Pics 5-2010

What a week!

This has been one of the best and amazing weeks of my mission however I found out on Saturday night that I am being transferred. :( It was unexpected. Hermana Gonzalez and I have only been together for 6 weeks, one transfer and we definitely expected to be together for two or maybe even three. I will not find out where I am going until transfer meeting tomorrow. I have a TON to do today so I wont be able to write any letters.

My heart feels like I'm leaving it here in Flushing. One of my goals this transfer was to love, love, love and when I leave to feel my heart being ripped from me. I didn't expect that to happen so soon but I truly feel as though I love these people more than I thought possible.

But, from the pictures you can see that J* and C* made it to the temple. It truly was a miracle. There was so much going against them going. Whenever I thought it might not happen I just thought, I'm so glad I asked my family to pray that she would make it because we need the prayers here. Sunday night we had set up an interview for her to get her recommend and everything was going great. On Tuesday Hermana Gonzalez and I went over for dinner and a lesson. When we first saw C* she told us that she wasn't able to go any more because G* has a little league soccer game. My heart sunk! I thought, NO you HAVE TO GO! But a las. I was so...my heart was in a lump and all I could do was think about her and how to help her get to the temple regardless. J* had it set up for his mother to take care of G* and go any way but she was determined to take him. That night we prayed and prayed as hard we could. We had been planning to help her clean out a toy box they have sometime this week. We didn't have a free night but we knew we had to see her sometime to help her get to the temple. We have correlation on Thursday night and I just felt that we should skip it and help her out. So we did. The blessing with that was later we found out correlation was cancelled anyway :) So we ended up being at there house for 1 1/2 hours cleaning this toy box. A whole bunch of different people came by, even the Elders so we were never able to have to conversation we needed to about the Temple before we left. The feelings of talking with her burned deep. Before we left we found a moment and talked to her. I said somethings I wouldn't have unless I really felt I needed to say them. I know the words were not my own and came from the Holy Ghost. That night I prayed as hard as I could. We didn't know what else to do to help her go to the temple. The next day I still couldn't get it off of my mind but thought, "Trust Heavenly Father. If she needs to go and can she will be able to and everything will work out." That day we had an AMAZING Zone Conference. Elder Ringwood came from the 70 and talked about becoming consecrated missionaries. It was amazing. I am determined with all that I can to become a consecrated missionary. I've been studying what that means for the since Friday. It is going to take a lot of work. Elder Ringwood said for this mission to become consecrated it just has to start with two missionaries. After Hna Gonzalez and I arrived back home we made a promise to do all we can together to become consecrated missionaries. We went out and worked. Fearlessed like we never fearlessed before. That night we had a fireside with Elder Ringwood again. I still couldn't get C* off my mind. And then...a text...she texted us and said, "Soccer was cancelled, I'll see you tomorrow at the Temple." Best text I've ever received :) So, she came. They made it. We were able to go to the temple together and do baptisms. I can not discibe the feelings that came over me seeing them there. What joy filled my heart. Sunday C* received an official calling as the Primary Secratarty as well. It has been more than amazing watching her and her family progress in the gospel. I've seen her from not being a member to being baptized, confirmed, go to the temple, and have a calling. In no way can I ever take any credit for any of this. I am extremely humbled to have been able to watch her conversion happen right in front of me. These people have there names written on my hearts.

I've been emotional about leaving but at the same time I still feel like I'm in shock and don't realize that I'm leaving yet. We really thought I was going to be here for at least one more transfer. How grateful I am that the Lord has blessed me with the privilege to serve here. The Flushing 1 branch will always be special to me.

Yesterday we were able to see Y* as well. She has been our investigator for a while but has been going up and down with progressing. We stopped by so I could say good-bye. We were not planning to have a long lesson with her but we ended up having a great lesson. We talked to her about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change her live and help her to feel and have the happiness and joy that she is seeking even with the difficult life she has. We taught her how to pray again. The lesson was a little difficult because her two boys where runny around and the TV was on. We asked her if we could kneel and show our humility and respect to our Heavenly Father and kneel. She, with out being asked, turned off the TV and locked her boys out of her room :) We said a prayer first and then she prayed. I sure hope things keep going well for her. She can feel the spirit in her home and is seeking to have that happiness that the Gospel offers.

