Wow, this was one crazy week. The weather is BIZARRE. I am not exaggerating when I say it was early spring one day and summer the next. One day it was cold and rainy, and the next morning we woke up to 90-degree weather. No joke. Apparently the weather is extremely unpredictable here. So we're into summer now, but it's supposed to get back into the 50's later this week.
Last night we had the first performance of our missionary musical fireside, which went extremely well. We got to drive out to Rhode Island, for probably our first and last time since there aren't any sister areas there and haven't been for a while. It was SO much fun. We went to Warwick, which is beautiful. I still can't get over how many trees there are out here. Anyway, the fireside went well. It was a musical presentation based off the The Living Christ document. There were several short testimonies by members of the Providence Stake and by one of the elders, and musical numbers about the Savior. There were several big choir pieces, some small-group numbers and quite a few solo numbers. I sang "On A Golden Springtime" from the Primary book. It was really more of a vocal-piano duet with Elder Park. If any of you remember what the original song is like (very blah!)Elder Park took that and ran with it, created a really amazing accompaniment. It was fun.
I have a doctrinal question for anyone who cares to answer. I found a statement by the First Presidency in 1970 regarding tithing, which basically said that one-tenth of our increase means income and no one is justified in making any other statement than this. So, if it's a personal decision whether to pay tithing before or after taxes are taken out WHY in the world have I been taught from my infancy that tithing must be paid on gross income? I've been told that even by bishops. If the First Presidency has set the record straight, why are so many members led to believe otherwise? I asked my mission president and he referred me back to the same 1970 statement. Is there anything more recent? Anyone know? I'm confused.
As far as the missionary work goes, it was a great and depressing week. We got dropped by two of our really amazing investigators, and a third one that was really coming close to baptism has panicked again. It feels like being dumped on a regular basis. BUT, we finally have a baptismal date for the teenager from a part-member family. He's such a great kid.
And, we had a really miraculous blessing this weekend. This is a great story. It begins last Sunday, when the bishop gave us the name of a lady and asked us to go check up on her. He said they had found a membership record for her. Usually when this happens it's because the person has moved and the Church lost track of them, or they became less-active and have been hiding out. So we went to her house on Saturday expecting her to be angry and bitter. Turns out she is the sweetest lady on earth, and has never even HEARD of the church, let alone been a member. Luckily Sis. Haueter kept the conversation going and started asking her about her religious background, and she said she goes to lots of churches but doesn't really affiliate with any of them. She said, "I've been looking for that special church, and I've never found it, but I'll know when I do find it. As she's saying this I'm forcing myself not to jump up and down, and we hold in our excitement long enough to schedule a return appointment, and reassure her that yes, this IS that special church. HOLY BANANA PEELS! (I haven't used that expression for years and it didn't come back until my mission.) On Sunday we updated the bishop and tried to figure out where her name came from. It must be that she happens to have the exact same name as someone who used to be a member, but the Church had the wrong address and this other lady with the same name is still out there somewhere. What a crazy story. I'll keep you posted on her status. We have an appointment with her this week everyone please pray that she follows through.
Oh, and I had another miracle this week. That was the day when I got five letters at once (probably the first and last time). From Mom and Dad, Andrea, Kelley, Nicole, and my mission president. THANK YOU to everyone who made that happen...it was better than Christmas. Mail is more precious than gold to missionaries. Speaking of mail, we don't know yet how soon we'll be moving out to Windsor Locks so if anyone wants to send a letter please send it to the mission office and it won't get lost. The address is:
Connecticut Hartford Mission, 34 Jerome Ave. Ste 319, Bloomfield, CT. 06002.
THANKS...love,
Sister Monson
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
21 April 2009
I, for one, am astounded at how quickly time has gone. After my first week and a half in the MTC, the rest of my mission since then feels like it was about five minutes long. And already my first transfer is over. Saturday was my two-month birthday. Happy birthday self!
Mission news of this week—neither Sister Haueter nor I got moved this transfer. Phew. Sigh of relief. Because our current apartment is jacking up the rent, we will be moving probably next month to a different apartment in Windsor Locks, the other town in our area. (The area only covers two towns, Windsor and Windsor Locks. Don't ask me what "locks" means, I don't know except I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean
"lakes" because there are only pretty rivers here, no lakes.) This will be very
interesting as far as our teaching pool goes because of mileage restrictions we've
concentrated most of our efforts on Windsor up until now, so we're going to have to do some rearranging and re-prioritizing before the move. The neighborhood we'll be moving to will be a little less prosperous and it'll be nice to have a fresh start and tract out some streets that haven't been worked before.
