Dear family and friends,
I feel like this past week we finally got to get back into good old
fashion missionary work, with concentrated tracting, contacting, and
teaching new people. The few weeks before just seemed so scattered with
various training meetings and exchanges everywhere. But this past week
has been very good for finding. We've tracted some really cool areas
that we've never tracted before and have found some really cool people
that are willing to learn more. One of the areas is close to the
southern most point of our area. After these houses is just fields and
open land. It's pretty cool. We were able to find two new families and a
kid in college. That's quite a lot for just a few streets!
We're now teaching our new recent convert and her husband (also a
recent convert) the new convert lessons. He's already had them from when
he was baptized, and now he's also helping us teach her. It's so great!
They're really such a cute couple. They have a ton of questions about
the temple and they really want to go. We showed them pictures of
temples around the world and it just made them more excited. It also
seems like they want to learn english from us as well. Every time I'm
trying to explain something and I can't, they say to say it in english.
That way I can learn the word, and so can they. So funny. We also got
into the story of pioneers and it was so funny trying to explain why
they had to be in covered wagons as they traveled.
Since Wednesday was Independence Day, we gathered all the stuff in
our apartment that had any American influence (which was not much) and
sang the patriotic songs. We even had to result to our apples that said
"US grown." It was really great though. And people on the streets would
tell us happy July 4th. It felt good to still feel the love of our
country away from our country.
That night was english class, and I am now the English Leader! It's
not a whole lot, but it's pretty cool. I'm in charge of new student
forms and book order forms and reporting the weekly numbers. It feels
good to be given responsibility.
We also had a little complication meeting with some potential
investigators. Every time we'd go over to their house, they would be out
and we'd schedule another time to go back, and then they would call us
and have to change again. It was a vicious cycle. But we were also to
find some really cool less active members that we've never met before.
They're really everywhere. There are roughly 600 members in our ward
records, but only about 100 that come every week to church. So there are
plenty of opportunities to rescue! And just being able to befriend them
makes them want to come back. Every member needs a friend in the
church.
Church was really great! We had quite a few of investigators come
to church, and the members just dove in and did all they could to help
them feel welcome. That's how it should be. Members are so important in
missionary work! We even had some of our peike's invite the
investigators to church. And one of them was just golden. When he felt
the time was right, he bore his testimony of church and invited our
investigator. Then he went even further and asked for his phone number
so he can get in contact with him that morning. And wait there's more!
He offered to pick him up and give him a ride to church! Hook, line, and
sinker! It really seemed like they were connecting too. Our
investigator is 18 and our peike is 22. Not too far off in age. It was
so good.
The biggest thing that hit me this week is actually really amazing.
My first week here on island, we were tracting in this kind of rich
area and found this 22 year old kid who lives with his parents and
younger brother. We were talking to him for a bit and getting to know
him and telling him about our church. But as soon as we asked if we
could come back another time, he paused for a few minutes and finally
said no. Bummer... But there was just something about him. After a
while, we pushed it aside. Last week, we got a call from the sisters in
our area and they said they were tracting and found him and he said he
talked to us before. He said we asked him a question about God and what
he thinks his relationship with Him is. And he hasn't been able to
forget it. We knew we had to go back and find him. We came across him,
his brother, and his dad. (Mom is in China and Dad just barely left
yesterday for China as well for work). His dad really happily let us in.
He said him and his wife are open to all religions and the dad said he
wants us to meet with his sons. It was really funny because both of them
are like "Dad! Wait a second!" But the dad just kept saying it'll be
good for them. So we went back the next night, Saturday, and got to know
each other a bit.
Last night, we didn't have a set time to come back, so we came by
at 8:00. It was just the two brothers since the dad was headed to China.
The window shades were completely open and the door is mostly made of
glass. So we could see there were some lights on upstairs. We kind of
knocked on the door, but not loud enough. So I knock harder and it
slammed shut. We didn't realize it was open just a crack. And the slam
sounded so mysteriously like a trap went off. It was a little scary.
Next thing we know, we hear heavy footsteps from upstairs. We see a
flashlight shining down the stairs and the boy and his brother come down
wielding legit swords. They were ready to fight. It was insane! So we
were freaking out, yelling to them that it's just us. When they heard
the slam, they thought people were breaking in. It was so funny. But in
the end, we got talking and they both said they're not really into
religion. But the more we talk with them, the more they have questions. I
really hope this develops more. It's just amazing what can come from a
simple question. A question can have such an impact on someone. That
made me really think about contacting and how amazing the questions we
ask are.
And that is my week at a glance! I miss you all! I love you all! I
hope everyone had a great July 4th! I can't wait to hear from all of
you! And my challenge this week is to think about, and share a simple
powerful statement of truth to someone. Maybe to a coworker or a
neighbor. Like "God loves all of us." It's amazing what can come from a
simple statement.
Until next week!
Love, Elder Anthony Buckwalter
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