& it's November!

Wow. Suddenly we're in November ... the leaves are still colorful, but are quickly falling. The air is a lot chillier & the wind is stronger. The nights greet us at about 4:45. And, we continue working :)

So, this past week wasn't super eventful, but a few things did happen. We met all the new missionaries in our zone on Wednesday. It's super weird that I've now been here the longest. When did that happen?? Transfer 6. Wow! I hit my 7-month mark yesterday.

Do you know what happens on Halloween as a missionary? Well, we had to be in the house at 6 p.m. and then we were allowed to do things as if it were PDay. So, Hna Acosta and I pulled out a mattress, set up our 6" DVD player, popped popcorn, and watched "Ephraim's Rescue" (it's from the 17 Miracles director ... and I enjoyed it a lot). Then, we went to bed early. As in, lights off at 8:30. And I was SO EXCITED for the extra sleep. Can you tell I'm a missionary? Who would've ever pictured me asleep before 11? It was glorious.

We taught my friend again on Friday, and it is seriously such a blessing now to use Skype and Facebook. I've seen some big changes in him -- and he just looks happier. It's an awesome thing to recognize in someone you've known for 4 years! Also, cool experience ... last week, we were on FB and I noticed a woman's name that was on our branch roster. I hadn't planned to add her, but decided to send her a quick message. She was very short & not super friendly :) in her response back, but I felt prompted to ask her one more question, regarding when she was baptized. That opened up a huge conversation, and by the end of our time on FB, she said she was so glad that I had talked to her and how alone she had felt. Now, we chat multiple times a week, and I send her videos from mormonchannel that she's been watching & enjoying. It's amazing -- the blessings of technology!

Saturday we had a huge service project in our stake. We helped clean the grounds at the Veteran's Memorial Hospital. It was a great experience and the people in charge were very thankful for the help from the church. We raked a ton of leaves & it was a beautiful drive through the changing leaves, so that made it even better :)

And, yesterday the most exciting thing happened! We were headed to church when we got a phone call from our inv Isaura, who we started teaching in September. My first thought (honestly) was,"She's canceling on our appointment for this afternoon." BUT, no! She was calling to see if she could get a ride to CHURCH. What?! We were so.so.so excited about this. She's been pretty apprehensive about coming, and this was out of the blue. She came with her two little boys & was able to meet some of the Spanish members, which was also a plus. Hopefully she'll want to come again next week. YAY! Blessings!

Also, I told you last week that I'd mention more about sacrifices, right? Well, following the example of my friend Sister Schaff in Russia, I decided to give up treats/desserts for this transfer. But, it's not just to give them up, but it's to help me understand how an investigator feels when we ask them to give up coffee/tea/alcohol or other addictions. When I first read the email from Rebekah, I thought, "Um...no way I could do that!" I love baking for the district & yes, I have a sweet tooth. But, I thought...that's why I should do it. Because it would be a challenge. For sure. So, I know it will be a challenge, but I am sure it will help me understand how hard it is when we ask someone to do something. The best part came when my friend Carter that we're teaching via Skype asked me how my challenge was going. I had mentioned to him that I was going to have two cheat days (on my birthday and Thanksgiving) but he challenged me to try it for the transfer. So, I gave him a challenge about reading the Book of Mormon and he gave me one too. It's great to have support! And, it's a lot easier with members to explain why you can't have something than to just say "no." So, what do I learn? I need a PURPOSE. We all need a reason to back up what we do -- and I've found strength in thinking of our investigators too. If we ask them something, shouldn't we be willing to sacrifice as well? So, it'll be a challenge, but we'll see how it goes! :)

Anyway, love you all & always enjoy hearing from you. Missionaries really do love words from their family and friends! :)

Hermana Peacock

enough.

I'm going to let two videos do most of the speaking for me today:

Who are you? 

You are awesome. You are a son or daughter of God. You have power. You have potential.

You are enough. 

hellos & goodbyes.

                        

Well, the time came for transfers. Each transfer is a little nervewracking -- who is going to leave? Who is going to stay? This transfer, Elder Martherus, Elder Nemelka, and Elder Hogge left Riverbays. But, I realized that being sad to say goodbye is a good thing -- it means that you were impacted in some way.

Elder Nemelka & me

Elder Hogge is headed home after serving 2 years! 

Elder Martherus and I served together for 5 transfers! 

And I will admit that each of these elders did have an impact on me. I learned how to be a better missionary and wanted to talk to everyone, following Elder Nemelka's example. I had the opportunity to share my talents and apply missionary principles to life with Elder Hogge. I always looked up to Elder Martherus and his positive attitude. Seriously, he's always smiling. Always happy.

And so, this is a simple post. But, I am grateful to have met these wonderful missionaries -- I am grateful they were a part of my story. 

&& we're off to transfer 6

Hello!

It's almost NOVEMBER. And the start of my SIXTH transfer in Riverhead. I can't believe I will be done training Sister Acosta after this transfer; she doesn't really need it though! She teaches me all the time and is such a powerful teacher and missionary. It's a great blessing for me! But, it's strange because I have a feeling it COULD be my last transfer here. How strange. Elder Martherus (one of my best friends :( ) is getting transferred, and he got here the same transfer as me. So, now it is only Elder Baker and I remaining from the "original" RiverBays district. But, that's how the mission is. So, if it's the last six weeks I have here in Riverhead, I better MAKE IT COUNT!

