My Spanish is really coming along

Hola Family!!

Wow it was great to read about everything happening and wow is everything changing and really exciting. I will write more about it in my letters to you this week :). But I will say this, Allison! You are SOO fast!

Also Stephen Happy Birthday!! I am sending you a birthday package to home, because you are going to state right? :) Be excited!!

Oh and of course a shout out to my MVHS cross country team, GO GET EM!!! I expect a detailed report on how it all went down :)

Well here in NYC, the cars are still whizzing, the people are still yelling and honking and we are still walking everywhere and preaching the gospel. Today marks an important date, I finished my first transfer!! (6 weeks). And the new missionaries are flying in today (so I am no longer the newbie :) ). I am still a trainee and will be staying here in Rego for at least another transfer and probably more, we shall see.

Also something crazy, with the new missionaries coming in we will reach 200 missionaries in our mission. With in the next 2 transfers we will reach 250!!!!! (we are getting 80 new missionaries in the next 3 months!!!) And this has nothing to do with the announcement. We are all really excited to see our force growing at such a rapid pace. You are right; I haven't mentioned yet what we all think of the new announcement. We are all really excited because it will definitely spike our numbers (especially as sister missionaries, there are only 28 of us in the mission, and that should soon change!!! It is really funny, a lot of the elders are "lamenting" the fact that they will have no one to date when they get home because all the 19 and 20 year old girls will be on missions ha-ha. I have to admit, I had to fight being envious of the girls who get to go at 19 because I wanted to go so bad! But I was gently reminded by a loving Heavenly Father that He needs me here now :).

My Spanish is coming at a miraculous pace. I often find myself talking to someone in Spanish, and then not realizing that I am just learning and till we are into the conversation and I ask them to repeat something. Definitely not me, I worked my tail off in High School trying to learn Spanish and I got A's but could never speak it. It is all about having the spirit. There was one particular day this week when I didn't have the spirit with me as I should. Every time I tried to speak Spanish, I felt like I had rocks in my mouth. I couldn't get ANYTHING to come out, and I hardly could understand anything. That night, I went home and repented of what I knew was in the way and made things right. The next morning, I strived extra hard to be exactly obedient in my studies and I could feel the spirit with me again. I could speak Spanish with more ease than I had ever before. The gift of tongues is real and is inseparable to the spirit. I know also that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and I am so grateful for the power and ability to change, improve and enjoy the blessings of the spirit in my life.

Well this week has been REALLY tough. 2 of our favorite families dropped us because the Dad's said no more. This taught me the importance of teaching FAMILIES together, because that way they can feel and enjoy the spirit together.

I know that what I am doing is real. I testify that Jesus Christ lives. I never imagined that standing for and living for such a testimony would be so hard and attract SO much opposition. A mission is not for the weak in heart or mind. It is not for those who seek to gain or even want just something to do. A mission is for those who are willing to give and to give it all. I am grateful for all of you and for growing up in a family who lives for their testimonies and gives all to stand by these truths.

Love you all and have a great week!!

Megan

 

It was so sweet to see Manhattan!

Hola Todos!                                                   

1st off, thank you SO much for the letters and package this week. Thank you for reminding me that I am loved and missed :)

Today was an exciting day. We got permission from our mission president to go to the Statue of Liberty and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Wow, it was amazing. 1st off, it was really nice to get on a boat and get away from the city, get some fresh air and relax a little. It also was really neat to enjoy and remember how amazing it is to be an American. You know, I have always seen myself as a patriotic person. I have always felt strongly about the principles of freedom, goodness, justice and liberty. I also feel very strongly about God's hand in the history of this country. Since being on my mission, I have thought a lot about where I come from. Where we are from, almost everyone is an American and their families have been American for a long time. Also, many members of the church have ancestors that crossed the plains. Here, I often find myself being the only American. People ask all of the time how long my family has been in the United States or how long my family has been in the church. It is neat to be able to say that my family was some of the first Europeans to settle here, and some of the first people to join the church. It also is neat to see people's reactions and how they think it is really cool. 1st they think it’s cool that I know so much about my pedigree (it’s a great missionary opportunity :) ), and second, it’s cool that other people think it's cool. Of course it isn't about what other people think, but it has helped me gain a greater appreciation for my ancestors. For how they lived and what they built for me. Makes me to want to contribute to that lineage. It also makes me so grateful for this country. For it's religious freedom, and opportunity. I know that this country has a lot of problems, and a lot of differences, but there still is a lot of Good. I believe firmly in that and it was a powerful and in some ways a sacred opportunity to take a second today and remember what this country is all about and what our family, and countless other families have lived and died for.

