There are lots of things you get used to as a missionary.
Most of which I've forgotten by now but am occasionally reminded of by the
absurdity of some situations.
So what did I get used to this week?
Rocking the Tricycle!
Yeah, we figured out how to assemble our
companionship “tricycle” so that all three wheels are being used and our
uptight little dritt (trio) has become a happy little dritt. The wheels
started turning in harmony as we all made an extra effort to be more open with
our feelings and try to be friends instead of just co-workers.
What else did I get used to?
Oh there’s a lot.
Like getting hit on by our investigators. I
thought it was just a sister missionary thing, but Sister H kinda freaked
out a little bit when some Africans we found last week began asking about our
marital status. For some reason, that was totally normal for me. Possibly
because my African senses begin to tingle whenever we see a black person and I
just have to talk to them. However, I also know that not only does every
African man love God, but that they all have a strong desire to get married.
Our friend John from Nigeria unfolded the sad, traumatic tale of his past life
and how everything would be solved if only he could get married to a German so
he could stay in Germany forever. You German people watch out.
Anyways, we can usually overcome this problem by
making clear our purpose is to talk about Jesus Christ and passing them off to
the elders if their motives are questionable.
You also get used to awkward appointments of all
sorts. Like our Monday Easter lunch, which kind of reminded us of Christmas
dinner in "A Christmas Story" where they go to that Chinese place. An
older lady in our ward wanted to make sure all five missionaries had somewhere
to eat for Easter (which includes Friday, Sunday, and Monday here), and asked
us to meet her at the church on Monday afternoon. We thought she would drive us
to her house because she lives kinda far and the trains aren't super regular on
holidays, but instead she took the sisters in her car and instructed the elders
the walk two blocks to a Chinese buffet--possibly the only restaurant open on
this day.
Because Germans take their holidays seriously and
everything is closed.
Excepts Chinese buffets.
Maybe because they're Chinese and not German.
Anyways, she took us there and instructed us all
to stuff our faces.
Repeatedly.
After the elders had eaten about 5 plates (being
commanded to go back and get more every time their plates were clean), the
member asked if we were full.
We all nodded vigorously and then she said,
"I don't believe you."
To which Elder L inquired, "How much do
we have to eat before you believe us?"
Which question she ignored.
It is hard to explain the awkwardness of our
Easter Monday, but just think of "A Christmas Story."
What else am I getting used to?
Losing things.
Gah.
Because not only have I lost two Monatskartes (monthly bus/train passes--price value 180 euro), a marked-up city map, a ward list, a new water
bottle, and face wash, but also my camera with three full camera memory cards.
Which beautifully recorded the past six months of
my mission.
Which I have been dreaming about scrapbooking
since the first day of my mission.
Schade (ie so sad).
But to quote the famous words of Sister Kosak,
"Life is about sucking it up."
So you get used to it.
Also, due to things both in and out of my control, I
am once again returning from my mission at the beginning of July. I’m getting used
to changed dates and plans of all sorts, and you should be too by now. J
The Chinese are growing are me too. We met with
Ting yesterday and had a great lesson about Jesus Christ and the Book of
Mormon. At the end she takes a minute to think and then says, "I have a
question......I like beer." And then she starts giggling nervously and
looks expectantly at us. How beer connected with our lesson and how that was a
question, I don't know. But I think it showed she was thinking about what it
would mean for her to believe what we do and to give up things that are hard.
But like I said, you get used to it.
You get used to keeping God's commandments and
being happy because of it.
You get used to having the same schedule every
day yet with new people.
You get used to saying goodbye.
You get used to introducing yourself, telling how
long you've been on your mission, how many siblings you have, where you're
from, where you've served, if you have a boyfriend/if you're married, etc.
You get used to having assigned best friends and
learning to love them.
You get used to life never being easy, but never
being too hard for you.
And to end with a quote from Elder M. Russell
Ballard, "Never lose sight that nothing is too hard for the Lord."
He is the one who helps you get used to it.
--Sister Claire Michelle Woodward
No comments:
Post a Comment