7-26-10

Hello Family!

I don't have much time to write today. We have a Zone Activity that we need to go to or at least make an appearance at.

First off I hope all of you know of my love for you. I can not even begin to express how much I love each one of you. My heart is full. This week was great, it was another great week to be a missionary. We worked EXTREMELY hard this week. It was unbelievable. It felt so good. Hermana Reed has a great desire to work hard as to I and that was exactly what we tried to do. There is so much work to get done here. We have really sought to be where the Lord would have us be as this is His work.

We have been working a lot with the Members in the ward. We've really begun to see a difference as well. Many of them want to help and we need it. Last Wed we went with our Bishops wife, Herman Aguila to visit 3 less-active members. It was so great. Hermana Aguila is a great example to me. She is going to school, the Pathway Program at BYU-Idaho!!! along with the mother of 4 children, Bishops wife and the list goes on. It was great to be able to meet with those members as well and I know that because of her help we were able to get in the door and get to know them better. We also went to her daughters Birthday parties on Sat and the Sr missionaries who are over the BYU-Idaho Pathway Program were there. It was really weird to talk about BYU-Idaho again and talk about people we both know. From what Elder and Sister Lunt say they have daily contact with Sister Spaulding so it was fun to talk about who we know.

I can not descibe how much I love this work. It is unbelievable. We are working so hard. Every day I am flat our exhausted but they only way to overcome it is to get up and work some more. I am doing all I can to lose myself in the work of the Lord. This calling is humbling and I know I have so much to improve upon but I can feel the Lord walking beside us every step of the way.

On a less spiritual note I want to describe to you how our apartment is. We truly are living the dream! I love NY SO incredibly much. I love the people, the...not the smells but the people, the culture, everything. So...our apartment or as we call it in NY our "pad". We had deep clean on Thurs. This is a day we plan 5 hours to just clean because we are so busy through out the week that it is hard to DEEP clean. Well...we cleaned for about...I'm not even sure how long. I cleaned our small 2 ft by 8 ft kitchen for 7...yes...7 hours straight WITH the help of the other Sisters. We have cockroaches as I have described before so we were going to "bug bomb" our apartment. We had to take out ALL of our food and anything that deals with food, dishes ,everything. On Friday we "bombed" fumigated our pad which meant we had to take all of our things ,food related to the church which is normally a 15 min walk away. It was an adventure for sure. lol. We've used about 10...TEN HUGE cans of Raid along with other bug stuff to get rid of the roaches and...BED BUGS! Can you believe it? Yes, bed bugs! Guess what, after a three day party of cleaning, doing missionary work, and bug bombing we still have little..."friends". We've counted about 50 roaches that we've killed since Friday night. Sick hu? Well, I have some fun mission stories that's for sure. :) The mission office has been looking for another place for us to live, hopefully that will come sooner than later.

On a better note, our Temple trip was amazing! I love the Temple. I learned so much. It was the first time on my mission I felt like I "relaxed" a little bit. It felt so good to physically feel in my body that we are working so hard. I love good hard work. It truly is taking the strength of the Lord to be able to do all that we need to do. I could never do ANY of what we are doing with out that strength.

Our investigators are doing well. C* was suppose to be baptised yesterday but the divorces and marriages haven't happened yet. She is still doing well and I still have high hopes for her. She still has a strong desire to be baptised. We met a new family on the bus, the A* family, I think I told you about them. H*, the husband is not a member but J* the wife is a member but has been inactive for about 10 years. They are an amazing family and we LOVE teaching them.

My Spanish is hanging in there. Honestly it is pretty horrible but I am doing my best to improve it everyday. I know that when I need to talk and I have the spirit that I will be able to. More and more I've learned that most importantly is following the Spirit, hearing it and following it. I have to be worthy and I do everything I can to have the gift and guidance of the spirit each and every day. Exact obedience is so important. I am not perfect but I am doing my best to be how our Savior needs me to be.