Speaking of jacking up the rent, this state is so expensive to live in it's almost
beyond my comprehension. It reminds me of when Chris and Lisa used to live in Berkeley and pay an arm and a leg for an apartment the size of one walk-in closet. Our current apartment's rent, if we were to renew the lease, would be over $1000 a month. A MONTH. $12,000 a year. Who has that kind of money? And this isn't even rich Connecticut. I hear it's worse in the New York missions they have to bunk three and four companionships together in one apartment because no one can afford apartments there.
Yesterday we had a really wonderful experience in church. We were in the Gospel
Principles Sunday School class. We had brought one of our investigators with us, and a member had brought her friend, whom we hadn't met because she lives out of our area. The lesson was on temples and families. We talked about the importance of learning gospel principles in the home. The member's friend started crying, and she raised her hand and said, "This is everything I've been looking for." She went on to tell us how she had been to every church on the planet and this was the only time she had heard anything in a church about the importance of families. It was a really sweet and touching moment.
The work is good. I keep hearing things from other people like Windsor's on
fire!, but since I'm still so new I don't know anything different. Because this
feels normal to me, maybe that will be a good motivator when I go to other areas that aren't quite so on fire. It has been such a blessing to come into this area at a good time when the previous sisters have really gotten it going. Maybe someday I'll be the missionary that sets an area on fire. Wouldn't that be sweet.
We got some more new investigators this week and we have three investigators that are, hopefully (cross your fingers), going to get baptismal dates soon.
Last week I had a dream that Randi Cox (from high school) was coming out to our mission and I had to be her trainer. Panic attack, anyone? Right after President just got done telling me I wouldn't be transferred. And I can't train! That's ridiculous! I'm not fully trained yet myself. So I panicked a lot in my dream. Then I woke up. Gotta stop having freaky dreams.
Love you everyone! Hope you are well,
Sister Monson
Mission news of this week—neither Sister Haueter nor I got moved this transfer. Phew. Sigh of relief. Because our current apartment is jacking up the rent, we will be moving probably next month to a different apartment in Windsor Locks, the other town in our area. (The area only covers two towns, Windsor and Windsor Locks. Don't ask me what "locks" means, I don't know except I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean
"lakes" because there are only pretty rivers here, no lakes.) This will be very
interesting as far as our teaching pool goes because of mileage restrictions we've
concentrated most of our efforts on Windsor up until now, so we're going to have to do some rearranging and re-prioritizing before the move. The neighborhood we'll be moving to will be a little less prosperous and it'll be nice to have a fresh start and tract out some streets that haven't been worked before.
Speaking of jacking up the rent, this state is so expensive to live in it's almost
beyond my comprehension. It reminds me of when Chris and Lisa used to live in Berkeley and pay an arm and a leg for an apartment the size of one walk-in closet. Our current apartment's rent, if we were to renew the lease, would be over $1000 a month. A MONTH. $12,000 a year. Who has that kind of money? And this isn't even rich Connecticut. I hear it's worse in the New York missions they have to bunk three and four companionships together in one apartment because no one can afford apartments there.
Yesterday we had a really wonderful experience in church. We were in the Gospel
Principles Sunday School class. We had brought one of our investigators with us, and a member had brought her friend, whom we hadn't met because she lives out of our area. The lesson was on temples and families. We talked about the importance of learning gospel principles in the home. The member's friend started crying, and she raised her hand and said, "This is everything I've been looking for." She went on to tell us how she had been to every church on the planet and this was the only time she had heard anything in a church about the importance of families. It was a really sweet and touching moment.
The work is good. I keep hearing things from other people like Windsor's on
fire!, but since I'm still so new I don't know anything different. Because this
feels normal to me, maybe that will be a good motivator when I go to other areas that aren't quite so on fire. It has been such a blessing to come into this area at a good time when the previous sisters have really gotten it going. Maybe someday I'll be the missionary that sets an area on fire. Wouldn't that be sweet.
