I have never been a Visiting Teacher (ya know... in relief society) due to I guess just being overlooked? Well now I have been called to visiting teach 2 newlywed girls and my partner is also a newlywed girl. I am actually very excited, and am taking it very seriously.
Well my partner is not inactive but she is more the kind that prefers to sleep in on Sundays, one of the girls we teach has a very inactive husband but she is strong and comes regularly and the other holds a calling and is very active. So I have got a great group right?!
Then why is it that none of them will call me back? I call my partner, leave a message, and rather than calling, she texts me back. I think because it is easier to come up with an excuse texting rather than on the phone.
Okay... s
o I will go by myself. No problem. If my partner doesn't really want to do it, I don't mind doing it by myself... but my other two girls won't answer my calls nor return my messages!!! My partner offered to set up the appt's with our girls last month cause I said I felt dumb like I was annoying them calling with no response. Unfortunately... it did not happen. So this month... it is one of my girl's birthday. I bought her some jewelry (super cute I might add) and have left messages to just be able to stop by and told her I just needed to drop something off for her I guess to like LURE her into calling me back. NOPE. NOTHING. So What do I do?? I really want to take my calling as a visiting teacher seriously and be able to help my partner want to come to church more often and even make friends in my ward but they are all just making me feel like a creep. Do I just keep reporting back to my supervisor that I was unable to get a hold of them? Do I just stop by like an uninvited visitor and give them the lesson on the doorstep? Or do I stop calling them EVERY month and maybe start calling every OTHER month so they don't feel like they are being bombarded with me? OR maybe just maybe keep doing what I am doing... take one for the team and feel like an absolute loser for the next while and hope that 4, 5, 10 months from now they will answer their phone.
Let me add real quick... this is the same group of girls I picked up in my car and took to a cupcake parlor so we could ALL get to know each other and be able to enjoy the visiting teaching rather than feeling like 2 strangers in the ward are stopping by your house every month. Guess it didn't work.
I don't bite.
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That's super frustrating! We visit teach two girls who refuse to answer their phone or return our calls... I got the impression that we were really starting to annoy them, so now we just leave treats at their doorstep with a message. It's hard to know the most effective way to teach someone... Try praying about it and see what you feel the best thing to do would be!
ReplyDeleteYou just keep calling (not in an "I'm bugged" way) and then just stop by unannounced. Take a little something with the lesson topic on it or a bday gift. Stop at their work, even your partner if you have to, and leave it there. You just never know what's going on with others lives and to know that someone didn't give up and is really trying is a nice feeling. It sounds kinda cheesey, but "What would Jesus do?" Love ya!
ReplyDeletePS I'd love you as a VTer!
hahah!! I love this post but mostly because I'm the VT coordinator for my ward. You are so good to be so dedicated. Sadly this happens WAY too often and it's so common with the newly weds. The good news is that you can now count dropping the message off to them, emailing, or talking to them on the phone as visiting. Maybe if you try one of those this next month so you can get it counted. It doesn't seem fair that you do all this work and don't get credit. I'm all for just dropping by when you can't get them to call you back too. I think it may take one time of doing that to get them to open up. Don't give up....I bet one of them really needs you but they just don't know how to ask. I had a companion like you when I was a newly wed and because of her I love VTing now. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteIf I see them at church I would set up a day( asak them if Wednesday at 5:30 will work insted of letting them pick the date) then and just tell your partner that this is when you are going and if she comes then she comes. If they are not home when you made the appointment then you can at least say the you showed up. That is what the people in my ward do and the time that they pick usualy works just fine for me. As far as her gift goes I would think about just stopping by and chatting with her. Good luck :)
ReplyDeletefunny, I think I know who your partner is, I think I used to visit her! BUT my advice is just show up one night at their houses and if she's not there leave a note and call it good! And you could possibly talk to Julie Neild (the RS pres) and let her know the situation and maybe she could do something to help! I know how frustrating that is to not have them call you back cuz the girls I used to VT either never got my messages or just didn't feel like calling me back! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha. That comic is too funny! What a frustrating situation. My advice would be to keep calling each month to try and set up an appointment. If you are unable to reach them, maybe just drop a treat by their house with a copy of the message. For the girl's birthday I would just drop her gift by. They are all young. I'm sure they are just busy and not ignoring you!
ReplyDeleteMy advice as this is just me, and well I don't have much experience. But I would just drop by and hope that they are home. Just take them a treat with the lesson attached to it. Just keep it simple and short and ask how they are doing. Then just let them know you were thinking about them and go. I think that always opens the door by showing that you really care. :) Good luck. let me know how it goes!
ReplyDeleteThey just don't know what there missin'!!
ReplyDeleteI would just stop by and leave something with the lesson typed up. You don't have to stand and teach them, just say you're thinking about them and maybe can catch them another time. Hopefully soon they'll warm up. Visiting teaching is hard!
ReplyDeleteOh man A++ for tryin girl ,you just keep on tryin there is nothin wrong or creepy about taking an interest or fufilling your calling! They will come around:)
ReplyDeleteAndee: I am so happy for you that you are trying tofulfill your calling! Hang in there, Soon you will be the one taking meals in when she has her baby I can't wait for the new one and I'm not the one carrying her ! Gr jo
ReplyDelete