I love all of you so much. The work is moving forward and we are seeing things change for the better here. I greatly need your prayers. I pray for all of you very much. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church in the latter days, the law of chastity is extremely important and I wish people understood that better, we have a Living Prophet on the earth today who guides us and is the mouth piece of God.

I miss all of you very much but know that as I immerse myself more in the work the better life with be. As we lose ourselves in service that is exactly when we find ourselves. Oh how I love this work. I lack so much in my life and am so grateful for the Atonement. Because of Christ, as I do my absolute best, knowing it is not enough, all will be taken care of.

I love you with all of my heart,

Love,

Hermana Banaszewski

Hello Family!

How is everyone doing? I have to first note that the computer I am using is very hard to type on so that with the combination of learning spanish-my spelling probably will not be the best :)

It is always so good to hear how everyone is doing. I love hearing about things going on and how peoples lives are being affected for good. This last week was amazing! I think every week is amazing depending on how you look at it. Hermana Reed and I worked as hard as we possibly could. We are both really excited about this coming week. We have a lot of teaching apoinments set up with new people we've met who have an intrest about learning more about the gospel. We also are meeting with or trying to meet with a lot of less-active members as well. Guess what?! I can hardly believe it, actually I can't believe it. This week, tomorrow I will be able to go to the Temple in Manhatten for my half way mark! Wow! I didn't think I would be going until September. I can't believe it. I will continue to tell people I'm new on my mission and haven't been out very long because that is how I feel. I am so excited to be able to go to the Temple. There is so much peace there and I am looking forward to the spiritual boost/fill that I will need for the rest of my mission. It is such a blessing to be able to go to the Temple and feel the our Father in Heaven has for us. The Temple is such a sacred place. It is amazing to be walking down a busy road and then be able to enter the Temple and be completely separated from the world and feel of the love our Savior Jesus Christ has for us.

This last week really was amazing. We talked to a lot of people that seem to truly have a desire to learn more about the Restoried Gospel of Jesus Christ. This last week we've talked a lot about how this is the same church that Christ Himself astablished when He was on the earth and that it has been restored by a profit who prayed to God to know truth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the power and authority given to man from Christ Himself. Increadable. There are many people who are searching for the truth. Hermana Reed and I both feel that this area getting ready to boom. The members are becoming more missionary minded and talking to us about how they can help the work move along as well. The member here are seeing us working. We are working as hard as we can. There have been many days and moments that I think it will truly take a miracle to get done what we have planned and what we need to do. I testify that miracles continue to happen. THey may be big or they may be small, regardless they are miracles and they come from God.

Yesterday we had the great opprotunity to eat lunch at a members home after chruch. We always seem to be tired mentally after church because we are working so hard to speak spanish and understand everything we can. We ate with the Palaes Family. They have a lot of cousins, sisters, and family in this area. When we went over there were a bunch of people there to eat with us. We had such a great time and the food was amazing! I have gotten use to eating spanish meals but Hermana Reed is not use to being feed that much yet :) She told me after lunch that she was praying hard to be able to eat everything they feed us :) She's doing really good. She is a great missionary and I am so excited she has such a strong desire to work hard, be obidient, and be the best representitive of Jesus Christ that she can be. At the end of eating (they also fed us TWO dessert, we walked home a little slower than usual) we sharred a spiritual message as we normally do. Yesterday was one of the members birthdays as well. We shared Alma 7:15-16 and talked about some of the gratest gifts we have been given from God, comparing those gifts to gifts we receive on our birthdays. One of the people there was not a member of the Church. Hermana Carney had told me that missionaries had taught her before but she really did not have an interest at the time. I could feel the spirit so strongly as we talked about the gift of baptism and I truly believe that this woman felt the importance of baptism more in her life and saw baptism differently. The gift of baptism is truly an amazing gift from our Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. Because the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored again to the earth through Joseph Smith we had the power of Chirst given to man, the priesthood, to perform this gift, baptism once again. My heart swelled with love for our Savior and for the Gospel. I feel and know that I am increadable blessed to be a member of the Church and not only a member right now but a missionary. I feel so humbled that I would be called by a Profit of the Lord to preach about the restored gospel, expecially in the Spanish language.

