Bowling

Stephanie and Sister Lewis. Stephanie is a recent 8 year old convert that comes with her 11 year old brother. Their parents are not members

Hermano Mite's baptism

Bautismo

Krisina’s new address is

Hermana Krisina Lewis

84-35 108 st #2

Richmond Hill, NY11418

Bautismo		X
	January 30, 2012 10:54 AM

Ya friends and family! Hey another short week has come and gone.  I'm scared to blink because I feel like time is just flying!  Guess WHHATTT!!!!

Miracle #1 for the week!  Hermano Mite went through and got baptized yesterday!  Yes!!!!! It was such a wonderful day filled with lots of love, spirit, and wonderfulness.  I can't remember what I wrote about Hermano Mite last week but to review and clue you in I will give a brief overview.  The familia Mite lives right across the street from us.  They have an 18 year old daughter that lives with them and is a member.  They also have a member daughter in Ecuador and another non-member daughter that lives in Flushing.  Hermano Mite and his wife have been investigating the church for years and I can only imagine the hundreds of prayers that have been said for him and his family over the last couple of years praying for the day when he would finally enter that water! Boo YAh!  The mites were the first investigators that I met when I came to Richmond Hill.  I remember teaching a wonderful lesson with them my first night of the transfer and just thinking afterwards what in the world is going to help them get baptized. I thought to myself "it will take a miracle". Then, Hermana Harry said we have GOT to get the members in there.  That's one thing that I just love about sister harry is that she is all about the members and goes out of her way to make sure she gets them in those lessons.  Anyway so we brought Hermano Carlos Ramirez to the lesson with us the following week. Hermana Harry said every time that she had tried to arrange it before, the member or the investigator had always juked the appointment but this one actually went through. I have never sat in a lesson quite like it.  He is a bold and powerful teacher the spirit was so strong in that lesson you could have cut it with a knife.  It was a really neat experience to be a part of and its experiences like that where you just can't deny the power of God. His conversion story is incredible and I am just amazed at how God gives us our own set of experiences that really are personal and unique for us. He has a way of taking and leading us by the hand. I know it’s real and that God is our father and that this truly is his work.  Anyway long story short,  Hermano Mite accepted the invitation to be baptized for the 29th of January and I just walked out of the lesson thinking God really is a God of miracles.  His power never ceases.  His wife still wouldn't commit to a date but her husband and daughters are both members.  She'll be coming a long soon I believe.  They were in New Jersey all day Saturday and due to different complications didn’t make it back to New York until

Four in the morning.  They still made it to church and he made sure that he was ready for his baptism.  Hermano Ramirez baptized him and it was a really wonderful day for all of us. I played violin for the 'Abide with me" melody and the other missionaries of the ward sang for the musical number.  I feel so privileged and lucky to be a part of that experience.  Hermano mite is going to be wonderful and faithful member and that is just really makes me happy.  To see those true conversions in Christ and people's heart change to see true conversions in Christ.

We also had zone conference this last week.  It was really great and I learned so much.  It's so great how the spirit can teach you so many things as you prepare your heart and mind to receive revelation.  Lunch was really good.  The senior couples prepared a baked potato bar.   We had some training on how to prepare the pathway to baptism and also how to use and recognize the spirit.

The thing that really caught me off guard was when president pulled me aside and nicely reminded me that I would be giving my departing testimony at the end of the meeting.  WEIRD!  I had completely not connected the dots that it was my last zone conference and my last opportunity to say some departing words. It was the first time I actually felt the reality that my mission was not going to last forever settle in. I felt a little overwhelmed and wanted to cry. I didn't have any prepared thoughts so I quickly jotted down some notes.  I was so filled up with different emotions that it was hard for me to express myself.  I'll try and share some of my thoughts that I wrote down and that I felt like have been important to my mission:

I have felt like the course of my mission has been a blessing that I will never ever be able to pay back.  I know that missions are a huge blessing.  I love my mission and I will never forget the sacred and memorable experiences that I have had here in New York.  I have never lived in a more worldy place yet I have never felt closer to my Heavenly Father in all my life.  The streets of New York have become hallowed ground for me; hallowed meaning sacred, consecrated, sanctified, and reverent.  It has taught me that I am a creator of circumstances rather than a creature of circumstances.  I have found the mission to be exactly what I put into it.  Diligence and work reveals capacity.  The mission is Holy because of what you do.

