December 12, 2016

December 12, 2016

Hello everybody!

Wow. This week went by craaaazy fast. Time sorta just melted away. It was crazy. So lets do a daily rundown!! Yay

Tuesday: Lets start with a spiritual experience, shall we? My studies were really good on Tuesday. I was reading in the Isaiah chapters of 2 Nephi (you know, the place where we all get stuck, don't read for awhile, then go back to the beginning? Yeah) and here is the good part! I was actually understanding everything! It was awesome! I attribute this to the fact that I was marking a certain topic the whole time. In the MTC talk "The Character of Christ" (you can't watch it outside of the MTC. Sorry:)) Elder Bednar gives a suggestion. He says to go get a paperback copy of the Book of Mormon, choose a certain topic or Christlike attribute, and then mark it every time it comes up. Then when you finish that, start again with a different question/topic. By the time you're 70 you should have at least 50 (one for each year, but you can read faster if you want) on a shelf somewhere in your house. So that is what I've been doing! For this one, I have just been marking every time it says a name of Christ. (Only the name, because if I marked it with too much detail, every page would be completely red.) Those people who say we're not Christian have never read the Book of Mormon, because the Book of Mormon says a name of Christ literally every page. In fact, I don't think there isn't a page so far that has not said it. I really am getting such a love for the Book of Mormon. It is so amazing! Every time I read it I am just blown away by amazingness.

We had the last district meeting of the transfer on tuesday. Awwww tender. Actually, I wasn't super sad about it because most of our district is ASL missionaries who are definitely not being transferred, so it was like "See ya in a week" But it is very possible Sister Wuthrich will be transferred, so that is a bummer. 

Wednesday: Okay, I've decided my favorite days on the mission are Service Days. I love doing service so much. Our service days are Wednesday and Thursday, and it is awesome! This week we raised a cobblestone side walk. We had to bring like 20 wheelbarrows of sand up from the bottom of a big hill, so that was hard. But when you make it a race, it makes it way better! True-biz. Anyways, we worked really hard. It was awesome! Then we went to Institute to teach and interpret for Talvin. So Wednesday really isn't crazy. Oh I forgot! The best part of service is we always go get 2 Bros and drinks from 7-11 after! Best pizza in the world, hands down. I love it.

Thursday: Not much happened on thursday. We had service, then went to Buffalo Wild Wingz because it was Elder Garcia's last Service day. He goes home Monday, so that was sad. I like him. He is a fun guy, and a good missionary.

Friday: We went to a store called V.I.M to do Christmas shopping. This was kinda frustrating to me, because I thought we should've done this on our P-day, but we put it off, so we went today because we need time to send it home before Christmas. Then we went to go visit Karen and Byron, and Talvin was there too. We are really working on getting them sealed, so that is what we've been pushing. The only problem is that Karen works most Sundays, and its really hard for her to change her schedule. So that is frustrating for me, because Eternal Life totally trumps work in my opinion haha. But she has her agency. So we just need to be patient. It shall happen. We were at Karen and Byrons way to late,so we missed a lesson with Pedro. So that was frustrating. 

Another frustrating thing is that, because we have to skype most of our lessons, usually Elder Brown just does the lesson without me and Elder Larson. Or Elder Larson does it without me and Elder Brown. So I am getting frustrated with that because I want to participate, but I don't have oppurtunities, and Elder Brown is always telling me to practice whenever I can to learn the language, but then won't let me practice. So that is really really frustrating. So needless to say, Friday was not a very good day.

Saturday: Saturday was good. We had Zone Training Meeting, which was super spiritual. It was so good. Elder Garcia and Elder Hull gave their departing testimonies and stuff, so that was good. We also did a Mannequin Challenge (look at us being hip and trendy) And we had really really good workshops. So that was way awesome. Elder Garcia had us look at the story of Enos and the look back to our hardest wrestle with God, and then think of the good that came when it was over. It was awesome!

One frustrating thing. At Zone Training Meeting we had Accountability, which is when we look at our numbers from the transfer, and we were waaaaay below the belt on two of the three numbers. It was awful. So it kinda made me feel inadequate and stuff. So that was frustrating.

Sunday was Awesome! I was really really happy all day. I can't really explain why, but I was! It was so awesome. And Church was really good, and I talked with a bunch of the members, and I was just really happy! So that was awesome! Then after church (because we go to church in Manhattan) we went to go take a peek of the Rockefeller Christmas tree, so that was fun. The streets were sooooooooooo packed! It was insane! We basically had to crowd surf to get anywhere! But it was still fun. And it was snowing, and there was the christmas tree, so it was super magical! Also the Rockefeller center was lit up bright, so that was cool.

So yeah! that was my week! 