Last week we had two full days of training meetings. There are 8 new lessons which I have mentioned before that we are being trained on. Lately the importance of praying, reading from the Book of Mormon and church attendance have really stuck out in my mind. Those are three basic but vitally important things that people must be doing to know if this is the true church and to be baptized along with feeling of the Holy Ghost. Hermana Reed and I have been working hard at teaching people how to pray, how to feel the Holy Ghost, and the importance of church attendance. We have seen great changes in the power of our teaching. I know I have so much more to improve upon. There are so many days it is easy to get discourages and see all of my faults. That is the challenge, to recognize our faults, be humble, do our best to improve, and apply the Atonement to our lives daily.

I hope all of you truly know how much our Father in Heaven Loves you. I am excited for this next week. We have SO much work to do and it will truly take miracles to be able to do it all. My spanish is...I hope getting better. Honestly it is pretty bad, I think, but I know with the guidance and help of the Spirit I will be able to speak when and what I need to. It is so humbling, I can not even discribe. This truly is the work of the Lord. I know my time spent here is sacred and the the Lord will continue to guide us as we have faith and do all we can. People are being prepared to listen, we just need to keep working hard and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love all of you so much. Your support and prayers mean the world to me. I can feel them here and need them continually. I pray for all you every day as well.

With Great Love,

Hermana Banaszewski

7-12-10

Hello Family,

Where do I even begin? I feel like my mind is spinning a little and have so much in it that I want to tell you about.

The first thing is that miracles DO exist. WOW, do they ever! My life couldn't be better. Well, it always can be but its been pretty good lately. I'll be honest though, there have been a couple days this week where I thought I was going to die of exhaustion and stress. Hermana Reed, my new companion and I have been working extremely hard. It has been one of the best weeks of my mission. It has been interesting to me to see that some of the hardest situations, days, weeks, moments usually seem to the the best...once they are over.

Hermana Reed-She is awesome. She is so much more ahead of the game that me when I first came out. Her Spanish is really good and she has such a great desire to work hard. This area needs exactly that, good hard work and we're ready to do our best together. She is from Alpine, Ut. She is actually from the same ward Doug and Debbie Allen are from. She grew up in Saudi Arabia until she was 16 and then moved to Utah. Her father works for an oil company there. There are 4 boys and 4 girls in her family. She went to Utah state for 2...I think 2 years. She is 22, a lot taller than me, great worker.

My birthday-It was a great day, a BUSY day. I actually wasn't really able to celebrate my birthday at all, NO TIME. We had to take Hna Carney to transfer meetings and be there early for my trainers meeting, then we had transfers, a surprise meeting after for the trainers, shopping to help our new missionaries get settled in. Before we had 6 sisters living in the same pad. Now we only have 4 because they opened two new areas for English sisters and sister De La Mare and I are both training. Its been fun and EXTREMELY busy. I can't express though how grateful I am for all of the cards, packages, and LOVE that I receive for my birthday. This last week has been one of the busiest of my mission, maybe even my entire life and the love from home has carried me through. I may sound like a sap but...I honestly felt so much love that I cried. Its not necessarily the items in the packages, which were PERFECT, but the love felt, the thought put into it. I can not express enough thanks for all of those who sent letters, packages, said a prayer for me, or just even thought about how I was doing. Thank you.

So, miracles! Ready? I don't know if I'll be able to describe them how I'd like but wow! First this week has wore my OUT! I have felt so much strength and love. When I wake up every morning I feel like I've been hit by a train but after I pray and get going, be obedient, and work, I feel a strength and happiness beyond my own. Do miracles happen, yes and I truly believe being able to wake up every morning is a miracle as well.

