Week 14

January 10, 2016
Sunday, Day 89
Day 76 in NY

Wonderful Sabbath day!
CHURCH:
As usual we walk over to Ricky's and pick him up. Then we walk to church. We sent Aida a text letting her know we were on our way to church and 10 minutes later she responded that she was already there. SHES SO AWESOME! So we called the Sister missionaries and asked if they were at church, that way they could introduce themselves to Aida and keep her company till we get there with Ricky.
When we got ahold of the Sisters they told us that they were already talking to her!! So that was awesome! When Elder Tabor and I got to the church with Ricky, we gave her a tour of the church. (Ricky took a seat in the foyer). We started up stairs where all the classrooms are. She thought it was so cool that we get the kids all involved in learning the gospel. Then we took her back down stairs, on our way down the hall we passed Ricky and we were talking about showing her the baptismal font. Ricky heard us talking about baptism and Aida asked, "How does it feel to be baptized?" when Ricky heard her say that he began describing the feelings he had when he was baptized. (It was so sweet!!! Ricky's a missionary!) He described how when we stand in the water we are, who we are at that moment, but when we go under we are cleaned, and when we come out of the water we are clean, we are born again. He said when I was baptized I had a permanent smile on my face for weeks! Aida just melted from the experience that Ricky shared with her. She is so excited to be baptized! After that conversation, we walked her to the baptismal font, she stood back, and Elder Tabor and I opened the doors to the font. She then came forward and just stood there, just in love with the vision she was drawing in her mind as we explained the process of baptism. After we let her soak in the experience, we continued on. We took her over to the chapel. We came in through the side doors and she walked
up and sat down in the front row staring up at the pulpit. We explained to her the sacrament and the things that take place in the chapel during the meeting. She had this glowing smile on her face all throughout church. She can't wait to be baptized!

AFTER CHURCH:
After church we went home and ate, we had some appointments scheduled and we went by each home to teach these people and each appointment fell through... So after dinner we went on over to Ricky's and visited with him. We talked about faith and invited him to continue reading the Book of Mormon.


January 11, 2016
Monday, Day 90
Day 77 in NY

GOOD MORNING:
We got up and went about our Monday morning schedule. Headed over to the church for District meeting. It was windy this morning, which made the chill weather even more chill. District meeting was great as always! Elder Tabor always teaches a great lesson by the spirit. After our meeting we needed to go home. We had boxes of Book of Mormons to carry, so we asked Michael (our ward mission leader if he would drive us home). So Michael drove us home. It's so nice being in a car... It's a luxury to be in a car. After lunch at home, we headed out for our lessons. We had 3 lessons planned...All fell through, once again. We then felt impressed to go visit Elder Hughes and Nalaza.

SICK & AFFLICTED:
It was later in the night, about 7:30. It took us a while to get over to their apartment because they live in Co-op city, which is about 30 minutes by transit. When we got there we just talked with them, to see how they were doing. We had an uplifting conversation and we kept telling them how much we love them and how awesome they are! Because they are awesome! Then we felt impressed to have a quick lesson. We started off with a song, and then we had an opening prayer. After we prayed, I shared a few scriptures, 1Nephi 17. It talks about traveling to the land bountiful. Nephi makes an account of their journey. He shares the trials and obstacles, but he points out that they murmured
not. They went on with their journey with no complaints. I related this story to them and their trials, telling them that although you’re sick, you’re hurting, you feel useless because you aren't doing much
work that you need to focus not on the trial itself but the blessings you’re receiving from this trial. It was awesome!
[1 Nephi 17:1-6]
"1 And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness;
and our women did bear children in the wilderness.

2 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing, which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

4 And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness.

5 And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters.

6 And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore; and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit."

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED:
So we ended up staying at the Elders apartment later then we hoped but as expected to. But because of our promoting to do so, we didn't feel as bad coming home late. For a little bit of background, we were texting President about us visiting the Elders so he knew about the situation. Anyway! We are on the train heading home it's 9:32 PM (2 minutes passed our extended time limit to be out late) and the phone rings...
"President Smith" appears on the caller ID, nervously Elder Tabor answers the phone. Elder Tabor after just a couple seconds of being on the phone hands the phone to me and says it’s for you. "Hey President!" "Elder Newbold! How's it going?" "It's going well President, how are you?" "I'm well, how's your mission been?" "Ahh, President, it's been the best experience of my life." "That's so good! Glad to hear it. Elder Newbold, you've been out just about 3 months now right?" "Just about, 3 days until 3 months" "Wow, time goes by so quick doesn't it?" "It does President, it's crazy." "Well Elder Newbold, the Lord has called you to be a trainer!" "Ahh man, no way! That's so awesome!" "So Elder Newbold, will you accept this calling?" "Absolutely, President. Thank you!" "That’s great, thank you for your service Elder Newbold."

