Well things here are going well. I'm sorry this is a short letter as well. The computers at the Library are all full, and only the 15 minute ones are available.

 

I'm learning more of the Lords love. I know he loves us. I especially loved the Relief Society Broadcast when the 1st counslor said "I love you." Those words were so tender, and I was grateful that she loved me. I sincerely felt that it was true and it was comforting to me to know that she loved me, with a Christlike love, even though she's never met me. Imagine if we could all share that Christlike love with each other. How much kinder, would this life be? How much easier would it be for our fellow men and ourselves to overcome trials. I love the perfect example of our Savior, especially his perfect example of love. I'm grateful for His chosen servents who express and represent that love so well. I'm grateful for the examples of others.

 

I love you all so much.

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Lewis

 

On Mon, Oct 1, 2012

It's starting to cool off here as well. I don't know how I feel about it. I've decided I absolutely love the heat, and despise the cold. My companion is the opposite. She's always like 'ugh it's so hot, I hate being sweaty...' I tell her she's really dramatic. But then when it's cold outside I find myself saying, 'ugh... I don't want to get out of the car... why is it so cold?? Turn the heat up!' Then she responds with, ..."wow... so dramatic." Seriously though... yesterday the church was so cold my bones ached... I felt like a 90 year old woman ;) haha. I like the idea of fall- I like wearing sweaters, changing leaves, drives in the canyon, back to school supplies, soups, hot chocolates. But as a missionary... I'd just rather be warm, and have the sun shine while I go talk to people lol. Lawrence, supposedly is a really fun place to be during the fall, however. It's full of tree's- so the leaves will be beautiful, and they have all sorts of festivals (not that we'll go to any).

The work here is going well! My mission has gone by really fast so far. I'm more than half way done, it's a weird feeling. I've learned a lot. It's funny how people learn so many different things on their missions. I was talking to a woman the other day, and I asked her what the biggest thing she learned on her mission was. She said, "I learned how to relax." I laughed, because I think that's one of the biggest lessons I've learned too. I know that's not what you would typically attribute to a missionary- but I'm learning that principle in the way I need it. I'm really recognizing my weaknesses and strengths and the Lord is helping me fine tune the strengths, and overcome the weaknesses. I'm very, very grateful- because I have many of them.

So one of the lady's we're teaching is so prepared for the gospel. I think I've mentioned her before. The most powerful lesson I've had on my mission, so far, was with her. I think I mentioned before that she was taught not to pray to God, but through Saints. In the last two lessons she has talked about how liberating it is to pray to God directly, and that she loves it. She's asked to say the closing prayer in our last two meetings. I love her so much! I wish we could see her every day.

I love seeing the Lord work with His children. I love seeing people progress and change. I know the Lord loves it more.

This truly is His work, this I know. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sister Lewis
Love you all!

On Mon, Sep 24, 2012

Well the work is going well here. Even though people choose not to progress or accept our message, I see the Lords hand in the work every day. He tells us what to say, gives us the power to discern thoughts and needs, and when we are worthy allows us to speak with power and authority from on High. I'm seeing Him extend beautiful gifts to us as missionaries and work miracles constantly- I know that in these miracles my role is to remain humble and charitable- otherwise the gifts HE GIVES me become as 'tinkling brass' and are of no worth. The reason He gives them to us is for the benefit and Salvation of His children. We must love them as He does, and use them for this purpose.

It's hard to see people's needs met so perfectly and beautifully by our Savior, and watch them reject His extended arm. I read some scriptures the other day that truly penetrated my heart, and I felt my heart pour out the same questions spoken by the prophets. The first was in Helaman when Nephi is teaching the people. They reject Him as a prophet but claim they would've followed the prophets in days of old. He says, "And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out. Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea you will say the he is a  false prophet..." I feel like I experience this daily. Children of our Father in Heaven say, if Moses was on the Earth we would follow him, if Noah warned us of the flood we would hearken. Yet what was the role of these prophets? To point God's children to Christ! That's why the Lord gives a prophet to lead us and guide us back to our Savior. Today, there is a prophet on the Earth. God is the same yesterday today and forever! He changes not, and if you imagine a God in whom there is variableness or a shadow of changing you have imagined up unto yourself a God who is not a God of miracles. He does work among the children of men as He did in days of old. It is through a prophet who points us to Christ. Sometimes I wish I could gather every one around us and cry out these words of Jacob:

"Behold, will ye reject these words? will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy spirit and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you?"

Truth has been restored. There is a prophet, and I often wonder in my heart, why deny the workings of the Lord? Why reject His counsel and His ways? Why, when this perfect being seeks only to bless you and bestow upon you the truth unto salvation, will ye deny it and seek after your own way?