If I could choose 3 things that would make a successful missionary I would choose.

1. Love

2. Desire

3. Attitude

Love is the power to change the heart.  The greatest act of love that has ever been shown is through our savior Jesus Christ.  He is our Eldest Brother who came to redeem all mankind.  The only greater miracle than a conversion in Christ is the atonement Jesus Christ. That is because it is through our savior Jesus Christ and his atonement that we can have a true conversion. I have learned that real conversion comes through repentance.  Average is an enemy to excellence.

Desire is what gives you the drive to reveal capacity.  Desire reveals the path for vision.  When you envision what you want it endows you with power to accomplish your goals.  The mission is built on eternal principles that not only work in the mission but real world scenarios.  As we increase our desire our faith grows and God help us on our mission to accomplish his work.  We are filled with his light and we see miracles. I have learned who my boss is what he is willing to do for me in order for me to complete my job.  I have a pretty cool boss.

Attitude is closely related to accountability.  Accountability represents our ability to become. As we increase our accountability, our capacity will also increase.  Time is one of the most valuable resources we have been given in this life, especially on a mission.  It is how we use our time that makes it really count.  Because of our mantle we are spiritually quickened and we are choosing to form a foundation for the rest of our lives.  It very much forms and shapes what we will do after our mission.

The Lord is not content with sacrifice.  It is about consecrating all that you have.  I have experienced a joy that has been beyond my happiest moments in life.  I believe in the scripture that says, "He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Matt 10:39.  I know that Jesus is the Savior of the world.  He is the only way that we can return to live as part of Gods eternal family.  God will always give us exactly what we need, and not exactly what we want.  There is no doubt in my mind that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he really did restore the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have learned that the book of Mormon has a power and is the most correct book on earth.  I know that God loves us.  As we read the book of Mormon we will find that the spirit is with us and that we become closer to God.  We come to understand our purpose and fill richness to our lives.  I say these things in the name of our savior, Jesus Christ Amen.

~Herman Lewis

Questions answered

Jan 23

Hey mom and family,

How are you all doing?  Sounds like the fireside went well mom and I'm sure it's just crazy busy.  Jael I know you’re a smart chick and despite what you might think you're are going to look back at nursing school and just smile at all the experiences you are having now.

Thanks mom for your questions it is really going to help me direct this letter as I just forget what I've written about in the past and I don't want to bore you all.  hahaha.  Okay so schedule is pretty regular mom.  wake up at 6:30, exercise, get ready, study for 3 hours, go out proselyte come back for an hour and eat lunch go to appointments, go to a members for dinner, and teach more appointments.  return to the house at 9 plan get ready for bed, journal, pray, sleep 10:30.  Hahaha No but seriously that's what I do.  But for exercise Sister Harry is a big runner which is good for me.  It's been hard to run everyday lately because it's getting colder and it finally snowed here in New York.  I can't believe we are in almost February and it just barely came to the first snow storm.  It was beautiful and I kept Sister Harry entertained while I played in the snow and made snow angels along the way as we were finding and contacting people.  It made it a little more fun and people were curious about we two happy young girls.  Over my mission I've changed between running, the mission workout guide, p90x, yoga, taichi, stretching, plyo, etc.  I didn't think I could survive w/o a gym but I’ve learned how to manage just fine.  Doesn't mean I'm not excited to go back to the Sports Mall.  I love study time!  It is just the nourishment for the day.  I love personal study.  Studying as a missionary has really taught me a lot on how to study.  mmm... imagine that.  You think I would have learned that in college or something but no I feel like my study habits have improved a lot.  Companionship study is so awesome I love it. Sister Harry and I have brains that function in completely opposite ways so it is cool to see how our brains come up with different solutions that both work well and it helps us make a good team and find new insights.  She is a living scripture master and knows her scriptures so well. Yes I'm still using the CD's you sent me for Christmas.  I finally sent that package home that I told you I was going to send like a month ago, today.  It has that recording as promised in one of the CD cases.  Hope you can tell what I'm playing.

