So this week was...wow. Just very spiritual altogether.
To start on Tuesday we got to go to the temple and it was
amazing! I seriously just love the temple sooooo much and I'm so blessed to be
able to have one to go to while on my mission!
2/8/2016
Then on Thursday we had this AMAZING zone conference where I
was very spiritually chastised but also very spiritually uplifted as
well!
On Friday is where the Spiritual fire hit it's max though.
Friday night we didn't have any set appointments that night so instead of going
in early (I HATE going in early and avoid going in early at almost ALL cost) we
went walking around to find people. We walked a couple miles and then turned
back so we could get in before curfew. We were on our way back and I saw this
shortcut through a lodge (bar) parking lot so we took it. We were going through
and we saw this guy and his wife next to smoking next to his truck and went to
talk to them! We walked up and said hi and he said, "I don't talk to
Mormons." So I asked if I could just shake his hand and he hesitated then
said yes and Elder Brenneman asked him Why he doesn't talk to Mormons. he
answered w and said, "Well have either of you smashed a bottle over your
head?" To which both of us replied...no. And he said that's why he doesn't
talk to Mormons. We continued trying and he finally said he'd give us a chance
to "sell him our religion". We clarified that we don't
"sell" our religion we just go around talking about and help people
grow their faith in Jesus Christ. After getting to know him a bit more and
teaching him a little about God's plan for us his drunk buddy came out and says
and I quote, "Hello Satan!", individually to both Elder Brenneman and
I. We say hi and continue teaching and he interrupts and slides uncomfortably
close to Elder Brenneman so he can get "comfortable while we teach".
As time went o he went off on us, while using profanities with I kid you
no...every other word, and told us how we are a cult and how we're going to
burn in hell and that the Bible doesn't teach us "$h@!" as well as a
lot of other things. During this 5 minute rant at us my anger is building
pretty high but I can also feel the Spirit really well too. For those of you
that really know me, you all know that if you piss me off enough I will explode
at some point. And I was getting to that point. I HATE people telling me I'm
living my life wrong and that I don't know anything. I hate when people get in
my friends faces and threaten me. And he was doing all of the above and more!
But like I said, I felt the spirit very strongly, and honestly I could not open
my mouth to say what I wanted to say. I was ready to chew/beat the crap ouit of
this drunk guy but I LITERALLY could not talk! It turns out, the whole time he
was going off on us I had he biggest smile on my face and this guy stopped near
the end of his rant and said, "and this kid! I want knock his
mother!@$%ing teeth out right now cause all he does is smile." TO which I
responded (and this is the only thing that came out, this was the last thing
that I wanted to say) "I'm just so happy!" and shook my head! He
stopped for a second cause I caught him off guard and he then used me smiling
as more proof that our religion is a *insert profanity here* cult!
After he finished, Elder Brenneman and I bore on last
testimony while the whole time after every two words the drunk friend kept
telling us to "F$@ off" and we left.
When we got home we talked about what happened and both of
our experiences and how we had both felt the Spirit sooo strongly during that
whole thing! Elder Brenneman said he felt so comfortable and knew that even if
that guy had swung at him, he knew i was ready to intercept and maul him if
needed be.
Overall, that whole experience was a HUGE testimony builder
for me. I KNOW this church is true. People can say, scream,etc...whatever they
want at me and that's not going to change my mind. I'm so happy to be here in
Porterville and I'm so happy to have been able to a plant a spiritual seed in
those two gentleman's hearts that will one day help them really be prepared to
here the gospel form some other missionaries. Ilove you all so much and hope
you have a great week!
Till next time,
Elder Richardson
