Last week in the Beast

Well my last full week in the beast is now over... and it was a fun one. I felt like it was a second only, but it was really fun. Lots of inviting and lots of blessings that followed seemingly out of nowhere.

Lets start with our exchange: I went over outisde of my area with the District Leader over there and we got DESTROYED haha.. we got rejected so much. I had to keep out spirits up by constantly pointing to the next door saying, "ah.. this one.. these are the prepared ones.... okay maybe the next one". The appointments fell through and we didnt get a single one until.. guess what: the last door. We found 2 brothers smoking and instantly asked if they wanted to quit. They said yes and we began teaching about our loving heavenly father who blessed with a commandment called the word of wisdom. We testified that they could quit if they let us share our message for 15 minutes. They let us in. It was a good lesson -short, but good- and we got a return apointment.
The next day.. oh my goodness, it was sooo hot. We walked around this neighborhood (which we didnt ask permission to go into first) for a few hours and there was just no one home except old maids. We met this one nice maid that gave us lots of water and oranges.. so that wa snice haha. We just started working the heat to our advantage asking if we could have a drink of water, and then asking other houses later if we could use the bathroom hahah.. it works a little bit. At one point we got chased down by the neighborhood watch cops but we were sitting with an old grandpa. Apparently one of the houses that we knocked on has someone inside, even though they didnt come to the door, and they had called the gaurds. When the guards came over, they looked really confused seeing as we were sitting down talking to the old man. THey looked at him and asked, "hey.. did these 2 men come to see you?" He simply nodded his head and they left. He immediately looked at us and said, "thank you boys, but i think you should probably go now"> hahah.. what a boss. At that point we had to go meet our companions to exchange back, and the neighborhood was WAY far from the street. We asked those same guards if they could call us a taxi (while talking to them for a while as well) and no taxis came. About 10 minutes later this guy rolls up in his boss mercedes and says, "hey you 2! You knocked on my door like 30 minutes ago but i was in the shower.. you want a ride?" haha.. well im not gonna reject a 100000 dollar mercedes ride, especially when we could talk to him about why we knocked on his door. We hopped in and he already knew we were here talking about Christ, and he said we could come back another day. He was going to just take us to the street for a taxi but instead took us over to his office to meet his lawyer friends, of which one of those is already a new investigator. It was pretty legit. Im not sure if they got to see that guy again yet, but even still, the promises of the Lord come in weird ways.

Then after that i exchanged with the other District leader here in asoke except now in my own area. It was wild.. we invited and got rejected a lot. Like, a ton. We were both surprised, but i kept saying the same thing, "here we go.. this one has prepared"... and then we found a grandpa with porn on the television... "see ya later!". Said a quick prayer to drive the filth out of our eyes and kept going. We eventually were led to a BOSS. His name is Joe. And he let us right in. He talked about how his older brother invited him to church a year ago (Protestant church) and it got him out of a really deep pit of nothingness. He loves Christ and we told him about the first vision. He totally respects everything we do and wants to learn more about the Book of Mormon. When the spirit was strong, we committed him to follow the example of Christ by being baptized by someone holding the authority of God. He said he already was baptized, but isnt sure if he really does need to do it again or not. So we got to see where hes at. I see this kid as a missionary soon. He was totally jealous of our calling as full time missionaries where we dont study or go to school or work. He is 20 years old so he totally could be one in the future. LAter that day we went to pass out english flyers around the subway and the sky train connection. Around 5 oclock there is just so many people. It was a good time. About 30 minutes through it, this foreinger from England i think.. looks at me and just says, rather rudely, "ReLIGion?!" and i nodded.. he walked away. 20 minutes later i saw Elder Grover talking to the same foreigner who apparently came back, and it looked like he was being rude again. I made my way over to him and yeah.. he was swearing at Elder Grover. He was attacking him saying that he came over here to destroy the peoples religion and what not. I came over just in time to here him ask about why we needed to do what we do. As his frustration continued to rise, for whatever reason, i felt it was necessary to try and change the subject. I smiled and asked him what his name was. He refused to give it saying he didnt want to say his name. I smiled and told him my name was Elder Gudmundsen and put my hand out to shake his hand... he refused and responded by calling us the 3 worst swear words in the English language. Needless to say, Elder Grover and i were astonished and without anything to say.. also a little nervous. He kept going and asked to see some identification, which we showed him, and then he walked away. Elder Grover and i just stood there in disbelief at what had just occurred.. we didnt know who he was, or why he did what he did, but we walked away smiling that he didnt do anything rash. By far the gnarliest experience for us both on our missions. But hey! Blessed are they who are persecuted for HIS names sake right? Although it was an unusual experience, i felt fine! We werent mad at him or anything and we said a pray that he would be forgiven for what he had done. Who knows.. he may have had a bad experience in the past or maybe he just didnt fully understand what we were here to do. Either way, hes still a son of God.