Right now we are doing a lot of finding.  We are however teaching a part member family right now from Ecuador.  They have an 18 year old daughter who is a member and her parents are progressing right now.  They have been investigating for quite some time but the members have really been helping recently.  Pray that Hermana M opens her heart and not only has the desire to be baptized but that she will act on her own desires despite the actions of her husband.

We are also teaching a young man from Paraguay.  He is a living example of faith and conviction.  He is the only one from his family in the states.  I haven’t met too many people from Paraguay in these parts so it makes it hard as far as fellowshipping purposes.  He has made significant changes in his life and I really admire all his righteous desires.  Hermana Harry and sister Fifeild talked to him on the side of the street one day and it was just like a scene from a movie as sister Fifeild contacted him and told him she had a book for him that would change his life.  He, in an enthusiastic sort of way, said great!  And she pulled out a beautifully wrapped Book of Mormon out of her bag which they had wrapped for Christmas.  Thanks!  I'm going to read this!  And ran for a taxi cab and jumped in just like in the movies.  Sister Fifeild and Hermana Harry had the opportunity once to teach him before I came and now we've been teaching him for the last few weeks.  He is amazing.  He is through Jacob now and his testimony is just exploding.  Since really starting to read the book of Mormon he has quit drinking coffee, alcohol, quit smoking, and broke up with his not so chaste girlfriend.  He really has a desire to follow God and always is prepared for his appointments.  First week into the transfer Sister Harry and I sat down in his living room with the member we had brought.  He runs into the kitchen and back with a small white box in his hand and throws it at Sister Harry and says, here I'm done with these.  We look down to see that he has given us his cigarettes.  He says, “I'm quitting.”  We hadn't even taught him the Word of Wisdom yet.... uh... legit! We had mentioned that he would have to give it up eventually but it was the perfect way to start off the lesson that we were about to teach on Word of Wisdom. lol.  The legit concern he has expressed to us now and that we are fervently praying about is this:  He feels good with his new life.  He knows that it is the way that God wants him to live.  He also knows that the Book of Mormon is true and has a testimony of the church.  He has made so many drastic changes in his life in the last month.  That it has also isolated him from his entertainment and network of friends.  He can't socialize with those people he used to spend time with because he doesn’t live their lifestyle anymore.  He likes the church and the people but doesn't feel quite like he fits in yet.  He knows he needs to keep going but knows that he shouldn't have to always feel alone and sad in order to do what is right.  I think it is a very legit concern and so we talked about how the gospel is a way for us to find happiness.  After every trial in life comes a large abundance of blessings.  Faith is the ability to look past the darkness and continue on to the light in the future.  It's hard to make life changes by ourselves, practically impossible but that is the reason we have a savior that lifts us up and puts us back on our feet.  Through his love and grace can we be made whole and not only make those changes but feel the love and feel cleansed from sin and guilt.  Ariel has a good heart and I believe in him a lot.  He has been one of those many people in my life who has showed me just how much the atonement affects each and every one of our lives.  The atonement is real and cleans us from the inside out.  I love it.  I'll keep you posted on him and let you know how he progresses.  With God all things are possible.  Pray that God will answer his prayers and that he will have the faith and desire to follow through on the goals he has set for himself.

We were teaching this wonderful cute family of 3.  Noemi is the mom and she came to church my first week.  She is really awesome but she got verbally attacked by one of the less active crazy members in the gospel principles class when she asked a weird question.  She studied with the Jehovah Witness before her mission and so it has been a little difficult to straighten out some of her doctrines.  She got pretty hurt and won’t let us come back which has been a pity.  She was sweet!  Members have such an important influence!  For good and for bad!  Remember even though we as members may not be the church; we still have a huge impact on how the church is viewed.  The majority of people don't know how to separate the 2.

