WOW, This week has been an interesting one. I've been stuck on an emotional roller coaster! As I told y'all I got the call to be a trainer! Its crazy how the tables have turned and that only 3 months ago I was leaving the MTC and getting ready to meet my trainer! There are times when I feel afraid to train a brand new missionary, wondering if I really have what it takes, and wondering if I can make this new missionary find the love for the work. This truly is a sacred calling that I have received, and this new missionary's experience out in the field will all be determined on how his first 3 months of training go. By the Holy Spirit I have received a witness that everything will be okay, and the Lord will make up the difference despite my many weaknesses. Through the Lord I can do all things! And for with God, nothing shall be impossible! Luke 1:37
As a way of numbers, this week was really rough, Elder Jenkins at times has gotten trunky knowing that he's been here for 6 months in the same ward, and now he's leaving. Last night on the Mission wide conference call, we found out that he is getting transferred to St. Augustine! He's getting way pumped! Gainesville, and St Augustine are the best places to be in the mission! As a companionship we have found a new love for each other. Realizing how good we have had it. Looking back at all of the fantastic memories we have had together, there are so many. I will be really sad to see him go! But at the same time I am so excited to get my Greenie!
I'd like to share a miracle we had last night. We had a dinner appointment with some members. As we walked through the door, we noticed that they had brought another family there to have dinner and join in on the lesson! They are the Clark family, and Steve, the father, related a lot to me. For about an hour we talked about Motorcross and injuries and such. Wow did it feel good to finally relate to someone about that out here! His brother has recently passed away, and he is devastated. We talked about the Love of God and how families can be together forever. The Spirit was so strong in that home as people shared experiences and testified. I love this family so much already, and they said they want to hear more! What a miracle that was! As of right now we have very few Gators(investigators) and are really struggling in finding people to teach.
I had the most difficult night of my mission last night. Elder Jenkins and I were saying our last goodbyes when we arrived to the Stackhouse's. Remember this is the family that Elder Jenkins baptized right before I came. When we showed up, Darius was freaking out at us. Telling us how he is going to divorce his wife Marcella because he woke up in the morning with the kids gone. He tried calling her to find out what's going on but she had been lying all day about what was really going on. Roosevelt, Marcella's oldest son walks into the house, and they start to yell and curse and flip out at each other. We walk out of the house because we didn't want to be there and decided to drive away. As we were driving down the street, we stopped and looked back. They had taken the fight outside, so we decided to go help brake it up and have Elder Jenkins say his last goodbyes. We are both already heart broken at the time. So we broke them up and Elder Jenkins goes into the house with Darius and I stay outside with Roosevelt. We cool them down for a moment, and at that time Roosevelt was carrying around a knife, ready to fight again. I beg him not to use it and to take a step back and pray for help in this rough situation. Marcella pulls into the drive way with her 2 year old son Jeremiah sloppy drunk. She should not have been driving at all. Darius runs out of the house and starts yelling and cursing at her! They were both saying TERRIBLE things to each other that I cannot repeat until Darius takes the kids and drives away, telling everyone that he is never coming back..... That day I looked the Devil right in the face through Darius and Marcella. It's amazing how much you can fall in love with people out here, and the Stackhouse family was definitely one of them. We are both just heart broken. What a wonderful way to say goodbye to a family, right?
Anyway... I can't wait to tell y'all about my new Greenie and the experiences I have with him. Until next time.
With Love,
Elder Greenlaw
Elder Jenkins and I in a photo shoot. Our 1 and only shot for the big leagues so we took it very seriously.
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