Hurricane Sandy -- Letter From President Morgan

Dear New York New York North Mission – Missionary parents and Loved Ones

We hope you will find the following information regarding preparation and planning for Hurricane Sandy helpful.

As of the posting of this communication, Hurricane Sandy is still 300 miles off the Atlantic shores of New Jersey and southern Long Island. Winds continue to increase in strength in the communities of our mission but the full forces of Sandy is not expected to be felt until late this afternoon and this evening. As you may have heard from national news reports, all mass-transit operations have been suspended in New York City including subway, buses and trains. On Sunday afternoon, Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered a mandatory evacuation of low-lying areas in New York City and said the city's school system would be closed Monday.

The mayor called for a mandatory evacuation of residents living in Zone-A by 7 p.m. on Sunday. Low-lying areas in the evacuation zone include Coney Island, Red Hook, and other areas around the East River in Brooklyn, the Rockaways, Broad Channel, the Staten Island coast line, City Island, Battery Park City, stretches of the West Side waterfront and parts of the Lower East Side and the East Village - (italicized and bold are within our mission). About 370,000 people live in these evacuation zones. We do not have any missionaries living in the mandatory evacuation areas. If Zone-B requires evacuation, we will work with Elders and Sisters in the Union Square area and our Chinatown area, including one couple, to move them north to Westchester County. We have coordinated with members of the Westchester Stake to house missionaries if needed. 

Major bridges will be closed on a "case by case" basis or when the wind reaches speeds above 60 mph. It is unclear when transit will be up and running again after the shut down. Service should be able to return 12 hours after the storm, according to the MTA web-site. All of our missionaries in the city and the Bronx are reliant on the MTA for transportation. Some, because of very high housing costs, do not live in the area they work. Therefore we have asked our missionaries to hold tight in their apartments from 6:00 pm Sunday evening until the storm passes and we have issued an "all clear" announcement.

Missionaries living in the Stamford, Connecticut area were evacuated last night due to the risk of flood surges coming from high tide and high winds in the Long Island Sound. These missionaries have been relocated to Danbury, Connecticut and Yonkers, New York.

On Saturday October the 27^th all missionaries were instructed to prepare for the storm by acquiring three days worth of food supplies - in addition to what they already had on hand, refresh all water storage in accordance with mission water storage policy, test flashlights and assure a prudent supply of fresh batteries, having some cash on hand incase ATMs are down due to power outages and keeping cell phones fully charged while power is available.

 All companionships reported back as ready and compliant with instructions. We will carry out a “call report” protocol during the event to assess the safety and condition of each of our missionaries. Depending on internet availability, we will periodically update you as to the current status of the mission.

We feel very prepared and our missionaries are very obedient. Please continue to pray for safety and welfare of everyone in the storm affected area. If you have any questions, please contact me at 801-244-3601 or Sister Morgan at 801-573-4366. We love your missionary very much and are doing everything within our power to assure his or her safety.

All the best,

President Morgan

Thomas B. Morgan
President
New York New York North Mission
tmorgan@ldschurch.org

Amazing Grace -- October 24, 2012

New York is great! We've had a nice warm week. I bought some fall boots last week for $30.00. Super cute. I'm hoping they will last at least another season, but I don't think they will. We walk too much. And today we are getting winter boots, hopefully. I bought a few undershirts and sweater tights as well. You know my big puffy white coat? I may need that. Sister Taylor laughed when I told her the only coat I have is my wool one. haha. I'm getting really nervous for what winter will be like. 

On Saturday morning, we had a special mission conference with all the missionaries. Elder D. Todd Christofferson came and spoke. It was so awesome! Everyday, I am telling people about how God has restored his church. About how we have a living prophet and twelve apostles, just like Jesus Christ had. And here in front of me is an Apostle of the Lord, It was a wonderful experience. He talked about the Doctrine of Christ. This has quickly become one of my favorite subjects. 

Saturday was awesome. I don't have my camera today, so pictures will have to wait till next week. M*** told us the week before her baptism that she felt like the person in the first verse of Amazing Grace.. "Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see."  So, I had an arrangement of that in the folk song book that you sent me. (Thanks!) and learned how to play it in one week. Y****, a new friend of M***'s, sang it. And we performed it at the baptism.  It went so well!

On Sunday, M*** was confirmed. Elder Irizarry confirmed her. He was the one that originally knocked on her door. So he is really special to him. She was thrilled when she found out he would be giving her the blessing. It was a beautiful blessing, and after she was welcomed into the ward, she shared a nice little message. She said, "Thanks for welcoming me home."

On another note, I've had a cough for two weeks. I called Sister Morgan about it on Monday and was given some antibiotics. It should start working super soon. (Ojala que si)

Ok. That's all I have time for today. We may have more time in the afternoon, but I don't know. We are going to the temple and going to buy winter boots. 

