12/20

Snow! Thursday the flakes finally came down, while we were walking, of course, but the first snowfall is so much fun! I inherited a mammoth scarf from Sister Picard, and now I know why she was always so warm while I shivered in my boots last winter. I had no idea that one item of clothing could make that much of a difference. It's as long as I am, about a foot wide, and THICK. I can wind it several times around my head/neck. I feel a little bit like the little brother in A Christmas Story when I have it on, but I've never been more happy to tract in the snow!

The phrase death by chocolate has never been more real! We are fortunate to live in a ward where the members love us so much, but I think we have enough candy, cookies and other treats to last a couple months if I ate one every day. Sunday the Relief Society surprised us with a huge box filled with shampoo, soap, toothpaste, snacks for the car, candy, two stockings splitting at the seams, and I know not what. I haven't had time to examine it completely yet. Suffice it to say, our tree will have a lot under it Saturday morning! We're planning to meet as a Zone in Eatontown, where we will open all our presents, have a white elephant gift exchange, eat a breakfast provided by the Zone Leaders, and go caroling. Sister Bluth and I have been invited for Christmas dinner at the Serranos' house (Brother Serrano is the Ward Mission Leader) on the Navy base in Lakehurst.

I love Christmas on the mission. Before I left I would have thought that holidays are torturous as a missionary, but you feel the Spirit so much that I can't help being anything but merry at this time of year. Times are still tough. There are still disappointments--investigators still drop you, you still have "bad" days with little success, you still get tired or cold or hungry. My testimony of the Savior is my greatest source of strength and comfort. The past two weeks my thoughts have turned to Him more and more as I've pondered the significance of His birth, life, mission and sacrifice. I think often, especially this week, about how many people are suffering in ignorance about who He really is, their relationship to Him and the very real and strong presence He can have in their lives. Their lack of knowledge prevents them from having faith in Him. There are so many obstacles to coming to know the Savior and coming unto Him--I can't imagine doing so without knowledge of the restored gospel, without the clarifying witness of the Book of Mormon, without the power of the Priesthood, without constant revelation and guidance through a living prophet, relying on the interpretations and preaching of corrupt, misguided, fallen men, and all the while immersed in a world increasing in confusion, sin and evil. How many people know the story of Christ's birth, and yet have never been able to partake of that Gift? It fills me with sorrow for them, and also with gratitude that I was given the gospel before I even knew what a priceless gift I had. More than I ever I feel the burden of my responsibility to carry this gift to others who have not yet received it, and I pray the Lord makes me fit to do so.

The highlight of this week was finding Rita. She lives in Lakewood, Toms River's equivalent of the ghetto. We found her in the Area Book, on the potentials' list. She came to church a long time ago and met the missionaries, but was never taught. Time was limited for both of us, but she let us in. She has at least two children and is married to a Muslim man. He has been trying since they were married to convert her to Islam. I felt prompted to ask her if she believes in Christ, and how she feels about giving up that belief. She responded that she never has been able to give up her faith, because she knows that He is there, but she doesn't go to church because she is confused and doesn't know where to go. We taught a very short, simple lesson focused on the Book of Mormon and how it strengthens our faith in Christ and helps us know Him better. We testified of the peace it would bring into her life, and she said, "Yes, I promise to read this--I need peace in my life!" She held it as tightly as any child holds a Christmas gift. She invited us to come back on Christmas Eve, and I can't wait to go back and see how reading the Book of Mormon helps her.

I love you all so much. I am so grateful for the gospel, and for the gift of the Savior. I hope this Christmas is filled with His Spirit for each of you! Talk to you soon!

Love, love, love,

Sister Black

12/13

No snow last week! I was very surprised. A few flurries here and there, but so far we've been spared the blizzards we've heard about around other parts of the country.

I was greeted by a wonderful surprise Wednesday at Zone Meeting. Sister Greenwood, with whom I was companions my third transfer, finished her mission and went home, and guess who came to replace her??? SISTER COPE, MY GREENIE!!!! I was so excited to see her again, and so soon! Her companion also went home, Sister Cope went to Barnegat, and they've put Elders in my beloved Hoboken. I wasn't sure how I felt about THAT until I found out it's Elder Lebaron. I know he'll do well there and our investigators will be well taken care of. However, I will admit that I was clinging to the hope that I would go back to Hoboken at the end of my mission, which now is impossible. Don't worry, I do love Toms River, but after 7 months in Jersey City, there's no way any other area is ever going to compare. Oh well. Thank goodness I've got a testimony that there is plenty of work to do everywhere, even if the streets are not swarming with people. Even if they're quite desolate, actually.

