Sometimes being a missionary is (mostly) happy, but this is assuming
that you are sometimes okay with looking like a 100% goob. Today, in
the words of my dear companion, I share with you the most awkward
moment of my missionary career thus far to hopefully brighten your
day.
It's an interesting truth that many relationships that missionaries
form can be easily paralleled to dating, even though we spend eighteen
months (or two years) thinking, "Single, single, single."
------
In the words of Sister Sticht:
"The crowning event...the most awkward scenario of my mission,
explodes before my horrified and entertained eyes this week. Quick
back story: we met a Spanish girl on the bike path a few weeks ago.
She never accepted my Facebook request, even after I messaged her.
Then we got a referral from the elders to go to this apartment to find
a Filipina girl but they couldn't remember the apartment number, so we
ended up housing this Canadian guy--the one who was too busy Skyping
with his mum (Okay, we know we aren't cute sister missionaries, thank
you...)
Then. In a culmination of all these events, I found out how it feels
to be the awkward ex-boyfriend who discovers his former girlfriend
with a bunch of new friends...
We ride up one evening to the apartment with the Filipina, but upon
getting close saw a huge group of not-Japanese college kids milling.
Huge meaning maybe 7. Anyway. We stopped short, pulled out our phone
and pretended to be having a really important consultation while we
tried to decide whether just to go knock on the apartment's doors in
front of them, ride past, talk to them, or just flee. Usually trying
to spread the gospel to big groups is very ineffective and awkward.
But I hate being afraid of people. So we decided after a really
lengthy (2 minutes, tops) phone conversation with a fake person, to
just ride past and scope it out. (Classic ex-boyfriend already)
So we ride past slowly, just the ex-boyfriend and his wing man,
and...there she is. The Spanish girl! Me, being the classic
ex-boyfriend, should just ride past, but can't. Something bigger than
me, dumber than me, compels me to pull to a stop, with a huge cheesy
"Hey! N----! How are you? Long time no see!"
Classic ex girlfriend looks awkwardly at her friends, who are just
STARING, and kinda shrugs..."uh..."
Dumb ex-boyfriend is undeterred. "Don't you remember me? We met you on
the bike path!"
My comp, the wing man, is silently staring on in horror. N---- shrugs,
looks shiftily around, pretends to struggle to remember us ("Don't you
remember all the good times?") and then with a really terribly
unconvincing perplexed look, says "oh,..yeah..."
At this point, I realize that these kids are just still staring
silently, watching the exchange in curiosity and disdain. So I
acknowledge them with a hey. As I look from condescending face to
face, I see him. Canada guy. The guy we just housed. For some reason,
it was just the cherry on top. The new boyfriend. With that, I lost
all bravado and said oh so lamely, "Well...I can see you're with your
friends..." (Seriously, when did we break up?!) and wave half
heartedly, and then, just to make it perfect in its awkwardness, I
follow my comp, who had been the silent muscle in the back, as we
wheeled our bikes around, GOING BACK IN THE SAME DIRECTION WE CAME
FROM. IT WAS ALLLL OVER. I muttered some half audible, "Yeah I don't
think we have time to visit that other person," so that maybe they
would think we didn't just ride up to see them, but...it was just
allll over."
------
Perhaps a sort-of worldly interpretation, but all-too painfully accurate.
Let your life be not as awkward as ours.
On the bright side, many happier moments and miracles. One of our
less-actives, deciding not go to a party because "I know if I go I
will drink," in spite of all her friends being not-so-understanding.
Attending a meeting at the mission home with the zone leaders and
President and Sister Budge and eating a meal straight out of Costco
catalog. One of our friends telling us she has begun to pray and feels
it's power. Meeting a Chinese girl who moved to Japan and recently
found God and now wears a cross around her neck "because I believe."
In other news, we had transfer calls this week. Sister Sticht is
leaving me for Niigata, which means I will probably never see her
again. Who will fuel me with witty jokes and sarcasm?However, the
church is still true, and no matter what comes our way, God is in the
details; thus, there is no need to fear. Have a superb week.
Love, Sister Margaret
(Monday, September 29)Pic 1: My poor Vans, breathing their last breath.
Pic 2: Lunch with two of my dear friends from the ward, along with
some homemade cotton candy.
No comments:
Post a Comment