May 7, 2011

Hi Family!

Ok, lots of stories. So summer is officially here at Temple Square when the motor coaches (Bus tours) start piling in. We receive the tour requests, input them into the computers and assign the Sisters. So we assigned ourselves one because I love motor coaches and Sister Despain has never taken one. They showed up bright and early at 9 a.m. and they were all old people from Nova Scotia! We hopped on the bus, introduced ourselves and took them to the first stop which was the Tabernacle. Of course, the organist was practicing at the same time so talking all about how God has called a Prophet again = ineffective. So we talked a little about it then let them listen for a minute. The key to motor coaches is short sentences with rhetorical questions. It isn't like a normal tour when you expect to have a religious conversation. In large groups nobody says anything and they just stare at you. So we say things like, "This is the temple where the pioneers made promises with God to allow their families to be together after this life" or "Why would God only call Prophets back then and not now?" *pause* then insert some cool fact about the building. So we took them to the flag pole area to talk about the temple and then ended at the Assembly Hall to talk about the Book of Mormon. One person referred for missionaries which is amazing because they are all old people! And no offense to old-people-English-motor coaches but nobody ever refers. It is just because it was Sister Despain's first time which equals blessings and tender mercies.

We took a really neat tour with a man from Bulgaria who lives in Florida. He came on the airport shuttle because he had an hour to kill on his way to Hawaii. As we walked to the Assembly Hall he asked what made us different from everyone else. That led to a conversation on why we were missionaries and what we did all day. He was shocked that we spend 18 months talking to people, giving up TV, Facebook, cell phones and family. He said that he is a waiter and talks to people all day but doesn't find any satisfaction in it. We asked how he found happiness in his own life. It was sad to hear him ramble on because he didn't have an answer. He isn't happy but he doesn't know what to do about it. We sat down and he said that his problem is that he has friends who go to church on Sunday but then make stupid decisions the rest of the week. We read to him Mosiah 18:9 to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places. That is a promise that we make with our Heavenly Father and that is why we are so happy. He started opening up and asking what we thought about suicide, or if people get terminal illnesses because they sinned, etc. We wanted to share the gospel with him so badly but he was hesitant and we decided that he wasn't leaving Temple Square till he filled out a card. So tip of the iceberg concern - he is illegal! His visa expired two years ago and he doesn't want anyone to know what his address is or else he could get deported. So we found the middle ground and the missionaries will call him! Yay loopholes!

We have an investigator who is getting baptized today! We will call him tomorrow to hear all about the fantastic details. We have a lot of new, really sincere investigators. I telephoned one who is in a shelter for abused women and right when I was thinking she was really annoyed by us she said that she wants us to call her as often as we could! Another lady we call has a life comparable to Job but nevertheless has a really optimistic outlook on life. She called the Bishop to get a ride to church for next Sunday (give him time to find her one, oh if only she knew how the church runs) because her car just got stolen. Her job has been taking money from her paycheck so she has no food left. But she is taking our calling her as a sign that better things are to come. Not so golden people: One flat out told us the Book of Mormon was wrong, another is only talking to us because her boyfriend on a mission asked her to talk with missionaries (it is like talking to a wall; if she doesn't keep her commitment we are dropping her), and another said that he didn't want to go to church because it was too early and he preferred to sleep.... umm.... eternal salvation or sleep? Obviously sleep is more important.

As for life in Guest Services we are starting to run all over the place getting motor coaches all ready. There used to be lots of time to study, write in our journal or call people but now we are figuring out which Sisters can take which tours, paging them and making sure the information gets passed to West Gate (who greets and handles the big tours) effectively. Communication is very key... unfortunately I have realized that it isn't one of my strong attributes which is why I am probably here. But when we get super stressed out we try new recipes or experiments. We made tortillas the other day for Quatro de Mayo, since we didn't have time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. It was awesome.

Other than that life is great! We are working hard and trying to save souls from miles and miles away. I love being here and I love being able to talk to so many people about the Gospel. It is so fulfilling. Why wouldn't people want this in their life?!?!!?! Blows my mind. That is why we are only finding the "elect" and everyone else can try again later. Jewish people are hard to get to though. Maybe I will master them by the end of my mission.... hmmmm goals. Ok Bye!