December 21, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We had a wonderful zone conference this week, where we learned so many
awesome and amazing tools to help in our missionary efforts here, in
the blessed land of New England.
Our mission sets a 'vision' for every new year. Our 2015 vision was:
"rescue 1000 in 2015"
Our 2016 vision is: " every member invites an individual of a family
to their home to take the lessons from the missionaries." Or something
like that.
IM. SO. EXCITED!!!
I think that this is by far the best thing that we can do over here
because we need to help the members feel the missionary spirit, and I
believe that it will be the most beneficial way to find people to
teach.

We have already started to see the beauty of this vision come to pass!
We have been to a few members homes where they tell us the people they
want us to go and visit, and we invited them to go with us, and now
they are excited to be involved in the missionary work! It's so
fantastic!!

Another fantastic thing is that I got to try LOBSTER for the first
time and it is AMAZING!! It's so crazy how lobster is such a delicacy,
and yet it's the messiest and creepiest meal I have ever eaten! Mmmmmm
but soooooo good!!!

December 14, 2015

This week...

WOOF. 

We made our plans everyday, and back ups, and back ups to our back ups. 

Well, just about every day our plans fell through, our back ups fell through, and the back ups to our backups fell through. 

AWESOME. 

So.... We walked.

And knocked.

And walked.

and knocked.

And walked. 

Becoming modern day pioneer children! But we didn't sing, well, my companion didn't sing, I did bust out a few notes here and there. :) 

Amidst the trials of faith and emotional stressors of life, there were random bursts of miracles that came at the very moments we needed them most. 

God is so good!! 

We were walking (of coarse) and we got a call on the phone from our dear friend Brenda, whom we are teaching, and she was so excited because she had an experience that helped her know and understand Gods love for her! It was a beautiful and tear filled conversation that reaffirmed to me the individual love that our Heavenly Father for each and every one of us. 

We also had a lesson with Katherine. I have never experienced anything so stressful. I won't go into detail, just know that I haven't cried like that in a long time. 

So! 

Why is this email so downer? 

Because! There is opposition in all things. But we keep going. We keep walking. There are souls to save. We are merely the instruments in Gods hands! Isn't that wonderful!? But we also have the blessing of agency, which allows us the opportunity to CHOOSE to be on Gods side. 

A scripture that has kept my heart and head in the right place this week: 

"Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and go on, on to the victory!" 

D&C 128:22

 

I pray that we all choose to be on Gods side. 

 

I love you all!! 

On to the victory! 

Sister Lewis

December 8, 2015

December 8, 2015

Fact: everyone puts candles in their windows, just like you see in
those classic Christmas movies! It's so precious!

We had to drop Jo and Debbie. :( they weren't keeping our
appointments, and we just could never get in to see them.

The work is still going! We are still working! We have been finding a lot 

of people lately that are interested, so hopefully this week we will be 

having more success and hep others find Christs mercy and love. 

I am super impressed with the church's new Christmas initiative video!! I
love the good vibes and excitement they are putting out there! I want to
challenge everyone to GO CHECK IT OUT!! They have really cool videos
like "imagine a world without a savior" and "what a savior means to
us". They also have a video that is released for every day in December
and they are AWESOME! My favorite so far is the Alex Boye one. His
message about how we need to 'ask what we can GIVE for Christmas,
instead of what we can GET' is so important.

As a missionary I have learned that service does not need to be a big
extravagant expensive thing! The little things that we can do, those
are what make a big difference! If you have the opportunity to do
something, DO IT.

I am so pumped for this Christmas season!
Our mission works with iPads, and lately those little guys have
been absolute GOLD! We have gotten in more houses in the last two
weeks with this new video, than we have before! The message is so
profound to people who have never been exposed to any kind of
religion.

