3+ Weeks

This will be the last post by J.D.'s Dad.  In just a little over three weeks, he can make the final post himself!

6-08

This week had both its ups and downs. Overall I'd say it was good though. We'll start off with the irritants since I'm really good at those. I found out that a friend from high school passed away this week. We weren't really close, more just classmates; Brianna was really close to him though, so it's tough on her and I wish I could be there for her since she's in CA and doesn't have anybody else around to help her. 

This next part is more frustrating than anything else and is kind of funny, but since I got here I've been getting a few bites every so often. Just me, not my companion. They started getting big. Like extremely big. So I showed the mission nurse who is in our area, she took a picture, went and compared the bites to pics and diagrams. We were extremely worried it was chinchas (bedbugs) and we did NOT want to deal with that. Thankfully it was not, but instead, get ready for it... Fleas. Fleas haha. What am I, a dog? Or even more ironic, a goat? So I had to go wash EVERYTHING. It cost me about $10 to do it haha. In other words, I need more quarters. Our landlord then came and sprayed our floors. So far no more bites, just dealing with the ones I have. I've had to withstand a few dog jokes from the zone but those are funny and in all good humor haha.

Now for the good stuff. A member invited a family to have us over and they loved it. They were all at church and really enjoyed it. I really like them. They are so nice and amazing. There's a mom, three daughters and a sister. I'm extremely happy that I get to work with them. I also got to help a Dominican family move. Oh. My. Goodness. I love Dominicans. The DR is mi país adoptivo. (My adopted country.) It was so much fun. They'd fight, they'd laugh, they'd sing. One of the best days of my mission. I love it.

I read another interesting book called Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo. You might've heard of it. I know they're making a movie of it, but it's about this kid who nearly died and lived, but says he saw heaven. It's a fascinating story. I'm a little skeptical on some things in it, but it's interesting to say the least.

I've met a lot of amazing members here and I really am enjoying this area. I've made a lot of friends with the members and it's barely week three starting today. So I'm happy.

6-16

This week was pretty good. It had its ups and downs. The World Cup started as you know, which is both great and awful for Spanish missionaries haha. As well as being with a Spanish companion. We've been to restaurants with TVs for our lunch/dinner to watch some of the
games. It's been fun though.

Had a really good lesson with a family we are teaching and had a really fun Father's Day party followed by an even more fun youth barbecue the next day. I really love this area. It's slowly becoming one my favorite. I really love the members and families here.

I also was asked by an investigator in Flushing to come back for her baptism and baptize her. That was a really cool and heart warming experience. I was honored that she asked me to do it. Due to trains we had been late and so I was still hyped up from being late and accidentally said her name wrong and had to do it again. Whoops. It all worked out in the end.

Something incredibly peaceful happened this week. One day I saw an article on FB about how two activists were getting excommunicated. I hadn't read it, but I was sure it had to do with their participation in the women's stuff that's been going. I was thinking, "how dumb and awful are these people in-charge to do this? Why are the leaders of this church so stupid with sex and gender and equality? How can I keep going with these dumb leaders?" Later, while I was studying, I sat and watched some Mormon messages. Take them to be propaganda or whatever you think of them, but there are some that are so incredibly good. I watched two in particular. The first one called Wrong Roads with Jeffrey R. Holland in it. There he talks about some things, but what struck me was this, he said, "I have a knowledge, a perfect knowledge, that God loves us." I remember talking once with dad and he told me how he heard once a leader say how he "knew" and how dad was sure he did KNOW. I frankly brushed it off as, I still don't believe you dad, but whatever. No one can really KNOW anything. Watching this, I felt it. He KNOWS. I felt it. I feel it. I got a truly wonderful feeling that pierced my soul in a way that nothing else really does. In a way that elaborate and fanciful talking made to move the masses never has. This was different. So simple, so pure, so comfortable that it was special. I put this as one of the moments I have undeniably felt the spirit. And it was a confirmation to me. A reassurance that this is true. There may be awful people and horrible leaders, but this is true. The purest part of it is true. And I want myself to always remember that and never forget, even though there are those who are in-charge or in it that will make it seem less. No matter what happened, through whatever means it came by, even if it was differently that was has been told, this is of God, He is real, this is right for me, and there is so much more than what we see.

And it was good that happened because after reading the article a lot of missionaries were extremely dumb about it and it really irritated me. So I feel I needed it then to help me withstand the barrage that was coming.

6-22

Well, this week was incredibly difficult for me. I've never watched so much soccer in my life, but that meant that we went to members houses. Not because they invite us, but because my comp wants to watch a game. Which you know, I'm not necessarily against except that it's not [about fellowship].  I really do love this place though. I love the members here and the people I work with. I've had such an amazing time with the investigators I'm teaching. I love them so much.

