Shall the Youth of Zion Falter?
The Malilis.
Kiora!
I have so much to
say! This week has been crazy but really, really good. It was
definitely my favourite week in New Plymouth yet. We are still working
with Emma. She is just so, so prepared and ready for the gospel!
But on Tuesday we came to her house and she said that there was this crazy lady
who had been coming to her house every day asking for cigarettes. Emma
said that this lady had turned all her furniture upside down and that she
needed help. So we went with Emma to this lady's house and it is a really
awful house. It was so dirty and the floor and walls were just concrete
and there was hardly any stuff there. She had all her furniture stacked
in a corner really high and all tipped over precariously. The TV was
shattered and there weren't any clothes or food or anything there. This
lady wanted us to help move all her furniture outside because she thought she
was getting new furniture. We could tell that she had mental disabilities
because she said that she'd known me for 50 years and she thought she
was in Poland and all this crazy stuff. Somehow I knew she wasn't getting
new furniture. I asked her if she knew anyone else or if anyone came to
check on her. She said no. So my companion was moving all her stuff
outside and Emma was really stressed and didn't know what to do and
was trying to take care of her (adorable) son Brook. I asked
Emma if she knew the number of the hospital. She did so I got to the
crisis people and told them about it and they said they would come around to
check and then later took her to the hospital. So that was crazy! I
felt like Heavenly Father set that up so we could help her.
Wednesday we went on
exchanges. We drove to Stratford, which is an adorable little town, and
stayed with those sisters for the night. The drive was beautiful. I
got exchange with Sister Likuborebore, the Sister Training
Leader, who is probably the best sister missionary in the world. She is a
convert and the only member of her family. She is really little and cute
and from Fiji. We had SO much fun and I loved working with her. I
could feel of her spirit and it was a great example to me. So that was
wonderful.
Thursday and Friday we
had a bunch of awesome member present lessons with Emma and Linda and
Ashley. We taught Emma at Kira Brown's flat and we took three different
members to Linda and Ashley, read in the Book of Mormon with them, and taught
them tithing. It was the best lesson ever and Sister Malili shared a
powerful experience and testimony about tithing.
Yesterday (Sunday) might
have been the craziest day of my life. President Coles asked me to speak
in sacrament meeting 9 minutes before it started. He said to take 12
minutes. So I was stressed about that. Then our investigator Emma
came to church like we had set up. And our investigator Kylee came to
church!!! She is Brother Robert's (the Branch Mission Leader) daughter
in-law. AND our less active's adorable Filipino mother in law came! AND
Ashley came! Except Linda didn't come. Ashley said it was because
she wasn't very happy about the principle of tithing we'd taught them and was
worried about how they could pay it. But my talk went well. It
wasn't 12 minutes but at the end I told them that I would like to sing my
testimony. I sang the first and last verses of "How Great Thou
Art" and I made three of our four investigators there cry! :D So I
was happy about that.
Then after a
wonderful dinner with the Malilis, we went over to our appointment at Linda and
Ashley's. Keep in mind that they love us, that Ashley had been to church
that same day, and that the sisters had been going there since before I came to
New Plymouth. Well we get out of the car and right away their neighbour
comes marching out to us and starts yelling at us terribly! He said the f
word probably 100 times . . . seriously. He told us to new come back and
to leave their street alone and that Linda and Ashley didn't want us. He
was so mean and scary but I just couldn't believe that it was really
happening. He said he'd call the police if we weren't gone in five
minutes. I said, "But they are expecting us. We have an
appointment." Of course he didn't care. Sister Pantoja was in
tears at this point so we left. We parked in some shade a little ways
away and immediately the Elders called us (to ask if we'd already left the
Malilis so they could go). But we told them what happened. They
said that they wanted to come with us when we went back. So I called
Linda and Ashley and told them what happened and they were so sorry about their
neighbour and that they'd lent them some beans and just mentioned that Linda
was concerned about having to pay tithing. But they said to come over
again now. So we called the Elders and marched into the fire! The
neighbour was still outside pacing around. He got right in the Elders
faces and was swearing just as loud at them. They were really calm and
great and just said "Don't swear." "We are just here to
try to protect the sisters." So we knocked on Linda and Ashley's
door. They motioned for us to come in. But I thought, "No, you
should probably come out." So Ashley, the gentlest, sweetest guy
ever, went over and told the neighbors it was ok and that they wanted us
there. The guy left, still screaming and threatening.
So we had a really, really
good talk with Linda and Ashley. Sister Pantoja (poor girl . . . I just
love her to bits) was still crying and was really stressed out and
scared. I was fine though. (A little part of me thought it was all quite
exciting). Ashley (who we found out was an All Black and played with
Sid Going!!!) is ready to get baptized tomorrow but Linda is hesitant and was
really shook up by all the drama. They said they will continue to read
and pray and maybe come to church and think about it but that we should wait to
come back for two weeks. We will keep calling them. I just love
them so much and want them to be happy. Well, the Elders were waiting in
their car when we came out. They had called President Rudd and Brother
Huntley in our ward who used to be a bishop and is a policeman. Brother
Huntley asked us what had happened and then went and talked to Linda and Ashley
and the neighbors and it ended up so well. He told us and the Elders to
wait outside until he was done. It took over an hour. We didn't get
home until 9:47! But it was just a crazy time. Brother Huntley said
that the neighbour had finally apologized to him and that he would stay in
contact with them.
It was just crazy
because we didn't cause any of this to happen. We didn't even call anyone
to help us. The Elders happened to call us. But it is so true that
that experience is proof that the church is true. Satan would only fight
against us like that if he knew something wonderful was going to happen.
When we are persecuted for righteousness sake we join a club of those who have
been persecuted before us like Jesus Christ, Abinadi, Paul, and Joseph
Smith! I'm proud to be in that club.
But really, this week
has been wonderful! I don't know what the change was, but I suddenly just
have so, so much love for the New Plymouth Branch. When I was sitting on
the stand at church I just was overwhelmed with love and gratitude that I am
here. It is so, so true that the Lord puts us where he needs us and where
we need to be. I just so, so, so love being a missionary! We've had
so many spiritual experiences with Emma, in studies, in planning, and even in
our crazy experiences! We find out transfer news either today or tomorrow
and I will continue to trust the Lord. Sister Pantoja will probably leave
me. :( But we shall see!
I know that God is so
real. He is watching out for you! Talk to a stranger today.
Make a friend. Share your testimony through your light and the spirit
that's in you.
LOVE,
Your favourite sister
missionary (maybe . . . it's ok if it's not)
Sister Johnson
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