Hello Family!
Sounds like an exciting
week....hey I heard the Oscars were last night, did you watch them? Ok I
will tell you about my week now.
I got to go on the Palmyra Temple Trip
on Tuesday!
If felt kind of weird to finally be there but it was so great! The
temperature was a little chilly but the sun was out and it was really a
nice day. We met early in the morning at the Liverpool building and us 5
sisters drove with Sister Wirthlin in the mini van and President had to
drive the 8 elders in the big van. We met at the Palmyra Temple for our
first stop. It was so nice to even see a temple again. It's pretty
small but really pretty. Something cool was that this woman that Sister
Davis taught and was able to see baptized came to the temple that day to
get her endowments and she had Sister Davis be her escort. It was
pretty cool to see a missionary be able to be a part of so many
covenant's in their convert friend's life. Also, Diego and Erin were
endowed and sealed that same week :) Only in the DC temple. So yeah, we
did a session in the temple which was super nice and peaceful and then
after taking some pictures by the temple we went to the Grandin Print
shop, where the Book of Mormon was first printed and published. It was
pretty cool to see. So much time and effort was put into printing the
Book of Mormon. The process of printing each individual letter is like
writing a book with stamps. So tedious! I don't think I would have the
patience to do that. Luckily someone did. The senior missionary also
talked about the vision Joseph Smith had for what he wanted the Book of
Mormon to look like which was very detailed. I think going there would
definitely give anyone a great appreciation for the Book of Mormon. Then
after that we went across the street for pizza and wings. Thats like
all President ever feeds us missionaries. No wonder we're all chubby! ha
Jk but we do get pizza a lot...then we shopped around in the Bookstore
for a bit. It was also nice to be back in a Deseret Book type place! I
hope you got the postcard that I sent you. So after we got our souvenirs
we went to the Hill Cummorah Visitor's center. I forgot all that was in
there besides the statue of Christ similar to the one in Salt Lake
Visitors center which we got a picture by. It was weird to be in the
picture that is sent out every transfer to let everyone see who the
departing missionaries are. It was a really nice center as well. Then it
was time to participate in the mission tradition of running up the Hill
Cummorah. Now I didn't know how big the hill was and I didn't think it
could be too bad but oh, it was terrible. Super steep, super long, and
covered in at least a foot of snow. Probably a very funny thing to
witness for the people driving by. Let's just say most of us were all
pretty exhausted and dizzy by the time we reached the top. At the top
was the giant Angel Moroni monument or whatever which was cool but I was
too tired and cold to really appreciate it. Then we drove back to the
Joseph Smith farm and got a little tour of that. That house was so
teeny. On of the elders from New Zealand who is at least 6 foot kept
bumping his head on the beams on the ceiling haha. I couldn't imagine
living with 11 people in there! What was cool though is going upstairs
because that is the spot where Joseph Smith was visited by Angel Moroni!
Pretty cool. While the visitor's center missionary sister was talking
about the story of Joseph Smith she had one of the elders (also the one
from New Zealand) recite the first vision. He did it perfect and the
room very quickly filled with the spirit. When you were there you just
coldn't deny the reality of everything that happened there. After the
tour of the farm and houses we went down and took a stroll in the sacred
grove. I don't really know what to say about it besides how peaceful it
was. Even though no one knows the exact spot where Joseph Smith saw
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, its very apparent that something
special happened there. We need to come back in the springtime when
there is no snow and leaves on the trees. Then after the grove, we went
to the Peter Whitmer home and visitor's center to see where the church
was first established. I loved the trip. I think the coolest thing is
that I've been teaching people about Joseph Smith and the establishment
of the church for 18 months and now I finally got to see where it took
place. It's the most perfect ending to a mission. Oh! and then we
stopped at Destiny mall to get frozen yogurt with some elders on the way
back and we met a potential! He gave us a discount on our yogurt
because we were Christian and then came over and talked to us. We
exchanged info and I think we will start teaching him. His name is
Rocky, pray for him! he has a family! Kind of funny that a frozen yogurt
shop was the right place to be at that time.
Wow that
whole paragraph was about one day. The rest of the week was good though.
We got to see Paul and do a section out of his Book of Mormon study
guide with him which he loves. He told us he's only reading the Book of
Mormon right now and we are like phew because lately he's been reading
some pretty weird stuff...We have been able to spend a lot of time with
the members this week as well. I think I say this every week but they
are all so cool! I love serving out here because Lots of the members are
converts and its amazing to hear their stories. We also had dinner on Sunday
with a family who's son gets home from his mission the same day I get
home. They were pretty chill about him coming home but I think they were
super pumped inside so I bet that is kind of what you guys are like.
Can't
really believe that I'm about to start my last full week as a
missionary here. This has gone by too fast yet, I feel that I've been
away from home for a long time. The thing is, I have found home out here
in New York and I am sad to leave it. I never thought somewhere so far
away could feel like home but it does. There are things about Utah I
have missed but there are so many things about New York I will miss. I
love the people out here, the funny small towns, the tight-knit wards,
and the work I get to participate in as a missionary. I will admit, I'm
kind of scared to come home and face the reality of moving on with life.
Missionary life is so fulfilling and your purpose is set in stone and
you know what you are supposed to do. I'm glad I came out here though
because what it has made me will really benefit me for the rest of my
life. Missionary work has shown me what should be most important and
what kind of life I want to lead. I will see you all soon. Thanks for
the prayers and please keep them coming!
Love,
Sister Quinn Nilsson
