Hey!
Okay, so I’m waaay behind in blogging! I guess it’s the same old story….
The biggest thing to share is that I just returned from Utah last Sunday (the 3rd). The youth group from Mission Viejo and I went up for a week. It was much like the Utah trips we took from Biola – we hung out with students at BYU, went door to door and hung around outside of Temple Square. The nice part was that I knew a few of the people we studied under from previous experiences (Rob Sivulka, Biola alum and friend [www.mormoninfo.org], Bill McKeever [www.mrm.org], Sandra Tanner [www.utlm.org] and Jay Howard, a guy I went street witnessing with in Nauvoo last summer). My favorite elements of the trip include:
+ During door to door visits, a couple of BYU students opened the door and welcomed us in. We sat there for 2 hours discussing the Bible and doctrines of the LDS [Mormon] Church. The roommate of our main hostess eventually joined our conversation. She was a convert into Mormonism 6 years ago and confessed that it wasn’t an easy decision. Her father was Muslim and mother was Presbyterian (CONFUSION!) and her father threatened to disown her if she converted. (I never did get the full scoop of what happened since she obviously converted…) But I asked her how she did in the transition from a monotheistic world view to a polytheisitc world view. She looked at me blankly as she had never considered it before. At the close of our conversation, I felt the Lord tell me to give her a hug and when I did, she nearly broke down in tears. I just recited Isaiah 53 to her, “’He was wounded for our transgression, pierced for our iniquities and by His stripes we are healed.’ Not partially, but fully healed.”
+ One of the high school students showed such determination in evangelism. While standing outside Temple Square, many “badged” members of the LDS Church briskly walk by us pretending we aren’t there. Our darling high schooler would stroll up to them, offer them some material, and when they refused, matched their brisk pace down the street. By the time they ended the block, he had them talking. Soo cool! He was also the one who would lock himself in the kitchen at night to read Mormon material before bed.
+ Another student who just completed 8th grade would also try to engage those outside Temple Square and found a different reaction. Because he was so small, he would kindly offer material to the person, which they usually refused, but then, after a moment of consideration, would turn around and accept some.
One of the most common arguments I dealt with while outside Temple Square was that this was a “holy” place for the Mormon community and we were desecrating it by passing out “anti” literature outside its doors. I can understand that perspective, but you also have to remember that the LDS Church sends missionaries to the doors of people all over the world. Also, we are kind in our interactions with people on the street. [Although I have seen those who are not kind (not associated with this group).] In the same way we have a choice to answer or engage with the Mormon missionary at our door, these people have a choice to ignore us. [My brisk walkin’ high school friend above also approached people kindly and they still had the option to ignore him.] One homeless LDS man agreed with me that standing for the truth, requires us to stand against many things. Just because the Mormon Church can boast of 12 million members doeesn’t mean it’s more true than any other religion out there. As a matter of fact, all belief systems (that I can think of) require a certain degree of exclusivism/allegiance.
We also had a few awesome moments:
+ An LDS man came out of the Temple Visitor Center discouraged. He had repeatedly requested a Bible from the Mormon missionaries inside the Visitor Center and they continually offered him only a Book of Mormon. One of our students saw him sulking and asked what was wrong. Our students offered him his personal Bible and shared the Gospel with him. This man became a Christian that afternoon!
+ Two years ago, I was in Nauvoo, IL considering joining a ministry to Mormons full-time and I went exploring the Mormon sites by myself. On the tour, two BYU students and I got to talking and they invited me to spend the day touring with them. After this day trip, we continued to correspond over the internet for about a year. Then, while I was in the BYU Bookstore, I heard someone call my name and turn around to find one of the two girls that I met! She and her friend were on campus visiting as they graduated last year and moved to Kansas! The first thing she said to me was “Do you think it’s an accident we keep running into each other in places we don’t live?!” NO!! We went to lunch the next day. It was pleasant.
+ As you know from previous posts, my father died 5 years ago. Three years ago, I was doing door to door ministry with some friends and one of the doors we went to three years ago, was abruptly answered and we were told that the father had just passed away that morning. I can remember my heart sinking and the grief I was overwhelmed with for her and my own loss. This house was right behind the church where we stayed!
Unfortunately, my running took a back seat the week I was away and I’ve been struggling to get back into the grove of it again. I went for a 10k the day after I got home and did fairly well, considering I didn’t train all that week and the course was relatively hilly. I made myself run/walk 12 miles today. It took me 2 ½ hours, but I did it! The marathon is only 2 ½ months away!
And Will and I are still doing well. Today is actually the end of our second month dating. He treats me with such respect and kindness. I’m very blessed!
