Ma's Place: So great is my joy!!

Week before transfers (that happens on Tuesday June 28) is typically slow, especially toward the weekend. Most of the missionaries are preparing for a possible transfer by doing a "deep" clean on their apartments and preparing to pack if necessary. They are all too busy to be sick for the most part. Did have a few calls, but it was medically slow. I like that we don't have a lot of sickness this week. We are fighting bedbugs and their bites again, 3 tick bites, couple of sinus infections, and a root canal. And I still have reports and such but I am getting better at that so it doesn't take so long.

I took Sister Seo and Sister Fitt to lunch on Tuesday in Flushing. Sister Seo leaves to go back home to Korea next Wednesday. We celebrated the completion of her mission by going to The French Workshop Artisan Bakery for a Duke! Couldn't resist. I ate a modestly low calorie lunch though at a Thai restaurant.

Sister Seo and Sister Fitt

On Thursday I took Sister Batsuuri and Sister Bugingo to lunch in Brooklyn. We ate at an Indian restaurant. Love curry! No dessert. Sister Batsuuri returns to Mongolia on Wednesday.

Sister Bugingo

Sister Batsuuri

Friday, Elder and Sister Williams invited me to go to dinner with them. Again it was Thai-massaman curry. On Saturday, I took Sister Krause and Sister Dos Santos to a really exotic place for lunch: Subway. On the way back to my home, we passed a street vendor selling hats. We had our own mini fashion show. Then I felt guilty for taking pics of us with the hats so I bought each of the sisters a hat: 2 for $5. Can't beat that!!

Now that I have given you the run-down on my diet for the week, I also want you to know that I have been trying to watch my caloric intake (I know that is hard to believe) and walk every morning. I start off with these stairs and then a lot of hills-not too steep but keeps me panting a little.

The flowers and gardens are beautiful. And I introduced you to Scooter a while ago but he was out and wanted to play ball this week. Got to have my canine fix.

As I walked through a park near my home one morning, I saw a Boo Radley tree. Made me fondly remember when Kay read To Kill a Mockingbird with the kids. I firmly believe that reading that book with their father instilled a love for reading in each of them. If you ask them what their favorite book is, I bet it will be To Kill a Mockingbird. I know that the older ones at least could relate to Scout, Jem, and Dill. I think that some of them have read and re-read this book. I read it again myself just a couple of years ago.

Here in New York, recycling is BIG!! I see many people rummaging through trash and picking up recyclables. For some it is the way they make a living. I am not sure how much money they get for the bottles and cans that they bring to the recycling machines but it must pay enough to make it worthwhile. Many grocery stores have machines at their entrances or in the back. This woman has her cart over loaded with cans and bottles.

I am happy that I live next door to the office. I have had sisters and some elders dropping by all week. It is a pleasure to visit with them and to get to know them better. I try to have cookies or some kind of goody to give them. I think that is why they like to come. I wish I had pictures of each of them.

Sister Dos Santos

Sister Krause

Sister Rivera

I enjoy hearing of the work the missionaries are doing. I get to see how their faces light up when they are telling me about the people they are teaching and the miracles they see. They share weekly emails with me also.

Sister Jenkins, who is going home next transfer (August), told me about a miracle in her mission:

"I've been reflecting a lot on my mission and how much I have learned so far, and I think the most important thing that I have learned is the love that God has for each of His children. I have seen countless times where God has led us to people who have been praying for help. God truly listens to us and knows what we need and what we want.

I remember one time when Sister Forkus and I were doing some look ups and decided to go visit a less active, but turns out she didn't live in that house anymore but they who did were going through a hard time and needed to hear a message about the love of God. Later that night we found out a member knew the girl who we met and wanted missionaries to visit her. God was trying to get the missionaries to this person two different ways.

Another instance was when Sis Anderson and I got out of a lesson and felt like we needed to go to a less actives house, but it was clear across town. We felt strongly that we needed to, so we did. We almost missed the bus, we got off at the wrong stop, and we were on the wrong street when we thought it was the right one. We met a random less active member who told us that she had prayed for help just a few minutes before, and when she said "amen" she looked out the window and saw us walking across the street. God needed us in that area so we could find that less-active who needed help. God knows us. God wants to help us. God sends people to help us, especially when we need them the most, so rely on Him for help.Pray to Him. HE WILL HELP YOU!!!!"

