We did a "Flash Mob" in Jamaica Queens

Hola Familia!

How are you all? You will have to forgive me for that card not getting into the mail until Saturday. But I dropped it off in a mailbox in Richmond Hill, so it should be there soon :)

It is so strange, another transfer has flown by, but then again Flushing seems so long ago. We had another crazy week in terms of apartments. Just as Sister Neilsen unpacked and set up the last of her things, our District Leader called us and said that we were moving again because our current landlord was uncomfortable having women as his tenets (understandable). So we did an exchange with the sisters in the Bayshore ward, came back, moved on Thursday afternoon, and then did an exchange in Riverhead (eastern edge of Long Island) and Richmond Hill (western queens). All the while I caught a really bad cold and my companion rolled her ankle badly. We got back "late" Saturday night (9:30 is now late for me haha) and had meetings all day on Sunday with our branch's branch conference. Our apartment is still a disaster because on Thursday we only had time to drop off our bags before driving out to riverhead.....and on top of all the craziness, we reported another week of zeros...blah.

BUT...I have experienced again for myself  the words of Nephi in the very first chapter of the Book of Mormon. "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender ^cmercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of ^ddeliverance." ( 1 Nephi 1) And that is exactly what He did. He carried us through. Through priesthood blessings, and a little faith, and a lot of prayer, we were "made mighty even unto the power of deliverance." We were still sick (me) and crippled (my companion), but we were given the strength to carry on the work of the Lord. Sometimes I wonder why God allows there to be so much opposition to the work, or how the opposition in my mission just doesn't seem to quit. He reminds me that without such opposition, he would not be able to make me strong. I know that the Savior's Atoning Sacrifice was infinite SO THAT we may be strengthened and come out victorious to whatever force is opposing us. There is a quote in our new apartment that I really like, it says, "God does not pamper those he would make strong." I could just be being a  big baby haha, but I decided I am going to start taking this opposition as a compliment :)

Also, the exchanges I had this week were incredible. I ended up being the one who needed to drive to Riverhead (it was Sis Neilsen's Right ankle) , and despite my head feeling like a balloon, we got there safely. I got to be on an exchange with Sister Hale and Sister Sandberg. Sister Hale and I were in the same ward at BYU and served together in FHE. Sister Neilsen worked with their companion Sister Peacock (who is one of My MTC teacher's cousins :) ) and focused on their area. I took Sister Sandberg and Hale to do look-ups for the Young Single Adult Branch (crazy how we drove for over and hour to Riverhead and were still in our proselyting area!) I felt inspired to park the car so that we could also work to find investigators for the sisters. We had a really fun time and talked to everyone and met a lot of really neat people and quite a few were curious and wanted to learn more. I was very grateful that I was healthy enough to walk around and it was fun to do "city-like" missionary work again, even if we were on the island (there are only so many people you can find when you are in the car). Also Riverhead is beautiful and almost looks like a mountain town, without the mountains of course. I also made a goal this week to be bolder in my contacting, and the Lord helped us all do that. Amazing how even as missionaries we get scared to be bold, when that is our very commission!

The last exchange was in Richmond Hill and I got to serve with Sister Mortensen, my MTC companion! It was another day with a lot of walking, but this time both Sister Neilsen and I were able to walk around a lot! (Sister Neilsen was with Sister Price, but we just "split-the-pool" (or both worked in Richmond Hill).  We ended up doing a "Flash Mob" in Jamaica with their zone. Jamaica, Queens is one of the more colorful and "Rasta-fied" cities in Queens...also one of the crazier places around here (it was so good to be back in Queens, I have missed the craziness!). Actually, did you know? Jamaica the Island was named after Jamaica Queens. Cool right? Anyway. I love Jamaica, there really is no place like it. Sadly,  it also is one of the "harder" areas of NYC. Sister Missionaries just barely returned to the area after a few years of not being allowed for safety reasons. In the subway station, there are all sorts of preachers calling people to repentance and "Black Jews" shouting and chanting in their long purple robes. We decided to practice it once in the subway station. We sang, "A child's prayer." While one of the Elders played the guitar. There were at least 26 missionaries all singing, and you could feel the spirit fill the station. Many people walked by, some people stopped, but you could tell that they were all listening. It was powerful. We then got on to the subway. Some of the Elders dressed in their normal clothes to try to "blend in", but a bunch of bright eyed kids, most of which are white, kind of stand out on their own in queens, especially in Jamaica haha. Anyway, as the train moved, 4 elders started singing with the guitar while kneeling in the middle of the car, then us sisters stood up to sing, then more and more elders came into sing. The spirit filled the car, and many people took out their ear-buds to listen, and even were taking pictures and video. Angels must have been singing with us too, because we sounded really good. After we were done we would all hand out mormon.org cards and invite people to church. Some of course didn't want anything to do with it, but you could tell many people felt something and wanted to come. Our mission president is trying to get us away from knocking doors and out trying new things. The truth has been restored, and so it is fun to seek the Lord and let him inspire us to know of fun and effective and new ways to share our testimonies.

