Cette fille est sur le feu. [This girl is "on fire".]

I don't really know if "sur le feu" is a real French term... I basically just directly translated that..... Mais c'est vrai en englais.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8 has become my favourite age on my mission:)

Quote of the week:

Elder Widdup (DL)--after asking me to recite this week's scripture in French: "Ok, that was really good, Sister Lewis. There were a few words here and there, but people will really be able to feel the Spirit from what you're saying.

Me: -.-

This was an amazing week!

Two Fridays ago, on the 7th, the zone leaders challenged every area in the zone to invite 20 people to learn about the gospel that day. The mission's contacts have gone down (http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/64352/Pass-along-cards-personalized-printable-pass-along-cards.html - read that entire article) in the winter months because it's been a lot harder to find people out (and the ones who are out in several feet of snow are all crazy, right?:)). Plus Friday is our day that's packed with meetings, so we only had about an hour of finding scheduled in, and it's really difficult to find that many people in an hour. So when Sister Olson and I got the text challenging us to do that, our hearts sank a little because we didn't know if we could make it. But we wanted to. In fact, we became determined to reach 20 contacts that day.

It required a lot of sacrifice. Shorter meals, rearranging plans, giving other things up to have more finding time scheduled. We were speed walking everywhere, talking to ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE we saw. It was hard. It got awkward at times. It stretched us. But we ended up exceeding 20 contacts.

And we got home that night and felt so good. We had just pushed ourselves beyond what we thought our limits were. So we decided to do the same thing the next day. Sunday night, we had this new-found determination and did everything we could to reach our goals. And there were a lot of them that seemed really out of reach that we reached anyway because we had faith and did EVERYTHING in our power to reach those goals.

Monday we met every single one of our goals, and exceeded in a few of them. And we continued to work like that and realized Saturday afternoon that we had reached all of our weekly goals early, and that the week could end right then and we would have a successful week. We continued to push ourselves and reach our goals. This week, we reported some of the best numbers I've ever seen. We hit or exceeded all of our goals. We ended up talking to 228 people instead of the 150 we set the goal for.

This work is addictive. Seriously. Reaching the goals is one thing, but it's another to watch so many people I love develop a faith in Jesus Christ. Yesterday, we had 4 investigators at church and 3 less-actives we've been working with. It was an overwhelming experience to see all those people I have prayed for, planned for, and worked for where they were supposed to be.

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!!!

Love,

Sister Lewis

Photo posted to facebook on the Mormons of Atlantic Canada page.  Zone Conference

The following two photos sent by a senior missionary couple in the mission.

These next three photos were sent by Elder Erickson's (far right) mom!

Here are the photos and video Sister Lewis sent home.

...On our way home from Bathurst. We met the other sisters at the Miramichi chapel:) Isn't it cute? 

Photos taken when the blizzard was dying down.

Je viens des États-Unis​.

Good morning!
 

Quote of the week--after Sister Olson asked a man in Dieppe if we could share a message with him
 

Man: "Ummmm... Pas right now."
 

Classic Chiac, folks.
 

This week has been a little crazy. I went up to Bathurst for exchanges and worked with Sister Vera again! It was really fun to work with her and in a brand new sisters area. We talked to a lady (in French of course) who worked at a bakery. The conversation went something like this.
 

Lady: "Et d'où venez-vous?"

Me: "Je viens des États-Unis."

Lady: "....Comment?"

Me: "Les États-Unis d'Amerique?"

Lady: [blank stare]

Sister Vera: "Obama? The USA?"

Lady: [shakes head slowly, confused] "Je n'ai jamais entendu parler de lui avant."

