Wadsworth & Batsuuri: How Farm a Foundation

Dear Fam!

I can't NOT start this off with the most hilarious thing ever. So I finally gave in and let my companion start using the phone. Up to this point I had been pretty protective because I let her text once when she first got here and she totally screwed it up cause she doesn't do the whole English language thing quite yet. Might have offended some people haha. Well I told her to text a member and say we were on our way so she texts her: "we're almost there! ):" I looked at the text and was like, why did you put that? She's like "smiley face?" No honey, that was a frowny face, it means your sad. We laughed for like ten minutes, and then laughed some more with the member when we got to her house and explained. I seriously can't handle it. Sometimes it is so hysterically annoying how easily we misunderstand each other. We both know we don't mean to offend by anything we say to the other but sometimes I forget she isn't like us and say something sassy and she gets all defensive, or she'll tell me I need to wear more make up and I get my feathers ruffled. What is it with Asians and paint? I'm a spring chicken I don't need makeup! Haha. Anyway it is going great and we had an awesome week!

On Monday we went and saw a girl who is leaving on her mission next week, she knows G dog and Big Dude cause she was in their ward at BYUI...her family was so sweet! It was weird to be in a family setting again. Her mama taught me how to make papa a la huancaina, this Peruvian sauce that is seriously to die for! I can't wait to make you all these new things I'm learning, they are so great! One of the elders from the Dominican Republic taught me how to make these KILLER tacos. Y'all are gonna get fat when I get back. 

Tuesday and Wednesday we had so many appointments! Plus our finding activities with our district and meetings and everything. We taught 5 lessons during prime time on Wednesday! I hate that saying "prime time." I feel like it makes it seem like the hours from 6-9 are the only ones in which you can be productive. All time is prime time! You seriously can't waste a second of your mission, or your life! There is so much to do! I sound like Trenton haha. Thursday we had a lesson in Jamaica with John. He is so cool! He is in the army and has gotten shot like 4 times, no big deal eh. He has such a strong testimony. I love being ale to see the spiritual side of people in lessons. I feel like in regular life we always see the funny or the quirky or the serious. It's cool to take time to see what people believe, and why they do what they do and live a certain way. People are honestly fascinating.

Friday we had an exchange with the STLs. We taught some lessons and got ready for JeongAh's baptism. I made chocolate eclair dessert..yesssss. Why is this whole email about food? Oh probs cause we haven't eaten today. Whatever. We went to FHE and they did make-it-yourself pizzas (food again. Oops.) Saturday we tried to do service with Dave. It snowed so Sister Lugo and I went to Dunkin Doughnuts and did online proselyting instead. Best decision ever. We did some other preparations for the baptism and went and saw a member. The baptism was sooooo good! The spirit was so strong and after JeongAh got out of the water she turned around to the guy who baptized her and held out her arms and they both got back in the font and gave each other a hug. It was so presh, it meant so much to her and she felt so good. I love baptisms because it's a time for us to reflect on the covenants we made with God and the good feeling we have when we repent. I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost and Sister Batsuuri gave one about baptism. The Director of the company JeongAh and Min work for came! He was looking at the font afterwards and so I started talking to him and basically taught him the restoration and Plan of Salvation in 10 minutes and then gave him a Book of Mormon. He was extremely grateful and I think he could really feel the spirit. 

I have such a strong belief and conversion to the Book of Mormon. One of our investigators wants to read it through before he makes a decision about baptism. We talked to him about real intent and I was so straight up with him, I told him if he reads it for intellectual or scientific reasons that's what he'll get out of it. If he reads it to get closer to Christ he will get closer to Christ. Reading the Book of Mormon for intellectual reasons is like trying to measure gravity with a measuring cup. It can't be done because we aren't using the right tools. We must listen to this gospel with our hearts, not our intellect (although it does require that to make a decision if it is true). I feel like there is such great harm in relying on the "arm of the flesh." I trust God so much more than I'd ever trust a scientist. I know that that book and this church are truer than anything else on earth, and if we put our all into this church it will give us all the blessings we need in return--and then some. I am so grateful to be a part of the hastening of the Lord's work, this is a marvelous time to be alive and especially to be a missionary. This is the greatest privilege I have ever had. 

Love you all, thanks so much for your love and support, I couldn't do it without you. 

Sister Wadsworth

Pics:

1. Don't tell president, but this is my boyfriend on the mission. WHY ARE KIDS SO CUTE.

2. Doin some chalk art in the park! Love Sister Grass, she's the best!

3. Jamaica Ave at Sunset.

4. Freezing to death!

This ship could stay in the harbor but that's not what ships are built for.