We got some more new investigators this week and we have three investigators that are, hopefully (cross your fingers), going to get baptismal dates soon.
Last week I had a dream that Randi Cox (from high school) was coming out to our mission and I had to be her trainer. Panic attack, anyone? Right after President just got done telling me I wouldn't be transferred. And I can't train! That's ridiculous! I'm not fully trained yet myself. So I panicked a lot in my dream. Then I woke up. Gotta stop having freaky dreams.
Love you everyone! Hope you are well,
Sister Monson
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
13 April 2009 Letter and Pictures
Hello All,
Here's Kaelynn's letter and pictures for 13 April 2009
Not too exciting of a week. Easter was fun, a member was so kind to feed us dinner.
We went to the Arsenic and Old Lace house again—a former investigator lives there.
It's divided into two apartments so we got to go inside the entryway and up this crazy old-looking staircase, to knock on the top door of the apartment. No dice with the former but at least we can say we went inside.
We have started volunteering at an adult day care center for the elderly. This was our first time going there and to help the clients get to know us, they did a
question-and-answer session. We couldn't go too deep into doctrines, of course, but we answered a few basic doctrinal questions and a lot of questions about mission life and cleared up some misconceptions. People frequently confuse us with the FLDS and the Jehovah's Witnesses. By the end of our session even some of the staff members were asking questions too. It was great. I feel it's a good thing that even if we don't baptize a ton of people here, at least we can educate them and leave a good impression of the Church by being pleasant and friendly.
Today we got brave and daring and drove to Hartford (with permission of course). My
companion had a medical appointment. To tell the truth, the place was just barely across the boundary from West Hartford, so I only saw a tiny bit of Hartford itself. The houses on Asylum Avenue are INSANELY big. There are tons of colleges/universities with beautiful campuses. We drove by Saint Joseph College (which is a HUGE/gorgeous campus) and UConn's Greater Hartford campus. (People are always talking about UConn basketball here. I feel so clueless. It almost makes me wish I cared at least a tiny bit about sports.
The work continues. We have one investigator progressing toward baptism. SUCH a great kid. We're working on getting two of his siblings there too. Speaking of committing people to baptism, it is hard for me, for some reason. Ever since I got out here I've struggled with extending commitments. We would plan that I would teach a principle and then extend the commitment to live that principle, and what would happen is that I'd teach the principle and then wuss out without committing. Yeah, I'm awesome that way. Anyway, this week was the first time I finally succeeded in extending a commitment. I asked this couple to commit to baptism. It couldn't have been worse than popping the question. I feel so bad for guys. Yet another reason to be grateful to be a girl. It didn't turn out so well in the moment, but at least they said they'd think about it and they are seriously thinking about it.
Last night I had a dream that they made me go back to the MTC and we had to do skits as a district, which we would present for all of the other missionaries. I was supposed to play the guitar and dress like an 80's chick. When it was time to do the skit I couldn't find a bathroom or my costume, and I didn't know where my district was, and I didn't have a guitar. When I finally found my district they were all wearing these matching blue shirts, which detail they had somehow managed to leave me out of. One of the elders took me into this room to find a guitar, and the first guitar he handed me was a toy. I was like, No, this isn't going to work! I can't PLAY this,and then he handed me a lyre (a medieval stringed instrument). Of course. Since I know how to play those. I started playing this Celtic folk song. Then it was time to get on stage and I was still dressed like an 80's chick and I didn't know the script to my skit. Then I tried to go back to my dorm, but 17M looked more like a store in a strip mall, and every door had a sign that said, Please use other door. Yeah. It was a stressful dream.
Lots of love,
Sister Monson
Here's Kaelynn's letter and pictures for 13 April 2009
Not too exciting of a week. Easter was fun, a member was so kind to feed us dinner.
We went to the Arsenic and Old Lace house again—a former investigator lives there.
It's divided into two apartments so we got to go inside the entryway and up this crazy old-looking staircase, to knock on the top door of the apartment. No dice with the former but at least we can say we went inside.
We have started volunteering at an adult day care center for the elderly. This was our first time going there and to help the clients get to know us, they did a
question-and-answer session. We couldn't go too deep into doctrines, of course, but we answered a few basic doctrinal questions and a lot of questions about mission life and cleared up some misconceptions. People frequently confuse us with the FLDS and the Jehovah's Witnesses. By the end of our session even some of the staff members were asking questions too. It was great. I feel it's a good thing that even if we don't baptize a ton of people here, at least we can educate them and leave a good impression of the Church by being pleasant and friendly.
