{"id":266,"date":"2023-07-19T22:25:04","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T22:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/?p=266"},"modified":"2026-02-28T22:26:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T22:26:30","slug":"home-teacher-chapter-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/?p=266","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 28 Evil Spirits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wednesday, May 4, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got a letter from Mom and Beth. Beth wrote that she has lost six teeth since I left Denmark. I miss her so much! I wish I were there to see her grow and change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, May 5, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After school, I went to visit Sander. I asked if I could please move in with him. He asked why I would want to do that. I explained that I wanted to get away from Nick\u2019s mom. Her abuse has become a daily thing and is unbearable! He said, \u201cI have a hard time taking care of myself. I can\u2019t take care of you, too!\u201d I started crying, then told Sander I would find a job somewhere and help pay the rent. Sander said, \u201cI am sorry you are having a hard time, but I can\u2019t help you!\u201d I left his house feeling discouraged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I got back, Nick wanted to know where I had been. I told him I had just been over to see my brother. Nick has been annoyed with me lately. I think he feels it is my fault his mom treats me the way she does. Having me stay here has caused a lot of tension in his family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I knew it, Nick started hitting me. I wanted him to stop, so I pulled his shirt forward and bit his chest. I hung on as tight as I could. Nick finally stopped hitting me. He threw me back onto my bed. He pulled up his shirt to look at the bite. It looked pretty bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He went upstairs to put on a different shirt. Nick\u2019s mom had been standing on top of the stairs listening to the whole thing. She asked Nick what was going on. He showed her the bite mark. Nick\u2019s mom started yelling. Over and over again, she repeated what she was yelling. Nick came downstairs again. He said, \u201cMy mom wants you to go with us to the hospital to show them what you have done to me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we were driving to the hospital, Nick translated for his mom. She said, \u201cWhen they see the bite mark, they will know what kind of monster you are!\u201d When we got to the hospital, they gave Nick a tetanus shot. The doctor asked me why I bit him. I told the doctor that he was beating me and I just wanted him to stop. The doctor realized I had done this in self-defense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tables turned on Nick and his mom because now the doctor wanted me to press charges against him for abuse. I told the doctor I didn\u2019t want to press charges, and it was my fault that he had hit me. The doctor excused Nick and his mom so he could talk to me alone. The doctor told me that no one had the right to hit me. The doctor then tried to talk me into pressing charges. I was afraid to go through with it, so I assured the doctor it would’t happen again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The doctor made me promise that if Nick ever hit me again, I was to call the police. By now, Nick and his mom were worried. They were relieved to find that I had not pressed charges. As we drove back, I told Nick that if he ever hit me again, I would call the police and file a report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, May 6, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I was at school today, my friend Julia told me she works at a banquet hall and serves food on Saturdays. She said the company needed more servers and asked if I would come along and work with her tomorrow. I told her I would love to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, May 7, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked to Julia\u2019s house, and from there, her dad drove us to the banquet. When the party started, we served the food. There must have been at least 100 people at the dinner. I had so much fun, and the time flew by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, May 8, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick and I went to the Catholic Church again. Just as before, as we walked into the chapel, Nick kissed his hand, made the Sign of the Cross, and knelt at Mary’s statue. Then it was my turn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I walked close to the statue, it just seemed so wrong to me. Again, I hurried past the statue and sat down. Nick asked why I was so disrespectful to Mother Mary and why I had not knelt or made the Sign of the Cross. I told him I didn\u2019t think it was right to worship a statue. Nick said we needed to talk more about it when we got home so that I could understand why it was important. Then he added, \u201cDon\u2019t you want to become Catholic?  Don\u2019t you want my mom to start accepting you?\u201d I answered, \u201cI do.\u201d Nick added, \u201cWell then, I guess you need to learn to accept that you have to respect Mother Mary!