Yes, I am leaving. Time to sail! Can't even believe all that has
happened this week. But the highlight was definitely eating a whole
fish, eyeballs and all. Okay that wasn't the highlight, but it was a
top runner. I get little butterflies (or fisheys) in my stomach every
time I think about it. It completely ruined my appetite for Swedish
fish...like forever. But on a more real note, I have learned so much
this week about things that will help me for the rest of my time in
New York as well as the rest of my life. I have been studying a lot
about accountability lately and have felt a real sense of urgency for
this wok to move forward as well as the need to be more accountable to
Heavenly Father about how I spend every second, here and for the rest
of my life. Chapter 8 in PMG was mind-blowing, I loved this part: "the
attitude you have toward your mission experience is a reflection of
your love towards your Heavenly Father and His Son and your respect
for the priesthood." Well obviously I love Him and so I have been
trying to make my mission (and my life) a reflection of that love. It
is hard to always align our actions with what we are trying to
accomplish and with what God wants, but I know as we try we will be
blessed for having the faith to attempt.

We have met some awesome people this week! It's so crazy to me how
Sister Cox and I will set a goal with a certain person in mind and we
always reach our goals but it always seems to be with different
people! The Lord has put a lot of people in our path who are ready to
hear the gospel and that has been such a blessing for us. The lady who
got baptized last week was a perfect example of that. We have had a
lot of cool lessons about faith this week as well, it's weird how you
see different patterns in investigators as they progress towards
baptism. We are teaching an adorable couple who just had the sweetest
baby. Obviously it is a real struggle for me to restrain myself from
taking the little sweetheart every time we go over there. It is so
cool for me to see the faith of those who are investigating...I wonder
if I would have had that same faith if I was in their position.

We watched the Women's Meeting, the time difference was a real
struggle, it started at 8pm here and we had driven to Woodside to
watch it so like 40 minutes away. We were in the car during transfer
calls. *tears* *sobbing* *depression* This is my last day in Belle
Harbor for now. I don't want to leave but the good news is it isn't
about what I want so I'm just ready for wherever I go and whomever I'm
paired with and I know that that's where Heavenly Father needs me. I
was fine at first but as I started thinking about the people here it
just got harder and harder. I am so grateful for the experiences I've
had here and for the people I've come to love. This is getting fruity
so I'm just gonna stop at that. But I had to give a impromptu
15-minute talk which I ugly cried through the entirety of. Thanks for
that gene Pa (not the ugly part, the crying part). But I can't even
handle how much I love these people. They are my family and my life so
it's kinda hurting right now but I'll just eat a can of corn and I'll
be fine. And I will miss the missionaries here just as much. Sister
Cox has been sooooo great for me to have as a companion and I'm just
sad it had to end this soon. She's is all right that girl, let me tell
you what. Words can't go out as to how much I love and respect her.
But enough is enough so I'm just gonna throw in the towel and I guess
next week you'll know where I'm at!

So so grateful for this gospel and for the strength it's given me to
do what I need to do and strive to be the person I need to be. I'm so
grateful for the changes I've seen in others as well as we bring them
closer to Christ. If you're thinking about going on a mission, stop
thinking about it and start your papers, it is the best decision you
could ever make, no matter who you are.
Love you all so much!
Sister Wadsworth


Sorry for the pic overload, this isn't even half of them...
1. Favorite comp for lifeeeee
2. Trying to take a district selfie but Elder Voorhees wouldn't get in it
3. The Plunkett Clan
4. My girl Dia and Clinford, the one who introduced her to us!
5. One of our strongest families in the branch!
6. Can you tell they're for the philippeans? #giantswag
7. Some of the ladies from the branch...what a riot.
8. Ladies from the branch part II
9. My girl Eli
10. These two...no words can describe the love. John and Cathy.
11. Farewell cake from Steve & Terry for me and another elder who is
being transferred.