On Friday we went to teach C*. I have been so concerned about teaching her with out Hermana Carney. Last Sunday we set a baptismal date for her for July 25th. She has a strong testimony of the church, believes and is GRATEFUL for Joseph Smith, knows the Book of Mormon is true and...she is amazing. She also stopped drinking coffee however she is still living with a man whom she calls her husband but is not legally married to. With that background let me take a step back. The Missionary Department has created 8 new lessons for missionaries. Preach My Gospel, from what I understand is not changing but we as missionaries are being taught how to go back to the basics. On Tuesday after transfer meeting the leadership of the mission, including trainers had a special meeting and President Nelson is teaching us these lessons in workshops. We also had a meeting on Friday and will have two full day meetings this Wed and Thurs and have day on Fri to teach us all 8 lessons. One of the points from the lessons was the roll of prayer in the conversion process.

After going over this lesson, roll playing, praying and thinking much about C* I felt that we needed to go over prayer again along with scripture study. Going back to the basics. I thought, "If she is suppose to continue to learn, grow, feel the spirit, with my lack of Spanish and teaching abilities she really needs to be taught from the Lord and know how to do that." In all of our lesson I know she has been taught by the spirit but more then ever I felt that relying on the spirit to teach was all I could do. Hermana Reed was wonderful a well. She even helped me with words that I could not spit out my mouth. She has a great vocabulary in Spanish. In the morning all of our study was directed to teaching C* and with the spirit. To make a long story short, I have never experienced such an amazing moment before. The spirit was so strong. The gift of tongues is real. I can not even begin to describe all of the things that came out of my mouth in Spanish but it was incredible. Honestly I'm not even exactly sure what was said. The lesson was so amazing that there is no way that we could even say "we" taught, it was clearly the spirit. We asked her about her desire to be baptized again. I have never seen someones desire to be baptized so strong as her was at that moment. She cried and there was a fire in her eyes. She said that if she could she would be baptised right now. She wants it so badly but descibed how she can't be if she is living in sin as she is. She has such an amazing understanding of everything which is incredible. That is another way we know she is being taught by the spirit and not us with our lack of speaking abilities. She talked about going about being baptized on the Lords time and not hers. I promised her that the Lord wants her to be baptized now. C* has so much faith. She and us have no idea how she will be able to be baptized. We talked about her moving out with her children a well. I have no idea how that would work out but regardless the lesson was amazing. We left with her a promise that if she reads in the Book of Mormon EVERY day and prays morning and night that she will know what she needs to do to be able to be baptized and that a way will be provided for her. We went back and taught her again on Sunday. She has been reading and praying. I felt so much joy when she told me she was reading. It shows that she really does have a desire to be baptized and is doing what she can right now to get there. We talked about the importance of Faith and Works. We read 1 Ne 3 together and talked about Nefi being commanded to get the plates. It was a great comparison to her life of not knowing what to do or how to accomplish something but that as we walk with faith and work hard the Lord will provide a way. I know that is true. A way is always provided, it just might not be our way.

We are doing all we can to exert the faith required for C* to be baptized. I am working hard on having greater faith.

