Rachel's new address is 1113 Jana Ct. Lawrence, KS 66049.

July 23, 2012

Our apartment is great- because we live in a member’s home. It's really well taken care of. Clean etc. I love it, much nicer than the last place. Haha. I love the spirit that is in our room. We don't spend much time there but when I come home at night I can feel a difference of spirit as soon as I walk into that room, and it's because it's a holy place. It was interesting to go from being at the V.C. for 6 hours a day to being on the streets for 12 hours a day. The V.C. is sacred and there's a special feeling there. I studied and served in a 'temple-like' atmosphere for 6 hours and I could noticeably tell the difference when I came out full-pros. Now our room, or members homes, become like the V.C. for us. :)

Anyways things here are going awesome! Lawrence 2nd ward is really catching the fire of missionary work. About a month ago Sister VanCamp and Sister Graph fasted that the wards would catch the fire of missionary work. Then about 2 weeks ago Sister VanCamp and I were studying and while we did the Spirit gave us a very specific promise that that the Lord was preparing people in the lives of our members to hear and accept the gospel, and he was willing to prepare more people according to their faith. We both felt the spirit powerfully confirm that to our hearts. After we received that very specific promise from the Lord, we knew we needed to meet with our ward leaders and tell them what the Lord was willing to do for our area. We started talking about how to relay this promise from the Lord to our ward, and again we received very specific instruction. We met with the Bishop and the Relief Society president Sister Pomeroy. (I told you about her last time) As we talked the spirit was powerful and instant inspiration started coming. She took our ideas and met with the Relief Society board and instantly started getting the ball rolling. She came to us the other day and said that for a long time she felt she had been missing something. She said I kept telling the bishop, "we're missing something... we're missing something." and he would say, "you're doing everything, I don't know what more you can do?" She looked at us in the eye and said... "This was it. It was missionary work. I met with the ward council and told them this was what we were missing. They listened, were quiet for a minute and then said... 'you're right.' we haven't been doing missionary work." So now they have us so busy it's insane. We're speaking on Sunday, teaching the 5th Sunday lesson,  helping out in the Primary and planning 2 ward functions for the month of August. Hopefully soon we'll be busy teaching their friends- we've already started with a few of them. It was a miracle how it all worked out; even to the days we're doing our ward party's.

We also are teaching some amazing people. Including a Methodist minister and his wife. Last time we met Sister VanCamp said 'what would it mean to you to know that Jesus Christ church has been restored to the earth as we've explained?" He said... "I've been thinking about that a lot. What would it mean? It would mean my church holds no authority. It would mean I would lose my job, house, career... everything. But I'll do what the Lord wants, and if he tells me this is true than I'll follow it." They agreed to be baptized September 8th if the Lord answers them and tells them this is true. :) So awesome.

Well I better get going. I wish I could tell you all the stories and miracles we experience from day to day... but there's not enough time. I love you all SO MUCH. I know this is the Lords work, and I am merely is instrument. I'm grateful he allows me to participate, and because he's given me the stewardship to progress the work in this area of His vineyard, I know it means I must give everything- not just now, but all the days of my life in the service of our King. I think of the song, "Sweet is the work my God, my King! To praise thy name, give thanks and sing. To show thy love by morning light, and talk of all thy truths at night."

Love Sister Lewis.

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:35:33 -0500

Well things here are going great! We're working really well with our ward. We had a meeting with the Relief Society President a few days ago, to enlist her help and she totally ran with it. She came up to us yesterday and gave us a referral, and started looking over our progress report and analyzing how our ward could help. It was awesome. She gets things done. After she left I told Sister VanCamp that she's our perfect ally- if we were in a war, the other team would be waving their white flag right about now! Ha-ha.

Here's a miracle for the week:

We had a lesson set up with a woman named Victoria. She wasn't there when we arrived but her son was. He had just got back from a study abroad in Argentina. He invited us in and we started talking. We had brought a Spanish team-up with us because they're originally from Mexico. The four of us sat down and started talking. We taught him the restoration and the spirit was so strong. We spent some time talking about the atonement and he said he had been taught his whole life about Jesus Christ and he understood the historical aspect of it but it still just didn't make sense to him. We testified that the atonement was so that we could become like our Savior, and it was something that we use from day to day. Through the atonement we repent of our sins, find forgiveness, and then use its enabling power to change our natures into a Christ-like person. We testified that it would only truly make sense to him as he started to use it. He looked at us with understanding gleaming in his eyes. He said nothing for a moment and then sincerely and emphatically said, "Thank you." He told us he has had countless conversations with people about the atonement of Jesus Christ and never understood it, until this moment. It was amazing!