Rockin Rockaway Beach

Dear Family:
This week has been INCREDIBLE. Easily one of the best so far. It
didn't start off too crazy, we had zone activity, most of which Sister
Cox and I completely ditched cause we'd rather write our families than
play football, then we had a lesson with Dia, my favorite person in
Rockaway. As we were waiting outside her apartment a lady comes up to
us and askes if we'll teach her. Um, of course we will haha I'll take
free investigators any day! On Tuesday we had our usual district
meeting, which is always good. Elder Nugent served in Bermuda before
this so he brings his ukulele and we sing to that on the opening and
closing songs. Afterwards we went to this ghetto Chinese restaurant
called 5-star, but if I was gonna rate it it'd be called 1-star. We
had an enjoyable lunch there until a cockroach started walking across
the table. None of us said anything, we all just grabbed our food and
walked out...it was hysterical. Tuesday night I went on exchanges to
Lynbrook with Sister Beacher. We got there at like 8:30 at night and
then next morning we had to take their car into Forest Hills for a
recall so we chilled there and talked to people. We met a college-age
guy in Starbucks and actually had such a good conversation with him!
He was catholic but believed all the same things we do. I was on a
roll asking him questions that were getting him thinking and I think
he enjoyed our conversation. Yay for the plan of salvation. We were
walking down the street and this old man walks past us and then turns
around and just started SCREAMING profanities at us. It was different
that's for sure, I'm not sure why he was calling me all those things
but I guess it's a change from being asked if I'm a nun? I was trying
not to laugh cause he was so ridiculous and we just kept walking away
and were like dying laughing. But whatever, the exchange ended and
{once again} I realized how much I love being with Sister Cox here.

Wednesday we exchanged back and saw Dia again and planned her baptism
more, we also went and saw a sister in the branch...remember the time
I almost had to use my pepper spray last week? Well it was at this
place but this time there was a white guy sitting on the steps,
completely wasted out of his mind. I was trying to walk up the steps
but as I walked past him he tried to grab my leg but I slipped out and
ran up the stairs, flipping out of course. We had a wonderful lesson
with this lady and her beautiful kids, but when we came back out I was
scared out of my mind that we were gonna die. There were like 7 huge
black guys talking about their drug deals and we seriously jogged to
our car (I think they didn't see us cause it was dark). We locked the
doors and peeled outta there. Needless to say we are NEVER going back
there.

Thursday we took a sister in the branch to do baptisms for the first
time. Can't believe that's my 7th time going to the temple in 4
months. I'm super lucky. I was the team leader this time cause the
elders had never taken the ferry and you'd be surprised that most of
the people here in Rockaway have NO idea how to get around Manhattan.
I might have a pretty big head right now cause I got us to Manhattan
on the ferry, through the subway, and then walked to the temple
without getting lost! Never thought that day would come haha. It was a
beautiful day and such a good trip. The sister loved the temple and we
are going to get her in the temple class so she can prepare to go
back. That night we went and saw a sister in the branch. She and her 3
girls are the most hysterical thing I have seen in my life. They just
trash talked each other all day long. We seriously recorded them
talked because it's so funny. Oh and she made us the greatest dinner
EVER.

Friday we taught Dia again. She wasn't sure about Joseph Smith being a
prophet but luckily I (and by "I" I mean the spirit) told her to read
Alma 32 the last time we came, so she had read that and then we read
through Joseph Smith History with her and she was able to be
interviewed that night and she answered positively to all the
questions! Sister Cox and I started dancing in the pad, it is our
first person to go all the way from being found to being baptized! And
we freakin love Dia so obviously we were so happy. On Saturday we did
a stake day of service cleaning up around Rockaway so that was good.
I'm sure you saw all the ugly pictures on Facebook with my hair in my
face...story of my life.

Sunday was so awesome! Church was great, we taught gospel principals
and had a really great discussion. Last night was Dia's baptism! It
was seriously so perfect, it was on the beach at sunset and the water
was like glass. Too bad the elders didn't know there were jelly fish
on the ocean floor, Elder Jensen's face was straight money...not sure
if he got bit or what but it was stinkin funny. A lot of the branch
showed up to support her and that was amazing. So basically I love my
life and I am so grateful for the gospel, it is helping these people
so much and it's helping me so much too. Cross your fingers we don't
get any transfer/training calls this week!
Love ya all,
Sister Wadsworth

1. On the way to Manhattan on the ferry!
2. The one. The only. Sister wadsworth.  ...totally unplanned
3. Outside Francis's house wearing Steve's hoodie cause it all the
sudden got chilly.
4. Us with Shai (shy) ...wearing the dress Francis gave me from the 40s.
5&6.  Dia's Baptism!

 

Name of the week: Topramenisha

Say it slow {top-ramen-isha}
Okay I'm kidding but seriously, there are so  many weird names out
here. The baby name page in my journal is overflowing with names like
"Naquanna." Sorry Ma and Pa, your grand kids are outta luck. The power
went out, I almost had to use my pepper spray twice, and I almost got
my head shaved by some lady from Peru. Lotsa close calls folks. But
that's beside the point. So we got like 10 new investigators and we
were following up with them and got rejected by half of them at return
appointments after they seemed interested so that hurt because you
seriously get emotionally attached to people so quickly and then when
they don't want to keep learning about the gospel it's pretty
crushing. But that's okay because there are other people who are truly
prepared. We had 3 investigators at church! The family we are
teaching, and our girl Dia. I think the family was super weirded out
by our ward cause they come in and there are like 30 people, and the
talks were on self-reliance...I feel another drop coming on.