I love you all and it was really neat to think that we were all apart of that meeting last night (I was looking for Chipper too! But I am astounded and happy to hear that he really was in the choir :) ). It was a powerful broadcast and I know an answer too many prayers. This is His work, and the longer I am out here, the more and more I realize that it is all about learning how to do it His way and that is through love. 

I love and miss you!!  I am praying for you too...a lot!

Here is onto transfer 8!

Hna Chipman

 

God always fulfills his promises--even the little ones

June 17, 2013

Wow this week was insane, and insanely good. I left the area on 3 exchanges (Flushing and Lynbrook Spanish and English) and we switched pads (a NYC way of saying apt) with the Elders. Still haven't caught the marijuana source, but the Elders were kind and let us switch. We also have been working really hard and reached our highest numbers in terms of proselyting key indicators. I am exhausted but still feel relatively clear headed and am happy. Miracle of being in the service of the Lord, we still manage to keep going.

It has been raining SO MUCH! Even the long-time long-islanders are complaining about it. The heavens open and it is an almost instant flood on the highway, or an instant soaking as soon as you step out of the car ha-ha. But we are safe and getting by, and now I understand why it is so green here. I have also learned what hydroplaning is (to a Colorado driver like me it feels like moving ice). Thankfully my companion has become an avid NYC driver and so is teaching me all the tricks.

Miracle of the week:

Just before I left flushing, I got the stomach flu really bad. We actually had a lesson with Juan Carlos (one of our investigators) and I was so sick that we had to stop the lesson and I needed to go home. The next morning, my district leader gave me a priesthood blessing promising me that a reason I was so sick was so that I could exercise faith and ask for the blessing, be healed, and testify of the experience to Juan Carlos to help him realize the power and effect him holding the priesthood could have on his family. I felt better at a miraculous rate and looked forward for the opportunity to see testify of my experience to Juan Carlos. Sadly, we couldn't get in contact with him in time and I had to leave without saying goodbye and wondering how it would all come to pass...until this past week!

As we were praying about our exchange with Flushing, we knew that I should go and be with Sister Dean (my 2nd trainee :) ) and my companion would bring Sister Powell (My first trainee) with Sister Norton (her new trainee, Sister Powell is now double training too!). When we called the day before to tell who would be with who and all, they told me Juan Carlos had moved to New Jersey! (It was sad). We met them in the Flushing chapel where they were teaching someone after English class......IT WAS JUAN CARLOS! I guess they still are teaching him after English class while they are trying to figure it all out with the New Jersey Missionaries. They told him I was coming and he came! We made the switch I sat down, and after the usual salutations. He asked about how I have been since the last time I saw him. And with that, Sister Dean asked me about how I was able to get better (she remembered the blessing). I shared the experience and testified of the truth of the priesthood and how God needed him to hold the priesthood so that he can bless his family and many lives. The spirit was very strong. At first I was kind of hesitant because I didn't want to "force" the miracle. But as I prayed in my heart, I knew it was the right time and place.  The spirit also loosed my tongue, it had been a good month since I had been in a lesson in Spanish, and so I was praying very hard, but the spirit came through (as always) and I was startled with how fluently I was able to speak and understand.

