This week has been a little slow so far. We aren't really teaching anyone new. One thing I didn't realize before going on my mission is how hard door approaches are. On good days, people will smile sadly and say no thank you and close the door. Other times they open the door, see the tag, and shut the door without a words. Luckily we've only encountered a few people who will just speak rudely to us. A lot of the time, because a lot of people have cameras with their doorbells, we will knock, hear people whispering inside, and no one will answer. That is what happens more times then not. Along with that, a lot of our service ideas fall through or we don't have enough time to do them. We have been able to do more sidewalk chalk, which is fun, and we have helped a few people with cleaning and stuff, but we have been having a hard time figuring out what we can do to serve the community. All the second hand stores, hospitals, and old folks homes are outside our area. We aren't allowed to serve youth, so no library readings or helping out at schools. We are more then willing to serve, but we have been struggling with finding ways. When it snows, we shovel. We have plans to walk the many trails of our area and pick up trash. We heart attack doors of people with birthdays or that we know are having a hard time. Even if the work is slow, and no one is interested in our message and some people just do not like the missionaries at all, I am still happy to be our here serving the Lord.
I was having a really hard time earlier this week with the slowness of everything, but the people in charge seem to understand our struggles and have found ways to help missionaries. One way is through the Ricciardi Letter, which is the account of a missionary who served in 1994 in England. He too had many struggles on his mission, and he speaks a lot about his companion, Elder Ricciardi. Elder Ricciardi never doubted the work they did. When it was slow, he would simply look harder. If no one was interested, he would move on to the next house, the next street, day after day, because he knew there were people there who needed his help. There are so many experiences and stories shared in this, and it has been very helpful to me. When I'm feeling especially down, when we've had too many doors closed on our face, I come home, sit down on my bed, and read from this 21 page recount of a fellow missionary's struggles.
Everyday, we study for about two hours in the morning. I have never loved the scriptures more. I know that even if I'm not able to teach anyone on my mission, that I being taught so much everyday. While I already liked reading from the scriptures before, being on the mission has given me a true love of the stories and advice given by those who lived so long ago. It seems like in every chapter, every page, there is always something that sticks out to me that can apply to my life out here on my mission. Over and over again, I see promises to missionaries and I read of fellow missionaries who answered the call they were given by God, and even as they were obedient and did what they knew they needed to, many if not all were rejected and went through so much hardship. Yet they never focus on that. They always speak on how grateful they are to God, and how they can feel his love and approval. Through my mission, I have grown to have a deep love for the scriptures. The stories come alive and the people from long ago seem to speak to me in my struggles and doubts, and all negative thoughts are erased from my mind. All fears and doubts of me not doing enough, not being enough, disappear. Through the scriptures and the tiny miracles throughout the day, I come to know that the Lord knows me and my struggles, and He cares for me and knows how to best help me.
He has given me two amazing companions who understand the struggle of feeling useless and the challenges of this area, and they have been so patient with me while I try to learn. They notice when I'm struggling, and they never tell me to suck it up or to move on, they always stop and check on me. When I am honest with them and tell them, when I'm feeling sick or anxious or sad, they always ask "What can we do to help?" They are true disciples of Christ who truly care for God's children. They encourage me with my ideas, and they answer all my questions, and they are there to catch me every time I feel like I'm falling. I often think I'm alone in this, but I'm not. God has not only given me one companion to support me, but two, who understand the struggles of a mission and have experienced all of this before. With that experience comes knowledge. With experience comes patience. With experience comes understanding.
Even with my moments and days of doubts and fears, I know that I am here for a purpose. It doesn't matter how successful I might look from the outside, it doesn't matter if we are able to find people to teach or not, what matters is our effort. I know that as we continue to diligently seek the Lord and seek those who have been prepared for this gospel, we will be blessed. I know that God is proud of us, and I know we are here for a purpose.
I am grateful everyday for my decision to serve a mission.
A few things I would like to note about Colorado.
1.) The wildlife. For one there are the bunnies. They are everywhere. As we drive through neighborhoods, we can spot +10 bunnies in people's yards and just hopping around. It's crazy, and they aren't afraid of people at all. They won't let you pet them, but they will just sit under a tree while you park your car a few feet away from them and will just sit there while you get out and walk around. Then there's the dear. The other night we were climbing in our car and we noticed something moving. When we took a second and looked at it, it was a dear. We were in the middle of a neighborhood and there was a dear! Then another one just walked out from someone's backyard, joined the first, and started walking down the sidewalk. They stopped, looked back, and another one appeared. We watched as three dear walked down the sidewalk of a highly populated neighborhood. They looked both ways, the first walked into the road, watched for cars, and stood there, allowing the other two to cross the road, then the first followed after them. They are so used to being around people that THEY KNOW TO WATCH FOR CARS! It was crazy. These animals are not afraid of people and know how to get around.
2.) Accents. Twice before my mission I have been asked about my accent. At the MTC I would be asked twice a week. Here several people ask me about my accent, or dialect, or some other way of talking differently. It's the funniest thing. I didn't really think I had that much of an accent, but out here everyone is asking about it. It's funny. They ask where I'm from, and I tell them Washington, and they just look even more confused. A few people have lived near or in Washington, and they say Washington doesn't have an accent. I agree. They ask where I'm from from, and I say I was borne and raised in Washington, along with my father and grandfather. We have had multiple generations born and raised in Washington, yet I have been asked about my family and where they get my accent from. At trek my dad was making an announcement, and a kid walked up to me and asked where my dad was from. I told him Washington. He told me "no, like, where's he FROM? Where'd he get his accent." I laughed and shrugged. I say it's the Dickson accent. I have never been asked more about my accent then being out her eon my mission. It is so entertaining to me when people ask about it, because before I didn't think I had one. Now I know I do. It's been fun
3.) The sunrises here are GORGEOUS. I bet they are pretty great in Washington, but I either wasn't awake for them or already in class before.
4.) In this area, you can almost always see the hills in the distance, and in our area we drive right up to the base of these hills. There are even a few houses we visit that are in these hills, which are build on National Park land, which means the houses and views from there are amazing. I call them hills because I've been told multiple times that right over them there are mountains waiting. I hope I can serve there one day.
I received an email from someone Elizabeth visited with:
We loved having your daughter over tonight to teach a lesson on Ether 12:27! Great lesson and she is a great missionary!
Sis. Plumb
