Applying Boldness

Last week I talked about how I learned how to be bold.. I got to put it to use this week when we were tracting. 

A little background on the area I'm in. The Bishop of this ward flat out told us, "You wont be able to get any work done in this ward.. We've tried and the people are too stubborn."

That made me upset so Elder Boyack and I have a fire under us to prove him wrong. The Bishop told us about the most "hard-hearted" street and told us that maybe the visitors that went before us were too nice and soft. I told Boyack we're gonna have to be bold. 

This street is heavily under construction right now and so all households are very grouchy to start with. 

Here's one experience:

*we walk up to a house that was hardly visible from the street because of all the trees/bushes

*Elder Boyack knocks and a short, greasy, chubby not clean gamer guy answers

Elder Boyack: "Hey how are you"

Gamer: "..."

*slams door

*me not liking that knocks on the door again *Guy answers

Gamer: "What do you want?"

Me: (not knowing before hand what to say but felt the prompting to say this) "We just want to make friends, what's your name"

*Door gets slammed

*I knock again *Answer

Gamer: (rolling his eyes) *stands there in silence

Me: "What did we do to you? did we do something to hurt your feelings?"

Gamer: "..." 

*SLAMS DOOR (but not without me trying to stick my foot in the door) (I didn't succeed)

*I knock again (Elder Boyack is in the back and I can just feel how uncomfortable he was hahaha for some reason I felt very very calm)

*Gamer Answers

Gamer: "What part of goodbye do you not understand?"

Me: "You never said goodbye! You just kept closing the door on us! But we understand you're busy, Can we come by another time when you're in a better mood?"

Gamer: "Never come Again"

Me: "We're definitely gonna come again. And It's because we care about you and want to share about how God loves you as well."

*Door slams 

I felt happy with the interaction, I felt what was needed to be said was said and if he never talks to us again I know we gave it our all and presented the opportunities to him. 

A better Experience:

One of the other houses we knocked lots of people were moving stuff around quite solemnly. We go up and talk a little and find out that they're members that havent been to church in forever. They just moved there 4 months ago and the wife a few days ago committed suicide. It was soooo sad to see the husband, He hadnt slept in 2 days and the only thing keeping him sane "is drinking and smoking, it helps him forget and not feel guilty" -His mom

The mom is an active church goer from Logan Utah and is just up visiting until the bad times pass. We understand that its a very delicate situation and we told them that we were willing to help with whatever, just to let us know. The mom thanked us and told us we were God sent. 

I'm happy that we as a companionship had courage to go do that. All his happened on August 23 (happy bday Cael) and it seriously helped my comp out with some of his struggles

"In all times and in all places open your mouth to declare my gospel [..] both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men" (D&C 24:12)

I promise there is blessings that come from this scripture. When you open your mouth to share the gospel, to share your own conversion (as scary as it may be) you will be blessed and will find "strength in the Lord" (Mosiah 9:17)

I love you all and I hope you put some of the stuff I say to the test. 

PICTURES

1. What the road looks like we tracted on (this is when I was "babysitting" both missionaries were out less than 2 weeks)

2. A package from THE GREATEST SEMINARY TEACHER EVER (Thank you Sister Watson, I'm wearing the tie in the picture :) )

3. My District (fairly small but we legit are the best in the mission)

4. Every morning we wake up and go play soccer (this is all the missionaries that come)

5. Another Babysitting Picture 

6. I got to play guitar on a guys bed (we'll be teaching him this week!) (only reason we got in is bc I recognized the song "simple man" that he was playing) people have tried getting to him for forever.