Wow... I'm super overwhelmed with emotion right now. Good e-mail... *sigh* Ok So this week has been so amazing! I am so overwhelmed with gratitude right now. Luckily I am at a church this time not at the library. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to answer my prayers. Man I wish I could express what I am feeling. I just know that every prayer is heard. Im so grateful that He loves me enough to let me have joy in my life. We have been so amazingly blessed this week. The guy that I told you about last week who ordered a book of Mormon has already decided to be baptized! So this is how it went down:
So we had an appointment with him and a member who is amazing. We taught him about the gospel of Jesus Christ (faith,baptism,holy ghost,etc). And while we were teaching I kept getting this prompting to commit him to be baptized. I was a little nervous because it was less than a week since we had even met him. But at the end of the lesson I asked him how he felt his relationship with our Savior had changed since we first met him (he didn't believe in Him then. He then pretty much bore his testimony about how he knew that Christ had Atoned for his sins and that He was his personal Savior. Then I asked him some more questions and then read a verse in 2 nephi 31 where it refers to baptism as a gate and I told him how he was waiting now at the gate and that our Heavenly Father is waiting on the other side of it with so many blessings and ... it's time to open the gate. So we extended the date of Sept 19th but he said he felt like he should read the whole Book of mormon first. Then our amazing member pipes in and talks about how you will never learn everything and that the blessing of the gospel is that it is an on going lesson. He also talked about how he would understand more as he had the companionship of the Holy Ghost which comes after baptism. BAMMM. So then I asked Will to pray and ask God if Sept 19th was the right date and he committed then our amazing member piped in again and said "well would you be comfortable if we did it now? Together?". My jaw dropped and that was def only something he could do as his friend (they go to school together). So right then and there we all got on our knees and Will said the most sincere and powerful prayer, pleading with His Heavenly Father for direction. Then after the prayer no one moved and we all just sat there feeling the spirit. At that moment I knew we had called down the powers of Heaven and I knew there was no way that the spirit would tell him it was wrong. Then Will sighed and looked up with a huge smile on his face and said "it feels good". It was seriously the most amazing thing ever. We have been meeting with him daily to prepare him to be baptized and he is so amazing. He is reading so quickly and has the greatest faith. I am so humbled by this opportunity to teach him. I feel so blessed that my Heavenly Father has trusted me to teach someone so amazing. I cant even explain the gratitude I feel in my heart right now. This is the greatest work ever!
Our other investigators are progressing well and our YW sweet spirit is so excited for her baptism. She loves young womens. So on to less exciting things... well sorta. One funny story. At the beginning of our lessons we sing a song and at one of our lessons I wanted to sing I need the ever hour... and I dont know what happened but I started the song soooooo low! It was terrible and our ward mission leader was there and he was belting out a very low bass line of the song. I felt terrible but I could not stop laughing... Just imagine trying to invite the spirit with that. It dosent work if you're wondering. haha.
So SUPER SAD NEWS..... ACTUALLY DEVASTATING!! The post office had a fit and decided they wouldn't forward our mail from the mission home anymore. So now I have to wait for the APs or zone leaders to bring it to us every once in a while! TRAGEDY!!!!! It breaks my little missionary mail loving heart. So those of you who write my I will give you my current address if you want to write me soon but if you're gonna take a while you might as well send it to the mission home just in case I move. But mom you can give my address to those you feel comfortable giving it to and I will do the rest. So its been a sad week and a half ... with no mail really. O well I guess it makes me more focused? ! ?
Well I sure love you all. I am so grateful for your support and prayers. Tell Sis Sanders thank you but I will send her a thank you when I get her address. That money is Heaven sent. This place is so crazy expensive but the members have stepped up on feeding us so that's nice (mostly because we are in two wards but we will give them some credit).
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!
-TATERS
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Loaves and the Fishes keep on comin
Sometimes I wonder if there will ever be a day when I don't cry in the middle of the library reading my email. Hahaha. It's not a bad cry, I just think that all the missing of people I have ignored during the week catches up with me on pdays when I read about home. I figure its the only time I can do it and still consider myself focused. haha.
I totally agree with you mom about worrying is a habit and a choice. Every reaction we have is. It is all in our head most of the time and if we rely on the Lord and ask for His help we can change our mind just like that!
I am super surprised that I didn't see Aunt Kenna but I guess the Lord knows best. It actually was best probably because sunday was so crazy amazing. I donno if I could have handled one more thing. So the two wards we now cover overlap by one hour. So we had 3 people at our first meeting then we had to teach gospel principles, but then we had to meet our other investigator right before church so he would feel comfortable... anyways It was nuts. Sis G and I ended up having to split up for a while so we could be everywhere at once. It worked out fine and I am just sooo grateful for the love that the Lord is pouring on us. We are seeing so many miracles already. SOOO... We only got one new investigator last week because we were working so hard to keep track of the 5 we got the week before and Heavenly Father knew that and soo he sent us a miracle investigator. He has a girlfriend who is a member of our church and so after she prompted him he requested a Book of Mormon online. Then we got the referral and met with him at the church where he proceeded to tell us that he knew nothing about God or Jesus Christ or anything about any church really because his family never taught it at home and he never had made the effort to look until now. It made me a little bit nervous to start clean slate but I thought to myself about who is at the head of this work and what I would be testifying of and my nerves were immediately calmed. Then he came to church on sunday and LOVED it! He has read through 1 Nephi 12 and is starting to read the bible also. He told us that he cant explain the way that he is feeling he said "I'm so happy. It just feels so good and soo right!" I could barely contain my excitement. He is truly manna from Heaven! HAHA. I feel overly blessed to be teaching him. The ward is so amazing too they support us so much and love to fellowship the new people. So lets just say that things have been fantastic!!!!
Another of our investigators is moving along well. She is coming with us on Saturday to clean the church with the Young Women in the ward. I asked her if she liked to clean and she said "Not at my house but I would at the church!" She is so great. She told us how last year in school she had to write a paper about someone who was your hero or and who had a big influence in your life that had passed on and she did hers on Joseph Smith. Mind you she had only been to church a few times as she went with her grandparent. She is so great and the young women are so excited to add another girl to there very small group of 5.
I have been working a lot on being more charitable. Not only in deed but also in thought. I have a motto of "refusing to find fault". I am working to look at the good in people rather than their faults which as humans we automatically notice first. It has been a challenge because our minds are such creatures of habit but I know with the help of my Savior my righteous desires will come forth.
So a couple of nights ago the sisters we live with were like ... WE HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU SIS WADSWORTH!! Then the proceeded to tell me that they got into an elevator with this guy in there and he smiled as they came in and said "do you know sis wadsworth?" and they were like yea we live with her. Then he responded "tell her David said hi" and my roomie was like well whats your last name so I can tell her and just like david would he said "Just say David, she will know who I am". SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO David Moncion was totally in a close by building. CRAZY!! HAHAHA. This city .... man its full of ...stuff. haha.
Well we are goin to play soccer with 3 zones of missionaries(like 30 missionaries). It should be FUN! I love you all and cant wait to hear about what happens next week.
love you to the moon and back
-kaitlyn
I totally agree with you mom about worrying is a habit and a choice. Every reaction we have is. It is all in our head most of the time and if we rely on the Lord and ask for His help we can change our mind just like that!