It was also SWEET to see Manhattan. WOW! Such an awesome place, I now see why so many people travel here. We just got to walk around just a little bit from the Battery Park to the subways and to the Brooklyn Bridge. I am glad to report that I am finally getting my train and bus legs under me (not challenging the thought). When I first got here, I felt like I was flailing and sliding all over the place every time the train stopped ha-ha. Last night I got on a bus, swiped my card, carried my bag, walked and found my seat on the bus, while talking on the phone with an investigator and writing down some info....all successfully and while the bus was moving (I was the last to get on at the stop)...call me a New Yorker ha-ha.

I also was told this week by an Elder from Mexico City I have a Portuguese accent when I speak Spanish, when he pointed it out, we were both really confused and wondered why that would be the case, I then remembered that I have a Brazilian trainer. It was funny, and I guess that is a good sign right? Better than a "gringa" accent I guess ha-ha.

I don't know if I can emphasize how many different people are here. One day, my companion and I taught 3 lessons, in 3 different languages. English, Spanish and Portuguese (it was a family from Mozambique). Also this week I have shared the gospel with people from Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Philippines, India, Mexico, Guiana, Egypt, a place in SE Asia that I never heard of before, Morocco, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, New York, Denver :), China....and other places that I can't think of off of the top of my head. And these are just people I have met on the streets, in the subways or trains or through referrals. It's humbling to remember and think that God has called me to be here now and to witness and be apart of the gospel spreading to the 4 corners of the earth.

The work with our investigators is.....coming. Wow does Satan work hard to keep people from going to church on Sunday (Hermano Galvez, if you are reading this, I believed you when you said this in the MTC and I now know what you are talking about.) We had Anita y Saul committed to come with both their kids. They even worked extra hard on Sat. so they could close down their business on Sunday, and they did, and when we went to pick them up, they weren't there. Only their son was there and said they were all on their way. My companion went with a member to pick up another investigator (Mirian). Mirian had slept in but said that they were on their way. We also had an inactive family committed to come who had been working and planning all week to make it happen. When church started....nada. None of them came. Boy, it just breaks your heart because you see, feel and realize how much they need this. Makes me just want to take their hands and drag them to church, but that would take away agency. Somehow, we need to help them feel the urgency of this work and of the gospel.

I know this church is true. I know it with all my heart. It is a bold assertion to state, especially as I am surrounded by so many religions, but I make it and stand by this testimony. There are miracles that occur each and everyday here, and I wish I had more time to write them to you, or even write them all down. The work here is hard, but I feel honored, humbled and privileged to be apart of it.

Love and miss you! I hope grandpa starts feeling better!

Megan

 

I'm told my dance moves will get me a husband ;)

Hi guys! :)                                                                       

Hello! I am still alive, but because Columbus isn't, I couldn't email you yesterday--the library was closed. Interesting thing about this place is that the libraries here are CRAZY busy. It's because everyone needs to use the computers and no one has them. When we walked up today there was a huge line to get in. I was standing next to a lady with a nice fleece jacket with elk and trees on it that looked straight from the west (our part of the woods in CO :) ), I told her that I liked her jacket. She then got very cold and rude and started pretty much yelling at me to not try to convert her or anyone else and asked what business we had here at the library. I smiled and kindly explained to her that we were her to write our families that we only can email once a week......and that I just wanted to compliment her on the jacket cause I was from CO and it looked like it was from out west. You could tell my response took her aback, she then sweetened up a little and told me about where she got it, and we had a nice conversation. New Yorkers, very stern upfront but with soft big hearts :)

It's incredible. As we travel around our area there is a dramatic difference in the cleanliness and wealth of different areas, BUT no matter the area, the types of cars and the number of TV dishes don't change ha-ha. I can't tell you how many times we have walked into tiny Latino apts with HUGE TVs. And no matter the area, people don't really have computers. I guess it is because everyone here is struggling to pay rent cause it is SO expensive. People are slaves to their rent (and the buying of big screen TVs doesn't help.