Language: The language is coming! I am getting a lot better at expressing my thoughts and saying what I want to say. Its hard because sometimes I literally just don't know how to say what I want to say. So that is frustrating. But I am getting a lot of encouragement from the members and other missionaries. So that is really good. Soon I'll be a pro! In a few months... but still!

Pitied is the hand that sins. Envied is the hand that paints. Honored is the hand that builds. Appreciated is the hand that helps. Respected is the hand that serves. Adored is the hand that saves--even the hand of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind."  -Thomas S. Monson (Hands, October 1972)

There is my quote for the day! It is a good one! Actually, that whole talk is really good. Go read it! Be the hands that build, not the hands that tear down. Remember the hands that were pierced and bled for us. I love you all. Have a good week. Be safe, and remember that Christ lives. Amen.

Elder Wright

"History has its eyes on you"

December 5, 2016  

Hey everyone! 

2 months ago to this day, I went into the MTC! What? This is my ninth week! What?! I feel like I've been gone forever! I wonder how its going to be when I am about to come home! Haha y'all prolly won't even recognize me. 

Wow. What a week! Lots and lots of crazy stuff happened. But also some of the coolest things happened too! So lets talk about them!

Exchanges: I went on my first missionary exchange! President wanted me to get out and experience real missionary work, cause my companions are lazy and sometimes we just don't go work, which is really frustrating. So President arranged the exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I was paired up with Elder Fowles. It was awesome! We went to try to contact some people in the projects, but that didn't work out. The lady we wanted to see wasn't home, so that's a bummer. And then we knocked on a door, and the lady looked through the peep hole. Yeah, we could totally tell she was there. So Elder Fowles calls out "Its the missionaries!" And all we here is "No... Hablo... Ingles." So Elder Fowles right off the bat says "Son los misionaros!" Silence.... Haha that's what you get for trying to say you don't know English. It was funny. So we left and went to go to the Tadros family's FHE. It was good! They are a less active family, and their son Mike is getting the Aaronic priesthood soon! So we talked about that and shared a video. It was really cool normally Mike doesn't even participate in the lessons, and really doesn't care. But this time he participated, and seemed to realize how important this all is. It was awesome. So we were walking home from that, and there was a lady walking by us, and we passed her, so it would be kinda awkward to stop and talk to her. Besides, it was dark, two strange men... Yeah, I'd be scared. But Elder Fowles stopped, turned to her, and said "Hi, we're missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I just wanted to give you this card." So he hand her the card, she looks down at it, looks up, and says "How can I learn more?" WHAT?!?!?! It was so awesome!!! Her name is Feteye (Feh-tee-yay), and she is from Turkey. She doesn't have a religion, but wants to learn more about our church. She is so nice and kind! She has been here for five months, and is going to school here. A lot of foreigners come here and are super nice, but then become Americanized and are no longer open to us. But she is still so very nice! So Elder Fowles and Elder Garcia are met with her on Saturday, so updates will be coming about her soon! Such a cool experience! We celebrated with Honey Buns and Mountain Dew. So awesome :)

Carols on Columbus: Okay, this was like one of my favorite things my entire mission. So the guy who normally interprets the concert is in Utah this weekend, so he asked the missionaries to interpret, and the North Missionaries were too busy, so Sister Provard and Elder Larson got to do it! So we had spend the whole day on friday and saturday there. So that was boring for the rest of us. But it was still good! The music is incredible! The temple is actually right across the street form Juliard... So the entire YSA ward in Manhattan is ridiculously talented. So the music was so so so good. But that wasn't the only good part!! Background info time!!!! Some of you may have heard me talk about the Hill Comoran Pageant (Honestly, I'd be surprised if you haven't heard me talk about it. I kinda never shut up about it. Aaaanyway.) So there are like 4 families on the island of Manhattan I know from the pageant, and I saw every single one of them at the concert!!!!! The Buckners, the Ortons, the Belnaps, the Pelos! I ran into President Buckner, a man who has inspired me greatly and cared for me in hard times, and that was such a blessing. I am so grateful to know so many great people. I can't even explain it. I felt so blessed. This weekend was incredible. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be there. It was amazing.

Language: Its coming. It is super hard though. I feel so pressured to learn this language, but I feel like I'm not learning as fast as I should be. But its helpful that everyone is patient with me. The members completely understand and are totally willing to help me, so I am really thankful.  I am doing what I can, and praying for the Gift of Tongues.

One thing I have learned on my mission: The hard times are always followed with blessings and better times.

And to finish up, here is a quote from Abraham Lincoln! (Again.)

"I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”  -Abraham Lincoln

I love you all! Have an awesome week! And remember to #LIGHTtheWORLD

Elder Wright

"History has its eyes on you"

December 2, 2016 Picture sent from NYC

Mom here:  I got a text at 9:00 in the morning with a picture from Sister Buckner and her letting me know about the day of the missionaries in NYC. Apparently the church members do a big concert (two times in a row to fit everyone in).  Anyway, later that evening we got this picture from Bro. Belnap with Joey in a crown of pageant friends.  I was so excited to see him encircled by so many loving people.  What a great day it must have been!!!  Very excited to hear about it on Monday from Elder Wright.