I am super surprised that I didn't see Aunt Kenna but I guess the Lord knows best. It actually was best probably because sunday was so crazy amazing. I donno if I could have handled one more thing. So the two wards we now cover overlap by one hour. So we had 3 people at our first meeting then we had to teach gospel principles, but then we had to meet our other investigator right before church so he would feel comfortable... anyways It was nuts. Sis G and I ended up having to split up for a while so we could be everywhere at once. It worked out fine and I am just sooo grateful for the love that the Lord is pouring on us. We are seeing so many miracles already. SOOO... We only got one new investigator last week because we were working so hard to keep track of the 5 we got the week before and Heavenly Father knew that and soo he sent us a miracle investigator. He has a girlfriend who is a member of our church and so after she prompted him he requested a Book of Mormon online. Then we got the referral and met with him at the church where he proceeded to tell us that he knew nothing about God or Jesus Christ or anything about any church really because his family never taught it at home and he never had made the effort to look until now. It made me a little bit nervous to start clean slate but I thought to myself about who is at the head of this work and what I would be testifying of and my nerves were immediately calmed. Then he came to church on sunday and LOVED it! He has read through 1 Nephi 12 and is starting to read the bible also. He told us that he cant explain the way that he is feeling he said "I'm so happy. It just feels so good and soo right!" I could barely contain my excitement. He is truly manna from Heaven! HAHA. I feel overly blessed to be teaching him. The ward is so amazing too they support us so much and love to fellowship the new people. So lets just say that things have been fantastic!!!!
Another of our investigators is moving along well. She is coming with us on Saturday to clean the church with the Young Women in the ward. I asked her if she liked to clean and she said "Not at my house but I would at the church!" She is so great. She told us how last year in school she had to write a paper about someone who was your hero or and who had a big influence in your life that had passed on and she did hers on Joseph Smith. Mind you she had only been to church a few times as she went with her grandparent. She is so great and the young women are so excited to add another girl to there very small group of 5.
I have been working a lot on being more charitable. Not only in deed but also in thought. I have a motto of "refusing to find fault". I am working to look at the good in people rather than their faults which as humans we automatically notice first. It has been a challenge because our minds are such creatures of habit but I know with the help of my Savior my righteous desires will come forth.
So a couple of nights ago the sisters we live with were like ... WE HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU SIS WADSWORTH!! Then the proceeded to tell me that they got into an elevator with this guy in there and he smiled as they came in and said "do you know sis wadsworth?" and they were like yea we live with her. Then he responded "tell her David said hi" and my roomie was like well whats your last name so I can tell her and just like david would he said "Just say David, she will know who I am". SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO David Moncion was totally in a close by building. CRAZY!! HAHAHA. This city .... man its full of ...stuff. haha.
Well we are goin to play soccer with 3 zones of missionaries(like 30 missionaries). It should be FUN! I love you all and cant wait to hear about what happens next week.
love you to the moon and back
-kaitlyn
Sunday, August 23, 2009
More keeps coming
Well I am not going to lie this week has been amazing! It's the end of the cycle and so it always makes me nervous. So here is the down low. Miracle... Sis Ganaha and I are STILL TOGETHER!!! YAYYYYY!! BUT... we were asked to take over another ward... the SINGLE'S WARD!! So now we cover two wards and areas. Luckily the single's ward contains our family ward but wow! I feel like we were just getting the handle on our area and getting things really pumped up but I guess I need to learn that there is ALWAYS more! I am really humbled with the trust the Lord has put in us to do this. I don't know how long it will last but it will be intense. We will have to go to a lot of church on Sunday. Skip a lot of meals and travel a lot more. BUT I AM SOOO EXCITED for this challenge. It is so cool to contact everyone and to be able to teach anyone we talk to (that lives in our area) no matter the age! I have missed contacting singles and working with them. They are so much more receptive because truthfully most of them are still trying to figure out life and what they believe or what they want in life. SO woot sauce about that. The single's ward we are in covers Julliard. So we will be teaching some very talented people. I don't even know what to think about the situation but I am both scared and excited. But I know that Heavenly Father will help us out and that we will see many miracles from the small efforts we can do on with our free will.
So we had a ward picnic last Saturday and we had some investigators there. It was so fantastic to see the ward members fellowshipping. Some of our ward members are seriously super stars. I am so grateful for them. One of investigators brought his 4 year old son Ricky (Who we just found out that his name was ricky not wicky because of his dad's accent we thought it was wickie this whole time and so we called him that... terrible). Anyways so Ricky is really shy but we wanted him to have fun and so I used my little kid magic and was playing with him and I ended up running around the park with him for like an hour straight playing tag and throwing a ball. Needless to say I was soooo hot and sweaty. Sweaty is natural here. It's so humid everyone is constantly wet just from walking around... so I was really sweaty at this point. But he had fun. Then after the ward activity we had an appointment with an investigator and because there was no other lady with us we had to teach in a public place so we decided to go back to the park. It was getting late and it got dark as we were teaching and we were by a light and there were bugs all over the place and I kept feeling myself getting bit. O man it was gross... So then the next morning I counted....14 BUG BITES!!!!! All over my legs and feet and a couple on my arms. I didn't have any sort of bug bite cream and of course it was Sunday! It was miserable. Try having 14 bug bits and wearing nylons and then it being really humid and sweating all day. HAHA. It the worst. I have also realized I am extra allergic to mosquito bites. They get really red and really swollen. I took pictures so you will see. Everyone says I look like I have chicken pox on my legs. SO... yea. I finally got to buy calamine (?) lotion and some bug bite stuff on Monday but man I could not sleep that night. So since then I have been sleeping with long socks on to keep me from scracting accidentally in the night. When I am awake I can do a good job not scratching. Hopefully that didn't gross anyone out too much.
We have member I love who fell and cut her toe really bad a couple of weeks ago and so she has stitches and has to wear a big shoe thing. She is going to a school to become a nursing assistant since she lost her job as a seamstress. But for some reason the school told her that she could not complete the class because she couldn't wear the correct uniform shoes. So she had to go to the doctor to get a piece of paper saying it was a legit injury. But when she brougth it back to the teacher she said it wasn't legit because there was no stamp on it. So she went back to the hospital to get it but no one had any idea what she was talking about. (SORRY this is a long preface). So when she told us her story we asked her if we could help and she said well you can come with me to the doctor again so that we can find the stamp. So we prayed really hard that we would be able to some how find this stamp that no one could find before. Then we went with her and I kept thinking that the Lord has given us the power to help the people in this area and she needs this and our faith is strong ... we can do it. So we walked up to the nurses desk and explained the situation and she was like "no we don't have a stamp. I have no idea what you are talking bout". Then we felt prompted to have her ask the actual doctor and right as she asked the doctor said "of course I never leave my house without my stamp" and then stamped it. I know that was prob not as cool of a story as I was in person but I felt so at peace that my Heavenly Father knew our situation and heard our prayers and gave us something as small as a little stamp. I know that prayers are answered. No matter how small they are. He loves us and He wants us to succeed. Our joy is His joy. Our prayers may not be answered how we expect them to but they will be answered in the way they are supposed to be. The way that will make us happiest. I am so grateful for that knowledge.