But I'm happy to report a good week! Faith and works work every time. We had more members coming out with us, taught more lessons, and set two more people with baptismal dates! Zonia is preparing for Jan. 2, Joan for Jan. 23. We taught Zonia the Word of Wisdom the other day and were pleasantly surprised to find that she's already living it. Joan is a hoot. She is a very elderly lady who grunts in reply to most of what you say, but she agrees with everything we've taught and very easily accepted a baptismal invitation. She's the sort that could be overjoyed inside but would still stare at you like you've got antlers.

The ward put on a very ambitious Christmas program the other night, complete with full Christmas dinner, a play, activities, and a Nativity scene. The play was hilarious. The two lead roles were played by elderly sisters, who forgot most of their lines and shouted them at each other when the other forgot or lost her place. I enjoyed it much more than I would have a perfect, polished performance. Many of our investigators came and a lot of members brought their friends. I'm so proud of our ward! They're such good missionaries.

Well, I just love you. Not much more I can say than that. 'Til next week!

Love,

Sister Black

12/6

Sister Bluth hasn't been well since Thanksgiving. I'm beginning to wonder if my existence somehow infects my companions. The mission doc says it's just a virus and the only thing to do is get plenty of rest and fluids and to just wait it out--but her symptoms are eerily similar to Sis. Picard's last year. Prayers would be greatly appreciated!

Neither of us slept very well last night, as it was transfers and we kept expecting the mass text to come in. It never did. Problems with the fax machines at the office, apparently. But we finally got a text from the zone leaders saying that if we didn't receive a call from them, we're staying. No call yet, so I think we're in the all clear!

It's been COLD the last few days. There's been a lot of wind and suspicious-looking clouds, so I won't be surprised if snow arrives this week. I've been absolutely delighted to break out my layers. I've somehow accumulated a large collection of scarves and gloves, so I am well prepared, and, thus far, I've been able to withstand the cold better than last year. My hopes are high that I've grown a thicker skin, or something. We'll see when it gets down to 10 degrees.

This was one of those weeks that never seemed to go anywhere and dragged on forever. It happens occasionally. One particularly rough day we came back to the apartment to suit up for knocking and look up some addresses in the area book. While Sister Bluth was busy with something else I went to our room to ask for help. I begged to the Lord to give me patience and faith, to help me retain the Spirit and be able to recognize and follow its lead to someone who needed us that night. I promised that I would follow the Spirit's lead wherever it led. I put on all my layers, we said a prayer, and headed out. We walked from our house to an apartment complex nearby where a former investigator lived. As we approached his building, I saw through a livingroom window a family putting up Christmas decorations together. I felt very strongly that I needed to talk to them. Sister Bluth was already at the door of the former, and he was the one we were there to see, so we knocked--but I kept my eye on that window. Sure enough, he was not there, so I marched right back to that door. It was answered by a woman and her daughter. The mother spoke only Spanish, but the daughter translated and told us that they knew the missionaries well. They had been taught by the Spanish Elders some time ago and used to go to church every Sunday until both the member friend who gave them rides and the missionaries--all of which used to live in their building--moved, and they were apparently forgotten. They still read from the Book of Mormon and were eager for the missionaries to come again, so we took down their information to give to the Elders. Though I only speak enough Spanish to tell people who we are and give them a card, and Leonarda and Angela will not be our new investigators, I am so grateful to the Lord for that experience, for answering my prayer and letting me be an instrument in His hands to help someone.

I love you all! I am so excited for this month, for Christmas, to be a missionary, to be in New Jersey. I am so proud of you all. You're the best.