Sisters Anderson (also going home next month) and Zambito had a miracle filled week. I asked Sister Anderson if I could share part of the letter that she sent home to her family.

"This week I feel like for the first time I had to concentrate my whole being on the missionary purpose. Which is: "To invite others to come into Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." Let me tell you why.

Last Sunday we received a text message from Karina and Stephanie, our investigators with a baptismal date of June 26th - yesterday. I don't remember exactly what the text message said but it was along the lines of, "We're not coming to church. Thanks for all you've done. Do you think you can come over tomorrow so we can tell you why we've decided that this isn't for us?" The whole Sunday was filled with sadness. My companion and I were overwhelmed with nerves as we went to their house Monday evening to see as to why their feet had grown so cold.

The lesson with them on Monday seriously felt like a battle between us and the adversary. After last Friday night and the lesson we had with them on tithing Karina fell victim to anti-Mormon material. Monday, she held the Book of Mormon in her hands like she was trying to hold on to something that was trying to run away, and asked so sincerely, "How do you know this is true? How do you know Joseph Smith was a prophet?" I'm sure my mouth hit the floor. After all the bad she had read and watched online she wanted to believe so very badly. We did all we could that day to help her remember all the things that she had felt and all the growth she had made. By the end of our time with her that night both Karina & Stephanie agreed to keep working to be baptized this Sunday.

We met with them every single day this week. Oh boy, do I have a testimony of the power of the spirit. It literally is something that is visible in the eyes of those who are seeking it. Every single day that we met with Karina & Stephanie the light that they had once had began to slowly pour back into their countenances. Saturday night after meeting with them they were glowing! I had no doubt that they were ready to make a very special promise with Heavenly Father.

Sunday was perfect. Stephanie's dad and brother came. Karina was overjoyed about that! Who wouldn't be happy to have their whole family be able to witness such an amazing thing? Everything went according to plan. Which is surprising. Even the baptismal font that has a leak didn't even drain too quickly! Really the tender mercies of the lord were so very prevalent.

If I had to pick a favorite moment of the day it had to have been that the first words out of Karina's mouth to us were, "thank you so much." She speaks English, so I think that that is exactly what she meant to say. The spirit was overwhelming as she bore her testimony of the healing and enabling powers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Hey, you know what? I know that this is true. I think that is why my heart feels like it is going to burst when I think about how joyful I am that Karina and Stephanie have chosen to take this first step down the path of eternity. I know that the choice they made to covenant with God has made them eligible to live together with Him as a family for forever. I don't think that there is any other kind of happiness that can fill you up like the happiness I feel for them. It calls to my memory one of the scriptures I admire most from the Book of Mormon:

Alma 29

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.

13 Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full.

14 But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi.

15 Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!

16 Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.

17 And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that they may sit down in the kingdom of God; yea, and also all those who are the fruit of their labors that they may go no more out, but that they may praise him forever. And may God grant that it may be done according to my words, even as I have spoken. Amen.

I, too, have been able to feel my testimony and gratitude for what the Lord does for me grow to inexplicable heights as I've watched Karina & Stephanie progress. That makes me happy. However, their testimonies and their happiness is what brings me the truest joy that I've ever felt. Such joy I never knew existed, but for which I am humbly grateful.

Sister Anderson"

I was able to attend the baptism. Even though it was in Spanish, the language of the Spirit has no boundaries.

Sister Anderson Stephanie Karina Sister Zambito

I even felt the joy of an experience this week: Ruma, the investigator I've mentioned before wants to be baptized but her husband is against it. She, I and others have been praying for her and for her family and that the hearts of her family will be softened. Ruma told me that this week her husband began praying with her. That is a monumental blessing and answer to prayers.

Prayers are direct communication with our loving Heavenly Father. I testify that my prayers have been answered many times. It is not always in my time frame nor in the ways I might ask for or expect, but in retrospect, I see that my communications have not been unheard. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I am grateful for my membership in the church and for the ordinances and covenants that I have made that make it possible for me to be an eternal family and member of God's kingdom.

I love you my family and friends