Well I sure love you guys. I hope that everything continues to go well. Good luck all of you who are starting school again. I'm not jealous of that quite yet. HAHAH.
love you to the moon and back
-Sis Wadsworth
So we had a ward picnic last Saturday and we had some investigators there. It was so fantastic to see the ward members fellowshipping. Some of our ward members are seriously super stars. I am so grateful for them. One of investigators brought his 4 year old son Ricky (Who we just found out that his name was ricky not wicky because of his dad's accent we thought it was wickie this whole time and so we called him that... terrible). Anyways so Ricky is really shy but we wanted him to have fun and so I used my little kid magic and was playing with him and I ended up running around the park with him for like an hour straight playing tag and throwing a ball. Needless to say I was soooo hot and sweaty. Sweaty is natural here. It's so humid everyone is constantly wet just from walking around... so I was really sweaty at this point. But he had fun. Then after the ward activity we had an appointment with an investigator and because there was no other lady with us we had to teach in a public place so we decided to go back to the park. It was getting late and it got dark as we were teaching and we were by a light and there were bugs all over the place and I kept feeling myself getting bit. O man it was gross... So then the next morning I counted....14 BUG BITES!!!!! All over my legs and feet and a couple on my arms. I didn't have any sort of bug bite cream and of course it was Sunday! It was miserable. Try having 14 bug bits and wearing nylons and then it being really humid and sweating all day. HAHA. It the worst. I have also realized I am extra allergic to mosquito bites. They get really red and really swollen. I took pictures so you will see. Everyone says I look like I have chicken pox on my legs. SO... yea. I finally got to buy calamine (?) lotion and some bug bite stuff on Monday but man I could not sleep that night. So since then I have been sleeping with long socks on to keep me from scracting accidentally in the night. When I am awake I can do a good job not scratching. Hopefully that didn't gross anyone out too much.
We have member I love who fell and cut her toe really bad a couple of weeks ago and so she has stitches and has to wear a big shoe thing. She is going to a school to become a nursing assistant since she lost her job as a seamstress. But for some reason the school told her that she could not complete the class because she couldn't wear the correct uniform shoes. So she had to go to the doctor to get a piece of paper saying it was a legit injury. But when she brougth it back to the teacher she said it wasn't legit because there was no stamp on it. So she went back to the hospital to get it but no one had any idea what she was talking about. (SORRY this is a long preface). So when she told us her story we asked her if we could help and she said well you can come with me to the doctor again so that we can find the stamp. So we prayed really hard that we would be able to some how find this stamp that no one could find before. Then we went with her and I kept thinking that the Lord has given us the power to help the people in this area and she needs this and our faith is strong ... we can do it. So we walked up to the nurses desk and explained the situation and she was like "no we don't have a stamp. I have no idea what you are talking bout". Then we felt prompted to have her ask the actual doctor and right as she asked the doctor said "of course I never leave my house without my stamp" and then stamped it. I know that was prob not as cool of a story as I was in person but I felt so at peace that my Heavenly Father knew our situation and heard our prayers and gave us something as small as a little stamp. I know that prayers are answered. No matter how small they are. He loves us and He wants us to succeed. Our joy is His joy. Our prayers may not be answered how we expect them to but they will be answered in the way they are supposed to be. The way that will make us happiest. I am so grateful for that knowledge.
Well I sure love you guys. I hope that everything continues to go well. Good luck all of you who are starting school again. I'm not jealous of that quite yet. HAHAH.
love you to the moon and back
-Sis Wadsworth
Sunday, August 16, 2009
going and going and going
Hello Friends and Family,
So this week was a roller coaster (as a mission always is). Our baptismal date's mother decided they were going to go out of town this weekend at the last minute, preventing her from coming to church and thus preventing her from being our baptismal date. Just a little humbling reality check to keep us on our toes. But its ok she will make it when she is ready. We got some amazing new investigators this week but sadly we are finding the people who are not very committed. They get us all excited and then disappear. So we are trying to be more careful where we look for people to teach. We need Kingdom builders here for sure! haha.
We do have this super cool investigator. Anyways before our lesson this week we went and played H.O.R.S.E at a local park because he loves basketball. And Sister G was so amazing. She kept doing these crazy shots. One time she shot it with her eyes closed but the best was when she hit the ball into the basket with HER HEAD!!! Anyways we told him it was the holy ghost.. haha jk. It was cool though and we are just working on getting him to stop partying and come to church instead!
So two days ago sis g and I were walking to our dinner appointment and this guy was walking towards us and I was like "o snap... that's Tim Gun" and sure enough it was. HAHA. I was so scared though. If he wasn't who he was I totally would have contacted him. hahah. I tried to get a picture as he walked away but its not a good one. I thought you would be excited mom. It was hard to explain to sis g who he was because they don't watch project runway in japan. but then like 5 seconds later we walked passed a billboard and he was on it with heidi Klum. Anyways it was funny and pretty cool. I always see people I recognize but this guy I actually knew his name. lol.
SOO... the ward I am in now is known for being the tourist ward because its at a good time and its at the temple so its where all the tourists know to go. So I was walking out to find one of our investigators before church on sunday and I hear "gasp... KAITLYN!!" I was like ... woah .. that's my real name and then I turned around and saw my friend Alicia from the walk in center that I worked at at byu. Jason knows her too. It was so weird. Then she was like o I'm going to text megan and tell her. Then she said megan was freaking out... (kinda like i was). SOO.. the point of this story is that this is prob the most distracting mission in the world... Sis G was like... I am so glad I am not in my country. haha. Like all time there is music blaring that I love and billboards and advertisements EVERYWHERE for the movies coming out and books and concerts(Its like being on the strip 24/7). There are so many good places to eat and always little flea markets everywhere and fun stores to shop at. And I see people I know or people who know my family all the time. ALL OF WHICH I HAVE TO IGNORE!!! I am seriously learning major self control. I'm not saying in anyway that my mission is harder than anyone elses (they are all different and hard). But seriously. There are so many distractions. soo my little vent is over now. Its a good learning experience though.
So we had mission conference yesterday and the new mission president is going to be doing things a little different. I guess we aren't supposed to have mission conferences (?) and so we will be doing something different but he did say that we can take naps longer than 15 minutes now!! WHOOO!!! hahaha. They also told us that we will be getting a lot more sister missionaries in our mission. I don't know if its because he requested it or if there are just more sisters serving. I think its a little of both! WHOO SISTER POWER! But it will be exciting because he said they will be opening a lot more sister areas and so we can serve in more than 2 parts of our mission! YAYA!
So I am glad that everything is going well with the family. I show everyone I can pictures of Janson. He's already doing missionary work. haha. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have been given to be a missionary. It is not easy at all but it is something I wouldn't ever give away. I hope I can live up to the standards the Lord has set for us so that we can be worthy of His blessings and the joy that I know comes from living a righteous life. I am so grateful for my ancestors who paved the path for me to be a missionary right now at this time and age. I think often of what the pioneers went through and how I am far from experiencing what they did and so I am grateful to be here to support what they did back then.
Well... I am off to .... .drum roll please ... the Yankee's game!!!! Don't be too jealous I will be melting while wearing my nylons.
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK
-TATERS
PS.. transfers are next Wednesday... we are not expecting any changes but just in case you know the drill ma.
So this week was a roller coaster (as a mission always is). Our baptismal date's mother decided they were going to go out of town this weekend at the last minute, preventing her from coming to church and thus preventing her from being our baptismal date. Just a little humbling reality check to keep us on our toes. But its ok she will make it when she is ready. We got some amazing new investigators this week but sadly we are finding the people who are not very committed. They get us all excited and then disappear. So we are trying to be more careful where we look for people to teach. We need Kingdom builders here for sure! haha.
We do have this super cool investigator. Anyways before our lesson this week we went and played H.O.R.S.E at a local park because he loves basketball. And Sister G was so amazing. She kept doing these crazy shots. One time she shot it with her eyes closed but the best was when she hit the ball into the basket with HER HEAD!!! Anyways we told him it was the holy ghost.. haha jk. It was cool though and we are just working on getting him to stop partying and come to church instead!