OK. I love you! I thank you for all your support. Sorry I don't have a lot of details... I hope a few highlights here and there are good!

Love you

La Hermana Kindlespire 

NYC news, September 26, 2012

We had a great week in Inwood. It's such an amazing area. I'm going to miss everyone.... 

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but not for another six weeks. 

I'm staying in Inwood! Sister Taylor and I are still together. I'm really happy. I'm very excited to keep working here. 

I was super shocked, but I'm really grateful. 

This last week was great. We worked really hard with English Class. We made a big poster and walked down Dyckman handing out flyers and talking with lots of people. It was a blast. I loved it. 

M*** has a baptismal date! October 20th is going to be an awesome day. We are really excited. Thank you for your help and for keeping her in your prayers. She hasn't had too many headaches within the last week and is down to one cup everyday. We are so proud of her. She's now drinking coffee without any sugar, which I think is so smart. She's truly showing us that where there's a will, there's a way. 

That woman changed my life. She has so much faith. She knows she has found the true church and she wants to have generations follow her lead. It means the world to me. She's doing this right. I want you to meet her. 

Ps. I've been inviting the world to come to Utah to stay in your house. :) Especially during General Conference. So, you might have lots of random Spanish people coming over a lot. Haha

Sacrament Meeting in the English Ward was a "Sing-a-long" meeting, where we just sing hymns and listen to testimonies. It was so awesome!!

We went to Obispo Garcia's. He is an amazing bishop. They are from the DR and are very friendly. He is an English Teacher in a school and she stays home and takes care of the kids. Their kids' names are Nora and... I don't remember. I always call her bebe. That baby was born while I was here, and look at how huge she is! That's weird to me... I've been here for a long time. 

So on Monday... After district meeting, we left for a lesson and realized we didn't have our keys or our cell phone. So we went to M***'s and asked if we could use her phone to call the elders. Elder Irizarry had picked up our cell phone. And had locked our keys in the Family History Center in the church. Hahaha. That was a stressful situation. :) And so when we met them up, they told us the results of transfers. Another cycle in Inwood together.  But I say, why stop at 5 cycles? Let's keep going! 6 cycles in Inwood! :) No... I'll go where you want me to go.

Love, 

La Hna Kindlespire

(Mariachi) Band, Bangs, and a Barber Shop! 9-12-12

We're going to Chinatown next week instead. Today is the WTC Memorial. It should be pretty moving, I think.

Sister Taylor cut her bangs this last week. That was a fun adventure in our apartment. There was a Mariachi Band at a members birthday party.

I had to say goodbye to Amelia and Felipe Guittierez. They left for the DR and will be gone for about a month. Just in case I get transferred, I wanted to take a picture with them. I met Amelia my first night in the mission field. We went over to her house, and I didn't understand a word. I love that woman! She is so kind!

The other couple in the photo is Carmen and Rafael Rodriguez. They introduced Maria Reyes to the church and are largely responsible for her conversion.

We have been working really hard. I wish I had specific stories, but it's really just the same. :) We taught the Restoration to lots of people, the Plan of Salvation to others. We taught a bunch of people in a barber shop on Monday. That was really fun!
Taught English class. I've loved English Class. I've got to use my phonetics a lot.

Well, that's all for now.

Love,

Lindsay
kin 004. amelia and carmen
kin 001. cutting bangs
kin 002. mariachi band
kin 003. zeny familia and me at the birthday party

Want to Learn English? 9-5-2012

I've been reading the Old Testament Stories. I've forgotten a lot of them, so in my spare time I'm reading out of a Children's Book. It's been a lot of fun. I just finished reading about Elias and Baal. Such an interesting story. 

I finished the New Testament last Friday. Yeah! I feel like I need to read it again, a lot of it didn't make sense. 

We've taken our English Class up a level. We made new flyers, we added a morning class, we started teaching a beginner and an advanced class. I think it's going to be a hit. We only have a few students still, but it'll keep growing. 

M*** came to the English Ward this last week, and brought her five year old son. She loves the church. She always asks where we were 30 years ago. Amazing amazing woman. We taught her all of the commandments and requirements for baptism. She has no problems with any, except coffee. She's very addicted to it. She gets serious headaches without it. She's going to decrease her coffee until there is nothing left. I ask you to pray for her. Pray that she will be able to give up her coffee, and that her headaches will stop. I can't tell you how much I am praying for her. Everyday, everynight. And I know that God will help her! 

We met an anti-mormon this week... My first encounter... It's been interesting. He's texted us a few times. We just bore our testimonies. And we keep going... because what he says doesn't change the truth. :)

The Bishop moved into his new apartment. It's so nice, and pretty big. We helped them with the move on Monday. The Elders moved the heavy stuff, and we helped them unpack. We are hoping that we will be able to start teaching her sister. 

