Thankfully smiles translate into all languages :)

Hello family!

It sure does look like you all got your own snow storm! I hope you enjoyed the snow day!

Also, I can't believe it really is that time of year to hear from BYU, crazy to think I will be going to school at the same time as all of those kids! Also, I can't believe Seth Parker is going to the Y! I guess he will be retiring his red for a few years ha-ha

Well things in Flushing are coming along. This morning we ran around a park for our morning exercise (aka, it was a concrete slab, but heck that is what you get in NY ha-ha), and we ran around a big group of Chinese people doing their morning Tai Chi, I sure do love it here :). We have a street sweep each Saturday by the 7 train station. Street sweeps are all about handing out materials and finding people to teach. In Corona, everyone spoke Spanish. In flushing, hardly anyone does. It is quite the adventure to strive to grab someone's attention long enough to find out what language they speak, and grab the appropriate pamphlet, and find a missionary to bear testimony in the appropriate language. It can be insanity but thankfully smiles translate into all languages and we have a lot of fun doing it.

Training is also coming along. I LOVE Sis Powell and I'm grateful for her willingness to dive into the work. Seriously, the best thing a new missionary can have is a willingness to TRY. Fearlessing is hard and sometimes awkward, trying to participate in a lesson in a new language is intimidating, and some of the food is kind of funky, but it all is so much better when we trust in the Lord and TRY. I am grateful to get to train her, and am humbled that the Lord sees a trainer in me (I still am in shock, I still feel so new at all of this!). I don't have to do it alone, Heaven is always there and willing to help. And he really is carrying us.

So cool to hear about all the new missions! Our first wave young missionaries came this past week (It was so fun to see Maren Hale and Kylee Lingenbrink!) Crazy all of the changes that are happening!

You asked about my favorite food I have eaten here.....such a hard question. The food here is INCREDIBLE! Probably the giant ice cream crapes, the empanadas (Colombia), tostones (DR), or ceviche (Ecuador). I could never decide!

 

Sorry this is so short. I love and miss you all!!

Companion #8 :)

Hola Hola Hola!!

Como estan todo?

Forgive me for being late again this week. It was president's day on Monday and I couldn't get to a computer till today.

Thanks for the emails, I loved seeing the pictures and hearing from you :)

This week has been powerful. We have witnessed a lot of miracles. Very small ones, but our small pool is growing and more and more members are willing to come with us. We weren't getting any member presents for a while (and we only count member present lessons here). We set a large goal in faith that God would provide a way, and he did. We didn't get the goal due to people's agency and health (which we can't control) but we did find 3 new investigators this past week! Progress!

Probably the biggest shocker of this week came last Wednesday. Sis Lee has known that she was going to be training this next transfer since she came into the Spanish program (President told her to assure her that she would only be here for 3 weeks). So when president called for the new missionary training calls, I answered it and expected to quickly hand the phone to Sister Lee.....not quite. He called me to be a trainer before he talked to Sister Lee!

So yes, I am now training a new missionary. In the training meeting last Thursday, we were told that training a new missionary was the greatest and most important calling one can receive as a missionary. And with such a great opportunity comes a great responsibility. I was pretty shocked and nervous this past weekend because I hardly feel like I know what I am doing, let alone teach someone else how to do it! But I know that God does. I have faith that it will all be okay.

Transfers were yesterday, so yes, I have another new companion ha-ha (this is my 8th!). Her name is Hermana Powell and she is from Santa Rosa, California. She is incredible. I kind of threw her right into it by riding the train back to flushing and giving her some cards. She rocked it, and fearlessed all the way home (She even tried in Spanish!!). I was so proud :) (though I know I did nothing ha-ha). She is a lot of fun, 22 and is ready and willing. It is going to be hard, we are going to be on our knees a lot, and trusting in God and I know good things will keep coming. (Btw, I am getting some mean calluses on my knees!! I guess that means I am doing something right ha-ha)

I know this work is true, the harder it gets out here, the surer I become! He lives and truly loves us.

I love you, miss you and pray for you each day! Have a good one!

Megan

Happy Chinese New Year!

Hola familia!

Happy New Year! (Chinese New Year, its kind of a big deal in these parts. ha-ha)

Yes, there was a huge snowstorm, but it really didn't keep us in or anything (blessings of being a "on foot" missionary). Also, the city didn't get hit as bad as the island did. There were many missionaries who got snowed in, but they were all in cars on the Island. The city is also really good at cleaning it up so NYC again, didn't skip a beat. The snow really does beautify the place. It’s been very lovely walking around with all the snow. I at least enjoy it :) I feel at adds a little natural, pure and sparkly touch to the dirty concrete jungle. It also forces people to be with their families. It is really funny though, for many Hispanics here, snow paralyzes them. If snow is falling, its a legitimate excuse to cancel on anything (appointments, church, you name it ha-ha)....and the 7 or so inches we got this past weekend was too much for some of them to handle. It is really funny, and also really shows the sacrifice SO many of them make to come to this country. They CANT stand cold or snow, but the promise of a better future is vale la pena for them (worth the pain.). It just goes to show how far they must feel from their tropical homes.

There is a Qdoba here in Flushing!! Oh it was a glorious reunion when we got lunch there today! ha-ha.

Another food discovery. I had had papuses in restaurants, but there just aren't very many Salvadorians in Corona. The Island is FULL of people from El Salvador and so seeing how Flushing is on that border, there are a lot of people from El Salvador here. And that means Papusas!! They were good when I tried them in the restaurants, but SOOO good when Hermana Sanchez fed them to us last night. The Sanchez Family feeds the missionaries every week, and their food is really good. A papusa is essentially a stuffed tortilla (Chicharron (pork) and Queso). Very Yummy!

We also had a women's conference where all of us sisters went and slept over at president's home. Hurricane Sandy was so much fun, his family wanted to do it again :). It was powerful and uplifting and a privilege to again learn at the feet of such a great family. I am grateful for them and the things that I learned. It was all about the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 and how to wax strong in confidence as a missionary.....looks like I am not the only one struggling with it. Something powerful that President talked about was about how prideful it is when we tell ourselves we cannot do something, particularly as missionaries and in church callings. When we say, "I can't" we fail to show FAITH, that God will support us and provide. That through Him all things are possible. So instead of "I can't" or even "I can", we should think, "We can" For God truly never leaves us.

Sister Lee and I are working really hard and learning a lot. It is hard because I feel we do all we can to be obedient and find people to teach, and work with members, and we really don't have much to show for it in terms of numbers...yet. For a long time I have let that get me down, or feel guilty, but I am realizing that God is with us, is pleased with us and as we keep trying and working, the rest will come. Missionary work is not always a glorious thing, and I often feel like I am having some sort of inward battle with myself, BUT it helps to remember that the only perfect missionary and man ever to walk this earth did not have it easy either. And he walked that path so that I might have joy as I walk mine. He forewent deliverance, so that I could receive it. And showed the way, that I might follow. I know He, Jesus Christ, lives. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and my soul. How grateful I am to be set apart as HIS representative and to invite others to come unto him, by helping them know Him and partake of His joy.

Thanks for being so awesome! I love and miss you all! Have fun in DC and UT!! Only a couple hours away Daddyo!!

Megan