Another Miracle, yesterday we had an appointment with a less-active family that last transfer Hermana Carney and I tried and TRIED to visit but were never able to. We knocked on there door but no one was home. We waited for a while and then out from the elevator came the husband. We were able to set up an appointment with him. It was amazing that poof! we had an appointment. Last night we went over for the apt but some of their friends showed up un-unexpectedly so we re-scheduled for tonight. Instead of just going home and being happy that we were able to set up another apt with them we decided to knock some of the building. Our 4th door was a miracle. His name is O*. Hermana Reed started off by introducing us and talking about the family. He LISTENED! I was amazed. The soft thought came into my mind, "Hermana Banaszewski, you've been praying for miracles, do you believe in miracles, this man is a miracle for you." We continued to talk with him. The conversation moved to Christ. He has such a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. Its hard to describe this experience because I felt SO MUCH guidance from the Holy Ghost. Over and over soft and gentle thoughts would come into my mind while we were talking. I would hold onto that thought and do all I could to listen intently to him as he spoke Spanish. Could you believe it, I understood almost everything he said. Wow, I was...wow. He talked about the after life, a place of Paradise and bondage, he talked about the importance of families. There were couple times I felt I needed to say things really boldly and I did my best. I can not believe the gift of tongues. I was able to speak Spanish! We talked about prophets. I testified boldly that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same church Christ established when he was on the earth and that by way of Joseph Smith the Church has been restored once again to the earth. The conversation was incredible. After he talked some about life before and after this life I looked him in the eye and only with the guidance of the spirit told him that he is ready for or message and needs to learn more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. He was taken back and the conversation continued. We are going to go back on Tuesday and teach him more. I would not be surprised if he accepted the invitation to be baptized. The one problem is that he is going to Peru until Aug. I know O* will be baptized some day and soon. I have never sweat as much as did at that moment. I felt sweat dripping from all over my body. The gift of the spirit is incredible. I would be nothing and could do nothing with out it.

This week has been hard because there has been so much to do. I am doing my best to be the best example I can be for Hermana Reed. I have felt the hands of the Lord carry me through this difficult but AMAZING time in my life. I recognize that I must continue to rely FULLY on the spirit and not the arm of flesh. I must also recognize the spirit and guidance from our Father in Heaven and give thanks for the miracles that surround me. How grateful I am for our Savior Jesus Christ who is able to make up for the great lack with I have in my life and in this work. I know the Atonement is real and I am doing all I can to apply it in my life.

I love all of you so much. You mean so much to me. Your prayers and love is felt here. I need it so much. I love you.

Much Love,

Hermana Banaszewski

7-12-10

Hello Family,

Where do I even begin? I feel like my mind is spinning a little and have so much in it that I want to tell you about.

The first thing is that miracles DO exist. WOW, do they ever! My life couldn't be better. Well, it always can be but its been pretty good lately. I'll be honest though, there have been a couple days this week where I thought I was going to die of exhaustion and stress. Hermana Reed, my new companion and I have been working extremely hard. It has been one of the best weeks of my mission. It has been interesting to me to see that some of the hardest situations, days, weeks, moments usually seem to the the best...once they are over.

Hermana Reed-She is awesome. She is so much more ahead of the game that me when I first came out. Her Spanish is really good and she has such a great desire to work hard. This area needs exactly that, good hard work and we're ready to do our best together. She is from Alpine, Ut. She is actually from the same ward Doug and Debbi Alen are from. She grew up in Saudi Arabia until she was 16 and then moved to Utah. Her father works for an oil company there. There are 4 boys and 4 girls in her family. She went to Utah state for 2...I think 2 years. She is 22, a lot taller than me, great worker.

My birthday-It was a great day, a BUSY day. I actually wasn't really able to celebrate my birthday at all, NO TIME. We had to take Hna Carney to transfer meetings and be there early for my trainers meeting, then we had transfers, a surprise meeting after for the trainers, shopping to help our new missionaries get settled in. Before we had 6 sisters living in the same pad. Now we only have 4 because they opened two new areas for English sisters and sister De La Mare and I are both training. Its been fun and EXTREMELY busy. I can't express though how grateful I am for all of the cards, packages, and LOVE that I receive for my birthday. This last week has been one of the busiest of my mission, maybe even my entire life and the love from home has carried me through. I may sound like a sap but...I honestly felt so much love that I cried. Its not necessarily the items in the packages, which were PERFECT, but the love felt, the thought put into it. I can not express enough thanks for all of those who sent letters, packages, said a prayer for me, or just even thought about how I was doing. Thank you.

