Week 33: Woodstock AKA Land of the Cool

Woodstock is so awesome! Sorry if there are a thousand typos in this because I have never typed this fast in my life and I have about 6 minutes left to send this out before the computer kicks me off. NO TIME FOR BACKSPACES!!!!

Okay so this week arriving in Woodstcok was so good! Sister Tripple, my new companion, is from Haiti and was adopted five years ago by a family in Alaska. She joined the church when she was ten and the missionaries knocked on the door of her orphanage. She is SO COOL! She speaks French which is cool and so fun for me! I think we are going to find a French speaking investigator together!

 

So, we have a few people that we are TRYING to teach but not many of them are very interested so we are going to prune back the investigator tree and then it will grow! I have so much faith in this principle of "pruning." It is going to be so fun to get some crazy work started here in Woodstock with Sister Tripple. Starting to teach the members the message of the Restoration, sharing the gospel with their friends, reaching out to the community and so many more things that we are planning to do to find people to teach and help them progress toward the temple! We are PUMPED!

Heavenly Father loves you and I so much! He sends people that we need to help us. I am blessed to feel the influence of those instruments and to BE an instrument. I am not perfect, but I try, and I'm grateful for those who tried on my behalf. When we try, we succeed, in that respect anyway!

Well a funny experience for you all REALLY FAST: so this week we ran into a man who only speaks Spanish, and I know how to introduce myself as a missionary, ask if they would like a message of Christ, ask if they want to talk to Spanish missionaries, and that's about it. So, after I was done with that and couldn't say anything else, the man told me I need to learn Spanish. Haha! What a world we live in!

WELL I HAVE 30 SECONDS! I LOVE YOU ALL! KEEP PRAYING, KEEP LOVING!

SISTER LEWIS

P.S. - I forgot so much. So one night we thought there was carbon monoxide in our apartment because our alarms were acting funny and we both felt lightheaded, so we had to call the fire department, and we stayed up until 11!  Haha, rule breakers we are. Jk, We had permission.

The third picture is beautiful Woodstock.

The fourth picture is DJ and his daughter Josie getting ready to pray. My heart. I love them.

 

 

Week 32: Baptism Dates and Transfers

So this week was just a succession of miracles, one after the other! I feel so blessed to have served in this ward and with Sister Sessions! I feel like we worked really hard together and that my faith has grown so much!

So we had a church tour with Linda and Cecelia on Thursday! Cecelia is so sensitive to the Spirit it is amazing! I love teaching her! After the tour we asked her what stood out to her and she said, "The part about baptism." What! Awesome! We had also invited them to be baptized a few minutes earlier and Cecelia nodded her head yes twice! The first when we first asked and the second after we explained what baptism really is! Linda said they would talk about it, but they are going to keep learning and praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true. Linda is open to the idea that it is true and when she finds out that it is, she will be baptized!

Another HUGE miracle of this week. It is kind of a prolonged miracle, so here goes...

I believe I have talked about Sarah's husband DJ in the past but a recap is that he has really been excited since Sarah got baptized and his desire to learn has grown so much. Last week on Mother's Day, Sister Sessions and I made out some cards for some sisters in the ward who we felt prompted to give something to. We went to Sarah's house to drop hers off and DJ saw us sneaking around outside so he came out and asked what we were doing. This was a HUGE miracle because we haven't always had the greatest opportunities to talk with him and only him. We started talking about the plan that God has for us and why we have commandments, all that good stuff. We asked if we could teach him about the Plan of Salvation and he said yes! We left to go drop off some other cards and that was that! So, on Saturday, he called us to see if we could help paint their new place that they are moving into for a little bit. We of course said yes and were so excited to go over! So, when we painted, we had some time waiting for the primer to dry and we had an AMAZING lesson on the Plan of Salvation! Everything was clicking for DJ and he was just getting it! It was amazing! We also talked about how Christ's church fell after he left the Earth and how it was restored through a prophet and he totally got it! I don't think I've ever seen so many light bulbs go on in one lesson! Toward the end of the lesson, his daughter Josie interrupted and so we never invited him to do anything, which is kind of really important to do. So as we were changing our clothes, Sister Sessions and I were talking about what could have gone better and we had both felt like we should invite him to be baptized. We talked about it and decided it wasn't too late! We went back upstairs and invited him to be baptized THREE times, each time resolving some concern or excuse that he had not to be baptized. He ended up saying that he eventually would, and he would start by coming to church! So yesterday while I was one exchanges in Damascus, Sister Sessions and Sister Mahoni saw him at church and taught him with the PERFECT member friend for him, Brother Probeyahn! They taught DJ about the Restoration and invited him to be baptized again, Brother Probeyahn bore amazing testimony about how he used to be DJ, and he doesn't know what he was waiting for, and that hreally struck DJ. SO...HE SAID HE WOULD BE BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!! His date is next month! I am seriously overjoyed at this! I can't tell you how far he has come. I love their family so much and I just see them going to the temple together! They are going to have an eternal family and he is going to have all the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ! It does NOT get better than that!

