In case you saw something on the News about Baltimore flooding, we are all good and fine here in Randallstown. The storm was one to remember and the rushing currents through the streets tore up the bottom of our car, but we're all good now!
With the summer storms comes summer humidity, and as August rolls in we get higher temperatures all together. When the heat increases, my water intake increases, and when my water intake increases, so does the amount of bathroom trips I take. i know it's summer when I wake up every night with a mission to trek to the bathroom in our pitch black apartment.
Our apartment is surrounded by street lights and apartment lights to try to cut back on crime, so we have to cover up our windows to stop the blinding light from flooding in our precious sleep hours. We've got it so dark you can't see your own hand in front of your face. This is nice to fall asleep to, but fumbling through the dark leads to a ton of stubbed toes and broken lamps. Last Monday night I awoke at the usual 3:00 a.m. to do my business. Step after steady step I made my way to the bedroom door. Finally I reached the door and I creaked it slowly open, hopefully not waking up State-Wrestling champ Elder Wind.
As soon as i opened the door its full width I heard a deafening, "AHHHHHHHHHH! I'LL KILL YOU!!"
In an instinctive flow of movement, which thought I have no recollection of, I quickly closed the door just in time to hear two whopping BAMs that shook the door and door frame.
Warily I creaked the door open slowly after a couple shocked seconds and asked, "Elder Wind? What are you doing?"
His mattress was strewn across the floor, the lamp was cracked and shattered on the ground, and there sat Elder Wind on my mattress with a streaming bloody hand. I looked at the door and door frame and witnessed two HUGE holes blown into the door and the dry wall next to the door frame. Apparently Elder Wind had heard a sound out in the front room that he was tripping out on, thinking that someone had broken into the home. I also didn't know Elder Wind has a phobia of someone breaking into his house. So there he was lying awake in fear just hoping the intruder would go away when the bedroom door creaked slowly open and there in the doorway stood a shadowy tall figure looming above him. A rage of fight or flight hit him and he flung towards the door and smashed his elbow and fist in a blind strike of survival.
Very close to shock, Elder Wind told me while I was bandaging his blasted hand that he had the intent of destroying the life of the intruder. E Wind felt like the biggest fool afterwards and apologized profusely. I've had many companions with night problems in one way or another, so I told him it was all good. I'm just happy I closed that door.
Needless to say, now we have a rule that I wake him up before I use the bathroom every night.
:)
Our congregation's boundaries are somewhat strange compared to other congregations I've served in. A long reservoir severs our area in half. To the west of the reservoir lies farm land and wealthy homes. The other set of Elders covers that side on bikes. To the East of the reservoir begins the stretch into Baltimore, almost rushing the water closer and closer with concrete strips of stacked apartment buildings and run down restaurants. We cover the East side. It's difficult to spot an impoverished home on the west side, and just as difficult to spot a wealthy home on the east. I'm not exactly sure why this is, but it's startling how drastic the change is and how quickly it changes.
An average day consists of insane door knockings in packed apartment complexes, opening to the widest assortment of people, including a large number of Muslim refugees from Africa and the Middle East. Some names of people we're teaching consist of Olajide, Udama, Odilichukwu, Okeke, Jebboe, and an old woman named Precious. Concerns are raised that I've never experienced resolving before, like why they can't have the title, "Elder", or people literally on the other side of the planet placing pressure to stay away from changing their religious beliefs. Many of our investigators have been shot at, run out, lived on the streets, are single parents, or are heavily addicted to heroine or meth.
Yet amid all of this adversity we are still able to illuminate these homes with the eternal light of Jesus Christ. The hope of Salvation and a better tomorrow can lift lives regardless of previous experiences. It is an honor and a lifetime privilege to help these world-traveling brothers and sister rise to a life filled with joy, hope, faith, and a never-ending love from our Father in Heaven. Keep an eye out for those you you cross paths with that you normally would gravitate away from this week. Sometimes a simple smile can brighten a day's worth of challenges.
xoxo
Elder Burgess