So two days ago sis g and I were walking to our dinner appointment and this guy was walking towards us and I was like "o snap... that's Tim Gun" and sure enough it was. HAHA. I was so scared though. If he wasn't who he was I totally would have contacted him. hahah. I tried to get a picture as he walked away but its not a good one. I thought you would be excited mom. It was hard to explain to sis g who he was because they don't watch project runway in japan. but then like 5 seconds later we walked passed a billboard and he was on it with heidi Klum. Anyways it was funny and pretty cool. I always see people I recognize but this guy I actually knew his name. lol.
SOO... the ward I am in now is known for being the tourist ward because its at a good time and its at the temple so its where all the tourists know to go. So I was walking out to find one of our investigators before church on sunday and I hear "gasp... KAITLYN!!" I was like ... woah .. that's my real name and then I turned around and saw my friend Alicia from the walk in center that I worked at at byu. Jason knows her too. It was so weird. Then she was like o I'm going to text megan and tell her. Then she said megan was freaking out... (kinda like i was). SOO.. the point of this story is that this is prob the most distracting mission in the world... Sis G was like... I am so glad I am not in my country. haha. Like all time there is music blaring that I love and billboards and advertisements EVERYWHERE for the movies coming out and books and concerts(Its like being on the strip 24/7). There are so many good places to eat and always little flea markets everywhere and fun stores to shop at. And I see people I know or people who know my family all the time. ALL OF WHICH I HAVE TO IGNORE!!! I am seriously learning major self control. I'm not saying in anyway that my mission is harder than anyone elses (they are all different and hard). But seriously. There are so many distractions. soo my little vent is over now. Its a good learning experience though.
So we had mission conference yesterday and the new mission president is going to be doing things a little different. I guess we aren't supposed to have mission conferences (?) and so we will be doing something different but he did say that we can take naps longer than 15 minutes now!! WHOOO!!! hahaha. They also told us that we will be getting a lot more sister missionaries in our mission. I don't know if its because he requested it or if there are just more sisters serving. I think its a little of both! WHOO SISTER POWER! But it will be exciting because he said they will be opening a lot more sister areas and so we can serve in more than 2 parts of our mission! YAYA!
So I am glad that everything is going well with the family. I show everyone I can pictures of Janson. He's already doing missionary work. haha. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have been given to be a missionary. It is not easy at all but it is something I wouldn't ever give away. I hope I can live up to the standards the Lord has set for us so that we can be worthy of His blessings and the joy that I know comes from living a righteous life. I am so grateful for my ancestors who paved the path for me to be a missionary right now at this time and age. I think often of what the pioneers went through and how I am far from experiencing what they did and so I am grateful to be here to support what they did back then.
Well... I am off to .... .drum roll please ... the Yankee's game!!!! Don't be too jealous I will be melting while wearing my nylons.
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK
-TATERS
PS.. transfers are next Wednesday... we are not expecting any changes but just in case you know the drill ma.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Photos - Finally
We have had scanner issues and have not been able to add any of the photos Katy has sent to us. This week she sent us a CD with a bunch of photos cause her photo memory was full, so now I can add a few photos! They are of her and some of her converts and in Central park and outside her old apartment. Thanks, Pauline
I seriously can't believe the summer is almost over (hartke has closed). It seriously blows my mind how fast time is going. The days seem long but the weeks fly by. Its a terrible curse.
Anyways we have had such an amazing week. I am just constantly reminded of how aware our Heavenly Father is of each of us. Im sure you could tell from my emails these last couple of months that things in this area are tough. I felt like everyday we were just running in circles with no success. But I put my trust in the Lord because I know that no effort goes wasted when we are doing the Lord's work. So I would just tell myself... there is success around the corner.. I know it... I wont get frustrated. So needless to say this week has been amazing. We looked up a less active last week (I think I told you) who has two daughters 13 and 8. So we went to see them and then the 13 year old told us how much she loves the BOM and how she takes it to school to read during breaks. And pretty much shes amazing and she went to church with us and has accepted a baptismal date. She will get baptized at the end of the month!! MIRACLE!!! Then also this week we have gotten so many media referrals. People requesting free items or just a visit from us. So one was a lady name Yvette and she wanted a missionary visit because recently when she went to visit her uncle in Georgia she met the missionaries there who were teaching her uncle and he got baptized! So she was able to see his conversion and decided she wanted to also learn more. So we met with her last night for the first time. She is so cute and we had a relief society activity right after our lesson and she came with us and got along so well with the ladies there and loved it!! It was priceless. I couldn't stop smiling as I watched her talk with everyone and just bounce around meeting all the ladies. The ward was so great too to reach out to her and make her feel welcome! HALLELUJAH! So pretty much we are trying to stay humble and remember that we are not the ones producing these miracles. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has trusted me to work with these amazing children of God.
So on a sad note one of our APs who I actually was my first zone leader and I served around him my whole mission just went home and they told us two days ago that he has been diagnosed with Leukemia. It's been really sad but also such a faith builder. He is such an amazing missionary and so high spirited. Please keep elder evans in your prayers. They have said that he has a very high chance of recovering completely. We are so grateful for that. It has just been a very humbling experience. I know that our trials will never disappear completely but I am so grateful for the gospel which gives us the strength to not only overcome them but to grow and learn from them.
So funny story. We have been working with this less active Irene that I have mentioned before. She is so great and has been coming to church steadily. So this Sunday was testimony meeting and she got up to bear her testimony and it was so pure and sweet. Then during it she decided to do some shout outs... She said "I would like to thank Sis Ganaha and Sis Wadsworth for meeting with me to help me build my faith and not giving up on me. But I do wish I had one more thing. I have asked multiple times for home teachers and I have not seen them for over 3 years".... HAHA. So she pretty much called her home teachers to repentance. It was so funny though and everyone after her commented about it and it was really cute. The funny thing is her home teachers have been trying to see her they just get shut down by her daughter that lives there or cant get a hold of her. The 2nd counselor stood up and was like "man if everyone stood up and announced who hadn't been home taught yet this month I think we would get a lot more home teaching done so .. .starting next month we will do that... " haha. It was fantastic.
Also a funny side note. I have spent more time in Starbucks on my mission then I have in my whole life thus far. One because its free to sit in them and teach when people are not comfortable with us in their homes or to do studies. And second because they have public bathrooms. (Thank goodness for those bathrooms... they have saved me countless times). So if dad gets Starbucks cards this year for Christmas ... I call dibs on them for all the yummy desserts they have! I know weird huh?
So we are off now to go to Chinatown for a crazy day of fun. I don't really know what we expect to find but I'm excited to spend more than an hour lunch break there after a meeting running around thinking ... only ten more minutes ... hurry!
LOVE YOU ALL TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!
-TOOTS
I seriously can't believe the summer is almost over (hartke has closed). It seriously blows my mind how fast time is going. The days seem long but the weeks fly by. Its a terrible curse.
Anyways we have had such an amazing week. I am just constantly reminded of how aware our Heavenly Father is of each of us. Im sure you could tell from my emails these last couple of months that things in this area are tough. I felt like everyday we were just running in circles with no success. But I put my trust in the Lord because I know that no effort goes wasted when we are doing the Lord's work. So I would just tell myself... there is success around the corner.. I know it... I wont get frustrated. So needless to say this week has been amazing. We looked up a less active last week (I think I told you) who has two daughters 13 and 8. So we went to see them and then the 13 year old told us how much she loves the BOM and how she takes it to school to read during breaks. And pretty much shes amazing and she went to church with us and has accepted a baptismal date. She will get baptized at the end of the month!! MIRACLE!!! Then also this week we have gotten so many media referrals. People requesting free items or just a visit from us. So one was a lady name Yvette and she wanted a missionary visit because recently when she went to visit her uncle in Georgia she met the missionaries there who were teaching her uncle and he got baptized! So she was able to see his conversion and decided she wanted to also learn more. So we met with her last night for the first time. She is so cute and we had a relief society activity right after our lesson and she came with us and got along so well with the ladies there and loved it!! It was priceless. I couldn't stop smiling as I watched her talk with everyone and just bounce around meeting all the ladies. The ward was so great too to reach out to her and make her feel welcome! HALLELUJAH! So pretty much we are trying to stay humble and remember that we are not the ones producing these miracles. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has trusted me to work with these amazing children of God.