On saturday there was a baptism.. and there was a monk in attendance! He usually comes to English and we had announced the baptism there; so he came. At the end of it all i got to talk with him for a good 15 minutes (and for some reason some of the members were scared to talk to him). I gave him a Book of Mormon and committed him to read it. He was willing to do it and then when the spirit was right, i asked him if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. He thought for a moment and said, "no way can i do that right now!". It was an interesting response, but satisfying none the less. I proceeded to give him the soft commitment that when he got his answer and he knew the Book of Mormon was true, would he then be baptized. He said he would study first. Way nice guy! First time i have committed a monk to baptism haha. The baptism itself was way good too.

Sunday.. oh man this was awesome. As we left our apartment i was talking on the phone with investigators and members to make sure that everything at church would be good. As we got on the actually subway train, i was about to hang up the phone and the spirit just constrained me to hang up, take my Book of Mormon and just start yelling and inviting people to read the book. I hung up, looked at my companion and asked, "Wanna Dan Jones it?" Dan jones was a missionary in wales who did something similar but on the streets of wales. He looked at the book and gestured jokingly, "go for it!"..... BAM! I turned around and just started yelling the things that came into my heart. I could hardly believe that i was actually doing it! One of the most invigorating experiences ive ever had, and i havent been so excited in.. well, ever. Within the first row of the train, a man maybe about 50 years old looked up at me and raised his hand, "ill take it". Got his name and number and committed him to read from the first page. I looked at my companion whose face was priceless, and grabbed another book..... "okay who wants THIS one!". We had to get off soon after and nobody else took that one, but i got that one handed out on the way HOME later that night. Ah! It felt SOOO good! Yes i do wish that i hadnt waited 6 months of being in asoke and riding the subway everday to have waited until 4 days before i move, but who cares! I got it now. THis morning Elder Siriphan did it too. Got one out to a guy as well. Made me so proud and so happy to be on a mission. I love the book of Mormon!

As far as investigators go, this week was kinda slow. Lucky, Tam and Noke are all doing good. THey got to Church and Lucky brought all 3 of her kids. They were ahving a ball with Tam and Nokes little kids. Way cute. Niyome is doing okay, but he enjoys beating himself up for some reason.. he doesnt understand the scriptures THAT well and thinks he is just stupid. We keep trying to tel him that its not that.. its just weird language. It will come! But he came to church and knows its Heavenly Fathers home. Im sad to leave all of our investigators but i know they are in good hands. They know our purpose and they trust us. Elder Siriphan is very capable and ready to do this; to take over the beast.


As for me.... well prepare youselves. President Smith called me last night. He asked me if i feel like i am an obedient missionary; if i feel like my zone trusts me and respects my decisions; if i work with the stake president and have his trust; and if there are any of the questions that my stake president asked me during my interview that i cannot now answer positively. Upon answering he then proceeded to tell me about my progress as a missionary that he has noticed. With that said, he invited me and asked me if i would accept the call to be the next Assistant to the President this coming thursday. My blood ran chill and i almost didnt answer, but finally responded yes. My last 3 transfers will be spent as Assistant guys... uhhhhhhhhh, thats weird. Really weird. Speechless? Me too. Who woulda thought right? I got down and prayed immediately.. i never ever thought that i would be where i am now.. its unbelieveable. I opened up the source of all knowledge in the scriptures and read in Doctrine and Covenants section 1: the Lord calls the weak and simple things of the world. I know that is true. I felt comforted in this new calling i am ready to do it. Its going to fun. I am so grateful, beyond expression for the countless opportunities that the Lord has given me to learn and grow on my mission. The blessings of the Lord are too great to describe.. but i know he loves me. I also know that this calling, although significant in its own sense, is no more important than anyone else in the mission. Im excited! And i love you all. I testify of this work; it is Christs own work.

Love,

Elder Gudmundsen