And if you want to see some cool photos of what the super cold looks like in Chicago, here are links to those:
Now, on to Allyse's letter...
From: Allyse Meanea
Date: Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 11:26 AM
Wednesday we had District Meeting. After that we practiced a song because it is Missionary Sunday in our ward this week. Us 8 missionaries are singing and Hermana Black and I are speaking. The Hermanas then took us home and we had lunch and then did Facebook contacting. Next we tried to contact some people and did some tracting. We set up one appointment with a man for Saturday.
Thursday we went and contacted M.... R......., an investigator we hadn't seen for a while because her brother is really sick in the hospital. She was good, her brother is still really sick and so we set an appointment for next week. We spent most of the rest of the day in weekly planning. We then had an appointment with a less active but we she didn't' answer her phone or door. We later found out she didn't have her phone so she didn't know we were there.
Sunday was a day I had been really nervous for because I have a hard enough time giving a talk in English, let alone Spanish! But, Church was good. We even had two investigators come to Sacrament Meeting. I gave my talk and spoke for about 10 minutes, in Spanish! I read most of my talk but I wrote it all by myself and one of our Zone Leaders said it was really good and only had a few tiny grammar mistakes! After Church we mostly did studies and worked on area book because it was honestly too cold to go out without a car and we were advised to stay inside.
I love my new companion, Hermana Black. She is so nice and we get along really well. This is definitely a new, and exciting, adventure. I know that I am going to learn and grow a lot this transfer. Thank you so much to all of you for all of your love and support! I hope you have an amazing week and don't think about our high's here in Chicago being around -18! I love you all so much!
Date: Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 11:26 AM
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| Hna Toney and I with a wonderful member family |
Hola a Todos! Como estan? This has been quite the week! I started on a fun new adventure with a new companion, Hermana Black. On Tuesday we went to the transfer meeting. We watched all of the new greenies get their trainers and then everyone just leaves with their new companions. It was hard to say goodbye to Hermana Toney because she has been so amazing for me and I have gotten so comfortable with how it was. But, one thing I have definitely learned on my mission is that this Gospel is a Gospel of change, so, it makes sense that we need to change companions occasionally to learn and grow. There can't be any comfort zone as a missionary! So we changed companions and then us four Hermanas went and got Hermana Whitney's (Hna Jones' new companion) luggage, ate at Subway, went shopping at Walmart, and then they took us to our apartment. We did a brief planning session and introduction to the area then went and tried to find a referral we had received. The lady we talked to had never heard of the person we supposedly had been referred the phone number didn't work so it looks like it wasn't real. We then went to the Noche de Hogar with the T.... family. We read from Genesis and then ate.
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| Hna Toney and I with our teaching tool iPad Mini's wearing the PJ's that Hna Toney's Grandma made |
Wednesday we had District Meeting. After that we practiced a song because it is Missionary Sunday in our ward this week. Us 8 missionaries are singing and Hermana Black and I are speaking. The Hermanas then took us home and we had lunch and then did Facebook contacting. Next we tried to contact some people and did some tracting. We set up one appointment with a man for Saturday.
Thursday we went and contacted M.... R......., an investigator we hadn't seen for a while because her brother is really sick in the hospital. She was good, her brother is still really sick and so we set an appointment for next week. We spent most of the rest of the day in weekly planning. We then had an appointment with a less active but we she didn't' answer her phone or door. We later found out she didn't have her phone so she didn't know we were there.
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| Hermana Black and Hermana Meanea |
Friday we had a lesson with another investigator, M.... C......... I can honestly say I took the lead in that lesson and spoke more Spanish in a lesson that I had my whole mission so far! We taught the 10 Commandments and I was even able to talk with her about her concerns about the virgin birth of Christ. It went pretty well and it felt so amazing to know that I played a big part in teaching a lesson. We then had a lesson with a recent convert/less active. I shared a scripture, Omni 1:26, and we talked with her a bit. We then tried to contact some other people but with no luck.
Saturday we went to the appointment we had made while tracting, but no one answered the door. :-( We then went to the train station and renewed our bus passes. Next we tried some potentials but they weren't home. We then went to MCM (missionary correlation meeting). I was a little nervous because I knew I would have to talk the whole time we were sharing our progress record because I knew the people. But, it went pretty good. We then went and saw a less active family. They were so nice and we shared a scripture with them. They are less active because they have to work on Sundays, that is a big problem here for a lot of people and it is really sad because they are so great, they just can't come to Church.
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| A very cold day in Chicago! |
Sunday was a day I had been really nervous for because I have a hard enough time giving a talk in English, let alone Spanish! But, Church was good. We even had two investigators come to Sacrament Meeting. I gave my talk and spoke for about 10 minutes, in Spanish! I read most of my talk but I wrote it all by myself and one of our Zone Leaders said it was really good and only had a few tiny grammar mistakes! After Church we mostly did studies and worked on area book because it was honestly too cold to go out without a car and we were advised to stay inside.
I love my new companion, Hermana Black. She is so nice and we get along really well. This is definitely a new, and exciting, adventure. I know that I am going to learn and grow a lot this transfer. Thank you so much to all of you for all of your love and support! I hope you have an amazing week and don't think about our high's here in Chicago being around -18! I love you all so much!
Hermana Meanea
