May 25

As we close our second official week in the mission field, we have received two rejections. Sorry, Esmeralda, this is probably not the “mission story” you wanted. However, as any missionary will tell you, it is the outcome of our efforts a great percentage of the time.

The first one was dispensed from a second-story balcony where the contact explained that he believed in equality and the Church was very restrictive about what the women could do. That would be easily contradicted by any woman who has ever served as a Relief Society president, but there wasn’t much of an opportunity to explain anything further.

The one this morning was over the phone but just as painful as I remembered from four decades ago. We had taught this sister only three or four times, so nothing like going through the entire set of discussions with an investigator and then receiving the response that they were going back to what they had had before. But we did care about her and wished for her to receive the full blessings of the gospel. Hard to watch people be satisfied with part when they could have the whole. But, as I explained to her, that is totally her choice and one with which we would never interfere.

We have met some really wonderful people in our contacting the last two weeks (including those who determined they weren't interested in going forward). It's been great getting into the water again! Swimming forward isn't always easy, but it helps strengthen us.

So onward and upward.