He’s Got A Knife!

Yeah that’s right, crazy guy with a butcher knife coming up.

Back Like Last Time

It’s as if the tables always turn around, I think it’s a circle table. Just like in the MTC I’ve been appointed to be a zone leader unlike the first time there is actually people in my zone 🫡. 
Ya’ll ever seen a foto of a favela in brazil?
My new zone is just massive hills with brick houses stacked 3-4 high. The hills are so steep as you look up the steps in the alley that leads up you are getting shade from the houses at the top 1/4 mile up. After saying this I can’t act like this isn’t the coolest area I’ve seen. (Also its not even favela it just loos like it)

He’s Got A Knife, Let’s Go!

As always crazy things happen and to be honest most of the craziest things don’t make it in the emails. 🫣  For once I’ll tell mom.

As we approached two teens sitting on a ledge we started teaching. I was on an exchange with another Elder but it was clear he had taught them before. Just like normal we started recapping from his last lesson. In the corner of my I saw a white dog aproach from behind, normal. I took a look back and he was sitting peacefully. As we continued teaching

 a strange looking man came up and got in front of us blocking our view of the people we were teaching without saying a word. Not normal but not strange we shake his hand and its clear he is under some influence when he doesn’t respond when I ask “do you want to listen too? Normal. He goes off to the side, right at the corner of my eye and I recognize an illegal drug in his hand, normal. My focus shifts back to the two teens they don’t seem bothered it’s clear they know him. Just as I go back to teaching I hear the dog start barking and see it take off to my right. I immediately look and see the reason, a very large rock had been hurled at it. Immediately I look to my left to see who threw it and there he is, this time in his hand is a large kitchen knife. (To this day I’m not sure where it came from bro must have had it hidden in his sleeve or tucked behind his back in his belt)
And just like that I was following the dog running up the road. When I felt out of immediate danger I look back to see my comp just standing there continuing the lesson as I start yelling at him to get out of there he replies, “wait I want to teach them how to pray”
As he starts teaching I don’t budge and the guy kind of froze, knife in hand and just stands there not really doing anything, and the teens, my comp was now teaching alone were yelling at the crazy guy to leave,  slowly he turned away and disappeared in an alley. I was not convinced and still stood at my safe distance, after all he just flexed his throwing skills. My comp continues teaching and he reappears from the dark alley but this time yelling very slurred “DON’T BE AFRAID” (yeah very convincing) I’m not buying it and I yell at my comp that if he wants to live he’s gotta go and I basically drag him out. 
When I asked him why he didn’t leave he replied, “He said don’t be afraid”.

Why?

To some it’s dumb. 
To others it’s good but not worth sacrificing personal comfort.
And to others it’s worth all we have.

“Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?…If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments….All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 19:16-23

So to some their why is bigger than them. To some it doesn’t matter if there lifes at risk. Because they’ll teach someone to pray, they’ll teach someone that there’s hope. Because some will sell all that they have to come and follow Him. 

At first I didn’t get it too, why did he stay? Why did he keep teaching? But to me it’s clear now.
Because He said don’t be afraid.

“…Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent.” Acts 18:9

Google Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cnvNHFLuWEPTfcKj7

Love Ya’ll 

– Elder Gist