So, what have you learned on your mission?

It's been a long, long time since I've had time to sit down & write a blog post.

To start, I'll tell you that I have about 9 weeks left on my mission (as in ... 9 weeks from tomorrow I fly home to Utah). That is crazy stuff! My companion and I go on quite a few exchanges each transfer -- this transfer, we have 11 exchanges.

On these exchanges with new missionaries and new people, I often get asked the question, "How long have you been out?" When I answer, "Nearly 16 months," I almost always get a wide-eyed look, coupled with, "So you're almost done."  

Done. Done. That word kind of scares me ... I mean, sure, I will be "done" being a full-time missionary. I'll no longer have a name tag attached to me at all times. And I know that's what these people mean. But, surely, I am not done with other aspects. I feel like I am just starting to learn how to learn (awkward, seeing as how I graduated from college ... nearly 18 months ago). But, I am learning how to learn in a new way. I am learning how the Spirit speaks to me. I am learning how to become more than I am. I am learning how to trust in the Savior, no matter what I am asked to do.

Another question I am asked is, "So, what have you learned on your mission?"  I hardly feel like I have been out long enough to be asked this question (I still feel like a new missionary! Are you sure I am going home in two months?). But, this question oddly leaves me with a thousand things churning in my brain & not one quick, solid answer. To help with this situation, I decided to compile a list of various things I've learned.

Right now, I want to tell you something I learned from King Benjamin. I'll label this lesson as such:

GRATITUDE --> KNOWLEDGE --> BEHAVIOR

"12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

 13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due."

What was the application? As we consistently pray and give thanks for our many blessings, our testimony of our Heavenly Father will be strengthened and we will KNOW that He is real. He lives and He loves us. As our testimonies are strengthened in our knowledge of our Heavenly Father, our very nature changes. This is why the gospel of Jesus Christ helps us to become something. The gospel of Jesus Christ is more than just knowing information. When we come to know, it influences how we live and who we are. 

I am grateful for this pattern. I know that as we show our gratitude, our knowledge of God and His plan for us increases, and our behavior really can and will change. 

This was just one of the things I've learned, but I hope I can post more in the future! 

xoxo,

Sister Peacock

"Oh, what kind?"

Hello!

It has been one C-R-A-Z-Y week! I can't believe everything that has
happened since writing last week. We had two exchanges and a sisters
conference and two zone conferences...but in between all of that, we
found out we would be getting a third companion.

So, my companion from Terryville was having problems walking & she was
in the city so Tuesday night, president called and asked that she come
with us. In 24 hours, we had figured out a way to rearrange our room
to fit three beds (UN MILAGRO!), attended a zone conference, carried
out sisters conference (the STLs plan it...we started like six months
ago!), and got a new companion. PHEW. We weren't really sure how
exchanges would work with three of us, so I ended up going to the
other sisters' pool and being with both of them for the day.

Sunday we found out that we were taking Sister Jean to the airport
(today) as she would be flying home. It was a WHIRLWIND of a week!
Lots of unexpected events. So, we are getting everything ready this
morning so we can drive her to JFK this afternoon.

But, a few gems of the week! We set a VGP for our district (vision,
goals & plans) for the rest of the transfer and have already seen
miracles in the form of investigators for our other district members.
We WILL find a new investigator this week in YSA! I know it. We had 3
member present lessons, which is great considering we have a very
small pool at the moment & a little branch. The lessons were awesome!
We taught our investigator who claims to be Atheist. She is the
sweetest! This was our second lesson with her. She has been praying &
said she would keep trying even though she wasn't sure she was getting
an answer. We taught her about scripture study and she committed to do
it. Our awesome branch mission leader (best ever) made her this study
guide with questions which she was super pumped about. She said she
would ask her boss about Sundays so she could come to church :) yay!
We also had two lessons with recent converts. Both have amazing
stories! And the members who came are stellar teachers. It just makes
me so happy to see members testifying and committing people to do
something :) yes!