November 28, 2016

The subway is empty. 

Dart gun wars at the church.  Ouch.

The trees are taking over! Hehehehe it ate a brick! You see this often in NYC

Hello everyone!!! 

What a week. What a week. Lots of stuff happened. A crazy week. But first off, HAPPY THANKSGIVING 🦃 I hope it was good for everyone and everyone stuffed their faces full. Actually, I really wasn't looking forward to thanksgiving this week. As ASL Elders, we don't get fed. Ever. Elder Larson, in 16 months of being out, has had 1 dinner appointment in the ASL program. So that is fun. But hey! That way I stay slim! Still under 200! But also, I realized something. I really don't know how to cook. At all. #cerealeveryday However, thanksgiving wasn't too bad. We had a lot to do that day. We had a turkey bowl at 8 with some of the Elders and a couple of members and investigators. And one random kid joined us. It was fun! I got a lot of exercise, and scored two TDs. Go me. After Turkey Bowl, we went to the church for our Zone Activity! It was so fun! We had dart wars. PVC pipe makes really good dart blowers. We had a great time, and I got some nice welts on the face. It was good 😊. Then we had to rush back and get changed for our branch party. Okay. So Deaf parties are awesome!!! Every party lasts for like 6 hours. It's so cool, and they always have food. This one went from 12:45 to 6 (well, really 6:30 because Deaf people don't really leave on time.) I have to explain this a bit. Deaf people loooooove parties. "Why is that?" you may ask. Because everyone needs people to socialize with, someone to talk to. There are not a lot of Deaf people, so when they get together, it is a blessing, and they talk a lot! So it is really easy to get non members to a party. We literally call random people and invite them, and they are like, "sweeeet". All you have to say is that there is a party with free food. They will come. 😊 Unfortunately due to travel time we didn't get there til like 4. So that was a bummer. All the North Mission Elders were gone at that point. But it was still good, and we had a little bit of food!

Our Zone Leader wanted to make sure everyone had a place to go for dinner. So when he found out we didn't really have a place to go, he invited us to Mama Myers apartment. Oh my goodness. It was the best part of the day! She is the nicest lady ever!!!! She loves all missionaries, and always feeds them when they come by. She cooks really really good. It was awesome. Also, she just talked to me. It was really nice. She is incredible. I felt so blessed to be there. 

Friday was a crazy day, but at the same time ineffective. We went out to Far Rockaway to go see Jose Pagan. We knocked on the door... no answer. Ugh. Jose!!! I've been thinking about him a bit. I just wish he had the desire to come to church. But oh well. Then we walked a mile or two to go contact a referral. But alas, no answer. It's possible he moved. Or was just gone. Or the sisters gave us he wrong address. Luckily we have his VP number so we will try to get in contact with him and get the right address. 

Friday night we went and visited Karen and Byron. They are members in Brownsville Brooklyn. We are trying to get them to the temple to be sealed. But they haven't been coming to church lately because Karen works sundays and Byron isn't really motivated to come without her cause their two kids are craaaazy. But he and the two kids came on Sunday! Oh man. The two kids are my favorite!! They are CODA (children of Deaf adults) so they are soooo loud and kinda crazy. But their parents don't hear it, so they keep it up. But they are so funny. Byron Jr. is six, and Brett is 2. They are my favorite! So adorable. 

Yeah. Kinda a crazy week. Meetings, interviews with the President, traveling, lots of stuff. But I still feel like we're not working as hard as we could be. We have a lot of free time that I know we shouldn't have. So that's something I'm trying to fix. 

The language is getting better every day! I am starting to be able to follow conversation, and also make conversation. Interesting thing. When I talk with members, I sign better than when I'm talking with Elder Larson and Elder Brown. It's possible it's because I am intimidated or feel I need to be better when I am with my comps, rather than just signing and not worrying what they think. So I will keep working. So pray for me! 

I love you all. Remember to share the #LIGHTtheWORLD video, and do good to others! One of the quotes I heard this week really blessed my life. "No one can fall further than the Light of Christ shines"  -Elder Jeffery R. Holland. This means a lot to me. No matter how hard or how far you've fallen, you can't escape the light of Christ, and the blessings of the Atonement. He will always be there for you! That's a promise. 

Read this talk. What Is A Friend? by Marvin J. Ashton in the October 1972 conference. It is so good! And here is a quote from Abraham Lincoln, my all time favorite president! "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make them my friends?"

I love all of you! Have a great week!

Elder Wright

"History has its eyes on you"