So, miracles! Ready? I don't know if I'll be able to describe them how I'd like but wow! First this week has wore my OUT! I have felt so much strength and love. When I wake up every morning I feel like I've been hit by a train but after I pray and get going, be obedient, and work, I feel a strength and happiness beyond my own. Do miracles happen, yes and I truly believe being able to wake up every morning is a miracle as well.

On Friday we went to teach C*. I have been so concerned about teaching her with out Hermana Carney. Last Sunday we set a baptismal date for her for July 25th. She has a strong testimony of the church, believes and is GRATEFUL for Joseph Smith, knows the Book of Mormon is true and...she is amazing. She also stopped drinking coffee however she is still living with a man whom she calls her husband but is not legally married to. With that background let me take a step back. The Missionary Department has created 8 new lessons for missionaries. Preach My Gospel, from what I understand is not changing but we as missionaries are being taught how to go back to the basics. On Tuesday after transfer meeting the leadership of the mission, including trainers had a special meeting and President Nelson is teaching us these lessons in workshops. We also had a meeting on Friday and will have two full day meetings this Wed and Thurs and have day on Fri to teach us all 8 lessons. One of the points from the lessons was the role of prayer in the conversion process.

After going over this lesson, role playing, praying and thinking much about C* I felt that we needed to go over prayer again along with scripture study. Going back to the basics. I thought, "If she is suppose to continue to learn, grow, feel the spirit, with my lack of Spanish and teaching abilities she really needs to be taught from the Lord and know how to do that." In all of our lesson I know she has been taught by the spirit but more then ever I felt that relying on the spirit to teach was all I could do. Hermana Reed was wonderful as well. She even helped me with words that I could not spit out my mouth. She has a great vocabulary in Spanish. In the morning all of our study was directed to teaching C* and with the spirit. To make a long story short, I have never experienced such an amazing moment before. The spirit was so strong. The gift of tongues is real. I can not even begin to describe all of the things that came out of my mouth in Spanish but it was incredible. Honestly I'm not even exactly sure what was said. The lesson was so amazing that there is no way that we could even say "we" taught, it was clearly the spirit. We asked her about her desire to be baptized again. I have never seen someones desire to be baptized so strong as her was at that moment. She cried and there was a fire in her eyes. She said that if she could she would be baptised right now. She wants it so badly but descibed how she can't be if she is living in sin as she is. She has such an amazing understanding of everything which is incredible. That is another way we know she is being taught by the spirit and not us with our lack of speaking abilities. She talked about going about being baptized on the Lords time and not hers. I promised her that the Lord wants her to be baptized now. C* has so much faith. She and us have no idea how she will be able to be baptized. We talked about her moving out with her children a well. I have no idea how that would work out but regardless the lesson was amazing. We left with her a promise that if she reads in the Book of Mormon EVERY day and prays morning and night that she will know what she needs to do to be able to be baptized and that a way will be provided for her. We went back and taught her again on Sunday. She has been reading and praying. I felt so much joy when she told me she was reading. It shows that she really does have a desire to be baptized and is doing what she can right now to get there. We talked about the importance of Faith and Works. We read 1 Ne 3 together and talked about Nephi being commanded to get the plates. It was a great comparison to her life of not knowing what to do or how to accomplish something but that as we walk with faith and work hard the Lord will provide a way. I know that is true. A way is always provided, it just might not be our way.

We are doing all we can to exert the faith required for C* to be baptized. I am working hard on having greater faith.

