Week 77 (Feb 6th-12th 2018)
We were early to our dinner appointment so we decided to tract the next door neighbor. When we walked up to the door we noticed a security camera, and when I say noticed I mean one of our eyes were nearly poked out and blinded by it. It was one of those legit ones that they use outside of stores that look like ray guns. This is always a promising start for missionaries 🙃
After we knocked a woman opened the door and her Doberman is going nuts and is about to knock her over from behind and she said bruskly, “I have a dog, what do you want?!” I quickly gave my usual intro of who we are, but then the spirit put something in my mouth that spilled over the top of my other words, “Can we help you weed your yard?” and to our great surprise she said “Yes. Give me your card.” We were both stunned and my jaw dropped as she stepped outside and closed the door to talk to us.
“Who are you people? Why do you want to weed my yard? No one wants to weed my yard. How much do you charge?” When we told her what our deal is about serving others freely she raised her brows in skeptic disbelief. We got to know her a little better and she told us about her tough Miami history and long career in the medical field despite her refusal to deal with any “poop, puke or piss”. She had colorful language and great stories of her past neighbors being druggies and dealers before our members moved in about a month ago. I assured her that they would be the cleanest neighbors she would ever have.
Her name is Dee and she told us that we can remember it easily because she has double d’s. Being a missionary is great. When we asked if she knew anyone else that needed help she asked if we could go with her to her best friend Samantha’s house in the DeLand Sisters area to rake her lawn. We got permission and did so the next day with Sister Thompson and Sister Stratton. It went so beautifully.
Sam was in a car accident and broke her leg a few months ago and then tripped and rebroke it in two different places a few months later. Needless to say she had been down and out for the last little bit and needed help. And help we gave. She was in absolute disbelief and shock by our selfless service. Definitely touched and softened her heart; and Dee’s too. It’s amazing what kind simple service will do.
My very last exchange happened this week and it was with Sister Powell. No better way to finish it out. Sister Powell and I came to the field together so we are both in our last transfer and we’ve served around each other frequently throughout our missions and had served with a lot of the same people and companions and so it was super nice to talk to her. We also had a rad day contacting a ton of people.
One of our contacts was the sweetest young mom that the sisters met a few months ago. We went to her house to follow up and when she answered the door she said in a whisper, “my daughter is sleeping.” We were prepped to leave and reschedule, but then she still invited us in which was unusual and a nice change of pace. We looked around at the wear and tear of a two year old and noticed video cassette tapes and she said that she preferred to use those because it teaches her daughter patience since she can’t instantly skip from scene to scene or start over, but has to manually fast forward and rewind. We respected it and appreciated seeing a VCR in commission somewhere other than the church building.
Then we heard her daughter start to stir, so she left the room for a moment to tend to her. To our surprise when she returned she was holding and nursing her daughter. I mean, you go girl; it just caught us off guard. Then we finished the rest of our quiet conversation while actively striving to maintain eye contact. We made sure we had her number and set up another time to stop by. As we left, Sister Powell and I were grateful that we weren’t Elders.
Later when we were driving, Sister Powell and I saw the space x rocket launch (which apparently is a big deal) and swerved to pull over and watch. Front row florida seats. It was pretty neat, but would have been a lot cooler at night rather than midday. also if something blew up. But that’s just me.
On Saturday night Sister Russell and I had a new experience while visiting a less active recent convert. He was alone, and as sister missionaries we aren’t allowed to be inside the same home with a male unless a female adult is present. When we told him we’d have to meet outside he asked if we’d like to sit around a fire, and I misread it as sarcasm and replied “haha yeah we can sing songs and roast marshmallows too.” When he brought some chairs outside he also brought a bag of jumbo mallows and some matches.
Apparently he had his dried out Christmas tree in his fire pit and had been meaning to burn it along with some other miscellaneous things but didn’t really have the time or excuse to do it alone. He lamented not having a lighter, when I offered the one I carry with me in my bag. He raised his eyebrow and asked, “what are you doing with a lighter?” and I told him it was for a magic trick I’d have to show him another time.
We lit the tree and it went up really big really fast. I was amazed. Then we had a nice bonfire chat about how coming to church is good for anyone despite where they feel their worthiness is at while he burned random articles of furniture. Everyone should strive to do whatever they are able to come to church and partake of the sacrament worthily. It’s heavenly help and guidance that we need in order to overcome our trials, we don’t need to “fix ourselves” before receiving those blessings. Often we need it in order to progress in the first place.
-Sister Olivia Petty🔥