Overall things are going REALLY well. I am extremely sad to be leaving Hermana Gonzalez and this area. Especially with it being a surprise. Tomorrow is her birthday as well and its going to be crazy from transfers. I'm a little nervous about where my new area and who my new companion will be. I'm learning more and more that I really need to put more trust in Heavenly Father and in the Atonement. I need to have greater faith. I just want to apply what I've learned for the last 4 1/2 mo here in Flushing and be a consecrated missionary. I plead with Heavenly Father every day that I will be at least a potion of what He needs me to be here. That I will be able to speak Spanish when I need to and be humble enough to follow His will. I will forever be grateful for my time spent here. I am hoping that I will be able to serve here again as my last area since it was my first. That usually happens in this mission so I'm hoping.

It was so good to hear from all of you this week. Your support and love carries me through the difficult moments. All of you mean more than I could ever express. My love for you has grown. 'Til next week! Please pray for me and that I will be able to handle this new adjustment well...and that I will be able to speak Spanish :)

I love you all so much,

Hermana Banaszewski

5-24-10

Here are some pictures from this week. We went to the Temple with C* and J*. The picture of the boy being baptized is a boy from our ward who turned 8. The one with Hna Gonzales and I with a man is R* who is an AWESOME recent convert we've been working with. The one with the two older people (she has a pen in her hair, lol) are the S* Family-LOVE them! One is with M* and her three grandchildren who we have been teaching the oldest one who is 9-A* and now her MOTHER, M*'s daughter is investigating the church too!!! Woot!!!

Love all of you SOOOOO much!
Hermana Banaszewski

May 17, 2010

Hello Everyone!

What a week! It was a rough one but I'm ready to pound the pavement again and work even harder. I feel like I'm such a medioker missionary, or however you spell that :) I'm tired of being a "good" missionary and ready to crush it or as I always say in spanish, aplastalo! I've learned a lot of really important lession on persivering, pushing through, pushing yourself but not so much that you get down on yourself. I've found that is one way the advisary really works on me. When I start to feel that I am a horrable missionary I just get depressed and down. THings are going really well here. I have no reason to get so down on myself. I just want to be the best missionary I can be for these people. I can't even discribe how much I love these people. I'm thinking about them constantly. What we can teach them, how we can serve them...how they can have true happiness in there lives.

I'm an AUNT!!! WOOT WOOT!!! That baby better watch out! I'm going to eat her up when I get home but no one told me her name lol! So...whats her name?

OK-This e-mail has been kind of all over the place. I was working on sending picture and printing off the ones of the little baby so I don't have a lot of time to type but I'll do my best. C and J are planning to go to the Temple this Sat to do baptisms for the first time. I'm SOOOOOOO excited. We will be a ble to go as well. Please pray that it will happen. That everything will work out and that we will be able to go. The rules is that if we are teaching a recent convert that has never been to the temple before and they go then we get to go with them :) YES!!! But Please pray everything will work out. I know if it is supppose to happen it will but some prayers to make sure everyones schedual works out and they get there interviews would be MUCH appriciated :)

I can not believe how much I love the members of the Flushing 1 branch. Every Sunday feels like one of the best days of my life. We had one investigator at church which is M's (The recent convert Dominican woman) grand-daughter who we've just started teaching. Even though it was only one it was still ONE! But what I really love is the members. Yesterday L, who I knew at BYU-I knew that I LOVE brownies and have only had them one other time in NY which was from her, brought a brownie at chruch for me. It was a small act but it made me feel so good that someone thought of me and saw me as a human.

