Kicked out of a mall

June 30, 2013

Companion: Elder Flanary

Hello People of the World,

Sorry that I am late today, we played some basketball with a member, and were late to studies, so we pushed our studies back a bit. We were making sure that we got them. Not too much happens our first few days, we have to wait until Thursday until anything seems to happen. Thursday, we went out to this place called Fashion Island, it is a mall. We had planned to invite there, sorta, with these big signs. Now, I had a feeling that they were not going to like us doing that inside, but no one seems to listen to me when I am being wise and/or helpful. So we went inside, and walked around, not really talking to anyone. We took a seat and I was about to try talking to someone when a security officer asked what my sign was. The sign was like a big poster board with two "wings" that you had to open and show, and my sign wasn't open. I opened it a little and said "about Jesus." The security officer got upset, "you can't do that in here, it is forbidden, only outside. Go get your friend and get out." So, I went and got Elder Flanary, and we went outside. We went and stood over by this bridge that crosses the freeway with our signs open. Soon, another security guy came over and told us to go up on the bridge, because we couldn't do that there. We really weren't close to the mall, but we did it anyway. And thus is the story about how Elder Susi got kicked out of a mall for talking about Jesus. There is no freedom of religion here, by the way. We talked to a few people, and it kinda worked except when people said, "That's okay, I'm Buddhist/Christian already/Muslim. 

Our awesome investigators are still doing awesome. They came to our sports day activity on Friday and church on Sunday. They are having such a good time, that they don't/maybe don't want to leave the church. We are having so many good experiences with them. For instance: Bay was telling us that he is praying everyday. To do that, he makes sure that there is absolutely nothing that is going to distract him. He then takes all thoughts out of his mind and calms down his body, if he was doing something exciting or exercise-like. He then prays and he says that he feels so much peace and warmth that he just wants to keep praying. Guy on Sunday helped to do everything after church was over. He brought out plates and food, he cleaned the dishes and was pretty upset when one of the sister members came back to church having been robbed. We helped him to know about the Holy Ghost and how it works, we even made a comparison to the feelings of anger at the beginning of the lesson to the feelings of peace and comfort at the end. 

About the robbing. A member was going home and was at the end of the street when a motorcycle rode up, took her purse, and maybe pushed her down hard on the ground. Her elbow was beat up and bleeding and her 18 year old was peeved. Members watched the video recording and reported it. No need to worry. 

I am still doing well. Transfers is about to close, and we still don't have word on who is moving. I will most likely be staying here, but I guess you will find out next week. 

LOST

Elder Anthony Susi