It's pouring rain here in the forested hills of Connecticut. :) Our weekend road trip hasn't ended yet, and it've probably had one of the busiest days of my life this week.
Here's the happenings: The beginning of this week we were able to re-callibrate and get some great work done. We finished Haitian videos, created an "emaze" presentation for trainings, and even ordered our huge, interlocking foam floor mat for the Primary PVC! Now to paint it. . .
But then we started our road trip on Thursday! Guess where our first stop was? Central Falls! My home! I love that place! :) We promised the Spanish Elders we'd bring a display for their baptism this weekend, but since we couldn't attend the baptism, we set it up early with careful instructions, then had the opportunity to meet up with people I love.
I stopped by the Piescienskis (LOVE THEM), met up with Faith (she's the BEST!) and then we headed over to see. . . CRYSTAL!!! I don't know if you remember her. She's someone I worked hard with in Central Falls, and I love her dearly. I haven't seen her since I left, and she became pregnant when I was in Belmont, so now she has a big tummy. :)I'll attach a picture. It was soon good to see her. She's so excited to have a family. I also was able to have dinner with Sister Shea! She's my CF mom forever.
We spent the night with the Central Falls sisters, then early the next morning, we headed out to New Haven! We had some extra time, and it was right next to Sister Moss's old area, so we were able to meet up with a mother and a daughter she had taught for lunch. It meant the world to her. :) I'm glad we're still in touch with these people.
Then we went straight to New Haven for their Open House! Fun stuff! We've been there before. . . it's another high-foot-traffic area, right on Yale campus! How neat?? It's always frantic getting everything set up in there (there's 4 floors), but so worth it. A few solid RMs from the Singles ward came to back us up, and we were pulling people in off the streets like crazy! We even found a less-active and his Lutheran friend who were visiting the campus from out of state. He brought them over, and she was so golden. I love teaching about Christ.
After a long, wonderful, exhausting 5 hours or so, we took everything back down and crashed with the amazing New Haven sisters for the night. Haha, we only got about 4 hours of sleep, then we were up again early the next morning! For an even crazier day!
We drove to Warwick, Rhode Island for the Gaspee Days parade! The church was right there, on the street where the parade was going to be. The Elders were so excited. The craziest part was the wind. We had to tie the outdoor display to keep it from falling over. :) Parades are great! It means summer is really here! :) As soon as the Parade was over, we packed up again and took off. We had to pick up the display we left in Central Falls, go to Brockton and set up a display for their baptism, then get ourselves all the way to Worcester for another Spanish wedding! Whew! We made it with minutes to spare and set up at top speed. Spanish weddings are fun, and it's ideal. There are so many non-members who attend and are curious.
As for the craziest day. . . that was yesterday!!!! Ready for it??? Okay, went on splits with the Boston Spanish sisters to cover all 6 of our events. :) That means Sister Bybee and her companion, Sister Sutherland! Sister Bybee and Sister Moss went to Hartford to train the Spanish ward on how to give tours. Sister Sutherland and I set up a display at the Boston chapel for a Portuguese baptism, then took off for a the Dragon Boat Chinese Festival! Oh my goodness. It was so much fun. There were about 3,000 people there! Two sets of Chinese Elders, the Chinese group ward mission leader, and a few members came to the booth they'd rented out for us to help contact. We set up the Book of Mormon roundtable and our small displays, and you know what? We didn't even have to contact! People flocked to us! We answered questions and testified and passed out so many copies of the Book of Mormon! Sister Sutherland and I took on all the English-speakers, the Chinese Elders talked to everyone else. :) :) :) It was amazing! I even learned some Chinese! The best part was when I talked to this kid Peter. He was a Harvard student with a lot of questions. We must have talked for a good 20-30 minutes. I needed so much direction from the Holy Ghost on what to say, but I know he felt the Spirit. He was very impressed that someone could believe something so strongly. He wants to be that sure of something in his life, and I told him he could be. I have high hopes for him.
We got back in time to switch out displays and set up for our first Haitian baptism! Wahoo! Except we couldn't stay. Sister Moss and I (we exchanged back) had to leave behind another display (that scares me) and book it back to Hartford. Another 2-hour drive. Traffic was soon bad, and we were so late for the fireside President Packard was doing on the Book of Mormon, but we quietly set up the Book of Mormon roundtable and the Restoration display so it would be ready for them when the fireside ended. President Packard is so so so so so amazing! I wish I could teach about the Book of Mormon with his clarity, knowledge, and passion!
Crashed with the Avon sisters, and now we're here in Connecticut for P-day! :) :)
My life is crazy!!!!!!! We're going 100 mph! I love it. I love my Savior, I love the sensation that I can sprint to the finish and be an influence for good in this unique, powerful assignment. Thanks for all the support and prayers. I'm feeling it over here.
Love you all!
Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM Missionary
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