Massachusetts Boston Mission- AKA- The Inspiration, Consecration, Edification Nation

Hello family and friends!

Guess what... it is Tuesday! What???

Yesterday was not our P-Day because Elder Packer, President Boyd K. Packer's son, came to tour our mission. He is in the Quorum of the Seventy. It was pretty awesome. We had a Zone Conference yesterday that was from 8:00am-5:00pm. My brain was going to explode. 

Ahahahaha Moments-

So... I got a haircut... Nothing dramatic... just like.... 6 or 7 inches... ahahaha. When I walked into ward council on Sunday, The 1st counselor, Brother S just goes, "Holy Haircut," ahahahaha I love it though. Fun fact: As Sister Missionaries, it is really important to not let our hair cover our name tag, so since I have been out here, my hair has always been parted on the left side so most of the hair falls on my right shoulder. BUT, now that it is above my shoulders... I can part it on whichever side I want.... I don't really know how to handle that one. Haha little things entertain me. 

And now another funny conversation with the Elders:

After discussing an investigator with a boyfriend who is kind of a punk and who lives with her.

E.T: "I don't get it, if he wont marry her, why doesn't she just break up with him?" 

S. H: "Elder, have you ever been in love?"

*Good 30 seconds of silence*

E. L: "That's a loooong silence."

Ahahaha these Elders are so great!

Miracles of the week:

You guys, so many amazing things happened this week. 

I think I am going to have to do a miracle a day thing

Monday- We skyped with C at the Bishops home. Bishop S is so amazing. His family looks like the Weasley's. I love them so much. We talked about keeping the Sabbath day holy and committed him to pray for a way to get to church. He is super busy and the only day that he can see his family is on Sunday. Please keep him in your prayers!

Tuesday- Stop by's are super tedious for a missionary especially when no one is home... but on Tuesday we stopped by a former investigator named A, and she was home and she set up a time for us to come again and continue to teach her. She is from Haiti and has the cutest kids ever.

Wednesday- After dinner with the S's, we called a less-active/recent convert and she didn't answer... so we just stopped by... and she was home and in wayyy better spirits that the last time we had seen her. YAY! Sometimes... you just have to stop by... because maybe they aren't ignoring you, they are just stuck on the phone with their sisters that talk a lot... :)

 Thursday- L had her baptismal interview and it went great!!! 

Friday- We had an awesome district meeting and we also received the "A Savior is Born" pass-along cards. #Woohooo!

Saturday- Wait for it.. Wait for it... L got baptized! Woohooo! It was such a great day! Also, J came to the baptism and then later that night asked us to teach him the lessons so that he could be baptized! We were freaking out! 

Sunday- L was confirmed and we had Mission Leadership Council with a General Authority... No big deal. It was a super inspiring council. we wrote all the things our mission is good at and then wrote the things that we felt needed to be worked on and then as zones we rated them. Almost every zone agreed on what needed to be done and the spirit was super strong. Oh, and we got home at 10:30... not too late like we thought it would be. 

Miracles EVERYWHERE!

Aha moment-

So with Zone Conference I learned a bunch of things, but I will talk about those next week. This week, some cool things went down during my studies. 

So, Wednesday night I had a horrible nightmare after hearing about the craziness in California. It was basically the end of the world, and it left me feeling really hopeless when I woke up. I just felt like there was no point in having dreams and aspirations because the world was just going to end anyway (I don't know why I couldn't think about like the 2nd coming or the millennium but it just wasn't in my mind)  It was awful. So, I prayed. I prayed because I knew that if anyone could help me feel better, it was God. And guess what happened? A scripture came into my mind. One that we share with families around here a lot. 

2 Nephi 5:27

"And it came to pass that they lived after the manner of happiness" 

Now this is referring to some brothers, Nephi and Sam and the Nephites(good guys). In the same chapter, Laman and Lemuel and the Lamanites(Bad guys) their brothers are literally trying to make them go extinct. There are wars and rumors of wars and hardships... but they were happy. I was like... Wait what? That is like exactly my issue right now... So I read through the chapter again, for the 10th time and over and over it just helped me realize, to be happy, we keep the commandments, work hard and be with our families. We are obedient because we love God not because we are scared of a punishment from him if we choose wrong. I felt God just give me a big hug and say, "It is alright Sister Alexander, look at the big picture, I am here." 