Another Miracle, yesterday we had an appointment with a less-active family that last transfer Hermana Carney and I tried and TRIED to visit but were never able to. We knocked on their door but no one was home. We waited for a while and then out from the elevator came the husband. We were able to set up an appointment with him. It was amazing that poof! we had an appointment. Last night we went over for the apt but some of their friends showed up unexpectedly so we re-scheduled for tonight. Instead of just going home and being happy that we were able to set up another apt with them we decided to knock some of the building. Our 4th door was a miracle. His name is O*. Hermana Reed started off by introducing us and talking about the family. He LISTENED! I was amazed. The soft thought came into my mind, "Hermana Banaszewski, you've been praying for miracles, do you believe in miracles, this man is a miracle for you." We continued to talk with him. The conversation moved to Christ. He has such a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. Its hard to describe this experience because I felt SO MUCH guidance from the Holy Ghost. Over and over soft and gentle thoughts would come into my mind while we were talking. I would hold onto that thought and do all I could to listen intently to him as he spoke Spanish. Could you believe it, I understood almost everything he said. Wow, I was...wow. He talked about the after life, a place of paradise and bondage, he talked about the importance of families. There were couple times I felt I needed to say things really boldly and I did my best. I can not believe the gift of tongues. I was able to speak Spanish! We talked about prophets. I testified boldly that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same church Christ established when he was on the earth and that by way of Joseph Smith the Church has been restored once again to the earth. The conversation was incredible. After he talked some about life before and after this life I looked him in the eye and only with the guidance of the spirit told him that he is ready for or message and needs to learn more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. He was taken back and the conversation continued. We are going to go back on Tuesday and teach him more. I would not be surprised if he accepted the invitation to be baptized. The one problem is that he is going to Peru until Aug. I know O* will be baptized some day and soon. I have never sweat as much as did at that moment. I felt sweat dripping from all over my body. The gift of the spirit is incredible. I would be nothing and could do nothing with out it.

This week has been hard because there has been so much to do. I am doing my best to be the best example I can be for Hermana Reed. I have felt the hands of the Lord carry me through this difficult but AMAZING time in my life. I recognize that I must continue to rely FULLY on the spirit and not the arm of flesh. I must also recognize the spirit and guidance from our Father in Heaven and give thanks for the miracles that surround me. How grateful I am for our Savior Jesus Christ who is able to make up for the great lack I have in my life and in this work. I know the Atonement is real and I am doing all I can to apply it in my life.

I love all of you so much. You mean so much to me. Your prayers and love is felt here. I need it so much. I love you.

Much Love,

Hermana Banaszewski

7-5-10

Picture from the roof on the 4th
A cockroach I found in my BACKPACK-SICK
C* and her Kids
A Spanish DA We ate Mole...interesting
Cuevas Baptism

7-5-10 #2

Me so happy from the box I got from the AH ward

me going after the roaches with the raid

A district picture. We had a party and the Elders bought A LOT of ice cream

7-5-10

Hello Family!

Happy 4th of July! Can you believe it, I almost forgot it was the 4th. Our day wasn't any different other than at night after we had finished planning and getting ready for bed we went up on the roof and watched some fireworks from far away. It was really fun to be able to look all around New York and see fireworks going off everywhere. There were none going off close by but we could see about 15 different sets going off. It was fun. We were only able to watch for about 10 or less min and then go to bed.

Life is really good. EXTREEMLY crazy. I can NOT believe it. My companion is going home and...Wow...Big breath...I am training. What?! You wondering how my Spanish is? Yeah, me too. lol. Yes, I am training starting tomorrow on my birthday. I was surprised even though the other sisters in our pad (That is what they call our apartments here) keep teasing me I was going to train this transfer. I thought, HA! no way, if you understood my Spanish and how horrible it was than you wouldn't be saying that. Well, here I am, training. It is going to be a fun but crazy transfer. President told me I was training last Tuesday when he interviewed me. All he said was, "Well I'm glad your doing so well. That will be great for when you train next transfer." I took a DEEP breath and thought, oh wow. Actually I didn't have many thoughts. I was in a daze. He asked me how I felt about it and I said good then I asked the most important question, "How is her Spanish?" Thinking that the only way I would be training would be if she was a native Spanish speaker. His response, "Well, she learning." All I could say back was, "Well President, we will be seeing a lot of miracles next transfer."

