the best of the best.

Hi everyone!

Well...this week was full of ..craziness! I don't have much time today
(we are going to a Mets game for pday) but the highlights:

--remember how I mentioned we started teaching someone LAST MONDAY? I
have never...ever met someone like her. Neither has sister Lewis. She
is the most prepared person. She is so happy and met with us three
times last week. She was able to come to church yesterday & posted on
Facebook about how she felt "so at home" there and can't wait to go
again. She talked to her boss (without us mentioning it) about
rearranging her schedule so she can come to all three hours of church.
She met with us again this morning & we invited her to be baptized on
JUNE 22. We knew she felt it but wasn't sure how she would
respond...she said "I just feel something, like chills! I feel like
June is my month. I feel really good and calm about it."
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Is this real life?!?! Answer: Yes. This is real
life. Sister Lewis and I both know that this wasn't us ... she was
totally given to us by Heavenly Father. But, I also know it was
through faith and obedience that Heavenly Father trusted us to teach
her and help her. You always hear about those stories of the "Golden
investigators" and neither one of us thought it would happen to us on
our mission, but we were okay because we'd seen so many other
miracles. But...then it did. Wow. I am so happy. Can you tell?

--anyway....second bit of news? I am getting transferred! That was a
really hard call to hear on Saturday night with all the miracles of
this week & Anesia. But I can't say I didn't feel a change coming.
Like I said...when things are going smoothly, it's time for growth and
change. So, anyway, I will no longer be a sister training leader and I
will be moving to my third area. But, I have learned so much in my
time in Little Neck. I think on the past few transfers and the change
and growth here. When I first came, it was so hard & I didn't see how
I could love it like I loved Riverhead. But, now, after being here for
6 months, I know  it was where I was supposed to be and I am so
thankful that I could serve here. I have seen so many changes &
yesterday, as we were saying goodbye and visiting people, I felt their
love. They were all so kind to us. Maria (who recently went to the
temple) said the closing prayer in Relief Society and started praying
for me specifically in my new area, and crying as she prayed. It was
touching and helped me see that I was able to make very special
connections here. I know it will be hard to adjust again but I know
that it is for a reason, as everything is. AND, the good news is
President Calderwood gave me permission to come back for Anesia's
baptism. PHEW. I am so sad to leave her, but I am happy that the new
sister taking my spot will have a wonderful investigator, waiting and
eager to learn :)

Alright, there were a lot of great moments last week like a ward
Memorial Day bbq, teaching Manny, and countless other good memories,
but those were the highlights.

I love you. Keep doing the small things. They make all the difference!

LOVE YOU!
-Sister Peacock

Welcome to...

CHINA! Did I ever tell you that our zone is in Flushing? It is like
china town, but in Queens. This is where we have street sweeps and I
practice inviting people to church in Chinese :) fun times!

the miracle month of MAY.

Dearest family & friends.

WOW. I honestly cannot even describe how many miracles have happened this week. Seriously, we have been showered upon with blessings. I have never had a week like this in my entire mission, and I feel like the Lord is blessing us incredibly. Each night, we've returned home, full of gratitude for all the things the Lord has helped us do.

We had 12 lessons this week, and met a woman while at the laundromat last Monday who we are now teaching. She has 2 daughters and was very impressed with what we do as missionaries and wanted us to meet her teenagers. Her 15 year old is a lot like me -- loves reading, writing, and wants to study journalism. We were able to visit them on Saturday, and have set up a return appointment with them this week. The mom kept tearing up during our visit and saying, "Your parents must be so proud of what you're doing." She kept talking about how important it is to have good standards and raise kids on the right path. HOW TRUE.

As a zone, we keep track of our "working" hours and this week (anything besides studying, eating, meetings and sleeping) and we had a record of 48 hours in our companionship. Yes, this is a full time job :)  I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for helping us this week! We had a great lesson with Jesus and Jenny as well, and fasted with them. We challenged Jenny to pick a date to get baptized, and she chose June 28. We have to now help them feel the importance of marriage. We know it is possible. Did I tell you about them last week? I can't remember. THey have been taught for over a year, and most recently by the elders, but we started teaching them this transfer and I have a huge spot in my heart for their 5-year-old Bradley. He is adorable!

Another HUGE miracle was meeting Anesia, who is a member referral. Her friend lives in NC and got a hold of our number while she was visiting. We were able to visit Anesia this afternoon and she is ... so pure in heart. She told us she is open and looking for something "more." She even talked to her boss last week because she wants to have Sundays off to go to church. WHAT?! She is planning to come this Sunday before her shift starts. She is married and thinks that her husband, though not religious, will follow her example. She said she would be baptized when she knows it is true. And really, I see this happening. Her heart is so open and so receptive. She said she couldn't help but smile when we were there because she was just HAPPIER hearing about the gospel and meeting us. I know the Spirit is already testifying to her and will continue to do so. I believe she will be baptized in the coming month. I don't know that I have ever met someone on my mission who seems as prepared/receptive as she does. Such a tender mercy & I am so grateful to have the opportunity to teach her with Sister Lewis. MEMBERS ARE THE KEY! And, it totally was the best part of our pday :)

On exchanges this week, the sister and I talked about our testimonies and how they have grown on our mission. It was a wonderful thing to see how the mission changes and strengthens us as we do that for others.

This transfer has definitely been full of miracles and I don't want it to end! But, I know there will be great things ahead and the work really is hastening here. We will find out this weekend if I am staying or going. AHH scary! I mean, I know it's in the Lord's hands, but it always nervewracking.