Here is my 'over-kill' moment from this last week:
We were out knocking and we were having a lot of success! So I got
really excited, and it was building up with each house we visited. So
we get to this house that is like overly decked out with Christmas
stuff, and I am already super pumped up so this house really got me
excited! We knock on the door, I'm holding my iPad about ready to
explode with happiness, and the guy answered and said 'oh honey, no
thank you I'm all set.' So I, letting my desire to spread Christmas
cheer overcome me said: 'are you sure?? I don't think you are!"
Whoops..... He didn't really appreciate that....
Lesson learned! Never question a New Englander! And stay humble....

"In the work of salvation, there is no room for comparison, criticism, or condemnation. it is not about age, experience, or public acclaim. This sacred work is about developing a broken heart, a contrite spirit, and a willingness to use our divine gifts and unique talents to do the Lords work in his way." - Carol F. Mckonkie

I love you all! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

Sister Lewis

Our Christmas tree is up! and so is our comp unity

My friend Sister Mennis! 

our fantastic investigator Katherine!!! And her dog Phoenix

Our District on Wednesday 

November 30, 2015

My friends!!

My family!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Here are a few of the things I am SO thankful for:

* Donny Osmond
* This opportunity/blessing I have to serve in the BEST MISSION EVER!
* Lime Flamin Hot Cheetos (as previously stated)
* My fantastic family and friends
* The fact that a blessed place like New England exists, and I get to spend 18 months here. I just can't get over it! :)

My ward mission leader says to us almost every time we see him: "New England is where God goes on vacation."

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because:
FOOD
HAPPINESS
GRATITUDE

awesome. :)

We had multiple dinner offers, but only made it to 3 of them. By the third we were thankful we only had 3 because, never in my life have I seen so much food, or eaten that much food! It was fantastic!!

All of our investigators were out of town like the whole week for Thanksgiving, so we were able to spend a lot of time trying to find less actives, and potential investigators.

Something interesting about New England, that I am bound and determined to change any way that I can, is this:

In New England, there are roughly 15,000 members. 10,000 of them are less active, and 5,000 are active.

Our mission has been really focusing on re-activating, as much as we are baptizing. We need a 'firm foundation' so that that when we do bring new sheepies to the fold, they will be welcomed in a big giant ward hug. (figuratively of course)

I have developed a new testimony for this part of missionary work. It never dawned on me until I got out here that this is just important as anything else!

Exchanges with my STL (Sister Training Leader) Sis. Davis this week. I absolutely adore her! Such a hard worker and great example. :)

We have been so blessed to be in this area, because we are so close to the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial. They had this amazing live Nativity and lighting ceremony on Friday and Saturday evening. We got to go Saturday night with a less active we are working with, Sis. B. She is so sweet, and has a strong desire to go to the Temple.

We saw President and Sis. Stoker at the JSBM, its always a pleasure to see them!

Well kids, I hope you have a hip hoppin, rock and rollin, totally awesome week!

Love you all!

Sister Lewis

 

 

 

 

November 23, 2015

 

HEYO!!!

Joke of the day: Why were the Lamanites so hungry? because Moroni hid the plates!! :)
Why were the Lamanites legs so tired? because of all the 'Knee-phites'!

So I just want to let you all know that I am VERY human. That is something that I learned this week, that I am as human as you can get. But I love that, because that means I have a life time of opportunities to learn and grow! Which is very much needed in my case.
This week was full of questions for my new companion and prayers for our investigators and less actives.

I have been asked on multiple occasions, what my favorite part of my mission is. Well, there are lots! But the moments that make my heart soar and my testimony grow, are the moments during a lesson, or a discussion, when the Spirit is SO STRONG and testifies to all of us, that its all true. The Book of Mormon. Plan of Salvation. Jesus Christ.

Those are the moments I thrive on! Because I know 100% that I am doing nothing, and the spirit is doing EVERYTHING.

Another thing I absolutely love, is the people that I have the privilege of meeting and knowing. I absolutely love the members in this area. I love our investigators. I love everyone that we meet! I feel so blessed.

