Studying in Aunt Heather's blanket.



Backwoods of 'Missoura'!



 P-day: at a musuem.

Hahaha... This dog... is just precious.

Bobe (One of the sweetest little boys ever! He's just a bright spot in everyone's life)

Eating Contest with Ulyss.... that was quite an experience ;) Hahah.

Guilty... I can't stop eating those peanut butter cookies!

Sister Vickers going home!

We went on tour at the Community of Christ center and met 4 of their apostles and a member of their first presidency. One of their 'apostles' is over the area of French-Polonesia and so she gave us all necklaces from that area- that the islanders had given her.

A couple I had taken on tour a while back. We had a very special tour. I love them!!!

Aunt Wendys Scarf.

Hey mom! How are you? Thanks for sending a package! I haven't got it yet- but we haven't gone to the mission office yet. So hopefully i'll have it in the next few hours! :) Glad to hear things are going so well. That's really neat about Daniel and Nancy. I'm excited for him, he'll love that. They have a lot of talent as a family for such things. Also thank you for sharing those quotes. I agree that is the hardest thing- to accept when people are not interested. What's been hardest for me as of late, is keeping faith that people can change and come to Christ when no one

else believes it. But it's good for me, teaching me to strengthen my faith against all odds! It's sometimes hard to decipher between what I want to happen by faith and what God wants to happen by faith. But I know if I can align my will with his then I will be able to opperate under greater faith. I really appreciated President Monson's quote about the upward reach. It touched my heart :)

 

I had some really good experiences at the VC this week and we are finding more people to teach. We're working with two part-member families right now. One of them will be baptized, it's just a matter of time and helping him line up all his ducks- doctrinally. We're also teaching a young man (17) who is excited about God and the gospel. We have some high hopes for him as well.

 

One of the couples who came through the VC, I really connected with. We had a special tour and the spirit was strong- we also were able to laugh together alot. At the end of the tour the man said, "I probably knew you in the pre-mortal life... but I bet you're older than me." Hahah. They were so fun. They gave me a referral to call (one of his co-workers), and I called him the next day and had a really nice chat with him. I was able to explain to him that faith is a hope or belief in something true, coupled with an action. I told him that "we receive no witness until after the trial of our faith." That is why John teaches us, "if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine." I told him that taking the missionary discussions doesn't mean he has to be baptized, but that it shows God faith- a willingness to believe God will reveal what is right to him, and an action based upon that hope (taking the discussions). I told him if he will do that, God will reveal to him what is true. I don't know what he thought of it all, but I hope it helped him.

 

I'm learning a lot from the scriptures right now- especially why the Book of Mormon is so powerful. Nephi begins the Book of Mormon by saying, "I Nephi, will show unto you the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen because of their faith to make them mighty, even unto the power of deliverance." Moroni ends the Book of Mormon by saying, "Behold I would exhort you...that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these thigns, and ponder it in your hearts." Inbetween these two scriptures is sandwiched story after story, of people who experienced the mercy of God both temporally, and spiritually- because of their faith in him.

 

I've thought a lot about why this is so important? The first thing the angel told Alma the younger to do, was remember the mercy of God to his forefathers. Then as Alma taught the people of Zarahemla, Amonihah, and his son, some of the first commandments and questions he asks are, "have you remembered the mercy of God to the forefathers?" and to his son, "I would that ye should do as I have done, and remember the mercy of God to the forefathers."

 

Furthermore, The king Lamoni uttered his prayer to God by asking the Lord to have the same mercy on him, that he had for the Nephites.

 

The pattern is littered throughout the entire Book of Mormon. As we recognize the goodness of God, and the mercy he has given to those who have faith in his name, we will begin to desire the same mercy and goodness for our own lives. As we feel of His goodness we will crave more of it, and desire to seek after it. This desire, and craving for the love, mercy and power of God in our lives will cause us to act upon the things he has asked and to have faith in the name of His son, Jesus Christ. As we do these things our natures are changed and we come to know the Savior Jesus Christ on a personal level as we feel personally, the mercy of the Savior towards us.

