Training, Ken, and musical numbers

Dear everyone,
I have a new companion that just got here from the MTC! Her name is
Sister Cleaver and she is great. So when you train a new missionary,
you have no idea who you are training until the day of transfers when
you are sitting in a meeting with everyone and they say "Sister
Haertling, please stand up *drum roll* you will be training sister
Cleaver!". Then she comes over and you sit by each other and that's
it! So when we pulled into the parking lot and saw all of the new
missionaries, I just knew right away I was going to be training her.
She is from Washington state as well, up near Seattle in a little town
called Poulsbo. She is the oldest of 9 kids and has 5 sisters and 3
brothers. She also just graduated high school with her associates and
we have the same Eddie Bauer coat haha. So before we knew sister
Cleaver was coming, sister Stevens and I had been planning a sacrament
meeting for February 26th. Then we got transferred on the 22nd and so
for sister Cleavers first Sunday on the mission she got to give a talk
with me and sing a musical number. The great thing is that she is an
amazing singer...amazing. And so she was actually really excited. We
talked about missionary work and the blessings that come when we share
it. We have been meeting with the Meena family a lot lately! They are
continuing to pray with their family and come to church. The little
girls love coming to church and are really starting to build
relationships with members of the ward. It makes such a big difference
to people coming for the first few times when members are so welcoming
and wanting to talk with them. They are planning on being baptized the
last Saturday in March! Along with getting a new companion, we
switched apartments -back to the apartment complex we moved out of 6
weeks ago- and we have roommates!!! Sister Kunz and Sister Reese.
Sister Kunz and I came out together and every night in the MTC we
would just laugh and laugh and laugh and our companions probably were
so ready for us to be out of the MTC haha.. now we get to live in the
same apartment and still laugh every night. So the first night when we
moved in here (Wednesday) I was getting into bed and feel this plastic
thing in my covers. I reach down and there's a Ken Barbie doll laying
in my bed. Sister Kunz found it here in the apartment a couple months
ago and will hide him in the most random places. Sometimes he's in he
fridge, the shower, or writing in my journal haha:) it's like an elf
on the shelf but a lot funnier and weirder. Anyways, I'm so grateful
for all the sisters here, it is a lot of fun and great to have so much
support. Something that I was studying this week that I really love is
the experience that Peter had after Christ had died. I never had
really thought much about the apostles and how they really felt after
the crucifixion of Christ. They had walked, talked, learned, taught
with Christ and seen Him perform miracles, heal the sick, and had this
perfect example to serve with. They probably grew so much and become
better disciples. Then He was gone and they were left to be these
disciples without Him physically by their side. I was studying the
time after His death when Peter and some of the apostles are back
fishing, when Christ comes and asks them why they are back here
fishing like before. They had just been out testifying, teaching and
performing miracles with the Savior and now that He was gone, they
were back fishing again. Christ then goes on to ask Peter multiple
times, "Peter do you love me?". Peter answers Him over and over again
confused at why Christ is continuing to question if he really loves
Him. I love Elder Hollands words to describe this experience. (Elder
Hollands elaboration of Christ speaking to Peter) “Then Peter, why are
you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets,
having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it
obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter,
are disciples--and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my
sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend
my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and
loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. So, Peter,
for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave
all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until
the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”. I
think sometimes it's easy for us to have spiritual
experiences/"testimony builders" in our lives that change us, but just
like these apostles, afterwards we go back to our ways of living or
don't share those experiences to help strengthen those around us. I
know I'm guilty of it for sure! I want to be better at sharing the
experiences I have had and also letting them change me and not fall
back into the ways before I had those spiritual strengthening moments
in my life. Elder Holland ends with this quote that I love, "If ye
love me, keep my commandments,” Jesus said. So we have neighbors to
bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to
defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do.
In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in
demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go
back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God,
nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion,
Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a
Christian life, not the end of it. It was this truth, this reality,
that allowed a handful of Galilean fishermen-turned-again-Apostles
without “a single synagogue or sword” to leave those nets a second
time and go on to shape the history of the world in which we now
live." We all have those "nets" in our lives and we can leave them
behind by going out and sharing the testimonies that we already have
in our hearts. We have such an incredible knowledge that so many
people don't and it really is such a divine gift to be able to share
it. It changes he lives of others when we share it and then in return
changes ours. I'm grateful to be on a mission and serving here at this
time. I love you all!
Love, sister Haertling