We had a lesson with Katherine this week, she is progressing. Its so cool to see how the gospel makes such an impact and difference in peoples lives. Just little things, cleaner house, a more joyful countenance. And the BEST part is when they recognize that the spirit is with them, and helping them. Joe and Debbie are so sweet, and they love the power of prayer, every time we go and see them, they ask us to pray for things. :)

God is so good!

I got a new companion! Her name is Sister O'Bryant. She is a very hard worker, and I am learning so much from her!

I feel like I am in some kind of twilight zone, I didn't even know it was thanksgiving until like a couple of days ago haha, I cant believe how fast it's going by!

HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK!!

Sister Lewis

November 16, 2015

Thankful for Wool Socks!

COLD.

Its very cold. 

I am nicknamed 'Desert Flower' in my ward because everyone is wearing sweaters and long sleeve shirts and I show up in 3 coats, 2 shirts, thick skirts and boots. 

New England winter: challenge accepted. 

Transfer calls were on Saturday!! 

We had a movie night set up for Saturday evening and the whole time we were all (us and two other sets of missionaries) were just so stressed out because ANYTHING could happen. 

That night we were doing comp study and the phone started to buzz and we just stared at each other and no one would touch the phone haha but then I pushed it at Sis. Farrally and she answered. She is leaving me. :( 

I explained that story in great detail because that was the most exciting thing of the week.

 

We are still trying everything we can to find those willing to listen. Negativity towards Mormons is thick in the air around here because of the new changes, but we keep going. We pray for the spirit to guide us in those conversations because he is the ultimate guide in knowing the truth and receiving peace in such matters. 

On Wednesday it 'misted', you know the feeling of when your arm falls asleep or your leg, and then it feels all tingly and staticy? That's exactly what this mist felt like! It was so weird walking in it because it felt like walking through a staticy TV screen haha 

The Franklins. AWESOME family! Blessed out of my mind to know them! 

Concord Sunset. Be still my beating heart!! 

LOVE YOU ALL 

Sister Lewis

November 9, 2015

November 9, 2015

Fact: The Capitol of New Hampshire is Concord, and the state house has
a gold dome on it. That means a president of the United States is from
here! Also, people running for president, like Trump and Hilary
Clinton and Bernie, are always coming to Concord to win new England's
hearts. If I could vote I would vote for Donny Osmond to be president.
Good thing I can't vote on my mish, am I right? haha


This week we saw a full-blown miracle fest that took place in many
different miracles, making one giant miracle party! It totally rocked
my socks off!!
Lets begin at the beginning.

MIRACLE:    Saturday was Zone Conference with a member of the seventy!
Not only a member of the seventy but also the head director of
missionary work for the church! It's Elder Nielson, the one who talked
in general Conference last April about his sister that was inactive
for several years and after lots of love and caring, came back! That's
him! It was so awesome to learn from him for 6 hours. My brain
exploded like 20 times that day! He focused on the atonement, and went
into detail on how we can apply the redeeming and enabling power of
the atonement in our lives.  He said: "It's through the redeeming
power that we are saved, and it's through the enabling power that we
are changed."
He said a million other things that were amazing, but I just can't fit
it all on here, so just know that he and his wife are AWESOME!!

MIRACLE:    So yesterday was Sunday.
I love Sunday's.
Best day of the week BY FAR.
So all day me and Sister Farrally kept thinking about Jo and Debbie
our investigators, so we went to their house and we were just talking
to them, seeing how things are going, and Jo informs us that his uncle
just passed away this last week. Now, I am not being insensitive, a
loved one passing away is hard. But that is the best thing a
missionary can hear because BAM! Plan of Salvation! We were able to
share the message that he isn't gone and that we can be with our
families forever, and he and Debbie were very interested! So we set up
a return appointment, and went on our way.

