ENTERING THE GATE!!!

Hello family!!!!!

Quote of the week--MaryAnn*, after we showed her the Official Declaration about how we no longer practice polygamy:

"Where's my highlighter?! Now I can show every person who brings up dang polygamy! It drives me crazy, and I've been a Mormon for HOW many hours?!?!"

The joys of being part of the true church:')

This week was completely hectic! Trying to throw together a baptism last-minute that is as spiritual as possible for the members and MaryAnn... all on our own? Aye aye aye. But it turned out perfectly. A lot of work went into this baptism. I'll put it this way--the number 1 most-used phrase this week to describe our companionship (used by completely separate people) was "chickens with their heads cut off". Woo hoo.

The morning of, we had font-scrubbing, font-filling, chapel-cleaning, chair-setting, refreshment-baking, cake-frosting, errand-running, and phone call-making. We couldn't catch a break for a meal and miraculously were able to talk to 52 people along the way. The missionaries came to the chapel early for last preparations, and Elder Dudley was all excited and nervous to be baptizing someone for the first time.

It was a really great group effort because the elders found MaryAnn, we taught her, the elders dropped in for a lesson once a week, and Elder Dudley baptized her. So it was a giant group effort, and we loved it. MaryAnn got to hear the lessons from different points of view, meet the women in the ward (from sisters bringing them to lessons), meet the men in the ward (from elders bringing them to lessons), and receive all the support that comes from that.

It was touching. MaryAnn showed up Saturday evening wearing her brand new Mormon-looking outfit and her brand new Mormon-looking haircut. She got dressed in all-white and looked angelic and we took pictures. Right before the service began at 7, we and the bishopric and the members associated with the program had a prayer meeting to bring the Spirit. I started playing a bit of prelude that affected a few of the missionaries because they were primary songs that we used to sing at our own baptisms, and now we're all out here on missions.

MaryAnn chose the opening hymn--"I Need Thee Every Hour." I conducted. I gave the opening prayer and was overwhelmed at the pulpit, seeing her family and the ward members who came to support. I was so proud of MaryAnn. She has changed everything in her life to do what's right.

After the opening prayer, Sister Thompson gave the first talk on baptism. It was perfect. She drew parallels between MaryAnn and the Saviour. Then Sister Day, MaryAnn's best friend in the ward, gave a talk on the Holy Ghost which was perfectly directed at Michelle.

Then we had a musical number. MaryAnn had specifically asked for Amalia to sing. She sang "How Great Thou Art" and I came up with an arrangement to accompany her on the piano. (Sister T and I came in to harmonize on later verses). I'm grateful for the Spirit, because it softened the rough parts and made the tone very powerful for MaryAnn to make her first covenant with Heavenly Father.

She was baptized. Sister Thompson and I gave her great big hugs. She said she felt wonderful.

We watched Mormon Messages about the Book of Mormon while we waited for them to change.

Our ward mission leader, Brother Aitken, was conducting the meeting. When MaryAnn came back, he bore his testimony and said that since his mission in Mexico, he's always loved baptisms because they reminded him of who he was and why he did missionary work. It was one of the most powerful testimonies I've ever heard, and a lot of that was because I was reminded of who I was too.

Bishop welcomed her to the ward with another great testimony. We had refreshments afterwards and are now teaching her sister, Barbara, who came to support.

Sunday she was confirmed. She was nervous for that part because she has a hard time in front of groups of people. But she said that when Bishop said the words "Receive the Holy Ghost," this peace just filled her up. I was bouncing up and down in my seat, I was so happy it felt like it couldn't fit in side of me.

After the confirmation, during the sacrament, I glanced across the room at MaryAnn. And did a double-take. Because she looked DIFFERENT! There was a physical difference. It was amazing.

The four missionaries gave her our gifts after sacrament meeting: a triple combination (which she's been dying for since June), a journal that we decorated, a copy of her confirmation blessing that we scribbled down, and a True to the Faith book. She was so excited and carried it around with her to the clinic that day, telling everyone she was baptized into the Mormon Church and showing them her Book of Mormon!

She just received her first visiting teaching assignment:)

The Church is true. Conversion is a miracle.

Love you all!

Sister Lewis

We all accidentally matched!  Elder King, Elder Dudley, me, Sister Thompson

Raspberry Cordial!

Inspiring

MaryAnn's awesome calendar

Sisters who actually know how to pop the hood ;)

Excited to fill the font!!

Sister Thompson (while reviewing the photos):  "Aww.  Look, in one of them I have the model face, but not in this one."
Me:  "No, Sister T, look!  Zoom in, you have a model face!"
Sister Thompson:  "Oh yeah.  Yeah, I do look like a model."

