3/23/15

In my well stacked deck of insane experiences of my missionary journey thus far, I'm not sure I have met someone as downright intimidating, frightening, and aggressive in a sit down teaching situation as Sazaar. He was a referral from a neighbor down the street with dreads down to his waist and probably 250 pounds. That was the guy who referred us to Sazaar, and also told us Sazaar was the army base's Brazilian Jiu Jutsu Instructor. Warning sign number one. We traveled down the dimly lit street, Elder Willis stumbling and mumbling on his clunky bike and over-sized helmet while I struggled to dodge a full litter of pit bull puppies that rushed me form a near-by yard. Yeah that happened. Anyways, we finally arrived to the seemingly ordinary doorstep, knocked my signature missionary knock, and patiently waited for the door to answer. Suddenly the door swings open, revealing the six foot five Brazilian shirtless ripped bald man with crazy eyes that made me want to tuck in a corner and wrap myself with a blanket of lava.

 

He looked at our name tags, invited us in, and told us to sit down. The first things he asked us were, "Where did the giants in the old Testament originate," and, "How will heaven emerge from the earth as a pyramid with a dome on top?" Imagine my face with a burrowed brow and squinted eyes, Elder Willis's anxious sway and head bob he does when he's uncomfortable, and the longest, incredibly intense yet awkward silence, all mashed together with Sazaar's  sweaty shirtlessness and crazy eyes.

 

Not fun.

 

He actually answered himself before I could comprehend how nonsensical his questions were, telling us quite loudly how our church is of the devil and Angel Moroni was a giant spawn of Satan. I pulled out a Book of Mormon and he flipped out. Big. mistake. Instead of pushing us out, he actually pinned us in with a plethora of ridiculous and offensive rhetorical questions and claims. In the end we decided to stand up and walk out.

 

I "forgot" my book of Mormon on his couch.

 

hehehe

 

Besides Sazaar, we also overheard the tattoo guys underneath our apartment rant on and on about how idiotic Elder Willis and I am, using some of the strongest language I think I've ever heard. they hate us, so that's cool.

 

Despite the adversity we've been facing, Elder Willis and I have also had success left and right! A random family we invited to church on the church two weeks ago strolled into Sacrament Meeting yesterday in their Sundayfinest, the two parents and their three high school kids. They had a great time from what it sounded like, we're going by to teach them Wednesday, and they're going to the Temple Visitor's Center this Friday with some of the members in our ward for the Easter Concert. All of this from two hours at church. WOOOHOOOOOO.

 

I've been spending a lot of my time plunging head first into the Book of Mormon. I share a scripture every street contact, every door approach, and every sit down lesson possible. Don't follow the example of Sazaar. He hadn't even read a single verse from the Book of Mormon in his life and yet he denies all possibility of its truth to the point of hatred. If the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was divinely appointed by God the Father and Jesus Christ. If the Book of Mormon is true, God's authority and power is here upon the Earth. If the Book of Mormon is true, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is God's true church upon the Earth. All you have to do to find if its true is simply read it with an open heart and an open mind. If you read it, ponder it, and pray sincerely, I promise your life will be filled with more happiness than you could ever imagine. Throw away all other opinions, all other experiences, all outside biases, for and against, and read the Book of Mormon for the first time, regardless of how many times you may have read it before.

 

There's no way I could ever explain the emotions that accompany the Book of Mormon. Take a leap of faith and try it!!

 

Now that my rant is over, I am ready to bike a good ten miles :) it's sunny over here woohooo!

 

xoxo

Elder Burgess