Hello dearest family and friends!
The days are long but the weeks are fast! It seems like I just
emailed you a day or two ago. This last week has been really great! The
work is still slowly pushing forward, but the spiritual experiences I've
had this week have been profound =)
Let's go back to last Thursday. We tract (door knocking) in a
building that was mostly Chinese people who either didn't speak English
or who weren't interested. The very last door we went to in that
building a cute little couple answered the door. I said, "do you speak
english?" they both nodded their heads no. I said and motioned that I
wanted to give them a card (a pass along card with an offer for a
finding faith in christ dvd). The next day we received a call from a man
named Pauel. We figured he was in that building somewhere. He wanted
the dvd and we were the ones who would deliver it. When we returned and
got in touch with him it was the old man who I didn't think knew
English. He only knew a little bit, he mostly spoke Vietnamese. It was
so cool for me to see that we never know who the Lord is preparing.
Nothing more there for now, but it reminded me that our message is for
everyone. We should share it with everyone and those who are ready will
respond.
On Friday we did a Blitz in the Zone Leaders area. A blitz is when
all the missionaries in the zone come together and help generate
contacts and potentially people for the missionaries in that area to
teach. Each week it's in a different area for a specific
companionship. This weeks was the most fun I've ever had with it. We
were on a very busy people traffic area. It's on Fordom and Webster. We
set up on all four corners of the intersection. On two of the sides we
had signs (cool official church ones) and mini tables that had
pamphlets and Book of Mormon. I enjoyed this blitz because of all the
people we were able to talk to. Plus the weather was nice and if people
weren't interested they could move on and two seconds later we could be
conversing with someone who is interested. Also, it was fun to be out
working side by side with all our other friends in the zone.
Saturday we had a lesson with a man from Guatemala. Anyway he's a
great guy. During the lesson I was really able to analyze and start
improving my teaching skills. Furthermore, there was a part in the
lesson where I was telling about Joseph Smith and the restoration-the
vision he had. After I told this experience I asked him how he felt.
When we were discussing his thoughts and when I connected it back to my
testimony I felt the spirit so strong! It was an amazing experience.
Sunday Sister Tu'akalau and I decided to fast. We fasted for our
investigators we are currently working with. I also fasted for the work
and for guidence. I felt I needed the guidance regarding our goals as
missionaries. I had a powerful experience with fasting on Sunday. It
was as if everything that was said that day was direct revelation to
me. I'll share what I learned on Sunday, but before I tell that
(because it's long lol) I'll tell about the rest of the week.
Monday Sister T. and I tracted a building where one of our members
lives and we found a few potentials! And talked to a few characters as
well ;)
I was so tired after wards because there were 12 floors we tract! hah Anyways that's part of the work =D
Yesterday we got juked (stood up) twice and then taught two other
lessons. In between getting juked and our actual lesson Sister T. and I
split some appetizers at Applebees lol.
Today we are going to have a zone unity activity and play kickball! We're going to the field in front of Yankee Stadium.
Tomorrow is the Sisters Lunch In! All the Sister missionaries in
the New York New York North Mission get to come together at the mission
home to socialize, have lunch, and be spiritually uplifted! I'm pretty
sure it happens like every 6 months. No matter, I am excited :)
Then on Sunday Sister T, Sister Denison (the older missionary
couple in our ward), and I are going to be speaking in Sacrament meeting
about missionary work and how the members can play a bigger role. So
if any of you are going to be in the Bronx this weekend make sure to
check out the Kingsbridge 2nd ward! haha
Ok on to what I learned and felt at church
Over all conclusion
"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass."
The butterfly effect-shows the science of how small and simple things do make a difference.
We all interact- Love people and keep your covenants.
The rest of Alma chapter 37 talks about how the Lord's small ways of doing things confuses people who think they know better.
We need to arise and shine forth
There is a specific work that God needs us for that only we can do.
The Lord needs all of our help in his kingdom. It doesn't matter how long we've been working in the vineyard
(in relation to life long members or recent converts) There are things only I can do.
Be a reliable instrument in the Lord's hand, no matter how simple or complex the task.
The best way for us to shine our light and be a butterfly effect for good:
-Keep the commandments
-Live with high standards
-Be an example to the world
Specific details of the church service that helped me reach that conclusion.
First I'll go over some of the pieces that impacted what I learned and then I'll concluded with how it affected me.
-The Relief Society president who had just been released talked
about a talk by Elder Uchtdorf that he shared about a pen that he had as
a pilot. The pen could click between different colors and it never
failed him. He used that pen for everything-big and small. The pen
never told him what to write or decided it knew better than him, He
likened that pen to being an instrument in the Lord's hand. Are we
reliable pens in the Lord's hand? Do we allow him to write what he
desires? Do we accept whatever he needs us to do-Big or small?
She talked about how she knew she wouldn't be in this ward long,
but when she got the call as Relief Society president she wanted to help
do the Lord's work.
-Elder Denison (the husband to the woman speaking with Sis. T. and I)
Shared an incredible talk! I was so impressed by it. I also knew my Dad would Love it!
He started by saying how we are all unique. There are things we
were brought to the earth that only we can do. Furthermore, the way we
live is an example and we affect billions of lives. Thus we need to be a
light to the world. "Arise and shine forth, that thy light may bee a
standard for the nations."