MaryAnn and Elder Dudley.  She wanted him to baptize her since day 1!

MaryAnn and a few of her closest friends in the ward, Julia* and Sister Brentwood*

The girls :)

The gang--Elder King, Sister Thompson, MaryAnn, me, Elder Dudley

Me and Sister T hangin out

Like Ten Thousand Legions Marching

Hello family!!!!!:)

Quotes of the week:

1. Old man we stopped on the street (who was not happy at first): "And really, like I said before, you 2 are truly, beautiful women. If I was a young man I'd probably choose to be saved by you. Each of you is really beautiful. If i was young, I'd convert, just hoping for a date."

2. Elder 1: "Is that your girl back home?"

Elder 2: "I've never even kissed a girl!"

Elder 1: "Well kissing is a lot more of a commitment than writing!"

It's been a hard week, but one full of lots of sacrifice and LOTS of laughing... We had to, otherwise I don't think we would've made it through all the stressful situations haha. Sister Thompson and I are SO tired, guys. So tired. But we're not through yet! We have way more to do in our last weeks before we're finished. So much work to be done in the work of salvation!!!:)

MaryAnn*'s baptism is rescheduled. We're crossing our fingers for this Saturday!!! She's almost there!!!!!

This week I've been studying a lot about how the Lord prepares people for the gospel. Alma teaches us how the Lord does it: "For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land, and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory."

I want to point out that despite what the 70-year-old men here think, missionaries are not the angels who are preparing the people for the gospel! When Alma says that angels are doing it, he really means that legions of angels are here on earth preparing His children for the gospel! Do we believe that? Do we believe that thousands of the Lord's angels are getting people ready to accept the gospel?

On my mission I've often felt like I'm doing more than planning, preparing lessons, studying, finding people to teach, and teaching. I feel like a piece in a bigger plan to bring souls unto Christ. I feel like one of Helaman's strippling warriors who "entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty" of the people in Charlottetown... to "protect [them] unto the laying down of their lives," who "would fight in all cases to protect the [people]... from bondage."

And I testify that every member has entered into that exact same covenant: to fight to keep God's children out of bondage from the adversary.

Once we understand that we are in reality fighting a battle, it's important to understand that battles are meant to be DIFFICULT, but that God loves us and is on our side.

In the Old Testament, there is a story that illustrates this principle in 2 Kings. Syria is fighting a battle against Israel, and Israel keeps foreseeing every move Syria makes. Israel wins battle after battle. Discouraged, the king of Syria finally decides one of his men must be a spy for the other side, telling Israel all Syria's battle plans. But the king of Syria's servants tell him there is no spy, but that "Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the King of Israel the words that thou speakest."

The king sends his army to capture the priophet Elisha. "Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by at night, and compassed the city about."

Elisha's young servant then wakes up and sees that "an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots." The young servant says, "Alas, my master! How shall we do?"

Elisha answers, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."

The young servant must have thought Elisha was crazy. He saw the king of Syria's great army surrounding the entire city with their horses and with their chariots, and he saw he and Elisha--without even anything to defend themselves. They were hopelessly outnumbered.

But then Elisha prays and says, "Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see."

The scripture says: "And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

The entire mountain was in reality covered with the Lord's angels. Because the Lord takes care of His children.

I think of all the times when the Lord has "opened the eyes of the young woman" and helped me to see clearly the big picture. I KNOW that there are legions of angels on our side. I know it. I've felt it.

This week especially, as we've had a RIDICULOUS amount of opposition, there have been several times when I felt like it was time to take a moment and kind of break down... The pressure was so much I thought I'd crack. But I couldn't. The Lord strengthened me. I don't know if you've ever experienced angels strengthening you, but I have on my mission. I don't know everyone who's praying for me back at home, but I sure felt those prayers strongly this week. There's no other way to describe what I've been feeling recently.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned over the past 9 months or so is that the Lord takes care of His children. We have the Almighty God and His angels on our side. I know it.

Love,

Sister Lewis

Has the day of miracles ceased? Behold, I say unto you Nay.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEXT SISTER LEWIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hermana Lewis:) :) :) Welcome to this great country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU WILL LOVE YOUR MISSION MORE THAN ANYTHING.

It's been a great week. I've learned so much. We have a baptism this Saturday!

Moroni teaches:

"And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?

"Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?

"Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain."

I'm not great when it comes to faith. My natural man takes over and when things get hard, it's harder for me to have faith, and when they're easy, it's easy for me to have faith. But I know that "miracles cease" when we don't have it, so I've been working on it.