Two awkward moments of the week (yay for me being quirky and awkward,
right? Good thing I can laugh at myself!)
•while visiting our investigator's house, we met her adorable niece.
Her brother is Spanish and his wife is Japanese. I said, "She is so
cute! What a good mix!" A good mix?! Not like her niece was a
puppy...sheesh.
•while teaching our RC, the member said he was Asian. I replied, "Oh,
what kind?" I meant like...Japanese? Korean? Chinese? He was confused.
After explaining it, I proceeded to tell him the few things I know in
Chinese...our purpose, free English class... He responds, "Yeah, I
don't speak any Chinese." #awkward

What else? Sisters conference ROCKED! We had inspiring workshops and
it was wonderful to see all the beautiful NYSM sisters :) There are so
many now! 80 sisters, which is about 40 percent of the mission. Crazy.
And now we have ASL, Chinese and Cantonese in addition to Spanish
speakers. Soon we will be getting Korean sisters. It was amazing to
watch the sisters and observe their faces from the stand. How I love
them! The biggest insight I received from the conference was this:

-we talk a lot about "real time" repentance. I realize that any
negative comment, even directed at myself, drives the spirit away and
should be repented of immediately. I'll admit. I am not the best at
always talking about myself in a positive way. But, it really struck
me that we can't feel the spirit when we speak negatively about one of
God's creations, including ourselves! #realtime is our favorite
hashtag to use in the mission.

Also, after the conference I met a new senior couple. They asked where
I was from..then they asked, "Do you know a Jacob Peacock?" I told
them he was my brother and Sister Eckhert got so excited. She said
they were in the same ward in NC and they just looooooved Jacob
Peacock :) so, there ya go brother!

Well. This email was longer than I planned! But I hope you are all
doing great. Remember to be positive, even (and especially) about
yourself! Don't let Satan win!

Love,
Sister Peacock

A good week indeed!

How is it the start of week 3 already? Are you kidding me?! This is
going by way too quickly. We are having such a great time together
figuring out Plainview YSA. We finally had church this weekend & we
had about 50 people ... 20 or more are bug boys and will be leaving in
August. But I just love it! It is a little different to be in YSA but
it will be awesome.

We met two investigators this past week. One is a professed Atheist
but she is a super sweet, spunky girl. We will teach her again on
Tuesday. The other is a recovering alcoholic. He is 23. But you can
see his desire to change his life and find God. He said one of the 12
steps is to have a relationship with a higher being and that
everything we were teaching was right along with what he was feeling.
I really can see him progressing. Hopefully we will be able to help
him!

Other than that, we had two exchanges & a Skype call with the sisters
in Bermuda. But this week...is real crazy! We have zone training
meeting tomorrow, and then a different zone's training on Wednesday,
Sisters Conference on Thursday (which we are in charge of) and two
exchanges. Whew!

Well, sorry this email is short but we have to head off to the city
for a final meeting before the sisters conference! Here are a few
silly photos from the week.

Love you all & HAPPY PIONEER DAY! :)

Me & Sis Montgomery spotted a Jamba Juice and rejoiced after not
having one our whole mission. And then we took advantage of the
mustache magnets on our fridge.

a whirlwind & a convertible.

Hello!

I really can't believe this first week is already over. It has been a
WHIRLWIND for sure. But, it's been absolutely great!

Here's what's going on!

I was transferred to the Plainview YSA branch with Hermana Montgomery.
She was Sister Hales' trainee (my companion in Little Neck, not my
trainer). She is from Rupert, Idaho (shout out to Jenni!) and is
ab-so-lute-ly fantastic! She goes home at the end of this transfer :(
(that means I will have TWELVE companions in total). We get along
SOOOOO well, are always making each other laugh, and enjoy a lot of
the same things. We are serving as Sister Training Leaders together
and we were blinded in to Plainview (meaning both of the sisters were
transferred out of the area). We showed up to our apartment and our
district had come before and left balloons, streamers, and a "Welcome
Sister Montgomery & Sister Peacock" sign. It's been a little crazy
getting things ready to go and trying to learn the area and the
branch. Luckily, I have served an island mission so the area part
isn't too bad! Our branch was gone this weekend on a trip to Palmyra
so we haven't had a chance to meet most of the members. But, we will
tonight! We have a lot of fun activities each week that we attend --
FHE on Monday, volleyball on Wednesday, and institute on
Thursday/Friday. The branch only has about 45 people, 20 of which are
bug boys and will be leaving at the end of the summer. But, there have
been a lot of miracles here in the last few transfers and I am excited
to see what happens.

I am trying to learn how to fearless YSA-age men and invite them to
activities without feeling like I am looking for their number. That's
the new challenge! But, it's funny how everywhere we go now we are
scouting for the YSA specifically. It's a lot of fun! Most of the YSA
here go to Stonybrook University or other colleges on Long Island. Our
area covers about 2/3 of Long Island (we even cover clear to Riverhead
and Hampton Bays!). It's rather big!

We also have the ONLY convertible in the mission. I mean, at least it
feels like it  ;) Our car has a faulty A/C so ... we drive with the
windows down all the time. It makes some good memories ... and a mess
of hair. But we laugh through everything.