We are also teaching this man named Charbyl.  He is the one that calls me Hermana Hermana.  He is the husband of one of the members in the ward.  She is from Argentina and he is from Costa Rica.  He talks a lot but we definitely always have a good story to tell afterwards.  I like him and he seems to be progressing.  He came to church last week and is reading in the book which is saying more than most.

Dad, yesterday we went over and visited this family.  They are from Chile.  They fed us hot dogs but they put stuff and expect you to put stuff on your hot dogs I’ve never even heard of before.  It was actually pretty good though.  I've never seen someone put so much mayonnaise on one dog in my whole life.  But I do like avocado with hot dogs I decided.  Pretty good.  They don't eat the regular type of hot dogs either I guess it's more similar to a sausage.  Their daughter is not a member and she is going to be a toughie to crack her shell but her mom finally converted after 4 years of back and forth.  Her dad is a solid rock in the church and has his own conversion story that would just blow your socks.  I think that is one of my favorite parts of serving my mission is hearing the conversion story of members.

Did I tell you about Hrna Paiz from Brentwood?  Her conversion story was one that is like from a movie.  She had been inactive from the Catholic Church and had attended several evangelical and Christian churches in the mean time.  One morning she woke up and she felt strongly that she needed to return to church and so she started praying to God to help her find the one that he would have her go to.  She hadn't ever been to church in the states since she had left Guatemala.  She lived with her marido and kids at this time.  A couple of weeks later she was at the laundry mat and she saw the Elders.  They looked at her and walked straight towards her.  She said it was kind of weird because out of all the many people she felt like they had just chosen her specifically.  They introduced themselves as the Elders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  As soon as she knew who they were, (get this) she says, I've been waiting for you Elders.  I prayed to God that he would send you to me.  What is this message you have to teach me?  Can you imagine contacting someone while doing your laundry and having them basically tell you they know the Lord sent you to them and they want to listen /follow the message that you share?  Ya legit and I am going to find an investigator like Hermana Paiz. As you can imagine she was baptized a few weeks later.  Baptism included changes in her life like getting married to her partner and living the word of wisdom.  Converts have amazing stories that just strengthen me so much. 

The Elders are really awesome in this district.  We work together as a team pretty well.  We had a street sweep by the train station the other day when it snowed.  We made hot chocolate, set out DVDs, movies, pamphlets, and cards for people passing in the steet.  We have them sign up with their information and then we make a visit to their home and give them a lesson along with their free DVD.  It's one method of finding new investigators.  Our bishop is also really awesome and really supports us missionaries in our efforts.  We had a huge meeting yesterday with all the different branches of leadership for the ward and he told them we got to organize our efforts for the mission work and we came up with a sweet plan which will have a chain effect and really help the whole ward grow as a whole and be strengthened.  Good things are going down.  And yes I am still the pianist.  I can't tell you how handy it has come to have those piano skills.

Mom, I am so tickled that we are planning a trip back here to NY.  I want you to come with me for sure.  It would be tight to have Jac and her mom come along.  We could go down and visit Virginia as well. That would be sweet!  Jac did you know Tatiana and Cisco went to Colombia for a vacation?  Well at least Tatiana did.  She should be coming back soon though.  Um, and yes whoever else wants to come is welcome.  I'll just tell you now... the more people we bring the harder it will be to find room for all of us. Houses in New York for the most part are compact and inconvenient for large groups of people but I'm down for whatever .  I would love to take a trip up to Palmyra and upstate New York to do some church history.  If you wanted to mom we could even go to Maine for a couple of days to see Abby and Curtis.? That's an idea.  April sounds great to come back and visit.  That will be springtime and not super cold.  I just want to go before my birthday in May so I can be easy either way.  I love you so much mom and fam! You are the best!  Mom , also if you could kind of keep your eyes open for any job prospects.  I'm probably going to have to get one of those when I get home. Weird... normal life.  I don't even know what that means anymore.  Okay mom you know I love you to infinity and beyond! Can't beat that!  You all rock. Peace love and blessings upon your heads. Have a wonderful week.   

