Sweet is the Work the Gospel Brings!

Hello Family,

Another week has gone by. Time just keeps on ticking. This transfer cycle is
almost over. On Monday I'll find out if I'm being transferred or not. It's
hard to tell what will happen because we have two English sisters leaving
and two Spanish sisters coming in. Which means they are low on English
Sisters. But then we have three sisters here. So will they keep all three of
us here? Will they move me back to Spanish? Or will Sis. Koscinski move
because she has been here since October? I guess we will see on Monday.

It's been an interesting week. Not the easiest, but not the hardest and I made it through. We went tracting this
week to try to find some new investigators. We met some really irritated
people. One slammed the door saying "Not interested!". This other man who
spoke with a Greek Accent said, "I'm Orthodox, I was born Orthodox, show me
that your religion is better than mine and I will join it." I told him we
would love to come by and tell him more about it to which he responded quite
adamantly, "No, don't tell me, show me!" and then shut the door. Then
another basically told me the Book of Mormon was not true and had no
archaeological evidence to back it up. When I bore my testimony that it was
true he basically told me that I received false revelation from a false
spirit. And this all happened within an hour! But then we did meet a very
nice Hindu man. Some of the most Christian people, aren't Christians. I
sometimes wonder how that works.

Happy news. Gloria committed to being baptized! We are working a lot with
her to overcome her addiction though. The trouble is that she is rarely home
because she is trying to avoid those who drag her down. She enjoys meeting
with us, but it's hit and miss when we stop by. She is going to take some
time.

We also have another investigator who expressed a desire to be baptized. His
name is Kenny and is really nice. He actually has HIV as result of a blood
transfusion he had when he was 15. He's now in his 40's and is so positive
about life, which is good because so many turned negative. The only thing is
I'm not sure he realizes the depth of the commit. That you aren't just
baptized and that was it, but that's a covenant that we make for the rest of
your life. We tried to explain it to him, but I'm still not sure he
understood the depth. He said he needed to talk to his wife first about it
(She's catholic and wasn't there for the second appointment). He did say as
we were about to leave that he felt such happiness when we were there. I
told him it was the spirit testifying that it was true.

I'm coming to learn that every person has some sort of obstacle that they
need to get over to be baptized. Most people think that it should go easily
because they are doing what the Lord wants right? Well, it is what the Lord
wants, but it's not what Satan wants and he will prevent it if he can. But
if they are able to take the step of faith and rely on the Lord, they
testimony is strengthened and they are better prepared to face the upcoming
challenges because they promise is not that they won't be there, but that we
will have the strength to endure from them and learn from them.

This last Sunday was Easter Sunday. Sis. Koscinski and I sang for it with
Sis. Vathauer as accompanist. The members said we sounded good. I hope it
was. I then taught gospel principles and Sis. Vathauer taught the Young
Women's since so many were out of town. It was a good Easter. We went over
to a ward member's house for Lunch. Bro. and Sis. Scheringer. They are
really nice. We are actually going to go over there and make cards with them
for some of our P-day. I'm excited.

Mom, you asked if you thought it was all over the United States that people
are hardened against hearing the gospel. Maybe this is true, but then maybe
it's just another tactic that Satan wants us to get discouraged because we
think nobody will listen. There are people out there, ready to hear, but we
have to find them. One of the scriptures that keeps me going is in Amos I
believe that says that people are kept from the truth only because they know
not where to find it. What that means is that we need to find them and if it
means going through those who (at this point) are not interested then that's
what we need to do. The big focus is finding the elect (the people that God
has prepared to hear the gospel) because they are out there. Our example is
a big way of showing our beliefs, but eventually we do need to invite. It
can be done in a non-threatening way. Talk to the missionaries, maybe you
can have a family home evening teaching about the gospel of Jesus Christ
that you could invite people over too. I'll be the first to admit that the
inviting part is scary. I'm still scared to do it and I'm a missionary, but
I'm learning. and it even says in Preach My Gospel, that we can pray for
courage and boldness. That best advice, is that when you invite you always
invite out of love. I bet you are doing a wonderful job and it sounds like
it is your desire. I know the Lord will bless you for it.

Well, my time is short and this letter is now a mile long. I'll let you
know next week where I will be, whether it's still in Kingston or somewhere
else. I love you lots and hope everything is well and on it's way to being
figured out. Thanks for the Easter Egg and all the letters. They make me
smile. Love you so very much.

Love,
Erin

Fw: Umm....letter?

Well....

