...And then sometimes you have the BEST WEEK EVER.

So... it was a pretty fantastic week.

Thursday I went on a split into my old area with Sister Toronto, and it was awesome. She is great.  And a fantastic missionary.  Are we surprised?  No.  Not in the least. 

Also, we ate mooncakes together, because it was Mid-autumn festival.  We found some pineapple ones that were far superior to lotus paste.

And then there was Stake Conference, which was just great.  (Here's the view from our Relief Society president's rooftop.)

Something I learned this week about New Yorkers: they all love to talk about the city they live in, and to talk about it really, really fast.  Faster than any translator would ever want them to.  I know, because I was sitting right next to her as she did it.  (Sister Khong did an admirable job, by the way.  But we are still requesting the speakers give their talks to us beforehand next time.)

Perhaps the best part of the past week, however, is the Mission Conference we had on Monday with Elder Bruce A. Carlson of the First Quorum of the Seventy.  What an incredible day!  He talked with us about the difference between being justified (having stopped sinning and repented), and being consecrated (actively working to do exactly what the Lord wants us to, or Alma 53:20-21).  Other topics for the day included what it means to be successful (even though many of His converts fell away, I think we can all agree the Savior was successful, right? He opened His mouth and followed the Father to do what was required of Him), how to "be of good cheer" in the midst of a storm, and what it means to be a leader.

All in all, it was a great day.  And a fantastic week.

Being a missionary is the best.

Love,

Sister Beer

BONUS:

So our P-day activity today was making pretzels for our Sundae Sunday night this week. This is living proof that cooking adventures can indeed happen on a mission.

Next step: dipping potato chips in chocolate. :)

Love you!

Sister Caitlin Beer

Missionaries... on Facebook?!?

Yeah, you read that right.  I am officially approved as an online proselyting missionary.  That means I can use Facebook, email, Skype, and other technology as proselyting tools.  That means that you all will soon see me posting almost daily to my Facebook account about gospel subjects and other fun, missionary things.  This is an incredible step forward in missionary work, and we are one of the first missions that has been approved for online work.  There are some rules, and I figured I should let you all know some of them.

1.  Facebook and other internet based sites (like Skype) are to be used as proselyting tools, not as social mechanisms.  I still won't be able to respond to messages, posts, and such until I am no longer a set apart missionary.  But I still love you, I promise.

2.  My Facebook account must be missionary appropriate, which means removing or hiding any non-missionary appropriate pictures, posts, etc., so if something that you put on my timeline disappears, it's not because I don't love you, it's because I'm trying to help spread the gospel.  I promise.

3.  You can still communicate with me through email or through regular old snail mail.  It is still true that missionaries love to get mail.  Time and new technology have not changed that fact.

That's pretty much it.  We live in exciting times, my friends.  Missionaries on Facebook... who ever thought that would happen?

There are other big changes coming to happy Chinatown family, including the introduction of what is called the Model District, a program that lowers area boundaries and allows missionaries to work as a unit, not solely as separate companionships.  We are the third district in the mission to start this new program, and I think it makes a lot of sense in a place like Chinatown where there are so many missionaries in one ward.  This allows us to pool our resources teaching investigators and members, as well as helps us to improve our unity as a missionary force with ourselves and with ward leadership.  A huge focus of the Model District is doing exactly what the ward, specifically the Bishop, asks us to. And that is exactly what we are doing.  Big changes are coming to Chinatown, I can feel it.

Amidst all of this, Sister Khong and I continue to go on splits, teach lessons, and find people wherever we can.  It is times like these that I think about what an awesome opportunity it is to serve a mission, especially where I am and when I am.  Recently I have reflected on my life and noticed very clearly instances where the Lord has provided experiences that would help to prepare me for what I am doing now.  Sister Hinckley once said that "Everything you are doing now is preparing you for something else."  That is incredibly true.  I have seen it in my life, and I continue to see it as the Lord gives me new challenges and blessings here in the mission field.  It almost makes me wonder what he is preparing me for next!  But we'll let that adventure come when it will.  For now, missionary work.

I love you all!  Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Beer

I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can...

If there was a book that described my life right now, it's probably The Little Engine that Could.  This week has been crazy, and it's only through moments of "Okay, I think I can get through this next day, hour, minute" that it has been possible to get as much done as we have.

It has been awesome.

