look a little mean, need the Gospel in their life.
On Wednesday, we had planned on teaching a lady by the name of Maria. The last time we were there, she didn't seem too interested, but she still wanted to hear what we had to say. Anyway, she wasn't there on Wednesday. #stoodupagain. Thursday night, I felt that we should stop by her place and see if we could meet. Of course, she was there and let us in. Hmna Stassworth was teaching about the Plan of Salvation (I say she taught, because with my lack of Spanish I don't say too much)...when again, I had the prompting to ask her, "Que parte JesuCristo tiene en su vida?" (What part does Jesus Christ have in your life?) Simple enough. I asked. She sat there and thought about it, said that He is a huge part. Paused. And then started weeping (I still don't know 100% of what she said...lost in translation), saying how her mother, back in Mexico, is really sick - and how she essentially, she needs Christ to "pull through" and help. Of course I started getting a little emotional. We cried together. After that. Maria was completely different. She asked questions and opened up more to the things we were teaching her. Lesson learned? Open your mouth! I know that's what I needed to say, and that's what Maria needed to feel at that moment.
Saturday, we spent our day knocking doors in Highwood/Fort Sharidan area. Did anyone want to listen? No. Talk about rough way to end the week. But on the bright side, I saw Lake Michigan! Ah. So beautiful! The whole area was beautiful! Hmna Stassforth and I ended the night, on the other side of our area, over in Zurich Lake. Again. No one wanted any part of our message. We felt that we should visit a less active lady in the ward though, who lives in that area. Hmna Zarasua. She's the best! Her birthday is this week, and she's turning 69. Unfortunately she has a lot of health problems - all of which keep her inside - hence why she hasn't been able to come to church. She lives all alone, and hardly has any contact - which makes me sad...but she was more than happy to see us, and let us in...which in turn made me really happy. Finally, someone let us in! We talked for a bit. She gave us most of her life story. She used to sing though - and loves choir music (did I mention that MoTab is coming to Chicago in June...they'll actually be at a pavilion that's in our area. But President Fenn gave missionaries permission to go to the concert, if they take an investigator with them). Count on Hmna Stassforth and I being there. Anyway. Hmna Stassforth volunteered me to sing, "Grand Eres Tu" (How Great thou Art) to her...which was a little weird at first, but it was wonderful! And it was easy to see how happy it made her, and how much she appreciated it. She promised that she was going to go to church as soon as the weather warms up (the cold hurts her metal knee...poor thing :( )
That's my week in a nut shell though. Hopefully I can hear from some of you this week! Know that I love it out here, and that more importantly, I love sharing this message of Christ with everyone. I know it's true!
Love, Hmna Mortensen
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