So on a sad note one of our APs who I actually was my first zone leader and I served around him my whole mission just went home and they told us two days ago that he has been diagnosed with Leukemia. It's been really sad but also such a faith builder. He is such an amazing missionary and so high spirited. Please keep elder evans in your prayers. They have said that he has a very high chance of recovering completely. We are so grateful for that. It has just been a very humbling experience. I know that our trials will never disappear completely but I am so grateful for the gospel which gives us the strength to not only overcome them but to grow and learn from them.
So funny story. We have been working with this less active Irene that I have mentioned before. She is so great and has been coming to church steadily. So this Sunday was testimony meeting and she got up to bear her testimony and it was so pure and sweet. Then during it she decided to do some shout outs... She said "I would like to thank Sis Ganaha and Sis Wadsworth for meeting with me to help me build my faith and not giving up on me. But I do wish I had one more thing. I have asked multiple times for home teachers and I have not seen them for over 3 years".... HAHA. So she pretty much called her home teachers to repentance. It was so funny though and everyone after her commented about it and it was really cute. The funny thing is her home teachers have been trying to see her they just get shut down by her daughter that lives there or cant get a hold of her. The 2nd counselor stood up and was like "man if everyone stood up and announced who hadn't been home taught yet this month I think we would get a lot more home teaching done so .. .starting next month we will do that... " haha. It was fantastic.
Also a funny side note. I have spent more time in Starbucks on my mission then I have in my whole life thus far. One because its free to sit in them and teach when people are not comfortable with us in their homes or to do studies. And second because they have public bathrooms. (Thank goodness for those bathrooms... they have saved me countless times). So if dad gets Starbucks cards this year for Christmas ... I call dibs on them for all the yummy desserts they have! I know weird huh?
So we are off now to go to Chinatown for a crazy day of fun. I don't really know what we expect to find but I'm excited to spend more than an hour lunch break there after a meeting running around thinking ... only ten more minutes ... hurry!
LOVE YOU ALL TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!
-TOOTS
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The rain keeps coming
We just braved the pouring rain to get to the library. WoW i don't think it will ever end.
So this was a fun week. First off President Smith called and asked sis ganaha and I to teach a workshop for a youth conference. The youth from the cherrhill new jersey stake came to new york. It was intense and a lot of pressure. We had to teach 3 - 50 minute classes. It was really fun though. It was funny to see all the little cliques and stuff. Man I dont miss those years of life. hahah. But it made me really want to be an efy counselor. It was fun and was nice to have a change from the regular routine. I hope they enjoyed it and learned something. It also felt good to know that President already trusted us enough to do that!
So it was really funny a couple of days ago on the bus sis ganaha was on one end talking to someone and I was on the other end doing the same and then when we got out she was still talking to her contact and so I just walked behind them and man... something smelt sooo bad. I just figured it was something outside because it really smelt like pee. Then I realized when I stepped away from Sis G and her contact the smell would disappear. Then I noticed the lady she was talking to had peed herself. EEEKS! Right as I realized that I heard sis G say "Man it really smells bad out here huh?" hahaha... anyways.. guess you had to be there but it was pretty funny.
So a cool thing happened on pioneer day. We were walking across the street to find a bathroom and then eat dinner and this guy was like "sisters!!! What are you doin right now? " we told him we were about to eat and he was like well let me treat you. So this guy totally bought us chipotle (which is way too expensive for us). He is a BYU professor named Bro Neilson and he teaches religion: church history classes. He was here to talk to people of other faiths. He was so great!! So I know that you can find teacher's email address on the BYU website directory thing. So I was wondering if someone could find him and send him a thank you email for me! :D It really was so nice. I cant get over it. He also has a show on the new mormonradio thing. He was awesome!!!
So here is a tip I would like to share with the world about working with missionaries. If you ever feed them LET THEM SERVE THEMSELVES!!! o MAN... I cant tell you how many times I have gotten sick from trying to eat all that people give us. I blame the members for any weight I gain. haha. Sometimes I'm really hungry... sometimes I'm not.. so please let me choose how much I eat. lol!
I got the greatest pictures of Janson from Britt. O i just love them. Did britt cut her hair? I have been showing them to everyone.
So today we went to the temple. I love it there. sooo peaceful. My thoughts are always turned to my family past, present and future. What a beautiful thing we have to know that we can all be together forever. After we went to the temple sis g and our apartment mates went to two of the most famous NY bakeries. OOOOO MY O MY. Crumbs and magnolia's . I cant wait to take you guys... Heaven is what it should really be called :D.
The work is going really well. We had an investigator at church this week and it was her second time. She is so cute and says that she feels peace when she reads the scriptures. I totally agree with her. They always ease my worries. Scripture POWER!! woot!
Well I love you all so much! Don't forget that!
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!
-SIS WADSWORTH
So this was a fun week. First off President Smith called and asked sis ganaha and I to teach a workshop for a youth conference. The youth from the cherrhill new jersey stake came to new york. It was intense and a lot of pressure. We had to teach 3 - 50 minute classes. It was really fun though. It was funny to see all the little cliques and stuff. Man I dont miss those years of life. hahah. But it made me really want to be an efy counselor. It was fun and was nice to have a change from the regular routine. I hope they enjoyed it and learned something. It also felt good to know that President already trusted us enough to do that!
So it was really funny a couple of days ago on the bus sis ganaha was on one end talking to someone and I was on the other end doing the same and then when we got out she was still talking to her contact and so I just walked behind them and man... something smelt sooo bad. I just figured it was something outside because it really smelt like pee. Then I realized when I stepped away from Sis G and her contact the smell would disappear. Then I noticed the lady she was talking to had peed herself. EEEKS! Right as I realized that I heard sis G say "Man it really smells bad out here huh?" hahaha... anyways.. guess you had to be there but it was pretty funny.
So a cool thing happened on pioneer day. We were walking across the street to find a bathroom and then eat dinner and this guy was like "sisters!!! What are you doin right now? " we told him we were about to eat and he was like well let me treat you. So this guy totally bought us chipotle (which is way too expensive for us). He is a BYU professor named Bro Neilson and he teaches religion: church history classes. He was here to talk to people of other faiths. He was so great!! So I know that you can find teacher's email address on the BYU website directory thing. So I was wondering if someone could find him and send him a thank you email for me! :D It really was so nice. I cant get over it. He also has a show on the new mormonradio thing. He was awesome!!!
So here is a tip I would like to share with the world about working with missionaries. If you ever feed them LET THEM SERVE THEMSELVES!!! o MAN... I cant tell you how many times I have gotten sick from trying to eat all that people give us. I blame the members for any weight I gain. haha. Sometimes I'm really hungry... sometimes I'm not.. so please let me choose how much I eat. lol!
I got the greatest pictures of Janson from Britt. O i just love them. Did britt cut her hair? I have been showing them to everyone.
