I had my last conferences as a missionary this week. We had Stake conference which was really good for me personally, and we watched it broadcast to our own building, so it was black and white like an old general conference session which made it even more unique. We also had Zone Conference where they asked Sister Rasmussen and I to give two 40 minutes trainings. We were supposed to teach the same lesson twice, but somehow it got mixed up and the other pair of Sister Training Leaders were prepared for a lesson, so they taught the second hour instead which we both relieving and disappointing at the same time, 'cause it usually takes the first training before you get it right the second time, but we were happy with it!
The other day we knocked on a door and a woman answered with a somewhat upset look on her face. She squinted at my nametag as we started introducing ourselves (I forgot my Khmer nametag was on my coat instead of my English) and started ranting about how upset she was that we knocked on her door. It was apparently bad timing, but she took the opportunity to tell us everything she felt was wrong about our church and for 5 minutes wouldn't give us a chance to so much as suggest putting a "no religious soliciting" sign on her door. We finally ended up just walking away as she continued, but it was one of those doors you learn that all people have their agency and some that have a bad day chose to take it out the wrong way. I've met some really respectable people at doors, some pretty immature people at doors, and very opinionated people, and although it's hard, I've learned to recognize that you can't judge them because you never know what's really going on in their lives.
Alma 5 has come up a lot in my personal study and lessons this week and I realized it's the place to go when you're looking for a self-assessment! Between that, and contrary to the woman at the door's opinion, it's amazing to see how true the Book of Mormon truly is! Anything that draws us closer to God is from God (Moroni 7:13). You can't read the Bible to know if the Book of Mormon is true - you have to read the Book of Mormon and if you're sincerely seeking the truth with an open heart, you will gain a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ and know that the Book of Mormon is from God. Anytime Sister Rasmussen and I come across anti it helps solidify our testimonies, so just as in any life's lesson, opposition is necessary for growth and I'm grateful for the outcome. Knocking can be hard sometimes, especially since it's required for two hours every day, but in zone conference we were talking about how almost every story begins with "One time when we were knocking..." and it's true that's how most of the crazy stories begin!
We're still working on our teaching pool, but we had a new-member potluck for new members and their Visiting/Home teachers where we ate, chatted, and three converts bore their testimonies which were really powerful. The night before Sister Rasmussen felt we needed to knock a street the elders had knocked not too long ago, so we went and found a less-active that unbeknownst to us, our ward mission leader had been trying to get a hold of in order to invite to the dinner! She came which was quite the surprise for our ward mission leader, and we're going to try and talk to her parents who are not members as well. Overall we had a good crowd show up and it turned out really well.
Ever an adventure here in the WA-TAC. :)
Sister Dunster
2. The rain truly makes everything green in Washington.
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