Date
February 15, 2016
Area
Chicago, Illinois
Companion
Elder Roux
Wind Speed: Fast. Wind Direction: Against Us, Always.
Hello Everybody,
Patience is being tested day after day! It's patience for myself, other missionaries and the circumstances and situations we are put in. Somehow we make it through haha
It's been a longer week, no big crazy events or appointments, but we seem to be making progress where we can. Funny experience last night though. We regularly meet with a man named Tyrone. He is very well versed in the bible and you can sense some deep baptist roots. When it comes to the commandments dealing with loving God and our fellow men, Tyrone 'gets it'
He's a very kind and considerate man who has put his faith and trust in us. We meet with him in the community room of the apartment building he lives in, and oftentimes residents will wander in and out.
Every person who enters the room never leaves without an invitation from Tyrone to join in with us haha! So yesterday a man walks in and is invited to sit down with us. He asks who we were with, and we explained that we were missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The man became disgusted and accused us of being a cult, and false Christians, and brainwashed. My concerns weren't out of offense to what he was saying, they were out of a fear for what Tyrone would think.
But Tyrone took this mans accusations and asked us if they were true..
'Well no we don't think blood transfusions are bad..' And 'yeah, our church gives us other responsibilities when we come home from our missions. Tyrone had complete trust in us and in the spirit of love he explained to this man that we all are Christians. Elder Roux and I sat there as this man accused us of some sort of blaspheme and Tyrone defended us, calling us "holy men," and workers in the Lords vineyard, quoting scripture and using undeniable logic.
Later that night, as I thought about what happened, the spirit helped me draw a connection to our event with Tyrone and what may happen when we pass from this life to the next. It was hard to hear what this man thought I do wrong and find fault and fraud in what I do. But it was easy to feel protected and supported by a man who felt true Christlike love for us and had a knowledge of Christs teachings in the bible far greater than ours. That's why we call Christ our Advocate, our Mediator.
I'm still trying to develop my testimony and knowledge of Christ, His love for us and how the Atonement works. I'm young, and I have much to learn but that's a great part of the mission. I learn about the world, the city, how to deal with people, and myself as well. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my family, or friends. But I'm glad I'm here doing what I'm doing, and I pray you all are doing ok.
Stay safe,
Elder Stanley