March 14th, 2016

Fact: the weather is a hot topic here. It's not a conversation that
you talk about when there is nothing else to talk about, it is first
priority. You know a New Englander likes you when they are willing to
talk about the weather with you. That's how we have learned to get
people to talk to us! For example: 'Hello sir! Wow, can you believe
how warm it is? It's been so beautiful these last few days! You know
what else is beautiful? Gods love for you. Have you ever heard of the
Book of Mormon?'

Or something like that...

So this week.
How do I put this in a relatable sense...
You know that rare moment when your eating and you bite your lip or
your tongue, and it catches you totally off guard, and it hurts like
nobodies business for a couple of seconds and then you are like sort
of crying but you still eat because you love to eat?
Our week was like that.
Sister Monjar got emergency transfered on Friday :( we knew it was a
possibility, but just like biting a lip, we didn't know it would
actually happen! It was so sad to see her go, but we know she is
needed elsewhere. She was an AMAZING companion!

We got a text early Friday morning from Bruce. He was basically
dropping us. Sister Monjar text back a beautiful testimony. At about
9pm Bruce sent another text dropping us again. At this point it was
just Sister Lewis and I. We had no idea what to do! We knew he was
hurting but we didn't know how we could help him at this point. We
prayed and I felt like we should send a funny text. We did and it
worked! He actually asked us to call him when he had been ignoring our
calls up to this point! We called and it all turned out great! He is
all good now, and ready to refocus.
I realized how well Heavenly Father knows each one of us and our
individual needs. I never would have thought to crack a joke during
something so serious but that is exactly what Bruce needed!

This week was stake conference too, it was so fantastic!!
Something that the spirit continually reconfirmed to me was the
importance of a temple-like home. A refuge from the world. A safe
place where the Spirit dwells. Being out here and experiencing both
sides of the spectrum, I have realized how important it is to have
home where God can speak to us. The family unit we enjoy here on earth
is the same happiness we enjoy in heaven. I am thankful for that.

The new Easter initiative is out! #hallelujah !!
Everyone please go check out:  followhim.mormon.org
Share it on Facebook
Share it with a friend
Share it with yourself!

I love you all! Have a beautiful week!!

#hallelujah
#kiakaha

Sister Lewis

Bruce!

Sister Monjar

 Beck with a cat on her (I think) 

March 7th, 2017

Not actually super thankful for that because it makes for sketchy driving conditions, but it's beautiful so I guess it's worth it! 

FUN FACT: There is a rivah (river) that runs through Saco (How to say Saco: sock-oh) and Biddeford and there is a legend that the rivah is cursed! The ancient tale is that there was an Indian woman who watched three white guys drown her baby in the rivah, so she cursed the rivah and all the men died by drowning in the rivah. Now there is annually about 2-3 deaths in the rivah a year. CrAZy!! 

Joke I made up this week: 

How many ducks does it take to screw in a light bulb? 

Just one, but the bill is high! 😂😂😂😂

We had a ward talent show this week, it was awesome!! There was a range of different acts, like: piano playing, a song from the musical Wicked, we were all taught how to do the 'Whip and NayNay' (that was sketch), singing, golfing, and so much more! It was definitely entertaining! This ward is fantastic! It's super small, the church building is tiny! But everyone loves everyone, and there is a strong force for good between them. It's such a blessing to be serving with them! 

Bruce feels the love too! He loves the ward and the people. He is in awe at how nice everyone is. This week we had really great lessons with him, one that was really powerful was on Tuesday. He is working on stopping smoking, and so we have been focusing on that because he is having a hard time. We had the lesson in a members home. THE SPIRIT. It was so STRONG. 

I know I have said this before, and I am going to say it again, members make all the difference!! We talked about how, we all have mountains to climb, and trials and set backs that seem to tower over us. But with God, we are able to move those mountains when we exercise faith and trust in him. We testified that quitting smoking is his way of moving his mountain. He really loved that, and he said he feels his testimony growing and he feels stronger. 

GO BRUCE!!! 

This week I studied a lot in 2 Nephi 4. I love this chapter because there is so much heart and feeling in it. It feels so real and applicable. I especially clung to verse 19. I love the phrase, 'I know in whom I have trusted'. 

I want to bear my testimony to you all that we are humans. We will sin, we will transgress. There will be set backs and trials. 

BUT I testify to you that we have great reason to rejoice!! I testify that Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have JOY! I testify that there is beauty in everyday. There are blessings and tender mercies all around us, for us, from God. Because he LOVES us soooooooo much! I testify that we need to go to the temple. We need to go to church. We need to partake of the sacrament. I know that as we serve each other, love each other, and build each other up, we will be connecting ourselves to heaven and we will feel loved and renewed. Peace and joy. Happiness and wholeness. 

