Monday, June 03, 2013

HELLOOO!

Great to hear from everyone! :)

Q and A first--

Do you have a washer and dryer in your apartment or do you go to a laundry mat? Yeah. But they stink- the Branch president's wife is great about letting us use hers. It helps us so much. She is an amazing lady!

What is the name of your branch and your stake or district?  Lynbrook   Is it a stake or a district?   District

How long has your companion been out on her mission?   9 months 

How long has she been in Lynbrook?   This is her second transfer  

In how many other areas has she served?   Umm. 4 I think.

With your hot chocolate stand, did you give away hot chocolate or sell it?   Give it away.   Did anyone visit your hot chocolate stand?   Like 6 people, we invited them to church  

What kind of response did you get to and at your hot chocolate stand?   Tons of honks.  We had a "honk if you prayed" today sign that was a hit!  

Did people want to chat religion or just get their hot chocolate and leave?   Hot chocolate and leave.

What is the damage like from Sandy? Is the damage hit and miss, where one house is fine and the one right next to it is not? Or is a whole area damaged and uninhabitable? Where are people living, working, what are they doing, what is it like for them six months after the storm? Was the house that you helped demolish in your own area or in the area of another set of missionaries?  It is in our area, but because of the elliptical we don’t go there often. We went to the private beach while we were there and just sat in the sand. The rule is just not to go in or near the water. The area is getting going again. It is definitely in the rebuilding stages though. It looks more dirty than it does demolished. I’m blessed to be able to help them.

Alright, here are the deets from the week that I wrote as highlights in my journal:)

--the birds here remind me a lot like the hunger game bird! They are all so sing-songy. I love it! I have never heard birds like this before coming to NY :)

--My companion and I eat frozen fruit like candy... who knew frozen mangos would taste like ice cream?! They are great for on the go!

-- I am being reminded that there are so many different ways to do one thing haha :) It’s great to get out of your comfort shell every once in while.

--We knock basically every night for 2-3 hours. WE FINALLY GOT TO TECACH A LESSON AND GET A RETURN APPT! :) They are great. Mid 50’s Id guess and just as nice as can be! We taught the restoration. That was the second time I was able to teach the restoration and more specifically the point about Joseph Smith. There is nothing more powerful then to teach that. The spirit is always so strong. What a neat experience for me!

--Boothvleen! Amaaaaaazing! Working sooooo hard to get to church and do lessons with us! She was the other lesson I got to teach with the restoration.

--Every morning we role play as if we are the investigator or missionary. I thought that would be just for the MTC. But it is sooo beneficial!

--I am learning the doctrine of Christ better than ever! I am gaining more understanding for the Atonement in the small things in life not just the big things. I’m so grateful for the Savior. It’s amazing to think we wouldn't be able to return back to our Heavenly Father without him.

--Listen to ALL of 'if you could hie to Kolab" ALL verses. "There is no end to...___" think about how deep that is. Whoa.

--Last week it was freezing! This week it is like 90's! Crazy!!

--Good quote: "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. President Packer

--I’m going to grow out my hair. No one to impress, and cheaper ;)

--The spirit and sincere prayer is helping me learn so much more quickly than ever before!  I am so blessed! seriously! Thanks for the support and prayers!

I love you all!

Sister Freeze

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

FANCLUB!!

Things are great!  This week has been sooo much better. Feelings of homesickness are starting to subside so I can work more and more without distractions :)

I am so happy to hear from you all.  I got your letters, mom. Thanks for sending that.  It is easier to read in full.  Yesterday was Memorial Day, so today the library was open. So here we are ;)  I wrote you guys yesterday a letter- so I will mail that tomorrow hopefully.  I will write the answers to the letters the kids sent on p-day, hopefully... no promises haha.

Before I get to your QA I will write some  things of the week...

There are so many blessing that we get from being here.  So many people serve us, we have had our groceries bought or our laundry done.  People are so kind in the ward.

We have done a lot of service.  We worked at a house in Long Beach, that was hit by Sandy and demoed it, helped people move, moved boxes from attics... it's my favorite part of the mission!  It is so great to think that we saved him 12 hours of man labor, times 8 people. 

The weather is crazy. One day sunny as can be, the next POOOOORING. Haha I love it.  Reminds me of WA and CA every other day ;)

I bought a GPS... let's get real, after getting lost 2 times it was a priority. We all know I have not been blessed with the best internal map.Huge blessing.  I found a pair of flats for a DOLLAR NINTEEEEEEN! WHAT?!!! are you kidding me?  Love it!

Preach My Gospel is the best book alive. Add it to your standard works asap.

We are going to start a Book of Mormon class with nonmembers/ investigators and members. We did it all the time in the MTC.  You receive so much personal inspiration.  I think it will really strengthen peoples testimonies.  It was an inspired idea. :)

I do wish I had more time to study.  There is so much I wish I knew, but just not enough time to study... although we have 3 hours each day. haha

Today at District Meeting we dedicated the area.  It is much needed, we had our pad (apartment) dedicated last week.  It makes a huuuuuuge difference.  The spirit is there in full now.  It's the best.

The drivers are CRAZY, and the roads aren't a grid that's for sure; but the car is the best blessing! I I am so thankful for it especially on the rainy days.

We did a hot chocolate stand!  Our mission goal is just to let the church be known, so that was the purpose- we invited people to church too :)

I've ripped my skirt kneeling so much to pray, and I do indeed have calluses from kneeling :) haha hardwood floor does that to you. haha

We are working with 3 people and some less active families.  We are praying for a baptismal date here soon.  The mission goal is to get a baptism a transfer.  Hefty goal but we will do our best.  I am just so grateful I am meeting people.  I have only taught one lesson since being here.  There are so many cancellations and just a very limited amount of people to teach.  We're working on it :)

My comps brother dances with T. Swift.   Someone tell Jimmy S.

Personal inspiration is bomb.  You get it all the time.  Seriously though, you always are getting something that you just have to write down. It's the best.

Norene, thanks for the apron. I literally use it every meal.

I'm wondering how you obtained an antibiotic without seeing a doctor? There is a mission doctor that just talks to you on the phone.

What do you need to obtain a library card? A letter with my address. So thanks for the letter.

Was Sister Lee called from Korea to serve her mission or did she immigrate to the states on her own and called from somewhere here in the states? Her grandparents are the last generation to be in Korea. She is from San Diego.

Is Sister Lee a younger sister or over 30?  22 years old.

So there is a set of Creole Speaking Elders then a set of Spanish speaking Sisters and then you and Sister Lee? Is that correct?  Elders Campbell/Pulla- Creole/Spanish Sisters McgrathEellsworth- Spanish.

What language is your branch church held in if you have Creole and Spanish Speaking missionaries serving in your branch?  English, everyone else has translations.

Do you eat with members or cook for yourselves? Cook for self. Every meal. It's good I love to clean and Sister Lee loves to cook. Cuz that is how every meal goes :)

Do you have a mailbox at your apartment where we can mail you directly rather than sending mail to the mission home?  We get letters no packages

I love you all! thanks for the prayers I feel them.

Love Sister Freeze!!!