One of our new members brought a friend to church and we have been
teaching her all of this week. On Thursday night she asked us if she
could make an appointment to be baptized. I had the biggest smile on
my face, mostly because of the way she said it, but I just know that
baptism and this gospel will make her so happy and carry her through
her struggles. Oh wait let me back up ... We had a mission-wide fast
that each companionship could baptize 1 person and take 1 person to
the temple before the end of the month. We have 4 people who are
supposed to be baptized in the next 2 weeks but they all have some
sort of hang up with either word of wisdom, or they won't come to
church...whatever. But we had this fast and first of all we had 80
people at church which was a miracle in itself, but then this new girl
shows up and she's so ready to be baptized, it was just a crazy
testimony to me that fasting really does work!

We also went and talked to this sweet sweet lady, Joanna. Oh my
goodness she is absolutely perfect as far as the things of this world.
She has an impeccable, humongous house that is perfectly decorated and
a huge pool, she has a perfect body, hair, wardrobe, and her husband
is super jacked and a lawyer and makes lots of money and they drive
nice cars, but beside all that she has the biggest heart. You'd think
someone who looks like she does wouldn't be very friendly, but she is
constantly helping people on the streets and giving people help. We
talked with her for almost 2 hours about the miracle of forgiveness
and how she can live life to the fullest despite the temptations we
might face. I seriously don't know why she's not Mormon haha but she
is such a good example to me of the kind of person I want to be, she
would do anything for anybody. She's Greek and she gave us all this
Greek food which I'm obsessed with now. It's seriously so funny
though, people think we are perfect and never do anything wrong and
that we have all the answers to every question when really some of the
stuff she was saying helped me! I've just been thinking how crazy it
is, the things I learn from others on my mission.

I've actually been thinking a lot about education since everyone is
going back to school. Dude, I have two degrees, a lot of job
experience, and a pretty good resume. But seriously none of that
matters, because I have learned more in the last 4 months than I have
all throughout high school and college and all the jobs I've had, and
besides that the things I've  learned here actually MATTER! Please
don't let "education" get in the way of EDUCATION. Read your
scriptures, pray, get close to God. He will help you far more than a
tutor or a teacher. Don't take religion as an easy A, it can be of
real worth if you let it. I say all this cause I didn't do it, and I
can see the difference it would have made if I would have. Anyways,
sorry for being preachy.

On another note we drove past some construction and I saw a loader
using the quick-detach bucket and he just slid it right off and I went
off to Sister Cox for like 15 min about how much better Deere is than
Ford and how nice the quick-detach loaders are. You can take the girl
out of the country but you can't take the dang blasted redneck out of
the girl. It was seriously so embarrassed when I realized how much I
was talking about it. If I were her I would hard pass me but she loves
me for who I am so that's good. We have memorized all the lessons
together! Our teaching is so much more smooth as we build off the
points in our lessons. We have more comp flow and I have seen the
difference in the spirit as we teach because we are more prepared.

I love it here and am so grateful to be in Belle Harbor with Sis Cox,
she is the cats pajamas that girl. I know that the gospel is true and
that if we can live it it will bless our lives far more than we can
comprehend. I have also seen Satan working hard in the lives of some
of the people when he sees them about to do the right things. You just
gotta beat the satan bug guys he is real and he is smart, but if we
are on Christ's side we cannot lose,
I love ya all!
Sister Wadsworth


Pics:
1. District p-day, of course Sis Cox wasn't tall enough so I had to
lift where I stand.
2. Oh look, it's sister wadsworth when she doesn't do her hair and
make up! But we found this cool beach and I NEEDED a picture of it.
3. On second thought, I'll just take a pic of the beach by itself. Yay.
4. The gold chain was inspired by Mo Mo. It's all the rage here.
5. The Atlantic beach!
6. I couldn't get over the ocean on Friday, it looked like there were diamonds !
7. We came in for dinner hour and Sister Cox made pudding so of course
I had to teach her how to make cream puffs with it! She's a natural.

 

 

From the 718, with love

What up fam! This week has been soooo great, I love it more here every
day. When I first came on a mission it was probably my worst fear that
I would end up with a horrible companion. I've discovered that the
only thing that's as bad as that is ending up with a companion you are
best friends with, because it's so hard to not feel like you're in
normal life with your best friend. Sister Cox and I laugh constantly
and something is always funny. I can't even deal with her sarcasm
sometimes. Some of the stuff she says and does just straight slays me.
It makes the work fun and we find incredible happiness in teaching the
gospel together #blessings.