God always fulfills his promises, even His small ones. I think sometimes as missionaries we categorize our missions by transfers (6-week periods) and areas, but I learned that our Heavenly Father sees and plans past those things. It is all part of a grander picture. It is neat to go back to an old area, even for a day, and see how the work of the Lord is progressing after I left it. This experience also has built my faith in the promises that God makes through his authorized servants. The priesthood is real. And I know that it is through the priesthood (my setting apart) that I have the authority to promise blessings to the people I teach and come in contact with. And my power as a missionary is all about carrying the spirit through worthiness.

Fun connection, I went on an exchange with a Sister Freeze and it turns out that her cousins are the Spears in the Stake! How fun is that! If you see them, tell them that she is a fantastic missionary :)

I love you and loved hearing all about trek!! I am glad you had a fun and spiritual week. Keep being great!

Love,

Hna Chipman

I can't tell you how much it means to me to be a sister missionary right now :)

Hello dear family!

Wow it breaks my heart to hear about your departure chipper, but I am SO thrilled we are now in this together.  2 years this week I get to see you :) and I can't wait to hear all about the in between.

Wow this week has been.....eventful. Now I know of 2 things that trigger my asthma, running too much and marijuana!  Seeing where I served in Queens, we came in plenty contact with the stuff. It was gross, but we just crossed the street, ran back to the elevator, or walked quickly and were free. But when we came home on Monday night, our entire pad (or apartment) was full of marijuana smoke and other Indian smells/ incense/ and whatever else. My lungs wouldn't have it. We ended up having to quickly pack our bags and flee to president's house. It is just all so crazy. They are trying to break the lease, but the landlord wants proof that it is marijuana and that it is bad enough to cause an asthma reaction.....grrrr. Thankfully, President and his wife have been super kind and gracious to let us bunk at their home while everything gets figured out. Poor president and his wife. It's been funny because we have packed our bags each day thinking we would be able to "return home" and we keep coming back running. Honestly if there is anything to trigger my asthma, at least it’s something that I can avoid living in. So that has been the adventure of the week. Also, it’s good for me to learn that it is okay to let other people take care of me (all my past roommates are probably laughing as they read this). As much as I enjoy taking care of myself, and not involving others into my problems, I am realizing too much of that is pride. It is good to be self reliant, but it is not good to try to resist the help that God sends me because I don't want to be seen as "weak." I know that God sends us Angels to bear us up and take care of us, seen and unseen, known and unknown to us. I think too often we resist their aide, at least I do, and so I am trying to work on that, and I guess you can say this is another splendid opportunity to do so.

Oh and just so you aren't worried, I am healthy and okay and upping my inhalers. Just might never be able to move to India ha-ha.

 

Bummer about something like that is that it cuts into a lot of "prime time" or missionary work time. This is VALUBLE as a missionary, especially as a leader, because so much time is taken up in other responsibilities. But despite all of that, God sent Sister Neilsen and I amazing miracles and we had an AWESOME week. We got to report our 1st numbers of the transfer! yay!

First off, the conference was wonderful. All the sisters loved it, and we all cried as we sang the As Sisters of Zion at the end. (Yes for the record, I cried as well). I can't tell you how much it means to me to be a Sister Missionary right here, right now, and serving with these sisters and it was so good to be with everyone. Sister Calderwood gave an incredible lesson on studying our patriarchal blessings. She talked about so often she gets a little overwhelmed by all the things the Lord tells her to do and be in hers. But she taught us to read our blessings and to look for the qualities that our Heavenly Father sees in us, and that He gives us such tasks because he knows and sees that we are able to fulfill them all of them. (You reading this Elder Chipman? That means you were called and set apart from the world to serve The Lord Jesus Christ, because He knows what you are capable of :) ). At the end of the conference, President shared with us that he was prompted to have each of us pray very specifically, "Lead us to the Pure in Heart, including families" and that we must say it in every prayer we utter. We have strived to fulfill that charge and each time I have said it, I feel power. We have been promised that there are 1000s of families on this Island who are prepared and ready to accept the gospel. And I know this will help us find them. 

