As High Priest Group leader I regularly receive the names and addresses of new move-ins to the Ward to find, contact, and invite to attend the Ward. At times these visits are with my counselors and at times they are with my hone-teaching companion that is my son Evan Wilson. Evan is currently 18, a priest, and ready to start his senior year in high school.
The typical routine is for us to take our assigned names , hop in the car and make a loop of visits on a Sunday afternoon. Today our quest took us first to Brooklyn park in the northern part of the Ward. The roads and boundaries are tangled and confusing in that area and though we persisted in looking for the address within our boundaries we didn’t succeed. Having spent 20 – 30 minutes in vain I called my nephew, Paul 3, asked him to check his computer for where the address was – the location is at once, both north of 694 and east of 81 placing it in the Shingle Creek Ward. With the investment of time I had already made I wasn’t leaving without finding the home.
The apartment was in a part of town that has become primarily West African, and Olivia being Liberian was comfortably situation there. We found the apartment, were able to get past the first screening / security doors and went straight to the door. I knocked and a woman’s voice answered asking who was there and then after my response saying she could not open the door. This endless loop conversation continued for sometime – I asked Evan if we should leave – he lowered his head and shook no; I knocked and repeated the exchange. This happened three times until I finally explained to Evan I was leaving, now being half-way down the hallway by myself the door opens and a young 20 something Liberian man answers the door. He and Evan shake hands. I get back there and introduce myself, I formally re-introduce Evan and they shake hands. Evan comments he knows Patrick from high school and asks Patrick where he went – the response of no not Armstrong I went to Patrick Henry over in northeast Minneapolis doesn’t phase Evan – they are now friends. With the gap bridged by Evan we are now invited in, they wake-up Olivia and we have a pleasant discussion inviting her back to church, her being receptive we can arrange a ride.
WE would have left if Evan hadn’t insisted we stay.
We would have stayed at the door if Evan hadn’t made a friend and got us invited in
We would not have had the opportunity to invite her back to Christ but for Evan being my companion that night.
