Today we celebrated being missionaries for six months! It's so hard to believe we've completed 1/3rd of our mission. Our time is flying by. In one year we'll be heading home. The elders told us we are supposed to "burn a tie!" We have learned and grown so much and we're thankful for the opportunities we've been given thus far. Along with all the joy there are great challenges and disappointments. We don't experience all the highs and lows like the young elders and sisters do, but we did this past week and wanted to share what we've learned. Elder West and President Bennion are pictured with "Joseph Elias, from Bethlehem." He walked up to Elder Teerlink out on the streets of Astoria and said he wanted to learn more about the Mormon Church. The elders were thrilled, but Joseph said he wanted to have older, more experienced members teach him the gospel. We received our first referral. We were so excited to teach him, last Thursday. We had a wonderful time getting to know him and teaching him about the Restoration. He was excited to be given the Book of Mormon in English and in Arabic. He couldn't read well so Chas even gave him some reading glasses. He was so receptive and happy to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph explained that he was a Palestinian Christian, who left his family,(wife and five children) four years ago to find work in the US. He'd had a good job he enjoyed in Miami. Someone told him about a lucrative construction job here in NY, but when he arrived, about six months ago, it hadn't worked out. He told us he was trapped in NY, hated all the people and the city; he was miserable. We were so hopeful that the gospel would be a blessing to him in every way. On Saturday we met with him again. He was anxious to meet others and we offered to take him to the two barbecues we were attending so that perhaps someone could help him with employment ideas. He then confided in Chas that he was homeless and sleeping in the park for the last six months. Chas told me and of course our hearts went out to him. We invited him to join us for our church meetings Sunday and explained that we were having a special missionary focus that day. Our friends, President and Sister Bennion were speaking in our ward and then during the third hour we had a combined meeting regarding the missionary work that all members could participate in. We asked him to join with us and the Bennions for dinner afterwards. He was very happy and accepted our invitation. Chas had a meeting at the church Saturday night and Joseph asked to relax there where it was cool during the meeting. Chas introduced him to our Stake President, President Duffy, and then he privately visited with President Duffy about what we should do. President Duffy assured him that he should bring him to our home for the night and then the next day he would make sure we got him on a bus to Miami so he could go back to his job there. So Joseph spent the night, our first NY house guest! We didn't sleep well, but we believed we were doing what the Savior would have us do. Sunday was a wonderful day and after Sunday dinner President Bennion and Elder West taught Joseph about the Plan of Salvation. About 4:00 pm the Bennions left for a baptism, and Chas told Joseph he would take him to buy his bus ticket. We would contact missionaries in Miami who would continue teaching and helping him. Joseph was so grateful and happy until Chas pulled out the credit card. Joseph went into a rage and told him to take him back to the place where he lives at 31st and 30th Ave.. He only needed cash and would buy his own ticket! Chas did as he asked and he was so angry he left his plastic bag, with all he had, in our car. Chas tried to get it to him, but he wouldn't stop. At about 6pm Joseph called the elders and said he was confused and would they meet with him. They agreed to see him tonight. We took his bag to the church and while we were there this morning for CES training, Joseph picked up his bag, leaving the 2 Book of Mormons, and glasses on the table. He never showed up to meet with the Elders tonight. We have no idea if anything he told us was true. We have now experienced that feeling that our young missionaries experience all the time. We have also felt the joy that comes from teaching and sharing the gospel. There is much opposition in this work. Yes, we're learning, and will be more cautious next time, but we will continue to ask ourselves what Jesus would do? How thankful we are to be His representatives. We are also grateful for what we learned.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Six Month Slump...and The Plan of Happiness
Today we celebrated being missionaries for six months! It's so hard to believe we've completed 1/3rd of our mission. Our time is flying by. In one year we'll be heading home. The elders told us we are supposed to "burn a tie!" We have learned and grown so much and we're thankful for the opportunities we've been given thus far. Along with all the joy there are great challenges and disappointments. We don't experience all the highs and lows like the young elders and sisters do, but we did this past week and wanted to share what we've learned. Elder West and President Bennion are pictured with "Joseph Elias, from Bethlehem." He walked up to Elder Teerlink out on the streets of Astoria and said he wanted to learn more about the Mormon Church. The elders were thrilled, but Joseph said he wanted to have older, more experienced members teach him the gospel. We received our first referral. We were so excited to teach him, last Thursday. We had a wonderful time getting to know him and teaching him about the Restoration. He was excited to be given the Book of Mormon in English and in Arabic. He couldn't read well so Chas even gave him some reading glasses. He was so receptive and happy to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph explained that he was a Palestinian Christian, who left his family,(wife and five children) four years ago to find work in the US. He'd had a good job he enjoyed in Miami. Someone told him about a lucrative construction job here in NY, but when he arrived, about six months ago, it hadn't worked out. He told us he was trapped in NY, hated all the people and the city; he was miserable. We were so hopeful that the gospel would be a blessing to him in every way. On Saturday we met with him again. He was anxious to meet others and we offered to take him to the two barbecues we were attending so that perhaps someone could help him with employment ideas. He then confided in Chas that he was homeless and sleeping in the park for the last six months. Chas told me and of course our hearts went out to him. We invited him to join us for our church meetings Sunday and explained that we were having a special missionary focus that day. Our friends, President and Sister Bennion were speaking in our ward and then during the third hour we had a combined meeting regarding the missionary work that all members could participate in. We asked him to join with us and the Bennions for dinner afterwards. He was very happy and accepted our invitation. Chas had a meeting at the church Saturday night and Joseph asked to relax there where it was cool during the meeting. Chas introduced him to our Stake President, President Duffy, and then he privately visited with President Duffy about what we should do. President Duffy assured him that he should bring him to our home for the night and then the next day he would make sure we got him on a bus to Miami so he could go back to his job there. So Joseph spent the night, our first NY house guest! We didn't sleep well, but we believed we were doing what the Savior would have us do. Sunday was a wonderful day and after Sunday dinner President Bennion and Elder West taught Joseph about the Plan of Salvation. About 4:00 pm the Bennions left for a baptism, and Chas told Joseph he would take him to buy his bus ticket. We would contact missionaries in Miami who would continue teaching and helping him. Joseph was so grateful and happy until Chas pulled out the credit card. Joseph went into a rage and told him to take him back to the place where he lives at 31st and 30th Ave.. He only needed cash and would buy his own ticket! Chas did as he asked and he was so angry he left his plastic bag, with all he had, in our car. Chas tried to get it to him, but he wouldn't stop. At about 6pm Joseph called the elders and said he was confused and would they meet with him. They agreed to see him tonight. We took his bag to the church and while we were there this morning for CES training, Joseph picked up his bag, leaving the 2 Book of Mormons, and glasses on the table. He never showed up to meet with the Elders tonight. We have no idea if anything he told us was true. We have now experienced that feeling that our young missionaries experience all the time. We have also felt the joy that comes from teaching and sharing the gospel. There is much opposition in this work. Yes, we're learning, and will be more cautious next time, but we will continue to ask ourselves what Jesus would do? How thankful we are to be His representatives. We are also grateful for what we learned.
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So that's the "rest of the story." And that's why Joseph wanted "older, more experienced members" to teach him - to appeal to their kind natures and their assets. Unbelievable!
We never know, do we... but we still must love and teach and take the right steps toward people up until we find out that their intentions are less than honorable. You did just that...as Jesus would do.
Your genuine love, charity and compassion for a child of God will stand as a witness against his unprincipled behavior.
How disheartening for you are dear missionaries!
Also, thanks for the kind note about my Mom. Today hospice told us that she is within "hours or days."
Love you both.
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