Every Sunday we go over to the Familia S home. THey are amazing as well. They don't have a whole lot but they give give give. She makes some of the best food I've ever eatten here and I always leave wanting to die because I eat so much. They always tell really funny stores but most importantly they are awesome members of the church that are truely seakiing to serve our Savior Jesus Christ and build His kingdom one step at a time.

The other night we had an appointment with a woman named F who we visit every Sunday. She wasn't home so we went looking for her nieghbor who might know if she was in the hospital again. We didn't find her so we knocked on a members door in the same building. THey are the D's. OH HOW I LOVE THEM. He is in the bishopric and she is J's mother. They were playing a card game and we played for a coulpe min as we talked. We shared a scripture Moroni 7:33 about Faith and then Hno talked to us about missionary work. Needless to say it was exactly what I needed to hear and has given me the boost I need for this coming week.

OK-times up. I hope all of you know how much I love our Savior Jesus Christ. This is His work. I feel so honored to be a member of the church and be able to feel and have a fullness of joy regardless of how crazy this world may be at times.

I love all of you more than I could ever express. Have a wonderful week. Ps-THis week we are having a special conference with a member of the 70 Elder Ringwood. I'm excited.

I love you,

Hermana Banaszewski

May 10, 2010

Hello Family!

It was so SO good to talk with everyone yesterday. That was great and I'm really glad that today is preparation day so our conversations aren't distracting me too much :) So I never told you about this new family we are teaching, or at least I never did on the phone. We are ALMOST teaching them that is. I've told you about M before, she came to General Conference and really wants to learn Enlshish more. Well last week we went over to there home again and worked on some English with her sister as well. We left with them an Ensign to read in English and when they do not understand a word to high-light it and then we would go over it more when we come back. Its a bitter-sweet thing with them. We also taught them about the word of wisdom as the topic of tea was brought up. They love having us over which is not typical (not typical that they WANT us over) and they have a different light in there eyes but we need to be teaching them more about the gospel and switch our lessons to be more about our message than English. We've been transitioning more and more which is good and developing the relationship we need to have with them but I...they are such an amazing family. I hope and pray that when, not if :) when we start teaching them more about the gospel that they will accept it.

On Saturday night we had the NEATEST ward activity. It was an activity to celibrate the mothers. It was really well done. They had Kariokee and lots and LOTS of food. Don't worry, we didn't sing and we left after the first two songs :) Mostly I just loved being around the members. THey are everything to me right now. They have so much love and...I can't imagin not being around them.

Ok-Things I don't think I've ever told you about my mission or at least my area. The CitiField, where the Mets play along with the stadium where they US open is held is all in the area I'm serving in right now. Every Wed we go to Flushing Meadows park and do service. This is a HUGE park and beautiful. The missionaries in this area have been talking care of two GIANT rose gardents for the last 8 or so years. We clean up the garbage, rake, cultivate, trim the bushes...the whole thing. It is just a stress reliever to be out working with our hands in a BEAUTIFUL place. Trivial fact-In our Zone there are 16/18 missionaries and only 2 of them have been called to speak spanish. The rest are Spanish, Chinez, or Korean. Neat hu?

Last week I wrote about how great they week was and that I was worried the coming week something bad was going to happen. Well...it wasn't the easiest week of my mission. I learned a lot of important things. One thing that has really been on my mind is that of Charity, love, and the Atonement. THis morning I was thinking a lot about the power of love. Love can really heal a broken heart. Christ is the ultimit example of Charity. Charity is Christ-like Love. With that-how is the Atonement connected to Love. Our Savior Jesus Christ Suffered and died for us because of His love for us and for our Father in Heaven. I know that because of the love He exerted for us and the love of our Father in Heaven we have been blessed with a plan, a plan to be able to learn and grow, experience live, have a body, feel joy, and when we make a mistake, feel pain...we can apply the love of Christ, the Atonement into our lives. How increadable. What a gift a Father could give to His children. I know the Atonement is real. I know that the love of our Savior Jesus Christ can heal a broken heart, it can heal the world.

