We had a Halloween trunk or treat on Friday night. It was fun to see everyone dressed up. Then on Sunday we had stake conference. H. Kim and I sang with the ward choir to do a special musical number. Seating up in the choir seats put me directly behind President and Sister Hess who were assigned to speak. It was funny to see the surprised expression on President's face when he turned around to find me sitting right there. Ha! I love him. The Lord really protected us this week. He is always doing so, but this week He allowed me to SEE the ways in which He is blessing me with protection. We had a couple scary contacts. But hey, we made it out unscathed every time. Gracias a El. We just utilized the locks on our car doors more than usual this week. I Love love love love love love love you! Hermana Croft
---------------------- Julianne sent these pictures in an email to her little sister, Lilian...
But really. If you look at my week, the majority of the time would be divided up between knocking, studying, and sleeping. The good news is: knocking is one of Sister Kim's favorite things to do, and she is teaching me how to enjoy it more.
Also, we met some cool people. Ready for a story? We were on a street I really didn't want to knock. It was dark and cold and windy and poorly lit and creepy. Everyone has their halloween decorations up right now, and some of them can get decently disturbing. I prefer happy little pumpkins and scarecrows, but these particular houses were more into blood, guts, and gory.
But we knocked anyway! And I am sure glad we did. We had a lot of really great experiences, but my favorite was T----. She listened as we read Helaman 5:12 and afterwards teared up a bit as she shared with us a little about what is going on in her life. The spirit was definitely there and it was evident to all of us that God has orchestrated our meeting as an answer to her prayers, seeing as neither of us were originally supposed to be on that street that night. We will be meeting back up with her to give her a Book of Mormon.
Speaking of the Book of Mormon, I love it. Just thought I'd let you know. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it more lately to try and keep up with the challenge given by President Nelson.
Not much else to report. It's getting cold up here, but that is to be expected, we are headed into winter after all.
I love you Mommy. We'll have a grand old time catching up when I get home in two months. And honestly, two months really isn't that long. I remember when Rebekah only had that much time left, and suddenly the thought of waiting didn't seem unbearable anymore. I knew it was only a matter of time and before I knew it she would be home.
I think that's where I'm at again. I am excited to see you all, but I am not anxious about finishing up my time here. We're in the home stretch, so I'm not spending my time longing to be there, I know I will be soon enough. But first I have 2 more months to enjoy here.
We had a busy week up here in Middletown, New York.
Tuesday night to Wednesday night I had my first exchange as an STL! And I had to lead out the area after only being there for a week! It went really well, and cute Hermana Waters was super patient with all of my little hiccups. God led us to meet a lot of cool people. We had a great time together and taught a really awesome lesson to a cute little woman we are teaching from Honduras. She just got it. The Spirit was there guiding the lesson and blessing us with the gift of tongues.
Thursday H. Kim and I had to wake up early to meet up with the New City sisters again, because H. Kim accidentally brought their phone home with her from the exchange. Then we spent a good long time weekly planning and preparing our training for Zone Conference. We helped the ward choir director with a song we will be doing for stake conference, and I've decided I need to get more into music when I come home. It was fun.
Friday we had Zone Conference! Our training went really well! And it was fun to see everyone. Right after, we split up for our second exchange and I headed up to Monticello with Sister Arnold! Things are even more spread out up there so we spent a lot of time in the car, but it sure is beautiful. Plus it gave us a lot time to talk. Turns out where they held Woodstock is actually in that area, and one of the members went when she was only 8 years old! Crazy. They live in this super fancy apartment gated off, with a doorman and a Jacuzzi tub in one of the bathrooms. I felt very pampered.
Saturday night I got back with Hermana Kim and then Sunday we had church! Yay! I got to meet the ward! They seem really nice. More Hispanics here than in New City, but less of them require translations. And there is only one Haitian family. I miss my Haitians. We ended the night by putting L---- on date to be baptized. She and her husband J-- are just the cutest! He inspired me to learn how to quilt. He is a buff, powerlifting, quilter, and proud of it! And to be fair, his quilts were really cool, and super warm.
I love the feeling of the Spirit working through you. I got to feel that a lot this week and I am grateful for it.
*Tracting in pouring rain whilst trying to share an umbrella. We got soaked. But we also laughed a lot.
*We taught L---- and her less active husband. They are the cutest couple ever! Still in the honeymoon phase having only gotten married 6 months ago. While visiting a friend in Utah, L---- heard about eternal families, now she wants one of her own. They are both so humble and excited to learn more! The spirit was really strong for the whole lesson. A great welcome to Middletown.