So here I am, spiritually uplifted and ready for the Christmas season!

 What about you? What are you doing to come closer to Christ this upcoming year? 

I hope that these letters home have been of use to you. I try to make them mean something.  

I know that God is there and that Christ truly did die for each and every one of us. He died so that YOU could be happy here and for eternity. 

You are all so loved. 

Have a great week

Be Good

Love,

Sister Alexander

Also, I have my homecoming talk assignment.. 2 days after I get home. January 31st, I would love to see you there! 

Picture- L's Baptism! 

Showing Gratitude for Y'all!

Hello all!

Was your Thanksgiving delicious and full of good people and good fun? Mine sure was! 

In honor of Thanksgiving, I decided that I will write 20 things that I am grateful for. Some are in order, others are not haha. 

1. The Gospel 

2. The Atonement of Jesus Christ

3. Jesus Christ and His perfect example

4. My Parents

5. My Brothers

6. My Companions

7. My Extended Family

8. Prayer

9. The Book of Mormon

10. My Amazing Friends!

11. Cats

12. Yummy Food like Donuts

13.The Temple

14. Email

15. Clothing... or else things would be awkward... 

16. Music that makes your spirit sing :)

17. My Ward Families- Liberty, Sunrise Mountain, Madison, Woostah, Norwich. All the AMAZING people in all of them!

18. Flowers that smell and look awesome

19. Glasses so I can see... 

20. Art Supplies

I am also so grateful for all of you! Thank you for your support and love and awesomeness. I am so grateful for the mission too! Not just the mighty MBM, but missions in general. I have learned so much out here and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Miracle moment-

On Saturday we got to go to the temple with the youth and one of our recent converts to do baptisms. I love the temple so much. So, we were there and a bunch of people from the ward sent names for girls but there were no young women to do the work. So we did some confirmations and next thing we know, in walks Brother E for Worcester 2nd Ward with two of his granddaughters who would be there for an hour and a half! We were able to do the work for 44 people! It was so cool! Then we went upstairs and did some more work for them! Miracles! 

We also had a real deep lesson with our good friend C from Brazil on Skype. We just decided to be bold with him (But not overbearing) and we committed him to pray about being baptized! woohooo! We will find out tonight how his prayers went!

Ahaahaha moments-

Some funny quotes over the past week...

Elder L: "Ew, you eat this raw," as he picks up a piece of broccoli and takes a tiny bite. He was DISGUSTED. 

Sister H's response : "Don't you eat cat in China?"

 

Sister H to Elder L: "We widened your eyes in a picture on my cool camera... it kinda worked." 

Elder Liu: "Does it look pretty? That is what I care about." 

 

Elder T: "She really needs to exercise." 

Sister H: "You probably shouldn't ever say that again...."

 

Me: "Elder L your English is great!"

Elder L: "I want to get rid of my accent, do I have one?"

Me: "Yeah... you sound like an Asian speaking English."

Elder L: "Man! Thanks for ruining my dreams!"

 

We also ate Thanksgiving dinner at 1:00 so we were hungry again by like 7 so after an appointment... we went to McDonalds... #ThanksgivingMcFlurry 

 

Well folks. I hope that you have a fantastic week! OH! And go to Christmas.mormon.org The new video is AMAZING! 

God is great. Christ Lives. Is it too early to say Merry Christmas? 

You are all so loved! 

Love

Sister Alexander

Picture- Thanksgiving. Post food, pre-coma 

Another Amazing Week in the MBM!

Hello World!

How was your week?

Was it full of unexpected miracles and even greater reasons to be thankful? It was! Oh good, mine too! 

Miracles-

Here is the short version :)

We ran into a less active lady (of like 4 years) at Target, she was our cashier, and we were able to visit her, get her family to a ward activity, and get them to church. God was working with her the whole time. She is awesome. Pray for L!

