Well let me just start this off by saying sorry this post is about 12 hours late, like a true stay at home mom, I forgot it was Monday until a few hours ago when I saw which primetime TV shows were on. Don't judge it, till you've been there! haha!
Well, lets just say, this Thanksgiving has been most likely the most memorable Thanksgiving these two missionaries might have ever had....not exactly in a good way.
They had a traditional Thanksgiving meal at their church building with other missionaries and investigators they invited...here's Aldste Haddon's story:
"1)Fighter: 230 lbs. 5'6” He's on of the funniest guys you would ever meet he just says some things that can get you in to trouble....
2) Fighter: 190 lbs. 5'7” He's been lifting sense he was 13 years old so he is a jacked dude. Calls everyone brodogs.....
We are all in the church waiting to get the Thanksgiving Fest started. So we were all out in the foyer, waiting to get our feast on.
So Fighter 1 being a funny guy, decided to shave himself a mustache.... That's when it all started. Fighter 2 decided to make a comment that he looked the guy named Borat. (google him) Fighter 1 trying to be funny says it back to him, “You kinda look like him too!”
Fighter 2 didn't take to lightly to that comment. We had a little prayer and then everyone started to dig in. I see Fighter 2 just pacing out in the Foyer and then runs up to Fighter 1, and in Swedish says, “Come and chat with me outside.”
So they go, I saw this and I can tell that Fighter 2 isn't the happiest fella, so I tell Allsop to come with me to make sure everything is okay. We look and Fighter 2 is just yelling at Fighter 1, who looks very innocent and a little scared holding his hands up saying come out here and help me. So we go out Fighter 2 is just yelling at him to show some respect and he is just laying it on him. So I grab him and take him inside.
I'm telling him to calm down its no big deal, just let it go and we are just going to have a good time and eat some American-made food. We were walking down a hall away from it and we turn around and Ken comes in the church like a wild banshee and says, “I'm not afraid of you!” and comes in with a flying Head-butt to Fighter 2's face.
It was just like when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, all heaven broke loose. Fighter 2 punches Fighter 1 square in the face, and they just start to go at it! So of coarse we can't let this happen so Allsop and I jump in pulling them both off of each other. I was on Fighter 2 and Sop was on Fighter 1. Every time that we would pull on off they other would get loose and hit the other (and one of us). It was a mess. Sister Sorensen the senior couple comes in thinking that we are just rough housing and says, “Boys, let stop playing aro...” then realizes this was not some boys messing around. Then just gets out of there!
Finally I have a decent lock on Fighter 2, Fighter 1 is bleeding pretty bad and Allsop has pushed him down to the end of this hall. Fighter 2 is screaming, "Let Go!” I told him to calm down finally his breathing calmed down, and he said that he was done. So I start to let go, and he darts down the end of the Hall toward Allsop who is guarding a bleeding Fighter 1. He's going full boar straight for Allsop and Allsop goes back to High school football and slams him into the wall. I come up and we both pin him while Fighter 1 runs behind us and hides to the bathroom. I am holding him to the wall while Allsop is trying to get this back door opened. Finally get it opened and throw him out of there.
Needless to say it was one crazy night. Blood all over our shirts,(Why you can see that we have switched into turtle necks that we found in the lost in found) caught a few blows to the face, but we are alive and still doing well."
This is the area that Aldste Haddon is serving in, it is often that people get into fights, Hymn books have been thrown at church, the area was about to be closed by the mission president before Aldste Haddon and Allsop agreed to serve there and work as hard as they could to soften hearts and share the gospel. In fact, this ward requires that the Stake Presidency is their bishopric because they tend to struggle so much.
This week they had a Priesthood meeting with all of the men in the ward, they were so sad because none of the men they had been teaching and working with had come to the meeting. As the meeting continued though, the men each began speaking one by one. Each mentioning ways that these two missionaries had helped them serve and love that much more. They told stories of Family Home Evening lessons, Blessings, and learning how to serve in their callings to the best of their ability, each story including these two 20-year old men. Young men who leave their families for two years to do the hardest work that our church requires, even being willing to get punched in the face here and there.
There is a reason that Aldste Haddon and Allsop are the young men in this area at this time, it could be for their own growth, it could be for the growth of those whom they serve, but one thing is for sure, they have been prepared for what they're facing, and they are giving it their all.
I believe that we are all placed where we need to be, when we need to be there. There are very few accidents, and even fewer coinsidences. Like these missionaries, we have a purpose to love, serve and lift those that we are around. We might not have to break up fights, knock on doors and watch for flying fists and Hymn books, but we each have traits and skills that are needed where we are. I know that if we pray for opportunities to use the traits and talents that we have been given, (whether we recognize them in ourselves or not) we will have the chance to help people feel the light of Christ in their life through us. Lets each look for an opportunity to help people feel closer to their
Heavenly Father, that they might know Him because they know us. I know that as we strive to do this, our lives will be blessed much more than we could imagine.
Merry Christmas Month!
Lost and Found Turtle Necks! Whoot Whoot!
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