Week 16: The Machete Man Who Feeds 28 Feral Cats
Dear Loves Ones,
This week, we went to seek out a man who had been taught by missionaries previously. We found him in his driveway. He wore a bandanna holding his long, gray hair back and had saddlebags around the front of his waist with a machete dangling from the back. He told us that he didn't have time to talk to us because he was off to go feed his 28 feral cats. My neighbors back home kept a reasonable amount of feral cats, like three or four, and I got paid to feed them whenever they went out of town. But I've never met anybody who had enough cats that they needed to carry a machete to fend them off with. Or maybe he's not afraid of his cats and just feels safer with his machete when he's out for a walk. In broad daylight. In a reasonably safe area. With twenty-eight fluffy bodyguards. He built a little picnic table out in front of his house, just the size for cats. He has one for squirrels, too, complete with corncob holders.
Luvlee, an eleven year old girl who is on date for Saturday, came to church this week and brought her cousin Makaylah along. We took Luvlee back to the font area to help her try on a baptismal jumpsuit and see which one fit. Her cousin trailed around with us, and I explained to her how the baptism would work. Makaylah then told us that she wants to get baptized!
She has been to church twice with Luvlee but has never had so much as a single lesson with the missionaries. But somehow, she got that desire in her heart.
I thought Makaylah lived in Oklahoma because of a misunderstanding on my part. We were all set to refer her to missionaries there, but then she gave us her address. Not only does she live in Kansas, but she lives in our area. We can teach her! We found a golden new person through no effort of our own.
Here's something interesting: Three people I'm teaching right now are Native Americans. I always thought it would be cool to be a missionary in a place where I could teach Native Americans since they're the ones the Book of Mormon is for in the first place. My MTC class had three elders going to New Mexico, where they're teaching a lot of Navajos and even have time devoted to Navajo language study everyday. I was faintly jealous of them. And now I get to do it! I love my life here in Kansas. Kansas is made out of magnolias and redbud trees and people who want to learn about the gospel. Plus, I keep finding opportunities to practice my Spanish.
Weekly tip feat. Elder Ostler of the Idaho Boise Mission:
This was in reply to what I said previously about how people in the MTC cared more about exotic missions than mine:
"I thought your description of how people ask you where you're serving was funny and interesting! When I would answer that question, I got a few who laughed when I said I was going to serve in Boise, Idaho. Some even told me that I needed to get a map. I didn't understand at the time. It was as if they were quoting a movie or something... I eventually figured it out and they were, in fact, quoting.
"But it's the sad truth sometimes that people are more excited to hear about exotic missions. But I think it takes some of the Lord's strongest and most diligent servants to labor in parts of the vineyard like where you started your mission or your current mission. Think about it. You'll be baptizing but you won't be baptizing double digits every week like Brazil or something 'exotic' like that. You will be patient and faithful. Following the Spirit in your finding, teaching, and reactivating efforts. And all this without that super-cool stamp: 'I served an exotic mission.' You're serving a states-side mission. And you're going to do great! The Lord needs you right where you're at right now. That's you. Going on a mission 'late' and all."
Your weekly tip is to not celebrate international missions more than state-side ones, putting the focus on the gospel and the work being done rather than the travel involved.
Yours sincerely,
Sister Smith
This week, we went to seek out a man who had been taught by missionaries previously. We found him in his driveway. He wore a bandanna holding his long, gray hair back and had saddlebags around the front of his waist with a machete dangling from the back. He told us that he didn't have time to talk to us because he was off to go feed his 28 feral cats. My neighbors back home kept a reasonable amount of feral cats, like three or four, and I got paid to feed them whenever they went out of town. But I've never met anybody who had enough cats that they needed to carry a machete to fend them off with. Or maybe he's not afraid of his cats and just feels safer with his machete when he's out for a walk. In broad daylight. In a reasonably safe area. With twenty-eight fluffy bodyguards. He built a little picnic table out in front of his house, just the size for cats. He has one for squirrels, too, complete with corncob holders.
Luvlee, an eleven year old girl who is on date for Saturday, came to church this week and brought her cousin Makaylah along. We took Luvlee back to the font area to help her try on a baptismal jumpsuit and see which one fit. Her cousin trailed around with us, and I explained to her how the baptism would work. Makaylah then told us that she wants to get baptized!
She has been to church twice with Luvlee but has never had so much as a single lesson with the missionaries. But somehow, she got that desire in her heart.
I thought Makaylah lived in Oklahoma because of a misunderstanding on my part. We were all set to refer her to missionaries there, but then she gave us her address. Not only does she live in Kansas, but she lives in our area. We can teach her! We found a golden new person through no effort of our own.
Here's something interesting: Three people I'm teaching right now are Native Americans. I always thought it would be cool to be a missionary in a place where I could teach Native Americans since they're the ones the Book of Mormon is for in the first place. My MTC class had three elders going to New Mexico, where they're teaching a lot of Navajos and even have time devoted to Navajo language study everyday. I was faintly jealous of them. And now I get to do it! I love my life here in Kansas. Kansas is made out of magnolias and redbud trees and people who want to learn about the gospel. Plus, I keep finding opportunities to practice my Spanish.
Weekly tip feat. Elder Ostler of the Idaho Boise Mission:
This was in reply to what I said previously about how people in the MTC cared more about exotic missions than mine:
"I thought your description of how people ask you where you're serving was funny and interesting! When I would answer that question, I got a few who laughed when I said I was going to serve in Boise, Idaho. Some even told me that I needed to get a map. I didn't understand at the time. It was as if they were quoting a movie or something... I eventually figured it out and they were, in fact, quoting.
"But it's the sad truth sometimes that people are more excited to hear about exotic missions. But I think it takes some of the Lord's strongest and most diligent servants to labor in parts of the vineyard like where you started your mission or your current mission. Think about it. You'll be baptizing but you won't be baptizing double digits every week like Brazil or something 'exotic' like that. You will be patient and faithful. Following the Spirit in your finding, teaching, and reactivating efforts. And all this without that super-cool stamp: 'I served an exotic mission.' You're serving a states-side mission. And you're going to do great! The Lord needs you right where you're at right now. That's you. Going on a mission 'late' and all."
Your weekly tip is to not celebrate international missions more than state-side ones, putting the focus on the gospel and the work being done rather than the travel involved.
Yours sincerely,
Sister Smith
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