We had such a good week. First of all, we got to meet with Inna three times (!) and each one accomplished exactly what we had planned for it to accomplish. Maybe it's just with Russians, but it is so hard to walk out of a lesson and be like, "That went exactly as we would have wanted it to go", because there are usually tangents about already being baptized or the fact that their babushka taught them the Russian Orthodox prayers or that they have a hard time because religion isn't their "job" like it is ours.
We've been able to reset some expectations with Inna that have given her a clearer vision as to how she can start making changes. In our first lesson with her, we taught the Plan of Salvation using a new object lesson that Sister McDiarmid showed me when I was in Riga. It worked pretty well but admittedly would have been a disaster without Lidija. She saves everything, in every situation that she's in, with her teaching skills and general talent at working with people.
She did such a good job of getting Inna to want to read the Book of Mormon even though it's hard to understand for her. Inna also said that she'd like to be baptized in August, but wouldn't put a specific date on it because she doesn't know when she will feel okay about getting her wound wet. She got stitches two days ago.
Inna cracks me up though. She texted us later that night and said, "Dear sisters, I cannot read the Mormon's Book. It is not understandable and it making me to be annoyed. I hate it. We will must have to read together."
That probably would have alarmed me coming from anyone else but I know that Inna has a temper and with a little (or maybe a lot of) patience, she comes around. After asking around our zone for some suggestions as to how we can help Inna understand and read the Book of Mormon, we went to her last night and read Moroni 7 with her. It was Sister Clark's idea to have her come up with a question that she can ponder while she reads, so it was, "How can I become more patient?"
It was one of the coolest lessons I've ever taught. Lately I've been rereading the New Testament and focusing on how the Savior interacted with people. Like I said, Sister Clark coming has made me realize that I rely too much on what I can say (and there's usually a lot of it) rather than helping people teach themselves. The beginning of the chapter was rough going and she ranted for a few minutes how the words individually make sense but when you string them together they lose whatever meaning they had. As we moved through the verses, Inna would reiterate what was being said to make sure that she understood, and she asked a bunch of really good questions. It was so easy to see the Spirit guiding the lesson because she would ask a question and the next verse would answer it perfectly. At one point she stopped and said, "Sometimes my temper scares me. I think that I acted with evil in my heart, but then when I am sitting down and thinking about it later, I wonder if it really was evil. I wonder if it is very bad to be angry."
I was so excited that I essentially said, "Well, strap on your helmet and flip the page over to verse 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Not really. I sometimes wish I could pull off being that cheesy when I teach.
But it was awesome because that's where Mormon tells exactly how to decide when something is of God or of Satan.
When the lesson was coming to a close, I asked Inna if she had received an answer to her question. She said, "Yes, I have. I would like to reread this chapter and think about it more." She also gave the best prayer that I've heard her say so far to close it.
I really love her.
We're going to go over with the elders tonight to give her a blessing of healing.
Oh! And funny side-story: one of the times that we were over at Inna's, somebody called her on Skype. She asked us if it was alright for her to answer real quick, and we were like, "sure!"
She answered the call and I happened to glance at the screen right when this gigantic Russian man with only underwear on was adjusting his camera. Sister Clark almost died. It was pretty hard not to laugh while Inna just talked to him like it was no big deal. Classic. I'm going to love memories like that about my mission.
Another awesome thing about this week is that we got to teach Zita on Skype! She agreed to meet with the missionaries in Isle of Man, which is going to be sooo good for her. I miss her.
Yesterday the branch started teaching temple prep class, and it was actually really good. We had to peace out early because Sister Clark was super ill, which kind of bummed me out because we were going to miss out on the branch luncheon and the bonding opportunities that would accompany that. Later, Elder Hampton texted us and told us that it was probably a good thing we left because the liver stew they served would have made us even more sick.
What can I say? The Lord knows me.
Once again, we were able to work on Angela's garden. The weather has been nice and cloudy so it's actually really pleasant. I think I want a(n?) herb harden when I get home. Or at least pots with herbs in them, seeing as I'll be in college...
Anyways, things are good with me. I've realized that training must be something similar to parenting in the sense that you have all of these good ideas and things that you know you don't want to do and things you want to try, but then when it comes to the heat of the moment or even the daily grind, you find out if those ideals were actually a part of you or not. I'm learning a lot about showing consistency in my actions, which I guess just means that I've been learning about integrity. Each transfer I feel that I've been thrust deeper and deeper into the refiner's fire. I remember something that struck me in my Book of Mormon class at BYU: that the refiner knows the metal is refined and pure when he can see his reflection in it.
The idea of God purging me of my imperfections seems almost abstract if I look at it through the microscope of day-to-day life. It's hard sometimes to comprehend how, exactly, God expects to make me perfect. I love what C.S. Lewis said about it.
"The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were ‘gods’ and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful, but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said."
If we strive to live daily with enough humility to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, all of the things that rob us of our peace of mind will fade and pale in comparison to the times when we knew that we were guided and comforted by the Spirit of God.
I know that because that's how I've felt looking back at my mission and my life in general. It's amazing to me how imperfect I am and was, and yet Heavenly Father could still make something beautiful out of my want.
I love you all a lot and hope you have a lovely week!
Love,
Sister Gooch
P.S. Big J's bday is coming up...7/7/87, da? I'm so sorry. His is the only birthday I can remember anymore, haha.
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