Lets get spiritual for a sec....

This week we went down into a subway near our house with some elders. My companion and an elder were playing church hymns while myself and another elder talked to people who stopped to listen. My companion plays the viola, which is awesome sounding, so we had a few people stop. Not many people seemed interested in learning more about Jesus Christ so I had begun to feel slightly disappointed in this finding activity lol. On our way out we passed a lady that smiled at us and I remember feeling like we have to go back and talk to her. So I asked my companion if we could go back and give her a pass along card. And then I started saying crazy stuff lol:

Me: Hi, do you have a belief in Jesus Christ?

Lady: Yes!

Me: Do you have a church that you go to?

Lady: No

Me: I feel like your prayers have been answered!

Looking back at the situation now, this conversation could have gone totally wrong. But, because she was being prepared by the Lord it didn't. She ending up saying yes I think they have! She has been looking for a church and wanting to get closer to God for a long time. My companion and I told her a little about our church and that she and her family would be blessed by having the gospel Jesus Christ as their foundation. She would be in a family ward so we told her that some other missionaries would contact her and then gave her a great big hug and left. I obviously cried tears of joy after this experience, who wouldn't lol? Not because I felt like I did a good deed, or because I felt like the Lord had heard my prayers of wanting to find someone who was being prepared to receive the gospel. I was so happy because God allowed me to be used as instrument to answer the prayers of someone else. I am not saying that she wouldn't have heard the gospel if I didn't follow that prompting, because I have full faith that she would. But, I know that I myself learned a valuable lesson in following the promptings of the spirit. I am so grateful to have the gift of the Holy Ghost to be with me as I strive to live worthy of it! This week I have been able see firsthand that God is so aware of each and every one of us. I am so grateful that he allows me to play a small part in helping his children come back to him! 

I made it to New York!

The first day they had us go street contacting (talking to people on the street about the gospel) it was a pretty cool experience. They call it fearlessing here in the NY NY South Mission. 

I quickly realized that it would have been beneficial to come up with a few solid recipes before I got here. For breakfast I eat oatmeal and a banana every morning. I switch it up for lunch and dinner. By switching it up, I mean I rotate between a bean and cheese wrap and a turkey wrap. On special occasions I might throw in a baked potato or two. 

I am serving in the Brooklyn YSA branch. #brooklynstandup

I live in a pretty rich area, my apartment even has a washer and dryer!

My companion’s name is Sister Slaugh, she is from Utah, and she is great!

I find that I am really comfortable talking to random people on the street, which is great, even if they aren't as comfortable talking to me ahah!

Being a missionary is wonderful, sharing the gospel with others truly makes me happy! 

Pictures

1. Outside of our apartment
2. My district, they are great
3.  P-day with some of the elders in our district
4. There are no pictures of the awesome members in my YSA branch, because I just met them this Sunday and didn't want to creep them out lol! But there will be more to come for sure.

Spiritual Direction

Lesson Learned this week:

As a missionary you have to focus on the needs of the people you teach. It takes a lot of prayer and effort but it is worth it! No matter what their needs are or concerns are the gospel of Jesus Christ is the anecdote. 

 

Funny things this week: 

We had a devotional this week and Vocal Point (BYU a capella group) performed some amazing church hymns. It wasn't One Direction, but as a missionary I'll take what I can get. #spiritualdirection

I kid you not, as I type this the person next to me is listening to one direction which I can hear through his headphones...#tendermercies....or #satantemptingme...not sure ahah!

Pictures

1. Our make shift Christmas present exchange (see David Bednar’s talk) 

2. The one day we decided to match 

3. At the Temple

4. At the Temple

Too busy to think of blog title

My week at a glance: 

1. I brought a lanyard to hold my MTC card and for some reason I thought the word was lantern. I learned that it wasn't when an elder corrected me....so embarrassing... 

2. I expected so much more from the food coming in to the MTC. It pretty much cafeteria good with more options. Tried the wrap bar yesterday, and I was disappointed (especially since I became a wrap making expert and tropical smoothie.) 

3. David Archelata came and spoke the missionaries three days before my arrival. When one of the sisters told me that, I almost cried, like really! ahahha

4. Missionary is seriously the best work! I can't help but be happy all the time, I smile at everyone (not everyone smiles back lol) 

Most important lesson I have learned: 

I have learned that obedience brings blessing, exact obedience brings miracles! And I want to see miracles.

 
1. The Provo temple

2. From of the Missionary Training Center. If you look closely you can see the Belize flag! Woohoo! 

3. My companions (sister board and sister haun) and I. 

4. Pointing to my mission

5. My district ( we are all going to same mission expect for one of us)