*H. Kim burned some leftover hot wings she was rewarming in the microwave. We almost died trying to breathe the toxic spicy pepper laced air that filled the room.
*General Conference! Yay! I loved every time the prophet spoke. I adore him! I also really enjoyed Elders Uchtdorf and Soares' talks.
*I got to meet F---, this cute older woman we are teaching. In the middle of watching conference with us she reached into her bag and pulled out a handful of candies, silently offering them to us. I love her! So cute. She also gave us each mini loaves of homemade banana bread. She is like the grandmother for the Sisters here.
* Everyone has been making fun of me for never having been to general conference. "Wait. You've lived your whole life in Utah and have never been to general conference?!"
QUESTIONS:
* What is your new apartment like in Middletown? Big and posh like your last one, or are you back to no washer and dryer again? Do you have wi-fi?
Very big and nice still. The New York mission had it good! Super nice washer and dryer, but the wifi is a little sketchy. We use our neighbor's, so sometimes we have to stand outside his door to sync the plans on our tablets. He is really nice to let us use it though. He really takes care of the sisters, gives us all nicknames and brings over treats at unexpected times. My nickname is TR, short for Tomb Raider (because, Croft). He also keeps up on church news and was actually the one who informed us about the name change of the choir. He brought over a little article he had printed out about it. Good guy. Maybe he'll come to church someday, he knows enough about us.
* I’m assuming because of General Conference, you won’t really get to know your new ward until next week. Are you watching conference with them?
Yeah, I've met some of the ward, but not a lot. Only a few came to the church to watch conference.
* And yeah…how are you watching Conference? I saw a message on FB from President Hess saying to feel free to watch all sessions. Do you do so in a stake center, with another family or on your tablet?
We watched it at the church building. We had a random guy who was contacted by sisters a year ago show up for the first session on Saturday. We sat next to a woman we are teaching for both the Women's conference and the Sunday morning session.
* Is it great fun being with H. Kim? Where is she from? When you say you fly home together and have seats next to each other, does that mean she is flying into the Salt Lake airport as well? Is she from Utah?
H. Kim is from Taylorsville, UT! She was adopted from Korea when she was really young. We will be flying home together, but we just checked and I was wrong, our seats are on different rows. Close though.
* What is Middletown like? Big city, small town, affluent, poor, middle-class, lots of trees in the country, or more large buildings in a bigger city?
To put it in the words of the New City bishop when I told him where I was headed, "you're going to the sticks!". Yup. Middletown is a lot of farm land. So I will be treated to an absolutely spectacular fall. So many trees!
* Do you miss H. Miller? I’m assuming she stayed in New City?
H. Miller stayed in New City. But I will be seeing her twice this week. Once for exchanges (because I am her STL) and later for Zone Conference.
I added some photos to the google drive from my last trip to Ellis. We are too far north up here to offer service there. I will go once more a week before I come home with all the other dying missionaries, but that's it. :(
More adventures to come next week. I'm going on two exchanges this week, eek!
My last week in New City was pretty good. That's right, t'was my final week here in New City, but not in New York. In a turn of events I have been transferred to Middletown, New York just northwest of where I have been. It is part of the state added from the New York, New York North mission and the only other New York Spanish sister area in the New Jersey Morristown Mission. Yeah, I'm going to spend more of my mission in New York than New Jersey.
Also, I am going to be kept real busy these last few months because President has asked me to be an STL.* I'll be with Hermana Kim, one of my roommates from the MTC! We actually just had an exchange together this week where I got to go up and be with her in Middletown. It was like a sneak preview for my new life. The ward up there is also Spanglish, but they have more Hispanics than the New City Ward and no Creyol speakers.
Here is a picture of us on exchanges:
Yesterday we had a really great lesson with the V-- H--- family who had invited us over for dinner. We weren't the only dinner guests as they had invited a lot of friends. Although I was a little intimidated at first by the large number of people, we gathered all 25 of them and taught a lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was really cool. The spirit was present as we testified of the Savior and invited them all to watch conference seeking for a message of repentance for them specifically. Afterwards we learned there were people of Catholic, Methodist, and Jewish faith present for the lesson.
I am excited for this new transfer and new assignment. I know it will help me to grow and exercise my faith in the Savior. This is something I have been making a greater effort to do lately. If I want my faith to grow I must exercise it, forgetting my own fears and self doubts and trusting in Christ. With His help, I can do whatever He asks of me.
XOXO
Hermana Croft
No explanation behind why she sent this picture...unless you know what a big "Hamilton" fans she is. Weehawken, New Jersey is where Alexander Hamilton had his fatal duel with Aaron Burr.