It is amazing the burdens people carry around here. One of our investigators tearfully explained to us how she is barely able to pay for here rent. As she was telling me this and my heart became really heavy. I looked around the room in which she lived with her 3 children (ages 13, 6 and 2); the room is the size of one of our bathrooms at home with one bunk bed. She rents this room from another family that lives in the rest of the apartment, and I am pretty sure there is a 3rd family living in the apt too. She tearfully told us about how hard it is to be doing it all by herself (There is no father in the picture, which sadly, around here, is usually the case). We have another investigator who was explaining that he didn't want to get baptized cause he wants to go back to Mexico, leave his family, the struggling business and everything to find some tranquility and he might be leaving anytime....He was telling us this all while his wife and son were right there. As we hear the struggles of these people I often find myself with a heavy heart wondering why in the world was I sent here? What can I do? All I have been given in my life is opportunity and love! How grateful I am for it (more than ever) but I often think what do I have to give? I then am reminded of what I discovered as I was giving my farewell talk. Yes, I am a 21 year old gringa (white girl) from Highlands Ranch CO who barely speaks Spanish. I haven't seen much of the world, I have never been married, never had kids, and have never even had to struggle to pay rent or feed myself. BUT I do have a testimony of Jesus Christ. I know that He lives; I know that this is His church; I know the Book of Mormon is true and I am continually striving to deepen this testimony. I do have the power and authority of a missionary to invite people to come unto Christ and to partake in the joyous fruits of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I so know that the Gospel is real and that it heals and strengthen families for it has healed and strengthened mine. I know families are forever and I know that God loves the people I come in contact with and teach. And on more than one occasion I have felt the spirit work through me to touch one of His children. I do not know how to solve these problems, but I know that He does and that He has called me to be His emissary to reach His children. He has called me to be a "window to heaven" for His children, I can be worthy of His spirit and magnify this calling...and that is what I am trying to do.

I realize this is a pretty heavy letter, on a lighter note we had the "Dia de Espanidad" this week in the ward. It was INCREDIBLE. Each of the countries in the ward get together and prepare food and a dance to represent their nation. I have never seen so much food in my life!! They asked us missionaries to do a dance representing America. It was a pretty awesome dance that we through together right before. The bishop’s daughter is tagging us in it on facebook, so you will get to see it :) anyway there is a part that I have a "solo" and I do the sprinkler. It was a last minute decision but a hit! They LOVED it. I am learning the way to a Latinos heart is dancing. For the first time, members were actually talking to me (they usually just talked to Sis Simplicio because I am new and know little Spanish). One older sister told me that I will be able to find myself a spouse when I get home because I can dance. Phew! At least I know that if all else fails, at least my sprinkler move can get me a husband ;) ha-ha.

Love you and miss you and take care!!

Megan

The area is exploding with people to teach :)

 

Hi Family!

It is always so great to hear about everything going on at home. It seriously is so weird to think that there are still track meets, engagements, and everything else still going on. It seems like a long way away from here ha-ha. That is super exciting about Amber!

Discovery of the week, Dear Elder is great in the MTC, but takes over a week to get out here. It looks like it is great for writing friends, but not family. Looks like Email is the way to go. Or a letter or package those are always so nice too :).

Wow what a week. Sister Simplicio and I are working hard and learning a lot (at least I am learning a lot from her ;) ). Thank you for all your prayers! This past week our area has seemed to explode with people to teach. What a blessing and miracle. I am learning the virtue of patience. I have control over very little out here but my own personal worthiness and preparation. It is a lot like your story Mom in trying out for the track team (and mine too). We are given the white handbook, preach my gospel and the scriptures as missionaries. When we stick to the program, we allow miracles to occur.

This week we had a ward talent show and the ward asked the missionaries to do an act for it. We did a skit for Lehi's vision of the tree of life including the tree from the foyer, towels and rope costumes, black curtains for the mists of darkness, and a rope tied b/w 2 chairs. We also had light effects.....pretty awesome for a bunch of missionaries with only an hour to figure it out. At the end, I had to tie it into our purpose as missionaries... in Spanish. The skit was awesome, the ward loved it, and I successfully testified of the power of the fruit and the importance to invite all to partake of it. Best part of it was that we didn't know what we were going to do when they made the program and so they entitled it, "The Book of Mormon" and announced us as the Broadway play (trying to be fun and make it cool)....I don't think they knew about the play selling out on the other side of the river ha-ha! Oh well.