My testimony has grown this week. Even though sometimes we may feel like we have to give things up to follow God, in the end we never truly give up anything. Through God, we can have the GREATEST blessings. ETERNAL blessings! He has a perfect plan for us. Jesus Christ is the center of that plan. I LOVE this plan!

I am being transferred on Wednesday to Woodstock, VA. I am sad to leave Mt Airy but I know that the sister who is coming here is needed and I am needed in Woodstock. We are all on the same team!

I love you all! I pray for you and appreciate all you do!

Love,

Sister Lewis

Week 31

This week was awesome! I'm just going to jump right in!

So, on Monday we spent dinner at a family's house who just lost their young grandson. I was here when he first went into the hospital after choking at the dinner table. It happened pretty fast and they lost him unexpectedly. But, the part that I would like to share with you is not how sad their story is, although it is, but how remarkable this family is. They are still smiling and finding joy in their journey. It struck me that they deeply cherished the time they had with him, and because they kept memories (journals, photographs, etc.) they didn't have any regrets. While their situation is tough, they have memories to cherish and even more importantly they have the gospel to bring them peace. Because they have been sealed to their family, they know that they have not lost their grandson. We can all be with our families forever. That is what makes the temple such a special place. I have been filled with gratitude many times this week for the principle of eternal families. I am grateful that my family is eternal and that I will someday have the chance to be sealed.

On Monday night we also met Linda and Cecelia. Linda is Cecelia's mom, Cecelia is 9. So, they were a referral from a less-active in our ward. They had moved in a few houses down from the member and she told us about them about two months ago. I'm not sure exactly why but we never really attempted to get in contact with them. But, on Monday we finally decided to head over there since they had come to our minds a few times in the week preceding. We knocked on the door, told Linda that her neighbor had mentioned her to us and set up a return appointment for the next evening. When we went over on Tuesday, we asked why she let us come back and she said, "Well, because of the chance that everything happens for a reason and if my neighbor thought it would help me..." Wow! Linda has been going through a rough time, I won't go into details, but her heart is softened and prepared for this message! I know how much it is going to bless her family. Moreover, to those members of the church that receive my emails, I hope that you will consider the example of this wonderful less active member of our ward. She honestly didn't even know Linda that well and definitely not well enough to know that she really needed this message right now. But, she reached out. The Lord is preparing those we know to receive the message and we are part of the preparing! Don't ever forget how blessed you are, and don't ever forget to share! At the end of the appointment, we set up another appointment on Thursday. Sister Sessions went on splits with Sister Altman and taught them about the Restoration! It went so well and they said that if they find out that it is true, the only logical thing to do is get baptized! Genius! Haha they are amazing! I can't wait to see them tomorrow at our church tour.

This week we also did service for a sweet elderly woman in our ward. We planted flowers in her garden! I love doing service and I love Sister Wright! She served a mission when she was 19 and she is probably the most humble and meek woman I have ever met. I have so much to learn from her and I am so blessed to know her!

Oo! Another cool person that I met this week was a less active sister in our ward! Sister White. She is so cool! We stopped by on Saturday and she has a car full of stuff from yard sales! She is going to rebuild a bunch of these amazing antiques she found for super cheap around Mt Airy. Sister Sessions had to use the bathroom (I'm not sure if her bathroom usage is inspired or if she just has to go a lot) and we went inside where she showed us a room full of groceries because...SHE IS AN EXTREME COUPONER! She said we could come back sometime to help her snip some coupons from the newspaper and she is going to teach us about couponing. I don't know if I'll pick it up for life, but it would be super handy if I could use it for the mission. I'm excited to get to know her more!

Yesterday was Mother's Day and it was awesome to skype my family! Some of you may not know, but my family had to put my dog to sleep this week, so it was hard not seeing him there but the rest of the gang was all with me! It was a lot of fun to see and hear everyone! I am so grateful for my mother! I love her!

I love you all! Thank you for your love, thoughts, and prayers.

Love,

Sister Lewis

PS I put in a hole in the wall at the church during our weekly planning. I mean if you've ever weekly planned, you understand. Haha, just kidding! Here's a picture:

 

 

 

Also a picture of what happens when you walk away from your camera for 5 minutes:

Week 30: Obama and Suicidal Bunnies

Okay the subject line has very little to do with my week. I saw the president flying overheard yesterday on the way down to the temple. Lets all take guesses on how many times Sister Lewis can go to the DC Temple while on her mission. I think it has been five so far? I'm not sure. Probably more. Anyway, there is a well known fact in Maryland that three helicopters following one behind the other means that the president is in one of them. I cannot say any more words on the subject because I am a missionary and my opinion is moot.

Also this bunny ran across the street last night and escaped death twice! It ran right when us and another car were passing each other and dodged both the cars. This was very amusing to us missionaries.

Anyway, this week was really fantastic! Sister Sessions and I have been going hard in the paint! We are really trying to work on meeting all of our goals and even though we don't it always feels good when we've worked really hard that day. If you know me well, you know that I burn out very quickly but I have been trying really hard not to do that. I do have to take 10 minutes power naps sometimes but that is merely survival haha!

