This week has been interesting. I have had many opportunities to
counsel with the sisters in my district. Well, first off I should tell
you that transfers are happening this Wednesday, but Elder Bueno and I
are staying together. He will be killing me. This is my last transfer!
That means 6 more weeks! Ok, back to the sisters. They were supposed to
have a baptism this Sunday for a girl they have been working with for 5
months or so. We had setup a baptism interview for Friday evening. When 4:00
rolled around I and my ZL was waiting at the church to perform that. I
was on exchanges so I was with one of my zone leaders. Well The sisters
showed up and Kyla did not. Kyla is in a poor situation. She lives with
another kid who is renting from her. He is in his 20's and so is she. He
is very antagonistic and negative. He claims us to be a cult and all
that nonsense. Well he has been the main obstacle for Kyla to overcome.
It seemed like she had up until Friday night. They share a phone and the
man, Robert, kept answering and telling the sisters to back off and
stop calling. Which the sisters were getting to the point of pestering
them out of desperation. Anyway, the baptism didn't happen and the
sisters were heartbroken. They have really come to love Kyla and
experienced for the first time the pain of bringing a beloved
investigator, their sister to the waters of baptism and she decide last
minute to jump ship. It rocked their worlds! So instead of interviewing
Kyla I took those minutes to sit down and listen to these devastated
sisters. It was a weird feeling to be the most senior missionary in the
situation. I respect my ZL's, but they are younger. It was definitely a
learning experience for him. He was lost, and had no clue how to work
with sisters in distress. I have to say, if there is anything I have
learned on my mission it is that women are a different breed and cannot
be treated the same as an elder. All too often Elders whine and complain
about sisters and their "needs". I just want to slap those fools! I
wish I could grab them by the back of the neck and shake them! It blows
my mind how Sisters are so degraded because the Elders are not willing
to put in the effort to work with them. No matter how exhaustive it is!
I'm not going to lie, I think the only thing more exhausting for me then
working/counseling with sisters is attending the temple. It's just
draining. Well, It all worked out and the sisters are on cloud nine and
understand more of the atonement and charity. They never realized that
what they were feeling was a small sample of what God feels. It was
awesome to see the light come on. I pray that light will stay and they
will be able to push through the next sure to come heartbreak! They are
young sisters and are great missionaries! I have high hopes for them!
The package arrived perfect! Nothing was damaged. Thank you! It
pains me to hear about Bryce and Mindy. I will certainly keep them in my
prayers. I will be attending the temple the 13th and will place them on
the prayer roll.
I'm tired, I'm happy, I'm excited, I'm scared, I'm nervous, I'm anxious, I'm ready, and I'm a Mormon!
I'm glad your holidays were so great! I love ya, and I will be seeing you soon!
Not a Second Wasted,
Elder Ryan Burnham
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