Man the blessings just keep
coming. We obviously did something right because this past week has been
amazing. Three weeks ago we cut our investigating pool in half because they
weren't progressing but now we have three people on date for baptism. The Lord is
blessing us so much right now it’s unbelievable.
One such example this past
week was when we were out knocking some doors one day before dinner. We were in
a little apartment complex and of the first 12 doors we knocked, only four
people answered so we were debating whether to leave for dinner but we decided
to finish a level of doors really quick. The way this complex is set up is
there are two doors for each set of stairs. So we go up this last set of stairs
and the door on the left doesn't answer. Shocker right? Well the door on the
right does and this lady opens up and we start our normal spiel: "Hey we
are the missionaries of the church...." and so on. But right away her face
brightens up so we ask if she's talked with missionaries before. More or less
this was her response: "Yeah I was actually baptized about 12 years ago
but then I soon fell into the drug crowd but now I've been clean for two
months. I'm living up here with my son to help my mom who lives across the hall
and it’s just been really tough recently and super hard to deal with but then I
was praying today and then I just looked outside and see you guys come into the
complex and when you knocked on the door it felt like God was knocking."
After we picked up our jaws off the floor we then had a quick conversation with
her about where the church was and promised her that reading The
Book of Mormon would help and then said that since she was alone more
often than not the sister missionaries would love to stop by and teach her and
help her, exchanged numbers and were on our way. One of the top ten moments of my
mission by far.
On a still kind of spiritual,
but not as inspiring, note we were talking with a guy on his doorstep since he
didn't have much time but before we left we asked if it’d be okay to say a
quick prayer to which he said sure. So I said I'd say it and go ahead and start
praying but then I hear his voice but didn't think too much of it since it
wouldn't be the first time people repeat what we say just to understand it more
(I'm assuming). But then I stop for a second and then he keeps going...
with his own prayer... so I was thoroughly confused and just sort of sat there
in silence until he finished and used his amen to finish my prayer, said
goodbye and left. Not a top ten moment but still pretty funny.
To keep with the spiritual
theme we taught a lesson to a guy in a park this week. He lives in a tiny
little government subsidized apartment building but since apparently he doesn't
have much room he asked to meet him in a park. I guess there's a first for
everything.
Now veering away from the
spiritual we got told off by a little 4 year old Mexican girl across a parking
lot in an apartment complex. You never know what you're gonna expect in
apartments.
And now going completely away
from the spiritual this past week we had a district meeting and were graced by
the presence of our zone leaders. As per the normal after district meeting we
headed to one of the local pizza shops for lunch. At said pizza shop they have
what’s called the "Death By Pizza" challenge. 18 inch pizza. All the
toppings. 1 hour. You win, you get a free t-shirt, a $50 gift card, and the
pizza is yours. You lose, you eat the $30 bill. Sorry poor choice of words. You
have to pay for the pizza. Anyways, one of our zone leaders - who has won
several food challenges not only in his hometown in Arizona but in Washington
as well - thought he could take it on. He started off strong, but slowly lost
pace and ultimately didn't win. There are more details that I could include,
but I think that violates laws of public decency. My parents know more if you
must know.
This past week we also
experienced another first on the mission. So the sisters in our area had to
move houses and so the members they were moving into were scrambling to finish
the basement in time so we asked the sisters if the members needed help. Well
several hours pass by with no response as to yes or no. So we come home for the
night and then get a text from the member saying they were planting trees in
the morning and could use some help. We said sure and show up when and where he
asked, only to find out that his regular work crew (about 20 men) were there as
well. So besides feeling out of place we - literally - roll up our sleeves and
get to work. Come lunch time the same member brought lunch for everyone and we
all sit down around this trailer. There are twenty 30-50 year-old workers, and
then two 19-year-old white boys. It was a sight to behold.
Saturday also brought another
bunch of surprises. We agreed to help a member set up for a lunch before the
annual Manson Apple Blossom Parade. Well we do our thing and then go watch the
parade (which was awesome by the way; cool cars, awesome floats, and most
importantly, marching bands) and then go back to help (what we thought was
going to be really quick) but end up spending the next 3 hours serving the
lunch and then cleaning up. I guess some things never change. If it wasn't for
the fact that it was in another church's gym (and said church doesn't like
Mormons ironically enough) it felt exactly like the numerous stake and ward
dinners I have helped with. Folding chairs is still folding chairs. Felt just
like home.
I'd also like to take this
time to shout out to all the mothers out there, with Mother’s Day having been
yesterday. Sorry though, my mom wins the cake for being the best (the cake
wasn't chocolate, don't worry mom).
So for the quote this week we
were helping another member with some yard work but since his yard work
involves several acres not the complete dozen square feet we had back home a
mini excavator was involved. He had to change the bucket on the end for
something else and did so in a rather skillful manner. I complemented him on a
job well done and this was his reply:
"Sometimes it’s better
to be lucky than good."
That was reassuring. Good
thing I spent the rest of the day with a shovel 50 feet away from the mini.
And that folks, is all I've
got for today. Now a picture of beautiful Chelan from a hike (Chelan Butte) I enjoyed this morning. Enjoy!
Elder Kupferer
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