Today we got brave and daring and drove to Hartford (with permission of course). My
companion had a medical appointment. To tell the truth, the place was just barely across the boundary from West Hartford, so I only saw a tiny bit of Hartford itself. The houses on Asylum Avenue are INSANELY big. There are tons of colleges/universities with beautiful campuses. We drove by Saint Joseph College (which is a HUGE/gorgeous campus) and UConn's Greater Hartford campus. (People are always talking about UConn basketball here. I feel so clueless. It almost makes me wish I cared at least a tiny bit about sports.
The work continues. We have one investigator progressing toward baptism. SUCH a great kid. We're working on getting two of his siblings there too. Speaking of committing people to baptism, it is hard for me, for some reason. Ever since I got out here I've struggled with extending commitments. We would plan that I would teach a principle and then extend the commitment to live that principle, and what would happen is that I'd teach the principle and then wuss out without committing. Yeah, I'm awesome that way. Anyway, this week was the first time I finally succeeded in extending a commitment. I asked this couple to commit to baptism. It couldn't have been worse than popping the question. I feel so bad for guys. Yet another reason to be grateful to be a girl. It didn't turn out so well in the moment, but at least they said they'd think about it and they are seriously thinking about it.
Last night I had a dream that they made me go back to the MTC and we had to do skits as a district, which we would present for all of the other missionaries. I was supposed to play the guitar and dress like an 80's chick. When it was time to do the skit I couldn't find a bathroom or my costume, and I didn't know where my district was, and I didn't have a guitar. When I finally found my district they were all wearing these matching blue shirts, which detail they had somehow managed to leave me out of. One of the elders took me into this room to find a guitar, and the first guitar he handed me was a toy. I was like, No, this isn't going to work! I can't PLAY this,and then he handed me a lyre (a medieval stringed instrument). Of course. Since I know how to play those. I started playing this Celtic folk song. Then it was time to get on stage and I was still dressed like an 80's chick and I didn't know the script to my skit. Then I tried to go back to my dorm, but 17M looked more like a store in a strip mall, and every door had a sign that said, Please use other door. Yeah. It was a stressful dream.
Lots of love,
Sister Monson
Monday, April 6, 2009
6 April 2009
Conference was great. We went to our church building to watch it and then we had to
evacuate the church because there was a gas leak...our building apparently has some gas issue, this is the second time it's happened since I've been out here. Anyway, we watched the rest of conference at Pres.'s house since West Hartford is really close to Bloomfield. They were so kind to have a bunch of missionaries crash there on such short notice. Their three daughters flew out from Utah this weekend to visit them. They planned it secretly with Pres. to surprise Sister, and then they tape-recorded her reaction when she opened the door and saw her three daughters standing on porch. It was pretty cute. :)
By the way, let me tell you how hard it is to get used to having conference at 12 and 4 instead of 10 and 2. Don't ask me why. Not like it's an enormous change. It just feels that way for some reason.
So, does anyone know why we don't observe Good Friday or any part of Holy Week except Easter Sunday? We had dinner at an investigator's home on Friday (they're Catholics) and they wanted to know if we were allowed to eat meat that day.
Fun fact: you know the city Poughkeepsie, NY? Remember how no one knows how in the world it's pronounced? Well, I met someone from there this week. It is pronounced
Puh-KIP-see. Who knew!
There is a restaurant in Avon called Five Guys. It is to DIE for. The
hamburgers are probably one of the best hamburgers I've ever had in my life. Avon is a super-rich city in our district; it's close to Bloomfield, so we went there in between sessions of conference on Saturday. Apparently some celebrities live there. And apparently the Prophet's relative also lives here, and he drops by occasionally
unannounced. The Avon elders said once during district meeting that he always says
Amen!very loudly during the meetings.
Speaking of restaurants, there is a Whistle Stop Cafe here in Windsor and a member is going to take us there this week! (Anyone seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes?)