We raked a bunch of leaves for a member and then we saw a guy across the street raking a yard that was like 20 times bigger so we finished up and then went over to see if he wanted help. He was deaf, but.... Sister H knows how to sign! #MiraclesHappen So we helped him and he asked us where our church was and he said that he is looking for a church, but he lives in East Hartford, so we gave him a Book of Mormon and he got all excited! Pray for D!

On Friday, we went to our investigator L's house. She is awesome and she is really progressing fast. She used to hide from missionaries, but she asked for a blessing when she got surgery on her lungs and it really comforted her. So, on Friday when we got there she just goes, "Okay, I have something to say and I know that it is going to shock you all, but I need your help to do everything I need to do to get baptized." Then she starts crying, her daughter-in-law starts crying and we do too. Then we set a date for December 5th! 2 days before she starts chemo. She came to church and had a wonderful experience. Life is so great! Keep her in your prayers! 

Aha Moment-

So, this week for District Meeting we were talking about our purpose as missionaries and Elder F, one of the senior missionaries serving here, mentioned something profound. He talked about Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16 which says:

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, 

and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father,

 how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"

 He said, "Elders and Sisters, if you bring but one soul into the gospel, you will have aided in the creation of Worlds without number."

Mind Blown.

Bam Pow. Good stuff. 

Ahaha moments-

I am really, really bad at remembering the funny things that happened throughout the week. Just know that lots of laughs were had. 

Know that you are all so loved. 

God is Great!

Love 

Sister Alexander

A Whole Bunch of "Firsts"- A novel

Hello Friends! I hope that your week was just as adventurous as ours was, because boy a lot happened this week!

Miracles of the week-

Well. Mom...Dad...Grammy, don't freak out but I got in my first car accident. But, it wasn't my fault! Here is the story and then I will tell the miracles about it all looking back. Ready, okay

It was a dark and rainy Tuesday night. Well, it was like 5:30 and because of Daylight Savings ending, it was dark. And it was a slight drizzle... not real rain. So we were driving and we come to an intersection with a red light and we stop. We were the only ones in the lane, and we were just talking waiting for the light to turn green for like 40 seconds,when all of a sudden the whole car is jolted forward and shakes and we scream and I am all, "What just happened!?!" Sister H is all, "Someone just hit us!" probably thinking I was a dummy haha. I was thinking, "Second coming! Earthquake! The Hulk jumping from a plane and hitting our car!" It wasn't any of those things of course haha. I pulled into the parking lot that was on our right and without thinking I just turn off the car and run to see if the guy that hit us was alright. His car was smoking, his airbags had gone off and his car wouldn't start. He gets out and is all, "Why were you stopped at a green light?" Uhmmmm sir, it was totally red. Both of us assured him of that and then we noticed that he had a bloody nose. He was fine, so we called the cops, and a nice man named John (mysterious guy who left when the cops got there but he stayed before because "I would never leave 2 pretty girls with a man that they just got in an accident with, you just don't do that) came and helped us figure out what road we were on and helped us flag down the officer. Our rear bumper is messed up a bit on the inside but the outside only has a few scratches and bumps. We were super lucky. He was going like 30-35. We got his contact info and gave him a restoration pamphlet before we left. Miracles of this story- John was so great like an angel who came and went when needed haha. The intersection one up from us was super busy but the one we were in wasn't at all. No one was hurt. We were only 10 minutes late to our dinner appointment. We got his phone number and he told us to call him so we could teach him. All in all it was a good experience other than now when people ride my tail I just want to scream at them. So yeah. #1stCarAccident

We had a restoration lesson with C on Monday! He is a digital investigator who lives in Brazil and he LOVES the Book of Mormon. Normally that is all we can talk about with him but we were able to tell the whole of the story of Joseph Smith and testify to him of the truthfulness of not just the Book of Mormon but of the whole Gospel of Christ. For the first time my whole mission, 16 months, I was able to say the first vision without messing up or totally blanking. Ponderizing works! #1stVision? haha

We had another lesson with an investigator named L, she is the mother of one of the members and used to be super wary of the missionaries. We have been trying to teach her since I have been here and first they were moving and then she had to get half of her lung removed because she had smoking-caused lung cancer. Don't smoke guys. It is so bad. We talked about the Atonement and how it has blessed our lives and her daughter-in-law testified that it has changed her. L committed to pray to know if the things she has learned are true! Whoooohoooo! She is so ready!

