NYC week 4

December 3, 2012

Dear family -- We had a wonderful week here in NYC! Here are some things I remember:

A guy stopped us on the sidewalk to tell me I had a beautiful smile. Then he said "And you don't even remember me do you? (We'd never met him in our lives).  Crazy stuff happens like this all the time because we are in New York City AND we have the light of Christ and we glow, and people really do notice!! I love it.

We were tracting on Thursday night and we got a call from the AP's telling us that my comp., Sis Aguirre and I had to go to a “training” meeting the next day with President Morgan. When I told Sis Aguirre that's what they said she said "Wait, your going to TRAIN next cycle? (meaning on the next transfer I  would be a trainer for a greenie – I’m still a greenie myself -- I’ve barely been out a month!) I wasn't sure, so we started freaking out. But no, it was just a meeting for all the new missionaries. Let me tell you just how amazing this meeting was . . .

President Morgan is changing the direction of the mission entirely because in the next 120 days our mission will go from 150 to well over 200 missionaries (and still continue growing from there). In case that doesn't sound like a lot to you that's a TOOOOON! By April, President said that all of us will either be training or being trained. 60% being trained and 40% training. If you do the math that means that some trainers will be training more than one new missionary – in this mission they usually train only once. It's insane. Plus President pointed out that if enough missionary applications come in then English speaking missionaries will receive NO TIME in the MTC. They'll come straight out to the mission. Yep you read that right. That means....we are going to be the MTC for these English speaking missionaries!!!! It's amazing! And in all missions a 12-week training program was implemented last year, which is what Sis Aguirre and I are doing right now. Do you think this is a coincidence? The Lord knew that these English speaking missionaries would need MTC training out in the field. Heavenly Father truly does know the end from the beginning :)

Anyway, the meeting with President was awesome! He said we have to be prepared for this new surge of missionaries. He invited us all to be obedient and said there is absolutely no room for disobedience. He literally said that if you want to be disobedient, then go home. He has a way of saying these things though that still lets you know that he loves you and makes you want to be a better missionary. President Morgan is so awesome!!!!! 

We received an email last Wednesday saying that Paul V. Johnson from the seventy would be doing a mission tour here. We had a zone conference yesterday and it was SO AMAZING!!!!!!! Seriously. President called Sis Aguirre and I on Monday and said that Elder Johnson wanted to interview just me and her. So we kinda freaked out. But I think he just wanted to get a feel for how the mission is. We had our interview and he asked about our families and stuff, no biggie. President also asked me if I could play the organ for this meeting, so I said yes even though I don't even know how to work an organ anymore. But  Heavenly Father loves me and when I went to practice the organ yesterday (this organ had actual pipes) the stops were already set. I was relieved and happy :) I played the organ and after I was done President came up and gave me a hug and expressed his gratitude and told me he thinks I am wonderful. I just wish I could impress on you the wonderfullness of this man and tell you how great he is! I know that part of the reason I was called to this mission was because of the things I am learning from the Morgan's. President Morgan makes no decision about the mission without first consulting the Lord. I can't tell you how much peace this gives to my heart knowing that my mission president will always make the right decision because it is the Lord's decision.

Elder Johnson talked about a lot of things, but one of the things he talked about was Ether 12:27 (my favorite scripture!). When he started talking I was like woah. Thank you for listening to the Spirit. It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear because I have been really down this week (my knees hurt really bad from all the walking we do, and I've been a little discouraged and worried about where I fit in here) but I know that the words that Elder Johnson talked about were for me. Heavenly Father really does love me and I know he is proud of me for the decision I made to serve a mission, even though sometimes it's hard.

I don't have a lot more time but we went and did service again for hurricane victims on Saturday. We knocked out a lot of walls in peoples basements because they were flooded and were starting to mold. The people were again so gracious and nice. After being able to do this service I know I will never be the same again because of the things I have experienced, the people I have met and have been able to serve. I love being a missionary!!!! :) :) This mission is hard, but it's pushing me to the limits and refining me into the woman Heavenly Father wants me to become. I am SO GRATEFUL for this experience and wouldn't trade it for the world!!!!

I can't wait for Missy and Willie to get their mission calls, they better be to NYC!!!!! ;)

Les Quiero MUCHO!!!!!!!

Hermana Richardson