So here in Moorpark
all the fourth of July celebrations are on the third of July, firework show and
all. One member informed us that the tradition came along because moorpark was
a poor community surrounded by bigger ones that bought firework permits for the
fourth, they couldn't compete with the price so they decided to have it the day
before.
The most pleasurable
part of the day was when a red white and blue bow towing old woman yelled at us
for our bible saying " A GOD" not "THE GOD."
Apparently becuase we don't believe in the trinity we arent christian. I
answered some of her questions nicely but realized it wasn't going to go
anywhere good. So I just smiled and was super nice to her, by the end I got her
to laugh at a joke. I'm sure she's actuaslly a nice lady and devote christian
but it's CONFOUNDING how unchirstlike people become when talking ABOUT CHRIST.
Had I talked to her about a sports team or a recipe she most likely would have
been very generous and kind toward us. People are silly.
So now let's talk
about nice people....ha.
We had to drop a few
of our investigators. They weren;t reading or coming to chrush and the truth is
WE CAN"T CHANGE THEM. We can encourage, but we kept praying for God to
help us find some people who were ready to listen. Or more so help us recognize
which people he places in our path that have ready hearts to hear the gospel.
One
new investigator is Jessy! He is dating a girl in the 2nd ward and we met with
him 2 saturdays ago just to say hi (he didnt want a formal lesson). the next
day he went to church with her, and Kennedy (the girlfriend) called us saying
that he wanted to meet with us again. WE met on Thursday evening (the
forth of july) and since have had 3 lessons in three days!!! He is soaking it
up and it's wonderful to see his desire to follow Chirst. He became a
"believer" of Christ 2 months ago and you can tell he is truly sorry
for the things he did. I used to call people, "Jesus freaks he said,
"But now I am one" and he smiled. I shared with him Alma the
younger's conversion story told to Helaman. It talked of the misery that comes
from sin and joy and believing in and repenting through the savior. I
bookmarked it for him, and the next day he told us it was his favorite
scripture.
a KEY thing i have
learned is that when an appointment falls through, there is something else
waiting for you. Sister Hiatt and I on saturday found a young mom and
her son to teach. We went to our appointment and the man was not home, we
walked over to an address in the area book which turned out to be wrong so we
started knocking the street. I saw a woman and a man across and up the road in
a car parked and she was getting out. I wanted to talk to them, but figured it
would be rude to interrupt. We went to the next house. Often times when people
answer the door they leave there screen doors closed. it is so bright outside
we are bearing our testimony to a black rectangle. I can never see them! he
declined but was nice and got us water. On to the next house....So we knock. No
one answers, but I see the woman and a child from across the street start
walking towards the house, she stops and gets the mail. It is the house of the
woman who was being dropped off i saw earlier. There are NO such things
as coincidences and that is something more recognizable on a mission. WE talk
to hear ask how her day is, she seems stressed and uninterested, says,
"the days been hard we dont have a car today" she sent in a put down
her few groceries and came back out side. I said , "we're missionaries
form the church of jesus christ of latter day saints with a unique message that
familes can be together forever." "A NEW message?" she said.
"OH, sorry, i mumble, no a UNIQUE message" and we jokes about it.
That softened things up and broke the ice. WE asked her about religion. People
become more comfortable talking and listening to you if you let them talk about
themselves first. so she did. Her little 5 year old son was the sweetest little
boy ps.
She said how she was a
Jehovahs Witness and did that for 7 years, but after her grandma died stopped
(she had mostly just done it for her). So she said she's always open to what
people have to say. She's a good mother and said she moved from Oxnard to
Moorpark to give her son a better environment. She says she's been to a lot of
churchs but can't find one with the right feeling, though she wants religion
for her son " So that when life's hard or he's down he can read something,
or look to something and pray and have it help his life. I want him to have a
religion so he can give it to his kids." Wow. We said, "Here's the
book you're talking about, and proceeded to give her the entire restoration
lesson. WE have an appointment with her today WITH a ward member who has twin
boys Andrews age. I hope it goes well! She said she would come to church but then
didn't show up. So only time will tell....
I get to go to the LA
temple tomorrow because it is my companions birthday! So we've been
looking forward to that.
So much more has
happened but the stories arent given due justice if summarized into a small
account. So there were a few snap shots of my week.
Being a missionary in
some ways has become very easy or natural, in other ways it is still
challenging and hard. I'm looking forward to becoming a more weather
experienced one.
I know my Savoir lives
and that he is your savior if you trust in him and FOLLOW him. You cannot
remain idle, but must act. Love you All!!
-Sister Snow
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