So today we went to the temple. I love it there. sooo peaceful. My thoughts are always turned to my family past, present and future. What a beautiful thing we have to know that we can all be together forever. After we went to the temple sis g and our apartment mates went to two of the most famous NY bakeries. OOOOO MY O MY. Crumbs and magnolia's . I cant wait to take you guys... Heaven is what it should really be called :D.
The work is going really well. We had an investigator at church this week and it was her second time. She is so cute and says that she feels peace when she reads the scriptures. I totally agree with her. They always ease my worries. Scripture POWER!! woot!
Well I love you all so much! Don't forget that!
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!
-SIS WADSWORTH
Sunday, July 26, 2009
So this week has been ... interesting. Well I just wanted to say how much I appreciated your tape. I have had some things on my mind that have been concerning me. The reason I am not going into detail is because I have decided to not let this affect me. I am on a mission. This is my short period of time to give everything to the Lord. One night I couldn't really sleep and I was just praying for comfort and guidance. Then the quote by president Hinckley's father came to mind. "FORGET YOURSELF AND GO TO WORK". So I decided that is what I must do. It's interesting to be in a place where you really have no one to just talk to about your feelings or something that is bothering you. That is except the Lord. I am so grateful for the chance I have been given to 100% rely on the Lord. With no best friend or mother to cry to. lol. Anyways. I have already seen a difference in myself as I have made a strong effort to focus 100% of my thoughts and deeds on this work. The deeds part is easy... the thoughts part is a bit of a challenge. haha. I know that as I surrender my will and my dreams and my hopes during this time in my life to do only what the Lord wants done, I will find what will really bring me happiness. The work will be easier and my burdens will not be my burdens anymore. ANYWAYS... thank you for your support. Your tape was a tender mercy for sure.
So on to happier things. We helped a less active lady a couple of weeks ago pull up the carpet in her apartment and clean up the place a bit and so this week she made us dinner to repay us. She is from Belize and o man it was so delicious and yes... she taught me how to make some of it myself. Sweet plantains are now my specialty. haha. But the coolest part was after the lesson we taught her about the temple and during the lesson I felt prompted to promise her that if she prepared to go the temple and then attended regularly that her family would see a difference in her and have a desire to learn about the gospel (which they are not receptive to at this point in time). After I said it I thought WHOA... did I really just say that? Where did that come from? It was really awesome to feel the spirit teach through me and that I could make promises that God wanted for her.
So funny story: We were sleeping one night and I awoke to a noise but I was too sleepy to realize what it was. Then I kept hearing these cracks and pops and bangs outside of our apartment. Then I heard fire trucks. Lots of them. I was so delirious that I didn't quite know what it was until I smelt smoke and burning rubber. So I got up at like 4 am and looked out the window only to see nothing but dark smoke and the lights of the fire trucks shining though right in front of our apartment. I freaked out and yelled "SISTER GET UP OUR APARTMENT BUILDING IS ON FIREEEEEE!!!" She obviously jumped up and then followed me out to the other sisters room. Man I was panicked so many thoughts went through my head. one being "man I am glad all my clothes are ugly, I dont care that they will burn". haha. So I run into the other room and again yell "GET UP OUR APARTMENT IS ON FIRE!!" One of the sisters bolted up like we did and the other one laughed. Then she explained to me that she had been up for like the last hour watching what really had happened. A car had crashed into a truck in the street in front of our apartment. It was pretty intense but still ... no fire in our apartment. haha. The car had caught on fire and that's what I saw. Its funny what happens when you are half asleep and possibly high on rubber. :D
So the work is going well we are working on getting our ward members excited to share the gospel with their friends. We are going to try and do the pass along card thing that they did in our ward a while ago. One person gives a card away, then passes it to someone else to do. This week I did have the chance to bear my testimony about the family proclamation which I JUST LOVE. Especially with my major in school I am so glad to know what God expects from each of us and our families.
Keep sending me recipes mom. I like to hear quick little things I can make. Well I gotta rush off. We are going to the Holocaust museum on the bottom of the island. WOOt..
Love you all to the moon and back
I love being a missionary!!!
-Sis
So on to happier things. We helped a less active lady a couple of weeks ago pull up the carpet in her apartment and clean up the place a bit and so this week she made us dinner to repay us. She is from Belize and o man it was so delicious and yes... she taught me how to make some of it myself. Sweet plantains are now my specialty. haha. But the coolest part was after the lesson we taught her about the temple and during the lesson I felt prompted to promise her that if she prepared to go the temple and then attended regularly that her family would see a difference in her and have a desire to learn about the gospel (which they are not receptive to at this point in time). After I said it I thought WHOA... did I really just say that? Where did that come from? It was really awesome to feel the spirit teach through me and that I could make promises that God wanted for her.
So funny story: We were sleeping one night and I awoke to a noise but I was too sleepy to realize what it was. Then I kept hearing these cracks and pops and bangs outside of our apartment. Then I heard fire trucks. Lots of them. I was so delirious that I didn't quite know what it was until I smelt smoke and burning rubber. So I got up at like 4 am and looked out the window only to see nothing but dark smoke and the lights of the fire trucks shining though right in front of our apartment. I freaked out and yelled "SISTER GET UP OUR APARTMENT BUILDING IS ON FIREEEEEE!!!" She obviously jumped up and then followed me out to the other sisters room. Man I was panicked so many thoughts went through my head. one being "man I am glad all my clothes are ugly, I dont care that they will burn". haha. So I run into the other room and again yell "GET UP OUR APARTMENT IS ON FIRE!!" One of the sisters bolted up like we did and the other one laughed. Then she explained to me that she had been up for like the last hour watching what really had happened. A car had crashed into a truck in the street in front of our apartment. It was pretty intense but still ... no fire in our apartment. haha. The car had caught on fire and that's what I saw. Its funny what happens when you are half asleep and possibly high on rubber. :D
So the work is going well we are working on getting our ward members excited to share the gospel with their friends. We are going to try and do the pass along card thing that they did in our ward a while ago. One person gives a card away, then passes it to someone else to do. This week I did have the chance to bear my testimony about the family proclamation which I JUST LOVE. Especially with my major in school I am so glad to know what God expects from each of us and our families.
Keep sending me recipes mom. I like to hear quick little things I can make. Well I gotta rush off. We are going to the Holocaust museum on the bottom of the island. WOOt..
Love you all to the moon and back
I love being a missionary!!!
-Sis
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Man i think computers are such a pain sometimes. I just tried to write my letter to the president like 5 times and something weird kept happening. Anyways. It sounds like everything is going well back home. Seems like some distant life I had. LOL!
Sis Gananha is from Tokyo.
Man I usually write down things I want to say in my letters but I had a massive headache last night so I went to bed early. Now I cant remember what to tell you about.
Well on Sunday I sang in church it was seriously the most stressful Sunday of my whole mission. A good stressful but stressful none the less. We had to go to ward council at 10 and then we had to pick one of our investigators up to go early with us and then she brought one of her friends. Then during ward council the bishop gets a call and says well looks like a general authority will be joining us for church today. AHHHH... I WAS SINGING! And then the my pianist was late to practice and we had 3 investigators at church and a less active who had not been there in 5 years. O man and none of our ward missionaries were there to help. WOW... JUST WOW! buttttttttttttt needless to say the Lord gave us the help we needed and it all worked out. The general authority was Elder Stevenson. He spoke in conference right after Elder Bednar. Anyways he was so sweet. My song went well. and our investigators all enjoyed church. God is for sure watchin out for us.