MIRACLE:    We then had dinner at the Franklin's (coolest family ever)
they are always helping us missionaries and feeding us. They have a
pet rat that scared the day lights outta me, but then I petted it and
our souls connected and now I love the little guy. :)

MIRACLE:    We were walking home, and we had a crazy intense
impression to go contact a referral that we got from someone in the
the other ward. It's like 8:00pm so we were nervous because the sun is
down at 5:00pm here and New Englanders are asleep by 5:30pm, but we
went because we could not deny it! We go to the address, couldn't
figure out which one he lived in (there is like 7 apartments in one
normal house) almost gave up, but we found a doorbell and rang it,
praying our guts out that he would answer, and he did!! We introduced
ourselves, talked a little, and then he said, "I want to be a follower
of Mormonism, can I be baptized? I want to get baptized. I think
Mormonism is the path God wants me to take."
......
..........
WHAT!? Is this really happening???
My companion just stood there so stunned, and I'm over here smiling
and laughing saying "yeah!! Totally!!" Haha we asked if he wants to
take the lessons and he said " is that how I become a Mormon? Then
yes, how about tomorrow?"

God knows exactly what he is doing, even, and especially when, we don't.
I know that miracles happen! Every single day! We just need to open
our eyes to them.

John 6:3-14 is the story of the loaves and fishes. Jesus see's 5,000
coming to hear his word. The apostles said there wasn't enough food to
feed them, but Jesus made it possible for everyone have some. At the
end of the story, Jesus asks his apostles go go and gather up what was
left of the food after everyone had eaten their fill. The apostles had
gathered up twelve baskets of left overs. Why was that included in the
story?
His grace is sufficient.
We come to him, we need his words, we do all we can, and He WILL make
up the difference. So much so, that there will be left overs. He NEVER
runs out of grace and mercy. We do our part, and He will do the rest.
:)

Love you all!
Sister Lewis

pictures: 

-exchanges with Sister Harper. *New England translation: Sista Hahpuh

-The Sky at the Joseph Smith Memorial, That is where zone conference was.

-See that black picture there? that was what the sky and streets looked like at 5:12 in the evening.... The dark days have begun....

November 3, 2015

November 3, 2015

Fact: the roads here were built in like the 1800's so they are super
small. So in the 1900's they just threw down granite cement, so all the
roads are like spaghetti, and there's no blocks or squares or sense of
direction. There is enough room for about one car, so when two are
coming and going with other cars parked on the 'side' of the road, it
feels like a video game but instead of having three lives you only
have one. Haha it definitely keeps you awake and aware!

So on Wednesday me and my comp were out trying to find people to
teach, as we were walking we came upon one of the numerous hills that
populate New England. We saw that a woman was trying to get up the
steep climb in a wheelchair, so instinctively my companion and I both
looked at each other and whipped into service missionary mode. We ran
up to her and I grabbed her wheelchair and said 'mind if we give you a
boost?' And she thanked us and we got to the top and we started to
talk to her, she saw who we were, spouted profanities, and then we
left. As we came up to the house we were going too next, I look down
at my skirt and saw some of the vilest creatures that spread like the
Black Plague in New England, all over my skirt. BED BUGS. I just about
ripped all my clothes off right then and there! But my good judgment
stopped me in the act, I brushed them off with ninja like strikes
to my skirt, and prayed that the Lord would take care of the rest. My
dearest comp just laughed and said "that's what you get for doing a
good deed!" Thankfully I am clear and free of Satan's insects. Now I
know to never do a nice thing for anyone ever again. ;) just kidding!!

Besides my wheelchair-lady-bed-bug-extravaganza, this last week was a
bit of a dud, but we worked hard, and did all we could. These kinds of weeks

 happen, we just have to remember who is in charge, and to work harder next time.. 

