From: Christa Schank
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 9:11 AM
Well, we got transfer calls yesterday. Sister Chatterton is leaving me to go to Farmington (Palmyra) and site train! Site trainers are like zone leaders in charge of all the sisters, plus also APs for the site directors. So... it's a big job. She will do awesome. I will be training a new missionary from Italy, which will be exciting! She has taken 7 years of English, so she should be pretty fluent, but it will be interesting to see how it goes. New missionaries have a lot of fire and faith, which will be awesome. My other two roommates are staying the same, which will be nice. I love them.
Other exciting news this week: We had a meeting with all of the missionaries in the Rochester mission. Elder Cook, an area 70, came and addressed us, and then we got some additional training from our mission presidency. It was very enjoyable and uplifting (although all meetings with our mission president make me feel like I'm trying to drink from a fire hose). That night before site meeting, we were able to stop in at the Palmyra temple to be with two recent converts for their first experiences doing baptisms for the dead. One of them, Tina, had brought the names of several family members, including her husband, mother, and grandparents. Such a cool experience to see how the gospel changes people. I love the temple!!! The feeling inside is so beautiful and peaceful... i wish I could have that feeling always.
The sites are picking up because a lot of people in the US are on spring break. We had over 50 people come in during my shift at the Hill Cumorah on a weekday this week, which more than triples anything I've seen so far. Pageant is getting closer, so we should be getting busier and busier from now until about August. It's crazy but fun and exciting. :)
Between sites, the mission meeting, and the meeting for new trainers this week, we haven't had as much time in the area as we'd like. But we are still working with less-actives, and it's going really well! Laurel (who is trying to quit smoking/drinking so she can get a temple recommend) has now been to church for 3 weeks running. Brandon, an 8-year-old in an inactive family expressed the desire to be baptized yesterday, so his family is trying to come back to church as well. We are also seeing miracles with non-members in the area. We have one "official" investigator, but quite a few with a lot of real potential. We have been in the right places at the right times, and are starting to get return appointments! Pray for us, that those people will be home for those appointments...
That's all my time for this week. Thanks so much for your updates. I love you all and hope that you have a fabulous week.
Gotta run!
Sister Schank