The Day of Miracles (Wednesday)

1. Sister Thompson and I were running behind that morning and we didn't get as much time to contact as we'd planned. We considered doing something else instead since we didn't think it would be effective to only have a few minutes to contact. But we decided to go contacting anyway. We stopped one person. Not interested. Second person. Name: Candy James*. "Yeah, I've been searching for a good Christian church to attend. I've recently overcome all my addictions to things that were bad for me. I had a son out of wedlock 4 years ago. Afterwards, I learned that it was wrong and I've repented. I love him, but it would have been more special if I'd been married to his father. I was praying a couple days ago to find a church to attend, and I think God put you in my path today. I'm so excited to meet! Come over next week after I finish moving to this place that's way better to raise my son in!"

2. Phone call from MaryAnn* on our way back to the car. "Hi! Do you want to come over for dinner tonight and teach my sister who wants to be baptized? Also I hung out with my fellowshipper yesterday for several hours and we're great friends."

3. Lesson with Vivian* (on date for November 8). The Spirit was INCREDIBLY strong. She's young, and a lot of the lessons we have with her are kind of sarcastic and negative, and the Spirit can't be there too strongly. But this lesson was PERFECT and she committed herself to give up everything that's been holding her back from baptism for years. She was on fire by the end and was bubbly and just GLOWING. I've never seen her like that before. She committed to give up everything.

It was an amazing day. And I think that at the end of my mission, I'll be able to say that about the whole thing: That was an amazing mission.

Love,

Sister Lewis

The mice I described that are all over town.

A picture of a picture from a few weeks ago.

Some days we get back to the apartment and feel like THIS!

"Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come... and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation."

REJOICING is exactly what I'm doing right now. Congratulations to the next Sister Lewis--welcome to Canada:)

Christ's church has always been a missionary church. I'm grateful for the rejoicing that comes from missionary work.http://www.mormon.org/values/missionary-work — with Moriah Lewis.

This Great and Marvelous Latter-day Work

Hello!

Quote of the week:

Elder King: "...That's why I did it, I was like, 'yolo,' ya know?"

...greenies. Sigh.

Well, we have 5 WONDERFUL investigators on date for baptism! September 6, September 20 (but she's moving to Fredericton this week:(), two on October 5, and one on November 8. We're getting pumped!

I talked about it a little bit last week, but here's Preach My Gospel's definition of hope, which I've really tried to apply recently:

Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement.

It's natural for people, when things get hard, to be discouraged. I've written about that a lot over the course of my mission. But that's not God's way. When we're stressed, and it's impossible to find a solution, and nothing's working out like it's supposed to, we're facing it wrong. We're supposed to face our trials with a bright confidence, with enthusiasm, and without discouragement.

And so that's what Sister T and I have really been working on ever since we got together. We were struggling to find anyone to teach, the investigator we were teaching to bring to baptism wasn't progressing well, almost no one we stopped would listen to us, we couldn't even find less active members to work with. It was just rough, we had the desire and energy and willingness to work, but nothing was coming from it. But we buckled down and we made the really hard choice to be happy about it all and work with an enthusiastic attitude, without getting discouraged. And we really, truly believed that the Lord would bless us for our efforts, one day. And it stopped mattering when that was.

Well it's really been starting to happen and the Charlottetown missionaries are on fire! With the elders, we have a total of 8 people preparing for baptism all in the next 3 months, and we couldn't be happier. It's a great time to be a missionary. I'm grateful to be a part of this great and marvelous latter-day work. I know the value of making the hard choice to choose to have a good attitude.

Love you. Still, congrats to all my friends who are returning with honour. I feel overwhelmingly grateful to be a part of the lives of some of God's best servants.

Sister Lewis

Blurry picture...Julia* (recent convert) came out contacting with us last night. You could feel the missionary spirit oozing out of her. This is a typical view of the boardwalk in the evening...two happy girls in skirts talking to a couple with a dog.

My last zone conference ever! Sister Wilkinson. I LOVE HER.

Charlottetown (technically the view of Cornwall from Charlottetown).

I like Wendy's.

Sister Jungheim and me. I was her STL for a few transfers before she left for Newfoundland, and she just got off the rock, so I got to see her again!

The Amherst sisters!!! Sister Smith and Sister Spencer. I was Sister Smith's STL from the beginning of my mission until I got released, and I love her.

Elder Trent and me (awkward elder/sister photo haha) We served together when I was still in training, and we just saw each other for the first time.

Downtown

Some things never change

Canadian chip flavours...

Travailler, travailler, et travailler.

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY, MALCOLM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you!!!!!