We went to the employment center yesterday and helped N**** start her job search. N**** is A***'s mom. It was a lot of fun. My first translating experience. Sister Taylor did most of the translating, but I was able to help out too. I AM learning Spanish. Hahaha.

Today, we've just been shopping and cleaning. We went to Costco... Man, I love that place. :)

OK... That's it...  Thanks for your love and support.  

I believe that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He bore testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is at the center of our religion. We love him! We love him, because He loved us first. He gave his life.  

Love, 

La Hermana Kindlespire

"I'm not religious, I'm Catholic!", August 22, 2012

Inwood is still going good. Sister Taylor loves it here. I think I might not realize what a blessing this area, since it's my first one. Spanish is the first language, and it's not like that in other areas. Even in Manhattan. We are getting along really well. She reminds me a lot of Jenessa every once and

awhile.

She contacts everyone. It's great. I have never talked to so many people and never used my spanish so much. I still feel like I'm very inadequate in speech, but I try not to think about it too much. It'll come.

Last Wednesday night, we met M**** and M***** and J**** too. All three are new investigators now and we are excited to teach them more about the gospel. M*** is still progressing. She loves Joseph Smith and finds his story to be fascinating. N*** (A***'s mom) loves talking about our church. She likes what she's heard so far. I pray for her so much. I know that someday she will be baptized, and I hope that I will get to see it. 

Sister Sanders and I finished our food tally. This is how many times we were given a certain item of food when we went to a members house. The end result for the months of July and half of August.... 8 beans, 10 platano, 15 chicken, 22 rice, and 28 jugo. "La bandera" I explain what that is in the letter I just sent home. 

We've been very busy this last week. Introducing Sister Taylor to members and investigators and finding new friends and what not. It's been great, but there isn't really much to report on.

Alex received the gift of the Holy Ghost this Sunday. It was great. He is a good kid... He's a teenager, but nonetheless. He is a good kid. 

Today for Pday, we just went shopping and wrote letters. I'm planning on taking a nap once I'm done emailing. Just the norm...

Ok... One funny quote. We knocked on someone's door, and as soon as we introduced ourselves as missionaries, he said "Oh, I'm not religious.... I'm Catholic." 

And with that... I'm out. 

Les amo.

La Hermana Kindlespire

Big Changes in Inwood, August 15, 2012

We had a ward picnic on Saturday. And what did we eat? That's right! Rice and Chicken. And I had a little bit of a Dominican Avocado. See the picture... The Avocado is huge! It was really good too, not as flavorful as usual, but still delicious. That's the Dominican Way... Bigger. Dominican's celebrate more, cry more, love more, eat more. Everything is more. It's so great.
It sounds like Lake Powell was a lot of fun this year. It's hard to miss Lake Powell. But we had so much to keep us busy, I barely had time to think about all of you out there. :) But next year, please make Lake Powell as late as possible. I hope I can join you.

That is so cool that Zach got to baptize someone! Already a missionary! I'm really proud of him. It's hard to stand up for your beliefs, and I can only imagine that it's harder at basic training. I look up to
him. That's really cool!

The baptism went great. Alex was on time, there were lots of people there to support him. The missionaries sang, "Oracion de un nino" AKA: A Child's Prayer, and it went really well. He hasn't received the Holy Ghost yet, but he will receive it on Sunday.

We played our musical number on Sunday in Sacrament Meeting, I was extremely nervous, but it went wonderfully! My nerves were really bad... I was shaking so much, but the only way for me to overcome those nerves is to perform. Maybe by the end of my mission, I will be able to play without any shaking. That would be wonderful. :)

I agree that time has just been flying by. It doesn't feel like it's been 6 months to me. I mean, it feels like I haven't seen you for a long time, but I wouldn't guess that it's been 6 months.

So... Monday was shot calls. We found out all the changes that happen on the Monday before transfers. Elder Hill and Elder Dilliing are out of Inwood. Elder Hill was replaced by Elder Scaife. And Elder Dilling was replaced by...... Elder Bartlett! He was here when I first came to Inwood! And as we all know, Sister Sanders is out. Heading back to the Grand AZ. My new companion is.... Well, should I tell? No.... I shouldn't. I should keep it a secret.

No, I'll tell you.

But maybe I'll tell you next week.

Or the week after.

Or I could just tell you now...

OK. I'll tell you. :)

Sister Taylor is my new companion. She's from Georgia. She was just serving in Harlem with Sister Rogers. I think we will have a great time together. She seems like a hard worker and go-getter, and all that stuff. 

Well, I love you so much. I'm so grateful for this gospel, and I know that when we put God first, everything falls into place. I'm just starting to realize that. I never realized that putitng God first is really a process. It takes time to make Him your priority. 

Love you with all my heart, 

La Hermana Kindlespire