Love,

Sister Black

11/29

Thanksgiving was truly a day to be grateful! With all the trips back and forth to Morristown, Sister Bluth and I ran out of miles and have been on our bikes every day since Wednesday. Thanksgiving day was cold and rainy, so as we pedalled against the wind from appointment to appointment I put my head down and thought of the many things I am grateful for: a car, so we don't have to ride our bikes all the time; bikes, so we don't have to walk and we can get from place to place faster when we don't have the car--AND so that I can burn off all the extra food we've had; good weather, which we've had in great abundance since I've been in this area; fewer dinner appointments, so I wouldn't have to eat 5 Thanksgiving dinners like I did last time and so I don't get too big for my clothes; good health and fitness, so I have the endurance to ride my bike all day; the gospel, which some people at both our appointments did't have; awesome ward members who invite their friends over when the missionaries are there, which means new investigators for us; Thanksgiving leftovers, so I don't have to cook, and also because my MSF is low; and a wonderful, loving family at home, another thing which is missing from so many people's lives these days.

I'm sorry it's going to be so short this week. Travel is longer on bikes, and there is much to be done today! I love you all so very, very much! I can't believe it's almost December. Next Monday we'll know if one of us being transfered. Sheesh.

Love, love, love,

Sister Black

11/22

I remember once telling a friend near the end of my senior year in highschool that I could see my life before me like a rollercoaster just before you go over that first drop. The anticipation is agonizing getting all the way to the top, then you go over the edge--and before you know it, the ride is over. This week felt like I was going over the edge of my mission. After this week there is only one week left of the transfer, and with so much packed into the next month I know it is going to fly by. We spent three days in Morristown at Leadership Training, which was pure inspiration. The curriculum did not vary in the least from last time, but I feel like I took a whole different course. I particularly enjoyed the roleplays this time. I really put my heart and soul into it and found a lot of answers as to how to help some of our investigators. Our numbers took a huge dive due to our absence, which for me produces a sensation similar to that of nails on a chalkboard. BUT I feel very blessed to have been able to attend again, and Sister Bluth and I have noticed a positive difference in our teaching and the way that the message has been received by our investigators over the last couple days.

Last night we taught Lenore and Tom and found, to our great pleasure, that they had done their homework! They both seemed to have enjoyed the assignment that we gave them, and after a very short, extremely barebones lesson we watched the Restoration video with them. Tom, who usually sits quietly in a corner and only grins and nods when you speak to him, seemed particularly captivated. Afterward we asked him what he thought and how he felt. "Seems pretty true," he said, shrugging. Sister Bluth and I didn't know exactly how to respond to that, so we asked him if he believed that Joseph Smith had seen Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He nodded and said, "Seems pretty plausible." We couldn't get a more definitive answer out of him than that, so we asked him to pray that night to know if the Book of Mormon was true, and if Joseph Smith was a prophet. he accepted wholeheartedly and said the closing prayer before we left. In his prayer he said, "Please help me to realize that the Book of Mormon is true." He and Lenore both asked when we were coming back, and we scheduled another appointment for tonight! We are planning to set Tom with a date to join his wife, who is preparing to be baptized in January.

In other wonderful news--we had our last choir practice today for the Missionary Christmas Fireside this Sunday, and I got to see Sister Cope. CAROLYN AND CYNTHIA ARE GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!!!! I almost passed out. They got tired of waiting for Felix to come around and asked Sister Cope and Sister Child one day, "Is it ok if we get baptized?" My heart aches to be there and see them. I still remember contacting them on the street and teaching them for the first time back in April, and I am so grateful to know that they are finally taking this step. I wish there was a way I could stow away to Jersey City, but preparing people to be baptized by other missionaries is a common occurance in a missionary's life that I suppose I must accept.

Well, that's about all, folks. I am doing my best to prepare for perpetual stomach expansion this week. We had an early Thanksgiving dinner last night, actually, turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes and all. AND THEY GAVE ME SOUTHERN COMFORT EGG NOG. Naturally they ascended to the top of my favorite people list pretty much instantly. Sister Sosa is another Osmond fan--Donny looks back at you from all over her apartment. So far we have only one appointment for Thanksgiving, so maybe it won't be too bad, after all.

I love you all! Happy Thanksgiving! Think of me when you get full, because I'll STILL be eating! :)

With thanks,

Sister Black

11/15

What a wonderful week! Tuesday we received awesome training from the Zone Leaders and an official introduction of the mission theme and goals for this month: Thanks.Giving Month--all about giving thanks and giving the gospel. The goals are high and challenging, but I have felt a great difference already, just the last few days, in the way I feel about the work and my place in it. As emphasized by President Monson in the last Conference, gratitude really does bring joy. We've been writing a lot of thank-you notes, recording blessings of the day in our journals, offering prayers of gratitude, searching for verses in the scriptures about giving thanks and sharing the gospel--the list goes on. It's good to be busy and happy.

