from O Town to MoTown

The Fantau family--me and the littlest one talked Harry Potter.

Goodbye Babby and Company.

Coty and Shontel escorting us to our vehicle.

NOTE FROM MOM: CHECK THE PREVIOUS POST FOR ADDITIONAL PICTURES FROM THIS WEEK.

Dearest Family!

This week we drove around A LOT! On Monday we went to Hoboken to go to Carlos Bakery (where the Cake Boss is filmed). There was an hour long line, but it was fun to talk with the other sisters. The people in line didn't seem interested in learning about the Gospel. 

Then Tuesday we exchanged and I went to Jersey City! Which is across from New Ywork City! SO in the morning we got to run around and see the skyline, and breathe in nice polluted airs. Much different from the woodsy airs in Fardale. We had a grundle of studies, because I was with Spanish speaking sisters, and they have to do longer studies to practice the language. And we saw an elderly lady from Peru, who was quite the talker, but very sweet. Then two girls from Chile who got baptized this saturday. Then a lady who's in the Bayonne English branch, who isn't sure if she believes in God. She just moved here and thought she'd check out the Church after a decade of not coming. We talked about Faith and how to exercise it. 

Then we taught an Ecuadorian member family who are waiting for their daughter's mission call. This family, the Gracias, were so sweet. They made us ceviche (a cold seafood and tomato and pepper salad, quite tasty) and rice. It was lovely. The daughter Penelope, who should get her call in the next couple of weeks, said that when she was interviewed by her Stake President, he saw that she had written she can't ride a bike. He told her that she should probably learn how to before she leaves. So the next day she found a friend with a bike and spent the whole day learning until she could at least go in a straight line. She is continuing to practice. She said, "If the Stake President says I need to learn to ride a bike, I better do it!" And she has a goal to give out one pass-along card every day. I'll note that she's very shy, but she loves the Gospel and knows it's the most important thing in her life, so she goes out of her comfort zone and talks to people on the street, on the bus etc. She's gonna be an awesome missionary. Then we did a role play with her sister, who wants to share the Book of Mormon with someone. She gave the most sincere testimony of the Book of Mormon and how it has blessed her life, and how much she loves that Book, and gave one to me. I was so amazed at this family, so genuine! I loved being in the city. There were no end to the people we could stop and talk with. It was neat.

At Ellis Island this week I helped two Italian ladies, who were quite a gas! They had all the info they needed and were able to find their person, and were so excited! I love it when they get excited! And then I helped a Greek lady who found her family pretty quickly. She was also excited, and I think she was close to crying because her voice got choked up. I so wish we could teach the people there. There is just so much of the Spirit there when people do their family history and they're so tender hearted. Not everyone mind you. I've helped my fair share of disgruntled folks. But still, I love it. And the top ethnicity of the visitors of the day was Australian.

Finally, I found out I'm being transferred after nine months of Fardale. We had a good run, and the work here will continue as Sister Marley trains a new sister from California! I'm excited to meet her! So I said my goodbyes to the ward; Babby, Coty, Peanut, and Shontel (who's bathroom caught fire! Not their whole house thank goodness, but they have been evacuated to the La Quinta for the time being); Marianne and Bob (she was quite distraught, but hopefully she'll be ok); Banana; and Bernice (I love that lady so much, I know she doesn't remember anything we attempt to teach, but she's so great. We took her out for a stroll around her nursing home, and unfortunately the path ends at the dumpster. Stinky).

And lastly, guess who got comfirmed the last Sunday I'm in this ward? Sara! She visited her family again, and realized they would never support this decision she made. She  knows this makes her happy, and she wants to have her future family feel this happy too. So she decided to go ahead and receive the Holy Ghost!

I love you guys, and I'll tell you where I've ended up next week!

sister mistipher