Aha Moment-

In MLC- Mission Leadership Council- this week an Elder bore his testimony and told a story of a farmer, who loved his donkey. He woke up one morning, and found that the donkey was missing. He left all of his other animals in search of his donkey. He walked over all of his land calling and searching for his beloved pet and couldn't find it until he came across an old dry well. As he peered in and his eyes adjusted he saw, at the bottom, his donkey. After trying to figure out how to get it out, he ultimately decided it was a lost cause and saddened he started to fill the dried well with dirt, knowing his pet would die eventually anyway. As he threw in the first shovel full of dirt the donkey, annoyed, cried out and stomped, but the farmer continued to dig and fill. The donkey with time became quiet, and the farmer thinking it was buried, continues to fill the old dry well. Suddenly he saw some hair, pop out of the hole in the ground, then some ears, and watched his favorite donkey emerge from the hole. He watched as he shoveled, the donkey shook the dirt from his back and stomped it down and stood a little higher each time. The donkey got out of the hole. Sometimes we are feeling like we are stuck in a hole and when things couldn't get any worse, a pile of dirt comes down at us. We complain as we shake it off and step on it, but slowly with time, we stop complaining and start understanding. Our trials help us stand a little taller. I am grateful for the knowledge that with the Saviors help, I can come out of life's holes, taller, and better. God is great. 

Ahahahaha moments-

So, I sleep talk... and so does Sister H. So this week we were exercising and all of a sudden we both remembered that we had a conversation that night. It went kind of like this: I guess I asked a question about what we could do to help our zone and Sister H was all, "I dont know but I think that the best way to help our investigators is to get them involved," At this point I woke up because I heard her talking but I was super confused so I was just like, "Oh, that is a great idea," and then we just went back to sleep. Ahahaha. We got a great ab workout that morning because of it. 

Also, did you know that they are called "Brussels Sprouts" because I didnt haha. But we had them for dinner, and some sweet potato fries. We both really like them ahaha #FeelTheHealthy

Are you all so excited for Thanksgiving? Because I sure am. Like so excited. 

Have a great week! Know that you are soooo loved!

Love

Sister Alexander

Pictures- 

Picture 1- Leaves for days! This one is for you Spiff! 

Picture 2- We had Zone Meeting on Friday! Yay! #SoProZone #ProvidenceSouth

Be the Change

Hello from Norwich Ct, where the skies are grayish blue and the air is getting brisker by the minute! 

Life here is soooo good and a little crazy too! First and foremost... I want to introduce my new companion! 

Sister H!

Sister H is from Herriman Utah! #2ndFromUtah

She has almost been on her mission for a year, on the 19th. #OneYear

She is super funny and blunt, she will tell you how it is. If it makes you look fat, she will tell you. I love it hahaha. 

She wants to be a cosmetologist and also work in the foster care system #CleanItUp

And she hates Hashtags... so of course, I shall use them to describe her ahaha :)

 

Miracles of the week-

First off, we got to go to transfer meeting. It was a happy/sad occasion. Happy because we got to see a bunch of people, and sad because well... Sister G left. But we got there on time and we also got our car's safety inspection done on time. It was super weird to drive through Worcester. Once we got there I totally could have turned off the GPS.

Our other miracle was that we got to see the C's on Thursday. They are the cutest little family, and they are sooooo ready for the gospel. Sister C loves that we believe in eternal families and we were able to bear testimony to her and her husband that we are on missions because we KNOW that it is true. Bishop was able to come too! It was so great! 

 

Aha Moments-

Well, this week was Stake Conference so this section might be big haha. 