 

This is one of the things the Book of Mormon can do for people. It can teach them and show them the mercy of God, his power to save and Redeem. As they read of it and see it, they will desire it for themselves, until they are willing to act in such a manner that they receive the power of the atonement in their own lives. I would encourage you to read through the Book of Mormon searching for the goodness of God, and seeking after an understanding of how to access more of it in your own life- for it will change your nature until like Lamoni, you can hardly utter a sentance without speaking of your love for God, of His goodness, and of your love for your bretheren.

 

I know that Jesus is the Christ, that he is a merciful God full of goodness and kindness. I know not only because i've seen it, but because I've felt it. I've felt the redeeming power of Christ work in my life and change my heart. I've felt forgiveness, I've seen him bless me continually, teach me by the power of the Holy Ghost, and work miracles for me on a day by day and even moment to moment basis. I know that if the children of men will come unto him they can experience the same thing. If they will not, they will be left to dwindle and perish in their own unbelief. I pray that all will choose the road of happiness, and eternal life.

 

I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you!

Sister Lewis.

 

P.S. another email is following shortly with pictures... hopefully (i'm using my companions camera because I was too lazy to charge mine) I only have 10 min. left so if she's not done by then- than I won't email any. Keeping my fingers crossed :)

 

Looooooooooove Yoooooooooou! :D

Thank you for your letter mom! I love you. I especially loved the stories about Elder LeGrande Richards so thank you for sharing them with me. :) I am understanding more and more the talents and the gifts God has given me to do His work on this earth. It's overwhelming how much He has blessed me. My blessing says I would come to the magnitude and responsibility I have, the talents and gifts I've been given. I feel a great debt to our Eternal King, to serve Him diligently and praise Him all the days of Eternity. I know he has given me talents and gifts so that I might serve Him and His children, and this is the purpose for which they were given. What a humbling responsibility it is to serve God, not just as a missionary, but as a disciple of Christ, a child of God and a member of His church.

So you’re going to be the shortest one in the family! You poor thing... hahah. Glad to hear its warm there, it's very warm here!! Tell Samantha I'm grateful she is doing that. I'll try and write her back every week too.

Things here are going great. We had 5 investigators at church on Sunday! Most of them were in one family. We're teaching a woman named Donna, and she brought her 4 kids with her. They are the cutest kids! They are black, and I don’t think they've been around white people much. One of the little girls is obsessed with my hair. She always wants to touch it, and last time we were over there she asked if she could say goodbye to my hair before I left...? Hahaha. On Sunday when they were sitting by Sister Atkin they were playing with her hair and one of the little girls said... "your hair is too long, it's going to break off! You need to put it in braids or these strands are all gonna fall out and float away and you'll be sad." I've learned since I've been out here that blacks can't let their hair get to long because it's too dry. If it's long and they don't braid it then it will break off. So this little girl was very concerned Sister Atkin was going to lose all her hair. A lot of the women I've met out here just wear wigs- I guess it's the new thing.

But Donna and her family all came to church, and it was great to have them there. We've had some really good lessons with her.

Also on Sunday we had someone we've been visiting tell us he was going to quit smoking! Sister Atkin and I were overcome with joy! This will allow their family to go through the temple and be sealed. This truly is the Lords work and I can see how he has worked for years with the individuals we're teaching, to bring them to the point that they are at now.

