This last week is been super crazy! We got transferred together to a
new area on a special assignment. The area is called Sparta, and our
special assignment is family history. They did a state fair during the
summer and had a family history booth where they had people sign up to
receive free packets with school information about their family
history. They had way more people who are interested than they thought
it would, so they needed to put in an extra set of missionaries to
finish it up because it was taking too much of the missionaries time
who were already in this area. So our job is to try to get in touch
with all of these people and get them interested in family history.
Hopefully that will lead to an interest in the Gospel, but we are
supposed to just focus on family history work unless they seem very
open to being introduced to the church. It's really weird, we won't be
able to do very much of the normal missionary work that we are used
to, but hopefully this will tap into a gold mine of people who might
not otherwise give the church a chance. We have 116 packets to deliver
and they have also asked us to work with as many members as possible
on their family history. It's kind of intimidating because I do not
have the background in family history that I do in most of the other
things that we normally teach. The basic principles of the Gospel are
definitely way more in my comfort zone then family history work and
computers. I would be very confused about why they picked me for this
rather than someone who actually knows what they're doing, but they've
had other missionaries trying to do this and it hasn't worked very
well because they weren't willing to stick to every thing that the
senior missionary in charge asked of them. So I guess they needed
someone who would be more willing to do exactly what was asked of
them. As my mom will testify I have always been quite obedient as well
as literal in my obedience which led to some funny stories, but I
think it will serve me well with this assignment!
The area that the ward covers is quite large. Basically the
northwestern corner of the state of New Jersey. There is a set of
missionaries covering each half of the ward doing normal missionary
stuff, but we have been given the whole area to work which is pretty
massive. I am super stoked about it though, because it is absolutely
gorgeous here. It doesn't have mountains but the tree covered hills
are beautiful and it will be spectacular when more and more of the
leaves change color. The people that we've met so far here are great.
Maybe a little bit redneck, but so am I haha soI feel right at home :)
We are living in the same apartment as another set of missionaries so
it's a little bit crowded, but it's a nice apartment and the members
here take great care of the missionaries. One of the missionaries we
live with is actually one of my former companions sister Loseli!
Lots of unusual things going on this transfer and I'm not a pro at
adjusting to new things, but the mission gives me ample opportunities
to work on that! Having the beauty and tranquility of nature all
around me is such a tender mercy! A friend sent me a picture of
mountains that says "Nature. Cheaper than therapy." True story!
General conference was so spot on with what the world needs and what I
needed. There is no question that this church is lead through
continuous revelation from the Almighty.
I love you all. The church is true. God lives and loves each of us.
Keeping the commandments brings blessings and lasting joy.
Love yous!
Sister McConkie
new area on a special assignment. The area is called Sparta, and our
special assignment is family history. They did a state fair during the
summer and had a family history booth where they had people sign up to
receive free packets with school information about their family
history. They had way more people who are interested than they thought
it would, so they needed to put in an extra set of missionaries to
finish it up because it was taking too much of the missionaries time
who were already in this area. So our job is to try to get in touch
with all of these people and get them interested in family history.
Hopefully that will lead to an interest in the Gospel, but we are
supposed to just focus on family history work unless they seem very
open to being introduced to the church. It's really weird, we won't be
able to do very much of the normal missionary work that we are used
to, but hopefully this will tap into a gold mine of people who might
not otherwise give the church a chance. We have 116 packets to deliver
and they have also asked us to work with as many members as possible
on their family history. It's kind of intimidating because I do not
have the background in family history that I do in most of the other
things that we normally teach. The basic principles of the Gospel are
definitely way more in my comfort zone then family history work and
computers. I would be very confused about why they picked me for this
rather than someone who actually knows what they're doing, but they've
had other missionaries trying to do this and it hasn't worked very
well because they weren't willing to stick to every thing that the
senior missionary in charge asked of them. So I guess they needed
someone who would be more willing to do exactly what was asked of
them. As my mom will testify I have always been quite obedient as well
as literal in my obedience which led to some funny stories, but I
think it will serve me well with this assignment!
The area that the ward covers is quite large. Basically the
northwestern corner of the state of New Jersey. There is a set of
missionaries covering each half of the ward doing normal missionary
stuff, but we have been given the whole area to work which is pretty
massive. I am super stoked about it though, because it is absolutely
gorgeous here. It doesn't have mountains but the tree covered hills
are beautiful and it will be spectacular when more and more of the
leaves change color. The people that we've met so far here are great.
Maybe a little bit redneck, but so am I haha soI feel right at home :)
We are living in the same apartment as another set of missionaries so
it's a little bit crowded, but it's a nice apartment and the members
here take great care of the missionaries. One of the missionaries we
live with is actually one of my former companions sister Loseli!
Lots of unusual things going on this transfer and I'm not a pro at
adjusting to new things, but the mission gives me ample opportunities
to work on that! Having the beauty and tranquility of nature all
around me is such a tender mercy! A friend sent me a picture of
mountains that says "Nature. Cheaper than therapy." True story!
General conference was so spot on with what the world needs and what I
needed. There is no question that this church is lead through
continuous revelation from the Almighty.
I love you all. The church is true. God lives and loves each of us.
Keeping the commandments brings blessings and lasting joy.
Love yous!
Sister McConkie