Canvassing Experience from Summer of 2012
So, day started off on a very hot foot. Our leader dropped me off on a stretch of houses facing a mountain. However, that mountain was not doing its job because the Sun was hitting me like nothing else, and the road was going up hill. Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled, but I set out anyways.
Well, first couple of houses, no one was home. I kept getting rejected and the Sun was blazing over me like nobody's business and I was beginning to feel my frustration spike. I hate hot weather; desert weather, humidity, Sun with no clouds = can't emotionally or physically do it. So you can imagine that on top of being rejected at doors, and I felt anger growing inside of me and resentment towards God. I felt like the Devil was whispering to me, "Curse God." Now I didn't actually hear anything, but that thought came to my mind.
And I praise God because as soon as that thought came I shut if off, took a breath and said "Lord, I'm really frustrated right now, but I'm going to praise Your name anyways because there is a blessing on this street." I then started singing a hymn (my favorite being "Do Lord" during canvassing). Honestly, if it wasn't for the grace and strength of God I would not have been able to do that.
So there I was, singing away my frustration, that Sun still on me, when at the very next house I meet a woman and her son climbing into a car. So I made my way quickly to them, smile on my face, and introduced myself. The woman was visibly upset about something, the son who was standing next to her looked miserable as well, and so I gave her the book Peace Above the Storm - a Steps to Christ Devotional. For about a minute they just stared at the book. They then suddenly opened up about their bird who had died that they had loved so much and they were shocked that the cover of the book actually had a bird on it. They then told me that they knew I was a canvasser because they had been canvassed last year. They then started telling me how much they love God, that He had sent me to show them these books and give them comfort, and it was just so beautiful to see their happiness. They introduced me to the father of the home and ended up buying three books!!! The most beautiful part about it though, was that I was able to pray for them and see God soothe this family.
That's not all though. The very next door, I knock on the door and chihuahuas suddenly go running out and I join the owner, a young girl, in trying to catch them. Little buggers... for stubby feet they're freakishly fast... So that was odd, but afterwards, the young woman started talking to me and I described to her the books. Her father, in the background, was anxious in me leaving, but she told me to wait because she was going to ask her mother. Next thing I know, I'm in the house canvassing to a woman on bedrest from having surgery. I introduced myself and showed her the books, and she ended up buying three! Very nice family, and I pray that the husband gives God a chance to be a apart of his life and show him how much He loves him.
Thats not all though lol. I was finished with that street so was moved to another one some blocks down - a much shadier street (by the grace of God!!!). First house, woman ends up buying Peace in Spanish which was an interesting conversation. But a couple of houses over, I meet a family (mother, two daughters and their two kids) drinking horchata on the lawn. Next thing I know, I'm drinking horchata and eating peaches with them as I'm listening to their stories and showing them the books. They told me how their husbands were atheists and how they were looking for a church to attend in the area that could give them and their husbands Bible studies. I invited them to one, and they ending up getting five books. I prayed with them and will continue to pray for them, their beautiful families, and their willing hearts.
In the evening, events went by really quickly that were just...odd. Firstly, I was offered chips that turned out to be lard (thank God I had politely declined), I ended up telling them I was vegan and they offered me tomatoes, but not really lol. Odd. I met a woman who used to be Adventist and ended up buying I believe Peace from me in quarters. And then the last house was just WEIRD. Last house of the night, and it was an older Hispanic woman who didn't want to buy books. Which was fine, so I asked if I could have a glass of water or water bottle instead. I was running that day, so Priscilla was thirsty haha. Anyways, she comes back with a glass of water that smelled like garlic (not judging) and had lukewarm water in it. Hmm. Well, needless to say I was thankful. I took a drink -- not complaining but that water was so gross - and I forced myself to take a few more sips out of politeness and then moved to give the glass back to her. With the most serious face and blunt tone, she said, "Finish it." ... O.o ... *awkward silence* ...So I ended like really forcing myself to drink the remainder of the water, and in my head I'm like "if there's a roofie in here, unlikely, the team is just across the street..." I gave the glass to her and she nodded, dismissing me to leave. So I slowly left, very confused at what just happened. Suddenly, her son just parked in the driveway, and I was able to talk to him and show him the books. He was super nice. Next thing I know he buys a cookbook and children's book! Wow!
Praise God!!! We all ended up shouting goal into the walkie talkies at the end of the night and our team leader was going to treat us to some Naked juice or Jamba, but they were all closed so we ended up getting stuff at a Latino food market.... It was an odd day, but full of amazing blessings and I had my dried mangos as a treat. =)
So, day started off on a very hot foot. Our leader dropped me off on a stretch of houses facing a mountain. However, that mountain was not doing its job because the Sun was hitting me like nothing else, and the road was going up hill. Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled, but I set out anyways.