Saturday's session was great. It was about working together in councils to uplift and edify each other. They talked about how as ward, family and companionship councils we need to work interdependently, working together for one purpose. Depending on each other equally. Sounds an awful lot like Zion am I right? Seeking unity together. LOVE IT.

Also, I was reading a talk, called "Why Not Now?" by Neal A Maxwell and it said something that I really enjoyed.

"My friends, there are footprints to follow where we must go—made not by a leader who said, safely from the sidelines, “Go thither,” but by a leader who said, “Come, follow me.” And our mortal leader is a prophet who is showing us how to lengthen our stride."

I am so grateful that I have been given this chance to serve a mission and to wear the Savior's name on my heart. I know that He lived, I know that He lives now. What a blessing to know. 

 

Ahaha Moments-

Always laughing. We are always laughing. At transfer meeting, I got to talk to an Elder who is now home, he just said, "Give it all that you have but have fun doing it," or something like that. :)

The B's came to visit me! We went out to dinner! Oh, I love them so much! 

Also, at transfer meeting, I got to see Sister F and all of my Worcester amigos! Except for Sister M but I see her on Wednesday at MLC! Yay! Gah! The Worcester Zion was real! 

I am sorry, none of these things are very funny ahaha. I will try to write down actual funny things this week. That way I wont be the only one laughing. 

I just want to end on this note, err quote, 

"May we be different in order to make a difference in the world" - Neal A Maxwell

You are all soooo loved!

Have a great week! 

Love

Sister Alexander

Picture 1- Sister H and I! 

Picture 2- The Quadpanionship! Elder T from Cali, Elder L from China, Sister H from Utah and me creepin in the back :)

Uhmmmm...What?

Hello my people! Ha de dae? 

Guess what? Transfers are this week and we are kind of upset about it... Sister G and Elder A are leaving... Like What the What? Elder A... is going to Woostah! Woohooo! I am super sad to see him leave but HE IS GOING TO WOOSTAH I love that place sooooo much!! Sister G is going to Brookline MA and I think I am just going to tell President that she can't leave because I love her too much.... We are kind of in denial of it all. 

Miracles

This month as a Zone we had a goal to get 3 new investigators every week per companionship... and we worked so hard, every week we found people, but they wouldn't set up a return appointment so they weren't investigators. We decided that this week was going to be a good one. We worked super hard and invited so many people to our Fall Festival. None of them came, even though there were 24 non-members there, so we decided to deliver cookies to one of the families that we really wanted to come. We stopped by and proceeded to have the best spiritual conversation I have ever had. Sister G and I sang them "I Need Thee Every Hour" and the spirit filled the room. We testified of the Book of Mormon... and set a return appointment for next Saturday! In the middle of our gratitude prayer I realized that the Lord helped us find 3 new investigators... on the very last day of the month. It was the best day ever. I totally cried haha. Halloween was awesome. Pray for J and her family! :)

Another miracle, we were at a member's home and the dad isn't a member, but they are Haitian, and Hatians feed you... so much food. Like, we were looking at it and just thinking... "That will not fit." but anyway, we were eating and the dad drinks some juice... that he is allergic to! He started not feeling good and he started to just cry out in pain. We were super concerned. So he gets up to go lay down... and he passes out, like flat on the ground. Now, here is the miracle, his daughter who is in high school wants to be a trauma surgeon, just went "Mom, turn him over right now, he is going to puke," It was not like 1 second after they turned him, he did. We thought he was going to die it was so scary, but the spirit told us, "Hey, call their home teachers," So we did and they came and gave him a blessing and he was at the fall festival 2 days later... God was totally watching out for that family. 

Aha moments

Just a little quote..." If you saw the size of the blessing coming, you would understand the magnitude of the battle you are fighting."

True dat.

 Ahaahaha moments

This week was so crazy busy I don't really even remember what happened. Oh! There was a girl dressed as a Dalek at the Fall Festival. Their family loves me because I actually know what they are talking about when they geek out. 

Also, I guess it is funny that we have been singing to basically everyone now... it just brings the spirit in so fast. We call it "Pulling a Plumtree Drive" 

Well, you are all super de duper loved.