 

Top: The Ghanadan Family with Sister Stevens and Sister Haertling
Middle:  Sister Haertling and Sister Wilcox with their new companions
Bottom:  Sister Haertling with her new companion Sister Cleaver and her first companion Sister Freeman

Exciting week

Dear all,
This has been an exciting week! On Valentine's Day we thought it would
be a good idea to bring a note and flowers to some of the widows in
our ward and our investigators. So we got flowers and delivered them
that night. I LOVED seeing their faces when they saw us at he door. It
really made them and mostly ME so happy. Almost all of the elderly
ladies said that these were the first flowers they had gotten in years
and it just made me so grateful for all of the loved ones I have in my
life. Serving others -even in the simplest ways- is the best way to be
happy. You are able to forget about the struggles you may have in your
life and help someone with theirs. Not only are you helping them, but
in return our lives are blessed and we will feel that same happiness
and gratitude that those who we serve feel. On Thursday we had our
district meeting at the stake center and afterwards we were going to
have our companionship study for the day back at our apartment. We got
in the car and I suggested that we just stay here and do it in the car
so we can save miles (we get a certain number of miles each month). We
decided just to stay there and after about 20 minutes we saw President
and sister Johnson show up, the APs, and a couple other missionaries.
Sister Stevens had to go to the bathroom and so we went inside. While
I was waiting for her I asked one of the sisters what was going on.
They said it was the trainers meeting for everyone who would be
training the new missionaries coming from the MTC on Wednesday. Sister
Stevens came out and we went into one of the classrooms to study.
About 10 minutes later Sister Johnson comes in our classroom and says,
"Are you coming to the meeting??"...we both looked at each other and
said "Not that we know of..?" And then President Johnson came in and
couldn't believe he forgot to ask me. So he asked me right then if I
would train and we went right into the meeting! It was a big surprise
because usually President will ask you a week before transfers if you
will train. There were 4 other missionaries in there were going to be
training as well. I am SO excited to train a new missionary. I feel a
little out of place though because I still feel like the new
missionary haha! It will definitely be a challenge, but a lot of fun.
I remember being back in the MTC praying every morning and night for
my trainer that would be waiting for me here in Washington DC and now
I'm the one on the other side praying for my trainee!! On Friday night
we went to the Olsen family's house for dinner in our ward. They
invited Michael and his 2 boys over also, and it was a great night.
After dinner all the kids went downstairs to play and we were all able
to talk about our own testimonies and where Michael feels like he is
right now. He told us that he feels that right now is a window for a
lot of opportunities and he is just wanting to make sure that this is
the right path for him AND his boys. He has a hard time relating the
Book of Mormon with the Bible and so this week brother Olsen
challenged him to read 3 Nephi 11 and a couple other chapters with
him. It is so great when we aren't the only ones asking people to do
things such as read the Book of Mormon. It shows the investigator that
this is important in their friends' life and they sincerely want the
best for them. On Saturday it was 75 degrees! We were tracting most of
the day and so we were happy the weather was nice. We knocked on one
door and a lady in her 30's answered. She said, "Oh it's you guys!!!!!
Do you want some water???" We said that would be great and went
inside. We went out to her back deck and she said about a month
earlier she had been in Utah skiing with her daughter and they went to
temple square. She said everyone was friendly and was so surprised to
see missionaries at her actual door shortly after that experience.
It's funny.. she grew up in Pullman Washington because her dad went to
school there for a while and she nearly fell over when I told her that
I was born there hahaha. Also a lot of her family lived in Australia
and so she had connections to both of us. Her husband is from Germany
and so they have lived there on and off. We had a great conversation
about our purpose as missionaries and the message that we share. She
kept saying over and over again how she knew this wasn't a coincidence
and although she wasn't sure if she was interested right now, I know
eventually she will be down the road. On Sunday during ward council we
got a text from Lokesh (the Meena family from India) saying he had
signed up to help at a 5k for kids and he wouldn't be able to come to
church. We asked him if he could come to some of church at least and
so sure enough 20 minutes later they were all at church for the first
two hours! When they got there he told us, "I know that if I put God
first, then He will help me get everything else done". It's amazing to
see their faith growing. I was a little nervous to see how the little
girls would be with primary and being away from their parents but they
walked right in! The girls came out afterwards so happy and talking to
all the new friends they made. It made me happy and the oldest was
telling their mom in Hindi what she learned. I love being here and
love these people so much. I know Heavenly Father loves each one of us
and I am so grateful that I am able to help these people understand
and feel that same love. It is such a blessing. I hope you all have a
great week!!
Love, Sister Haertling