I am so grateful to be a missionary. This work is amazing!

Love,
Sister Peacock

Squirrels, miracles, and Mother's Day!

Hello!

What a great week! We saw a lot of miracles. We started teaching the
niece of one of the members here, and she is super sweet. She is 14
and wants to be baptized, but has trouble because her dad doesn't
agree. But, we'll keep teaching her and praying!

The other miracle of the week is that we went to the temple with Maria
Lopez! She is 75, but had so much energy! We took the bus and the
subway and walked in Manhattan, and she just had a constant smile on
her face. It was so exciting to see her be baptized for her mom and
her sister. THe work is real!

Funny moment this week ... we had asked a member if we could help her
garden this week and on the phone I thought she said we could try next
week because she was having problems with her knees (rodillas). Well,
the next day she was going to come teaching with us and she calls and
said she couldn't go because, "Remember when I said I problems con las
ARDILLAS?" So, ardillas = squirrels. Oops. Misunderstood that one.
Apparently her knees are just fine :)

We made homemade peanut butter with Manny and read the Book of Mormon
with him. He came to the Book of Mormon club again, and he likes the
Book of Mormon. It is so interesting .. he likes the book that is
another testament of Jesus Christ, but doesn't believe in Christ. Hmm.
But, we'll continue praying for him!

Anyway, it was a great week. We felt really blessed to have a pretty
packed schedule at the start of the week. I have been studying in Alma
about the sons of Mosiah and all of their miracles they experienced in
missionary work. One of my favorite stories is when Aaron teaches King
Lamoni's father and he says he will forsake his kingdom to be able to
experience this great joy. What are we willing to forsake to more
fully enjoy the blessings from Heavenly Father? That's my question for
you all this week!

I love you so much!

Sister Peacock

Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This week has been an incredible week. Sometimes, growth and testimony
comes slowly, over time, increasing in small and simple ways. This
week, it grew immensely and almost immediately. I feel like I am a
different person almost, with a greater resolve to do what is right,
to follow the Savior, to pray more earnestly, repent daily, and be
exactly obedient. I feel like even my desires have changed to be more
in line with Heavenly Father. It goes right with being single to the
glory of God. Is what we do in line with Him? Or is it in line with
OUR wants? Do they match?

So, what caused all of this sudden change? This week, we had
interviews with President Calderwood, along with the most powerful
Mission Leadership Council I have attended. He taught us that the
gospel of Jesus Christ is not just a one-time event. It is a real-time
event. As we repent daily, use the Atonement daily, and follow the
steps, Heavenly Father will "abundantly pardon" us. He helped us see
that although we should repent daily, we cannot be clean until baptism
or after baptism, taking the sacrament. Those two events this week
built my testimony immensely. At times, I think I had to be in THIS
mission to learn from Pres. Calderwood. His knowledge has blessed my
life!

We also had a lot of meetings this week with less active members, and
we finalized everything for Hermana Lopez's upcoming temple trip. We
were able to print her mother and her sister's names for the temple so
she will be baptized for them on Friday. I AM SO EXCITED! I have seen
so many miracles with her in the 5 months (!!) that I have been in
Little Neck.

My testimony also grew this week in the realization that Heavenly
Father does hear our prayers and prompts us according to our needs, or
the needs of others. On a challenging exchange this week, a sister was
very open with telling me that she didn't want to be on the exchange
and her goal was to "just get through it." I asked in prayer to know
where we might go the next day that would help her have a good
experience and have a better attitude. After a lesson the following
day, a family came to mind who told us we always had an open invite to
dinner if we were in the area. I'd never accepted the invite, but felt
like I should. And so, we went and ate dinner with this family. After
leaving their house, this sister told me how that was exactly what she
needed and that it had given her closure to some problems she'd been
facing. I felt so grateful. The next lesson was also another miracle
for her, and I know it all came by listening to the Spirit. It truly
tells us what to do, where to go,and what to say. In the end, she said
she was grateful for having had the exchange. My prayer was answered!

Finally, on Sunday we had a baptism in the ward of an 8-year-old boy,
and we had invited a lot of people to come. Well, most didn't. But SIs
Zohar and Manny did. When I see them, I feel this great love. I can't
even describe it. The family had asked me to sing and I had chosen
"I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" but in a semi unique arrangement. Manny
told me after that he really liked the song and had never heard it
before. I'm glad my favorite Jewish friend enjoyed the song about
Christ :) He felt the spirit!

Following the baptism, we were going to have another "book of mormon
club" but it fell through. I decided to take advantage of having them
at the church, along with a recent convert, and decided to teach a
lesson about the brother of Jared and the importance of prayer. It was
a great discussion -- and really fun :) We talked about how he had to
ask God what to do, and sometimes God answers directly (lke telling
him what to do about breathing in the barges) but other times, He asks
US what we would have Him do (when asking about light). He expects us
to use our agency and our mind to come up with solutions sometimes,
and then to go to Him for confirmation. We talked about ways to
improve our prayers (are they sincere? are they frequent? do we listen
for answers? do we talk to or WITH Heavenly Father?) and after, Manny
told me that he really enjoyed the lesson and understood it so well.
Man, I know his day will come.

I hope you all have a great week! Read the scriptures. Pray and try to
improve them. He will answer. Be forever changing :)) it will bless
you!

Love you all!
Sister Peacock

This pic is me and Sister Pieper, who is in my zone. We had an
exchange a few weeks ago. She is awesome :)