Okay I feel like I'm blabbing on about nothing. This week we found two new investigators. One is named Heather! She is married, has three kids, and is a stay at home mom. She is super religious and we love talking to her about the Book of Mormon. I know the Book of Mormon is going to help her and she's going to eat it up once she finds out that it is true!

Our other new investigator is Sarah Merson's daughter Hanna! I have been dying to teach her since I arrived in Mt Airy! It's going to be so fun! She is 13 so it'll be fun to learn the gospel at her level and teach it to the perils of 7th grade. They are real.

Like I said earlier we went to the temple yesterday. We went with Mareina and she loved it! This was the first time she said out loud that she felt something! The Holy Ghost! She loved the peace there and really really enjoyed the grounds. She said she hopes to go inside one day and that she would love to be sealed there when she is married. She thinks the principle of eternal families is "beautiful." What an amazing thing that her family will have so many chances to accept and be with her for eternity!

Not time! Love you all!

Sis Lewis

Week 29: The Lice Scare!

So this week a lot happened!

Y'all remember Sarah? Yeah, so her husband DJ loves the church! He has been sharing the Book of Mormon with his friends and defending us left and right! We had dinner with them on Monday and it was so fun! We also talked about the Atonement which is so important for all of us to understand! DJ is starting to understand that the gospel provides forgiveness, love, and peace. It is amazing to see how he is learning and growing! I know that someday he will be sealed to his family in the temple. And that will be an amazing day!

THE LICE SCARE

On Tuesday we started exchanges with our sister trainer leaders Sister Mahoni and Sister Payne. Sister Mahoni came to Mt Airy...and here is where the crazy starts. On Wednesday morning just before studies we got a call from Sister Richards, the mission president's wife. She wanted to ask Sister Mahoni how to check for lice because Sister Mahoni is the lice expert (she is going to put that on her resume haha). Sister Richards eventually just asked Sister Mahoni if we would come to the mission office and check a sister for lice. So, we went. Off to Columbia! The other sisters met us there and Sister Mahoni checked her and she DID have lice. And I know what you are thinking. Oh no. Sister Lewis got lice. No, I didn't get lice...but! The sister who DID have lice was just serving in Baltimore. So guess who got to go to her last area to check a sister for lice! THIS SISTER! Haha, we went back to Towson for a few hours and Sister Richards even bought us lunch at a little pizza place that I used to eat at every Monday. It was a bittersweet few hours because I realized how much I miss Baltimore, but it was good to visit.

Now, BACK TO MT AIRY!

I never got lice, even though I thought I did one morning haha, so that was good!

On Friday night our ward had a talent show and my companion and I performed a cute little song about the Restoration! She played a ukulele that a member let us borrow and I sang. For just learning the chords and how to strum that day, Sister Sessions did really well on the uke!

We also met with Mareina twice this week! We talked about the Plan of Salvation both times and for those of you who have served missions, or even know about the plan of salvation you know that people can get confused pretty fast. So I was extremely grateful when Mareina accepted the things we were teaching and understood with ease! That was a miracle.

I know that our Father in Heaven has a hand in our lives. I know that the blessings we enjoy all come from obedience that we demonstrate to the commandments He has given us. They are not restrictions on the things we can do, but rather they are guides to lead us to happiness and freedom to our soul. God loves us, He is not trying to hinder us! I love Him!

Thank you for all your love and prayers! You are amazing!

Love,

Sister Lewis

Week 28

This week was so fantastic!

First, we had an amazing miracle with Mareina. We ran into her at a member's house when Sister Sessions had to use the bathroom. Inspired! Haha, anyway they were there because Mareina's boyfriend Jacob is moving into the garage apartment at the member's house!! Mareina said this was so she could get baptized if she wants to! It's amazing! Anyway, we talked to her about the Book of Mormon and how she feels when she reads it. She said she felt excited and like it is a holy book. We talked about how those feelings come from the Holy Ghost, which is sent by God to communicate with us. So we asked her what God is telling her about the Book of Mormon. She said a few things, but most importantly that god is telling her it is true. We asked her about getting baptized and she totally opened up to us about some personal things that would cause her to hesitate. She is now working on overcoming those things! I love her so much! We have great faith that she will decide to be baptized soon! And that will be just the beginning!

Speaking of just the beginning...Sarah went to the temple for the first time this weekend! She performed baptisms for 7 of her ancestors! She is going back again in two Saturdays. It was such a profound experience for me. As I witnessed her being baptized I could feel the presence of those people. I felt a profound gratitude that I had the opportunity to share the gospel with Sarah who is already making such great efforts to provide the same opportunities and blessings that she enjoys to those she loves. And it's all possible because of the Savior.

I was struck this week by the amazing plan our Father has for us. We are here to become like Him! How incredible! We need our Savior and His Atonement to accomplish this purpose. I love and revere Him! This life is such an incredible opportunity. The gospel provides a new perspective for the things we endure, it doesn't take them away. That is why we can be happen even in our trials. How cool is that! I love it!

I love you all! You are truly the best!

Love,

Sister Lewis