The Relief Society broadcast was AMAZING. I am sorry it wasn't working in your chapel mom, but I am glad you went to watch it because I thought of you and how it was kind of neat to think we were watching the same thing, and singing at the same time :) it will be like that for conference too. Here, conference is all in the afternoon and evening, I am SO excited for conference. At the broadcast was also quite special to watch. There are women from literally ALL over the world in the Queens stake and each was listening to the words of a prophet in their own tongue. Really was a testimony to me that this church is for the world, and Jesus Christ is literally the Savior of us all.

Anita and Saul came to church!!!! I might of mentioned this in a letter to you mom, but Anita is a less-active member from Mexico and her husband isn't a member, neither is her son. They all own and work tirelessly at the Dry Cleaners right by the chapel and where we live. After we found them, we have been dropping by almost every other day. It was pretty cool, we had one lesson in the back of their store, sitting on buckets and eating Mole. We are growing to love them so much and they both have a lot of faith, just not the motivation to act on it.....yet :). We committed them to come to church last week, but they didn't come. I guess Anita said that she didn't feel ready to go back and that they couldn't afford to leave work. I guess for the whole 3 hours during church, not one customer came by. Both Anita and Saul took as a sign they needed to go. This week, Hermana Simplicio and I went to their store to pick them up and take them to church. Again, Anita said they couldn't go because they needed to work, she didn't feel ready and her husband was fixing something at home. We testified of the power of the atonement and that all she needed to do was take that 1st step and come to church, also right then, her husband Saul rode his bike up to the store, just in time to go to church :). They were still concerned about leaving the store for an hour ( we are taking baby steps). We promised them that it would all get done and that church is what they needed to do. They dropped the piles of shirts they were sorting, quickly changed (they brought church clothes that morning planning to come :) ) and came to church. Boy did that feel good!!! They came and people immediately remembered them and invited them to sit with them. It was an amazing testimony meeting, all about the gospel of Jesus Christ and a couple were specifically about the power of coming to church. They loved it and you could tell they really felt the spirit and enjoyed it.

This week was really tough. I am learning for every 5 "jukes" (when people aren't there for our appt with them or they cancel) there is a miracle. (It isn't that exact of course, but I hope it makes a point.) There is truly opposition in all things, we cannot have success without failure. Our hearts can't be full unless they break. We can't have joy without stress and strain. The people here are amazing. How lucky and blessed I am to be here :)

Well I can't figure out how to extend my time on the computer today so that's all for email today folks! I love you and miss you and am praying hard for you too :). I know the work I am engaged in is real and it amazes me each and everyday.

Hermana Chipman

Life here is so different.

Hello family!                                                                                       September 24, 12

How are you all doing? I loved your emails, and actually at the Library here in Queens I can print your emails for free. So I will be writing you after I am done with this :) Oh and mom, I haven't gotten any fudge yet, I might just have to drop by the mission office and see if it is there!

Stephen, Congrats!!!!!!! That is AWESOME! I am proud of you and hope your really enjoy it. There are few cooler things on this earth than running a race with a BYU jersey:) (The only cooler thing that I know of is wearing a black name tag with our Savior's name on it).

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers. I surely can feel them carry me along. Boy is it tough. I feel like at least once a day there is a moment where I think to myself, "What am I doing here? I didn't have to do this!" And then at the same time, everyday there is a much more powerful moment where I know and feel that there is no place I would rather be. Its quite the roller coaster in that sense.

I am glad you liked the pictures and that you were able to check the area out on google earth. Like I said I live just across the train tracks from the chapel. Life here is so different. Everyone walks everywhere here (I have never seen more podiatrist doctor offices in my life!). It is interesting when we do our "Street Sweeps" (We set up a table on a busy street and walk with/ stop/ talk /testify with people on the street as they pass by). We offer them free church DVDs (Finding faith in Christ, Lamb of God, Together forever and Restoration) and offer to bring it by their houses. The interesting thing is that when we stop and talk to people they are busily on their way somewhere. It is kind of like stopping people in their cars on their way to work. We call it "Fearlessing" We do it on the train (which we ride a lot), the bus, and to and from appointments. We usually give them a Mormon.org card or other pass along card. I am not so good at the whole "Having no fear" part of it, but I am getting better.