I love the truth. It sets us free. I will seek the truth all the days of my life, and not from the wisdom of men, but from a God who does not change. From a God who loves and cares about my soul and whom I trust to deliver to me truth in its purity. We ask men to pray about our message, we invite them to obtain the truth from God himself, and not from us... and still they deny us. Still they say, "I will not pray about this message... but if I had lived in the days of Moses.... I would pray then." How can they say this, how can they say their character would be different? What would change? We don't even ask them to trust us, but to seek after the truth from the Lord with all energy of heart, and surely if they would humble themselves before him and do this, He would answer in His time and way! Yet still... we are rejected, and therefore He is rejected. As the prophets were in days of old.

I was reading in 4th Nephi after the coming of the Savior, and how the people began to build up many different churches. The scriptures teach they did not 'dwindle in unbelief, but they did willfully rebel against the gospel of Christ." This is what we see today, many churches, being built up day by day, teaching different doctrines and changing the ordinances of Christ. They teach for doctrines of men. It is hard to see, when I know the Saviors fullness is here... that these children of God could have a fullness of His gospel, even the same church that was on the Earth when He was on the Earth. They could have all of His peace- not just a part. They could know for themselves, and obtain from God that knowledge which man cannot reveal, if they would simply read, and pray about the Book of Mormon with sincerity of heart and real intent.

I know this is His work and I really do see His miracles occur all the day long, just as in days of old. Prisoners are set free :), hearts are changed, our needs are provided for as if manna came from Heaven, all at the hand and kindness of our God.

The other day we were without dinner and very hungry. We prayed the Lord would provide. We knocked on a door and someone invited us in for dinner. That's never happened to me before. Then again, I've never prayed for it before. :)

This is the Lords work. I know He loves His children, and all the glory is always to Him.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Love you all,
Sister Lewis

On Sun, Sep 16, 2012

We've had some amazing experiences with one of our investigators! Last week we were going to visit a woman in the ward. Before we got out of the car we said a prayer and I was filled with this burning desire to fulfill our purpose while we were there- I pleaded with the Lord that our visit could be effective and that His work would progress through it.

When we walked into her house she said "hello" and started walking back towards the door while saying, "one second, one of my friends wants to meet you." She walked outside and in a few minutes came back with her friend trailing behind. We sat down and started talking with her friend. She's had a very confused upbringing in regards to religion, and didn't understand that we can pray directly to God, and develop our own personal relationship with Him. We taught her that we don't need to pray through Saints, but that we pray directly to our Father in Heaven, and we close in the name of Jesus Christ, who advocates our prayer. She was amazed by the concept and the spirit was very powerful.

The next lesson we had, we planned on teaching the restoration of the gospel but the spirit told us to teach the plan of salvation instead. I've never been in a more powerful lesson, where someone understood the gospel so clearly. We taught by the spirit, and she learned by the spirit and so it was an incredibly edifying experience (D&C 50:17-22). When we taught the pre-existence and Adam and Eve she exclaimed, "Oh that makes sense!" We read 2 Nephi 2:23-25 with her and she said, "that just answered all my questions." When we taught about the resurrection of our bodies, and that through Jesus Christ our bodies would be whole and perfect one day the spirit was powerful. After I testified of the truth the spirit told me to stop speaking. I did. In the silence it settled more deeply into her heart and she began to cry. When it told me I could proceed we did, on through repentance and that through Jesus Christ we can become clean from sin. When we asked her what repentance meant to her she gave a perfect definition. We told her that is exactly what we believe. She said, "I didn't grow up being taught that... but confession never made sense to me." In the end of the lesson the spirit bore powerful witness to her heart and ours that she was a daughter of God with a divine nature, and this plan of redemption, is true.

She's amazing. Every time we have a hard day Sister Crick and I look at each other and say... well at least we get to see Eliza in a few days.:)

Anyways I better get going, but I love you all so much and I know this work is true.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

On Mon, Sep 10, 2012

Well things here are going well. I have a new companion named Sister Crick. She's wonderful, and teaching me a lot. I'm learning a lot about my weaknesses and strengths... and working hard to overcome my weaknesses. Sometimes it seems like as soon as I get a handle on one of them, the Lord shows me another. Lol. I guess it's part of the process...

We're teaching a family right now who is wonderful. The mother loves the Book of Mormon. She's already through 2 Nephi and she told us the other day that she was doing something, and then she remembered reading in the Book of Mormon that she shouldn't do it and so she stopped. She also told us how she was having a hard time with something at work and then she read something in the Book of Mormon that really comforted her heart, and she stayed up all night thinking about it :) Her husband has also never wanted to attend a church. But he likes this one and thinks it's good discipline for the children. We're working on helping them recognize the spirit and understand that this is our Saviors church.

I have been thinking a lot about how I know this is the Saviors church. I get asked the question a lot, and I never have a specific experience to tell people, because the Lord has told me from day one. I've always known, and it's been confirmed to my heart constantly as I grew up. As I pondered on this yesterday during Sacrament meeting I felt of the Saviors character, and of His goodness emanating from everything about the church- from the Sacrament, to the Temples. His goodness and character shines in all of it, and I know it is His. Because I know Him, I know this is His church. How I love Him, and yearn to serve Him and His children with all the purity and energy of my heart. I'm grateful for the atonement that gives me grace after all I can do. :)

Well I hope all is well with you!! Thank you for the letter. I love you all!
Sister Lewis

8/27/12

Things here are going well! I have a new companion! Her name is Sister Crick. She is wonderful and I love her. I have already learned a lot from her.
I wanted to share with you a quote I heard yesterday at church. I love it and know it to be true,

"A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; it is through this sacrifice, and this only that God has ordained that men should enjoy Eternal life." -Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith.