The biggest thing to share is that I just returned from Utah last Sunday (the 3rd). The youth group from Mission Viejo and I went up for a week. It was much like the Utah trips we took from Biola – we hung out with students at BYU, went door to door and hung around outside of Temple Square. The nice part was that I knew a few of the people we studied under from previous experiences (Rob Sivulka, Biola alum and friend [www.mormoninfo.org], Bill McKeever [www.mrm.org], Sandra Tanner [www.utlm.org] and Jay Howard, a guy I went street witnessing with in Nauvoo last summer). My favorite elements of the trip include:
+ During door to door visits, a couple of BYU students opened the door and welcomed us in. We sat there for 2 hours discussing the Bible and doctrines of the LDS [Mormon] Church. The roommate of our main hostess eventually joined our conversation. She was a convert into Mormonism 6 years ago and confessed that it wasn’t an easy decision. Her father was Muslim and mother was Presbyterian (CONFUSION!) and her father threatened to disown her if she converted. (I never did get the full scoop of what happened since she obviously converted…) But I asked her how she did in the transition from a monotheistic world view to a polytheisitc world view. She looked at me blankly as she had never considered it before. At the close of our conversation, I felt the Lord tell me to give her a hug and when I did, she nearly broke down in tears. I just recited Isaiah 53 to her, “’He was wounded for our transgression, pierced for our iniquities and by His stripes we are healed.’ Not partially, but fully healed.”
+ One of the high school students showed such determination in evangelism. While standing outside Temple Square, many “badged” members of the LDS Church briskly walk by us pretending we aren’t there. Our darling high schooler would stroll up to them, offer them some material, and when they refused, matched their brisk pace down the street. By the time they ended the block, he had them talking. Soo cool! He was also the one who would lock himself in the kitchen at night to read Mormon material before bed.
+ Another student who just completed 8th grade would also try to engage those outside Temple Square and found a different reaction. Because he was so small, he would kindly offer material to the person, which they usually refused, but then, after a moment of consideration, would turn around and accept some.
One of the most common arguments I dealt with while outside Temple Square was that this was a “holy” place for the Mormon community and we were desecrating it by passing out “anti” literature outside its doors. I can understand that perspective, but you also have to remember that the LDS Church sends missionaries to the doors of people all over the world. Also, we are kind in our interactions with people on the street. [Although I have seen those who are not kind (not associated with this group).] In the same way we have a choice to answer or engage with the Mormon missionary at our door, these people have a choice to ignore us. [My brisk walkin’ high school friend above also approached people kindly and they still had the option to ignore him.] One homeless LDS man agreed with me that standing for the truth, requires us to stand against many things. Just because the Mormon Church can boast of 12 million members doeesn’t mean it’s more true than any other religion out there. As a matter of fact, all belief systems (that I can think of) require a certain degree of exclusivism/allegiance.
We also had a few awesome moments:
+ An LDS man came out of the Temple Visitor Center discouraged. He had repeatedly requested a Bible from the Mormon missionaries inside the Visitor Center and they continually offered him only a Book of Mormon. One of our students saw him sulking and asked what was wrong. Our students offered him his personal Bible and shared the Gospel with him. This man became a Christian that afternoon!
+ Two years ago, I was in Nauvoo, IL considering joining a ministry to Mormons full-time and I went exploring the Mormon sites by myself. On the tour, two BYU students and I got to talking and they invited me to spend the day touring with them. After this day trip, we continued to correspond over the internet for about a year. Then, while I was in the BYU Bookstore, I heard someone call my name and turn around to find one of the two girls that I met! She and her friend were on campus visiting as they graduated last year and moved to Kansas! The first thing she said to me was “Do you think it’s an accident we keep running into each other in places we don’t live?!” NO!! We went to lunch the next day. It was pleasant.
+ As you know from previous posts, my father died 5 years ago. Three years ago, I was doing door to door ministry with some friends and one of the doors we went to three years ago, was abruptly answered and we were told that the father had just passed away that morning. I can remember my heart sinking and the grief I was overwhelmed with for her and my own loss. This house was right behind the church where we stayed!
Unfortunately, my running took a back seat the week I was away and I’ve been struggling to get back into the grove of it again. I went for a 10k the day after I got home and did fairly well, considering I didn’t train all that week and the course was relatively hilly. I made myself run/walk 12 miles today. It took me 2 ½ hours, but I did it! The marathon is only 2 ½ months away!
And Will and I are still doing well. Today is actually the end of our second month dating. He treats me with such respect and kindness. I’m very blessed!
posted by Life is a Marathon at
5:22 PM
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