I love you all, and I love my Father in Heaven. 

Have a GLORIOUS week!! 

Sister Lewis 

P.s.

To quote the Gospel Principles manual, as it gives examples of ways to keep the Sabbath Day holy: "writing letters to missionaries..." Wow what a great suggestion! I testify that that is a great recommendation. ;)

February 29th, 2016

Fun fact: the spice tolerance of food is so minimal here. Sometimes
salt and pepper is pushing it. So it's like, if rated on a scale of
1-10, a 10 for a New Englander would be a 2 for a westerner. Are you
catching what I am throwing down? I love it, I think it's so much fun
haha.
Speaking of, a member this last week made us tacos and gave us a 'hot'
sauce, but it didn't even phase me, so then they pulled out this
little bottle called 'Daves insanity' hot sauce, and so I ate it too.
My face got all swollen and red but of coarse I had to be tough so I
ate 2 tacos with it on it and on the outside I was smiling and
laughing but inside it felt like I had bit down on a death sandwich
lit on fire.
Anyways...
This week was good! Bruce is progressing SO MUCH! He had a rough week
last week, but we have had a lot of really spiritual lessons. He has
had a lot of spiritual experiences and life changing moments with the
Spirit.
Something awesome about Bruce is that he LOVES to feed people. So
every lessons e have with him there is always a meal or really awesome
snacks haha. He also likes to give us crates and boxes of food. It's
so nice!!
There was a baptism yesterday for a little girl yesterday, so we asked
if he wanted to stay, and he got so excited! When we went to the font,
we got him in the front so he could see, and everyone in the ward was
helping him see, and his face just lit up as he watched her get
baptized. It was so spiritual and amazing. He just looked around with
awe on his face. He said "I feel like I just watched the gates of
heaven open." He kept talking about how he feels like he is now a part
of a family (which he never really had growing up).
I am so grateful that he had that experience!
I know that our Heavenly Father knows us, and he knows what kind of
spiritual experiences we need to grow our testimonies and pierce our
hearts. Bruce is so ready for this, he is so great!!

I want to share with you all a quote that I found about the Temple:
"Every foundation stone that is laid for a temple, and every temple
completed according to the order the Lord has revealed for his holy
Priesthood, lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the
power of God and Godliness, moves the heavens in mighty power in our
behalf, invokes and calls down upon us the blessings of the eternal
Gods, and those who reside in their presence."
(In 'The Logan Temple,' Millennial Star)

I love you all!!

Kiakaha

Sister Lewis

Temple! ❤️

 The ocean!!

Our investigator Brother Bruce! 

February 22, 2016

I feel like its been probably 16 years since I have sent a general email, sorry!

But the best thing ever happened this week... WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE!! Hallelujah! And it didn't even snow on us! whatta miracle.

It was so wonderful, and so needed.

We had a lot of really cool lessons with our really cool investigators!

So many awesome things happen out here, but then I get here to email all of you and then all of a sudden nothing has happened and I have no memory. Sorry about that...

Church yesterday was pretty awesome, we had 4 investigators there! Bruce, Alice, Molly and their brother James. They all really enjoyed it. I don't blame them, attending Gods true church can be pretty life changing. :)

Molly is 9 years old, and is the brightest most inquisitive person I know. She is so sweet and FULL of faith. She is so close to the spirit and know her relationship with her Heavenly Father.

The elders and us in this ward were asked to help in primary, by doing skits for the kids on examples of families from the scriptures. I was Lehi, and then I was a bush in the Garden of Eden, and then I was an elephant/one of Noah's sons. :) The children really enjoyed it haha. Molly was totally into it and answered questions and had a great time! Alice and James also really liked it!

Did I already tell you they are getting baptized?? They are such special beings! We love the a whole lot. :)

I want to share with thoughts on an awesome scripture that I love, in Ether 12:4.

I love that it says if we believe in God, we will hope for a good world. Because God is good! The way to make the world good, starts with us. It starts with our actions and our faith. When we are steadfast in Christ and anchored to Him, we are better able to help those around us.

God is good and He love you. Remember that our ultimate goal is to live with Him and our families forever. Do everything you can to get there!

I love you all, and I am so thankful for you. Thank you for inspiring me and helping me remember what I am truly going for.

Have an awesome week!!

Sister Lewis

Ps. No pictures, having technical difficulties