It's going to be a crazy transfer ... it is already going by too fast.
And with 11 exchanges, a sisters' conference next week, a temple trip,
and all the other aspects of missionary work ... it's going to be
fast. We already had president interview's last week & it was so
strange that it was my LAST one before my departing interview. Where
has the time gone?

It was also a great privilege to be back at the Mission Leadership
Council. I felt so humbled and grateful to be part of it again. We had
an amazing, Spirit-driven meeting. Elder Baker, who I served with for
6 transfers straight, just became an AP and gave a wonderful workshop
on Preach My Gospel. THe Spirit was super strong in the room. It was
incredible. We want to focus ourselves and the missionaries on really
becoming "preach my gospel" missionaries and making sure it is the
FOCUS of what we teach and what we do.

We had our first exchange over the weekend, and I could already feel a
difference since being an STL two transfers ago. I just want to really
focus on the sisters and make sure each exchange matters and helps
them. I was really seeking for revelation for her during the exchange,
and it came.

Anyway, I will leave you with some photos so you can understand the
fun we have together :)

"One and done"

*Phrase commonly referencing a missionary who stays in an area for
just one transfer before leaving.

Well! What do you know? I'm getting transferred! That was definitely
not what I was expecting, after having served in my first two areas
for 6-9 months. But, I totally trust that the Lord needed me here for
just six weeks. He knows what He is doing!

It is exciting though! I am ready for change & looking forward to
serving with a new companion and in a new area. Bring it on!

That was probably the biggest update from the week but I thought I
would list some miracles from this transfer in Terryville:

•ELIZABETH WAS BAPTIZED! Woo! Even more, I asked her yesterday what
the greatest part has been since her baptism and she said having the
constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and never wanting to lose it.
She also said how she has learned about "everyday, real-time
repentance" and the importance of the sacrament. AH. Music to my ears!
•It is totally possible to love people & a ward/area in a SHORT amount of time
•Two temple trips for endowments!
•Amazing, inspired zone leaders.
•I have met wonderful families who have definitely gone on the list of
influential people I've met on my mission.
•Mission conference with Elder Nielsen of the seventy. It is always a
privilege to be in the presence of a general authority
•Patience. :)
•Being so close to my first area & being able to visit and see other
people who I've come to love in Riverhead and Hampton Bays.
•I can do hard things! (So can you)

The mission is so exciting and always changing. Sister Jean is also
being transferred so we are being  "blinded out" of our area.

Sometimes I think back to two years ago, when I was toying around with
the idea of going on a mission. I am grateful I decided to be humble
and actually ASK Heavenly Father if that is what he would have me do.
It took a few years for my heart to be willing to go on a mission, but
I know this is where I am supposed to be right now. I shudder to think
of the things I wouldn't have learned if I had stayed at home. Good
thing the age change happened so I could come right now! (just kidding
... everyone just thinks I am 19 here :) But, I am going to make the
final 12 weeks of my mission count. I know they will fly by because I
can easily remember what I was doing 2 transfers ago. How crazy that
time really does pass so quickly when, at the beginning, it seems like
18 months is so far away.

I will share a tidbit from my personal studies to end the email. I was
reading one of the best talks ever ... "Beware of Pride" by President
Benson (1989 general conference if you are interested...). I received
that talk in seminary in high school and our teacher had given us a
copy of it, which has been tucked away in my wallet since that day.
But, I read it again this week and this particularly stood out: "Our
motives for the things we do are where the sin is manifest." Why do we
do the things we do? For praise? For God? Because we love God? Are our
motives pure? Pride is the "great stumbling block to Zion" and we know
that Zion is the pure in heart. Let's look at our choices and see WHY
we do the things we do.

OH, wait. Let me add one more thing from this past week. I was
studying Preach My Gospel about the purpose of the Book of Mormon.
Mormon 8:35 hit me super strong! "..I speak unto you as if ye were
present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you
unto me, and I know your dong." Okay..he SAW us. He saw our day. First
of all, that would be CRAZY for a number of reason (technology, paper,
cars, airplanes, electricity...you know?) but also..the Book of Mormon
really was written for US. I mean, they didn't go back and read their
writings. They were written for OUR benefit. So, take advantage  of
that awesome gift. STUDY it. Love it. I just finished reading the BOM
again and the last time was the most insight I'd gained and I am
excited to see what impacts me this next go-round. It is an incredible
book.

I love you! Can't wait to update you next week on where I'm headed. I
have some guesses (here on Long Island) but it could be different than
I expect. We shall see tomorrow!

Love,
Sister Peacock