But, MONDAY NIGHT(yesterday) WAS THE AWESOMEST THING

EVER!! So 2 weeks ago a nice lady called us and said she is from the
Jewish church and they are having a religion night and they wanted us
Mormon missionaries (along with the elders in our area) to come and
tell them about our religion. So we agreed, but then about Sunday we
realized, 'what the heck have we done!?' And all day Monday we were so
nervous because we had no idea what to expect, so we drive up and park
outside the church and we are all just about to pass out on the ground
because, you know, Jews, what do we even talk about!? So we prayed
real hard, and went in. The lady was SO nice and the teenagers we were
teaching were SO chill! They gave us a tour of their synagogue, and
they told us about their Arch and the Torah and a lot of really awesome
stuff. Then we went into the classroom, and there was only about 7
kids and a teacher, and we were able to answer a lot of questions and
teach them about the restoration and our church history and core
beliefs. They were very interested! It was so cool!! They loved
learning about Joseph Smith and the Angel Moroni and Thomas S. Monson.
It was very difficult to teach all these things and not testify haha.
But of course being representatives of Jesus Christ, we did. Just very
gently. :)

The teacher lady asked us to share about how our religion is strictly
an American religion, 'as American a religion as you can get' and so
we had to kindly burst her bubble about that one but it was soooo
awesome and they loved it! And especially everything about missionary
work, they are brilliant kids who work really hard. They have to learn
Hebrew! They are really awesome. I feel really blessed to have gotten
to know them and had that experience. SO AWESOME!!

Today we had the opportunity to go to the Boston Massachusetts Temple.
That is officially my favorite temple. It is absolutely GORGEOUS! I
feel so incredibly blessed to have gotten the chance to go. The temple
is surly the house of the Lord.

We got to meet the temple president and his wife, it's President and
Sister Wheelright, it was their first day today as temple president
and matron! They bought me and sister Farrally lunch, they are so
sweet!

Now that the leaves are starting to loose their color, they are also

loosing their strength against the wind, and who better than

a bunch of missionaries to clean that mess up! Its so fun, I love

raking! There were a lot of worms and stuff, so why in the world

would I not take a picture with them?? :) 

I hope you all have a phenomenal week, Read your scriptures

and say your prayers!!! Bear you testimony often, even if its just

on a piece of paper. (you can even send that paper to me if you 

want, I would love to hear your testimonies. :) 

YOU ALL ROCK!! 

October 26, 2015

Fact:   If you see an orange/red/yellow glow coming in your window, it's not fire burning your house down, it's just the AMAZING fall leaves being illuminated by the radiant sun, you should all, most definitely, be jealous. 

SHOUT OUT to my awesome Mission President, President Stoker for being one of the GREATEST people to ever live. 

We had Zone Interviews on Thursday, it was my first one, and everything about it was very much needed. We have a new mission goal, to get all of our less actives and recent converts to the temple, because baptism is the gateway! God wants them to make it eternal. Family History is huge out here too so we are really trying to get that out there to people, and it is working! Spirit of Elijah man... its REAL.

There is a city in NH named Weare, pronounced like the word 'where', and its super boony. Us and the Elders in this area are in a car share, so on Wednesday we had a 'Weare Wednesday".  We were so pumped, and then we got there, and literally EVERYTHING fell through. But the best part that really topped of the day was when this lady was screaming at the elders and then saw us with them and she started screaming at us and telling us we dont know how to read and we are illiterate(what?) and that she doesn't want to be saved and that everyone has guns out here and we could get shot at any moment, and she was super disgusted that we had the nerve to talk to her. haha well, we tried to explain why we do what we do and she was so appalled that we were still trying to talk to her, she almost called the cops! It was super pointless, all we could do was pray for her in our hearts and get the heck outta there!! 

so that was cool....

So I guess you could say 'Weare Wednesday" was a success. haha

The rest of the week was pretty good, our investigator Katherine is gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon which is so AWESOME! The Spirit was so strong when she was telling us about her praying and pondering. She says it's so obvious that no mortal man could ever write a book like that from his own knowledge and in the time that he did. SHE IS SO RIGHT. The Book of Mormon is God's word, and it makes me so happy when the Spirit guides others to that knowledge as well. 