We have had so much success this week, The Lord has prepared so many
people to hear the message we have. We found 5 new investigators in 2
hours on the way to our lessons. One lady told us she had prayed to
God that angels would come and talk to her cause she was lonely and
she needed help raking her leaves and we came walking down the street!
Whoever said people in New York are rude didn't know what they were
taking about (unless they're driving, then they can get pretty messy).
I love the people here, they are the sweetest things ever! Oh except
for our Branch Presidents wife. We were at her house and I made a fat
kid joke and she looks at me and is like "it's okay you're only a
little chubby." Well I guess it's time to hit the gym kids. But the
best part was that she started telling me that no one would marry me
because I'm not fat ENOUGH. Lady. You're scarin me. She told us about
how if you wanna get married in Africa they put you in a "fat room"
for 6 months, they give you massages and feed you food and you just
sit there for 6 months and then after that you are ready to get
married cause you're squishy enough. Someone should tell that fat room
to go die.

We had exchanges...if you wanna know how to rip my heart out just take
Sister Cox away for a day. I seriously missed her, but with every
exchange comes a miracle, a traffic violation, and getting hit on so
it was a good day. We have had so many good experiences with our
members lately! We have two members that are seriously just straight
money when it comes to taking them to lessons. I am excited to be that
person for the missionaries when I get home. We had a mega-zone
conference on Thursday and we met with President Calderwood and
President Glass, our stake president. We talked about ways to hasten
the work. President Calderwood said that "every member should be a
missionary and every missionary should be a member." Sister Cox and I
have been given like 3 callings in the branch and we are kinda
supposed to be members and missionaries. We are supposed to visit
teach all the ladies in the branch and teach Sunday school and help
with relief society, plus meet all our goals as a district and zone so
it seems like a lot but I know that as we unite with the members we
will move the work forward faster and more effectively. I would
encourage all you members to reach out to the less-actives and
investigators and fellowship them. It is our responsibility to bring
everyone back to our Heavenly Father and we do that as we help them
participate in the ordinances of baptism and partaking of the
sacrament. I was reading a talk by the presiding bishop and he said
that "In our family we have an ancestor who joined the Church in
Europe in the early days of the Church. One son became inactive.
Sister Edgley and I have attempted to track the inactive descendants
of this ancestor. It was easy for my wife and me to conclude that
during the following six generations and with reasonable assumptions,
there could be a loss of up to 3,000 family members. Now project two
more generations. The loss could theoretically approach 20,000 to
30,000 of our Heavenly Father’s children." I just think of that
scripture that says "remember, the worth of souls is great in the
sight of God." Each person is so important in God's eyes, and they
should be in our eyes as well. I'm so grateful for the people here and
for their humility to listen to our message.

Church was the ultimate miracle, we had 80 people! Last week we had
like 60 so that was a huge jump, and 9 of our investigators came! And
they loved it, and fellowshipped each other, and cried, and left
feeling more welcome...it was just the happiest day of my life. Sister
Cox and I taught gospel principals. Every time that girl opens her
mouth I just want to bow down to her. She has the firmest testimony I
have ever seen, especially in a 19-year-old, and she teaches with
clarity and power. I feel like an idiot when we teach together cause
I'm all over the place cause I get really excited about the gospel,
and she is just calm, collected, and ready to move mountains. It was
seriously the best Sunday of my life.

On a lighter note, I got super tired of my hair so I went in the
bathroom and cut it. Probs not the best idea. You can't tell though so
I got over it real quick. And we got asked if we were actual sisters
so that was pretty great. And no one has called me a nun in like a
month so I'm pretty much super stoked on life right now. It's super
hot here, like disgustingly hot with the humidity, so we are kinda
excited for fall. Somebody in town saw a shark on the beach the other
day so that was fun. We are supposed to go the temple on 9/11 so if I
get killed or something while we're in Manhattan I'm sorry mom. Hope
you all have a great week, I love "yous guys!" (Brooklyn expression,
totally grammatically incorrect and redundant)

xoxo
Sister Wadsworth

Photos:
1. Cox&Wads❤️
2. District beach workout..our Saturday tradish
3. Me and JJ..so presh
4. Mixing up some quick set for the tile @ Friends of Rockaway
5. On our way to Rego Park stuck in traffic...not impressed
6. District pic at the zone thing

 