Our Mission president is an inspired man and very smart. He is really pushing these street sweeps and fearlessing (especially close to the chapels). In answer to your question Dad about the campaign we are told very strictly that we cannot participate in any political discussions, BUT our mission president wants to take advantage of the attention (especially in NYC where the media is centered) that the church is getting and get the name of the church out there. We do find actually quite a few investigators from fearlessing and street sweeps, and also we get the name of the church out there. People may not want to listen to our message, but at least they walk by the table and know that Mormons believe in Christ. We work really hard to keep the name of the Church out of politics.

Now, most of the people that we work with aren't US citizens and so aren't interested in politics anyway. We spent a lot of time in Corona this week which is very much Hispanic. I am, for the first time in my life, the only white person walking the streets and I really stand out. I did see one other white man yesterday. He was a construction worker who was talking to his supervisor on the phone and reporting that he couldn't do the work because of the language barrier and he couldn't get people to clear the streets ha-ha. The language is coming, still a challenge, but coming and at a miraculous rate. I now can understand most of the Spanish that I hear, the real challenge is communicating. It is coming.

The Miracles are unfolding and we are finding people to teach. We now have 2 investigators, and both were found through fearlessing. We have a few more that we are starting to teach as well. This work is so true, there is no way that 2 "foreigners" like us should find any one to listen to the message that we bear but there is. The converting power of the Book of Mormon is real. We went and visited a family that dropped the missionaries 7 months ago. The mother and son were home and the Book of Mormon was sitting on their living room table. We talked and found out that the 13 year old boy has read almost the entire Book of Mormon and knows that it is true. When we taught about Joseph Smith, he was finishing our sentences. The mother has been reading a little bit also. What a miracle! The problem is that their father will not let them go to church, and so we are praying!

Thank you again for all your love, support and prayers. I love you a lot and miss you terribly, but know that this is where I want and need to be :) I often find myself "talking" to you in my head and thinking about what advice you would give and what you would say, you help a lot :)

Love,

Hermana Chipman

Pictures from first week in NYC

Finally in NYC!

There are two letters here. This letter came in the mail today.  Megan wrote it on the day after she arrived. The next letter was written today and emailed home.

Hola Familia!                                                                          9/11/12

 

So I am here in NYC!  What an amazing place!  We got in at about 2 pm.  We flew into LaGuardia Airport (which we learned was the airport where that airplane ran into the birds and then landed in the Hudson).  We flew right past the skyline and my window view was PERFECT! I saw the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Queens, and the whole 9 yards.  Anyway, that isn’t the important part.

 

I have met my mission president and his family and they are WONDERFUL! Yesterday was a pretty low key day.  We just went to the mission home for interviews, had a wonderful dinner & fireside, and then stayed the night.  The house is in Port Washington on Long Island.  Wow is it green and beautiful here.  I have never seen so many trees!  We are now just about to go to the transfer meeting to meet our trainers.  My mission president says that the trainers  that he has chosen for us sisters are the best of the best and that the Lord has been clear that those are the sisters we need.  Yesterday, after he met with us, he prayed sincerely and I know my trainer is who I need to be with.  The amazing thing about a mission is that we have to work for the spirit and as we do, we meet the people God wants us too.  I guess that is true in real life too.  After the transfer meeting I’ll get moved in and then we go to work.  How exciting!

 

I love you all and it was wonderful to talk to each of you--even if it was really short, early in the morning, and hard to hear.

 

I miss you and feel so strongly and grateful that this is where I need to be.  It is an exciting time to be serving here in the NY,NY mission!

 

Love,

Hermana Chipman

Second letter

 

 

Hello Family!                                                                       September 17, 2012

 

It is so crazy, but I am finally here and writing you from NYC!! This place is incredible and I like it a lot. It is SO different than anyplace I have been and feels like a foreign country at times. I love it!