Be good!

Love,

Sister Alexander

P.S. I was told 7 weeks until Christmas... O.o 

Picture 1-New England just really likes my name haha :)

Picture 2- Our Quadpanionship! #WeLoveNorwich

Exchanges, Twinkie the TIWI and Lice...Yes, Lice

No, we do not have lice.

Hallelujah.

But, a member's child does and we were in their presence. As of yet, we are still untouched but the member is "infested" according to her school nurse... gross. ahaha. 

In other news I have a lot to write about and not very much time! Today is Tuesday! Weird right? Well, yesterday we had Interviews with President M and because of that, we had to move out P-day. Good thing I am alive ahaha. :)

 

Miracles of the week 

-This week was so great! It was crazy intense and busy though! On Monday night I went to Westerly RI with my good friend Sister W! My MTC companion! 15 months later aha! Boy oh boy was it great to see the difference in our teaching and to see how much we have learned! She goes home this upcoming transfer! Then I go home the next... gah! No, no, no! 

- We met a bunch of people! They just pop up out of nowhere. Some of them turn out weird. but it just strengthens us!

 

Aha Moments

We had Zone Conference on Wednesday, where we got "Twinkie"... the TIWI, which helps us manage our speed and how we use the Lord's vehicles. Aside from getting big brother in our car, who yells at us if we go too fast... we also were taught about our role as Disciples of Jesus Christ. We are not meant to become consecrated missionaries. We are meant to become consecrated disciples of Jesus Christ. It was an awesome reminder.  

The primary program on Sunday, was adorable. My personal favorite part was our Ward Mission leader's daughter's talk. She is 6 and this is what she said. "If we have faith, like a lot of Faith, miracles will happen. And guess what else? Jesus is coming back and I can't wait." Neither can I. 

Last awesome thing that happened. 

So on Thursday I was on the brink of an exhaustion meltdown. I was super tired after like 4 days of getting to bed late and having to wake up early and I was so done. We were driving to do some stop bys and I was like 20 seconds away from pulling over and asking Sister G to drive because I just needed to cry or something and that exact moment we pass this little old man who was raking his leaves. Sister G just goes, "We should stop and see if he needs help." and inside 2 things happen. 1) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! and 2) turn around and go help him. I hope you can assume that I chose the latter and we went and asked if we could help and he just goes, "What would people think, two young ladies raking my leaves and me just standing here?" We were just like, "uhm, they would be like, 'good for them helping that really old man'". So we did! We grabbed a bag and helped the cute little man for about 45 minutes and then we promised him that we could come back the next day with the Elders and finish the job. SO MANY LEAVES. We went back on Friday and it was so, so, so great! The Elders came and helped us! Leaves for days! We also found out... the little old man, was 90! He had been married for 68 years and the past 2 his wife has had dementia. He takes care of her and the house and the yard. Helping him made all woes leave my own head! It also helps that his neighbor walked over and started talking to us so we invited him to the Fall Festival on Friday! Wooohooo! God is Great! Serving others truly makes you happy!

 

Ahaha Moments

-We quote Avatar the Last Air Bender and Kid History all the time. Anything that applies, makes us so happy. 

"FACT!" "Secret Tunnel! Through the Mountain!" "Mom, Can we sell all the candies to the neighborhood?" "She said it was okay!"

-We met a guy named K a few days ago. He informed us that we were standing in front of the largest Crack and Prostitute house in Norwich, after we taught him the first lesson. Ahahaha We were dying of laughter as we promptly locked the doors of our car and drove away as fast as we could without Twinkie yelling at us. 

 

Stay safe on Halloween! Sister G and I are going to be twins... :)

Life is so great you guys! 

I love being a missionary and learning how to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

You are all so loved

Love,

Sister Alexander

Pic 1- Sister W and I! Yay! Ahaha We were all, "Lets take a picture to show everyone how much weight we have gained in the past 15 months!"

Pic 2- Leaves for days!

Pic 3- Sore hands and backs and 36 trash bags later! Can you imagine a little 90 year-old man doing that? No, neither can I.