Monday, March 03,
2014
Hello,
What a whirlwind of a week! I have many things to report!
Okay, so-- The day by day narrations are sometimes easier to
remember everything that is pertinent to share. I'll try and stick my feelings in
along with everything. I imagine that
would make it less boring. I mean,
missionary work is SUPER exciting, but I realize it is not THAT exciting when
it is on "paper."
Alright- MONDAY,
February 24, was p-day. Talk about a
FUNNNN p-day! We played soccer. Some of the elders can't stand that we often
"chill" at the church on p-days while we write emails and do haircuts
and stuff. So we decided to do things
that they like to do. We got the whole zone together to play soccer in Prospect
Park! Holy Hannah! It was so fun! We RAN
and ran and ran. I love exercise that
has a different objective than simply exercise, whether that be winning, moving
someone’s belongings, loading a truck, digging a hole - something that has real
purpose - and something that I can measure short term. We had a great time and we were all SO sore
for the next couple [3-4] days. So worth
it. And if it wasn't transfer week [with
packing in store for many people] we would have played again, I think. We all had a great time.
Monday night was FHE and we played Jeopardy! :) That was
also fun, and EXTREMELY beneficial for the missionaries and members that were
there. It was an online game that you
could make up the questions [Elder Mckell was in charge, our senior missionary]
So he chose to have a picture of a person and then you had to say "Who
is..." and then the name. Great way to learn the names of the ward
members. :)
TUESDAY was our last
combined district meeting with the 2 districts.
We were all so sore from Monday.
It was pretty funny. We had a
dual of the Preach My Gospel points
and the Sisters didn’t come in last ;) Haha! We had a good time, and it was a
great way for us to realize what we really needed to study.
We had dinner with a sweet woman in our ward who just loves what
the missionaries do. She says that the
only way she can serve her grandkids that are on missions is to feed the
missionaries Haha. :)
We have also been going to English class with the Spanish District
since we are in a trio, and they have been having REALLY great turn outs. Their
English class has come a long way. They
always share a gospel message and pray, and I do believe it will open a door to
the gospel for a few of the people that attend. The church has a cool curriculum that they use
for English.
WEDNESDAY, February 26, was
a day where we planned a few things. We
wanted to do a finding activity like a flash mob. Those are becoming popular, but our districts aren’t
the most musically talented. So Elders
Lee and McPherson had a great idea to read a scripture out of the Book of
Mormon on the train, wearing our regular clothes (service clothes [aka: not proselyting
clothes] without our name tags. The
first person would read a phrase, then the next person would join, and so on
and so forth. We did a practice run at the church and it was SOOOOO powerful. I
mean, really. We were just going to read
Moroni 10:3-5 and then with our testimonies written in the front of the Books
of Mormon, put our name tag on, and pass out the Books of Mormon. :) It was
going to be great. But due to a series
of events too many people couldn’t come. So they will have to do it next transfer. :( I
hope it turns out well. It has potential to be very powerful!
We had a very powerful lesson with our investigator. She wants
to learn more and start from the beginning with the lessons. She didn’t feel ready to be baptized yet- and
it’s okay. I don’t think she was ready this Sunday anyway. With time and more study she will be :) We
talked to her about the importance of the Book of Mormon and how she can find
out if it is true, and bore fervent testimony. The member we brought was a great example with
his conversion story. He’s our ward
mission leader. Coolest guy!
On THURSDAY we
had our weekly planning, where we just planned for the upcoming week. It was a pretty loaded day, but then there
was a lot of things that fell through. I felt so bad-- there is a family that
is having some real family hardships and we found out they were out of our
area, so we went to visit them one more time. It was a scheduled visit- but she
called before it was time to go and said that it was her daughter’s birthday
and that it was conflicting with the party that they were having. Then the day after her birthday she called us
and told us that the whole night her daughter was mad at her for canceling- she
didn’t even want to go to her own birthday party because of it. I felt really bad - especially because I had a
feeling that I would be transferred and not see her again. I pray that they can get to church in Bensonhurst
like she wants, and that they help her feel welcome.
Also on Thursday we
arranged that our recent convert is going to be going to the
temple next Thursday!!!! :) We are so excited for her, and so is she. She
has such a busy work schedule and we finally got it to work to get her to do
baptisms! :) :)
Thursday night we planned, and got ready for bed-- and at 10:27,
not exaggerating... the zone leaders called us. I almost didn't answer it because it was so
late, but I did. I was like, "How
can I help you elders?" and he just laughed and said "Sister Freeze,
President has asked you to come to a meeting tomorrow at 10:00 at the
Midwood Chapel." Then I hear his companion just laughing in the background
and I asked a lot of why questions, and he said, “I would assume you are going
to be in a leadership position.” There is only one leadership position for
sisters so I knew automatically what it was going to be, and before I hung up I
was so overwhelmed and mainly in disbelief that I just started crying. That
night I slept the worse that I have my entire mission. I woke up every few
hours and just tossed and turned the whole night. The only advice I have
received is from one elder in the Spanish District. The
direct quote is "....just don’t ever use the 'STL voice.'" Then I
asked for clarification, and apparently that’s the high pitched Utah Relief Society
voice that is super excited... you know what I’m talking about? Anyway- just to
bug him I did it and he said, “I hit the nail on the head, and told me to never
do it again." Haha!
