Meet the Neighbors: Eleanor Collins

­Meet Eleanor Collins, 

She is one of the more elderly residents. She is widowed by many years, but she does have a few adult children and a grandchild that she brings to the community pool. She is Mormon and spends a significant amount of time helping at the local temple. For income she drives for Uber. In the apartment community she prefers to go by “Grama Ellie” and tries to be engaged with those around her. Her apartment is one of the closest to the playground area where all the kids tend to congregate to play ball and she has a good number of plants and decorations on it. 

I said she tries to be engaged with those around her, but it regularly feels like she is feigning neighborly love. She is quick to offer herbs from her garden, occasional babysitting, sharing books, etc. However, we feel no attempts to share true love with others. At events hosted by management she is there enough to say that she was there but she does not engage much with others. When we host a community potluck, she gives an RSVP but then cancels last minute for one reason or another. To us, she seems lonely and tense, but that is just an impression.

At one point we know she was trying convert the Gupta’s to Mormonism. She had them over for a vegan meal and there were two Mormon ‘missionaries’ there as well. After that she and the missionaries became very persistent in visiting the Gupta’s house or trying to get them to attend their gatherings. The Gupta’s came to us asking why the missionaries were being so persistent and how to get them to stop. For a while, the Gupta’s let her give them rides where they need to go (since they only have one car), but after a while the children admitted they were uncomfortable being around her. 

So what do we do? 

At times I have been filled with anger while watching her try to bring people into her faith. 

But may God bless Adelaide for reminding me that she is in as much need of Jesus’ love as anyone. 

When considering how to reach Mormons, I often draw similarities to the differences between the Jews and Samaritans during Jesus’ day. In a sense, they are both ‘half-breeds’ of the True Faith. They both generally acknowledge God’s sacred texts, but then claim that their versions and additions are more accurate. God’s people tend to go out of their way to avoid even running the risk of interacting with these people. Sarmatians and Jews, Mormons and Christians, are at odds as they compete for the title of ‘God’s true people.’ 

But then… W.W.J.D.? 

In John 4 Jesus went out of His way to reach these hurting souls. He lovingly spoke truth. He offered them the eternal life that He freely offers to all. And then in Acts 1:8, Jesus said “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (my own emphasis added). We are to do the same thing!

Instead of running away from Mormons we need to stop and share the True Love of Jesus. 

Here’s how you can pray for Mrs. Eleanor: 

-       That we would be able to spend time connecting deeply with her. 

-       That she would see her true need for God’s love in her life. 

As always, we love hearing back from you!