Sunday, January 20, 2013
January 14th
Thanks for forwarding the letters! Jessi is hilarious. I'm excited to send her a letter. It did bring back fond memories of the MTC. They have the best granola cereal EVER in the south east corner I will have to tell her about- it's the only place to get it. lol. NO. I did not find my wallet. Shortly after I realized it was lost I knelt down and prayed and the spirit told me I was not going to find it (at least not any time soon) I still chose to scavenger the house and call every place I had been. God was right. No where to be found. It was a rough p-day!! I lost my license/credit cards/mission card/health cards/gift cards/fast offerings and the Lopez's Christmas check was in there. I don't know if they will want to cancel it or not. I'm pretty sure it got thrown away in my grocery sacks and is in a landfill somewhere. Who knows? I canceled all my cards, apparently it's going to take 90 days for me to get a new license so I can't drive. ugh. (P.s. mom, I have no idea where my Social Security card is. I'm praying it wasn't in my license. Can you look for it? I need it to get a new license. I know it's a mess. I'm going to fill out paperwork, and send it to you. Then you will have to take it to the DMV and get the license for me. They're also sending my cards to the house and you can then forward them to me. What's my balance on my card?) THEN. to top it all off I plugged my thumb drive into the computer and I let the virus protection scan it, and it deleted ALL of my mission pictures. Hahahaha. REALLY?! Oh man, I'm laughing to my self right now. It's so ridiculous it's funny. I think the Lord was teaching me how to have my heart set on him and nothing else. Like he said to Joseph Smith in the Liberty jail, "many are called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world." It's okay everyone... I have nothing worldly left to set my heart on. Hahah.
Things here are going great. I got a Voicemail this morning from the sisters in Lawrence and 7 of the investigators we found and taught in Lawrence are being baptized! They all had dates when I left, but the dates are now rapidly approaching and apparently they're all still on board. They take up almost every weekend from now to the middle of February so I can't go back to all of them :( but maybe a few. I'm just excited they're preparing to make covenants with their Father in Heaven. It's great!! We experienced SO many miracles in Lawrence, and I'm glad to hear they're still rolling. :D It's hard not to know how everyone is doing, so that voice mail this morning was wonderful. Things in the Liberty 1st ward are going well too! We have a baptism the 19th of January :) (which is when 2 people are being baptized in Lawrence) I don't think I can make all of them. Hahah but what a beautiful day it will be in Heaven!! Heather, who is being baptized here has been going to church for about a year now and taken the discussions 3 times. She's been ready for a long time and we're so excited to see her make promises with God, that will bind her closer to Him. Yesterday we also had a miracle finding moment. We felt impressed to tract a specific street. It was COLD. Cold with humidity is miserable. I have a serious hate for the cold. lol. Anyways we went through several houses and eventually found someone named Leena. She said she had lived in Utah for a while and that she had been very interested in the church there, but no one had given her a book of mormon or invited her to learn more. MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK FOLKS!! We have a call to hasten the work from a prophet of God. That wasn't just to the missionaries. That was to EVERYONE. We gave her one and she said she was so grateful to have one. We have an appointment to go back this next Friday. :) God knows all his children. One time in Lawrence we felt impressed to knock a specific street. We found a family who was reading the Book of Mormon! The husband and wife were both about half-way through. They weren't interested in having us teach them more, but it was a witness to me that God knows the events of everyone of His children, and he sent us there to offer them more, whether or not they were willing to accept it. It's wonderful to learn of his ways as He works through you.
Anyways I hope all is well. I am loving my mission, every aspect of it. Even the trials bring beautiful lessons to strengthen our faith and commitment.
Love you all!
Sister Lewis
Thanks for forwarding the letters! Jessi is hilarious. I'm excited to send her a letter. It did bring back fond memories of the MTC. They have the best granola cereal EVER in the south east corner I will have to tell her about- it's the only place to get it. lol. NO. I did not find my wallet. Shortly after I realized it was lost I knelt down and prayed and the spirit told me I was not going to find it (at least not any time soon) I still chose to scavenger the house and call every place I had been. God was right. No where to be found. It was a rough p-day!! I lost my license/credit cards/mission card/health cards/gift cards/fast offerings and the Lopez's Christmas check was in there. I don't know if they will want to cancel it or not. I'm pretty sure it got thrown away in my grocery sacks and is in a landfill somewhere. Who knows? I canceled all my cards, apparently it's going to take 90 days for me to get a new license so I can't drive. ugh. (P.s. mom, I have no idea where my Social Security card is. I'm praying it wasn't in my license. Can you look for it? I need it to get a new license. I know it's a mess. I'm going to fill out paperwork, and send it to you. Then you will have to take it to the DMV and get the license for me. They're also sending my cards to the house and you can then forward them to me. What's my balance on my card?) THEN. to top it all off I plugged my thumb drive into the computer and I let the virus protection scan it, and it deleted ALL of my mission pictures. Hahahaha. REALLY?! Oh man, I'm laughing to my self right now. It's so ridiculous it's funny. I think the Lord was teaching me how to have my heart set on him and nothing else. Like he said to Joseph Smith in the Liberty jail, "many are called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world." It's okay everyone... I have nothing worldly left to set my heart on. Hahah.