Me and Sister Vera: [dumbfounded]
 

On my mission, I have been present at one baptism for someone I taught--Isabelle*. Of the people I've had a hand in teaching, 5 of them have been baptized so far. We have 2 on-date for baptism right now who I didn't find and who I haven't taught very much. It has made me really aware of how little the missionary has to do with conversion. For these people, it's taken vastly more people than just Sister Lewis to bring someone into the Church. We have a baptism coming up at the beginning of April, and at least 9 missionaries have had a part in finding and teaching her. Almost all of the young mothers in the ward have fellowshipped her. Most of her extended family are members living in Alberta. They've been working on her her whole life. There have been so many people who have influenced her above the 2 lessons I've been present in so far. Sister Olson and I will probably see her baptism, but that doesn't represent the force behind her--both divine and not--that has helped her come so far.
 

Love you all!

Sister Lewis

 

Saying goodbye to Shannon*  (you only say that in a British accent)



Saying goodbye to Cassandra*.



Said goodbye to one of the cutest families of investigators ever, the Boghossians*.  Isaiah on the left and Meron on the right.



A teary goodbye with Sister Hebert.



Saying Goodbye to the Belucci family  :(



Saying goodbye to Paola*....They gave me a necklace and Brazilian keychain and chocolates!!!



Sister Gochnour and I had a bad DQ addiction.  Took one last run together.  <3



And this photo was scavenged by me (sis. L's mom) from Sister Gochnour's blog!

 

Hi.... Umm, I mean salut...

Bonjour!!!!!

French phrases stuck in my head that won't leave after 4 days in a French area:

"Est-ce que vous avez enttendu parler de cette eglise?"

"Puis-je vous donner une carte de notre cite-web?"

"Pouvons-nous partager ce message avec vous?"

I don't even know how to spell any of that really, my French level is seriously so low! But I can't get French out of my mind and it's taking over my life, basically.

Quote of the week--

Sister Olson: "...et c'est comme tater tots, mais c'est fait de chick peas."

Oh my goodness, you should've seen the first door I knocked in French. I was so nervous, I felt like I was in training again.

Me: "Hi... Uhh.... Salut. We--I mean nous sommes missionaires de Jesu--de l'Eglise de Jesus-Christ des Saints des Derniers Jours." (looking at Sister Olson with wide eyes to take over the rest of the door)

Yep.... Basically, the first night of knocking in French was reeeeeal rough. But I'm definitely picking it up a little more. Knocking doesn't bother me as much, mostly because I know enough to generally get by and depend on Sister Olson for the rest. But let's just say I was way more skilled as an English missionary, I think. I was really worried about everyone switching to English as soon as they heard my American accent, but I'm lucky because only one person so far has done that after I cracked and broke into English for a minute.

It's certainly intimidating to speak French to people when I don't have much of a French background at all, but it's humbling and it's a good experience. I want to learn as much as I can though, and I'm working hard to get there.

We have a baptism coming up at the end of the month. We are excited!

Coming back to this ward yesterday was AMAZING. It was like a mini homecoming almost. It feels soooo good to be back. And it was crazy, because when I first got to Moncton as a brand new missionary, we started teaching a part-member family with two boys, and they got baptized soon after I was transferred from Moncton, and so yesterday the older boy got sustained to receive the Aaronic Priesthood which was THE COOLEST THING EVER. I don't think I've ever been so proud in my life. I just really love being a missionary.

I love you all. Sorry for a short message this week.

Sister Lewis


(For those who would like to read a little bit more, pop on over to Sister Gochnour's blog!  --Sister L's Mom)

(This photo was sent from the Elder Erickson's mom.)

The next two photos were taken from Sister Gochnour's blog

Sister Gochnour's caption under this photo was:  "I will be forever grateful for this amazing missionary Sister Lewis."

02.24.2014

Hello!

Quote of the week:

After getting let into a house while knocking, in the middle of a conversation with this lady--

Me: "The worst part is having to scrape out the inside of the car too!"

Lady: "I know."

Me: "Is there a way to prevent the ice from forming on the inside? Any tips?"

Lady: "Umm, well.... I know you have to breathe and things, but if you just try to kind of hold your breath when you're driving, it helps."

