I have so much I could tell you. I'm BURSTING with thoughts and feelings and experiences and stories I already have from this first week on my new assignment. I'll try to summarize and just tell you the highlights, hopefully in a way that you can really understand my new responsibilities.
Transfers came fast. I couldn't believe it. Suddenly I was at the Weston Chapel again, with 3 jam-packed bags and a new adventure ahead of me! Transfer meeting was great, as usual. The sad part was saying goodbye to Sister Slater and Sister Platt. That's right, my trainer and my previous companion went home. I'm so excited for them, but it'll be different for them. Besides, it's a reality check. I really don't want time to move so quickly.
I better tell you about my new companion! Sister Couto is amazing! She's beautiful and fun and from Brazil, as I mentioned earlier. She has a truly kind heart, and she's super strong. Not physically or even necessarily in opinions, but in character, if that makes sense. We're easy friends. I'm excited to work with her.
You know that monster van I told you about? Well, everyone calls it the spaceship. :) I was so relieved that I didn't have to drive it home in the dark my first night. Elder Vail, who works in the office, took it for us. But the very next day I watched a video, took a test, and had a mini-driving lesson with Elder Vail. Ha. That vehicle is a beast. I'm already getting used to it, but. . . I'll just have to attach a picture so you'll understand what I'm talking about.
I spent my first day figuring out driving stuff, then we went back to the chapel to take down all of the Portable Displays that had been set up for transfer meeting. I am SO excited! These displays are beautiful, and I learned pretty quickly how to set them up and take them down. It takes awhile, and it's really heavy lugging back and forth from the van into chapels, but there is just something so exciting about it! I'm going to be super strong soon. And technology-savvy. :D
I accidentally left my GPS in Belmont, so we were going off of memory to get home after, driving the spaceship at night. . . Not smart. We got SOOOOO lost. My first night. Elder Vail saved our lives. We were on the phone with him for an hour as he guided us back home. Hehehe! This should be fun. (Don't worry, mom. He also bought us a brand-new, voice-activated GPS. I'm all set now.)
I had my first event on Friday! We were booked to bring our beautiful big "God's Plan" display and our "Temple" display to. . . an adoption party??? Haha, this woman was celebrating because she had finally managed to adopt these four beautiful kids. They were so cute! She invited everyone who had been involved in the long process or that just loved her family. Which meant that the chapel was simply bursting with non-members. Ideal place for us!!!!! If anyone had a question, ("What is this building we're in?" "Four kids??? Why does she want four? Why is family that important to her?" "She mentioned something about . . . sealing her family together. . .") we could say, "Well, we have this video right here that will answer your questions perfectly. . ." and BOOM--the Spirit would be felt as they took a look at our inspired displays and videos. It was so neat!!!
The next day we went to a baptism in Billerica. That, too, was fun! I think I'm spoiled. I get to see the best events around the entire mission. We love going to baptisms, because usually a lot of non-members are there. These videos are aimed toward them, so they understand who we are, what we believe, and why we really truly believe it. The Spirit is always so strong when these videos play. Just so you can kind of get a feel for what I'm talking about, here's one of the videos The PVC Sisters before me have created. This was scripted and voiced by President Packard himself. :)
Okay, last big event! We went to Lynn, MASS to train a ward on who we are, what we do, and how they can most successfully use the Portable Visitor's Center! It was a Spanish Branch, so we brought our Spanish displays, showed them videos, and talked. They loved it! They're so excited to bring us back for a church tour, and they're so excited to share the gospel with all of their friends!
The Portable Visitor's Center is inspired. I know it is! I love it so much. I'll send you some more pictures so you can understand more clearly. Please ask any questions you might have about this! It's so hard to capture exactly what I'm doing, and I'd love for you to love this as much as I do. :)
This week we're working on projects, booking our schedule, and traveling ALL OVER this weekend! Really. . . we're taking a ferry to Martha's Vineyard--a tiny little island in our mission. With our spaceship. And we're going to Connecticut and Rhode Island. . . :D I'm so excited! Prayers of safety would be appreciated!
I'm praying for all of you! Thanks for everything!
So much has happened!!! I can't believe how much can happen in just one week! It has been one of the most incredible, mind-boggling weeks in my entire mission!
I'll have to just tell you the two biggest pieces of information. First of all, President Packard called for an impromptu Zone Conference, so we all drove to the Weston Chapel on Friday. This Zone Conference was called because we had all set another goal after the miracle of November. The goal was to make what had previously been the impossible the norm by getting a baseline of at least 70 baptisms every month until President Packard goes home in July. He sensed that we didn't have the same fire for this goal than we did for the goal of November. He knows more than anyone that we all have to be united in faith and effort and will, 100%, if we're going to accomplish this amazing feat. It seemed to be that the biggest concern in the mission was the worry about the emphasis on numbers. To me it's so clear. It's not about numbers!!!! These are real people we are bringing to Christ. It doesn't matter about the number, really, but the number inspires us to do the best we can to further the Lord's sacred work. President came up with a brilliant solution to the division in opinion, though. It's an obvious one, too. We're already setting monthly goals for new investigators, investigators with baptismal dates, and baptisms. We're going to take these goals and make them even more prayerful and inspired. Every monthly goal that we set already is required to have a name attached to it--it's not a number until President gets the grand total of names at the end of the day. And that grand total, every month, is now officially going to be our respective goal. We're still going to have a baseline of 70, but now these are our names. Our people.
The mission is filled with the fervor we had in November! December and the beginning of January were slower, but somehow being back where we had been after the Lord had given us a taste of His vision is motivating us again now, if that makes sense. We don't want to ever go back to how we were. He's shown us what's possible--we're giving Him everything! I can't wait to be a part of it!
