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I think there must be a rule in the
white handbook that says "if you have a certain amount of
miracles in one week you are subject to extra creeper experiences."
Cause that's kinda how it went down this week. It was one of the best
weeks as far as finding and teaching, but other than that it's been
kinda weird! I won't bore you with every unusual happenstance, but
some of them I just can't resist. So we didn't get transferred right?
Well we had to go to transfers anyways cause my comp needed to see
the mission nurse. On the way home we were on the train for 1 1/2
hours. About halfway home there was almost no one on our car. This
guy dressed in all black with chains and rings and all kind of
ornaments sat down across from us. I should say sprawled I guess. He
was taking up the whole bench. He was staring at us and reached his
hand into his pocket and pulled out a wad of $100 bills and started
counting them. Each time he counted one he would look up at us. Then
he got packets of weed out of his pocket and chewed on them. I have
no clue what he was doing but we were glad when he got off. 1 stop
before we got off a young Jewish man in his suit and top hat got on.
There was no one else on the train...plenty of extra seats...yet he
came and sat right next to me and just stared at my face. He was
right next to me so it was kinda uncomfortable. People in NYC stare
all the time, but usually not when they're right next to you.
Whatever. So he puts his hand on my shoulder and asks if the train is
going to Coney Island. I replied yes and then it was our stop so we
got off. As we were walking the platform I told my comp how creepy
that was. She didn't hear me and said "what?" But I turned
slightly and he was right behind us! I started walking faster but he
caught up and put his arm around me! I'm sorry but if your name isn't
Travis Hartley then it's illegal to put your arm around this
girl the way he did. I shrugged out of it and turned to face him. I
was like "what do you want?" And he asked if the train was
going to 57th street, a stop that doesn't even exist in
Brooklyn. I was done with this Jewish fool so I was like "that
isn't even a stop dawg" and we turned around and walked away. I
thought Jews weren't allowed to talk to women? The heck is going on
in this world.
We went home and ate and then headed
to an appointment. We sat on the bus next to an older man, and I
felt like I should talk to him. He had a different look to him, and
for some reason I couldn't open my mouth. I felt like I needed to
though! I was confused. He got up at the next stop and as he was
getting off he turned around and told me I was Satanic. As he walked
away he flipped us off. He was clearly pretty angry. I don't know
why I couldn't talk to him but I'm grateful I didn't, who knows if
he woulda blown his top or something. We transferred to a train and
I sat by an older Jewish man. He looked at my tag and started a
conversation. He was pretty nice and said "God bless"
before he got off. Maybe this day would turn around! Nope. 2 old
Russian women sat across from us and gave us the dirtiest looks, I
smiled at one of them and she turned up her nose and looked away. I
almost snorted trying not to laugh. She looked like one of the
stepsisters on Cinderella. We transferred to one last bus before our
appointment and it would have been fine except it smelled like weed.
Was it national weed day? Who knows. That night we went to drop off
a bible for someone and her and all her friends were drunk so we
sent up a return appointment. She was nice! Just wasted. And
that all happened on Tuesday.
Wednesday we had District Meeting with
our new district, they are all super cool! It is now us and 3 sets
of elders. Remember in your call packet where it states that your
mission president can adjust your language to fit needs? Well we now
have a bunch of Spanish people to teach cause they blinded out the
Spanish district. Somos Missionaries la inglesa de Jesu Christ de
Los Santos Los Ultimos Dias, Invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo
al ayudarlas a que reciban el Evangelio restaurado mediante la fe en
Jesucristo y Su expiación, el arrepentimiento, el bautismo,
la recepción del don del Espíritu Santo y el perseverar hasta el
fin. That's all I got. I can say "do you want a pamphlet?"
as well just sayin. Jk I probs didn't spell any of that right lets
be real. Anyways it's interesting to try and teach someone when you
have no clue what they're saying! I'm sure Brent has the same
experience haha. We played "hotseat" as a get to know you
activity. Basically you sit in a seat in the middle and everyone can
ask you questions about yourself. The Zone Leaders found out I was
homeschooled so one of them, as soon as my rear hit the chair asked
"what was your high school mascot?" I sat there blank for
a sec...."a tractor...?" Haha so now they all know I'm
homeschooled and it's quite the joke for them. Glad I can entertain
people I guess haha. After District Meeting we went to correlation
at our WML's house. He always cooks us Filippeano food like chicken
feet but we convinced him to let US cook for HIM. We grilled him up
some of the best hamburgers of his life and he was quite impressed!
His face was the best thing ever. We had correlation which is always
a party in itself, especially since we have a bunch of cool things
happening in the work here, which I'll get to next!!