I decided to go on strike! Down to letter writing!...

Just kidding. The mail server was down church ride. None of the missions
could write emails, so we had to wait until today. And then... we had so
many different things going on that I had to wait until now 5:15 to finally
write. So much has been going on and I don't have very much time so I'll do
the best I can.

We met an interesting member the other day. His name is Mike and he is a
chiropractor. In fact, I met him because I was getting adjusted. Mike's an
interesting character too, but fun. I wasn't sure to make of him and first,
but he didn't turn out to be too bad. He used to be in the religion (I guess
you would call it that) wicken. He was a high magician and his wife and
witch of some sort. They were actually converted because of visiting temple
square. It's a long story, and he tells it much more interesting. He's a
great guy. Very into energy and the energy that the world admits or the
spirits emits. I first I thought he was a interesting earth/spirit/energy
freak, but he's pretty normal. And who's to say that he can't sense it.
Maybe it's just a gift he has that I don't. At least he adjusted me so that
I'm walking straight.

Though I've been hurting all day because yesterday we had a zone activity.
We played Dodge ball and soccer. So for about an hour I was playing pretty
intensely and I'm feeling it today. Everytime I move, I ache, but I guess
that's what I get for not stretching.

Anyways, more about the work. We are still teaching Ivan and having trouble
committing him to a baptism date. He is nervous about it and feels he is not
ready, even though he is. I became really frustrated the other night because
I was trying to talk to him in Spanish and I felt like he was telling me
something really important, but I couldn't understand hmm.... lame language
barrier. But when I asked about him later in person, he said it was nothing.
How could it be nothing. This next lesson we are going to try to "overwhelm
him with the spirit" as my district leader calls it.

We are also teaching Gloria. She's a woman in her 30's who is addicted to
drugs. She really wants to change, but because she is addicted finding it
quite difficult. We were really excited because she expressed an interest in
coming to church. Well, it took several phone calls and much frustration to
finally get her a ride (since she doesn't have a car) and when we went to
pick her up, she wasn't there. We were so disappointed. When we talked to
her later, she said some of her old friends (which aren't really friends)
had come by and to get away had ended up at another friends house. She tries
to stay away from home as often as she can, so that they can't find her, but
it also makes it difficult for us to teach her, which is the only thing that
is going to get her through. We keep trying.

We are singing in Sacrament meeting, teaching gospel principles, YW's, and
possibly primary, so we have full day. Usually, it isn't this bad, but
because it's Easter Sunday quite a few people are going to be out of town. I
still love it here. I have my ups and downs, but I'm making it through. Just
can't let Satan get to you.

Thank you for your Easter letter's, I received them today. It made me happy!
You are wonderful. I hope all is well, and that everything is on it's road
to being figured out. Rely on the Lord, he will always lead us to good in
the end, even if it's really difficult in the middle. Well my time is up,
hopefully this made sense because I didn't have time to really think how it
came out, but I love you all so very much.

Love, Erin

Yes, life does have a way of throwing sunshine at you!

Hola Familia,

Another week come and gone in the lovely town of Kingston. It has warmed up
the past few days, which has been great. Yesterday was 50 degrees, which it
hasn't been in a long time. Yeah for Spring, Boo for Daylight Savings, I'm
still adjusting.

Things continue to go well here in New York. At times I get discouraged, but
as I learned this week a big part of life is remembering and when I get
discouraged I think about all the blessings I have been promised by
continuing forward. So I continue forward. Remember is the most important
word in the dictionary!

This week we taught Ivan. He's the man from El Salvador and usually we teach
in Spanish, but it's difficult because I'm the only on teaching since Sis.
Koscinski is English speaking. Well, this lesson was the do or drop lesson
(in that you better start doing or we are going to have to stop teaching
you), so we did it in English (since he really does understand English, he
just thinks he doesn't). Found out some important information like he
doesn't believe Joseph Smith was a prophet or that the Book of Mormon is
true. Pretty crucial testimonies. We haven't quite dropped him yet though.
We believe he has a desire to know the truth, he just won't specifically ask
if the Book of Mormon is true. He only asks to be directed to the truth.
That's when we said, You met the missionaries 7 years ago. Then another
sister chased down your car to talk to you (literally she chased down his
car), then after they left, we started coming. You want to be led to the
truth, What if this IS the truth, but you won't ask? I hope it made a
difference.

