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Sunday, November 27, 2016

One Week Down


I can't decide if it feels like this week has gone by quickly or if this week felt like approximately five years BUT either way, it's going well and I am adjusting and learning how to be a missionary here in the city.

New York is sooo busy and we are always on the go. I go to bed exhausted but everyone says that's a good thing, so okay. ha! I have met the nicest and most interesting people.
It was snowing here a little bit on Monday so its nice and cold and windy here now, so that makes for a good time walking all over but its fun.

One of our investigators committed to be baptized on December 17 so that's exciting BUT he was MSA aged so we passed him off to the Elders, bummer. But hopefully he follows through!!
  This transfer, we are focusing on Christ's love. By learning to love others just as Christ would. So look up some scriptures and study about the love Jesus Christ showed to and had for the people and still for us today! It'll make you happy :) 2 Nephi 26:30 is a good one.

On Sunday the ward did a Come and See Sunday, so it was just Sacrament meeting and everyone was encouraged to bring friends or people to come see what our church is like then there was food and mingling after. 3 of our investigators came so they got to meet members of the ward! I also got to meet a lot of the members and they are all so nice and willing to help with missionary work, its seriously the greatest!!

Sorry, I feel like whenever I go to write these I just go brain dead and can't remember anything but I am liking it and learning lots :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I love and miss you all!
xoxo
Sister Walecki
 

We cleaned an apartment and this was the view from there.

I saw these at Trader Joes and thought of my cousin Callie so I
had to take a picture.

As a district, we stood on the sidewalk outside of the church. Handed
out papers for people to write what they are grateful for and post
them on some boards.
They call these Bronx Carts and we take it on pdays when we go
grocery shopping so we don't have to carry all the bags.
Super glamorous!!

Just another picture of the city from an apartment.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

New York City

I have officially made it to New York!! I am serving in Manhattan in the Upper West Side. Our ward meets in the chapel above the temple so that's pretty cool! I am just adjusting to the subways, buses, and the craziness of the city but I'm coming to love it :)

Getting from the mission home to my area yesterday was quite the adventure because it was POURING rain the entire time. My suitcases were soaked but luckily only a couple things inside got wet! So that was a blessing for sure.

We met with a man last night, his name is Ali. Apparently he always brings the sisters a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and last night was no different! haha. Teaching real people is a little different than the MTC, but different in the best way! The spirit is so real, the people I've met are so nice! By next week I'll have more to write, but I don't have a ton of time today.

My companion and trainer is Sister Muhlestein. She is also from Utah and so so so nice!! Again, amazing companion and that makes everything so much better and easier! She is teaching me all the ways like how to be a missionary in the real world and how to live and stay focused in New York, there are a loooot of distractions here! I'm learning my way around and seeing all the blessings. I know this is where I need to be right now and I am excited to figure out why! I have loved meeting and talking to all the people. Being a missionary is seriously the best!

I know that this gospel brings joy and  is the reason for the happiness I feel everyday and I'm so excited to be able to share that with people here!

I'll try to respond to your emails- it might not be until  next week. But I miss you all!! Choose the right & remember God loves you! Have a good week :)

xoxo
Sister Walecki




                                                                                   




Because I miss Sister West a whole lot!!

we

We only got ice cream once, but when you spend WAY too much for an ice cream cone,
you gotta get different backgrounds, ya know?


                       Coming out of the subway into Harlem where our apartment is. It is still sooo                                                      pretty and looks like fall here.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Final week at the MTC


I can't believe another week has flown by and it's already pday again!

On Sunday Sister West and I were assigned to be the Sister Training Leaders for our zone. It has been the GREATEST EVER. We just get to take care of all the sisters in our zone and love them and help them to be happy and enjoy the MTC. It is the best!!

On Sunday night the devotional speaker was Jenny Oaks Baker, she shared stories and in between she and her family would perform songs. It was incredible. The Tuesday evening devotional was the primary general president, Sister Jones. She and her husband spoke about missionary work, obviously ha. And he said we only have 18 months to serve the Lord 24/7 so make the most of it. Such a good reminder! The MTC is way fun because with all the speakers that come, it feels like we get General Conference every week! 

