Rainy, Hot, Humid but I love Cooperstown!!

Hello from Cooperstown, NY.

This week has been fairly uneventful if we are being honest. We mostly tried to find. A lot of our investigators have been super wishy-washy lately. I tell ya, people here in New York struggle with making commitments. We think we have found an awesome investigator, then they totally bail on us! Such is life I suppose! We just keep looking until we find the prepared right?

We have had some amazing lessons this week though, and we have really been uplifted by the spirit. I guess we just have to focus on those times when it starts to get rough! We found this really great girl to teach who seems super prepared! We really are hoping it works out and that we can help her progress! Prayers in this direction are always appreciated.

It's starting to get very hot here, which is no bueno for tracting. then again, maybe people let us in their houses because they see how sad and sweaty we are! Haha oh the life of a missionary!

This week, I had my first experience with someone trying to chew me out. It was such a terrible experience. The whole time this lady was yelling at us all I could think was "the Lord loves her. Do not fight. We need to leave. The gospel's true." It was sad we couldn't get her to feel the spirit, but honestly more than anything it confirmed to me how true the church was. Every day I feel like I have some revelation, simple though they may be, that testify to me how true the church is and how blessed I have been in my life! I truly believe I was called to this day and age to help spread the gospel. Its a hard work, but it really is worth it.

Well, since not much happened, I figured I would tell ya'll about New York. What I like, and what I could do without.

What I love:
1. When it rains, it really really rains. (none of this Utah sprinkle crap) (can you say crap when you're a missionary?)
2. The people are all super friendly to us. Even if they don't want to hear our message.
3. Delicious pizza and ice cream (holla fat kid problems)
4. Beautiful scenery and landscapes (valleys, rolling hills, sunsets, lakes, etc)
5. The most charming and adorable architecture you have ever seen
6. New York accents
7. Stunning flowers
8. The Amish people (specifically their baked goods)
9. The small town mentality
10. Jamming to EFY songs in the car
11. Teaching by the spirit
12. Seeing people in Cooperstown from Utah.

What I do not love:
1. Suicidal animals (beavers, porcupine, turtles, deer, etc. all run out into the road. Hello road kill)
2. Everyone owning a million stinky, annoying animals
3. the humidity
4. Creepy men
5. How everyone smokes (ew)
6. Everything is way far away (hello mile restrictions on the car)
7. non-committal people
8. These weird animals that are everywhere and I don't know what they are but I have decided to dub "wombats"

There is probably more I could write, but its impossible to remember! Well I love you all! Thank you so much for the support (can I be an annoying missionary who throws in how they want people to write them? seriously my comp gets like 5 letters a day....)

XOXO
Sister Langford

I LOVE COPPERSTOWN, NEW YORK!!!

Hello friends and fans of blogging,

I have officially made it to the big NY. Life has been busy, crazy, rewarding, trying, and amazing. I'm learning to love it ;) just kidding, its been great.

If there are any tidbits of knowledge I have learned from my first week in New York it is this:

1. It will probably rain. Always have an umbrella on hand!

2. Pizza in an acceptable food choice for every meal!

3. My companion and I are either: A: "nuns or somethin'" or B: "too beautiful to be into that church stuff"

4. Everyone has at least one dog, 5 cats, and 1000 birds. Everyone.

5. Every day is an adventure.

So that"s the life right now. As for the series of events that have occurred since the arrival in Utica? Well, we arrived at the airport and we were greeted by the Mission President and his wife. We all went for pizza then went back to some members house to sleep. (Well, Sister Church and I did, most of the missionaries slept at the mission home but there wasn't enough room).

The next day we had some training and whatever and the President was having interviews with all of us so he would know where to send us and with who. So I go in for my interview and we talk for a bit and the President says "Well Sister Langford, I know where I'm sending you. You are going to a pretty new area. It's only been open for one transfer. The branch is pretty small and about 45 minutes from where you are. You will absolutely love your companion! I trust you!" and I was like ... ok.... trying to figure out what all this means of course.

So they gather all the new missionaries and we are standing outside of the chapel where all of the trainers are waiting for us. Then Sister Church looked at me and was like "You know, I think this is exactly what it would feel like to be sorted at Hogwarts." and I was like "Yes. yes it was." it was hilarious. Anyway, we all walk in, newby Hogwarts style. and we see all the trainers eagerly waiting for us. When who do I see, but my friend Olivia Smith from high school.

Well, after a bit, the President calls my name and I stand. And the President just looks at me for a long time, then he starts to cry a bit. Then he looked at Olivia, and said "I don't know why, but the Lord feels very strongly about this. Sister Langford, you are with Sister Smith"

Then obviously we freaked out and hugged each other and we were so so so excited! So yes, my companion is Olivia Smith from Alpine Utah! Graduated from the Lone Peak with me. It has been great though. We get along super well! We are serving in Cooperstown which is known for the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Dream Park. I don't know. It means nothing to either of us but there are tons of tourists up in here!

We have tons of investigators but no baptisms set up yet! We've had some really cool experiences though. My first day we were out knocking doors in Hartwick, (not sure how you spell it), and we weren't having much success (obviously) and we knocked on this one girl's door who Sister Smith said they had knocked like a million times, but this girl named Tara answered, who was somewhere in her twenties. We talked to her a bit and she said she was interested in hearing more. So then we tried to go back a couple other times but she was never home.

