July 6, 2015

Who would have thought it's possible to get mosquito bites on every inch of your body when you're wearing high socks, pants, and over and under shirts. Oh it's possible. Just come over to the Island ....>:) The Fourth of July came and went as quickly and as ordinary as any day on the mission. Looking back at each holiday, even last Christmas, it's almost as if the holidays hold no meaning. We still proselyte, we still do service, we still knock on doors. The people we meet may be in a completely opposite state of mind, but the Lord's hand is always extended, so I guess ours need to be too.

Our new mission President, President Christiansen, changed our curfew Saturday night to be indoors by 10:30, rather than the usual 9:30, leading Elder Teichert and I to brainstorm an adventure to the furthest tip of the Island's wildlife reservation beach to watch the fireworks over the bay. Hence the Mosquitoes. heh. 

Honestly the Fourth of July was the least exciting day of the week! We picked up five new investigators, four of which told us they weren't interested within the next two days of visiting them. There was a horrible boat accident a week ago where a racing boat's engine cut and flew off into a raft that had a family on it, dramatically injuring them all and ending the life of their 7 year old daughter. The whole community is mourning for the tragic incident, but, since we are cut off from the news 100%, Elder Teichert and I had no idea. While we were knocking doors on a blazing humid day, I had the sudden inclination to knock on a home waaaaaaaaay down the street. Let me tell you, we were so tired and so sweaty that each step shook drops of sweat off like a dripping tree after a downpour. But off we went on the current of the Spirit. Out of all the homes in the entire massive area of Kent Island, we HAPPENED to knock on the door of the family that was hit by the boat. The father was ok, but the mother's in a coma at the hospital still. Their extended family was there and, after a brief discussion on their door step, invited us in to the home. We taught the Plan of Salvation and the Holy Ghost completely, lighting up their eyes with comfort unmistakable. They invited us back over in a few days and promised they'd come to church Sunday.

Two days later they texted us saying they were no longer interested and asked us to never come back.

Now, it's human nature to self reflect in situations like these on what I said wrong, how did I offend them, or what I did horribly wrong. Those thoughts fly in and out on repeat, making us feel like failures when, in reality, it was entirely their decisions and their actions that we have absolutely no say in. God Himself has no power over our own personal agency. It is a gift given to every person who has or ever will live on the earth. What matters is that I did my very best being the most loving, genuine person I could be in the moment shared with them. The amount of decisions and choices we make are innumerable in a single day, let alone in a lifetime. So how stinking silly is it to worry about one single choice made by another person we had the privilege to share our love with? Make the most of your own decisions. Prayerfully and courageously act in the name of God for those who need Him and you cannot be led astray. The ball's lobbed into another court behind a 10,000 foot concrete wall there's no hope of seeing through. All that matters is that I chucked that ball as hard as I possibly could. And accurately.   I hope.   :)

xoxo

Elder Burgess

June 29, 2015

I thought libraries were supposed to be places of peace and learning. Not in Kent island. I had to shew off a little stranger kid from trying to sit on this chair with me, followed by his crying fit as his mother gave me the death glare. Focusfocusfocus

Kent Island is the largest area in the Maryland, Baltimore Mission, and has one of the smallest branches. From the top of the area to the bottom is a solid 3 hour drive one-way. The island itself is fairly small, but the area of farmland stretching alongside the Eastern shore reaches  far away minuscule towns with hilarious names like Pond Town. Apparently there's a saying that if you can do missionary work in Kent Island, you can do missionary work anywhere. I'm starting to see why.

I'm training Elder Teichert, a 20 year old dramatic yet hysterical Elder from Texas and Northern Washington State. He's possibly the biggest movie but I've ever met. For the most part all he does is quote movies in our off-missionary conversations. There isn't a single movie I've seen that he can't quote every punch line in. Not to mention the mission veil is cutting off my memories of music, movies, etc. That's actually a bit startling. He's a great missionary and has his full heart in love for the Lord. Not much more you could ask for.

Wednesday was President and Sister Richard's last transfer meeting in the mission. They've been the mission parents for 3 years now and will be "replaced" by President and Sister Christiansen...today actually. Wow. that hadn't clicked :/ The amount of love given from the Richards is something I can only pair with that of my own parents. They have helped me in every bend, turn, and jump thus far into the mission, no matter how insignificant the event at the time may have seemed. Man I love them.

I'll admit, leaving Urbana wasn't easy. But within the first day here in Kent Island I knew I am needed here. Other than Baltimore, I'm willing to say that this county is the most heroine plagued place in Maryland. I came into the area with 7 investigators, all of which have gone their own ways already. Each was highly addicted to heroine. One in particular, Joe, came to our appointment at the church building 100% high on the stuff. Even scarier, he DROVE to the church by himself. Having never seen him before, my first impression was seeing him drape himself on Elder Teichert and just cry ad cry and cry. I've never seen such an enormous tattooed man cry so much in my life. We ended up baby sitting him in the Church Chapel for 3 hours until his high had subsided and he was ok to drive again. In that time we had some of the most interesting conversations to help this man change his life, all while he was heavily under the influence. Bless his soul, I love him. His phone, however was insanely sketchy. He wants to change his life and never take a drug again. Prison has made a 5 year block in his life already and he said he'd rather die than go back. We discovered that a huge problem were the dozens of dealers constantly texting him to buy. Those text conversations were terrifying. So we went through each of the contacts with him on whether the person was a "good guy" or "bad guy". By the end of the purge his contacts had gone from 350 something to about 15. Don't worry, we blocked the numbers too :)

Seeing the substantial hindrance of drugs corrupt and destroy normally soft hearts hits me hard. I'd be willing to say over half of the people I street contacted this week had been or are currently addicts. THe saddest part is, they are some of the nicest, loving people!! Seeing them in despair and loneliness with no hope within sight leads me to throw on the gloves and enter the ring. These people need the undeniable, completely reliable love and hope of God. Life revolves around us in hundreds of separate lives going hundreds of different ways. But leaving everything else behind in pursuit of the one lost sheep from the 99 is all that is important. Love in our own lives is designed to be shared with others. They may not look pretty, they may not smell good, and they may have a massive great dane named Cain, but they need an outstretched hand.

Time to tackle the storm 

hehe

xoxo

Elder Burgess