Hello Everyone!
So much has happened in the last week! This week has been a little tough, I'll be honest, but there are moments of joy in everyday.
After I emailed with you all we had an appointment fall through, but we got to see a less-active sister that evening, Jackie, who still really has a testimony and the intention of returning to church. She can talk a lot, like most Scottish people, but it was all related to the Gospel, rather than blither, which really shows me that she could make a difference in so many lives, her own, her children, the branch...
The next day was quite hard. We had lunch with a less-active and the elders + a man from the ward, and lets put it this way: It was a complete waste of time. We were there way to long, the conversation was worthless and not completely respectful to the Spirit and we ended up having to leave without giving a spiritual message. The worst part was a young neighbor who likes the missionaries and is really curious visited and we really want to teach her, but we don't want her to have the wrong impression of us. Then we went out to chap around (knock doors) an AUF we were given. We met some interesting people, including an ignorant born-again Christian, and our one hope, a YSA man who forgot his trousers when he first answered the door. But the highlight of this hard day was dinner with Kirsty and Dee.
Kirsty is a member and Dee, her partner is an investigator. They are a lesbian couple, and have had all the missionary lessons and have accepted it and seen how it blesses their lives, and are living every commandment except they are still living together. They've been together for like, 10 years, and after being with them, it's almost impossible to imagine them apart. They are the coolest people in the branch and are so kind and loving and they really bless the lives of those around them. You really forget that they are a couple when you're with them, they're not weird about it at all. They struggle with some of the members who can be rude about their situation, but it's a sin and temptation just like the word of wisdom, and they're not rude about people attending who struggle with that. It's a hard situation because there is no easy answer. Sometimes its hard to think about how they could receive even more blessings, but at the sacrifice of their love for each other. It's not easy being in the middle of the story and not knowing the ending.
We are teaching Sheila, a devout, stubborn Catholic who for some reason keeps letting us in. She's finally started reading her "homework assignments" and has nicknamed my companion, "Pushy Passey" But she really likes us. The challenge with her is she sees too many similarities between her Catholic faith and what we believe to make the change. She has yet to see how the Book of Mormon can bless her life and thinks Joseph Smith is ridiculous. All we can do is pray she can see the differences to make it worth baptism.
Friday we had some more appointments fall through, and I was having a hard day, but Sister Passey is so good about being sensitive and we just sat down on the grass in the sun for 10 minutes to just relieve some stress before continuing work. We saw Kirsty and Dee again that evening and they made Asian food especially since I told them that's what I like and they had their nieces and nephews over and they were watching Tangled and Despicable Me 2, so it really felt like home.
I had the scariest dinner appointment ever. Mom, you would be appalled. It was like a hoarders home with little sanitation and lots of people and fish and STUFF. We sat in the small, crowded living room and it took 45 minutes to get people to bring in all the dishes and silverware and food for a baked potato with cold chicken in mayo that had sat out too long on top and a salad without dressing. And there were flies all over. It make me sick to even think about. We had to go home and eat something else before we started our fast as a zone.
We fasted for our June goals as a zone and to start a purification challenge to help us become better, more focused missionaries. Sunday was good, I played piano in sacrament meeting and I'm still learning to love the branch, even for their dysfunctionalities. We got to see Thomas on Sunday and give him the first lesson outside his home, because there wasn't another woman there or with us. He smoked 3 cigarettes, but shared his knowledge of the Bible and Christian religions, and he seemed to like what we believe. I appreciate that he has a great amount of knowledge and hasn't settled for one particular religion yet. He wants to come to church, but has to find his bus pass first. Oh, and he had two friends drop by who sat in on the end of the lesson and seemed open to it as well.
Yesterday was great, we went into Edinburgh for Zone Development Day, which President Brown introduced as a day of rest as a zone. We played softball and ultimate frisbee and Psychiatrist before started the main event: a murder mystery dinner. It could have been better written, but it was quite fun and crazy and interesting. I was the congressman's wife. It was a little awkward and tough to play the part with a whole bunch of cheating rumors with the elders playing opposite. It honestly had me so wound up by the end that I was awake last night with my mind all twisted and confused. But I had a lot of fun and got to see Sister Hobbs and meet everyone in the zone, (though I wish it would have been more out-of-character). We headed back to Falkirk with the elders, and we always have a fun, interesting time with them. There was a need for ice cream (fulfilled by a McFlurry) and I got a little sun burnt, and it was a great day.
So, today is rainy and I have to get back to work after we go shopping, visit the Post Office, and email President Brown from the church. I am feeling good and I'm going remind myself to smile and laugh!
I hope you're all doing well. I love to hear about your news and testimonies and I appreciate all your prayers. I love you all so much!
xoxoxoxoxoxo,
Sister Kirkpatrick
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