Last Friday we had a Mission Leadership Council where President Morgan talked about ministering to the people we work with.  Our mission has a goal right now of being consecrated to the Lord, and connected to that goal is another one, for every missionary companionship in the New York, New York North mission to bring someone into the Church through baptism in the month of September.  We set this goal back in August, and September has now arrived.  As a result, President has challenged us as leaders to take a more invested approach to working with all of our people.  (In Sister Khong and my case, that is all of the sisters on the island of Manhattan.)  For this week that meant meeting with each of them face to face and talking about the areas they are working in, along with seeing what we need to do to help them and their investigators progress.

As we have met with each companionship of sisters (nine in total) we have seen miracles that have been happening in each of their areas.  People are popping out of nowhere who want to be taught and learn about Christ.  And not just any people, really, really prepared people, who are ready to make a covenant with God by being baptized.  I am amazed at how much Heavenly Father is blessing us for being consecrated and focused on this work!

Sister Khong and I do have someone we are helping prepare for baptism.  She is a lovely old Hakkanese woman who doesn't really speak any Mandarin and communicates with Sister Khong in Cantonese.  It's been fun teaching her.  I have actually learned a little more Cantonese, which is great for freaking people out when contacting. :)  That language is ridiculous.  This woman's name is Sister Liu, and she was raised on a farm in China so she can't read.  That makes reading the Book of Mormon rather difficult, and since there is no Cantonese recording of the book we got permission to record it with some members of our ward.  It's been a crazy project, and we have about half of it done now, which is awesome.  We taught Sister Liu to use a CD player this week, too, so now she can listen to it on her own.

Through all of this, the scripture Jacob 4:6-7 has been on my mind again and again.  It talks about the faith that is given to us by learning about the Lord through the scriptures, but then reminds us that it is only through the grace of Christ that we are able to see and experience these miracles.  The weakness that we experience by being people is normal and actually necessary to our eternal growth, because it helps us remember who it is we rely on for salvation.  It is one of my favorite doctrines, now.

I invite anyone who reads this letter to remember our mission in your prayers.  Your added faith will bring blessings to the people living in New York in ways you cannot even imagine!

With love,

Sister Beer

And the winner is...Chinatown!

Transfers have come and gone, and I am still in my beloved Chinatown.  I switched areas and companions, and Sister Khong and I have been reunited!  By the end of this cycle, I will have been in Chinatown for a full year, serving in all three of the Sisters' areas here.  Pretty cool stuff.

I'm still serving as a Sister Training Leader, and will be over the now 10 (including Sister Khong and me) companionships in Manhattan.  It is going to be a party.  A really tiring, awesome party.

One sad bit of news: Elder Mok, after two years of service, has left us to return to Hong Kong.  I can't really imagine Chinatown without him.  As always, though, we will adjust soon to our new circumstances and the work will go on.  That's kind of how life is.

On the bright side, the incredible Sister Toronto has now joined our motley crew of missionaries!  She is pretty fantastic.  Not only is she a fellow BYU theatre major, but her experience living in Beijing for 13 years makes her an invaluable addition to our zone.  I'm so happy she is here!!

It's hard to leave my old area.  Even though I know that Sister Woo and Sister Toronto (oh yeah, that companionship is happening :] ) are going to do great there, I have really grown to love the people I served.  Sister Woo has been a wonderful companion.  I will always remember how much she supported and taught me in the two cycles we worked together.

But, as they say, onward and upward!  Life goes on, missionary work stands to be done, and the Lord has a plan, so we really just have to trust Him.  As Sister Elaine S Dalton reminds us, the Lord doesn't really like us to be in comfort zones, and knows how to help us to grow to be the people He needs us to be. (See http://www.lds.org/new-era/2012/03/how-to-dare-great-things?lang=eng)

I love you all so much.  Thank you for continued letters and prayers, as well as a willingness to serve in your own areas.  You are wonderful!

Love,
Sister Beer

This is our zone the night before transfers.  I'm going to miss Elder Mok a lot.

The Chinatown Sisters for this cycle!  Sister Toronto is the one right in the middle.

Gardening in the Heights, among other things

I have never enjoyed gardening so much in my life. Tuesday morning I was on a split in Inwood (the upper end of Manhattan, near Washington Heights) with the incredible Sister Barker and we did service in a community garden in the rain.  I haven't been that dirty in a long time, and it is decided that if you are going to garden, do it in the rain.  It's much more enjoyable than in 85 degree sunshine.  It was great to work with the Spanish district up in the Heights as well.  They have some awesome missionaries, including a former Bio 100 student of mine from BYU.