Well shootsies, I'm pretty frazzled from this last week, mostly
because I actually have to do stuff instead of just stand there and
watch. No more nail painting during weekly planning lol. This week was
hysterical, but not in the way my weeks are usually a good laugh.
First off, we go to district meeting and pretty much get a major
chastisement for not committing people to baptism the first time we
meet them. I'm just not pushy and if someone tried to commit me to
baptism before I knew their name I'd tell them to jump in the bay! But
I believe that our leaders know what is best so Foxy Cox and I decided
to do our best. We've taught a lot of awkward first lessons, it's bad
enough when you're asking someone to be baptized when you can't
pronounce their name, and then you add the language barrier, the age
difference, the fact that I'm whiter than vanilla ice cream, the part
where they're pretty much on drugs, and the fact that I'm
homeschooled, and let me just say that leads to a pretty rad baptismal
commit! So far 1 was shot down and 2 were accepted but we have return
appointments with everyone so I am hoping that no matter how
awkward/bad of teachers we are the spirit will work on them and
they'll come to know it's true. Cug. Oh I guess I never explained the
cug to you guys. That'll probs have to wait till I get home, but for
right now just know that it is a term used when shiz gets awkward.

We did service for Francis again. We started playing this game where
if we like something we take it to her and we tell her how cool it is
and then she tells us to take it home. Okay it was mostly the elders
but I was pretty slayed by the whole thing and just hysterical the
whole time. Mom that "haste makes waste" sign came from her. You can
put it up in the kitchen in memory of her if you want but you know
that's going in my trophy wife house when we get married. Dude the
amount of stuff she has is seriously crazy. The contents of her living
room are probs worth a fortune. I will be a forever minimalist after
meeting her, bless her soul. We got this picture for our kitchen and
it's actually sooo classy I will attach a pic.

Saturday we had a district birthday breakfast for Elder Baker's 21st
birthday! Sister Cox and I made these things where you get bread, cut
off the crust, flatten the slice with a rolling pin (didn't have one
so we used a can of green beans #thrifty), spread with Nutella and
throw some strawberries in, roll up, dip in French toast egg stuff,
cook on the griddle, rolling it as you cook, and then sprinkle with
cinnamon sugar. Let's just say it'll probably be the best birthday
he's ever had. But we made French toast bake with the bread crust
(once again, #thrifty) and I whipped up some apple pie filling and
strudel and we baked it right up...so YUM. Anyways enough fat kids
probs, we got fed a lot this week and it was good food so I'm not
complainin! Okay but wait there actually was a time when it was a
problem. So I'm like STARVING cause we go to Beyonca's birthday party
and we were supposed to eat at 5 and it was 7 so I'm just ravenous at
this point. Anyways I get sent into the house with Sister got to fetch
some spoons for the food. Well I'm dying and there's a Little Caesar's
pizza box on the counter from earlier so I'm like "oh I'll just grab a
piece!" Mmmm better not! There were cockroaches crawling in the box
and over the last crusty slice and then I look at the ground and
they're crawling all around our feet so we might have screamed like
girls, grabbed the spoons, and ran outta there like it was a dollar
van we were gettin out of.

Sister Cox had her first run-in with a cockroach a few hours previous.
Haha. We were sitting at a families' house with the elders and all the
sudden Sister Cox is pretty much sitting on my lap and grabbing my
arms. I'm like "what?" "what?" And I look over and there's this HUGE
cockroach crawling up her arm. The elders are such gentlemen, Elder
Voorhees smacked the thing with his iPad and then they traded couches
with us. I dunno why members do this, but they invite us over and then
leave us in the living room to talk to each other and then they do
whatever. Which is fine cause then when cockroaches come we don't feel
bad smacking them. Flashback to when one was crawling by my shoe but I
didn't wanna stamp on it in front of the lady, so I'm like freaking IN
instead of out as I watch it crawl back under the couch. Oh the
struggle.

Oh my goodness though, we went to see two of our favorite sisters,
they are besties and had just gone shopping and were on their way to a
party. We had tried to call ahead but they hadn't responded. So they
let us in and immediately started to cook us dinner even though they
were supposed to be to a party in Yonkers in a half hour. It takes
like an hour to drive there. So I ironed the sisters clothes while she
took a quick shower except it was hilarious cause she kept changing
her mind about what to wear so once I got one outfit ironed she would
change her mind and throw me another one. I was seriously hysterical
it was the funniest thing of my life. I think I ironed like 5 outfits.
The members take such good care of us I seriously freakin love them.

