March 21, 2016

March 21st, 2016

Hiiiiiiiiiiii ❤️
Fact: New England has these epic storms called 'Noreaster' storms,
this is how they work: a storm from the north east developes, swoops
out over the ocean, and then comes back as snow and dumps for ages
until there's like 17 feet of snow, and then it's gone.
That is what we're currently experiencing. Right at this moment.
It's the pits.

Anyways...

This weeks was pretty fun, trio is down to two, so we have been
adjusting to that. It's been going great though!
I get to kill my dear sweet companion Sister Allen next week (not
literally mom, that just means she goes home in mission lingo) so we
have been preparing for that, slowly but surely. She has these
hilarious random freak out where she will like stop dead in her tracks
and say 'oh my gosh!' Or 'nooooo!!!' Haha and do like a small spaz
out. It's so funny, and so REAL!
(P.s. She gave me permission to tell you these things)

We went on exchanges this week with the Sister Training Leaders, it
was so fun! It's so cool to see other missionaries in action.
We tracted into a guy named Walt Lewis, and he is this really cute old
man, and he was so excited to see that me and him had the same last
name, so he brought out like all of his family history stuff and told
us his whole life story, it was so cute! :) we became BFF's. He is
great. #waltlewisforever

Bruce is a boss. He is so cool. He is going through a bit of a rough
patch, it's been a long week for him, but the Spirit is so good about
touching his heart and helping him regain focus and faith.
GO BRUCE!
We had a stellar lesson with him this week. He is working on finding a
new baptism date.
We also did social media splits this week! y'all probably saw me, we
totally went viral. #socialmediasplit look me up.

I have learned so much this week, like:
- how to make a proper pie crust
- how to drive in the snow
- how to peel an orange in one go
- Bruce taught me how to draw a bike
And so much more...
But something that I want to expound on that I had the privilege of
learning this week, is that being imperfect is part of the plan.
The only way the Lord can help us change, or fix us, or mend us, is if
we are at a point where we need to be fixed and changed and mended.
I love this quote:
"Soil is broken to plant wheat.
Wheat is broken to make bread.
Bread is broken to become the emblems of the sacrament.
When one who is repentant partaken of the sacrament with a broken
heart and a contrite spirit, he or she becomes WHOLE."

I am so thankful for the blessing and sacred opportunity that we have
to partake of the sacrament each week. It is so vitally important that
we do so, as often as possible, so that we can find new life thought
Jesus Christ.
#hallelujah

Have the best week y'all!
HAPPY EASTER!!!

Sister Lewis
(Your favorite missionary)
:)


Foto 1: My district
Foto 2: District selfie
Foto 3: it's so true! He is!
Foto 4: future missionary, already preppin'
Foto 5: my street!!
Foto 6: Noreaster storm = challenge accepted.

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

February 8th 2016

February 8^TH 2016

Hello!

Fun fact: sprinkles for ice cream are called 'jimmies' here. 👍🏼

We had plans to go to the temple last week on Friday, but then the
biggest storm of the year decided to hit on that day, even though it
was in the 50's like all week!! 'Storm Lexie' postponed our temple
date, but we still decided to have an AWESOME day! :) A member from my
last area/ the coolest person ever, was going to come get us and take
us to the temple, but then since the temple was closed and she had
already driven all the way here to get us (like 2 hours!!) so we went
to the mall instead. It was such an AWESOME day!! Shout out to
Nerissa, we love you!!!

We had interviews with President Stoker, I am so thankful for his
tender testimony and closeness to the spirit. I love this mission!!
And I am so thankful for the Priesthood.

We also got transfer calls, I am staying with my trio and staying in Saco!
Also, this transfer is 7 weeks instead of 6! I'm excited to be with
these cute sisters!!

Ninette got baptized!!!! She and her family only speak French, the
elders taught in English so my comp sister Monjar translates (gift of
tongues, it's REAL!) and we have some French speaking members.  It was
such an awesome experience to see the ward come together to help her
on her investigator journey, now she is a member!! Woo!! The whole
session was in French, our bishop who baptized her even decided to
learn French so he could baptize her in French. It. Was. Awesome.