Bill dropped us. He needs help with transportation, and even after assuring him that there are plenty of members who live nearby who would be more than happy to give him a ride--and also reminding him of the Spirit that he felt as he visited the website, spoke with us, and read the Book of Mormon--he dropped us in favor of another church just around the corner from him. It kills me every time this happens, which is all too often. But the work goes on. We got another media referral, sent by a member living in PA, to visit Bob. Gotta love the 3-letter B-names. We got to teach him and his wife the other day. They've been church hopping for a while, searching for the church that feels right and agrees with what they've learned from their extensive study of the Bible. I love telling such people about Joseph Smith. They positively light up to hear that there was someone else like them, looking for answers, who found what they were looking for--and it proved to be the same for them. After every couple sentences of Joseph Smith's story he would interject, "That's what I do!" We have a return appointment Tuesday. My hopes are high! Missionaries foam at the mouth to teach couples and families.

Which reminds me of Alicia and Chris. Alicia has been meeting with the sisters sporatically for a couple months now. She loves Joseph Smith, has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying, and REALLY wants to come to church. However, she hesitates because her husband, Chris, is not interested at all, and she is afraid to make the journey into membership alone. We met with the two of them and a member for the first time the other night, and he just wouldn't bite. He has no religious background at all, and dislikes organized religion. We left the Restoration video for them to watch together. Hopefully that will spark some more interest in the future!

Going to Leadership Training in Morristown again this week, and I can't wait. It was one of the best experiences of my mission, and I'm looking forward to a repeat. It will be different this time, though. Both Sister Bluth and I will be attending, and with the distance we have no choice but to stay with sisters in the area all three days, which means no work will be done in our area during that time! Lots of preparing to do the next couple days.

Had missionary choir practice after Zone Meeting for the Christmas fireside--really ambitious this year, TONS of music, and some of it challenging. Nervous about finding the time to practice it all. Praying that a concert pianist will be sent to take over for me soon, or at least lighten the load. However I do love the massive collection of music I've accumulated over the past year.

I love you all! I'm grateful for you and pray for you all the time.

Sister Black

11/8

It's cold.

Hard to believe it's that time of year again! As evidenced by the FEAST we were fed at a member's house yesterday, I have great reason to fear the next couple of months. We have dinner appointments almost every day this week, and Thanksgiving is filling up. As well as our fridge. I plan not to buy any food until January. Maybe I'll ask special permission to spend my funds on skirts with elastic waistbands. And I'll really have to maximize those thirty minutes of exercise every morning. Sheesh.

However, this is definitely the best time to be a missionary. The holidays are the best when you're serving the Lord. We get to join our voices with the angels in declaring glad tidings of great joy to everyone around us! My mind is all aflurry with images of the snow, the lights, the carols, and the thought of bringing someone more cheer than they've ever had at Christmas--what better time to invite people to come unto Christ and experience greater joy than they have ever had? I'm excited. I hope the Christmas spirit will soften people's hearts as well. As excited as I am, I remember well the long hours spent tracting in the snow, making puppy eyes at people only to have them shout, "Whadya stupid? Get outta the cold!" :) Makes for some good laughs, if nothing else.

Got a text from the MTC this week to deliver a Book of Mormon to Bill. During our appointment with him he said that he wants to "walk with God", and that after a conversation with a member friend and a visit to mormon.org, he felt that this was the place to learn how to do that. He said that, while looking at the website, he was overcome with a wonderful feeling of peace and joy that he's never experienced before. When we invited him to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, he said, "I will because you've asked me to, but I have no doubt that this is true." Near the end of the lesson I was about to invite him to baptism, but he beat me to it. "What do I need to do to prepare to be baptized?" he asked. Sister Bluth and I had to pick our jaws up off the floor to answer him. Our next appointment with him is Wednesday. I can't wait!!!

Forgot to mention last week that I met a certain Brother Geschwandtner my first Sunday here. Got to speak in German for a whole five minutes! And I found a small Buch Mormon in our apartment. Don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to place it, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to use my German skills, however limited.

Love you all!

Schwester Schwarz