Things here are going great. I got a Voicemail this morning from the sisters in Lawrence and 7 of the investigators we found and taught in Lawrence are being baptized! They all had dates when I left, but the dates are now rapidly approaching and apparently they're all still on board. They take up almost every weekend from now to the middle of February so I can't go back to all of them :( but maybe a few. I'm just excited they're preparing to make covenants with their Father in Heaven. It's great!! We experienced SO many miracles in Lawrence, and I'm glad to hear they're still rolling. :D It's hard not to know how everyone is doing, so that voice mail this morning was wonderful. Things in the Liberty 1st ward are going well too! We have a baptism the 19th of January :) (which is when 2 people are being baptized in Lawrence) I don't think I can make all of them. Hahah but what a beautiful day it will be in Heaven!! Heather, who is being baptized here has been going to church for about a year now and taken the discussions 3 times. She's been ready for a long time and we're so excited to see her make promises with God, that will bind her closer to Him. Yesterday we also had a miracle finding moment. We felt impressed to tract a specific street. It was COLD. Cold with humidity is miserable. I have a serious hate for the cold. lol. Anyways we went through several houses and eventually found someone named Leena. She said she had lived in Utah for a while and that she had been very interested in the church there, but no one had given her a book of mormon or invited her to learn more. MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK FOLKS!! We have a call to hasten the work from a prophet of God. That wasn't just to the missionaries. That was to EVERYONE. We gave her one and she said she was so grateful to have one. We have an appointment to go back this next Friday. :) God knows all his children. One time in Lawrence we felt impressed to knock a specific street. We found a family who was reading the Book of Mormon! The husband and wife were both about half-way through. They weren't interested in having us teach them more, but it was a witness to me that God knows the events of everyone of His children, and he sent us there to offer them more, whether or not they were willing to accept it. It's wonderful to learn of his ways as He works through you.
Anyways I hope all is well. I am loving my mission, every aspect of it. Even the trials bring beautiful lessons to strengthen our faith and commitment.
Love you all!
Sister Lewis
One of them, The picture of me with a young girl, a book of mormon, and a rabbitt, is Chandler. That's the girl I chose to give Samantha's book of Mormon too. She is the Lee's daughter. (the Lee's are the x-gang members). She loves the book of mormon. :) I told her it was from my sister and I was only going to give it to someone special.
January 7th
Well things here are going really well. We're experiencing so many blessings from Heavenly Father. We have a baptism planned for the 19th. We started teaching her the week I got here. She's had the discussions 3 times and is finally ready :) She's great. She didn't want to take them again lol, so instead we're having her teach us the lessons by asking her questions. She'll be very prepared. Hahah. We're also working with some other great families. I love serving at the jail there is such a special spirit here. In my set-apart blessing the Lord promised me that I would see the Visitors Center implement changes I suggested. He's inspiring my heart and mind with things that can change, and I'm excited for all of the things that can happen here if we all exercise faith. He's blessing me with His vision for the Visitor's Centers, and I'm so grateful to work in one. Here is a miracle that happened here the other day. There were some Elders working in an area almost an hour away. One of them kept feeling impressed that they should take a less-active family to the jail here. Every time the impression would come he would put it aside because of how far away the jail is. Finally he couldn't ignore the prompting any longer and they decided to come to the jail. They were just finishing up their tour and were in the exit room with one of the Sisters when Elder Simper (one of the Senior couples) came into the room. He walked over to Sister Altier and asked her if she knew how to speak sign-language. Puzzled Sister Altier said, no I don't. Elder Simper said, "That's too bad, we just had 4 deaf non-members come in and they want a tour." The Elder who had been having the impression to come to the jail, spoke up and said "I'm actually the sign-language missionary for the mission." He translated for them and they were able to take the tour. Miracles happen everyday when we're in the service of the Lord. He knows and loves us individually. How wonderful it is.
I love you all!!!
Sister Lewis
Well things here are going really well. We're experiencing so many blessings from Heavenly Father. We have a baptism planned for the 19th. We started teaching her the week I got here. She's had the discussions 3 times and is finally ready :) She's great. She didn't want to take them again lol, so instead we're having her teach us the lessons by asking her questions. She'll be very prepared. Hahah. We're also working with some other great families. I love serving at the jail there is such a special spirit here. In my set-apart blessing the Lord promised me that I would see the Visitors Center implement changes I suggested. He's inspiring my heart and mind with things that can change, and I'm excited for all of the things that can happen here if we all exercise faith. He's blessing me with His vision for the Visitor's Centers, and I'm so grateful to work in one. Here is a miracle that happened here the other day. There were some Elders working in an area almost an hour away. One of them kept feeling impressed that they should take a less-active family to the jail here. Every time the impression would come he would put it aside because of how far away the jail is. Finally he couldn't ignore the prompting any longer and they decided to come to the jail. They were just finishing up their tour and were in the exit room with one of the Sisters when Elder Simper (one of the Senior couples) came into the room. He walked over to Sister Altier and asked her if she knew how to speak sign-language. Puzzled Sister Altier said, no I don't. Elder Simper said, "That's too bad, we just had 4 deaf non-members come in and they want a tour." The Elder who had been having the impression to come to the jail, spoke up and said "I'm actually the sign-language missionary for the mission." He translated for them and they were able to take the tour. Miracles happen everyday when we're in the service of the Lord. He knows and loves us individually. How wonderful it is.