 

I will finish with a sacred experience we had this past Tuesday night. We were near Lynbrook looking up a YSA (who wasn't there).  We ended up parking just about half a block away from this YSA's house. We got into the car, and just as we were getting the GPS ready and the car started, I felt particularly drawn to the house that we parked in front of. It was after 8 o'clock (which is pretty late to knock here on the island) and we could have easily left, justifying that we needed to get to Freeport to do our exchange with the sisters there. But as I looked at the house, I felt so strongly that a woman who is pure of heart lived there and needed our help, and that this was an answer to our prayers. I shared this with my companion, and she felt it too. We got out of the car, just in time to meet a woman dragging her trashcan to the curb... right in front of our car. Sis Neilsen introduced us as representatives and ministers of Jesus Christ and offered a blessing on her home. The woman looked at us, and said, "sure, why not" and invited us in. She lives in a beautiful Long Island home and her son was finishing up his ice cream at the kitchen table. We sat in the living room and talked a little about what was going on in her life. I then felt prompted to and did tell her that I felt drawn to her house and felt that she needed heaven's help and that we were sent here to give that help. At that she broke down crying and opened up to us and shared what she needed and the burdens she was carrying. After that, the three of us knelt down on her living room floor, and I was invited to be the voice of the blessing. At that moment, I felt the spirit shoot through me and fill the room, and I felt the direct attention of our loving Heavenly Father as I pleaded with him as His servant in behalf of this good family. At the close of the prayer, peace filled the room, and she laughed because I had touched on issues that she had failed to mention to us earlier. After we got up, we shared tearful hugs, and exchanged information. We left a restoration pamphlet and bore short testimonies on how we knew this gospel would bless her life. At that we left. We receive so many promptings everyday, and it makes me wonder what would happen if we would trust in God and follow them. Our Heavenly Father Lives and knows and is keenly aware of each of his daughters, and his sons. There is so much pain and anguish in this city and in this world, and Satan is screaming so loud that it is often times difficult to hear. But our Heavenly Father hears our pleas, and his miracles are only a prayer away.

I love you all, and miss you too. This gospel is true and changing me. I am so grateful to be a missionary and have that special opportunity to serve my God in this capacity. This work is true, and angels are real. And as we seek the Lord, and follow His promptings he will lead and guide us to be his angels and send His love to His children.

Love,

Hermana Chipman

Pictures

A miracle, a swarm of gnats, a face plant, and broken glasses : /

Hello Family!!                                                         

Thank you so much for the pictures, updates and the birthday package :) I am excited to open it and truly do feel loved.

Also Dad, you were such a cute little missionary :)

1st off. The miracle of today. I still have chills from it and again I am reminded that prayer works. So tomorrow we are putting on a "Sisters Specialized Training" for all the sisters in the mission (we are up to over 70! (counting the senior sisters)). The other 3 Sister training leaders and I have been working closely with Sister Calderwood and the other mission presidency's wives to put on this almost all-day sisters conference. We have wanted to close the conference with the new rendition of "As Sisters in Zion" that none of us had heard before, but we just had heard it was phenomenal. For the past 2 months, we have been searching for the new "As sisters in Zion" (Or should I say "As Sisters For Zion") to no avail. On our way to checking our email this morning, Sister Calderwood (My mission president's wife) called us and was very disappointed because she still couldn't find these new lyrics and so it looked like we were going to have to do without. Sister Neilsen's (my companion) parents serve in a branch presidency at the MTC (and that's how we found out about the lyrics in the first place). So we were going to hope that somehow Sis Neilsen's mom would be online or something and by some miracle she would be able to remember and give us the lyrics. I said a silent prayer in the car that we would somehow find these lyrics before tomorrow's conference. Sis Neilsen got on her email first while I was finalizing plans for this conference and for our plans tonight, and wasn't able to get in contact with her mom. I just non-chalantly opened my email, and lo-and-behold, the first email I open, is your email WITH THE LYRICS!!!! It was particularly crazy because of how I scrolled, it was the first thing I read as part of the forwarded chain! So thank you for sending those to me and thank Wendy McNevin for me and her mom. It was an answer to prayer and will greatly bless all of the sisters here.