It was a cool experience though because he told me at one point that he
didn't believe Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. And he asked me if I
knew it. I'll be honest, my mind started racing and I thought, "Here's the
moment, can I honestly answer that I know Joseph Smith saw them and that he
was a prophet." And I could. I felt the Spirit there with me and I testified
to him that the First Vision really did happen and that we had a prophet on
the earth today. He asked me again "Esta seguro?" (Are you sure?) and I
could tell him again, that I was sure. I believe it made him think.
Hoepfully it will get him to do some soul-searching.

He's are only progressing investigator at the moment. We are trying to find
more. I continue to work to improve. It's not always easy, but I get
through. Remembering those blessings help :) and remembering the tender
mercies of the Lord each day.

My tender mercy one day was my District Leader. He "called" me to be the
Culinary Arts Director for the district. Well, last Thursday we had Zone
Conference and while there I asked one of the Elders in my district to bring
the treats for district meeting. He was about to object (of course all in
good fun), when my district leader, Elder Miller jumps in (of course, in
more good fun), "Elder Felix, she is the district culinary arts director,
and duly assigned. You should be respecting and helping her with her
assignment, not avoiding it..." He went on for more, but I was laughing to
hard to hear the rest of it. One thing I'm learning. You need to laugh or
life can get dreary, especially with how much rejection we get a day. But we
go through the rejection to find the one willing to listen.

Well, time runs short. And I have many a thing to do today. Know that I am
well and still working. Again, thanks so much for your letters, they do
bring a bit of happiness into my day.

Love,
Sis. Erin Price

Mission Life is Good.

Thank you for your letters. And thank you for the email address for Ms.
Sheehan. I sent out another one to her, I will probably see next week if she
received it or not.

Let's see, this week. At first a very long week, but lately it has been
picking up speed. Sis. Koscinski and I have been having some really neat
experiences. Last week, a man called us who had received a pass along card 2
months ago who wanted to meet. So meet we did. We taught him the first
lesson, but to be honest I'm not sure how he took it. From the comments he
has made he seems so prepared to hear the gospel and I know it can bless his
life so much. We will be following up with him tonight to see if he read and
prayed and we pray that he will recognize the truthfulness. I'm so grateful
for the gospel, I can see now how much our family really was blessed by it.
Thanks Mom and Dad.

It was a bit awkward yesterday because we met with 2 investigators at Barnes
and Noble. One in the morning and another in the afternoon. Both of them
bought us hot chocolate, and it was the same employee at the counter (Sis.
Koscinski and I tried to hide a little and hoped he wouldn't say anything).
I wanted to give him, the employee, a pass-along card to help explain what
we do (2 different men buying us hot chocolate on the same day, others could
take to that strangely), but by the time we finished talking with Eric, the
employee's shift was over and he was gone. I plan on it next time.

I've also taught some lessons in Spanish. They went pretty well. The first
one was with Ivan from El Salvador. He has been taught by the missionaries
for some time. Last time we met I committed him to baptism, but he seemed
hesitant. When we met yesterday, I asked him if he believed the Book of
Mormon to be true and Joseph Smith to be a prophet. He replied that he
didn't know and didn't feel anything different about them. So we spent the
time reading from 3 Nephi 11 and teaching about how to recognize the Spirit.
It was a good lesson, but I'm not sure he still really understands the
importance of it.

Which reminds me of how great the mission and the Holy Spirit is. I'd
encourage everyone to live so that they can always have the Holy Ghost with
it. It brings happiness, peace, and assurance in your life. Granted life
still isn't perfect, but it is so much easier when we live with of the Holy
Ghost and it's promptings in our lives. My new motto, "live better and feel
the difference."

We are also teaching the Perez family. They seem less interested. We taught
them a lesson last week and this week I was supposed to teach about the Plan
of Salvation, but the words would just not come. It was probably the hardest
lesson I've ever taught. It ended up turning out amazing, though, because a
member came with us and she told him her conversion story and bore her
testimony of Joseph Smith. It was amazing! I think they just weren't quite
ready for the Plan of Salvation quite yet.

New York is quite the place. Did you know Kingston was the first capitol of
the United States. They eventually switched it to Washington D.C. (I suppose
they had their reasons ;)). Now it's just a small town, but the people are
nice. We have great neighbors. Lloyd (downstairs apartment) and Gene (two
doors down), who watch out for us. Weather has been snow, warm, cold, rain.
I keep waiting for spring. I hear it's pretty.

Love You Much. My time on the computer is just about over. So I bid Adios,
until next week. I continue to pray for the Touchet family and hope all is
well.

Love, Erin