Richmond Hill

January 16, 2012

I really am trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Marissa is home from her mission.  She left like right before me.  That so weirds me out.  Tell her I wish her the very best.  Anyway this week for me was really good.  Really fun and i feel like it was a good week well spent.

Sister Harry and I are making a great team out here in good old Richmond Hill.  We seemed to meet a few new people that seemed open to baptism and then we have a couple of other investigators that seem to be progressing along nicely.  I would be tickled pink to see them follow through on their desire to be baptized and make those necessary changes in their life.  We have quite a few permigators that we are sorting through right now.  Permigators are just permanent investigators; ones that have been investigating the church for years on end and don't seem to be making any progress.  I'm not a huge fan of working of them so we are going to see which ones of them are ready to make a commitment right now and then leave the others for missionaries in the future.  you know, I'm really surprised at how much my missionary view has changed over the course of my mission.  At first I thought you were preparing all these people towards the step of baptism but the longer I am in the mission the more I realize that's really not the case.  Sure, you teach them a few new gospel principles but really who's work is this? God's. Who's been preparing them to receive the message of the gospel for years on end? God.  Do we really do it? NO.  So our job is to be the worthy diligent missionary so that we can be a part of the great work he has prepared for us to be a part of.  Sometimes it's easy said then done and there are different lessons that we have to learn along the way but it works out well. Remember D&C 4 about the field is ripe already to harvest?  Ya we are here to harvest the souls that have grown to full maturity and are prepared.  So don't waste time on the tares or the unripe wheat. I am just amazed at the faith that some of these people have and their desires.  Desire and faith all work together to make this great product.  CONVERTS!

Funny thing.  So earlier this week we got all lost and ended up wandering in this sketchy area.  No worries nothing happened but I was actually surprised at how much of a difference a little bottle of mace makes.  Did I tell you President Nelson bought all the sisters pepper spray and gave it to us in a red stocking and a book of Mormon for Christmas?  Not that ANY of us have actually ever had to use it but I think it just shows what a good sense of humor President has.  But I was grateful for it earlier in the week.  Never even came close to using it but it was nice for the ride. 

Well, I spoke again in church for sacrament meeting yesterday with sister Harry and then our ward correlator, Hermano Caceres.  He is a returned misisonary from Argentina.  He is now grown up with kids and family but he helps us out quite a bit.  I spoke on testimony.  Hermana Harry spoke on what is a testimony and how we can recognize it.  Then I talked about what we do with that testimony and why god gives it to us.  I related the whole thing back to missionary work.  I talked about the different testimonies we have in the scriptures.  I gave the specific example of Job.  All that he went through and all that he suffered.  After all that he suffered through he said I will always confide and trust in the one true god because I know my redeemer lives.  His testimony took him through the end and he shared that where ever he went.  I talked again about how when we receive that testimony and love for god we have a desire to share and build up the kingdom of god.  I talked about different ways that elder Perry told us we can go about it from the general conference talk.  It was good.  I have such a different view of what I should be doing as a member after I get home. So much work to do people!  Get on board!

Mom, thanks for updating my blog.  I actually get a lot of random people that tell me they read it every now and again.  More people than you would think so it all works out good.  I got your letter you sent me this week.  I didn't even know a lot of those things about grandma.  She was one talented lady. 

Man, this whole emailing thing is getting boring I don't know exactly what to write any more.  I'm over it.  Anyway, I love you much tell the family I said hello.  We have a zone activity today so I 'm going to jet.  Mom, write me a  list of questions that you want me to write about next week.  I guess it will make the email a little bit more entertaining.