Elder Lee [my District Leader] and Elder Rogers [Spanish District
leader] are both going to be Zone Leaders. I honestly could not have picked
better missionaries for the job. They are the hardest working, and most
focused.
By FRIDAY morning
I felt peace, in what The Lord is asking of me. I prepared to go to the meeting, which just
ended up being a 5 minute interview. President Calderwood asked if I would do
the calling and asked about my questions and concerns. He also asked what I appreciated from the
current Sister Training Leaders. He
basically just told me to emulate them and to be humble. I recognize the huge shoes that I have to
fill... too bad we have such AMAZING training leaders ;) they have set the
expectation so high. Haha!
The rest of that day we went to a lunch appointment with a member of
the bishopric in the Spanish Ward. We
went to a great Mexican restaurant! It
was fantastic. We had a good time. He speaks plenty of English which made it
great for Sister Hodgson and me. Haha! Otherwise, it is easy to fall asleep... not
like that has happened at all. (mainly only in church meetings...)
Then we went to another lunch appointment with the elder's investigator and all the missionaries. He is a gem. He is just trying to learn a lot and still deciding
if he wants to be baptized. He is moving to AZ so that was the
reason for the lunch. He means a lot to us, so it was hard to say goodbye. He plans
to learn more there in AZ!
SATURDAY, March 1, was the
day that we started packing, we had to take stuff to the post office and then
we didn’t know yet who else was being transferred, so we decided to take the
more slow hours of the afternoon to pack. Thanks to the sisters, it really didn’t
take too long. I got a lot thrown away and a lot dealt with. It all fit back into my original 2 suit cases
and a carry on bag, and then I just used my study crate to put hangers in. So
not bad at all.
Then later that day we were in a bind with plans. So we decided to do some finding activities. So we went with the Spanish elders and just
knocked a building, helping them build the Spanish pools. We met this amazing
guy. We ended up talking to him for an hour in his
building hall way. He didn’t want to
learn more. But he is a big time high school coach for a school that recruits
here in Brooklyn. He has been to war, and suffered some mental hardships and
things but got back into coaching and is just an inspirational guy. I felt so
pumped to be like him one day... I just really want to motivate/inspire people
to be the best person that they can be; just exceed their potential. He was
talking about his ways to help his team to rise up and be the best, and I asked
him if he would come and teach a workshop with our youth- and he accepted. So that was exciting. I’m leaving, so I don’t
know what will happen with it.
That night we got the rest of our transfer calls. We found out that Sister Lewis is getting a
new companion! FINALLY. She is so excited, and so are we. The Lord sure helped
us to make that work as well as it did for almost 4 weeks! Haha! Sister Lewis man, she is a champ. Sister
Hodgson is staying and will be holding this area just fine. I really am serious
when I say I don’t worry even a little bit about her leading the area. She will
take great care of the people here and make sure that everyone is seen and
loved. She is a great prioritizer and will use all of her strengths to help her
:)
SUNDAY was just a
day of craziness. We woke up early to pick up a family for church. We wanted to make sure that they made it
there alright since it was their first time coming. Then we had correlation meeting and a fast
and testimony meeting for the English ward. The Spanish ward had their classes
change so that when the people come late they can still have sacrament the last
hour. Apparently they had the highest attendance they have had in a long
time!
Saying goodbye was definitely hard, but I recognize the things
that will come with it- and the added people I can bless if I just but reach
out AND turn to The Lord for His help. Sometimes I have so much pride. It is
hard for me to do the things that he asks me to- but, I have a testimony that
it is the best for myself and others. I'm
going to learn a lot of great life lessons.
A lot of them. Better learn them now, right?
That was the first day that we told our investigator what transfers were
and that I would be leaving and she invited us over for dinner. All of our appointments were back to back that day
and The Lord blessed us with public transportation that came at the exact time
we needed it. That happened roughly 6 times.... I was just in disbelief- it was
such a tender mercy!
I am learning a lot. I
feel like Midwood has been a great place for such growth in myself, and the
area itself is growing so much with the gospel. We have had great leadership to help us but
mainly The Lord. Ask anyone- they will tell you that.
I love my companions so much—I hope they know that. Sometimes I
feel like it is hard to SHOW my love, and telling them isn’t always the most
beneficial. But I love them. :)
Today we went bowling with my zone, Sister Pulotu is going to Bermuda
and so her companion took us all bowling for a goodbye and birthday party it
was a blast :)
Here are the questions that mom wanted answered when I emailed
her this morning. I thought everyone
else would want to know too:
So which day (date)
do you actually transfer? Tomorrow, March 4th.
Are you paired with
another Sister Training Leader as your companion? Yes
Are you going to be
with a companion who has already been in the area you are going to? Um... probably. Actually- almost
positive.
How many sister
training leaders serve in your mission at one time? 3 companionships. West, Central and East
Long Island.
Do STL's generally
remain as STL's from the time they are called until they go home?
Not necessarily. It’s
just like the AP’s. Some of both depending on what is needed.
Did the one that
you are replacing go home or just get released?
I don’t know. One is going home though. So unless they called
another one, I am replacing her.
I love you all, thanks for all of your prayers!
Sister Blizzard. :)
[As everyone calls me.]
Also, I am really thankful for all my Christmas gifts and
cards. I keep trying to send out thank
you notes, but it is really hard with time. So I just need to say thank you
here. They all really meant so much to
me. :)
