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