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it was time for bed, I had a hard time falling asleep. It seemed so confusing to me. If it didn\u2019t matter what church I belonged to, why did it feel so wrong to kneel in front of the statue? Maybe I just needed to get used to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday, May 9, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have not seen Mary around at school for a few days. I asked her friends if they knew where she was. They told me she had dropped out. I was surprised to hear that. Mary was always a good student and got good grades. I wanted to call her and ask her if everything was all right. I was afraid Nick would find out, so I never called. I never saw Mary again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I haven\u2019t seen Sander for a few days, so this afternoon I walked over to his place to see how he was doing. One of the boys who lived there told me Sander had been kicked out because he couldn\u2019t get along with the other boys in the apartment. He didn\u2019t know where Sander had moved to. I was disappointed once again that Sander had not bothered to tell me where he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, May 10, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thought my period was going to start yesterday. Since I didn\u2019t have any money to buy tampons. I would have to make my own pad out of toilet paper. When I got to school, I went to the bathroom and rolled up a bunch of toilet paper. I then wore it all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the evening, before I went to bed, my period still had not started, so I threw the rolled-up toilet paper in my garbage can, thinking nothing of it. You would think I’d have learned not to put trash in my garbage can after what happened last time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I got home from school, Nick\u2019s mom was yelling. I asked Nick why she was upset this time. He said, \u201cShe has gone through your garbage can, and she is upset you roll up toilet paper and throw it away.\u201d I thought to myself, \u201cOh, Gross!\u201d I had been wearing that toilet paper all day. I guess she was hoping to find something exciting in the toilet paper as she was unrolling it. I don\u2019t know why she goes into my room and goes through my garbage can in the first place. It makes me feel so violated! I told Nick to tell her it wasn’t her toilet paper, but the toilet paper I had gotten from school. Nick tried to explain it to her, but she wasn’t listening. She was excited and began repeating “Mother Mary” and “Jesus Christ” over and over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During dinner, Mom kept going over and over about the toilet paper she had found in my room. I told Nick to go ahead and tell her what it had been used for, but he wouldn\u2019t translate it. I felt bad that the family had to sit through these dinners where she yells the way she does. I can tell it\u2019s really hard on all of them, especially her husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, May 11, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I got back from school today, I had to go to the bathroom. Nick\u2019s mom has decided she has go with me. It was so awkward! I can\u2019t pee, let alone poop, when someone is standing there watching me. She feels it is her right since she has found the toilet paper in my garbage can. I waited a little while. Then, a little while later, I went to the bathroom again. This time, I hurried and locked the door before she had a chance to get in. Man, was she mad!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, May 12, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I got home from school, Cosmo was there. This time, Mrs. Petru was yelling again. I asked Cosmo what I had done this time. He said that his mom was sure I was spreading rumors about her at school. I said, \u201cWhat?\u201d Cosmo said, \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it!\u201d But it\u2019s hard not to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I went downstairs to my room to write my weekly letter to Mom. Then Mrs. Petru came in and stood over me, watching me write. She would leave for a while, and then she came running back into my room. I knew she couldn\u2019t read English, so she couldn\u2019t tell what I was writing. She was trying to make me feel threatened by just standing there. I think she\u2019s nuts! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pretended she wasn\u2019t there and kept writing. She left, then suddenly reappeared.\u00a0This time, she turned off the light.\u00a0\u00a0Up the stairs, she went, where she started yelling again.\u00a0She said I told my mother bad things about her. Man, I wish I could get some peace from her!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, May 13, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I was walking back from school, I saw Kjeld, the man who had been our home teacher when we lived on William Street. He had been waiting for me to come home. I wondered what he wanted. As I got closer to him, he said, \u201cHi, how are you?\u201d I just gave a shy smile and said, \u201cI am fine.\u201d Then he said, \u201cYour mom wrote to me that you are back in Vancouver. I haven\u2019t seen you at church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t want to talk to him since I was planning to join the Catholic Church. I didn\u2019t know what to say to him, so I kept walking past him into the house. As he turned to walk away, he asked, \u201cDo you have a copy of the Book of Mormon?\u201d I answered, \u201cYes.\u201d Then he asked, \u201cHave you ever read it?\u201d I answered, \u201cNo.\u201d Then he said, \u201cJoseph Smith died so you could have that book! I hope you will take the time to read it.