Me: ".......K."

Transfer e-mails came yesterday and I am being transferred back to Moncton!!! I will now be a French-speaking sister in Dieppe. Pretty soon I will be the queen of NB... or the sister who has been in NB the longest. I love New Brunswick, I love my mission, and I am excited and humbled to be co-STLs with Sister Olson, speaking a language I'm no good at right now haha.

This week was absolutely crazy! Monday was P-day. Monday night we traveled to Houlton for exchanges, and Sister Christensen and I came back to Fredericton the same night. Tuesday was district meeting and exchanges, then traveling back to Maine, then traveling back to Fredericton. Then that night, the St. Stephen sisters came to spend the night. Wednesday I was with Sister Sandberg and the elders for Leadership Council over Skype all day long, which was long but good. Thursday we had to pack our entire apartment up. Friday we moved apartments. Saturdaywe spent most of the day deep cleaning our old apartment--fridge, oven, cupboards, floors, bathroom, dusting, mopping, vacuuming.... And Saturday we finally had one real day! And Sunday was transfer e-mails that blew our minds. It was all crazy.

This week I learned a great lesson when we were listening to MoTab in the car and "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" came on and really touched my heart.

I'm trying to love my neighbour,

I'm learning to serve my friends.

I watch for the day of gladness

When Jesus will come again.

I try to remember the lessons He taught.

Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying,

"Love one another as Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do.

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought."

For these are the things Jesus taught.

It reminded me that I'm a missionary and I'm talking to lots of people, trying to find the ones who are prepared for baptism. But I have a deeper purpose than that, and it's the same one that everyone has--to become more like Jesus.

I need to get off now, but I have a deep testimony of the happiness that comes from aligning our lives with the vision Christ has for us.

Love,

Sister L

I am in love with Canada.

Packing up apartments to move across the street... Sister Gochnour looked over at me and got a kick out of this apparently hahaha.

We found some old suits while packing our apartment....:)

Saying goodbye to Shannon*

Shovel finding

These next photos are ones that I (Sister Lewis's mom) took the liberty of pasting from Sister Gochnour's blog!

02.17.2014

Good morning!

Quote of the week:

While street contacting--

Me (spotting an older lady to talk to): "Excuse me--"

Lady (looking up at me with scared eyes): "I don't live here!"

Then she ran away.

This week's been another rough go. I have no idea what I'm doing differently this transfer to result in 0 investigators. I've never had a teaching pool of 0, except for about one day when I first white-washed Riverview with my trainer. So this is a new and difficult challenge. In fact, last transfer there were weeks when we got 4, 5, and 6 new investigators. But we're pushing through, and eating lots of food and having lots of fun while we do it. We both love being missionaries.

Church yesterday was cancelled after a half-hour sacrament meeting because of all the storms. There were 16 of us in church so we just had a mini testimony meeting which was powerful. After church, we went shovel finding with the elders (in other words, just shovelling 3-6 feet of snow out of people's driveways, no lie) for a couple hours. That was fun, and my eye hit my shovel (not vice-versa haha) and now I have a mini black eye, so that was fun too haha. And last night, as usual, we craved hot chocolate for the 1000th time during our companionship.

We spent Valentine's Day in interviews with the newspaper, going to appointments with potential investigators that all fell through, and having a dinner appointment with one of the sweetest families in the ward. And it was actually probably my favourite Valentine's Day. Which isn't saying much, because I'm not a big fan of that holiday.

This week is going to be crazy. Tonight we go to Maine for exchanges again. All Tuesday we'll have exchanges. Tuesday evening we'll come home. Wednesday I have Leadership Council all day long over Skype. Thursday will be partially spent packing up our apartment and cleaning it all up because we will spend the day moving apartments on Friday! So that doesn't leave a lot of time to find investigators, but it will. happen. Haha you have nooooooo clue how badly that needs to happen this week, I think I'll lose my mind if it doesn't. Enough of this "patience" trash. Haha.