The other night someone came into the Visitors Center wanting to watch the Joseph Smith movie. Sister Castallano and I took him downstairs to put the movie on. As we walked downstairs I knew that we needed to know why he wanted to come in and watch the Joseph Smith movie. So we asked him a few questions, and eventually found out that he isn't active in the church. I tried to subtly pull out the answer as to why he wasn't active, but it wasn't working, so finally I just was blunt and asked him why he wasn't active in the church. He told us that he had started drinking again and that he actually was in a recovery program right now. He had just finished a phase of the program and had one free night. He said he knew he could either go drink, or he could come to the VC. I was so proud of him for making that choice, for choosing God in a moment of strong temptation. We started the movie for him and then went to a guide’s room and knelt down and prayed for him. Afterward, Sister Castallano wanted to give him a Book of Mormon, so we wrote our testimonies down in it, and when the movie was over we went back and started talking with him. As we talked I knew this man still had a testimony of this church, and I knew I needed to ask him to bear it. So I asked if he would share his testimony with us. He told us that he was in jail for a while, and joined another religious group there and eventually wanted the Bishop to excommunicate him. The Bishop told him to read the Book of Mormon first. So he said he did, and he went back to the Bishop and still wanted to be excommunicated. He said the bishop looked him in the eye and said... "You can't read can you?" So the bishop gave him a blessing and blessed him that he could read. He read the Book of Mormon and gained a testimony of it, he knew it was true. He told us, with tears in his eyes, that he knew this was all true. Sister Castallano and I bore our testimonies to him, that through Jesus Christ we could overcome all things. I can't remember all that we said, but the power of the spirit was there. It was a remarkable experience, and this man said as soon as he finished the other stage of his program he would come back to the VC.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know He leads and guides this work, and that He is working personally and individually with all of His children, in all parts of His vineyard. Missionaries are simply his servants, and the servants of His children.

Mosiah 2:16-17

"Behold I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God. And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your god."

Mosiah 4:6-10

"I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that hereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body--

I say that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.

And this is the means whereby salvation cometh and there is none other salvations save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.

Believe in God; believe that he is and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

And again believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them."

I love you!!

Sister Lewis.

P.S. I will send pictures next week!

P.P.S. I hope it's not too late but tell Bro. Andrews that I'll write him a letter/story he asked for because I'm out of email time.

Things are going wonderfully! We had a slower week with the baptism last week, but this week is starting off on a great foot! And last week was incredible! Selene's baptism was so wonderful! It was perfect. There were a few flaws... but even they were perfect because they gave us things to laugh about. Selene was so happy! After she was baptized she came out and we all wept together. It was beautiful. The joy we felt was great, because we knew after her long journey, Selene had finally found the truth and was baptized into the God's church upon the Earth, she has entered into the gate and is on the path that leads back to Eternal Life. She is truly is precious. Precious to God, and precious to me and Sister Atkin.

 

It's amazing to see how people are prepared to hear and accept the Gospel. The Savior said that His sheep hear his voice and know him. I'm witnessing the reality of this statement on my mission. I wanted to share some stories from the other sisters experiences.

 

Sister Minall and Sister Sawyer and teaching a young man named Sean. He is amazing! He is 19 years old. We've met him a few times as he came into the VC. The other day Sister Atkin and I were talking with him about his experience in finding the church- his story is beautiful. He said he started off being willing to take the discussions and read the Book of Mormon, but he wasn't really sure what he thought about it all. But as he continued to pray and 'experiement upon the word' (Alma 32) he felt his 'soul enlarge.'

 

Sean is the perfect example of the promise given to us by Alma in chapter 32. Basically, because Sean was willing to try it out- read the Book of Mormon and learn from the missionaries, he showed God that he was willing to act in Faith. Meaning, Sean had a hope that by doing these things he would find truth, or not find truth. He didn't know what would happen, but because he acted upon this hope and read the Book of Mormon, he showed God faith. Because he showed God that he was willing to act in faith, the Lord was able to answer him. For Brandon, his answer that the Book of Mormon is the word of God didn't come all at once, but slowly, like a sunrise. He said evertime he opened the Book of Mormon and read from it, he felt good inside. He said, when I met with the missionaries, I felt good inside. He said, I prayed and prayed to know if it was true, and as I continued to read and feel good about meeting with the missionaries, I eventually came to know that this was what God wanted for me. That this church is true. He now is thinking about serving a mission. He hasn't been baptized yet, but is thinking about a day in April. Talking with him was so fun, because he was full of so much light and happiness and enthusiasm for the gospel. He told us how excited he was to be baptized so that he could receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

Just talking with him filled me with so much joy because he has found the truth. He has had faith enough to experiment upon the word of God, to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it's true; and by so doing he has received the promise God offers: to know the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know this will happen for all those who sincerely seek after truth, and sincerely seek to know the will of God.

