I hope that I can sufficiently explain all the thoughts going through my head right now. My purpose is to share even more fully the witness I have that the Lord truly is leading the hastening of his work.
It took us a couple days last week before we were even available to step into our new area. Basically there was just a bunch of stuff we had to finish up before we were ready to leave our last area behind and get rolling with our new area. It was a lot more work than I had imagined it would be: new area maps, meeting with the district, re-distributing area books, communicating with ward leadership the changes, and a bunch of other stuff. Thursday early-afternoon was our first trip to the new area.
And boy oh boy that was a rough day. We just got rejection after rejection in all sorts of different ways. It was pretty rough. But in looking back it is kinda funny how much we didn't get loved that first day in our new area. It was by far the most rejections I have gotten in one day on my mission. And they were pretty ugly rejections too.
Just one example, but honestly by far the worst one, occurred while we were on the Bus. It was a PACKED bus. I had been talking with a lady for a couple minutes when somebody came pushing from behind myself and Elder Ingram. He loudly announced, "Excuse me! I'm coming through!" He brushed Elder Ingram to one side and then kinda pushed me to the other side as he yelled out, "Well excuse me Mr. Smith!" I caught my balance but not before knocking into a couple people. The entire bus was watching and trying to smother their laughter. Without even acknowledging the man, I apologized to the people I had fallen into and then turned back to the woman I was speaking with. The man was I'm sure waiting for some sort of retaliation. But when I didn't give him anything, he interrupted again with a very sarcastic and profanity filled "apology". And that really brought the laughter from the audience. I am sure the Lord blessed me with an extra measure of his patience in that moment because without even thinking I was able to accept his apology and avoid what I know he was trying to turn into a big show. I was grateful when we got off that bus.
So in a nut shell, that was day one in our new area.
But, day two and onward was way better! We got to talk with lots of friendly people and we even felt loved! That was fun. The only bummer was that the people we were meeting on the buses and in the streets were from out of our area and the people we were trying to meet in their houses didn't have time at the moment. But they did want to set up appointments for when we could visit them at a later time so that was a very good thing.
On Saturday, a man came strolling up and sat down beside us to talk while we were waiting for the Bus. I was a little bit on guard because it was the same man who had been so rude to us on the bus a couple days before! But after about a ten minute conversation we realized that this was his way of apologizing to us. So it was a nice gesture on his part.
Things really started rolling on Sunday. We got a miracle sent directly from Heavenly Father. Two people, a mother and her daughter, showed up to church because mom had been praying to know exactly where she should go to church that day. She has been looking for a church for a long time now where she will feel the spirit and know that she is in Christ's congregation but can't find it. She explained to us that she got on her knees in prayer Sunday morning and told God to direct her path to where she needed to be. She was led to an English Meeting house and they then redirected her to us. She was from our new area! Wow! All I can say is that the Lord is directing his work. And he does it way better and way more effectively than any missionary could ever do it. They stayed for sacrament meeting and Sunday school before heading home. We have an appointment with them on Tuesday.
Another miracle happened when we went to contact a referral. This referral by the way was sent to us by some English sisters in another part of the mission. We knocked on the door and the man yelled out, "Quien es?" But before we could answer, he looked out the Door and then yells in English, "I need you Guys! I'm so happy you are here!" He then continued explaining to us excitedly in both Spanish and English (depending on the sentence) that he just stopped smoking yesterday, never wants to go back to it, and how he knows that we are the people he needs to help him. That was super fun.
Another miracle that happened Sunday night is that we showed up to a house that is supposedly IMPOSSIBLE to enter at a divinely inspired moment. The note on the teaching record told us how impossible it is to enter and the last missionaries also told us how impossible it is to enter. I have a bunch of our higher potential contacts and persons of interest on my GPS and this family's name is on that list. This GPS is going to save our butts in our new area by the way. Anyway, after an appointment cancelled, we pulled up the GPS to see who was close. This family wasn't the closest one but they were the one that stood out to me. So we went. Timing was perfect. They were taking out the garbage which caused them to have to leave their securely locked down house. WOOT WOOT! Can you say miracle? With a little resistance, they accepted a quick visit. We did our best to keep our word and keep it short. But they loved us so much that we weren't able to get out of there for 45 min! And they set up the follow up visit.
So pretty much, after a rough start in the new area, things have taken off. But its not because of us at all. The Lord is leading his work. I know that. There is not a doubt in my mind. I have seen countless witnesses of that.
Regarding the rest of the Azusa District, things are BOOMING! I wish I had time to explain some of the miracles they have been seeing. But I'm out of time. I am so so impressed with the missionaries we have here. They are simply the best of the best. Miracles are happening here in Azusa. Lots of them. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's True. And I'm so grateful to be one of the Lord's missionaries at this time.
Elder Ostler