We've picked up some amazing investigators this week. One of them is a teenager who is the son of a less-active member in the ward. Apparently missionaries have been dropping by for years in an attempt to get his mom back to church, and her son spent a lot of time with the elders and really admired them. We dropped by their house a few weeks ago and Sister Haueter asked if her son would be interested in taking the lessons from us, and she said she would ask him and give us a call. Later that week we get a call from her this kid is so ready it's not even funny. He wants to be baptized, he wants to go on a mission, he needs a ride to Young Men's this week, he needs a ride to church, etc. etc.
Another fun story: we got a referral from a recently baptized member. This kid is
also a teenager. We called his mom to ask for permission to give him the lessons, and she basically told us to get lost (politely). He came to church on Sunday and we went to his house that week, just to drop him by a Book of Mormon and ask again if there was any way we could teach him. Not only did she invite us in, but we ended up teaching him and his parents together right then, and they are scheduled to take the second lesson this week!
Life is good. :)
One of the assistants is planning a mission musical fireside that we get to participate in. Apparently this is more than just a one-time event we'll be performing it two or three times, maybe? Anyway, one of the performances is in Rhode Island. I'm so excited!!! This might be my only chance to go out there. There haven't been any sisters areas in RI for a while.
Conference was so uplifting and wonderful. I'm so grateful to belong to a church that is led by a prophet. Stick with the prophet, kids! That's the only way to be safe.
Love,
Sister Monson
evacuate the church because there was a gas leak...our building apparently has some gas issue, this is the second time it's happened since I've been out here. Anyway, we watched the rest of conference at Pres.'s house since West Hartford is really close to Bloomfield. They were so kind to have a bunch of missionaries crash there on such short notice. Their three daughters flew out from Utah this weekend to visit them. They planned it secretly with Pres. to surprise Sister, and then they tape-recorded her reaction when she opened the door and saw her three daughters standing on porch. It was pretty cute. :)
By the way, let me tell you how hard it is to get used to having conference at 12 and 4 instead of 10 and 2. Don't ask me why. Not like it's an enormous change. It just feels that way for some reason.
So, does anyone know why we don't observe Good Friday or any part of Holy Week except Easter Sunday? We had dinner at an investigator's home on Friday (they're Catholics) and they wanted to know if we were allowed to eat meat that day.
Fun fact: you know the city Poughkeepsie, NY? Remember how no one knows how in the world it's pronounced? Well, I met someone from there this week. It is pronounced
Puh-KIP-see. Who knew!
There is a restaurant in Avon called Five Guys. It is to DIE for. The
hamburgers are probably one of the best hamburgers I've ever had in my life. Avon is a super-rich city in our district; it's close to Bloomfield, so we went there in between sessions of conference on Saturday. Apparently some celebrities live there. And apparently the Prophet's relative also lives here, and he drops by occasionally
unannounced. The Avon elders said once during district meeting that he always says
Amen!very loudly during the meetings.
Speaking of restaurants, there is a Whistle Stop Cafe here in Windsor and a member is going to take us there this week! (Anyone seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes?)
We've picked up some amazing investigators this week. One of them is a teenager who is the son of a less-active member in the ward. Apparently missionaries have been dropping by for years in an attempt to get his mom back to church, and her son spent a lot of time with the elders and really admired them. We dropped by their house a few weeks ago and Sister Haueter asked if her son would be interested in taking the lessons from us, and she said she would ask him and give us a call. Later that week we get a call from her this kid is so ready it's not even funny. He wants to be baptized, he wants to go on a mission, he needs a ride to Young Men's this week, he needs a ride to church, etc. etc.
Another fun story: we got a referral from a recently baptized member. This kid is
also a teenager. We called his mom to ask for permission to give him the lessons, and she basically told us to get lost (politely). He came to church on Sunday and we went to his house that week, just to drop him by a Book of Mormon and ask again if there was any way we could teach him. Not only did she invite us in, but we ended up teaching him and his parents together right then, and they are scheduled to take the second lesson this week!
Life is good. :)
One of the assistants is planning a mission musical fireside that we get to participate in. Apparently this is more than just a one-time event we'll be performing it two or three times, maybe? Anyway, one of the performances is in Rhode Island. I'm so excited!!! This might be my only chance to go out there. There haven't been any sisters areas in RI for a while.
Conference was so uplifting and wonderful. I'm so grateful to belong to a church that is led by a prophet. Stick with the prophet, kids! That's the only way to be safe.
Love,
Sister Monson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)