June 30, 2014

Dear Mom,

 

Today for P-day everybody asked me what I wanted to do and I said I wanted to go into some of the churches and mosques that we pass all the time. They looked at me like I was nuts, but that's what we did today. Only we didn't have time to go to a mosque today, so we'll do that later. The churches were mostly open space with a bunch of old religious murals. They each had little shops for you to buy icons or crucifixes.

Elder Krajnc randomly bought me a skirt. He even gave it to me in a little gift bag. He said he noticed I didn't have a lot of skirts and he hadn't given me anything for my birthday last month. It looked like it was too small but I'm wearing it today and it fits fine and is actually really cute.

 

Me and Sister Schofield are breaking some Macedonian records. Three investigators on baptismal date and a ton in church on Sunday!!! Almost every seat was filled. Even Abraham the shoelace salesman came again. I was so happy to see him! I've been hounding him, I mean inviting him to come every time I see him. He showed me where he was in reading the Book of Mormon; he'd read through most of 3rd Nephi. Wow. I assumed he'd just dropped us. I gave a talk on the Word of Wisdom during sacrament meeting and then for second hour Abraham started a very good discussion about the Sabbath Day. He raised his hand and said, "I've been reading the Bible for twenty years. It says to rest on the seventh day. The seventh day is Saturday, not Sunday." I told him we'd come and see him one day this week as he was working. I had tried to plan lessons with him before and he always said he was working, which I interpreted as him politely blowing us off. But then he said something about missing us and seemed very open to us coming to teach him at work. 

To all those praying for us, thank you!!

On Wednesday we go to Kosovo again to meet the new mission president and have Zone Conference and maybe do exchanges with the sisters there.

One of our investigators asked us to call him doctor because he's a veterinarian.

Another one of our investigators, named Живко (Zivko), is the Macedonian version of Billy Crystal. He looks and even sounds a lot like him. Apparently the elders have taught him before but they dropped him because he never came to church. He came to church this week after our first lesson with him.

One day about a week or so ago, me and Sister Schofield were street contacting and I asked her if she wanted to go contacting in the park. On the way there she asked if we could pray, so we found a semi-private place in a kind of alleyway and asked for help. We were both just so tired and downhearted that day and didn't want to talk to anyone. Then, once we were in the park she made eye contact with a man sitting down and we went over to talk to him. Immediately I thought he was very nice and seemed open to our message. He worked for the Red Cross and another humanitarian organization and said he'd come to church on Sunday. That week he really did come and was showing me some pictures of his family on his phone. We set up a lesson with him, his name is Неџел (Negel), and I asked him to bring his family. On Monday after we emailed we met up with him, his wife and two little boys and Elmaz and walked over to the Nelson's house to have the lesson. They are the most incredible and amazing family I have met since coming here. We talked about the Apostasy and the Restoration, bore our testimonies, talked about their beliefs, etc. A highlight of the lesson was when his wife, Метија (Metia) told us very emotionally, "I think God sent you to us." I said to Sister Schofield later that I didn't think she realized how literal and accurate that statement was. We've met with them since and they are on baptismal date. Their boys are too young to be baptized with them, but one of them will be old enough in August. They are all just so, so great.

Our investigator Blago (Благо in Cyrillic, in case you were curious) said he wants us to meet with him every day so he can adequately prepare for his baptism. 

I forgot to write that last week it was Elder Gierisch's birthday. We walked over to their apartment on the way to contacting, and they were out on their balcony. I shouted "Happy birthday!" up to him. He responded by nailing me with a water balloon.

Yesterday we had a branch activity and met up at the park to play soccer. Only no one really showed up except for Ana and Gordana. Benjamin came super late. After playing soccer they wanted to play volleyball and I decided to sit on the bleachers and just watch. Sister Schofield and Elder Gierisch kept telling me to come and play and finally I yelled, "MAKE ME!" Sister Schofield said something to Elder Gierisch, who nodded and then came and physically dragged me onto the court. 

Billy Crystal gave me some huge praise on my language that made me feel super good so I have to tell you about it. In our lesson with him he said, "You're very good at the accent. You seem like someone who was born here, and then lived in America for a few years and then came back. Plus you have a Macedonian face. You seem Macedonian."

Alma 26: 27-31, "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

  And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

  And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

  And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

  Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us."

I hope this week that everyone reading this will realize or realize more that God answers prayers, that He is in your life, and that He knows and loves you. Because I for myself know that to be true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love,

Sister Riddle