I love you all!!!
Sister Lewis
A few pictures... I left my camera at home so I can only send what's on my flash drive. I'll try to send more Christmas pictures next week. I LOVED all of my gifts. I'm wearing the blue cardigan right now :) Thanks again. Love you all. The man in the pictures is Arnold- who was baptized before I left. And the woman is Cecily. The one who was the referral and we kept finding her as we missed our dinners- hopefully that story rings a bell. Love ya!
December 31st
So things at Liberty Jail are awesome. I love serving here, the spirit is so powerful. It's a different atmosphere than almost any other place. It's as close to the feeling of a temple as I've ever been. Not quite the same- but close. I just like to sit in the rotunda (where the jail is) and think. The whole building is so symbolic and the Lord is teaching me a lot about why the prophet was held here, what lessons were learned, and how it relates to our mortal experience. When the prophet was held in jail he could not see beyond the four walls that held him. The only way he could reach beyond his circumstance was through revelation. When the windows of heaven opened and the Lord spoke he could reach beyond his walls and see things from a higher plane. I know this is true of our own lives. We are divine beings having a mortal experience. We must reach beyond our walls and see things from a different plane. We can do that through revelation from the most High God, who see's and knows all things. He will help lift our thoughts and broaden our understanding. We must, like Elder Eyring taught, however, be willing to remove "the pavillions" that cover God from us. We must humble our hearts in the depths of humility, setting them upon God and not the things of this world. We must exercise faith and trust in God at all times. We must let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly. We must allow our bowels to be filled with charity. And we must cheerfully do all things within our power. Then we may "stand still, with the utmost assurance to see the Salvation of God, and for His arm to be revealed." These are just a few lessons from Liberty jail. Lessons intended to build a Zion like people. (D&C 101:1-5).
Things in our area are going great as well. We had several people come to church yesterday. When the meeting started only one person was there. My heart sank, but then just as we were singing the song, several more showed up. It filled my heart with so much excitement!!! We're working with a young family right now who is just wonderful! I love teaching the gospel and watching the spirit help people grasp the Eternal principles of their Father in Heaven. How great is my joy- as the Lord promised it would be! :) He always fulfills his promises. I'm so excited for Barnes to experience it. I'm also so excited for Kerrick and the faith he's exercising. I don't know him but you can tell him I say hi and he and his family are in my prayers as well. How great it is to be in the service of our kind God.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sister Lewis
So things at Liberty Jail are awesome. I love serving here, the spirit is so powerful. It's a different atmosphere than almost any other place. It's as close to the feeling of a temple as I've ever been. Not quite the same- but close. I just like to sit in the rotunda (where the jail is) and think. The whole building is so symbolic and the Lord is teaching me a lot about why the prophet was held here, what lessons were learned, and how it relates to our mortal experience. When the prophet was held in jail he could not see beyond the four walls that held him. The only way he could reach beyond his circumstance was through revelation. When the windows of heaven opened and the Lord spoke he could reach beyond his walls and see things from a higher plane. I know this is true of our own lives. We are divine beings having a mortal experience. We must reach beyond our walls and see things from a different plane. We can do that through revelation from the most High God, who see's and knows all things. He will help lift our thoughts and broaden our understanding. We must, like Elder Eyring taught, however, be willing to remove "the pavillions" that cover God from us. We must humble our hearts in the depths of humility, setting them upon God and not the things of this world. We must exercise faith and trust in God at all times. We must let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly. We must allow our bowels to be filled with charity. And we must cheerfully do all things within our power. Then we may "stand still, with the utmost assurance to see the Salvation of God, and for His arm to be revealed." These are just a few lessons from Liberty jail. Lessons intended to build a Zion like people. (D&C 101:1-5).
Things in our area are going great as well. We had several people come to church yesterday. When the meeting started only one person was there. My heart sank, but then just as we were singing the song, several more showed up. It filled my heart with so much excitement!!! We're working with a young family right now who is just wonderful! I love teaching the gospel and watching the spirit help people grasp the Eternal principles of their Father in Heaven. How great is my joy- as the Lord promised it would be! :) He always fulfills his promises. I'm so excited for Barnes to experience it. I'm also so excited for Kerrick and the faith he's exercising. I don't know him but you can tell him I say hi and he and his family are in my prayers as well. How great it is to be in the service of our kind God.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sister Lewis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)