But on a more spiritual note, we found the most pure family in New
York and they committed to get baptized! I am seriously in love with
them. It's so weird how attached you get to people after just one
visit because you spend hours planning what and how to teach them,
scheduling them into your week, and praying over them. This place
really feels like home to me. Something I've realized is that no
matter where I'm at, the gospel is what brings me peace. Living the
doctrine of Christ is "home." As long as we are doing the right things
we can be comfortable with our lives...more importantly, we can be
comfortable with the spirit guiding us. This gospel has brought me
more joy & happiness than anything and it is such a blessing to be
able to share it with others. I love it here and am so happy to be
doing the Lord's work. Hope you all have a great week!
Sister Wadsworth


Pics!
Pics 1&2 The girls (got baptized a few weeks ago) and their lemonade
stand! Raising money to buy a dog...totes presh
3, 4, & 5 Byonca's 6th birthday!
6&7 just the life of the Belle Harbor Beach Bums
8. District Breakfast for Elder Bakers birthday! Don't mind the bed heads lol
9. District P-day building sand tunnels on the beach...classic
10. The trophy wife skills coming out..

Ya don't know what ya don't know until ya know that ya don't know it.

On Monday I said the most horrible goodbye of my life. Cosmo left us
for Brooklyn and we will miss her like crazy. I cried harder on that
day than I did when I said bye to Travis. Sorry babe. Good thing
getting back to our area is on a straight road with no turn offs cause
this spring chicken would have been lost before we left the mission
office parking lot. Of course in typical missionary miracle style
everyone we planned to see that night actually went through and we had
a good start to the transfer! Okay I hope everyone has some idea of
how much I exaggerate in these letters and how sarcastic I keep
it when I'm writing. Like seriously, if you believe half the filth I
say there's something wrong with you. Anyways.

My comp Sista Cox: she is the most hysterical person in the world.
She's got the Cosmo sass but I feel like she's got my awkwardness
(Cosmo didn't has an ounce of awkward in her. poor thing.) so Sister
Cox and I really feel each other and I feel the homeschool jungle
freak come out more when I'm around her but oh well! I have been so
blessed with companions who are normal. We have had some good laughs
already and I know it'll continue as we work together. She helps me be
more brave because I'm supposed to take the reins I guess so we have
actually been handing out Books of Mormon left and right! We are
trying to find on our way to and from appointments because we never
really have time to just go out and fearless or knock doors which is
also a blessing cause I don't wanna get kidnapped by some fetcher who
just got out of a dollar van on beach 22nd. Oh but Sister Cox is
seriously the bomb and I love her. She has so many good ideas, she
suggested we stop by someone's house and it was golden, and everything
she says in our lessons is spot-on, she made me buy tuna and we have
been eating these delish tuna wraps like every day which saves money
cause I don't have to buy fish oil pills!  That literally had nothing
to do with anything so I'm just gonna ends this part now.

I can't even deal with how many lessons we have had in the last 5
days. A lot of them are with the members because we can't get them to
come to church every week, they come like 1-2 a month and when you
have a branch our size you know somebody's cat is gonna get chapped
that the attendance has been knocked in half when people don't show up
cause they are on Mott Ave buying freakin bodegas or something. But we
have had some really good recent convert/less active lessons and we
are hoping the attendance will rise. Our members really are so great,
especially at doing missionary work, some of them just kill me how
awesome they are. And we only had caterpillars once this week so that
was a plus. Pretty soon we're gonna be a "plus" if we don't stop
getting fed so much.

We did lots of service, some for Francis and some for our girl Erica
who is getting baptized in a couple weeks. We looked up like 7
referrals too! Who said people in NY weren't friendly? People invited
us right in and we chatted up a storm at almost every stop. Belle
Harbor is seriously the coolest community of people. They seriously
just mad chill on their stoop all day long and they love it when we
come over to do a "bible reading" lol sometimes I feel so sneaky. We
can teach someone 3 lessons and they don't even know it. But it's
good, The Lord hastens his work in his time, and I know that the
biggest part of that is connecting families, in this life and in the
next.

Ok can I just take a second to vent. Ever since I've started driving
every day things that didn't used bug me about New York drivers are
really starting to. What just rips the fur right off my cat is these
freaking dollar vans. They are these 15-passenger Fords (that's the
real problem) and they follow the bus routes so you can take them if
you are a cheap or "common" person. They are merciless. They pride
themselves on getting their passengers to the bus stop before the bus
gets there so they will cut off any and every other car to get what
they want. Something New York people pride themselves on is this
motto: "I want it, I want it NOW, and I want it again" well I think
it's hysterical because that sounds like something a 3-year-old would
say but they think it's like this intense rat race of getting every
possible worthless thing that is out there and making it theirs,
whether they need it or not. Too bad they get so caught up in it they
don't have time for things that actually matter in life. Okay I'm done
venting.