I wasn't supposed to receive this phone call till Friday. So how cool, President must have been very inspired to tell me. He usually doesn't know who trainers or leaders will be until, sometimes the night
before.


January 12, 2016
Tuesday, Day 91
Day 78 in NY

PASS OFF:
This morning we met up with the Spanish missionaries, Elder Guerra and Elder Hilton? We had a pass off lesson, which is a lesson where a set of missionaries passes an investigator over to another set of missionaries. So Elder Tabor and I met this Spanish lady who wants to learn more so we went with the Spanish Elders and introduced her to them. Well she wasn't home but her mother was so they taught her mom a lesson and invited her to schedule another appointment.

LOOK UP:
We looked up a guy after 2 of our appointments fell through and we gave him a Book of Mormon.

LESSONS:
Then we went over to Jermaine’s and taught him, after Jermaine’s we went and visited/taught Brother Ford.

FINDING FAITH IN CHRIST:
After our lessons we went home and had dinner. Then we went to Uncle Ricky’s and watched finding faith in Christ. Then we broke the news to Ricky that Elder Tabor would be leaving and that I know I would be training. (The sad news is that Elder Tabor is being transferred)


January 13, 2016
Wednesday, Day 92
Day 79 in NY

Last PDAY with Elder Tabor ...

SHOTS:
Started off doing laundry and grocery shopping. Last week we started a tradition, we bought Danimals yogurt and while waiting for our clothes to dry we would take "yogurt shots"

Due to being in a hurry to just get home and unload and be ready for our last game of gator ball, we skipped the yogurt shots and went straight home.

And of course played a wonderful game of gator ball!!

LESSONS:
Then went home, picked up a large print Book of Mormon and took it to Aida. Then taught the Nation Family.

BLESSINGS:
When we came home, I just felt overwhelmed with the exciting/nervous feeling of being a trainer and having the possibility of becoming the District Leader, so I asked Elder Tabor if he would give me a
blessing. We invited the ASL Elders to join and after they gave me the blessing, everyone wanted one lol so we went around the room giving each other blessings.


January 14, 2016
Thursday, Day 93
Day 80 in NY

Today didn't seem like much happened, we looked up some referrals and had some lessons. Taught 3 lessons. One was with David Urbina, he's super cool. It's always a great lesson with him.


January 15, 2016
Friday, Day 94
Day 81 in NY

EARLY DAY:
Woke up early, took off to the training for trainers meeting. Elder Tabor went on a split with another Elder because he's not training anymore so he doesn't need to be there. The training meeting was super awesome, it made me feel so much better about training.

NEW ZL:
Elder Tabor has been called to be a ZL (Zone Leader). Won't find out where he will be serving till tomorrow..

SPLIT:
Came home and got ready to split. I again took over the area.


January 16, 2016
Saturday, Day 95
Day 82 in NY

We had a well planned day, but not much seemed to be happening. The first thing we did was look up Jermaine, but his shop was closed. So we went across the street, tried to get wifi. Then this guy came out of nowhere and we talked to him, he said we could come over. So we scheduled to see him next in a couple weeks.

THREATS:
Today was very interesting. We were waiting at a station for a train and we were looking at the schedule to see where this person lives. And we looked up because we heard some guy rapping. He was super into his rap, he was jumping around and throwing his arms around and we looked at each other and just kind of laughed and went back to looking for the address… When all of a sudden he started "rapping" about really deep threats and super bad things. So we looked up again and he
was looking at us this time, walking towards us at the same time... Turns out he wasn't rapping. He was threatening us… Shortly after, he apologized and told us he was just expressing his feelings.

PEOPLE IN NY:
We were heading back to the castle hill stop on the train to unsplit and this man who was like 60 came out of nowhere, looked at my name tag, looked me in the eyes and said "Elder Newbold, you are gay." And walked away, I said, "I’m gay??" He said "yep" as he walked away. Elder Sorensen and I just couldn't help but die laughing in confusion.


Behind in my journal a little bit, you'll understand why next week. (This transfer has been crazy, I have no companion... I'm now in a trio companionship, yo soy en la programa de español. Its super cool but I've had to pack and go to another apartment for next 2 weeks).

Love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Patience. Love. Faith

Much love,
Elder Newbold

District Meeting

District Meeting

Elder Newbold with his Spanish Trio