It's Been Too Long and I'm Lost Without You...

I can always rely on Aaliyah for a great title to a long awaited email and blog post from me. Man I have been busy. My companion and I sat down last night and planned time to effectively and completely email today which means no half letters claiming I'm too busy to write, no excuses and of course an update on all the happenings here in New York City.

I cannot even recall what I said in the last letter I wrote so let me start from the top. Sister Hsieh and I were together for a cycle, I know ONE CYCLE aka 6 weeks (not even enough time!). She and I had a great time living life on the East side together and teaching a great woman named Dede. She was baptized on July 24th, Pioneer Day and was so happy to join the saints on such a momentous day. Sister Hsieh, however who is no longer with me decided to go down to Chinatown to teach in her native tongue, rude! JK, I am so happy for her. President Smith has allowed her for her last two cycles of the mission to teach people who speak Mandarin Chinese downtown. It is such a rare opportunity so of course I would encourage and support her to take it.


So, as you could assume I have a new companion. Sister Tuke! She is back in the city and we are just moving right along. It took her some readjusting consider she has been upstate and out of the city for the past 7 months (going from the car to the city streets is a hard transition, one I could for sure do without -- fingers crossed). Since she has been here it feels like life is on hyper speed. Time is just flying by and I cant believe we can already see the early onset of Fall...but everyone knows how much I love "sweater weather" so I'm not even mad, especially if Winter takes it time to roll in. Other than that, its pure mission life!

We have been paying special attention to finding and building relationships in the ward. We are both pretty new in the area and haven't really established much ground yet...but that is the best part about being in an area for a few months, all this will come with time. Time that I seem to be running out of quickly. I was studying the other day and was so blessed to come across an article in last month's Ensign. It is called "This Year It's A Weed -- Pull It", http://lds.org/ensign/2011/07/this-year-its-a-weed-pull-it?lang=eng. Something that really struck me was the concept that everything has a time and a season, which it does. The article talks about how a beautiful plant was growing in the midst of the wrong harvest. Though it was beautiful and strong and would produce what seemed to be great product it wasn't in season. The counsel that was given was to "pull it" even though it was great. Many times in life we have to recognize what is in season. I always think of that song by the Byrds, "Turn, Turn, Turn" (and of course the scriptures in Ecclesiastes) where it reminds us that in everything there is a season, a rhyme and a reason, haha! But it's true. Now is the time for me to be a missionary, and when it is over I will be back to my usual shenanigans, whatever they may be. I love it though.

Eventually the sun will set on this venture and a new dawn will awaken. Let me enjoy the day though :). I have a call, I have a mission and along with many ups and downs I'm still excited. Thanks for coming along with me! I wish you all a great week and a close of summer. Take advantage! I love you all, and so it is...

Oh PS! A lot of my mail was never delivered I am finding out each week from one person or another. If you have written me and haven't received a response, try writing me again cause I might not have received it. My address is:

Sister Ash Coleman
New York New York North Mission
700 White Plains Rd Suite 315
Scarsdale, NY 10583

Thanks and good luck!