I am humbled and honored to be called as a missionary. I still wake-up and think, "What?! Is it true? Am I REALLY a missionary YES! I am!" I've learned that so much of live has to do with our attitude and our perspective on life and those around us. We could be in the mist of suffering and pain but still experience pure joy, or we could be laying on a beach on a perfect day and feel misery. How is your day going to be?

I love all of you so very much. I have so much improving to do in my life and I am doing my best. Thank you so much for you love and support.

Love,

Hermana Banaszewski

5-3-10 #3

More pictures from Hermana Banaszewski and Hermana Gonzalez.

5-3-10 #2

Wow,
What a week! It was a great week and we met a lot of awesome people. I can not even describe the love that I have for the people we are teaching, meeting, the ward members, and my companion. They are...its incredible. I can not imagine my life with out some of these people. On General Conference weekend a woman named M* showed up in the Church. One of her friends who is Koren invited her to come. She has lived here for 1 year and 3 months and she says she's learning English. She lives with her sister and her sisters family. She's in her 30's from Peru and Venezuela. Anyway, we've gotten to know her a little bit from Conference and I've talked with her on the phone a lot. She always calls me her friend which makes me feel so good. On Sat we met up and went to her sisters home. Her sister has two children 10 and 6 and a husband. They have lived here for about 20 years. Right now they are really interested about learning English but they know a little bit about the Church as well. Their father, M*, and her sisters just passed away about 1 1/2 mo ago. When we came over we got to know them better and talked with them in English and Spanish. The whole time in their home I just thought, is this really happening, did we just meet this family who received us into their home REALLY well, wants us to come back, and...wow! It was just blown away. They said, "here is our number, when you have any free time come by." I thought, "For you...OF COURSE we have time!" lol. After getting to know them better we left a spiritual message about the Plan of Salvation. I know they felt the spirit and...I'm just extremely excited to get to work with them more. What a miracle and...pray for them that they will continue to receive us well and receive the Gospel.

I feel things are going pretty well with our investigators. B* is back from Ecuador and he is doing really well. Before he left he was in the process of making his decision to be baptised or not. I feel like we are on the edge with him and Ohh! I hope and pray that he will realize and have the desire to be baptised. I've seen the light in his eyes change and he knows it two. A* and M*-They are another family we are teaching. I'm pretty worried about them right now. They don't understand or believe that we need to have a prophet on the earth today but Hna Gonzalez and I both feel that there are greater doubts than just this. On Tuesday we met with A* and Sister Nelson, our Mission Presidents wife came with us. The lesson went really well and she prayed in front of us for the first time but then when we met with the both of them on Sat...they wouldn't pray. Things are going really well and I can't help but fall to my knees and thank our Father in Heaven for all of the miracles I see and experience each and every day.

This week I have really been trying to focus on following the spirit more and be more in tune. It takes a lot of work even as a missionary. The other night I had a dream about not being a missionary and I freaked out! It was quite funny but at the same time I feel like, yes! I finally got to the point where I don't want to give this up for anything. I really don't. As hard as the days may be sometimes I would never willingly give this up. They are going to have to rip the badge off of me when I come home. :)

I can't even describe how grateful I am for our Father in Heaven. I have felt happier this week than I have any other week of my mission. I feel like the love and happiness just keeps growing and growing. At times I think, OK, things are going really well, when is something bad going to happen. I can't think about that, I need to move forward with faith as we all must in this world. The world is not the easiest to live in but God sent his Son, our Savior and Redeemer so that we might be saved, feel peace and comfort from this glorious gospel. This truly is the Church of Jesus Christ established once again in the latter-days.

I love all of you more than I could express. Be good, no, be great. Be what Heavenly Father knows you can be and take each day step by step, poco a poco, like my Spanish :)

Love,

Hermana Banaszewski

5-3-10

This is where we got 31 cent ice cream waiting for the bus. We RAN in got one scoop and RAN out just in time for the bus. The other one is a member, Leslie Leadro who I knew from HJG and BYU-I gave us a bunch of extra cereal. It was AWESOME :)