And congratulations to my little sister who submitted her papers last night!!!!! Welcome to the hardest, longest, craziest 10-17 days of your life. You're gonna go nuts by the time it finally comes.

And lastly, congrats to all the returning missionaries at home.... Austin and Bailey! Returned with honour. Nailed it.

Quote of the week:

Elder Dudley (after I read out loud a few sweet comments from people who've read my letters home): "Sister Lewis, even if you're not touching hearts here, you're touching hearts at home."

:|

This week was incredible! Sister Thompson and I have been DYING for new investigators since our companionship started. Dying. We've been talking to hundreds of people every week and it has been rough. I have never fasted so much in my life. And this week, we ended the week with 3 people on date (hopefully it will be at 4 next week, we'll see), several people at sacrament meeting, new investigators, tons of member visits, lots of finding hours... We learned a big lesson on patience and hope. When we have hope and expect that the Lord will fulfill His promises to us, He always blesses us... in His own time. When He wants. I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father, a companion, and a district leader who have helped instill that expectation in me.

Sister Thompson and I have been making more room for the Spirit in our companionship. Here's a story we read recently that was told in Conference in April 2004 that illustrates something very special to me:

"Years ago, my adventurous son Jeff and I found ourselves on an old bus bouncing along on a dirt road in Central America at 1:00 A.M. We took the early, early bus because it was the only bus that day. A half hour later, the driver stopped for two missionaries. When they got on, we asked them where in the world they were going so early. Zone conference! And they were determined to do whatever it took to get there. At 2:00 A.M. two more elders boarded the bus and enthusiastically hugged their fellow missionaries. This scene repeated itself every half hour as the bus climbed the remote mountain road. By 5:00 A.M. we had 16 of the Lord's finest as fellow passengers and were basking in the Spirit they brought on board.

"Suddenly, we stretched to a halt. A massive mud slide had buried the road. Jeff said, 'What do we do now, Dad?' Our friends Stan, Eric, and Allan had the same concern. Just then, the zone leader shouted, 'Let's go, elders. Nothing is going to stop us!' And they scrambled off the bus! We looked at each other and said, 'Follow the elders'" and we all sloshed through the mud slide, trying to keep up with the missionaries. There happened to be a truck on the other side, so we all hopped aboard. After a mile, we were stopped by yet another mud slide. Once again the elders plowed through, with the rest of us close behind. But this time there was no truck. Boldly, the zone leader said, 'We will be where we are supposed to be even if we have to walk the rest of the way.'"

I love the power in the last line- "We will be where we are supposed to be even if we have to walk the rest of the way." I have a testimony of work. I have a firm belief that work solves almost any missionary problem, because I've seen it solve mine--homesickness, negative attitudes, fatigue, discouragement, lack of motivation, stress... The solution for me has always been work.

I have a testimony of overcoming fears about work. I've heard a lot of people's fears about missionary work over the course of my mission, and I've had all the same fears: I don't know how to bring up the gospel, I've talked to everyone I know, I don't want to embarrass them, I don't want want to come across like I think I'm better than them, I want to respect them, I don't want to argue, etc. But I know that when we forget ourselves and go to work, the Lord helps us overcome those weaknesses. When we become what President Leavitt calls a "window person" (someone who looks out towards other people) and [stop being] a "mirror person" ("I feel awkward, I don't want them to think I'm weird"), we're able to be effective tools in the Lord's hands. I have a strong testimony of forgetting ourselves and doing the Lord's work. I have a testimony of not letting my weaknesses get in the way of His work by overcoming them to the best of my ability, and by letting Him make up for my shortcomings. If someone doesn't hear the gospel today, it's not going to be because I didn't work hard enough.

I love you! GO GET A MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE THIS WEEK! And then you can feel the spirit that comes from the attitude, "We will be where we are supposed to be even if we have to walk the rest of the way." Because I can promise that the feeling that comes from being a determined servant of the Lord is better than anything I've ever felt. I've experienced being in a group of missionaries being determined to do what we need to do, and the feeling of forgetting ourselves and overcoming our fears is priceless.

Love,

Sister Lewis

If you stop and talk to them, they have accents and think they're living in 1864....  Impossible to teach them about the restoration.

The district  :(

Saying goodbye to Elder Horner...  He went home on Friday!

More with Elder Horner

It was pouring rain the other day....  Pouring.

Alexander*!  An 11 year old boy in the ward who reminds me of my little brother Calvin.  We have a special friendship.

Companions  :)

Service with a family in the ward, choppin wood!

Barges, I would like to go with you...

Random pictures Sister Thompson sometimes takes of me when I'm not expecting it.