The Sisters in Zion (Sis. Perry even changed the title a little)

(Music found in the Hymn Book page 309)

The sisters in Zion are called to God's labor
We willingly serve Him in spirit and might
We go to the nations with truth everlasting
We teach of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank thee O God for a prophet to guide us
We trust in his words and our purpose is clear
The angels of heaven are walking beside us
We'll share our glad message with all who will hear.

We go forth enlisted with Helman's army
In numbers much greater than ever before
With power and spirit we'll faithfully witness
The Heaven's have spoken and truth is restored.
 

This week has been a rough week, but one of miracles.This past week I did exchanges in Patchogue (clear out on the SE corner of the Island) and in Little Neck. On my exchange in little neck, I forgot my contact solution. (Suprised? you shouldn't be, esp seeing how I had 10min to pack). Anyway, I didn't have contact solution, so I couldn't wear my contacts. It was a little bit of a bummer, but I remembered my glasses (I am improving! haha). So Sister May (the sister I was exchanging with) and I went running in the morning and I was wearing my glasses, when all of the sudden I ran into a cloud of gnats (They seem to hover just about 5'9 above the ground! haha) and so despite my glasses, a bunch of gnats got into my eyes. I took off my glasses to get the darn bugs out of my eyeballs, when of course, I trip on a rock and would of face planted, had I not caught my self with my hands, which tragically were holding my glasses. So yes, they broke, and you know how blind I am without them. ( I wish I could blame that for me falling, but sadly I have just been blessed with what Dad calls, my own kind of grace) Anyway, thankfully it was just the frame. I have tried super glue to no avail. Thankfully I was able to walk home okay. But I had a problem. I was stuck with no glasses or contacts. I prayed that God would help me get by, and honestly what followed was one of the best days on my mission (a little bit of a bummer I didn't see very much of it haha)

Probably the greatest miracle of the day was when we went and saw Ayda and Luis. I don't know if you remember me mentioning them. But they are a mother and son who recognized something in us as we were standing on our busy corner on Main St in Flushing and advertising for our free English class. She came to church twice and introduced us as her "Angelitas" to everyone there. Sadly we found out that she lived out of our area, so we "handed her off" to the Little Neck Sisters. They have been progressing ever since and the Little Neck Sisters have been exactly who they needed. Anyway, I felt strongly that we needed to drop by and see how they were doing. As we did, they seemed really stressed and cold as they came to the door, but when they opened it and saw me, they were very surprised and seemed thrilled. And it was SO good to see them again (well what I could see anyway.) What startled me the most was Luis. Even though I could barely make out his face, I could see and recognize a stark contrast and change in His countenance since the last time I had seen him 3 months ago. He was happy, He was bright, there was a light about him that was not there before. He seemed to have energy and looked healthy. At the end of our lesson, I asked if he would give the closing prayer, which he gladly accepted and asked if we would kneel. He said one of the purest prayers I have ever heard, and truly talked with our Father. The spirit was so strong. As we left, I commented to Sister May how he would never pray when we were teaching him, and she said that that was the first time he had prayed in front of her as well. It was all a miracle and tender mercy. I also learned that you don't need to see clearly to be able to recognize the change that the Light of the Gospel brings to people. You know me, I can hardly tell my roommates apart when I don't have my glasses on. But I could clearly recognize the changes Luis was making as he was following the path back to the Savior, and I didn't need glasses to see it.

I know God Lives and that He has restored His gospel to the earth through prophets in hopes that we would accept it, live it and be forever changed by it. Stephen, I am so excited that you are going to be joining me in this Labor (so soon!! 2 days!!) I want you to know that I know this work is REAL. The changes occurring in me and that will occur in you are real and true. I am so proud of you and can't believe the moment we have dreamt about is finally here when we would both be serving the Lord at the same time. I Love you and wish you luck! (Also, about the MTC. Just make it to Sunday, and you will be good to go! (I am the first of probably many that will tell that to you.

I love you all and miss you dearly! Thanks for your constant prayers and concern. Till next week!

Megan