Then we went on to explain the restoration of the gospel. We taught him about gospel dispensations and the pattern the Lord uses. We taught him that the Lord calls prophets to teach the people the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the bible, the Lord would call prophets who would teach God's children, but eventually the people would reject the prophet and fall into a state of apostasy, or spiritual darkness. This time period of being taught by a prophet is known as a dispensation. Dispensations usually end with the rejection of the prophet and a state of apostasy. In time the Lord always reaches out in love again and calls another prophet, thus beginning a new dispensation. We taught him that Adam was the first prophet. His teachings were eventually rejected. In time, God called another Prophet to begin a new dispensation, this prophet was Noah. We taught him that the Lord would give his Priesthood, simply the power and authority for man to act in the name of God, to His prophets. We taught him that because of this Priesthood power, these men would literally act in God's name for the salvation of his children. We explained that when Jesus Christ was on the Earth he established a church, and gave this priesthood power to his 12 apostles. After Christ's death, however, God's children once again started to fall into this state of apostasy. They rejected the 12 apostles and eventually killed them. Because of this rejection God withdrew his priesthood power from the Earth and His church and the fullness of His gospel was not found on the Earth. This is known as the great apostasy. God, however, reached out in love and eventually called another prophet to restore Christ's church to the Earth. This is the same pattern God has always followed. God called Joseph Smith as a prophet, and gave him the Priesthood power thus beginning a new dispensation. Christ's church was re-established and it is on the Earth again today, in its fullness just as in days of old. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and his church is lead through a prophet just as it always has been.

The spirit there was powerful, and Michael completely understood. After we taught the lesson he said. "That makes perfect sense. It's a pattern. Does that mean there will be another apostasy?" Sister VanCamp and I had the hugest smiles spread across our face because when he asked that we knew he understood our message. We explained that in the Bible and the Book of Mormon Christ foretold of this last dispensation and promised that we would not fall into apostasy again.

Michael said he wanted to learn more. He said it all makes sense and I've had questions answered today that I've had for a long time. :)
Seriously, so cool.

I know our message is true, and we lie not. Jesus Christ’s church has been restored to the Earth and the fullness of the gospel is here again. It is our duty and responsibility to gain our own witness of this truth, and then be valiant to that witness. If we are truly the disciples of Jesus Christ, we will be true to this knowledge in all things, and we will stand as a witness of Him at all times.
His sheep hear his voice and know Him. They love Him. They obey Him. Our duty is to find them.
Of this I know and bear testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all
Sister Lewis

I'm in Lawrence Kansas. It's a college town- KU is here. People keep telling us that it's the most liberal place in all of Kansas. It's definitely different than where I last was. In my last area, everyone believed in God- I may be met 1-2 people that weren't sure if they believed in Jesus Christ. Here.... most people aren't sure. They believe in a higher power, but they don't know what that means. I love laboring all day long to convince people through the power of the Spirit that Jesus Christ is their Savior. Sister VanCamp and I have walked away from people so spiritually drained from doing all we can to help people understand Jesus Christ as their Savior. It's deeply satisfying to know that you did all you possibly could to help them gain a witness of Jesus Christ and to know that they were given a fair chance. That's what I hope for- that everyone I talk to is given a fair chance, that I labor with all my heart to make sure that they fully understand what I've said and they've felt the spirit witness to their hearts the truthfulness of our message. Then it's up to them as to whether or not they accept that witness. Our job is to bring it, and do all within our power to help them.

We met a woman a few days ago and started teaching her about the restoration. She said she used to have a firm belief in God but she hasn't for a while- due to trials. We talked with her and testified of the truthfulness of the gospel. She was really closed off when we first walked up to her, but after a while she opened up and really listened to what we had to say. After the lesson we invited her to church she said she'd come. Her fiancé said, "Wow. That's a miracle. She's refused to set foot in a church for 8 months." It was such a neat experience. Little miracles like that happen all day long, I could never write them all. It's amazing to see hearts soften and open as they feel the spirit of the Lord.
I know this truly is the Lords work. I know Jesus Christ is our living God, and He as well as His atonement is in the details of our life.
I love you and hope all is well!

Sister Lewis

Things here are going well. This has been a whirlwind couple of weeks! We've experienced so many miracles. We had a mission fast a few weeks ago. It was one of the most powerful faith building experiences I've ever had. You could feel the faith of all the missionaries and our mission president combine together to call upon the powers of Heaven. We fasted that we would find people every week, and that those we found would progress. The day after our fast every single companionship came back the the V.C. at night with miracles to share. It was amazing. Since then things have been booming. We have been blessed with so many people to teach and they are all solidly progressing. Two of them will be baptized soon. On Sunday we had the inspired goal to have 7 people at church. We prayed and worked so hard to get all of those people there. But then last minute two of them told us they couldn't come. Sister Crystal and I were so dissapointed. BUT THEN. We got to Church and 2 other investigators had unexpectedly showed up and so we still had our 7! It was a huge blessing from the Lord, we were grateful. The real blessing is that so many of His children were able to be at his church on Sunday.