My trainer is amazing. Her name is Hermana Simplicio and she is from Forteleza, Brazil. She is probably going to "Die" with me as her "kid" (Which is mission language for she will go home after she is done training me haha). We have a lot of fun together and I know we will see a lot of miracles together.

We definitely have our work cut out for us. We are actually opening a new area here in the Rego Park II Barrio (Spanish for ward). We are 2 of the 8 missionaries working within the ward boundaries. One of the other Hermanas, is Hermana Gray and she was a study buddy of mine in my Geology class sophomore year, small world.

Our area is full of contrasts. Where our apartment is, there are a lot of trees, pretty red brick houses and apartments and nice cars. We walk A LOT, and even in just 45 min of walking, I feel like we pass through 3 different countries. We have a predominately English and every other language but Spanish area. It is all apart of Queens, which is supposed to be one of the most diverse cities in the world. I have talked to a lot of people so far and have only met about 5 from the states, it's pretty awesome. I feel like the whole world lives in my area. Claire Ewing wrote me and said something profound, she said the beauty of NYC is not the landscape like CO, but all the different people. I have to agree

There is a Spanish area called corona that we have done some work in and our district is doing something new and different. We are now having a "shared area." It requires communication so we don't run it dry, but there is a large area which is essentially all Hispanic that we will all be working in. I am excited.

 

The language is coming...boy is it tough, but my trainer is very encouraging and the members seem impressed with my Spanish for only being here for a week. Now the challenge is actually using it, I haven't had too many opportunities yet, but I am studying hard and praying it will come.

The work is hard. Seeing how we opened an area, it took a while to get going and gather all the records from the other missionaries to get an area book going. We have been doing a lot of walking and a lot of talking and a lot of praying. Right now it hasn't been fruitful, but I know we are here for a purpose and that we will find people to teach.

So far in doing our work I have made some interesting observations. Children love us, dogs HATE us, parents are either annoyed or offended by us and pretty much the only people who seem interested are the drunken Latino men on the side of the street who constantly cat call us. This is how the work has been for the majority of the time thus far. But there have been just a few moments where I stopped this certain Latino lady who was pushing her children in both a stroller and a wheelchair who seemed to almost recognize us and showed a sincere and humble interest in listening. We found just a few people like that and I hope we get a chance to teach them this week. This work is a lot of grunge work, but there are miracles that seem to happen each day that make it all worth it.

It has amazed me how the Lord has been able to use me this past week with my poor language skills and inexperience. This past Saturday, Sister Martinez invited all 4 of us Sister missionaries over for dinner. She is a recent convert and is getting ready to go to the temple in November. She used to be in the other sister's area, but with the area switch she is now in ours and so we all went as part of a "hand off" if that makes any sense. Anyway, Sister Martinez invited 4 of her work friends over as well and wanted us to share a message with them. Two of them were college students (or just graduated). They are business students, like me, and fit the "cliché" young New York business professional. We shared with them and introduced to them the Book of Mormon. It came for my time to speak in my broken Spanish, but they said they all understood English for the most part and so invited me to say it in English. I don't remember what I said exactly, I just bore my testimony of the Book and shared with them Moroni's promise. I do remember what I felt and what they felt. It was the first time that I have seen the Holy Ghost reach and change people. As I testified I could feel the Holy Ghost touching their hearts through me and their countenances almost changed. I am grateful to be where I am and know that in that moment, God used what I could give. The two students said they were definitely going to look into it further. It was neat.

Well, that's about all I have time to write. I love you all and am so grateful for your prayers. It's definitely a culture shock, but God is with me. Thank you so much for your package mom, it truly made my week :). As far as mail goes, I actually won't be in my apt for too much longer because they are looking for an apartment for just Hermana Simplicio and I. Just keep sending it all to the mission office. The office is in my ward building and we find ourselves there almost every other day and so I have actually been able to get some mail while we are there.

Keep running fast! Congrats Allie, that is awesome! And Stephen, this is from experience, you can never tell your "spot" on the team by how they treat you. It is pretty cut throat, and almost the whole time I was on the team I felt like I was bugging people, I later found out that that is kind of just part of being on the team. Just keep trying and being kind. It will work out, it always does!

Love you all and miss you! God Bless!

Hermana Chipman