Week 28
Date
March 23, 2017
Area
Second Area - Monmouth, OR
Companion
Elder Vega
Week 28
This week started off pretty rough, since I had the migraine still. It certainly wasn't a fun time for Elder Vega or myself, though we pushed on. :) Tuesday we went to the doctor, who is a member of the church. He prescribed me a muscle relaxer and stronger migraine medication, which are going to help a lot if I ever get a migraine in the future. What really put an end to my migraine though, was an anti-inflammatory shot! It was the first time I'd gotten one like it, though I now have a testimony that they work. :D The lady who gave me the shot said it was going to make me feel weird, so automatically Elder Vega and I were a little worried, since I'm the designated driver—make that ONLY driver—in our companionship. I got the shot in the hip (also first time!), and we hurried home as fast as we possibly could, stopping by the store to get the medication. By the time we got to the apartment, I was starting to feel the effects of the shot. My migraine started to get better, but I felt super loopy, like when you're on anesthesia. I'm sure I said some funny things. :) The rest of the afternoon was spent napping. ;)
Missionary work resumed after dinner, when I was all good to go! The shot broke the migraine in around five hours, which I'm grateful for, and made the doctors visit worth it. I was done being stuck inside sleeping all day with a headache, anyway. ;) We went out and contacted a couple of potential investigators we had, though I think only one of them was home.
The rest of the week has been a blur. Not because it's been crazy or bad, but because we've gotten back into our groove, and doing what we're called here to do. We ended up dropping quite a few people that have been in our area book for so long that new people have moved into their apartments and have zero interest in learning more. We've met some awesome new people, and are working with our currents to help them continue progressing, or find ways to help them get out of the ruts they're in.
On Friday we visited West Salem, part of our area, and really focused on less actives, with the goal of reaching out to many of them who struggle with attending church. I think some background info is needed. A couple of years ago there was a Spanish branch here in the stake. Slowly, attendance dropped pretty low, and the stake president at the time felt impressed to disband the branch. So, all the Spanish members were then assigned to the English wards based on their boundaries. The problem was 95% of these people either had misconceptions about why the branch was dissolved, or I guess just didn't know. Most of them wouldn't go to the English Ward they were assigned to because they understandably couldn't understand. That led to their inactivity. We focused on finding them this past week, and it's sad because they're really nice people, and more or less know the church is true, but don't go. They've put the things of the world above the things of God, and they are spiritually lacking because of it.
I wanted to share a couple of experiences from this week, both funny and miraculous.
We tried finding a lady named María, who I had never met, and Elder Vega said was pretty shy. He told me that our visit was going to be the "do or die" visit, where we either get her to progress, or stop visiting her. We found her (thankfully), and as we started speaking I could tell that she was pretty...I'm not sure of the word to use. Uncomfortable? As we talked with her, I felt like I needed to ask her where she was from. I did so, and she said she was born in Texas, then moved to Colorado! I excitedly told her I was from Colorado as well, and she immediately opened up to us. It was amazing how talkative she got, and she eventually told us a need she has. Elder Vega then felt impressed to offer a priesthood blessing, and she accepted! It was such a great experience, giving her the blessing. As we were leaving, she said she was interested in coming with us "to where ever you meet" in a few weeks. We're working with her to now get her a ride to church.
The other happened on Saturday. We were in West Salem tracking down potentials and new investigators, and in the process met a guy named Salvador, who spoke English and was unloading a bed frame out of a truck. We offered to help, and he said sure, not super committed, but not totally against it. It's amazing to see how people change after service is given. We were able to talk with him about the church, and what we do as missionaries. I have a testimony that service softens hearts of people and allows us to testify of Christ.
I know that my Redeemer lives, that He loves each and every one of us, and that He knows exactly what we go through. That He knows how to succor us and help us through trials.
I hope you all have a great week! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Kehl
Missionary work resumed after dinner, when I was all good to go! The shot broke the migraine in around five hours, which I'm grateful for, and made the doctors visit worth it. I was done being stuck inside sleeping all day with a headache, anyway. ;) We went out and contacted a couple of potential investigators we had, though I think only one of them was home.
The rest of the week has been a blur. Not because it's been crazy or bad, but because we've gotten back into our groove, and doing what we're called here to do. We ended up dropping quite a few people that have been in our area book for so long that new people have moved into their apartments and have zero interest in learning more. We've met some awesome new people, and are working with our currents to help them continue progressing, or find ways to help them get out of the ruts they're in.
On Friday we visited West Salem, part of our area, and really focused on less actives, with the goal of reaching out to many of them who struggle with attending church. I think some background info is needed. A couple of years ago there was a Spanish branch here in the stake. Slowly, attendance dropped pretty low, and the stake president at the time felt impressed to disband the branch. So, all the Spanish members were then assigned to the English wards based on their boundaries. The problem was 95% of these people either had misconceptions about why the branch was dissolved, or I guess just didn't know. Most of them wouldn't go to the English Ward they were assigned to because they understandably couldn't understand. That led to their inactivity. We focused on finding them this past week, and it's sad because they're really nice people, and more or less know the church is true, but don't go. They've put the things of the world above the things of God, and they are spiritually lacking because of it.
I wanted to share a couple of experiences from this week, both funny and miraculous.
We tried finding a lady named María, who I had never met, and Elder Vega said was pretty shy. He told me that our visit was going to be the "do or die" visit, where we either get her to progress, or stop visiting her. We found her (thankfully), and as we started speaking I could tell that she was pretty...I'm not sure of the word to use. Uncomfortable? As we talked with her, I felt like I needed to ask her where she was from. I did so, and she said she was born in Texas, then moved to Colorado! I excitedly told her I was from Colorado as well, and she immediately opened up to us. It was amazing how talkative she got, and she eventually told us a need she has. Elder Vega then felt impressed to offer a priesthood blessing, and she accepted! It was such a great experience, giving her the blessing. As we were leaving, she said she was interested in coming with us "to where ever you meet" in a few weeks. We're working with her to now get her a ride to church.
The other happened on Saturday. We were in West Salem tracking down potentials and new investigators, and in the process met a guy named Salvador, who spoke English and was unloading a bed frame out of a truck. We offered to help, and he said sure, not super committed, but not totally against it. It's amazing to see how people change after service is given. We were able to talk with him about the church, and what we do as missionaries. I have a testimony that service softens hearts of people and allows us to testify of Christ.
I know that my Redeemer lives, that He loves each and every one of us, and that He knows exactly what we go through. That He knows how to succor us and help us through trials.
I hope you all have a great week! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Kehl
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