 

We also set a goal to have 6 people, by the end of the week, on date to be baptized. Currently we're at 2. It's not about the numbers, it's about the people, and we really believe that by the end of the week we can find and help 6 people be progressing towards baptism. Pray for us... we have a ways to go, but I believe it can happen- and if it's God's will, it will happen.

 

The Lord is truely blessing this part of His vineyard in great ways and it's a privilige to work in it. Sister Crystal and I look at each other at the end of everyday, completely humbled and amazed to be serving here right now. We know it's blessings from the Temple, the faith of our Mission President, the faith of our ward, and the faith of the missionaries around us. I am very grateful. I love the people we are teaching, and I'm honored to know them and see them progress and develope a relationship with their Father in Heaven and their Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Helaman 5:11

 

"And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls."

 

I love this scripture. It teaches that the power of Jesus Christ is based on the conditions of repentance. His power to redeem those we teach is conditional upon their repentance. His power to redeem me, and change my nature is conditional upon my day to day repentance.

 

I know Jesus is the Christ, that He is mighty to save and he offers this to all God's children upon the Earth. We partake of His salvation as we repent and turn unto Him. For His arm is lengethened out all the day long, and his bowls of charity and mercy are full, if we but come unto Him.

 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Sister Lewis

Sushi night at the Keightley's



The girl from the video we love :) ... it was kind of awkward how tall I was compared to her. hahah



Early morning birthday breakfast for Sister Jones



Jason Hatt's daughter- she's hilarious.

 

 

 



Us with Matt after he decided to give up his tea for water. :) Hahah. He wasn't very happy about it- but look how pumped Sister Crystal and I are.



We love Brother Cook!!



Celine's sister, Mariah!



Well things here are going really well. We're experiencing so many miracles in our area right now. We're really learning how to work with members, and right now we're teaching people who are all friends of members- it's by far the best way to go. It's hard to go back to tracting etc. on the days we don't have things set up, because I know it's not nearly as effective.

 

All the people we're teaching right now are sincerely progressing. It's so great :) It's amazing to see how the Lord has prepared the way for us to get to this point. Months ago we felt impressed to help the ward become John's (Matt) family. Then we received the impression to have him at a family home evening every week. We started doing these things and a few months later received the impression to start having ward members pray for John and other investigators. We invited several of them to fast with us on Sunday for our Investigators. I originally thought this was all simply for John. The other day, however, the Lord showed me that he's used John and these experience to excite our ward about missionary work, to get them involved in it. Now because of that, we are teaching several of our ward members friends, and we have several other people who want to invite their friends to take the discussions with us. The Lord has done great things in our ward and area. I am so grateful to have been able to see it.

 

Well I better get going, but I love you and I hope all is well.

I know that this church is true, and that God loves His children. His mercy towards us is great. I often feel like I can't be grateful enough for the blessings we see from the Lord. I know Jesus Christ lives, and I know we can develop a very real and personal relationship with Him as we strive to become like Him- for light cleaveth to light, virtue to virtue.

 

Mosiah 25:10

"And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voice and give thanks to God."

 

Remembering God's goodness gives us the power to praise Him and find our hearts begin to change.

 

I'm learning so much right now about how to be a more effective missionary. I am constantly amazed by how inspired PMG is. Before my mission I would read it and not gain much from it. Now as a missionary I read it and inspiration constantly comes about how I can more effectively teach and help people come unto Christ. I love accounting weekly to the mission president about the inspiration we've received for our area and the people we're teaching- I especially love when I can say we've followed through with that inspiration. It helps it seem so real, and it's helping me realize how much the Lord is guiding us as we teach and conduct our days. I didn't understand how to account to the Lord or my mission president for a long time. I just felt like I was listing off things I did throughout the day. Now I understand that I'm supposed to account for the inspiration I receive from the spirit. Then it really is me saying: This is what you've told me to do as I've labored in your vineyard. This is how I've done it. This is what I'm planning on doing next. What more should I do? The principle of accounting is so inspired and essential. I love accounting for my actions! :)

 

So here's an "accounting" of something that happened this week. I felt strongly a few weeks back that we needed to teach our investigator how to hear the spirit. She's been reading and praying and meeting with us, but she hasn't been able to "hear" the answer from the spirit that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. So we had a lesson in which we tried to teach her and help her recognize the spirit. It was a good lesson, but not entirely successful. Then this week, again the prompting came that we needed to teach her about the spirit, only this time it came to my companion.  When my companion received the inspiration, things changed. We went to work together in learning how to follow through with the inspiration we received. We talked with our ward missionary about it, we studied PMG, we did practices, etc. After we had done our part and prepared to teach our investigator, we said a prayer and asked in faith, knowing we would receive because we had done our part, that she would be able to feel and recognize the spirit during our lesson.

