The weather here on Martha's Vineyard has been so-so. Not too hot, not too windy, sunny and light humid fresh air. I know what you're thinking. "It must be hard serving in paradise". 'Tis so. Some days I wonder if I can take the beauty for another second. But I assure you that whenever this nagging thought hits my mind I throw it to the side as quick as you can say Saqsaywahman. I'm doin' just fine in the island sun and every once in awhile I even smile a little! ;) In case anyone is looking for a place to vacation come here because it's GORGEOUS! Last night the Brown's took us to Menemsha for Lobster on the beach at sunset. If that doesn't lure you in I'm not sure what will!
Last week came in two parts.
PART 1
One day we went to find Christ....
We had gone to the grocery store the day before and the boy that was working said, "Hey, look. My name is Christian but on the receipt it cuts of the last three letters. I thought you two would like that kind of thing." So we put the receipt on our fridge. "HELLO! I'm Christ. Thank you for shopping at Stop 'n Shop!" Tuesday we decided to find Christ. We went to the store again to get some muffins hoping to bump into him but he wasn't there so we payed for the muffins and went on our way. We baked the muffins at home and packaged them up to bring to one of our investigators, Cynthia. A last minute idea came to package up the rest of them and give them to a stranger on the bus. Out the door and we're on our way!
We get on the bus and immediately spot JR, another friend's husband, sleeping in the back of the bus. We sit right in front of him and tell him we'll wake him up at his stop. When our stop came we woke him up and said, "JR! These are for you. And you're stop is next!" "THANK YOU!" Off the bus and we're on our way!
Sitting on a stone wall to finish writing a card for Cynthia we look up and notice that JR's stop was actually the one that we got off at. We see him walking towards us from a little further down the road. Whoops! He meets up with his wife on the side of the road and pretty soon she's jumping up and down and waving for us to come over! We cross the street and both of their mouths are full of muffins. They are so happy and promise us that they want to get together soon! It was really great to see them because we thought they had been ignoring us for a few weeks. Keila gets on the next bus, JR goes inside to shower, and we cross to the other side again and we're on our way!
When we arrive to Cynthia's house we notice that there are two cars in the driveway! We've wanted to meet this sweet old lady's boyfriend for a long time so we excitedly hopped up her steps and knocked on the door! They were thrilled with the muffins and us dropping by. She told us that she would invite us in but she was just leaving to go to a concert at her church. "but... it's a public concert. Anyone is welcome to go!" We said we'd love to and we would maybe come by. She explained where her church was and I said "Oh, the one with the red door?" She lit up and said, "Yes! Yes we do have a red door! Do you want to come with me? I can give you a ride?" It's amazing how much people open up when you show them that you care. You just show them that you are really truly interested in what they do, and who they are, and that you really love them. They can tell. Right away we said yes and we were driving out on our away the very next minute, together.
The concert was for a 12 year old girl named Violet. She plays the fiddle (LIKE A PRO) and the cello (LIKE A FIDDLE!). It was an incredible little show and we got to talking with a few ladies there. One of them in particular was not at all interested in talking to us. She glanced at our nametags and looked away instantly. During intermission we found out that her friend worked at the Hospital and told her that we volunteer there! Suddenly the no-talk lady talks! "Are you that little blonde girl that was there on Monday? The one playing the Ukulele?" Well, no, we weren't there on Monday but I do play there sometimes. We told her about a Ukulele band we'd heard of that plays there too and how we haven't heard them play yet but we've been wanting to. She talks more! She's IN that Ukulele Band! She loves it! Before you know it we're making plans and swapping schedules. The next day we'd be sitting at the Senior Center plucking away with 14 of the sweetest ladies you've ever met. Two sister missionaries and 14 Senior Citizens. We make a great group!
When we left the concert we told Cynthia we could take a bus so she could get back to Jerry (the gentleman friend) and she waved and thanked us for coming and sitting with her! Walking up to the bus stop we see none other than JR, again, catching another bus. Afraid that he'd think we were total stalkers we stood a little ways off. But when the buses came he got on the same one that we were taking! We couldn't avoid him. He invites us to sit down next to him and starts showing us pictures of the new little baby he was on his way to see. He thought it was so crazy bumping into us twice in two different places. Indeed it was! He got off at the hospital and we kept journeying on our way home!
It was an incredible night. I know it might not sound like much, but everything that happened had been things in our prayers for weeks. Everything that happened was perfectly put together, and it was not put together by us. We were guided in everything that we did. The Lord knew exactly what needed to happen, he knew exactly where all of these people would be, and he knew our prayers. He answered them. Our night was wide open - not a thing was scheduled. We didn't plan it at all.
Honestly, we just went out to look for Christ!
PART 2
A few days later we found diddly-jack-squat.
I caught a bug that's been going around and it knocked me right off my feet. We took two days to rest and get our bearings again. I feel like the laziest missionary right now... but I've been enjoying the extra sleep and hope to be back to normal soon!
There's always more to tell but we really should be going now. I'll wrap it up in a few sentences.
Little kids are adorable. Little kids that bare their testimonies at church and say "I love Jesus. I love my mama. She's the best mama ever." are out of this world adorable.
What if when our clothes get really old we put them into packages and ship them to random addresses on the coast of Florida? If anyone inquires as to why we keep sending them old clothes just tell them "they're retired". Try it. Let me know how it goes. I thought this was really really funny when I came up with it but then again I was really out of it.
There's a sweet lady named Terri that lives at the Assisted Living Center in the Hospital. She reminds me of my mamma the way she looks, and sometimes we can't figure why she's living there! She always makes sense and she's not nearly as "gone" as the other residents. We had a talent show and Terri sang with a few other residents. We started to pass out cake during their number and she couldn't keep track of the song anymore because she was so worried about that cake! "Can I get one of those? Is that one mine? I'd really like some cake. That looks like good cake." When we took her back up to her room she was holding the sheet music saying that she really didn't think she could sing it and she didn't want to do the talent show. She wanted to back out. I told her that was just fine! I'd heard her sing it once before and she did so good that she really didn't need to do it again if she didn't want to! She seemed content with that. I guess she completely forgot that they had already performed! I was running a wild risk asking more questions since she clearly didn't remember the Talent Show anymore, but I took my chances. "Terri, did you get some cake?" "OH YES! Yes I suuure did. It was delicious". :)
Well everyone, just be like Terri and you'll be set! Keep setting out to do what you think is best, and you'll find your purpose! Keep praying and you're prayers will always be answered. And for goodness sakes keep smiling because then you'll always be happy!
LOVE YOU ALL!
Hermana Hileman
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