Happy 19th of October, aka Its Your Birthday?!

Gotta Love Spanish Harlem!

I woke up this morning in a daze, mostly because I was on a split with Sister Tu'akulau on the west side in my old apartment, good ol' 3333! It was all too familiar looking where I sat a year ago on this day. Only this time an entirely different set of sisters were there to greet me with "Happy Birthday!" What a dream. It has been a great day here in New York, rain and wind inclusive. All of my friends are around whether they know it or not and we are celebrating another year of the Lord together, wow!

Right now I am sitting next to Sister Fuimaono who is joining me on my birthday for her last PDay on the mission. We had/have too much fun together! I will miss her when she is gone, but I know that like I have said on many other occasions the mission is like a new day. The sun rises but will also set on this time I have to serve...as now is her time. Great friendships are made, lifelong ones and many stories are cherished. I wish you could all be here with me sometimes so that you can experience just a small portion of how amazing this work is.

To fill everyone in on what has been going on, the work continues to move forward. Stake conference is this weekend which means another awesome weekend full of church. I just love these times. It gives us opportunity to be close to those in other areas we have served in ;) The weather is growing colder which means that the holiday season is right around the corner! I cant believe it...feels like yesterday. We have been working hard here on the UES and seeing many miracles along the way. The most recent is a former lookup we felt prompted to contact this past week. As she joined us for our second lesson she recalled her gratitude for not forgetting about her.

When I first met her she was hesitant to continue meeting with us. Her anxiety kept her from reaching out for the help that she needed, even though she recognized it was spiritual healing. Eventually, after 4 months she responded to one of our texts claiming it was time. As she sat with us she let us know how she could feel the love we had for her through our efforts trying to meet with her. She marveled that we did not give up on her, like so many had done in the past. I explained that for everyone the toll bell sounds waking us up to act. Heavenly Father will never give up. He will always call for us whether we hear it or not. And when we do hear it it is our time. I just love this! We all are on our own time.

No one is on the same plan. Though the pathway may be the same, we enter it at different gates, all of which the key is baptism and true conversion. What a marvelous plan! I just love being one who is there to extend the love when the bell is sound. Anyways, thank you for all of your support everyone. I just love you all and wish you a happy week! My birthday continues so I must go, and so it is...

Hello, Hello From New York

I have to say that it has been a very bittersweet week! The days just molded together and another week has past, but that is becoming the story of the year around here, so on to the last 7 days...

This last week was rough! Sister Tuke and I have been very sick with this horrific cold/cough that has been going around. The weather cant make up it's mind whether it wants to be cold or hot, windy rainy or humid, and our bodies have just had enough. We were out cold for a couple of days but the week ended nicely with a great, relaxing couple of days of Conference...what I mean by that is crazyiness! Haha!

How was Conference for everyone?! Did you love the messages as much as I did? Did you feel the Spirit testify to you the things you needed to know? Did you die when President Monson announced all the new temples?! I did! It was so fulfilling. There was not one talk that was delivered where I said that I didn't gain anything. Everything was so timely and valuable, especially all the amazing testimonies of the Book of Mormon, Patriachal Blessings and revelation; to name a few.


It was so fun to once again inform the people of New York that a prophet of God would be addressing the world (see the contact card that I am holding, hehe!) We are so blessed to have that knowledge and the power in it. We had an investigator with us who decided on the spot after the last talk was given that she felt the spirit testify to her that she was in the right place, needless to say we have a baptismal date for her coming up soon :) Others we are teaching had many questions they had that were pending, answered, leaving them speechless as they marveled at our promises of preparation being fulfilled. All of them greatly enjoyed the experience.

And so did we! Conference is like Christmas for missionaries. We have 8 hours of church in one weekend, but not just any session of church, Megachurch (and I'm not referencing YSA conference either, also coined megachurch). I loved hearing from Sister Dalton about how to raise a girl, "Love Her Mother!" Amen. And from Elder Alonso and his story about his son. He likened it unto many people who are around us everyday, "they don't even realize they are lost." And of course the sweet messages from the first presidency. All of these people are so inspired. But overall the spirit that was present was great. All of my questions had been answered and I am confident that I have enough counsel to last me for the next 6 months, ie memorizing scriptures and rereading the Book of Mormon. It was just a great time.

Other than that I am just trying to get myself well. This morning was the first time in a week and a half that I didn't literally roll out of bed, so we're on the up and up. It was a nice day out and the sun was shining. Fall is here to stay and I love it! Which also means Halloween is coming soon :) Well lovies, I got to go, but i hope everyone has a great week! I just love you all and wish you the best, and so it is...