Part 2: Week 25--Sociality is a principle of heaven

The subject line is just something cool that I was thinking of this week. People are awesome! They are our brothers and sisters; our friends! It really is so enjoyable when you are able to be friends/ support for your district missionaries, members, investigators, companions, roommates, etc! Have joy! It is a principle for all of life.. Simple.

I had strep throat the weekend of the baptism. Haha, nice try, adversary! However, rest and medicine does wonders, and now we are working hard and seeing miracles again, and finding joy in all that we do. 

This mission is an adventure every day. And I'm so thankful for the ways that I've grown and learned and changed. I have only one more transfer and I'll be home for another set of adventures.

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Mamale got baptized!! The baptism ran so smoothly, and was so peaceful. President and Sister Smith attended and it meant a lot to her and to us. The ward helped her to feel so loved, and the whole experience really built all of our faith. It was so peaceful and special for her. Mamale is so excited to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. She wants that guidance in her life! Our members Brother S and Brother M were able to give her a priesthood blessing before church on Sunday to help with her headaches and give her some counsel/ direction from her Father in Heaven. It was so special to be there, because it truly showed how aware Heavenly Father is of her and of each individual. It addressed her needs and encouraged her perfectly. It is awesome the way Mamale has felt more and more a part of the ward family, and the way they are really embracing her with open arms. Our ward mission leader did a great job conducting the meeting and we are so happy for Mamale. We are so grateful to be a part of her journey! She is so lovely and so willing to do all that she can to keep the commandments and follow Christ! She even called us a couple of times asking us about questions from different pamphlets (i.e. Word of Wisdom "I read it all, and I was wondering how often we are allowed to eat meat?"). It is so sweet. The members have done a wonderful job this past transfer calling her and supporting her (we know that is key to helping her really become a part of the ward and to help her choose to keep commitments and be baptized)!

Marisela also accepted a baptismal date for April 8! It is amazing, because her family used to meet with missionaries in the Bronx when she was a child. One of the Elders had a profound impact on her life, because he used to be very overweight and he helped her to understand how to apply the word of wisdom personally, and she ended up losing weight and being healthy again. She still remembers the positive impact the missionaries had on her family, and the teachings. There are so many people here with prepared hearts! We never know what seeds are being planted in the hearts of our investigators and the people we meet. Marisela's cute daughter chimed in that she wants to be baptized as well! She is six years old. Marisela said that she knows meeting will always be remembered by her daughter in her life, too. That it really means a lot to their family. What a blessing to be a part of His great work.

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New York is so diverse! We have met with people the past couple weeks from Sierra Leon, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, the Congo, Haiti, Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, Jamaica, the Philippines, Myanmar/ Burma, China, Thailand, Germany, and all over the United States! Those are just the ones I can remember! 

Hermana Clark's companion (our roommate companionship), Hermana Contreras just went back to Costa Rica, and her new companion is Hermana Worley from Nampa, Idaho... where my sister is serving!! We also have missionaries in this mission (some of them left recently though) from Finland, Russia, Hong Kong, China, Madagascar, Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, and a lot of other cool places like that.

Sister Au is doing great! We are finding joy in each day! We both have a goal to get to know the missionaries and members that we work with better; to find joy in building friendships and in being our best selves as we respectfully represent Jesus Christ in this work! Such a funny, fun little missionary with all the best interests.

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Msh 26:29-30 Repentance is simple and is a gift! We have the opportunity and His enabling power/ grace to change.  A beautiful sacrifice/ plan/ way provided for us. It is so loving and awesome of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am forever thankful!

Msh 26:14-16 Phrases that came to my mind: "Blessed art thou," "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Alma was troubled because some of the people had began to live in disbelief and leave the teachings they once knew and lived. Heavenly Father is so loving, and he knows our hearts. He sees the good in all of us and our potential. Keep working. Keep trying. Keep loving our brothers and sisters who have such potential! May we all return safely home.

Christ's Church is restored on this earth. They have given us a way to return. The Book of Mormon is the evidence that they preserved, so that we could know with a surety that we have a living prophet and that these are the truths. We can be with our family forever! This is the way of happiness, and it is our eternal salvation! Thankful for the proofs they've provided.

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Love you all!

爱你们

Sister A Wilcox

韦姐妹

Ward Valentine's party

 Mamale's baptism