We had a slow 2 weeks due to illness, I was down and out with a major
cold, and then I accidentally passed it to my two beautiful
companions... Whoops.
But yesterday was AWESOME! We had a lesson with our two cute
investigators Alice and Molly. They are so smart and so sensitive to
the spirit. We taught the first part of the plan of salvation, and
they were asking the best questions! Our time ran out, so we committed
them to baptism and they said yes!! They want to be baptized on March
19th!! We are so excited for them! They are such amazing girls. With
such strong faith!!


A quote to ponder on, and remember that this life is our time to
prepare to meet God! Are we doing all we can, with all we have, to
progress to Him?
“God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left
the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers
unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives
to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished
things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the
problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and glories of
creation.”
- President Thomas S. Monson

LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Lewis

Me and Sister Stoker (mission Presidents Wife). I sure love her!

                                              Exchanges with the sister training leaders!

                                                                          Life motto

                                         Our plan B! A day spent with life long friends. :) ❤️

                                                                Ninette's baptism!!!!

January 25th 2016

January 25^TH 2016

THANK YOU everyone for the awesome birthday love!!! It was a great
birthday, spent immersed in the work. :)

Fun fact: the third week in January is on average always the coldest
week of the year in Maine. 

This was on Tuesday, inside our house, frozen.                                                                                       It's cold even when it's not!

We witnessed a lot of progress with our investigator Bruce! He was struggling a little at the big fining of the week so we 'heart attacked' his door with scriptures and uplifting quotes and he really appreciated that! We had a lesson with him a few times this week, he is preparing for a baptism in February! He has a great desire to do what the Lord wants him to do. He is very knowledgable.

I wish I had more to tell you about... But like I said... A bit rocky...

Haha... Ok I got something:

We were sitting very contently in sacrament meeting, listening to a man in our ward give a wonderful talk on the temple. He began to talk about a tradition that the temple has, where if it's your first time going through, you get a free cookie! And as he was explaining he pulls out a brown bag, and pulls out an actual cookie and holds it up in the air. I began dreaming about what that cookie might taste like, when all of a sudden he says: "Sister Lewis! Will you please come up here?" Welp I got a bit light headed and red in the face, but I made my way up there, and he says: "hey everyone, it was Sister Lewis's birthday this week, so I got her this cookie. And she really wants to go to the temple, so if anyone can take her and her companions to the temple they would love that." After a brief moment of shock, I made my way off of the stand, cookie in hand, and a goofy smile on my face, and sat back down.

So that was fun...

Speaking of birthdays, thanks again everyone for the love. It was definitely felt!

This week was rocky, but hey, better to build your foundation on rocks and not sand! Unless it's p-day, then definitely play in the sand. :) (additional photo from last weeks epic adventure) (this is our shell phone, we call our mermaid investigators on it)

We made cupcakes for lunch on Friday, then after eating more than my mom probably would have liked, we went out and worked. :)

                                       

Hey! I was a bridesmaid for an impromptu wedding at the church on Thursday! That was cool. Kinda weird... But definitely awesome!

                             

We recently had a missionary training, a lot of general authorities spoke and inspired. It was really good! The part that stood out to me the most was Elder Oaks said: we should have the Doctrine of Christ engraved on our hearts and embedded in the marrow of our bones." I thought that was very bold and obviously a very important point to make. So this week I have been studying the Doctrine of Christ! I have come to the realization that it is literally in the heart of all we believe and do. I urge you all to study and ponder and pray about how the Gospel and Doctrine of Christ is working in your life right now. Faith. Repentance. Baptism (sacrament). Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Enduring to the end.

I want to bear my witness to all of you whom I love so much, that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each and everyone of you. He knows you individually and personally. He desires for us to be happy. He wants us to live with Him again. I know that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God. I know that this is the true and restored gospel, and it is an honor to be a servant of the Lord.

I love you all!! Have a FANTASTIC week!!

Sister Lewis