And now for a more spiritual note. I have been learning to rely on prayer and scripture study a lot this transfer because I'm doing everything I can and am still not seeing many results--I've had to rely on something other than my abilities. And I've been seeing a great pattern as I study.

Doctrine and Covenants 6:33-37

33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are build upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

37 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hadns and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

Doctrine and Covenants 50:40-41

40 Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.

41 Fer not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me.

I love those scriptures. Heavenly Father does not want us to be afraid. We don't need to worry, because Christ has gone through the Atonement for us. Hard things can happen, but we "are little children," and we "cannot bear all things now," so we can be at peace knowing that the Lord says we don't need to be afraid because He makes it so we can be able to bear our trials.

I am grateful for the scriptures, which I have relied on more this last week than any other week in my life. And more importantly, I am grateful for Christ's Atonement, the only reason we don't need to fear right now. He knows we can't bear everything alone, and so He does it for us if we let Him. I'm grateful for my Saviour. And I'm grateful for my mission, because I know my life couldn't have progressed the way Heavenly Father wanted it to without it. And I'm grateful for really hard, discouraging trials, because they have taught me how to rely on the Lord with my last little bit I have left to offer. I am grateful that I've learned these lessons because I'm not the person I was 10 months ago.

I love you!

Sister Lewis

black(ish) eye that you can't really see in the pictures. it's my left one haha

"Yea, we have traveled from house to house..."

Finding. It makes you tougher than tough!

(My door)

[knock]

[Lady opens the door just enough to see about half her face.]

Me: "Hello, how are you doing?"

Lady: (blank stare)

Me: ".....Well my name's Sister Lewis, and this is Sister Sandberg, and we're missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Lady: (whispers with wide eyes) "I'm a witch."

[shuts door slowly]

Me: ..........................................

(My door)

[knock]

Me: (peeking through the windows on the side of the door to see if anyone's really home) "Oh, there's a light on.... Oh my gosh. That guy's getting dressed to come answer the door! Oh my gosh Sister Gochnour, this is your door right?"

Sister Gochnour (laughing): "No, it's all yours!"

Me: (panicking) "Oh my gosh he's coming to the door shirtless!"

Sister Gochnour: "Stop being an awkward sister missionary!"

Me: "Sister Gochnour he's not wearing a--!"

[door opens]

Me: (staring into his eyes because he's half dressed) "Himynamessisterlewisimamissionary."

Me: (smiling) "Hi, how are you tonight?"

Lady: (looks at us like we're crazy) "Good....."

Me: "I'm Sister Lewis, and this is Sister Gochnour, and we're missionaries for the Church of--"

Lady: "Look, look, look. I'm just gonna stop you right there. I don't want to waste your time, and it's cold outside. Who are you?"

Me: "We're missionaries for--"

Lady: "No thank you."

[shuts door]

(Sister Gochnour's door)

[knock]

[Lady comes down the stairs. Flips on the light inside. Is wearing a bathrobe. Flips on the porch light. Illuminates us. We awkwardly smile at her through the door window. She squints at us. She squints at our name tags. Looks up at our awkward smiles. She shakes her head very slowly.]

Lady: "No."

Sister Gochnour: "Okay, have a great night!"

[Turns around, walks away, turns off the lights.]

(My door)

[knock]

[All the lights are off. Man peeks through window several times. We knock again. Man walks to door and looks out door window without opening door.]

Man: "Who is it?"

Me: "...We're... missionaries."

Man: (panicking) "I don't open the door at night!"

Me: "That's ok....."

Man: "You don't understand! I never open my door after 5!"

Me: "That's alright, we'll just--"

Man: "No matter who it is!"

Me: "Okay, that's okay..." (backing away from door)

Man: "I don't even leave my home at night!"