This week was eventful for the Chinatown ward.  On Sunday three wonderful people were baptized, and made covenants to serve and love the Lord.  Despite a really out of tune piano, the service was beautiful and everyone was so happy the whole day.  President and Sister Morgan came along with Elder Foley and Wisher (the Assistants to the President).  President gave a wonderful talk about what it means to be baptized and the commitment these people were making.  It was very inspiring.  Elder Foley had taught one of the women there, and she asked if he would be able to baptize her, which was awesome.  It was great to see them and to see all of the other members and investigator talking afterwards.  One of the best parts of the day was after the service was over, seeing the ward members, missionaries, and investigators all talking with each other.  Everyone seemed so happy to be there and no one was left out.  It was one of the best days of my mission.

I'm just so grateful that we get to be a part of these people's lives, even if just for a moment.  As missionaries, we get to feel just a little part of the incredible love Heavenly Father has for His children, and act in His place as we teach them about His gospel.  What a blessing!

I love all of you!  We'll see what happens next week with transfers... it should be exciting!

Love,

Sister Beer

Consistency is all I ask!

If you don't recognize that quote... I'll tell you after my mission.  Or you can look it up yourself. :)

The weather here has been BEAUTIFUL recently.  After the incredible heat of July, August has been awesome.  I even have been wearing some of my lighter cardigans because it has been slightly cool.  That being said, it's still in the 70s.  It just feels cooler than the 90s, where it was before.

Sister Woo and I are working on consistency with our less actives right now.  For a long time, we have just been meeting with them when they have time, or when we think to call them, but we have decided that we want to introduce the idea of regular meetings, whether over the phone or in person, with our people.  I firmly believe that regular exposure to elements of the gospel will produce an increased desire to have those teachings as a part of our lives.  That has happened with multiple less actives I have worked with over the course of my mission, and I hope that it will work with more.  While it is true that some people need a little bit of time to "come to [themselves]," as the parable of the prodigal son states, we have to be ready when that moment arrives.  Committing many of our less actives to bi-weekly or monthly meetings is a way that I think will help them to get to the point where they have a desire to put the Lord first, not just high on the list.  Or at least, that's what I'm praying for.  Feel free to pray with me on that.

I take comfort in the fact that the Lord "does not work in darkness," and that He invites ALL people to come unto Him (see 2 Nephi 26:23-25, 27).  As a missionary and as a member of His church, I get to be a part of his work.  We also do not have to work in darkness, and if we do, we are actually doing it contrary to how the Lord wants us to.  I think one of the reasons there has been such a huge emphasis on missionary work in the Church recently is because we have to learn this principle.  It's a tough lesson, but a great one once we get it, because it's then that we are able to experience the joy the Lord talks about in D&C 18:15-16.

I love you all, and hope you are having an awesome week!

Sister Beer

Splits and meetings and splits and meetings and splits and meetings and.....

Starting this cycle we have eight sister companionships in Manhattan, which means that we average about two splits a week.  Add onto that the zone conference, leadership council, and other meetings we have and it makes for a busy next few weeks.  We'll see how much time Sister Woo and I have to breathe.

All that being said, it beats having an empty schedule.  Never a dull moment as a Manhattan missionary.

Actually, I really love splits.  It is sometimes difficult to be away from my companion as long as I have to be, but there is so much learning that happens on exchanges and I really enjoy getting to know all the sisters here in the city.  We have some awesome people here, and they all have incredible stories of how they got on a mission, and why they have decided to stay.

That has been something I have been thinking about recently, actually.  So many people talk about why they come on missions.  What interests me at this point is what keeps people serving.  Why do we continue to serve, even when it is difficult?  This isn't restricted to missionary work, it's encompasses any calling or service within the Church, or really any responsibility that we have in life.  What keeps us going?  For me, I think the answer lies in the blessings that I see in my life and the lives of others.  Too many good things happen as a result of doing what the Lord asks.  And to add on to that, every time a good thing happens I realize even more how much the Lord cares and how much more I want to serve Him in return.  It's an awesome cycle.

I would love to hear what you all have to think about the subject.  What keeps you going?

You are an incredible group of people.  Thanks for your love and support as we serve!

Love,

Sister Beer

Aaaaaand:

Finally some pictures!

Sister Woo and me in front of Yankee's Stadium at the ball game.  Super fun, by the way.

 

The subway is sending subliminal messages!  The coolest thing about this picture is that about two weeks later I sat down on the subway, looked up, and saw this EXACT seat.  New York dream number 12 of being on the same subway car twice fulfilled, right there.

I got a haircut!  It's pretty short, now.  I cut off about 7 inches, so I have a lot less hair now.

We went to The Art of the Brick exhibit at the Discovery museum today, and it was super fun.  There were a whole bunch of pieces of artwork that were all made entirely out of Legos!  Sister Woo, Brother Chen and I enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.