Happy Valentines Day

Dear all,
It's been a great week! We had a pretty great experience early on in
the week. We had just finished zone training, we hadn't eaten anything
all day and sister Stevens really wanted to go to this cute diner she
saw a long time ago. It was pretty far away and so right as I was
turning I saw a 5 Guys burger place and suggested we just go there
cause it's closer and probably better anyways. We saw some elders
there right as we walked in and were going to leave but decided to
stay. We sat down and there was a guy next to us who kept looking at
our name tags. The elders were sitting across the restaurant and
walked over to the guy and asked if they could share a message with
him, but he said he had to eat quick and leave so no. They left and he
turned to us and said, "You probably get the word 'no' a lot don't
you". We ended up talking to him for 30 minutes and we were able to
share more with him about our beliefs in a natural way just having a
normal conversation. He told us that his wife actually used to be
mormon, but hasn't been to church for a long time. He said he had a
lot of questions in life that he wanted answers to and hadn't been
able to find them. We told him a lot of the questions he had, we could
help him find answers to and I had a couple pamphlets that I had
happened to put in my bag that day. He said he was going to talk to
his wife and he lives in our area so we would get to teach him!!! His
name is Steve, he owns a construction company and coaches girls
basketball which I was excited to hear:) we exchanged information and
are praying that he will want to learn more. So the Indian family (the
Meena family) that we started teaching has been amazing! I'm not sure
what I talked about in the last email, but the father works in he
embassy here for India and they will be here until their daughter
finishes chemotherapy and her treatments. We had a lesson with them on
Thursday and when we went over there the little girls came running
over to us and gave us huge hugs. We taught them the Plan of Salvation
and taught how baptism is the first step to living with our families
forever. All three of the girls sat there so reverent and loved
watching the videos we had. We asked them what they would be willing
to do/give up in order to be an eternal family and the father (Lokesh)
said anything. We then invited them to be baptized and they said yes!
We set a date for the middle of march, because we have to translate a
lot for the wife. We want to make sure they have enough time and
understanding before they get baptized. The little girls have no
problem speaking or understanding and it is amazing to hear their
testimonies already from what they have learned. I love the Meena
family, they are the sweetest! On Saturday at the visitors center we
had a big performance with a man, I can't remember how to spell his
name, but he is African American and baptist and an amazing
singer/vocalist. I think his name is mr Herndon.. He has performed all
over the world and something cool about him is that he dies his beard
black and white to look like a piano key haha! I'm sure if you google
"piano beard baptist from Washington DC" you would be able to find him
easily. Look him up!! Something that I love about Washington DC is how
much diversity there is and how many interfaith events the church is
apart of here. Anyways, mr. Herndon came to the visitors center and
gave an amazing performance down in the auditorium. So many people
from the baptist church and other religions came to see. They loved
being at the visitors center and so many people stayed afterwards to
see what was inside the temple. On Sunday the whole Meena family came
to church!!!!! Also all of the Ghanadan family (I've talked about Tara
before and her son just got home from his mission) was there at church
and 3 other people who we have been meeting with this week in the ward
came! We were just so happy we couldn't stop smiling the whole day.
Sundays really are the best. This weeks lesson for relief society was
exactly what I needed this week. It's kind of long but I wanted to
share it, {{{Never forget that you are a child of God. You have a
divine birthright. Something of the very nature of God is within you.
We sing, “I am a child of God”.That isn’t just a figment, a poetic
figment--that is the living truth. There is something of divinity
within each of us that needs cultivation, that needs to come to the
surface, that needs to find expression. You fathers and mothers, teach
your children that they are, in a very literal way, sons and daughters
of God. There is no greater truth in all the world than that--to think
that we have something of divinity in us. Believe in yourself. Believe
in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain
is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great
that you cannot weather it. … You are a child of God, of infinite
capacity. Stand a little taller, rise a little higher, be a little
better. Make the extra effort. You will be happier. You will know a
new satisfaction, a new gladness in your heart.}}}
I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that allows us to
find strength and happiness in our lives. He gave everything for us so
that we can live again with our families and with Heavenly Father.
Because of Him, we can find joy in the journey!!! I love you all!
Love, sister Haertling