We will be experiencing A LOT of miracles next transfer. It is incredible with how many miracles I have already seen or experienced and I can't even imagine what is in store for us next transfer. I am really excited and at the same time...nervous. There are a lot of changes that need to take place in this area. Sister Da La Mare who lives in the same pad as I will be training as well and two new sisters are being whitewashed in. This is the perfect time to make the missionary cultural changes that need to happen here. This is an amazing area, there is SO much work to get done here. It is going to be A LOT of work but I know great things away this area and the people that live here. Today we had a random woman walk up to us, ask what religion we were from and ASK for a Book of Mormon. She lives close to the church and is looking for a church to go to. WoW! This is a mighty year of change and miracles for our mission and I am seeing that as the year is getting closer to end, for us our goal is by Oct 31 for our 800 baptisms, that we will see the miracles picking up and people coming to us more and more.

I have been so amazed with the Atonement this transfer. Of course I am all of the time but it has been incredible to watch and partake of the Atonement in a whole new way. Sister Carney is awesome. I have seen her change and improve so much. We have not become buddy buddy but instead we have come closer to the Lord together. She will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart. I've learned so much from her and from seeking to do my very best to follow the spirit. I have really been impressed with how the Atonement has played a part in her life this transfer.

This morning I was studying Alma 26. Verse 12 has been the theme of my mission. "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." I'm sure this theme will continue especially as I train a new missionary next transfer. I have already seen a huge jump in my Spanish lately. I will be honest, my Spanish is still horrible but I have confidence that when I need to speak to someone I will be able to and when I need to understand them I will be able to with the gift of the spirit. I must have grater faith in the Lord and believe that this next transfer I will not only see many miracles but that I will be a miracle. This thought came into my mind very softly but with great power that I need to believe that I will be a miracle in all aspects of this work and not just in my Spanish. All that I lack can and will be made up as I seek to always be guided by the Gift of the Holy Ghost, be exactly obedient, and work hard. I'm excited to work hard and know it will be exactly that, hard but good.

As way for those we are teaching Celia has accepted a baptismal date for the 25th of July. We are so excited for her. She really wants to be baptized. She has been coming to church on her own with her 3 little children. The other day she asked us what the responsibilities where when becoming a member of the church. We explained some and that regardless of what we are asked to do Heavenly Father will give us strength to do it and will not ask us to do something we can not do. Yesterday we taught about the 10 commandments and then she asked us again about other responsibilities she would have once she is a member. So we taught a bunch of mini lessons on the word of wisdom, which she had NO problem giving up coffee, I was SO happy. She was happy to give it up to become a member. Then we continued with Law of Chastity and so forth. She is GREAT with everything except...sigh...she is not married to the man she is living with and calls her husband. She and her "husband" are still legally married to there first spouses. So...we need to have 2 divorces and 1 marriage and 1 baptism all happen in 3 weeks. Eek...can it happen? YES! How? I have no idea but if it is right, and Heavenly Father wants one of his daughters to be baptized than I know it can happen. We are going to need a lot of prayers for this to happen and help to understand all of this in Spanish as well. Miracles do happen.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day. Hermana Carney goes home, I begin training a new missionary, its my birthday, and we have so much to do. I am excited and pray I will have the strength it will take to do what needs to be done. Tonight we are going over to the Cuevas family for Hermana Carney and Sister Iserts last Dinner Appointment. I am extremely excited to be with them as well. Their son was just baptized on Saturday. I have never seen so many people at a baptism here before. They are such an example to me of the type of family I want to have some day.

I am honored to be here. I love being a missionary. It is hard, it is amazing. I know this is the work of the Lord. Who am I to think I can mess it up. I know that Christ lives. This, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church that He established while on the earth. It has the power of God, the proper priesthood authority to perform baptisms, heal the sick, and administer the sacrament every week. How grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I would be nothing without the precious gift of our Savior. Thank you for all of your support, love, and prayers. I will really need them this coming week and transfer.

I love all of you so much,

Love,

Hermana Banaszewski