Me: "Okay have a great night!"

That's my life right now! A couple of those happened in previous months, but this is what we get every single day:) Knocking, along with about 25 other finding ideas we've brainstormed, has become my life! One day we will get a new investigator who is prepared.... But for now I get to fall in love (for the 6th time) with knocking. (In all reality I actually love talking to so many different people from different backgrounds. You just have to accept it as part of your mission and then develop a good attitude towards it:))

But what a week! Monday was the craziest P-day yet, with no sit-down time. Tuesday we spent the majority of the day in St. Stephen for district meeting, then taught one of their investigators, and didn't make it back until about 4:30, so we grabbed a quick dinner before heading to the church to help the elders with a ward activity. Wednesday we put up fliers all around town for the concert next month, talking to everyone along the way. Thursday I spent the day in Moncton with Sister Sandberg for leadership meetings, which were incredible and left all of us really thoughtful. Friday we spent much of the day in Oromocto visiting members, both active and less-active, and newborn babies:) Saturday we met with the majority of the YSA girls separately while squeezing in finding time between appointments. Sunday all 4 missionaries spoke in church, I taught Gospel Principles, and we had the sweetest Relief Society lesson by a young recent convert who is adorable. We spent hours contacting referrals, potentials, and former investigators, then about half an hour knocking. And so far, 0 investigators still. We know the Lord will bless us with success if we keep faithfully working. BUT IF NOT, we will still do it with a great attitude.

[And here's a shout-out to missionary moms who go on lunch dates with my mom.... Hello, your children are some of the best:)]

I've been studying a lot about hope recently.In Preach My Gospel, we learn that hope is believing and expecting that something will occur. Because hope entitles expectation, we need to remember that we cannot lower our expectations. This goes for missionary work as well as every other aspect of our lives! If we do lower our expectations, our effectiveness in all that we do will decrease. In other words, if we don't EXPECT success, we will not be effective enough to SEE success. I think about Ammon, and I remember that when he was about to turn back, the Lord gave him hope to have the patience to see results, and he saw those results. I'm learning this lesson slowly, but I think about all the times I fell short because I stopped having hope, because I expected not to see my success. But it's a powerful lesson to learn that expecting success (KNOWING that it will one day come) = success.

I gave my talk on Sunday about the plan of salvation (Sister Gochnour and I coordinated topics). Hers was more focused on trials and overcoming, and mine was more focused on where we came from and where we're going.

A few of my thoughts were about how we lived with God before we came here. We had His traits and His attributes. We are all His sons and His daughters. We lived with our other brothers and sisters and loved them so much. But when we came here, we all forgot who our Father was, what our purpose in life is, and that there was a way to live with our families forever. Some people were lucky enough to be reminded of those 3 things early on in life by being born with the fullness of the Gospel (being born into the Church). But others of our brothers and sisters had to wait to be reminded of it by people who already had it. And that's how my parents were.

I am so grateful that members were bold enough to testify to my parents that God was their Heavenly Father, that He loved them, that they have a purpose in this life, and that their families could be together forever.

And because they were reminded of those things we all knew before we came here, they reminded me of it as well. They taught me those principles from a young age. I am so grateful that I know I am a daughter of God. I know what my purpose is. I know that I can see the people I love again after I die. And because of all that, I am sealed to my parents and my 7 younger siblings forever.

And that's a lot of my drive to serve a mission. I want to remind other people about that. And it's going to happen in the Lord's time. So I won't complain and be impatient in the meantime, because the privilege of getting to share something that's so special to me with other people... That means way more to me than knocking a bit more than I'd like to.

I love you all! Have a great week:)

Sister Lewis

These two photos were sent from the missionary couple in their area.  They say "Love the Fredericton missionaries!  They work hard and love the members."

Hospital elevator shots....:)

We were really ready to find new investigators last night.

Shared with us from the couple missionaries again.  It's a district meeting in St. Stephen