My Final Transfer

Hello Everyone!

One GIANT Adirondack Chair 

So, this week has been quite unique and interesting!  Never a dull moment and things are always changing.  This is the last week before the upcoming transfers, which is also my last transfer in the mission.  So weird to say that... its kinda starting to sink in.   But, new and great things are on the horizon.  We got a call on Saturday night and Sister Geary is getting transferred to Albany to be a STL (Sister Trainer Leader) and then I was told that I get to train!  It will be my first time truly training a new missionary on my mission!!  But unfortunately, I only have about 5 to 6 weeks to teach her the basics and then start packing to return home.  Also weird.  Time flies by so fast on a mission, just the other day I was remembering some of my first experiences in the field and started to see the little changes in myself that weren't there before.  This really is the Lord's work and not only is He saving souls by preparing them for the future, but also saving those already in the Church and preparing them for the future.  I really don't have a lot of time left, but I can still put in my honest effort and try to make the best of the next 6 weeks.  I am excited, but a little anxious for what happens this week.  I keep crossing my fingers that my new "golden" or 'greenie' is ready to go to work!

This week we didn't do much teaching because we had an exchange to Syracuse and also tried new finding methods with the Elders on campus.  We were still able to see a lot of miracles.

In Syracuse 

I also did have some firsts this week.... like tracting and talking to a few Mennonite and Amish families.  That was really cool.  They are so unique and it is hard to talk with them because they have strong German sounding accents.  They weren't at all interested, but I was happy to cross that off my list.  I wonder if their kids ever notice or wonder why they are so very different than everyone else.  Apparently buggy vs car accidents are a common thing up here in the north country.  Yikes!

We are slightly teaching a Mennonite family, they are very nice and want to try coming to Church.  They do however have some unusual traditions and being in their home made me feel like I was in a 1900's horror movie, but that is the mission field for you!

Tuesday we went tableing at SUNY Potsdam and had one of the most fun days I have had in Norwood.  We went with the Elders and decided to do a combined effort.  It was really successful.  We had a whiteboard and asked everyone we saw "What makes you happy?"  We had some interested people talk with us and we gave out many Books of Mormon and pamphlets.  Unfortunately, we haven't really picked anyone up from it, but the 4 of us worked together and taught close to 10 lessons in 2 hours.  We had a ton of fun.  Once we got the Spirit, me and Sister went tracting and taught a few new people in Norwood.  We also got in with a large less active family and taught the daughters.  We hope to get in more in the future and help them come back to Church.  They are at square 1 with the gospel.

Wednesday, we also taught some of our less actives and helped out teaching English!  Then, we had to prepare for District Meeting and exchanges.  I have come to love long car rides and road trips.  Something we do quite often in the mission.  I takes about 3 to 4 hours from the north to get to Syracuse and I spent the day with Sister Chandler.   It was the greatest idea to put us together, because we go home together in a few weeks.  We had to pray really hard to stay focused, especially when all of the Syracuse appointments fell through, and it decided to rain cats and dogs.  We were able to find a few potentials and service opportunities!  We also spent time with their awesome 'dry mormon' investigator at Funk-N-Waffles.  I had to go one more time on the mission.  So that's another thing we checked off the list.  

Well, we have lots of cleaning, packing and reorganizing to do!!  Goal for the next week is to get my trainee and just love her and start teaching her correct principles of missionary work!

p.s.  Brian in Horseheads got baptized!  I might have shouted for joy!  Missions are awesome.

Here is some spiritual insight from this week.
1)  Missionary service does not end after 18 or 24 months in the field, it is just the beginning.  Hit the ground running and don't allow yourself to take a break from serving or the gospel.

2)  Enduring is the process by which the Lord solidifies the changes he has recently made within us.  Without it, our conversion or changes would be fleeting and cosmetic and not be embedded deeply into our soul!

Love you all!
Sister Kylie Williams