Yesterday I got a little taste of home when this cute little snake just came a slithering up to me, I named him Malvolio, like from Shakespeare, he was way sassy though, so we left.  

I am wicked excited for this coming week, because we are having a trunk or treat in our ward, and I am a missionary, and lots of people think we are starving all the time (which is usually true) so they give us all their left over food from ward parties! tender mercies man.... 

I hope everyone has a totally awesome week!! 

Halloween joke: 

What kind of music do mummies listen to most?

Wrap music

Sister Lewis

October 19, 2015

Fact: New Englanders like to 'endure' things. There is probably one
house in all of New England that has air conditioning, and they are
from Utah. Everyone just buys like 12 fans for the summer, it's so
crazy because it's wicked humid so it doesn't do much except blow the
water around in your face. But in the winter, they for reals only have
like these ancient metal heaters that are on one wall in one part of
the house, and then they just live in subzero clothing. It's nuts.

This week was chuck full of finding! We have been working on finding
people to teach and less actives to help. We had a lesson with
Katherine this week. She is such an awesome lady, with a heart of
gold.

We have a less active Billy that we meet with every week, she taught
us how to knit! She is more youthful than I am, it's so awesome! She
is hilarious. So she has been less active the past 20 years. She
attends a different church with her son but she has been coming a
little here and there, she is trying to find out where she really
needs to be, religion wise. So the other day we were talking to her
about the gospel, and she told us an awesome story: last Sunday, she
was really tired and wanted to sleep in and do yard work and have an
easy day, but then she kept getting this restless feeling and so she
prayed and asked Heavenly Father what she should be doing and which
church to go to, and she said the spirit was so clear, it said 'get
ready and be to church by 9.' Well, her other church doesn't start
until 10. She said it was so distinct and clear and she knows this is
where she should be.

My heart is full for this sweet city of Concord New Hampshire.
It's the craziest/hardest/greatest feeling when we tract. Well, it is
for me anyways. The 3-10 seconds before they answer the door, feels
like days. I get so excited and nervous thinking, "this persons it,
the Lord has prepared them, this is the moment we introduce them to
the greatest thing in the world!" The desire to share the gospel is so
strong, and so when they answer and I get the opportunity to say the
beautiful name of our wonderful church, and they start shaking their
head with a 'poor girl' look on their face, my heart just hurts. "In
my head I'm saying: "no! Please! This is so important! Just give me 2
minutes!" And sometimes those words literally do come out of my mouth,
and they just laugh and close the door.
BUT

The beauty of this, is that there are the elect few, there are
some who are prepared, and when those moments come, when they answer
with a curious face and say "sure I've got a minute." Man, that minute
is the greatest in the whole world! Being able to testify of the Book
of Mormon, plan of salvation, the restoration, and Gods love for them,
that is the best feeling to ever exist and experience.

This weeks finding/tracting was so rad. We prayerfully selected a
couple of streets and set aside a couple of hours to go tract there.
we met a lot empty houses, a Quaker, a gypsy, a couple of dogs, and a
man that, at first did not want to talk to us, but after my desperate
attempt to strike up conversation, he ended up interested! It's
awesome how fast people's minds change when they see that we are
normal humans like them. :)

I have come to know a lot about a lot of different religions out here. They are all such awesome people who love God and Jesus. But the questions that keeps coming to my mind are: Are we 'fans' or 'followers' of Christ? Most of us don't mind Jesus making some minor changes in our lives, but will we allow Jesus Christ to turn our lives upside down? Fans don't mind a little touch up work, but what if he wants a complete renovation? 

I hope that we can strive to be followers of Christ, dedicating all we have and are to the spreading of the gospel, and becoming our best selves through Christ. 

Love you all, have a stellar week! 

Sister Lewis