I know God will ask us to suffer, endure and sacrifice much- but it's all for the goal of helping us become like His son, who was willing to sacrifice all things. I know it is only through this humble submission to the Lords will that we find faith strong enough for the atonement to work the miracle of Salvation.

In the scriptures we are taught we are saved by grace after all we can do. When we do all within our power to serve and follow God, then will grace become 'as our day' and we will find our character and nature changing through the atonement of Christ the Lord, insomuch that we become holy and without spot.

We are also taught that repentance is the means by which the Savior finds the power to Redeem. The greater our repentance, the greater our redemption. The greater our repentance, the more we sacrifice, the more we labor with unwearyingness for our Savior, and the stronger our faith becomes; until like Joseph Smith says- it is strong enough to bring forth the miracle of salvation- for salvation is a miracle in every sense of the word.

I know this to be true, and I'm grateful for a kind and merciful God who teaches us of His ways, and intends for us to become like Him and enjoy all the blessings He has. It's the most humbling and tender thought my heart has ever contemplated. I am grateful for the gift of His son, my Savior and friend, Jesus Christ. Through Him is given the power of God unto Salvation, on conditions of repentance.

I hope all is well and I love you all so much. Thanks for all you do.
Love,
Sister Lewis

8/20/12

Well things here are going well. I am daily amazed at the miracles the Lord provides. I'm learning more and more that small miracles are very common when you embark in the service of God. He is all powerful, and I've found if I don't get in the way too much, he will work miracles all day long. When we consecrate everything to Him, he provides where we lack. It's a law of Heaven.Yesterday at church we were headed to our gospel doctrine class- we were running late and there were people already in there waiting for us. As we passed the Librarian, however, I had the impression to stay and talk with her. I stopped and turned around and we went back to chat with her. We were there for a few minutes and I started wondering why I had felt the need to talk with her, and if we had accomplished what the Lord had in mind (after all we did have a class to get to) as my impatience and curiosity grew, I looked down the hall and saw a former investigator walking towards us with a huge grin on his face. I was stunned. Sister VanCamp and I looked at each other dumbfounded. We went up to greet him and found out that for the last 3 weeks he's been coming to church- just slipping in and out. Today he wanted to stay for the other 2 blocks and was trying to find us. If we had not stopped to talk with the Librarian we would have missed him. Miracle. We happily took him with us to Gospel Doctrine, and after that he went to Priesthood which he seemed to enjoy very much.

Then later that day we felt impressed to stop and knock on a specific house. We got out of the car knocked on the door and the lady said almost instantly, "My grandma is a member of your church and my nephew is serving a mission in Utah right now." We asked if we could share a message with her and she said, "Yes please come back on Wed night." ..... cool.

After that house we headed over towards the house of the Relief Society President. We didn't know where we were going, but we knew that the night before we had felt impressed to be in that area. As we drove over there we passed the house of a former investigator who had really wanted to be baptized but was moving. In the chaos of it all the sisters had lost contact with her. As we drove past we noticed that her car was still there. Sister VanCamp threw on the brakes and turned around. We got out of the car only to find that they hadn't ended up moving, and she had lost all the contacts in her phone and she was planning on coming to church next week so that we could get back in contact, and she could start preparing for baptism again. She doesn't feel she's ready yet, but knows that she does want to be baptized. 

Here's one more example of how the Lord provides for us as we are in His service. We did a Relief Society function last week and as part of the meeting we were going to have the sisters write down a list of 3 people who they wanted to share the gospel with and under the direction of the spirit decide what the next step was for them and their friend- whether it was inviting them to an activity, giving them a Book of Mormon, taking them to church etc. Then they were to make an action plan on how to do it. We met with the Relief Society President about half an hour before the meeting and told her everything that we planned on doing. As we explained this portion of the meeting she said, "Perfect, Sister Christiansen has the scrapbook paper for that as well." Sister VanCamp and I looked at each other as it dawned on us that we had never actually got paper or pens or the sisters to actually be able to make their action plan. We had  completely forgot about it. Then we looked at Sister Pomeroy and said... "Well that's convenient. We never talked about this though, because we came up with the idea this morning. How did you know to get scrapbook paper?" She said.... "I have no idea. Sister Christiansen just said she had it and was bringing it."

I see the Lord provide for us and our investigators daily, in big ways and in small ways. I'm grateful for them all. I know the biggest way he provides for us daily is through the power of His atonement. The more we repent the greater affect it has in our life, and the more we realize how it is involved in every intricate moment. (Helaman 5:11). I love our Savior, and I am very grateful for Him, I am nothing without Him. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.