Gene was not able to make it to church this week when I sang and boy was he sad. The reason was because last Sunday the elevators were not working right in his building and he didn't want to miss church so this sweet 91 year old man walked down 20 flights of stairs. Just for church. It hurt him quite a bit but can you believe that?? Amazing..
So today for pday we did something I think mom will appreciate. We went to salvation army!!! I wanted to find a fan but no luck. But all the clothes and shoes were half off and so i found a top for 2 bucks and some rain boots that would be 5 if they were half off. But as I got to the counter the guy informed they were not on sale. So I was like o ok I wont get them then. Then he looked at my name tag and then looked at me and said "is it out of your budget?" and I was like well yea but that's ok. Then he said.. well my eyes are pretty bad let me look again. and then he said o yea they are on sale. hahah. And gave them to me for 5 dollars. What a tender mercy! So mom just so you know your not the only one who can charm the thrift store workers. hahah. I bet now that I finally got rain boots it wont rain anymore. lol.
Sis Ganaha has been sick. :( She has a bad cough but it doesn't effect her work. Shes amazing. I just hope i don't get it. Its going around the mission I guess.
We have seen a lot of small miracles this week. We talked to a lady on the street and she invited us in right away. Then we met her two adorable twin daughters who are 21 and looking for more truth. Unfortunately they will be for the singles ward missionaries but still a solid investigators is good for everyone.
My knees have been bothering me a lot. I think I have the lovely Wadsworth knees YIPPEE!! But I think it also has a lot to do with walking about 8 miles a day on hard concrete.
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK..
TATERS
Sis Gananha is from Tokyo.
Man I usually write down things I want to say in my letters but I had a massive headache last night so I went to bed early. Now I cant remember what to tell you about.
Well on Sunday I sang in church it was seriously the most stressful Sunday of my whole mission. A good stressful but stressful none the less. We had to go to ward council at 10 and then we had to pick one of our investigators up to go early with us and then she brought one of her friends. Then during ward council the bishop gets a call and says well looks like a general authority will be joining us for church today. AHHHH... I WAS SINGING! And then the my pianist was late to practice and we had 3 investigators at church and a less active who had not been there in 5 years. O man and none of our ward missionaries were there to help. WOW... JUST WOW! buttttttttttttt needless to say the Lord gave us the help we needed and it all worked out. The general authority was Elder Stevenson. He spoke in conference right after Elder Bednar. Anyways he was so sweet. My song went well. and our investigators all enjoyed church. God is for sure watchin out for us.
Gene was not able to make it to church this week when I sang and boy was he sad. The reason was because last Sunday the elevators were not working right in his building and he didn't want to miss church so this sweet 91 year old man walked down 20 flights of stairs. Just for church. It hurt him quite a bit but can you believe that?? Amazing..
So today for pday we did something I think mom will appreciate. We went to salvation army!!! I wanted to find a fan but no luck. But all the clothes and shoes were half off and so i found a top for 2 bucks and some rain boots that would be 5 if they were half off. But as I got to the counter the guy informed they were not on sale. So I was like o ok I wont get them then. Then he looked at my name tag and then looked at me and said "is it out of your budget?" and I was like well yea but that's ok. Then he said.. well my eyes are pretty bad let me look again. and then he said o yea they are on sale. hahah. And gave them to me for 5 dollars. What a tender mercy! So mom just so you know your not the only one who can charm the thrift store workers. hahah. I bet now that I finally got rain boots it wont rain anymore. lol.
Sis Ganaha has been sick. :( She has a bad cough but it doesn't effect her work. Shes amazing. I just hope i don't get it. Its going around the mission I guess.
We have seen a lot of small miracles this week. We talked to a lady on the street and she invited us in right away. Then we met her two adorable twin daughters who are 21 and looking for more truth. Unfortunately they will be for the singles ward missionaries but still a solid investigators is good for everyone.
My knees have been bothering me a lot. I think I have the lovely Wadsworth knees YIPPEE!! But I think it also has a lot to do with walking about 8 miles a day on hard concrete.
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK..
TATERS
Thursday, July 9, 2009
So transfers came and went FINALLY I AM NOT MOVING OR LOOSIN A COMPANION. Such a tender mercy. I don't think I could handle another change. I am soooo so so so soo grateful to be with Sis Ganaha again. She is a super star and I love being with her. So this week was kinda strange and filled with events that don't usually happen. For example we got a new mission president. We surprised President and Sis Searle before they left though and the whole mission got together and sang them a song as they came in and then just told them how much we loved them and the coolest thing happened. President gave us permission to hug HIM!!!! AHHHH! It was sooooo awesome! We don't get to do that like ever. It was hard to see them go and a little strange to meet our new mission president. They are much different from the searles. They are from Rexburg Idaho. lol. My favorite place (they will never know that btw). They are not bad or anything I am really learning to love them. they are just different. I really don't know them very well so I don't know what to tell you about them other than I have come to know that in order to be a mission president you have to be pretty amazing so I know they will be great. Also this week we had FOURTH OF JULY. I have never loved this holiday as much as I do now as a missionary. Why? because we have to be in by 6 rather than 9 :D SOOO we had our selves a little party . I made guacamole burgers for everyone. Well actually I just made the burgers (From scratch) and the hermanas made the guac. Mom you will love them I will make them when I get home. It's amazing the new recipes I am learning. I feel more like a chef though because I don't use recipes!! WOOT! Any ways then we played games like pictionary and charades. We laughed so hard it was fun fun fun. Then we made s'mores over the gas stove. And the best part was we got to go on the roof of our 35 floored apartment and watch the fireworks the city had over the Hudson river. It was amazingggg!!! So great. I will never forget it. It was a nice little break and totally re-energized us all.
We have gotten some new investigators that we are excited about. They are all having a hard time getting to church for one reason or another. Yesterday we taught a lesson the lady was so sweet. I am so grateful for the little things that have been happening to really get this area up and running. Sis G and I have been working so hard and its not easy to stay super positive when it feels like your efforts are going no where. But I am always reminded of my Savior's love as I see all the miracles, however small they may be.
Something interesting I have learned as a sister missionary is that you can in fact tan through nylons. HAHA. I realized this as I saw the thick shoe strap line across my foot. lol. I know hott right? It has really warmed up and is continuing to get warmer and more humid. YAY? haha
So I have decided that i love Japanese food. My companion is totally hookin me on all these foods. If will be fun to cook some of it for you when I get back. UMMM... We now have a greenie living with us. She is adorable and is from Arizona so she knows what Im going through with the weather here. It will be fun to have a greenie around who is excited about all the new things. It makes me think a lot about what I felt like as a newbie.
So the lady in our ward who is over choosing musical numbers has asked me to sing in church on Sunday. AHHH. I'm nervous because there is so much real talent in the area but I will do it because I know if I share my talent it will grow. So I am hoping that at least by the end of the song I will sound like Celine Dion. haha. I didn't bring any of my music with me though so a sweet lady in the ward found a song for me that was in my range and then fed us dinner this week so she could teach it to me. I hope it goes well. Its hard because we don't have much down time to practice but I know Heavenly Father will help me out.
We had a huge group of missionaries go home this cycle. Two of my favorite sisters. Its so sad to see people go. Its crazy to think they are going "home". To that other world. haha. I hope some of them stay single long enough to room with me when I get home. They are all talk and say they will be and want to live with me but we will see how long that lasts. HAHA.
I came across a scripture D&C 49:27-28. I really love this because it talks about how Christ is always with us and will come quickly when we call. What a comfort that is as we go out and serve him here in Harlem!
LOVE YOU GUYS to the moon and back.
