Notes from the field 12/28

Excerpt from her last letter, and she wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

1. Manhattan Temple! We went the Saturday before Christmas. It was awesome to get out of New Jersey, even though it doesn't really look any different in NY. The city is just as bustling and crazy as I remember it, and it was COLD. The buildings create insane wind currents. But it's just as everyone says. The instant you're inside the Temple------silence. We walked in and out a couple times to hear the effect. Yes. We're dweebs. It's a beautiful temple. Definitely near the top of my list.

2. Jonathan. One of our investigators, and one of the most unique people I've ever met. He works with computers as some sort of analyst...I don't understand what he's saying when he describes what he does. But he studied philosophy in college because he finds it interesting, and he definitely looks at everything from a philosophical standpoint. He is a challenge to teach, but more fun to teach than anyone else. He takes notes on our lessons, reads all the assignments we give him and more, and always has a list of questions waiting for us at our next appointment. Once we quoted a scripture from the Book of Mormon and he said, "Isn't that in 2 Nephi 2?"..............jaw drop.

I thought at first that he would never really internalize anything we were teaching him because he questions everything so much, and he looks at everything very factually. But as we have taught him I have come to realize that no one can read the Book of Mormon as much as he does, no one can study it the way he does, and not change, not come to know that it's true. When we began teaching him he would not pray, and now he frequently volunteers to, and the last time he prayed he was so sincere, and he closed in the name of Jesus Christ (he had not done that before). He is definitely progressing, but Sister Picard and I have had to really think outside the box when preparing lesson plans for him. We really took a gamble last time and gave him a PDF copy of Preach My Gospel on a disc, so that he can see where we're going with the lessons and understand why we teach him the way we do. Who knows, when we meet next he might instruct us on how to teach better!

Notes from the field...

Holly and her MTC companion, Sister White.

(The following are exerpts from Holly's last two letters, dated 12/14/2009 and 12/21/2009)



Sis. Picard and I won the obedience basket!!! We had a mission-wide conference on Wednesday, and all month Sis. Picard has been preparing me for the obedience basket. Every mission conference Sis. Bahr has all the missionaries stand up, and she begins to name different mission rules. If she names one you haven't kept, you have to sit down. Some of the rules she named were making your bed in the morning, brushing/flossing you teeth, taking you vitamins, staying under your allotted miles in the car, exercising every day, etc. Well, Sis. Picard and I were the last ones standing, and we won a HUGE stash of food! We probably won't have to shop until transfers! Our favorite item is the nutella. :)

At the mission home with all the sister missionaries.

Saturday President and Sister Bahr had all the sisters over for a special Christmas brunch. I thought I was going to explode, they made us eat so much. It was lots of fun. We decorated their Christmas tree with homemade ornaments. Sis. Picard and I made a sleigh. Little miniatures of ourselves rode in the front, and behind us was a big bag full of Books of Mormon instead of presents. It was fun and super cheesy. :)

Holly and her trainer, Sister Picard.

There are times when Sister Picard and I are tracting and we can't talk when people open their doors because our faces are numb. We will tract until we simply can't bear it anymore, then we will go to the car and thaw for a little while, then head back out. There's a thermometer in our car, and we can't believe it when it says it's 22 degrees outside. It feels much colder than that. They it's because of the humidity. The cold goes right through our clothes and our shoes. It's not easy, but somehow we get through it and manage to stay happy, too. It's a great motivation to work really hard for appointments so we can spend as little time knocking as possible! And it makes us really grateful to have a car. There are some missionaries in walking areas, and I can't imagine how they spend all day outside! We also have gotten really creative with our clothes. I usually wear a sweater over my tops, a fleece vest, my coat, a scarf, nylons, leggings, my wool socks, another pair of leggings, my boots, and two skirts. I'm getting ready to break out the sweatpants pretty soon--the natives say it doesn't get REALLY cold until January. :)



The work is going well. It's difficult with the holiday season to get a hold of people and keep reliable appointments, but we feel very blessed. I am amazed at how much I love all these people I hardly know. Yesterday Sis. Picard and I were asked by the Relief Society president to visit a less-active sister. She came here four years ago as a refugee from Sierra Leon. She has been a member since she was fourteen and served a mission in Ghana. Here mission lasted more than two years because the war was so bad in Sierra Leon that she couldn't return home! When she finally did, the war had not ended, and both her mother and brother were shot and killed before her eyes. Shortly after that she came to the US. She knew no English, but the Church helped her find housing and put her through school. She now works as a nurse to support herself and her little boy. Her husband works in Europe and can only visit once a year. She is lonely and worn out, but in just another year she will be a citizen and her husband will be able to come to America. I was so overwhelmed by her faith! She is so determined to stand on her own two feet, and is proud to no longer be living by the welfare of the Church. Although she cannot come to church very often, she is a wonderful member missionary and shares the gospel with everyone.

As Sis. Picard and I sat and listened to her amazing story, I was filled with love for this wonderful woman, though I had only just met her, and I was overwhelmed with a desire to help her in any way that I could. Sis. Picard and I will be making regular visits and will begin teaching two of her friends soon. It's amazing the way that being a missionary makes you love people! It's a wonderful feeling.

First Letter from New Jersey

Holly arrived in New Jersey Tuesday, November 24 and got right to work!