Well then Friday we were out and Sister Smith and I both just did not feel good about what we were doing. We were both like, I don't know why but I feel really bad. So we left the area we were in, and said a prayer that we would be guided to where we needed to go. As we were praying all I could think was "Tara, Tara, Tara, Tara." After the prayer I was like Sister Smith I think we need to visit Tara. And she was like ok. So we went and knocked on her door and she answered! She was like "sorry I work a ton and I just got home!" and we asked if we could talk with her, which she said we could so we taught her a mini lesson. She was really concerned about how a loving God could send people to Hell who didn't get a chance to hear about him. We taught her about the plan of salvation and she seriously just lit up. She told us that she had just moved here and was having a really hard time. Her job sucked, her family wouldn't talk to her, and she didn't like any of the churches (there are like a million churches in Cooperstown) and so she had prayed that she would know what to do. Well I guess that day we had knocked on her door. She said she thought it was a sign from God. I have never felt the spirit more strong! I then felt inspired to invite her to church! I said "Tara, this may be bold, but would you come to church with us on Sunday?" and she just looked too excited and was like " yes I would love to!" She ended up not being able to, but we have another meeting with her today so I'll let you know how it goes! It's so great when you feel like you are being led by the spirit! We have had so many experiences like that!

I suppose that's all for now! Cooperstown is a gem of a town and the companion is great. The apartment is darling. The work is moving forward. We are excited for the big announcement on Sunday!

Talk to Ya'll in a week!

XOXO

Sister Langford

Sister Langford's loving the MTC and the Mission!!

Hey peeps!

I've officially been in the "empty sea" for a week now! One week! Can we believe this? Time has flown! Actually, there is this super weird time warp that happens here at the MTC.  Everyday seems like it takes one hundred years, but then flies by. Makes no sense I  promise. Today was our first P Day and then we don't get another one until we are out in the field. We already got our flight plans! We leave June 11th early in the morning. My flight is connecting through Atlanta if that means anything to you!    

Well, I absolutely love it here. At first it was kind of hard... and overwhelming. But what they say is true. Make it to Sunday and you are golden.

 I absolutely adore my district! Which is probably good since we literally spend all day together in a teeny classroom! The Elders and hilarious and I love all the sisters to death! Most of us are going to Utica but weirdly 3 of the Elders in our district are going to Uganda. So we will miss them a lot when they are gone! All of us sisters share a room so we've all gotten really close.  To quote our dear Sister Bangerter "Every time our district is together its like 2 am at a sleep over". Basically we all are really slap happy. But we all love each other so much! Which has been a huge blessing! It almost feels like we have been friends forever which is so cool!  My companion's name is Sister Church (ironic we know) but we get along so great and teach really well together. Which has been fantastic.

 

Its hard to think of what we have even done since we've been here! Study, like a lot! I've never studied and prayed so much in my life! But it has for real made a huge impact in my life! We have two teachers. Their names are Sister Gibson and Brother Felstead, (not how you spell it but whatever).  They are so great and have helped me progress so so much! We doing a lot of role playing here. We have been teaching Sister Gibson (pretending to be an investigator named Selam).  It has been such a strengthening experience! I have really learned how important it is to follow the spirit when you are teaching. There was one time Sister Church and I went in and tried to teach Selam, but we just didn't really have the spirit. We had had a really long, tiring day. So we just gave the lesson we prepared. It went ok, but just not fantastic! The next time we went it, we prepared a little less, and relied on the spirit a whole lot more. The lesson was one of the more incredible things I have every felt. We were totally led by the spirit and ended up teaching not exactly what we had expected, but exactly what she needed to hear. Even though it was a fake investigator, the experience was so real. I'm so much less nervous to get out to Utica, and so much more excited to go!

 

Today we got to go to the temple as a district which was so great. Such a nice peaceful afternoon. (PS: I saw Katie Kirkham on the way to the temple! Her dad got a pic to send to Jeff ;) )   We love every time we get a break since we are non-stop working!

Oh,  PS: Thank you to everyone who sent me letters and packages! I currently have more candy and junk food than any person should have in their life! Haha! Everyday my district leader Elder Geilman goes "um... Sister Langford... there's another package for you..." haha my district thinks its hilarious!  But they love me since I share!

Well, before I go, I wanted to share some hillarious moments that happened this week

Moment 1:

"Elder Farris have you read D&C 6? It's gorgeous!" - Elder Geilman

Moment 2:

 "How do you spell prison?" - Sister Lynes

Moment 3:

One of the Elders going to Uganda was reading the part of 1 Nephi where it says the Lamanites were cursed with black skin and asked our teacher,
"What the heck am I supposed to tell  the Africans?!?"

Moment 4:

Everyone in my district (including elders) throwing up the double peace sign and calling it the "Sister Langford"

Moment 5:

Elder Allred thinking he found a super cool and uplifing scripture to share... only to find its not..

" I thought it said leading AWAY from whoredoms! Not TO whoredoms!"

 

Haha as you can tell, we find joy in the little things!

Well that's really all for now! I leave for  Utica early Tuesday morning so I won't get  another P day for a week and a half... so this will have to hold ya'll over until then!

 Love you all and thanks for the support!

XOXO

Sister Langford