-taters
We have gotten some new investigators that we are excited about. They are all having a hard time getting to church for one reason or another. Yesterday we taught a lesson the lady was so sweet. I am so grateful for the little things that have been happening to really get this area up and running. Sis G and I have been working so hard and its not easy to stay super positive when it feels like your efforts are going no where. But I am always reminded of my Savior's love as I see all the miracles, however small they may be.
Something interesting I have learned as a sister missionary is that you can in fact tan through nylons. HAHA. I realized this as I saw the thick shoe strap line across my foot. lol. I know hott right? It has really warmed up and is continuing to get warmer and more humid. YAY? haha
So I have decided that i love Japanese food. My companion is totally hookin me on all these foods. If will be fun to cook some of it for you when I get back. UMMM... We now have a greenie living with us. She is adorable and is from Arizona so she knows what Im going through with the weather here. It will be fun to have a greenie around who is excited about all the new things. It makes me think a lot about what I felt like as a newbie.
So the lady in our ward who is over choosing musical numbers has asked me to sing in church on Sunday. AHHH. I'm nervous because there is so much real talent in the area but I will do it because I know if I share my talent it will grow. So I am hoping that at least by the end of the song I will sound like Celine Dion. haha. I didn't bring any of my music with me though so a sweet lady in the ward found a song for me that was in my range and then fed us dinner this week so she could teach it to me. I hope it goes well. Its hard because we don't have much down time to practice but I know Heavenly Father will help me out.
We had a huge group of missionaries go home this cycle. Two of my favorite sisters. Its so sad to see people go. Its crazy to think they are going "home". To that other world. haha. I hope some of them stay single long enough to room with me when I get home. They are all talk and say they will be and want to live with me but we will see how long that lasts. HAHA.
I came across a scripture D&C 49:27-28. I really love this because it talks about how Christ is always with us and will come quickly when we call. What a comfort that is as we go out and serve him here in Harlem!
LOVE YOU GUYS to the moon and back.
-taters
Friday, July 3, 2009
Hmmmm
Well this last week has been rough. We are being challenged FOR SURE. This area is proving to be harder than I thought to build. With transfers coming up I feel like I have not done as much as I should have but there is still time. I am working on staying positive and looking for all the tender mercies that God always shows us. One thing I saw this week for the first time were LIGHTNING BUGS! They are so amazing!!! I felt bad for the lady I was talking to when I first saw them because I got so excited I could hardly contain myself. She was like "yea... they are everywhere". HAHA. They are so cool. So beautiful. I bet the Lord had fun thinking that one up.
I am starting this cool thing. I am asking for the recipe of all my favorite meals that members feed us. I am making a little cookbook for when I go home. It's been so fun to see what people make and they get all excited when I ask for the recipe. I don't think elders ever do that. But my future family will should be very excited cuz I have been fed some great meals!
Yes I am going to church at the temple now. It's pretty cool. We see a lot of people who are visiting. It has made it difficult to get to know the ward though. I can never tell who is really in our ward. Last week I sat next to Lauren's (our lauren) BYU dance teachers. There were two of them here visiting because one of our ward members was a big BYU modern dancer too and she was speaking. Anyways when I told them I was related to Lauren they got all excited and told me how one of their sons had a big crush on Lauren and then they were like ... o that means you're Kyle's sister. OOO WE LOVE KYLE TOO... ahaha it was funny. We also have a missionary here who knows the Cahoons and he was so excited to hear Devan and Kelsi got married. I know I have said it many times but i really love being a member of our family. We have the best people around!
So yes it rains here a ton. We have been drenched like 5/7 days a week this whole cycle. I donno what is going on. Its good to know it is not always like this. I really want to invest in some rain boots but I don't think I have enough money for that. They have cut our money down even more because the church is trying to save money. Which is fine. It's just fun trying to live off pretty much nothing. Guess it's good practice right? :D
I love sis. Ganaha so much. She is so amazing. I hope we get to stay together!!! *fingers crossed* I really don't know what will happen with the next transfers. But yesterday I went on a split in the BRONX!! HAHA. It seriously is so great there. Way nicer then where I live and work now. Man I am excited to go there. It will be interesting to see the Lord's timing on that one because it is the ward that Dave lives in during his off track. But there are 3 sets of missionaries in that ward so the sisters don't actually cover his area but I would see him at church on Sundays. CRAZY.
So it's going to be an interesting next week. Today President and Sister Searle are leaving. I actually wrote to President Smith in my weekly President's letter today. That was weird. But I am excited to see what the change will bring. I was just thinking how inspired and close to the spirit you have to be to be a mission president. The old president only gets 3 hours tops with the new one before he leaves it all to him. They are not supposed to talk about the missionaries at all. So i guess all the missionaries get a fresh start (other than the APs opinions). I will miss the searles. They are so amazing. We got a tender mercy to see them on Monday with all the missionaries and president gave the elders permission to hug sister searle and we got permission to hug him. IT WAS SO EXCITING!!!!! HAHAHAH!
Anyways I don't really have anything else exciting to say. I am super exhausted. I love you all so much. Thanks for all you do to support me.
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK.
-SIS
I am starting this cool thing. I am asking for the recipe of all my favorite meals that members feed us. I am making a little cookbook for when I go home. It's been so fun to see what people make and they get all excited when I ask for the recipe. I don't think elders ever do that. But my future family will should be very excited cuz I have been fed some great meals!
Yes I am going to church at the temple now. It's pretty cool. We see a lot of people who are visiting. It has made it difficult to get to know the ward though. I can never tell who is really in our ward. Last week I sat next to Lauren's (our lauren) BYU dance teachers. There were two of them here visiting because one of our ward members was a big BYU modern dancer too and she was speaking. Anyways when I told them I was related to Lauren they got all excited and told me how one of their sons had a big crush on Lauren and then they were like ... o that means you're Kyle's sister. OOO WE LOVE KYLE TOO... ahaha it was funny. We also have a missionary here who knows the Cahoons and he was so excited to hear Devan and Kelsi got married. I know I have said it many times but i really love being a member of our family. We have the best people around!
So yes it rains here a ton. We have been drenched like 5/7 days a week this whole cycle. I donno what is going on. Its good to know it is not always like this. I really want to invest in some rain boots but I don't think I have enough money for that. They have cut our money down even more because the church is trying to save money. Which is fine. It's just fun trying to live off pretty much nothing. Guess it's good practice right? :D
I love sis. Ganaha so much. She is so amazing. I hope we get to stay together!!! *fingers crossed* I really don't know what will happen with the next transfers. But yesterday I went on a split in the BRONX!! HAHA. It seriously is so great there. Way nicer then where I live and work now. Man I am excited to go there. It will be interesting to see the Lord's timing on that one because it is the ward that Dave lives in during his off track. But there are 3 sets of missionaries in that ward so the sisters don't actually cover his area but I would see him at church on Sundays. CRAZY.
So it's going to be an interesting next week. Today President and Sister Searle are leaving. I actually wrote to President Smith in my weekly President's letter today. That was weird. But I am excited to see what the change will bring. I was just thinking how inspired and close to the spirit you have to be to be a mission president. The old president only gets 3 hours tops with the new one before he leaves it all to him. They are not supposed to talk about the missionaries at all. So i guess all the missionaries get a fresh start (other than the APs opinions). I will miss the searles. They are so amazing. We got a tender mercy to see them on Monday with all the missionaries and president gave the elders permission to hug sister searle and we got permission to hug him. IT WAS SO EXCITING!!!!! HAHAHAH!
Anyways I don't really have anything else exciting to say. I am super exhausted. I love you all so much. Thanks for all you do to support me.
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK.
-SIS
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