Back in Queens

January 9, 2012

Well, do you want to know something ironic?  I am sitting at the same computer lab right now that I was my very first p-day when i was in Rego Park. Bah!  Crazy huh?  Yes i am back in Queens!  While I am not serving in the same ward I cover the area that happens to be closest to it which is the zone right above and this just happens to be the same area.  So I was dead wrong.  I am not going to be serving in Brooklyn in my mission life but ya know what I love Queens and I'm happy to be here.  You'll never guess who my new companion is. Well sort of, I mean she was my companion before.  President is so funny and he keeps switching things up on me.  Hermana Harry is my comp. yet again.  Yes good Hermana Alyson Harry from Surprise Arizona that is going to law school after the mission.  It's really fun to be with her.  She tells me that i've gotten a little bit crazier since last time she saw me but rather than that every thing is about the same.  I told her the only reason I'm crazy is because I've been with sister gray the last 12 weeks of my life.  So ya, I'm serving in Good old Richmond Hill in Queens. It's cool to see how the geography and demographic change so dramatically from area to area.  Here there seems to be a lot of Honduran.  Which makes me think of the Mendoza's. there are quite a few people from Argentina and Chile as well which is new.  I haven't found that in any of my other parts.  My district leader is actually from chile, Elder Albornoz? No don't worry dad he's not from your mission he is from further up north.  I've already tried to find a connection with your mission somehow though. It's not quite so concentrated with Hispanics as some of my other areas.  There are a lot of people from Gayana which makes it hard because if they don't look straight Indian they look Hispanic because it's down there in the south American continent but they don't speak a lick of Spanish.   It's great to be back in the city and walking around.  It makes me feel good.  You want to know something else that I realized I love doing now?  I've missed contacting people on buses and trains.  I never thought I would get to that point but I actually enjoy it now.  Call me weird if you want, I know the people in New York think I'm crazy but it's good for them and its good for the work too.

So lets see, I'll start with Monday.  Monday was my last day in Brentwood.  It was really hard to leave the people that i love so much but you know, always good and great things in the future with new adventures.  Monday Ray & Wendy Fam took Sister Gray and I to dinner to get Mexican tacos that have become Hermana Gray and my favorite food.  The were super ricisimo!  I gave them that reflections of christ with a note in the front.  Mom they loved it.  Wendy was crying and it was just a sweet experience all around.  We had a FHE at Bishop and Hermana Duran's house with the Mendozas, Majanos, Lopez, Justo, and the missionaries.  It was some of my favorite people and we had a great lesson on eternal families and the importance of testimonies.  I said my final good bye's and such.  Even Ray teared up when he realized it was our last good bye's.

Tuesday at transfer meeting we had some sweet excitement going on.  We got two new Spanish sisters in the mission and guess who are training the new sisters?  Hermana Jasso and Hermana Nelson.  They are training at the same time!  That's so fun I think.  In the mission there is some mission lingo about training and they become your kids.  So  for instance Hermana Jasso and Nelson are both mi hijas.  Since they both are training that means I'm a grandma! x2! Bah!  I was super excited for them.  Sister Nelson is training in Dyker Heights which is where i wanted to go which is cool and Hermana Jasso is training in Rego Park just like I trained her which is also kind of special.  The 2 sisters that just came in are really awesome and I'm really excited for both of them.  I'll try and send you the family picture that we took at transfer meeting.

My first part of the week we were actually living in Jamaica because one of the senior couples was occupying our pad until their permanent residence was ready.  It was fun because the Jamiaca Pad is the pad that Hermana Jewkes and Hermana Robinson were in before they finished their mission so it made me feel close to Hermana Jewkes again.  She is so awesome and the zone leaders where telling me funny stories about those 2 sisters and their chino ball stories in the morning.   We had a really pretty outlook from our balcony in the apartment complex.  It was just really far from our area so we moved back to the regular area Saturday.  It's right in our area and it s close to the church so it makes it convenient for travel purposes.  This pad is one of the nicest that I've lived in.  It's 2 levels and  very spacious.  It's only me and sister harry so we have a lot of room on our hands.  It's not an apartment complex but an actual house old time house and so it has the home feel to it.  We even have our own washer and dryer.  I haven't done wash in my own pad since I lived in Utah over a year ago.  I have forgotten how convenient it is not to have to go to the laundry mat.  We have a Senior couple that lives on below us in the house, the Squires. they are wonderful people and so fun.  Mom, sister Squires reminds me of you and I think you will be just like her in about 10 years when you and dad go on your missions.  She is fun, bubbly, she served her mission in Argentina and so she speaks Spanish and helps us sister sometimes with lessons.