He referenced a hypothesis by Edward Lorenz in 1963. He presented
it to the New York Academy of Science. This hypothesis was that a
butterfly could flap its wings and set molecules of air in motion which
would move more molecules of air eventually capable of starting a
hurricane on the other side of the planet.
The Science Academy literally laughed out loud. They thought it was
ridiculous, but fascinating. Because of the ideas charm and
intrigue...the so called Butterfly Effect became a staple of science
fiction.
More than thirty years later physic professors working in colleges
and universities worldwide came to the conclusion that it was accurate
and viable. It became known as "The law of sensitive Dependance Upon
Initial Conditions."
Science has shown the Butterfly Effect to engage with the first movement of any form of matter, including people.
The examples he gave were so profound to me. I asked for a copy of
his talk. So I'll type the specific examples that he gave so you can see
how people really do impact one another.
Friday April 2, 2004
ABC News honored a man who at the time was 91 years old as Person of the Week.
Norman Borlaug.
In early 1940s he hybridized high yield disease resistant corn and wheat for arid climates.
From the dust bowl of Western Africa to our own desert Southwest to Siberia across Europe and Asia.
His specific seed product flourished and regenerated where no seed had ever thrived before.
Through the years it has been calculated that Norman Borlaug's work saved from famine more than two billion lives.
But perhaps the person of the week really was not Norman but Henry Wallace.
He was vice President to Franklin Roosevelt
Wallace was a former Sectary of Agriculture
He used his power to create a station in New Mexico whose sole purpose was to hybridize corn and wheat for arid climates
He hired a young man named Norman Borlaug to run it.
Norman won the Nobel Peace Prize and Presidential Metal of Freedom.
Or should it have been Henry Wallace for recognizing Norman's light?
But then maybe it should have been George Washington Carve who was person of the week.
He was known for the Peanut
When Carver was 19 years old and a student at Iowa State he had a
professor who on Saturday would allow his 6 year old son to go on
botanical expeditions with the brilliant student.
The student was George Washington Carver who took the young boy and instilled in him a love for plants.
It was Carver who taught the young boy Henry Wallace and pointed him in a specific direction in agiculture.
George Washington Carver shined his light with the peanut.
There are currently 266 things he developed from the peanut that we
still use today. He also shined his light with the sweet potato. There
are 88 things we use from the sweet potato today.
Or maybe it should have been a farmer from Diamond Missouri who was
Person of the Week. Moses and his wife Susan lived in a slave state
but didn't believe in slavery. This was a problem for the Quantrill's
Raiders. (He described the Raiders but I forgot exactly-so look it up if
you don't know)
One a cold January night they came to their farm, burned the barn,
shot several people, and dragged off a woman named Mary Washington who
refused to let go of her infant son.
Mary was Susan's best friend. Mary was shot and died and the
Quantrill's Raiders kidnapped the baby. Moses knew he needed to get the
baby back. He arranged to meet with the outlaws and in the middle of
the night he met four of the Raiders. Flour sacks over their heads, Mose
traded the only horse he had for the baby which they threw him in a
dirty burlap sack. The baby was almost dead but Mose held him close to
his chest to keep him warm. Walking home that night he sang to the baby
and promised to raise him as his very own son.
Who became George Washington Carver.
Maybe it was the Farmer from Missouri that saved two billion people.
Let's continue to another example.
A poor Scottish farmer was working one day trying to make a living
for his family. He heard a cry for help coming from the bog and found
Mired to the waist in black muck was a terrified boy
Farmer Fleming saved the lad from a terrifying death.
The next day a fancy carriage pulled up and an elegantly dressed
nobleman stepped out and said he was the father of the boy he had saved.
He said I want to repay you for saving my son. The farmer said it wasn't necessary.
The farmers son stepped out from the house.
The nobleman said let me give him the level of education my own son will have.
Farmer Fleming's son attended St. Marys Hospital Medical School in London.
He became known around the world as Sir Alexander Fleming the discover of Penicillin.
But that's not the end of the story.
Years after the same nobleman's son who was saved in the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life?
Penicillin.
The nobleman's name is Lord Randolph Churchill and his son is Sir Winston Churchill.
The best way for us to shine our light and be a butterfly effect for good:
-Keep the commandments
-Live with high standards
-Be an example to the world
Last contributing point is when we studied the talk The Laborers in the Vineyard in Relief Society Sister Denison made a cool point, we could think of the workers as members of the church. Some have been working for a long time. Others have just come, but we should not compare ourselves to the others. We are all here to do the Lord's work. The Lord has called us at specific times to do a specific job that only we can do.
I Love all of you and hope you see the goodness of God in every single day.
Turn out and do as the Savior would do.
Peace and Blessings!
Peace and Blessin's!
Sister Emily Johnson
Last contributing point is when we studied the talk The Laborers in the Vineyard in Relief Society Sister Denison made a cool point, we could think of the workers as members of the church. Some have been working for a long time. Others have just come, but we should not compare ourselves to the others. We are all here to do the Lord's work. The Lord has called us at specific times to do a specific job that only we can do.
I Love all of you and hope you see the goodness of God in every single day.
Turn out and do as the Savior would do.
Peace and Blessings!
Peace and Blessin's!
Sister Emily Johnson
