Sunshine or Snow?

What in the world is going on with the weather this week? It is crazy! A couple of days ago we had SUCH nice weather, almost in the 70's... I was in Heaven. We walked around Norwalk all day and I loved it. Hna. Vander Does was a little pooped by the end of the day but I just keep telling her I am preparing her for the city so she is not in total culture shock when she goes there one day. But on Monday and now today, it is snowing... what in the world? So strange! I was talking to a lady outside of the library today and she just told me how unpredictable the weather is in March... I hope April is better.

It's been a good week full of learning experiences. We taught our investigator Jose on Monday and that did not go at all as planned. We were excited to teach him the Plan of Salvation and had it all ready to go. As soon as we got in we realized that he did not need to hear about the Plan of Salvation, so the lesson plan changed in an instant (gotta love when that happens). I was more bold with him that I have ever been with anyone of my mission. For a moment, I felt as if the spirit was teaching both of us. Sadly, Jose knows it's true, he knows what he needs to do but he also knows that HE needs to be the one to do it. He understands what it means to have a willing heart and he admits that he doesn't have it. It was really hard to drop him because you can just see how it would change his life but he's right, we need to be willing to make that change or nothing is going to happen. I don't know if I explained that very well but it was a great lesson for me on agency and what WE need to do to receive that change of heart. I hope that one day he will have that desire because I know as soon as he does, his life will change.

We had interviews with President this last week and those went well. I can't believe that it was my last one with him before I go home, it seems strange. It was fun to sit with him and talk about "the good ol' days" when I was in the Bronx. He is such an amazing man and I am so happy he is my Mission President!

So here is a funny story. A couple weeks ago some elders and I got into a conversation about owl pellets... ya know, those things that owls throw up that are full of bones and stuff? Gross I know but for some reason we were talking about those and I remembered a time when we lived in PA and Kindra and I got to dissect one. Anyway, it was a random conversation but something I remembered was fun way back when.... fast forward to the other day. We were in this really random dollar store looking for a wig for our "Biblia Novela" and I see something with Harry Potter on it... of course I pick it up to take a look. Guess what it was? It was this owl pellet dissecting kit! Ha ha! You better believe I bought it and now I am making the elders dissect an owl pellet with me this afternoon... am I crazy? Probably but it sounds like fun to me!

I hope everyone is doing well wherever you are! Things here are great. Transfers are next Wednesday... I pray and hope Hna. Vander Does stays here to kill me off... we'll see! Have a wonderful week!

Con Amor- Hermana Passantino

Lots of Love=Lots of Food

Hello from good ol' Connecticut!
It's a bit chilly today but this morning my companion convinced me to go out running with her... wow do I feel out of shape! Ha ha! I seriously felt like an old woman but it was nice to get out of the house to exercise (Don't tell her I said that or she will make me do it again!)

Things here in CT continue to move forward. As before, I am still trying to get a hold of the upstate lifestyle. We have a lot of appointments with the members and they feed us such good food. They are such wonderful people and my weight is going to show for it! Ha ha! The good news is, I am writing down how to make some of my favorite things so I can try them out when I am home. It's been fun because there are so many different people from different countries so we get to try a good variety. One member joked about feeding me cow stomach. I kindly told him I had alreayd tried it and I don't really need to try it again. Ha ha! So gross!

The work is moving forward here. Hna. Vander Does and I are working hard at finding those people who are searching for the gospel. We actually had a really cool lesson with a guy named Jose that we street contacted my first week here. He was wondering why there were so many different doctrines and how we know what one is correct... PERFECT! He is cool we are excited to continue teaching him. Also, we had this random guys name on our white board with an address. We didn't know where it came from but we decided to go check it out. Turns out it was a guy from Peru who had gone to church in Peru but never here. We are also very excited to teach him. I love teaching the restoration and the plan of salvation. It just brings so much joy. The spirit is always strong and it just feels good to teach those basics. The gospel is so simple and knowing the simple truths brings so much happiness in our lives!

I hope everyone is doing well. You are all in my prayers! Have an amazing week!

Con Amor- Hermana Passantino
Oh and PS; I can't remember if I put the correct address for my new address here in Norwalk- I think I put the wrong zip code but it is 25 Maple st #8, Norwalk, CT, 06850

I guess "Bronx" really is my middle name

Here I am again, emailing from the Bronx! Who knew I would have lived in the Bronx for half my mission! This cycle is a shorter one, only 4 weeks, but it will be one where I can work harder and try to leave this area better than I found it. I still can't believe I'm still here. I was anticipating change but since the missionaries aren't changing then the way I work must be the need for the change. I am excited about this next cycle.

We have Ozzy's baptism this Saturday which we are excited for! He is such a miracle baptism and I am just happy for him to be able to make that covenant with the Lord. He is excited to be baptized and receive the priesthood. He talks about how he can't wait to come teach with us and help other people. He is solid and we are so happy for him.

This last week has been a good one and we have been able to find some new people to teach. Jose, the Dominican guy I had to teach by myself in Spanish, came to church. We weren't expecting it at all and we can see their whole family accepting the gospel. The Lord really does have people in this area that are prepared to hear his gospel.

I have been able to have some really good personal spiritual experiences lately that have helped my testimony grow even more. One of which was my understanding of hope. I was asked to give a training on Hope in our district meeting and was kind of stressed about it because hope has always been something that I had a hard time understanding. I read a scripture in Romans that talked about how hope comes from experience. I didn't understand that, so I did some pondering. I was thinking about my freshman year of college, when I had a very difficult time with depression and anxiety. That was the hardest time in my life and I didn't think I would make it through. But I did and I was fine. I learned so many lessons from that experience, too many to number but I realized the biggest lesson I learned was hope. When those same feelings came again right when I came to NY, I didn't think I could make it through. I thought I would have to fail at it because of the way I felt. I felt as if I was a failure. My parents both reminded me that I made it through the first time, I can do it again. Because of that, I stayed, I made it through, and I am doing wonderful. Heavenly Father knew that the first experience I had with depression gave me hope, so that I could make it through the second time. If I hadn't have had that hope that it would go away, I wouldn't be able to be here today. How grateful I am for my trials and for the lessons Heavenly Father has given me to teach me more about hope. I would pray that all of you would study hope and how you have gained more hope in your lives.

Well, I love you all. I hope you have a wonderful week! Stay strong!

Con Amor- Hermana Passantino