It's a Beautiful Day!

Hello to all!
Today is a nice sunny day, much different than the last couple days, it has been raining non-stop. That is always fun as a missionary in the city because we just get to walk around in the rain... woo hoo! Ha ha, but don't worry, I have a good umbrella (and it's cute too!)
This last week has been a tough one. If I could describe it in one word.... frustration. This has been one of the hardest weeks of my mission as far as the work goes. Missionary work is so interesting, you put your whole heart into it and it takes all your energy to try and help these people progress and gain those blessings that Heavenly Father has just WAITING for them. But everyone has their free agency and needs to decide for themselves what to do. I am not going to go into details of what happened this week because they are not important but we'll just say, Mildred didn't get baptized. Her baptism was canceled 3 hours before it was supposed to happen. Her interview was a struggle as well last Wednesday night. It was raining that night and Sis. McMillan and I had no umbrellas with us. So after we dropped Mildred off we sat on a bench (while it was pouring rain) and just looked up at the sky. Sometimes, missionary work is hard. Ha ha. But it's ok... things will work out for the best. After we sat and stared into the dark NY sky while getting drenched we bought ice cream and cookies to make ourselves feel better. Nothing like emotional eating right? Ha ha... But everything will work out, I have faith in that. The good news is, I'm still happy and working hard! I know that the Lords hand is in everything we do here so He is in charge not me (as much as I want to be sometimes... ha ha)

Besides all of the frustrating things that have been going on (Mildred is just one of them) We have had some small miracles that are always so wonderful! We had interviews with President and that was just great. I love President Smith! He always has the right things to say! He is just wonderful and it's always a boost to have interviews. It's sad now that we only get to have them every other cycle, but always great to have them!

I also got to watch the Relief Society General Broadcast! It was amazing! It is so great to listen to a Prophet of the Lord! I loved the different talks and themes. Before the broadcast our stake had a mini conference and dinner. The conference was great and talked about Charity and the food was wonderful (You can imagine how nice it was since I am part of the New York New York stake... very ritzy) It was fun for a change since I live in the ghetto of Manhattan. But I loved it and the spirit was so strong. I am SO excited for conference this week! WOO HOO!

Well, sorry this is so short, time is running out. I am going to the Museum of Natural History today *(for the third time) so that should be fun! I love you all! Thanks for all you do! Can't wait to hear from you all!
Con amor- Hermana Passantino

Happy Easter!

Well, another week has come and gone. It is crazy how fast the weeks seem to go when you are on a mission. The MTC felt like a life time (as did my first transfer) but they are really a lot faster now. It's nuts. It really makes it so you don't ever want to miss a moment. I try to soak everything in, even the hard times. We have had a nice and wet week so far. I am NOT a fan of being wet all the time but good news... tomorrow is supposed to be in the 70's... just in time for General Conference and Easter! I can't wait! I have never been so excited for conference before. I just can't get over it... how cool is it that we get to listen to a Prophet?!?!?! We are doing a "Zone Blitz" on Friday were we hand out stuff and sing and things like that and we are going to invite people to watch conference. We were talking about how everyone would come if we were to say, "Come listen to Moses speak" When in reality...that is what it is! A prophet just like Moses, it's so cool. Who wouldn't want to watch conference? Anyway, sorry, my missionary excitedness is coming out a little too much. Ha ha.

Our new apartment is just wonderful. Moving was SO stressful and things were a mess but now it is so nice! We love it! We live in the same complex as some of the Elders (but not in the same building) and this morning we were surprised with a full out breakfast. It had everything, eggs, pancakes, bacon, toast (buttered and everything), apples and smoothies! They are so kind. We actually woke up and ran over to our other pad to clean it all up for morning exercise. As we were walking back we get a call from the elders asking us where we are. (Side-note: here you can't get into a building without getting "buzzed" in) So, we were right across the street from the building and we see them outside of our building. They all see us and run away. The thoughts that go through our heard was.. "oh great, what are the elders doing?" They all run away and we get to the outside of out building and there is breakfast. It was a fun surprise and I'll consider that my "birthday breakfast in bed!"

This week was rather slow because of all the moving craziness. I got meds for my sinus infection and I feel much better now. It seems that on a mission everything that goes wrong is just magnified. I swear, Satan does ALL he can to stop this work, but he's not very good at it. Ha ha. I feel like I don't have many exciting things to say this week. We are really doing well. I am loving the English sisters. Sister Wadsworth moved in this last cycle and we already feel like best friends. I love getting close to the other sister missionaries. We have so much fun together.

I am loving reading the Book of Mormon as a missionary. I love the Book of Mormon, it is so simple and so perfect. I was reading in 2 Nephi 2 and there is a perfect verse about how I feel about my Savior. It's verse 2 and it is what I would want to be my theme in life. I am so grateful for the Savior and His sacrifice for us. We were talking in our apartment the other night about how frustrating it is when people yell at you or are rude. We talked about Elder Hollands talk one year ago called "None were with Him" and how we need to make sure we never let our Savior stand alone again. That is why we are here. I loved this quote from Elder Holland,
"May we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in the word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in the deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. May we stand by Jesus Christ "at all times and in all things and in all places that we may be in, even until death" for surely that is how He stood by us, when it WAS unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone."

This Easter season, let us vow to never let our Savior stand alone again! I am so grateful that he died for us, that when times are hard, He knows how we feel. I know He lives, I know He loves each one of us. I am so thankful I can be here serving Him and our Heavenly Father.

Thank you all for what you do! I love you all and can't wait to hear from you :)
Con Amor- Hermana Passantino

PS: Ok, my official address is Doris with 1 "r" not 2. Thanks!