On Wednesday we got to be hosts for the new missionaries coming in. I loved being able to be the person there at the curb to welcome to the MTC and take them from their families. It was super fun and brought back lots of memories from 2 weeks ago. Going on a mission was hands down the best decision I've made. I can't wait to get to New York and actually teach real people now!!

After a really long day a few days ago, Sister West and I were walking back to our room for bed but decided to just stop by a patch of grass and lay down for a minute. Haha it was chilly outside but we just laid on the grass in silence and looked at the stars. I love when we just slow down for a minute and think. And the simple reminders of how blessed we are with everything that we have. Through Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we have the strength to do hard things and get through the hard times in life. I'm SO grateful for that knowledge!! So just remember this week to slow down a bit and remember how blessed we are! Along with that in class we read Matthew 26, you should read it. After reading that, our teacher shared that Christ suffered for us so we don't have to have a bad day. What a HUGE blessing that is! I love being a missionary and I love you all!!
xoxo
Sister Walecki
Our whole zone on Sunday

We were pretty pumped about our new assignment
as Sister Training Leaders.

Our investigator, Jen. she committed to baptism but we think she was already a member..?
haha but she had lunch with us and we just love her a lot!!

Just a little district selfie

We packed matching coats, so that's pretty fun

New Missionary Host... So fun!!

Alive & Thriving at the MTC

YOU GUYS. The MTC is ahhhmazing. I love it here. I'm not really sure how to go about writing this because it's basically impossible to put into words the things I've learned and the ways I've been able to grow in just the past 8 days here at the MTC but its been INCREDIBLE. My testimony has grown x1000 in just one week and the spirit here is the best. I love being a missionary, & in all the ways I never thought or knew I would. I'm basically always exhausted and my mind is usually fuzzy, especially in the mornings...someone shared 1 Nephi 1:7 and that's basically how I feel every time we get to go back to our rooms for bed every night. But overall the days fly by and I can't believe I've already been here over a week!! If time continues going this fast, I'll be home in no time! 
My companion is Sister West, she is seriously THE cutest. I love her. We just clicked the first day and its just been the greatest. Heavenly Father is breaking me in easy on the whole 24/7 companion thing because I don't mind it one bit! BUT she is serving in Virginia so that's basically the worst news ever. She's so sweet and always is positive, its just what I need, especially on the long exhausting days. She also likes to workout every day so exercise is basically me dying trying to keep up with her and then being sore for days but gotta work off all those chocolate chip cookies the cafeteria serves, ya know?
My days consist of hours and hours in a classroom, studying, learning how to teach, and then actually teaching! Luckily our teachers are the best and make it fun and enjoyable to be there! We have one teacher, Sister Mitchell that seriously brings me to tears every.single.time she has an inspired comment to share, she always knows exactly what it is I need to hear. So you can tell Colby my tally marks for the number of times I've cried is more than 0...haha and I'm not even in New York yet. how embarrassing.
Tuesday night we had a devotional. There was a rumor it was going to be an apostle, but no one actually knew for sure. When the devotional was about to start, in walks President Russell M. Nelson. Everyone stood as he entered and the spirit just filled the room. Listening to he and his wife speak to us was amazing. And getting to sing Praise to the Man in a choir of 1,000+ missionaries with an apostle there was possibly my favorite thing ever..even if singing is quite possibly the last thing I should be doing, ever hahah.

Everyone always says, "There is no growing in a comfort zone and there is no comfort in a growing zone." and the MTC is definitely a growing zone for me but its so so good.
I miss and love you all a whole lot!!
and since I know you just came for the pictures, I can provide...
xoxo
Sister Walecki












The sisters in my District. Sister Goulding, Sister Bitner, and Sister West

Packing that Kneaders pumpkin bread was the best idea ever. Saved us during the long hours of studying and cafeteria food.
Part of our District
They put up Christmas lights on some of the trees and I LOVED it, but we asked some Elders to take our picture for us,
and when you ask the Elders to do something like take you picture...sometime this is what you get haha
Brown paper bag lunches, its the little things that get you excited here.

All three of the sisters in my District are going to Virginia :(


Our District Temple walk on Sunday!


I LOVE and feel so lucky putting this on every morning!!

Halloween felt like every other day, until evening time
there was a knock at the door & this just delivering some candy.



We Love Jesus