\u201d With that, he left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I went to my room wanting to forget what had just happened. But deep down, I was curious! Did I still have my copy of the Book of Mormon? I opened up a box I kept some of my belongings in. I found the Book of Mormon. I wondered to myself, who was Joseph Smith? I thought\u2026if he died, so I could have this book, then the least I could do was read it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I opened up the book and tried, but the words were too difficult for me. I closed the book and held it close to me. I wish I could read better! I felt tremendous curiosity for the book and for Joseph Smith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was confused whether I should leave the Mormon church and convert to Catholicism. Becoming a Catholic was going to solve everything. Nick\u2019s mom would finally like me! Nick and I would get married and have a family of our own. So many thoughts\u2026.could this book be true? Could I have been born into the only true church? No, it couldn\u2019t be. Why would I be born into the only true church if the Lord wouldn\u2019t even allow me to have a real family, a family that truly cared about me? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My grandma\u2019s words came into my mind. \u201cHold fast to the church. It will bring you true happiness. Find a man who will marry you in the temple. You and your family will be blessed.\u201d I thought to myself, \u201cWouldn\u2019t the Lord still bless me if I didn\u2019t marry a man who could take me to the temple?\u201d Oh, I just had to read this book and find out more about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Nick came home, I told him about the book. Nick thumbed through the pages. He said, \u201cIt sounds like an interesting book. Let\u2019s read it together.\u201d We sat down on my bed, and he started to read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next few weeks, Nick read the whole book to me. Nick was so interested in the book that he brought it with him to school and read it in his spare time. The more he read, the more he was convinced that it was a true account of what had happened long ago. I wanted to share his excitement about the book. I felt it was true, but I knew it would only make matters worse with his mom. I worried about how everything would turn out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, May 14, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julia called to talk to me. It was Nick\u2019s mom who answered the phone. Instead of letting me know there was a call for me, she started yelling at Julia. She swore at Julia in Italian. Julia is also Italian, so she could understand what was being said. Julia tried to call me back later that day, only to have the same thing happen to her again. It makes me mad that I can\u2019t even talk to my friends when they call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, May 15, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick wanted to go to the Mormon Church to see what it was like. Nick\u2019s parents just assumed we were going to the Catholic Church. Nick looked up the Mormon Church in the phone book and called to find out what time the meetings started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We didn\u2019t want to make ourselves too noticeable, so we only went to Sacrament Meeting. We walked in, sat in the back, and slipped out again when it was over. When we left, Nick said, \u201cWow, I actually got something out of this meeting! I liked the feeling that was present. We should find out more about this church!\u201d I was nervous his mom would find out where we had been. Nick told me there was no way she could find out unless we told her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we got back from church, his mom was waiting for us. I thought for sure she knew where we had been. She started yelling again. I asked Nick if she had found out. He said, \u201cNo, she thinks your room is a mess.\u201d I said, \u201cWhat?\u201d Then we went into my room. I had made my bed before we left, and nothing was out of place. I asked Nick why she had to yell like that.  He said, as usual, \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it.\u201d I thought to myself, \u201cMan, if she knew where we had been, then she would have something to yell about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday, May 16, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today I got a letter from Grandma. She had sent 100 kroner along with her letter. I was happy to see the money. I put it in my wallet and thought I would have the money exchanged as soon as I could get to the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later that evening, Nick\u2019s mom started yelling again. This time, she was upset that my grandmother had sent me money and that I hadn\u2019t given it to her. I told Nick I needed to keep the money to buy personal hygiene products. He translated this to his mom. She yelled, \u201cNo matter! She should still have let me know she got the money! She should let me know out of respect!\u201d I don\u2019t know why she would care!  I have never asked her or Nick for money.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I then realized the only way she could have known I had Danish money was if she had taken my purse and gone through my wallet. I was so frustrated!  She is the one without respect!