 

We went into the lesson and struggled for a while. We were praying and trying so hard to say the right things, in order to help her understand the spirit. Finally after 45 minutes of reading from the Book of Mormon, teaching, testifying and talking together Sister Crystal said, "Sister Lewis, will you bear your testimony of Jesus Christ?" I said yes, and bore my testimony. Afterward Sister Crystal turned to our investigator and said, "How do you feel right now?" She described the feelings of the spirit, peaceful, calm, comforted, assured. We told her that was the spirit! She said, well I've felt that before, this is how I always feel when I learn about Jesus Christ. Then we told her that those same feelings would come to her as she learned about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and as she prayed to know if it was true. We asked her if she had noticed those same feelings as she prayed about the Book of Mormon? She said, "That's a great question. I haven't been looking for it. I'm going to do that."

 

It was a miracle lesson, and everything changed when my companion received the inspiration as well. I am so grateful for Sister Crystal. I learn so much from her every single day, and I am SO LUCKY to be her companion. It's so important to work together- we're a team!  Afterwards we knelt down and thanked the Lord for helping us, and in my prayer that night I accounted for what we had done.

 

Being a missionary is awesome, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be one! It's amazing to stand before people and tell them, we represent the Savior Jesus Christ, and we want to share with you His message about how you can come closer to him. How lucky to be a missionary in these last days, to represent our Savior. I love the Savior with all my heart. He is my greatest hero. I want to be just like him. To be able to represent him is a privilige I am unworthy for and something I will praise God for throughout the eternities.

 

I love you all!!

 

Sister Lewis

 

Sorry everyone for not keeping up with the blog summer has kept me preoccupied, but I am now finally getting to it.

Well things here are going well. We've had some really cool miracles. There was a referral I received at the V.C. a while ago for a woman named Pearl. I told you about her a while back. She was the one I called and connected with so well. I knew exactly what to say in order to connect with her. I even found myself saying to her the first time we talked, "Well Pearl... you practically are mormon... you just need to be baptized!" She laughed and laughed at that. Well I've stayed in contact with her because she hasn't been willing to meet with missionaries yet. We've become good friends. I was thinking about her the other day and I felt impressed to be very open and frank with her. So I called her and said, "Pearl I don't have a lot of time, but I want you to meet with missionaries. So I called your nephew and he said you could meet with missionaries at his house. Will you meet with them?" She kind of avoided the question so I thought... alright fine, I'll just teach her the first lesson. I taught it and we had a good conversation, but she wasn't getting the idea that only this church was the right one. (I've come to find out that's a real problem for people out here. A lot of people think that Joseph Smith did see God and Jesus Christ, they believe the Book of Mormon is from God, but that it still doesn't matter what church you go to.) So after a while I finally said, "Pearl is it alright if I'm blunt with you?" she said, "yes, of course" (I knew it would be- she reminds me of Lucy Mack Smith) So I said something to the affect of, "Pearl, what I'm saying is that none of the other churches are right. They all teach about God, and that's good- but they are not the Saviors church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the earth, and it's the only one you can be baptized into and receive salvation." She paused and said..."okay... I don't believe that... but I respect it." I then asked her, "Pearl, what if it was true? How would that affect you?" Her response, "Well I guess I'd have to believe it." I said "yes, and what would that change?" She said, "well everything I suppose." I laughed and said "Yes it would. Pearl, will you read the Book of Mormon and pray to your Father in Heaven to know if what I told you is true?" She said, "of course I will!" Then I said, "And Pearl, when you receive the answer that it's true, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the preisthood authority of God?" She said that if God told her it was true she would be baptized. :D Then she said, "And I know God will answer me, because he's always been very frank with me." At this point I'm just grinning from ear to ear, because as I mentioned before, just a while earlier the Lord had told me I needed to be "frank" with Pearl. The Lord has such a great sense of humor, and he truly knows how to help all his children perfectly.

 

Well yesterday I called her again to see how it was going. She's started to read the Book of Mormon. I started teaching her the plan of salvation. We talked for a bit and I found out that she only lives 30 minutes from the Lyon's cabin in Sandpoint- and she loves to fish. I told her after my mission I'll come visit and take her fishing (she's 75). She laughed and laughed and said alright sounds good to me. I really feel that I was supposed to meet and teach her.

 

Well I'm out of time, but things are going really well. I love you all so much and I hope you have a wonderful day!

 

Scripture for the day:

18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.

 

28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. 

 

39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.

 40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.
 41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

45 O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation.
 46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear... 
52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.
My soul is learning to delight in plainess. The ways of the Lord are plain, giving all men a fair and equal chance.
Sister Lewis