We were able to hit ALL of our goals this week & even more.

I don't remember if I told you about the phone call we received last Sunday, but a woman called us, and said she had tried coming to church but found the parking lot empty (stake conference) but that she wanted to be a member. She told us her son had been baptized at 16 (nearly 20 years ago) and had served a mission. Somehow she had ended up with our number, but she actually lived in Hampton Bays. So, we sent the elders to teach her & she is getting BAPTIZED on November 9. We went to their branch yesterday and met her. She is awesome. She said, "I've been to church many times...it just took me 19 years to decide for myself." But, again...there are people READY in every area of the mission.

We also spent 10+ hours in the car with the Riverhead elders (carpooling & such) so, you could say we became pretty good friends this week! Sadly, Elder Hogge will be leaving us because he is going HOME! But, I'm super grateful for all the friends I've been blessed to meet so far on the mission. And, Elder Hogge asked me to sing with him in sacrament meeting yesterday. We sang "Be Still, My Soul" but he played guitar and then Matt played piano. It was the COOLEST thing ever! Mostly, I am so grateful to be able to share my talents and to have others willing to share too. I definitely feel the spirit through music, and am grateful people are willing to listen :) Currently posting a video on FB of us singing it so we could share it with those who aren't here. Like, everyone. :)

During our street sweep on Saturday, we also played guitar and sang hymns. It was SO COOL. Whatever your talents are ... share them, ok? It just makes you happy to do so.

Yesterday, we went to church in Hampton Bays with our inv Laura. It was really fun to get to see her at church, after teaching her for 3 months! We'll be going there more often now, which is exciting to see the work expanding.

After church, there was an event in Far Rockaways (where Hurricane Sandy hit the strongest) and all the missionaries were invited to attend. So, we loaded up our car & drove the near-2 hours to participate. We made a human chain along the coastline, holding hands with community members in memory of the last year since Sandy. It was humbling to have so many people come up to me (we were wearing our yellow Helping Hands vests) and tell me "Thank you for ALL you did" even though I didn't even help. They are truly so grateful for the work we did. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of.

And, before going, let me share a tidbit of my morning study. I was studying about sacrifice. We always expect our investigators and well, anyone, to make sacrifices...to give things up. Sometimes, it's things like coffee or alcohol. Sometimes, it's work. Sometimes, it's giving up what WE want for what the Lord wants. But, as I was studying, I realized that if we expect our investigators to make sacrifices, why would it be any different for us? We too need to make sacrifices. Maybe it's pride or impatience. Maybe it's something else. But, we can't expect them to do something WE aren't willing to do ourselves. So, I have a few goals set for the transfer that I'll tell you more about next week, but it involves sacrifice. And, I found a great scripture in D&C 132:50:

"50 Behold, I have seen your asacrifices, and will forgive all your sins; I have seen your bsacrifices in obedience to that which I have told you."

I know that as we make sacrifices to be more obedient, we will be blessed & we will be happier. It's a promise.

Until next week ... & November!

-Hermana Peacock

photo 1: My best friends, Elder Baker & Elder Martherus :) I was saying how awkward photos look with sisters and elders & awkward gaps, so E. Martherus told me to do the peace signs. It works, right?

photo 2: Me & Sister Hale, reunited!

photo 3: street sweeps!

photo 4: Playing guitar for a bit & singing hymns

what is the worth?

Today we met a woman who has been physically abused for years. Though she has been [nearly] killed and is now "in hiding," her positive attitude carries her through the day. She met a member of the church and had attended a few times in the past. When she left, she was able to track down a number and called us.

Abuse of any kind leaves me with a sick-to-my-stomach feeling. There's a heaviness about the subject, and it was hard to listen as she described some of the things she endured. But, looking on the optimistic side, she said her "battle of abuse" helped her believe in God. For some, it would tear down any belief system. I've seen it happen. But, she began to seek Him most during these experiences.

As we sat and spoke with her, I had an undeniable feeling that this woman -- this daughter of God -- had great worth. I pulled out a crisp dollar bill from my wallet and said, "How much is this worth?"

She responded, "It's a dollar bill."

I then crumpled it up into a little ball and repeated the question.

Again she said, "It's a dollar."

Then, I explained to her that though it was crumpled, a little dirty and worn, yes, it still had value. It was still a dollar bill. It still held its worth.

We are like these dollar bills (though we are worth much more than $1 to God, our Heavenly Father). But, though we may be imperfect, though some of us have strayed far from the path or feel unworthy of God's love or the Atonement of Christ, we can all become new again. We can all return to the state of a fresh, crisp dollar bill.

I know that it's true. No matter where you are, no matter what you've done or what's happened to you, change is possible. Growth is possible. We can start again through the power of Christ's Atonement.

Even if you feel unloved, unappreciated, or broken ... you are of great worth.



D&C 18:10 -- "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."