The only hard part about this week was the news of Grandma.  Mom & fam I hope you are doing well.  I knew it was coming and so it wasn't a huge shock when president called but it was still pretty emotional for me. President was really sweet. He took some time to let me talk to him and asked me about grandma.We are so lucky to have him as mission president. He is a great guy. You know me, I just tried to bush it off and tried not to let it sound like it affected me much and then I made Sister Harry do the dirty work and put her arm around me while I let it all out after being chipper on the phone. Death is more of one of those steps in life and grandma was so ready.  There aren't very many women like grandma.  Aunt Cheryl wrote me a really sweet not a couple of weeks ago about what a great woman grandma is.  A woman with character and morals.  It's true. Grandma is a woman who has changed many lives for the better. She lived a very full and rewarding life. I'm sure Heavenly Father has very special blessings prepared for her up there. How are you doing mom?  Know that you are in my prayers and that I love you.  Grandma's in the right place and she is doing what she needs to be doing right now.  I send all my love to you guys and the rest of the family today.  I hope that the funeral and the viewing go well.  Let me know how it goes.   I love you mom, and i know that your mom is proud of you too!  Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.

Well to leave on a happy note do you want to hear my funny story of the week? So there is this member named Marisa Martinez from Argentina in our ward.  Her husband, Charbyl isn't a member and he is from Costa Rica.  He is funny. I'll just tell you that.  So sister Harry had scheduled an appointment earlier in the week to go and visit him.  We go over there and Hermana Martinez has made us these delicious empanadas de carne and costa rican jugo de pina ( pineapple juice) and we sit down with her and her husband.  He has talked with Hermana Simplicio and Fifeild before and had a pretty good time with them.  He is a professional singer and he has his own studio works a little complicated schedule. Anyway so he's getting ready and first thing he does to greet us when we meet is goes in for the Latino kiss.  I naturally duck like always and he thinks i'm weird and I calmly explain to him the sister don't greet the guys with the regular custom.  All you spanish sisters know exactly what I'm talking about as far as the guys that go in for "the kiss". Anyway he is very outgoing and has a loud personality.  He has these long locks of curly black hair that casually bounce around as he razzes me a little for not wanting to greet him with standard typical hispanic way.  So then we introduce ourselves as Hermana Harry and Hermana Lewis.  He gets Hermana Harry's name fine but for some reason mine just isn't clicking with him so he asks me what my first name is.  Not only do I not tell people my first name but much less can they even say it when I tell them. I'm so  glad the mission uses last names instead of first names.  Otherwise my name would be slaughtered even more that it was before. i can only imagine... lol. Anyway so I tell him my first name is Hermana.  He rolls his eyes asks me no but seriously.  And I say no but seriously.  So then we get into the lesson and he says the opening prayer and in his prayer he says this in spanish, "Please bless the non kissing hermanas en their journey and wherever they may go.'  Bah!  I was having a hard time during the pray and tried not to laugh but I could only help but smile.  Charbyl then explained to me after the prayer that I shouldn't find it humorous because God only wants to hear the true thoughts of our hearts and feelings. So that's exactly what he does.  So now he calls me Hermana Hermana instead of hermana Lewis but he should be a interesting character to teach.  The non kissing hermanas.  Yes, charbyl that is right.  All the cool things there are to learning about the church that would be one of them. :)

Anyway I love you all Tell Marissa i said hello.  I hope you all have a wonderful week filled with much love and miracles.

All my love,  Hermana Lewis