Well, first couple of houses, no one was home. I kept getting rejected and the Sun was blazing over me like nobody's business and I was beginning to feel my frustration spike. I hate hot weather; desert weather, humidity, Sun with no clouds = can't emotionally or physically do it. So you can imagine that on top of being rejected at doors, and I felt anger growing inside of me and resentment towards God. I felt like the Devil was whispering to me, "Curse God." Now I didn't actually hear anything, but that thought came to my mind.
And I praise God because as soon as that thought came I shut if off, took a breath and said "Lord, I'm really frustrated right now, but I'm going to praise Your name anyways because there is a blessing on this street." I then started singing a hymn (my favorite being "Do Lord" during canvassing). Honestly, if it wasn't for the grace and strength of God I would not have been able to do that.
So there I was, singing away my frustration, that Sun still on me, when at the very next house I meet a woman and her son climbing into a car. So I made my way quickly to them, smile on my face, and introduced myself. The woman was visibly upset about something, the son who was standing next to her looked miserable as well, and so I gave her the book Peace Above the Storm - a Steps to Christ Devotional. For about a minute they just stared at the book. They then suddenly opened up about their bird who had died that they had loved so much and they were shocked that the cover of the book actually had a bird on it. They then told me that they knew I was a canvasser because they had been canvassed last year. They then started telling me how much they love God, that He had sent me to show them these books and give them comfort, and it was just so beautiful to see their happiness. They introduced me to the father of the home and ended up buying three books!!! The most beautiful part about it though, was that I was able to pray for them and see God soothe this family.
That's not all though. The very next door, I knock on the door and chihuahuas suddenly go running out and I join the owner, a young girl, in trying to catch them. Little buggers... for stubby feet they're freakishly fast... So that was odd, but afterwards, the young woman started talking to me and I described to her the books. Her father, in the background, was anxious in me leaving, but she told me to wait because she was going to ask her mother. Next thing I know, I'm in the house canvassing to a woman on bedrest from having surgery. I introduced myself and showed her the books, and she ended up buying three! Very nice family, and I pray that the husband gives God a chance to be a apart of his life and show him how much He loves him.
Thats not all though lol. I was finished with that street so was moved to another one some blocks down - a much shadier street (by the grace of God!!!). First house, woman ends up buying Peace in Spanish which was an interesting conversation. But a couple of houses over, I meet a family (mother, two daughters and their two kids) drinking horchata on the lawn. Next thing I know, I'm drinking horchata and eating peaches with them as I'm listening to their stories and showing them the books. They told me how their husbands were atheists and how they were looking for a church to attend in the area that could give them and their husbands Bible studies. I invited them to one, and they ending up getting five books. I prayed with them and will continue to pray for them, their beautiful families, and their willing hearts.
In the evening, events went by really quickly that were just...odd. Firstly, I was offered chips that turned out to be lard (thank God I had politely declined), I ended up telling them I was vegan and they offered me tomatoes, but not really lol. Odd. I met a woman who used to be Adventist and ended up buying I believe Peace from me in quarters. And then the last house was just WEIRD. Last house of the night, and it was an older Hispanic woman who didn't want to buy books. Which was fine, so I asked if I could have a glass of water or water bottle instead. I was running that day, so Priscilla was thirsty haha. Anyways, she comes back with a glass of water that smelled like garlic (not judging) and had lukewarm water in it. Hmm. Well, needless to say I was thankful. I took a drink -- not complaining but that water was so gross - and I forced myself to take a few more sips out of politeness and then moved to give the glass back to her. With the most serious face and blunt tone, she said, "Finish it." ... O.o ... *awkward silence* ...So I ended like really forcing myself to drink the remainder of the water, and in my head I'm like "if there's a roofie in here, unlikely, the team is just across the street..." I gave the glass to her and she nodded, dismissing me to leave. So I slowly left, very confused at what just happened. Suddenly, her son just parked in the driveway, and I was able to talk to him and show him the books. He was super nice. Next thing I know he buys a cookbook and children's book! Wow!
Praise God!!! We all ended up shouting goal into the walkie talkies at the end of the night and our team leader was going to treat us to some Naked juice or Jamba, but they were all closed so we ended up getting stuff at a Latino food market.... It was an odd day, but full of amazing blessings and I had my dried mangos as a treat. =)
