We
just barely received our transfer calls on Saturday and it turns out I'm
staying... I figured, but the shocker is so is Sis Cox. It’s great, we both
really get along nice (and I've been sweating thinking I’m going to be put with
a completely deaf companion, but apparently not yet). We came up with a new
nickname for our companionship… “The deaf leading the blonde!” (we’re
gonna make key chains) Only
bummer- I still won't be able to drive.... this week’s theme is humility.
I am so grateful for a loving Father who trusts me to handle certain scenarios.
But man, this has been the most amazing week, but also hurt my heartstrings a
bit. The first huge experience was with Marissa and her son,
Isaiah. He's 9 and has a heart problem, so he’s extremely mature for a 9
year old. Currently, they don't have a car & she cooks everything in
the microwave or a slow-cooker because she can't afford to pay the
gas bill. We originally me her to show support while Isaiah was given a
blessing, and handed her to the elders since she's in their area. Well,
Saturday she came to the Women's conference. We were talking w/ her afterwards
and she starting asking us random questions like if women baptize other women
and things like that. So, we started to explain and then offered to show her
and her son the baptismal font. On the way we grabbed Bishop (we secretly had
keys, but we wanted Bishop to come). It was so neat!! We resolved her concerns,
she privately talked with Bishop, and afterwards she came out saying how she
doesn't know why but has this desire to become baptized. If she could, she
would do it on Monday. She was telling us over and over about how she wasn't
planning on coming, but this morning she woke up and she just knew she had to
come, didn't know why, but she HAD to go (hint hint:that’s the spirit).
So, that was amazing. I'm thrilled for her and her son and we are
grateful for just being a tool in God's hands.
The second experience, I GOTTA TEACH A FAMILY!! This is the first time we
were able to have dinner and teach the restoration to a family, a member
referral at that! Their names are Behnan, Corinne, and 9yr old sharp-as-a-tack
little girl named Jasmine. It was so spiritual, and the lesson went so smoothly
(this was just after a training we had received on Tuesday). Jasmine
practically explained apostasy, priesthood, and the restoration back to us. It
was so cute. We invited the Father Behnan to say the closing prayer, and he
starts of telling God thanks, and Jasmine interrupts him and says "Dad! Read
the pamphlet, you gotta say 'Dear Heavenly Father'" It was soooo amazing.
But, here is where my heart strings hurt a little bit - we found out they are
not in our area. We have a family to teach, and now we have to give them to the
other elders in the ward. I'm gonna admit, I’m selfish, and I bawled. We
have done so much hard work, trying to find people to teach, and we finally
have an actual family that we've connected with, and they're not ours to teach.
Deaf work is scarce, a lot of driving, and we have the more wealthy part of the
hills, so it’s tough to not be able to teach this wonderful family. But,
I realized that to serve like Christ means you have one motive – to help God’s
child. If we play a little part in helping this family come unto Christ,
then it doesn’t matter who baptizes them.
On a lighter note, a couple of funny things happened this week - so I've
seriously had to swallow my pride with Sister Cox driving. Yesterday, I’m
looking at the GPS, and Sister Cox cuts into the other lane, and this car
whales on its horn. Well this car pulls up to us, and it's a
member in our ward!!!! He starts telling her about how she was an inch from hitting him. It
was nuts!!!! On Sunday, he was telling us about how he's glad he doesn't
have to sue the church... couldn't tell if he was joking or not?! Funny moment #2 – we are
knocking on doors and one man opens the door and is very blunt about how he’s
already saved and doesn’t want us to come back. He’s also frustrated we
interrupted his dinner. Ok, our bad, so we walk around to the next door
and this same guy pops open the door, sticks his neck out and yells, “Same
house!” Ooops… obviously the spirit is telling this man something, but he
doesn’t want to listen!)
Last, but not least, we were able to meet another deaf man, his name is Martin. Only problem is, he does Spanish sign language.... yes there is a
difference... so we're excited to tackle that this week!! This week was
the toughest of my mission, but it was amazing and a testimony builder for me
to be worthy to be part of the Lord’s work. I love what I’m doing!
Love you all!
Sister Jessica McNeill
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