Sis Cox and I had to speak in church on Sunday. When President asked
me to speak I knew exactly what I wanted to talk about, mostly because
of what I have been studying lately, but also cause we were jammin out
to the scripture power cd in the Subaru and the wise man built his
house on the rock just really tugs my heart strings every time. I
talked about how we worship but I guess I'll just attach the talk
instead of writing it all over again. Don't worry it wasn't actually
that boring, I had some good jokes and stories throughout, I told a
story and I was talking a little about the bus and oh my heck, they were dying.

They were all coming up to me
afterwards and asking me about it and they all wanna meet you mom and
dad they think it was the coolest thing ever.  But anyways here's the
doctrinal part of what I said:

BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION IN WORSHIPING GOD BY THE WAY WE LIVE

When they were building the salt lake temple they discovered that
there were numerous cracks in the foundation, some thought they could
continue the building process, but President Brigham Young instructed
them to tear out the cornerstones and rebuild the foundation the right

 Show message history

As members of this church we sometimes get "cracks" in our foundations
which, if we don't tear out the damaged stone and rebuild, can
eventually lead to the rot and the eventual toppling of our
testimonies. What are some of the "cracks" that we see in our day?

I would submit that almost all people have a "crack" in their
foundation when it comes to the way they worship.

To worship means to have "intense love or admiration for" something.

The issue is not whether men shall worship, but who or what is to be
the object of their devotions and how they shall go about paying their
devotions to their chosen Most High.

There is no salvation in worshiping a false god. It does not matter
one particle how sincerely someone may believe that God is a golden
calf, or that he is an immaterial, uncreated power that is in all
things; the worship of such a being or concept has no saving power.
Men may believe with all their souls that images or powers or laws are
God, but no amount of devotion to these concepts will ever give the
power that leads to immortality and eternal life.

If a man worships a cow or a crocodile, he can gain any reward that
cows and crocodiles happen to be passing out this season.

If he worships the laws of the universe or the forces of nature, no
doubt the earth will continue to spin, the sun to shine, and the rains
to fall on the just and on the unjust.

But if he worships the true and living God, in spirit and in truth,
then God Almighty will pour out his Spirit upon him, and he will have
power to raise the dead, move mountains, entertain angels, and walk in
celestial streets.

To worship the Lord is to follow after him, to seek his face, to
believe his doctrine, and to think his thoughts.

It is to walk in his paths, to be baptized as Christ was, to preach
that gospel of the kingdom which fell from his lips, and to heal the
sick and raise the dead as he did.

To worship the Lord is to put first in our lives the things of his
kingdom, to live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of
God, to center our whole hearts upon Christ and that salvation which
comes because of him.

It is to walk in the light as he is in the light, to do the things
that he wants done, to do what he would do under similar
circumstances, to be as he is.

To worship the Lord is to walk in the Spirit, to rise above carnal
things, to bridle our passions, and to overcome the world.

It is to pay our tithes and offerings, to act as wise stewards in
caring for those things which have been entrusted to our care, and to
use our talents and means for the spreading of truth and the building
up of his kingdom.

To worship the Lord is to be married in the temple, to have children,
to teach them the gospel, and to bring them up in light and truth.

It is to perfect the family unit, to honor our father and our mother;
it is for a man to love his wife with all his heart and to cleave unto
her and none else.

To worship the Lord is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their
affliction and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.

It is to work on a welfare project, to administer to the sick, to go
on a mission, to go home teaching, and to hold family home evening.

To worship the Lord is to study the gospel, to treasure up light and
truth, to ponder in our hearts the things of his kingdom, and to make
them part of our lives.

It is to pray with all the energy of our souls, to preach by the power
of the Spirit, to sing songs of praise and thanksgiving.

To worship is to work, to be actively engaged in a good cause, to be
about our Father’s business, to love and serve our fellowmen.

It is to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to comfort those that
mourn, and to hold up the hands that hang down and to strengthen the
feeble knees.

To worship the Lord is to stand valiantly in the cause of truth and
righteousness, to let our influence for good be felt in civic,
cultural, educational, and governmental fields, and to support those
laws and principles which further the Lord’s interests on earth.

To worship the Lord is to be of good cheer, to be courageous, to be
valiant, to have the courage of our God-given convictions, and to keep
the faith.

It is ten thousand times ten thousand things. It is keeping the
commandments of God. It is living the whole law of the whole gospel.

It is being an example to others in "spirit, in faith, in purity." (2 Tim. 4:12)

“Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8)

Helaman 5:12
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our
Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your
foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds,
yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his
mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to
drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the
rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation
whereon if men build they cannot fall.

But it was the greatest week ever and I just love it here so much!
The church is true.

Sister Wads


Pictures:
Transfer Meeting
#rockawayexit
An awesome package from Paula!
Sister Cox and I
Aaand our weekly planning sesh!