After the Conference, Sister Standerfer and I snagged Sister Packard to talk to her. Sister Standerfer had a question, and was already very emotional. Then Sister Packard put her arm around me, looked at Sister Standerfer, and said, "You are probably going to be losing your companion this transfer. Are you going to be alright?"
We locked eyes. Sister Standerfer put her hands to her heart and her eyes filled with tears. That did it. We both started crying and hugging. Poor Sister Packard was so concerned! But we were so grateful for the warning. I love my companion, but I know the Lord knows best. So yes, my streak of a new companion every transfer lives on.
Are you ready for the big news? We got the transfer texts.
I'm on a special assignment, doing what I've been drawn toward since the beginning of my mission. The Portable Visitor's Center!
Oh my goodness! I'm so excited!!!! This is crazy news! That means I'll be working exclusively with this project, 24/7. This incredible idea that President Packard dreamed up. Do you remember what the Portable Visitor's Center is? I've talked about it in a lot of my previous emails, especially in Central Falls. It's what the church tours were all about. This is something specific to our mission that President Packard dreamed up and is hitting amazing heights. Assuming you understand what it is, here's the skinny. . .
My home base is WESTON 1st WARD, where I started my mission!!!!!!!!!!!! Really, though, I won't be seeing much of it. I'll be traveling around the entire mission, bringing the PVC to baptisms, open houses, firesides, you name it! I'll also be creating videos and displays and interactive activities.
I got a phone call from President Packard last night. He talked to me for about 20 minutes, telling me about his vision and his expectations. I've never felt so daunted in my life. I'm so excited, but I've never had to humble myself like this before. I have NO experience. We have about $100,000 at our disposal, with a vision and free rein. No other mission has this, and Elder Oaks and others are watching it closely. I have full, unflinching confidence that the Lord is more than capable of using me. But I feel completely blind, and I have no idea even where to begin! I'm just praying that I can somehow manage to turn enough of myself over to the Lord where He CAN use me the way He needs to, so my extremely limited knowledge and capabilities don't hinder His great work. I have never had this much tangible responsibility in my life.
My new companion is from Brazil again and speaks limited English. Also, she's beautiful. :) I'm so excited to work with her!
I should get going. Thank you for everything! I wish I could explain the PVC more fully to you, but I will take on that challenge next week, complete with pictures!
I love you!
Love, Sister Merkley MBM Missionary
P.S. I'm the designated driver for the Portable Visitor's Center. I'll be driving the biggest van President says he's ever seen in his life. 15 passengers. Across the whole mission. Pray for me!!!!
Haaaaaaaappy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How was it for each of you? Us? Well, we went to bed at 10:30, the way missionaries do. It was fantastic. :) We also taped up our New Year's Resolutions! I don't really like thinking of them as resolutions, though, because people break resolutions. These are more like promises to God; what we're going to do better, what more we're going to give. President phrases the question we should ask God this way: "What lack I yet?" When we know the answer, we know what more we can do and give to Heavenly Father. The New Year is a perfect time to try this out.
First of all, we have this scripture goal. It's a crazy goal. We've actually been working on it for awhile, but with the New Year, we gave it a deadline and everything. We are memorizing what is happening in every chapter in the Book of Mormon. If that makes sense. So if someone said, "Alma 15", we'd know exactly what was happening in that chapter. We want to do that for every chapter. So far, it's been more successful than we thought! We tackled Alma first, because that's the biggest book. Now we're on Mosiah. It's pretty exciting! Now that I'm matching up all these story-lines I know and love to their respective chapters, I feel like I understand and can navigate the Book of Mormon better! I can't wait to finish this goal on February 21st! I give you full permission to keep us accountable and check up on how we're doing. :)
Let's see. It was kind of a slow week. Lots of people were gone for the holidays. We had our second real snowfall that stuck for one day! And not very many appointments. Trouble is, we're not allowed to knock on doors here. It's considered invasive. And people don't just wander the streets in the middle of January in such a financially stable area. We've also been asked not to stop-by member's homes unless we have called in advance and set up an appointment. Which is difficult. We side-stepped that a bit this week and returned all of the dishes and tubberware and decorations and lights we've accumulated over the Christmas holiday.
Jess and Suzanne (a recent convert and her recently reactivated roommate we spend a lot of time with) had us for dinner twice this week. They're great.
New Years Day we had weekly planning (my favorite), and it ended up being a great day! We sat down and discussed our personal, companionship, and area goals and visions. We're really excited to get going and try to help this area reach the potential it truly has! Now we have a game plan. Get ready. :)
Poor Sister Halloran lost her brother on her way home from visiting him in Switzerland this week. :( We brought her a flower and shared a message about peace. She is a strong, sweet woman.
I think Sunday was the most chaotic and wonderful day of them all! Fast Sundays are the greatest. We fasted for the new mission goals, and every single missionary in the mission bore their testimony in their ward this Sunday. We also taught the 16-17 year-olds again. It's so much fun! We role-played with them! They will make amazing missionaries soon. Sister Standerfer showed them how it's done by teaching me (the investigator) the Word of Wisdom, then the boys taught me Tithing and the girls taught me the Law of Chastity. Pretty good!
That's about all! Sorry it wasn't as exciting of a letter, but hey! This is the work of Salvation. It's the best decision I've ever made, and I'm so blessed to be a part of it!
I love you all. Have a great New Year. And really--I invite you to get on your knees and ask Heavenly Father that question: What lack I yet? Set goals and make promises accordingly. It will bring you blessings!