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This evening, while Nick\u2019s dad was gone, Mrs. Petru had left her bedroom door a crack. As I passed by, I stopped to see what she was doing. I saw the light was off, and she had lit a candle. She stood before the mirror, calling out to Mother Mary and Jesus Christ. It was scary to see and hear. I don\u2019t know if this was her way of praying. It seemed to me to be more like she was casting a spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I went to bed and fell asleep, I woke up to something cold that was next to me. I turned my head to see what it was. I couldn\u2019t see anything. Then I could hear someone talking to me in my thoughts. It was the strangest thing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It said, \u201cI am right here.\u201d I looked down at the floor, and I saw a spirit lying a couple of inches off the ground. It looked like Mrs. Petru. I could see right through her. Her eyes were most evil-looking and stared right at me. Her arms were folded across her chest. She was holding a long, sharp knife in her hands that was resting on her chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were able to communicate through our thoughts. I asked her what she wanted. She said she wanted to kill me…. then she added, if I became Catholic, she would spare my life. I was so scared, I hurried and pulled my blankets over my head. I tried to go back to sleep. I could still feel the cold spirit lying on the floor next to my bed. I thought to myself, I was losing my mind. It seemed forever before morning came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, May 17, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All day at school, I was tired because I had not slept much the night before. I had been afraid to fall asleep because of the spirit that was lying on the floor. When I saw Nick, I wanted to tell him what had happened, but I was afraid he would think I had gone crazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I went to bed, I was scared to fall asleep. When I finally fell asleep, I was woken up once again. The spirit was talking to my mind just like it had yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time, it was coming from the hall. It kept calling for my help. I wondered what was going on because the spirit sounded so sincere in its need for help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got out of bed and went into the hall. The hall was dark, so I quickly stepped back into my room. Then the spirit said, \u201cPlease\u2026help me!\u201d I thought it might be Nick lying in the hall, and that he needed help. I spoke out loud, \u201cNick, is that you?\u201d It just kept saying, \u201cHelp me!\u201d I said, \u201cNick, if it is you, please take my hand.\u201d I stretched my hand out to the shadow. Just as I had done that, it flew away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood there, stunned for a few seconds, wondering what had just taken place. Then I ran back and jumped into my bed as fast as I could! I then pulled the blankets over my head. Even though whatever had been there was gone, I laid awake the rest of the night, fearing it would return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, May 18, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was beside myself all day at school. After school, when I saw Nick, he asked me if I was okay. I told him about what had been happening to me the last couple of nights. Nick told me that he had read in the scriptures that I could raise my hand to the square and command the evil spirit to leave. He told me, \u201cIf it happens again tonight, you need to command it to go away.\u201d I promised him I would try it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it was time for bed, I was afraid to go to sleep. Sure enough, just as I was dozing off, a cold wind shook my whole body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There it was again, standing at the foot of my bed! At first, I pulled the covers over my head, hoping it would go away. I was so scared!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After lying there for a few minutes, I realized it was not going anywhere. I said a silent prayer to Heavenly Father, asking for strength to command it to go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After I had prayed, I pulled myself together. I then removed the covers from my head so that I could face whatever was there. I couldn’t see anything, but I could feel its presence. I raised my hand to the square. Then I said, \u201cIn the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to go away!\u201d The spirit came right at me with a wind so strong it blew my hair aside and shook my bed as it flew out of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then a peaceful feeling filled the room. I was able to lie down without being afraid. I said a prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for helping me. I soon fell asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, May 19, 1977<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I got back from school, Nick asked me if anything had occurred last night. I told him everything that had happened. We were both grateful that he had read in the scriptures about how to drive the evil spirit away. Now, I just hope it will stay away!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wednesday, May 4, 1977 I got a letter from Mom and Beth. Beth wrote that she has lost six teeth since I left Denmark. I miss her so much! I wish I were there to see her grow and change. Thursday, May 5, 1977 After school, I went to visit Sander. I asked if I could […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=266"}],"version-history":[{"count":116,"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12019,"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266\/revisions\/12019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.annemettehowland.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}