I'm nervous, excited, and apprehensive about going back to Utah, because I'm so unsure of anything I want anymore. Oh well.

6-30

I’m getting along with Nisguritzer a lot better. I think we kinda figured each other's sense of humor out a little better. I was super sad that Mexico lost yesterday, but that's ok whatever haha.
 

What is my homecoming talk supposed to be about? (Side note, it is extremely weird that my talk is scheduled...)

Our investigators are doing well.

7-06

So I'm getting transferred. After just six weeks. I wanted to do so much work and finish so strong. And I had really gotten to like Nisguritzer. Really. I hadn't wanted either of us to leave. We both changed in the past two weeks. We get each other and like each other. Last night he comforted me. He told me he loved me and was sad I was leaving. And it was heartfelt.  

7-07

So I talked with president in person. He came for a baptism. He talks with me to see how I'm doing. (We're pretty sure he came because I sent him a text about how stressed out I was over the transfer.) He's worried about me and gram. We talk about the transfers and how I do not want to go. It seemed like he wasn't keen on letting me change. He asks me if I want to think about it, but I was feeling sick. He wasn't going to go down to the baptism but wanted to stay and wait, but then he was told by others to just go down. So he cared. Then after a cold sweat, I went down to the baptism. The baptism went wonderfully. I had brought my uke in case we needed a musical number, which we did. So on the spot I made something up and the other missionaries sang with me. It went REALLY well. Boom. Then bishop talked with Pres. Calderwood and CW said he'd think about it. Later I got a call from him saying that he'd support anything I decided, but that I needed to discuss it as a companionship, pray about it, and seek the Lord’s guidance. So I did. We prayed. While thinking about going to Dyker I got the impression that it would be for [a certain person] who got baptized when I was there, so I did some investigating and found out [the person] was fine. I talked to [the person] a little bit. I then went to [a member's] house. I asked him for a blessing just to kind of give me comfort to find guidance. He was extremely nervous since it was his first time. It was my first time having it be given in Spanish to me haha. He speaks English as his first language, but knows church Spanish better than church English. Either way, it was really good. As soon as he started I felt peace. It was really spectacular. Truly amazing because I'm going to be honest, I've never felt such relief during a blessing which is a testimony to me, because it wasn't beautifully worded. It wasn't perfect. My head was being pushed down on haha. In other words the showiness of a good blessing wasn't there, but the spirit was so incredibly strong and touched me and calmed me, because up to that point, I felt that I was alone. I was trying so hard to get comfort from The Lord even by doing the things I usually
do, but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Then the blessing and the feeling of solitude completely washed away. I'm so happy I got that blessing, and that I got it from the member. It was very special.

He hadn't known the situation or why I wanted it, so that was cool too. After more thinking and discussing with Nitzcritz, I felt it was fine to stay, and so I decided to stay. After explaining to Pres. Calderwood, he was very happy with all that I had done and said I did it the right way and that he supported me. I have to admit that he truly has done a lot for me. Truly he's done more than others would have. And I'm so grateful for that.

So I'm staying. Everyone is extremely happy. EVERYONE. Members told me they had cried after finding out I was leaving. This ward really loves me and it's nice.

7-14

Well this week was pretty good. A lot of people were happy I was staying. A lot of people in Dyker were sad I didn't go there, but it's ok.

A while ago I was asked to sing in ward conference which was yesterday. Great, I love singing. Only problem, I'm the only one who plays piano except for one other kid who isn't amazing either. So I give him the music three weeks in advance to practice. Doesn't do it, then tells me that he can't do it because it's too hard. Ok frustration enough. I write my own version that's simple enough for him to play. Well turns out the brand brand new kid (of three days) plays piano, but can't read music. Only makes stuff up. So the kid who was supposed to play has him do it. Whatever, fine, as long as someone plays. The piano isn't the important part either. Of course the conference is at 9 so I've got morning voice. I forgot, the song also doesn't have a Spanish counterpart so I have to translate it. Not too difficult if you're just speaking, but singing it is a different story. So I did that, and it was pretty crappy. Morning voice plus crappy translation plus nervousness about piano plus unpreparedness when pianist started (he really didn't know how to play for people and just kind of started)  plus just plain nervousness equals my vowels sucking, my voice sucking, the song sucking, and my vibrato sucking. So, I'm down on myself now. And the majority of the people liked it, but I still feel like crap because I know I can do better. [Someday this will be a funny story.]

Also, Argentina lost. Dang. I didn't want Germany to win. I didn't really care, but Argentina would have been cool.