 

I echo the words of the prophet Joseph Smith. We don't ask anyone to give up any good they already have, only to come and get more. There is nothing to fear by reading the Book of Mormon and asking God if it's true. We should not fear the will of God, but rather rejoice in following after His counsels. I challenge everyone to examine their life and see the Lords hand in it, and ask if it was not all done in mercy? Even in our extremeties, the Lord supports us and teaches us from them. Even his rebukings and chastenings are offered out of love, out of a desire to help us to better. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. How could we not trust a God who gave His life for us? He is a merciful God if we will but turn to Him.

 

Another individual the sisters are teaching is named Bill. Bill is an older man probably in his 60's- and the manliest looking man I've ever seen. He's got a pony tail and a long beard. He's even missing a few teeth, and he's large! On the inside, however, he's a teddy bear. He met the sisters and found the truth. He too was willing to read the Book of Mormon, take the missionarie discussions and pray to know the truth. God answered him because He knew Bill would act on what God told him. On of the keys to receiving an answer from God is real intent. Because God is merciful, if we won't act on what he reveals to us, he often will withold. Because he knows that to reveal truth to an individual who will not act on it would only condemn that person. If we ask God will a sincere heart and real intent (meaning we will do what God tells us) He will answer. If people ask God about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, with the intent to join the church and follow it's teachings if it's true, then God will answer! I know this is true!!! Bill calls Sister Wright and Sister Vickers his angels. When he began talking about his baptismal date he burst into tears. He is so grateful to have found the truth. Bill is so sincere. A few weeks ago, he wanted to show up to church in his very best, so he went out and bought dark jeans and a red button-up shirt. This warms my heart :)

 

We were doing service for someone yesterday and she shared with us her conversion story as well. She said that she went to church and when she saw two little boys rolling around on the lawn outside and fighting she said to herself, "oh these people are normal afterall" hahah. When the missionaries approached her at church she agreed to let them come over. She collected wine and so she debated back and forth for a while if she wanted to hide her wine collection before the missionaries came over... hahah. She originally planned to leave it out and then 10 minutes before they showed up she said she chickened out and went and hid it all! Hahah. So cute. Anyways, when the missionaries told her the story of Joseph Smith she said she just looked at them and said..."You guys actually believe that?? It sounds like something from a movie!?" But she said that as she continued to think on it and pray about it she eventually received an answer. She said one night she prayed about it and the spirit over-took her and she knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Joseph Smith did see God the Father and His son Jesus Christ, that he was a prophet of God. Because God is the same yesterday today and forever. She said she knew the Book of Mormon was indeed another book of scripture from God. She told us she wept all night long, and she has never been able to deny the church since, because she knows it's true.

 

Everyone's answers come in different ways, some slowly, some quickly; but either way the end result is the same the spirit of the Lord illuminated their hearts and their minds as the acted in faith, were sincere in their asking, and patient as they waited for the Lord to answer. All of these people, Selene, Sean, Bill, and the woman I just told you about, sincerely wanted to follow the Lords will- so when the asked, He answered.

 

I know this is God's church! I know that it brings great joy and unparalleled peace into our lives. I know God loves us, that He is the same yesterday today and forever (Hebrews 8:13) and He leads and directs his church the same way he did in the Bible- through a prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is an other Testament of Jesus Christ. It's so weird to me to think people don't believe God would give us another book of scripture. Why wouldn't he? Why would he only speak to the Jews?? He loves all of His children, of course he would teach all people of His Son, Jesus Christ. That's all the Book of Mormon is, another record of God teaching his children about the Savior, Jesus Christ. The spirit has taught me these things are true, and he has taught me because I have excercised faith (hope and action), had sincere intent (willingness to do whatever God directs), and patiently (for the most part ;)) waited for Him to reveal the truth to me. This can happen for all men. I bear my witness of that in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

I love you!

Sister Lewis