This transfer has been FLYING. I thought the last one went by fast. . . but transfers are in 2 weeks. I thought for sure we just had transfer meeting.
This week we got a lot of things done in the office! It has been super fun. I wish I could adequately explain what we do! Sister Couto and I have a system going. She's on the laptop, cutting and adding to videos, putting in Spanish/Portuguese audio and fixing the background music. I'm on the iPad, figuring out the configurations, downloading all of the videos into the right button on the right exhibit, organizing, deleting, adding and arranging videos. The Visitors' Center app is looking beautiful! We have some of the greatest videos on there. We're really prepped for some great events!
Speaking of great events, we had a unique one this week! We took the drive to Billerica for a "U-night". The missionaries got the idea from the book The Power of Everyday Missionaries by our very own Clayton Christensen. The concept is that the Bishop calls "Proselyting Families" to bring a family to the "U-night". There these people hear testimonies of the restored gospel from a return missionary, a recent convert, and the bishop. At the end, they're invited to take the lessons. Billerica was so excited for this idea that they scheduled four of them, and called for the Portable Visitors' Center to come and be the main event! Since it was just the first time, investigators and less-actives came, and we tested it out. It was so beautiful and powerful. They showed some of our strongest videos throughout the program, broken up by the different testimonies. Sister Couto and I were asked to talk to them as well. We stood and testified of the Book of Mormon answering specific questions of your heart. It doesn't matter what question it is, universal or personal, you can find an answer as you read the Book of Mormon. It was a neat experience to stand and teach and testify and back up the words of the prophets that spoke in the videos.
Another adventure: We were so double-booked on Saturday, so for the first time ever, Sister Couto and I went on splits to travel to two events! Our friends and Sister Training Leaders, Sister Francis and Sister Asay, happily came with us. Sister Francis and Sister Couto took the Spaceship and drove down to Central Falls. I know, I know, but it was for a tour with the Spanish branch, and since I still don't speak Spanish. . . Sister Asay and I were to go to Nashua, New Hampsire!
First, that morning, we attended an 8-year-old baptism in Weston with one of the displays! That was neat, because I remember and love that family. Weston 1st ward goes all out for baptisms. You should have seen the food tables after--I thought I was at a wedding. Then we were supposed to load the Party Bus (the name of the other, if smaller van in the mission) but when I jumped in the driver's seat, I realized that the left mirror was missing and that the tire pressure was low. No bueno. After a quick moment of panic, Sister Asay had a great idea, and we frantically switched vehicles with the moving Elders and jammed all of our equipment into their truck! Whew!
New Hampsire! I'd never been there before! It looks like the rest of New England, but it's colder. :) They had a fabulous event planned with a lot of non-members in attendance. "Culture Night", where families with different backgrounds all brought dishes from their homeland. So there was a feast and performances and fun stuff. We set up our two displays and the Book of Mormon roundtable, since the rest of the equipment was with our companions. It went well, except half-way through a kid somehow turned off one of the iPads and tried the password a million times. That locked us out for an hour. :P
But all in all, it was a success, and I had so much fun getting to know Sister Asay! She's the greatest. :)
Yesterday I went to the most beautiful 8-year-old baptism I've ever seen. This girl is special. She's from the Cambridge Spanish Ward, and she was so moved by the Spirit and the significance of the covenant that she was making and the support she had that she was in tears the entire time. She even stood up and bore her testimony. I have never seen Sister Couto cry so much!
That's my life in New England. I'm so grateful for the rich opportunities my Father in Heaven has blessed me with. And I'm grateful for all of you, and the support you give me!
Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM PVC Missionary
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