Top Picture: The Meena Family
Middle Picture:  Sister Haertling
Bottom Picture:  Sister Haertling and Sister Stevens with Gabe. (Tara's son)

February already!

Dear all,
It's already February!!! Next month I already hit my 6 month
mark..that's a crazy thought. So first, just a fun little story. Last
Monday night after pday was over, we got home and sister Stevens
really wanted her hair cut. A lot of the sisters have been cutting
their hair short, but sister Stevens has veryyy long hair she has said
she will never cut it. But all of Monday she had made up her mind she
wanted short hair. She asked me if I knew how to cut hair and I
said...."well yeah a little, I think I could do it". (I have never cut
hair in my life). We found some really good sharp scissors and within
an hour we had cut probably 6 inches off! It was one of the scariest
things I've done haha! She loves her hair now, which is a relief
because I didn't want to be responsible if she didn't like it!:) She's
gorgeous though and so I think she would look good no matter what I
did with her hair. On Tuesday we had zone conference and it was
combined with the Rockville and Seneca zone. Usually I get really
nervous for zone conference because they pick companions to go in
front of everyone and role play teaching the lessons. But I wasn't
nervous this time and learned so much. We talked about studying more
effectively and using our moral agency/moral discipline wisely. On
Wednesday we went to Tara's house to teach her and continue reading
the Book of Mormon with her. She hasn't been able to come to church
for a while, but since her son is coming home from his mission
tomorrow, we know for sure they will all be there next week! When we
got to the visitors center, we were able to have a chat with the VC
director and his wife, the Ferrins. They are amazing people and I am
excited to know them better each day. They have been making a couple
changes here and there in the VC, but the changes are only going to
make us better! On Friday we had exchanges which is when we have a
day/night with one of the sister training leaders. It was super fun
because I got to be with sister Freeman!!! We went to downtown DC
which was a little crazy to contact...there were so many people out
since it was a Friday night. We got to go to game night for the YSA
since sister Freeman serves in that ward. On Sunday night we got to
have dinner at a member in our wards house, April. She is from the
Philippines and made amazing food. Then we went and taught a family
that came into Festival of Lights during December. They were amazing
and we taught them about how their family can be together forever.
They have three little girls and one of them has leukemia. They had
little understanding of who Jesus Christ is or even God and so we were
able to explain everything simply. He asked us, "is it really possible
for my family to live forever?". The little girls sat right beneath us
on the ground and every time I looked at them I just felt so much love
for them. I could see them truly as children of God and it was such a
spiritual experience. We are going back on Thursday to teach them
more! I was reading a talk this week and there was a quote I loved by
Elder D. Todd Christofferson. He explained what he learned from a
personal trial: “Though I suffered then, as I look back now, I am
grateful that there was not a quick solution to my problem. The fact
that I was forced to turn to God for help almost daily over an
extended period of years taught me truly how to pray and get answers
to prayer and taught me in a very practical way to have faith in God.
I came to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way and to a
degree that might not have happened otherwise or that might have taken
me much longer to achieve. … I learned to trust in the Lord with all
my heart. I learned to walk with Him day by day.” I am so grateful for
the strength that our savior gives us each and every day. All we have
to do is ask. I love you all!!
Love, sister Haertling