Letter #69 - Week 72: "And That's It!"

February 3, 2020

Hola Everyone!

Transfer calls were Saturday, and Hermana Haws and I get to stay together in South Brooklyn for another transfer! The only change that is happening in our district is that Elder Rasmussen will be going up to Stamford and Elder Navarro will be receiving a new companion from Queens. It'll be fun to have most of the same missionaries around.

We had a crazy week 7 with lots of meetings, calls, appointments, and an exchange. Here are a couple of stories from the week:

Elder Navarro promised us a 15 minute Q&A with Elder Groberg (Sister Teuscher's dad) one week for meeting a goal with a district initiative at the begining of the transfer. We didn't even get close to making it to that goal, but we came to find out that Elder Navarro totally made it up that he could make that happen. Anyway, he apparently felt bad about it and he made it happen this week! So that was lots of fun and we got to get some good notes from him and his wife.

A week or two ago I thought about my time with Hermana Walker and Hermana Van Woerkom and how we got ice cream on January 31st in the freezing cold and it made me nostalgic, so I decided I wanted to make a tradition of it this year. The day before, I realized that we were going on exchanges the next day and I was a little sad, but determined, so for exercise that morning we jogged to Baskin Robbins and ate ice cream for breakfast before we had to leave for exchanges.

Exchanges with Sister Zornes and Sister Bradley was amazing! We were in Staten Island, so for those keeping track, I've now proselyted everywhere but Bermuda. My next task for activities across the mission is to jog in all 5 boroughs, so hopefully I'll get around to it next transfer.

We had a training about goals this week with the Teuschers, and that was uplifting. We got to talk about goals for our missions and beyond.

Also, everyone in South Brooklyn says "and that's it!" after telling a story or sharing an extended thought. It doesn't matter their race, religion, socioeconomic situation, language. Even if it's a random Hispanic talking in Spanish, they'll tag on an English "and that's it!" to the end. So, who even knows what that's about.

Alma 26:1-6

1 And now, these are the words of Ammon to his brethren, which say thus: My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?

2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?

3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

4 Behold, thousands of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God.

5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.

6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.