Thursday we had weekly planning of
course, and we got pretty down and dirty about why some of our people
aren't progressing and how we can help them. The struggle here is
getting people to church. We came up with some legit solutions and we
had a member going with us that night to see the lady who was drunk
last time we came over. On the way there we taught a lady on the bus
and set up a return appointment. We got there and taught our lesson,
one of the best lessons ever because the spirit was so strong and she
was so prepared, and we set a baptismal date with her! After that we
were going to take a dinner hour but we decided to drop off the other
bible referral first. It was a rough decision when you're hungry. We
took it to the lady and she was also very prepared! She had 3 kids
and told us of how she was trying to understand the bible and had
googled some questions and had found Mormon.org! She wants to
raise her kids in the gospel. She loved what we had to share about
the restoration and we set up an appointment to come back Sunday.
THEN we went to dinner and I had Popeye's for the first time. There
are more Popeye's here than there are temples in Utah but for some
reason I hadn't tried it yet! Best fried chicken of my life. Anyways
back to missionary work, MEMBERS ARE THE KEY!! Every time we bring a
member they are able to connect with who we are teaching and there
are ALWAYS miracles. If you have time, go with the missionaries,
because you can make such a difference in these people's lives!
Friday was basically a repeat, we went to see a less-active and she
went with us to drop of another bible and the lady was so nice! She
had a "Families are Forever" sticker thing on her wall and
I was like "are you sure you aren't Mormon?" Haha.
Dude Saturday was the truth. The
Lord is truly with us here in the work. Last week at a baptism I met
an 11-year-old girl and she wasn't a member! I was like duuuude the
font is already filled lets getcha in there! So we set up an
appointment for Saturday and when we went over with a member and she
was seriously smiling ear to ear. You know I couldn't hold in the bap
commit so we sat down and I was like "sooo you wanna be baptized
by someone holding the priesthood?" She seriously jumped off the
couch and started dancing she was like "yes yes yes!" It
was so cute. I think the reason this story is so touching to me is
her background. She was 6 years old when a hurricane hit her country
killing her mom and 3 older siblings, as well as taking her leg. Her
dad is moving to America soon so she is living with someone else for
now. She's 11. Like seriously, the strength and fortitude in her eyes
is so inspiring, and she is so happy and has overcome her trials with
a good attitude. She said she wanted to be baptized so she could "be
closer to Jesus." Literally the most precious thing of my life.
Now I know why Jesus wants us to become as little children.
Sunday we woke up at 6 (I dunno why
that seems so much earlier than 6:15, but it does) and went to pick
up an investigator for church. The bus never came so we walked a few
miles haha. Not gonna lie, I was pretty grumpy. I guess not grumpy,
but I wasn't in the mood for comments about being a snowflake. After
walking a few miles, running and missing a bus, and starving and it's
not even 7am, when someone made a comment about how we looked I was
seriously done. But it's okay cause then our investigator came to
church and she loved it! We had 3 people there today, it's been a
while since that has happened! We had an interesting meeting. A
homeless lady got up to bear her testimony about marriage...she was
wearing a wedding dress. #awks it was so funny. NY is just so
accepting though, everyone just rolled with it! After church we had
so many lessons we had to go on splits and taught 4 lessons in an
hour! We also went to see the 98-year-old woman in the nursing home.
I think she has dementia but I sang her some hymns and read from the
Book of Mormon. I seriously love the Book of Mormon. I am learning to
use it is my "escape mechanism" instead of technology or
anything else and it has been such a positive experience! Too often
we reach for our device when we are bored or tired or in an awkward
situation. Why do we turn to that for comfort when we have the Book
of Mormon?? Anyways it has been an absolute bomb week and I love it
here so much! Being a missionary is the biggest blessing of my life
and this gospel is like coming home to a fireplace and hot chocolate
on a cold winter night. The gospel of Jesus Christ is home for me, so
no matter where I go or what is going on in life I can always feel
"at home" when I live the way I'm supposed to. This life is
really just a practice round at being like our Heavenly Father, I
love this quote by Elder Oaks: "the Final Judgment is not just
an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts--what we have
done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and
thoughts--what we have become." So grateful for the atonement
and the opportunity to change and be better every day. Thank you for
all your support and love, I have the best family out there!
xoxo
Sister Wadsworth
1. One of my favorite senior couples
is going home :( the Dibbles were in Belle Harbor with me and I love
them soooo much.
2. Dude "Popcorn Popping" is
the real deal. Also, I now understand the phrase "the driver on
the buss says move on back."
3. Ward Mission Leader partayyy.
4. My fav 11-year-old in NYC
5. We got compie PJs from H&M :)
