Que Honda familia?!
Hey wow, so right when you start to get comfortable with an idea the whole scenery starts to change once again. God has a way of keeping you on your toes. I know that this is the all part of the growing process. Yet sometimes I wonder.... lol. Last thing I was expecting was President to call me up for another interview on Friday. He has asked me to train another greeny for this upcoming transfer and train once again. So Hermana Jasso will be headed to Midwood to serve with Sister Lambert. My greeny isn't going to be a native this time so it is going to be a little bit different with different challenges. It's going to be cool to serve in this area for another transfer. I told president my hesitancies for training again but he told me he was feeling good about it and that it was exactly where he needed me right now. So I said fine. He then made a joke and told me I could take sister banszhevsky's spot if I wanted to. They are blinding her into a new area and having her train a greeny as well. I told him no thanks, I'll pass and I'll stick with what i have got :) It's nice because I've started getting some ties to the members and they are starting to feel more like family and they are starting to take better care of me as well.
Oooo, I've got something to tell speaking of members. The Ovalle family is going to Utah this week for their daughter's wedding. Hermano Ovalle offered to take a package for me for you guys. So I sent home some pictures, treats and scarves for you chillens. I gave him your address and numbers so he should be calling you guys up sometime this week. You might invite him and his family over for dinner or something. They speak english too so you don't have to be worried there. They are from Guatemala. Hermana Ovalle works in Utah in West Valley? So they aren't too far from us. They should be in Utah at the end of this week and then staying for another week. Hermano Ovalle also offered to bring back anything if you want to send anything. I'm trying to think of something that I need from Utah that I can't get here. I thought of a couple of things that I really would like that I can get here but are just going to take time to order. First, I want a Gospel Principles Book/Manuel in Spanish (Principios del Evangelio), I also want to find a copy of "Special Witnesses of Christ" DVD. I like to use it when I teach about living prophets. Then they can watch the DVD about Thomas Monson and actually kind of see what he looks like and what he talks about. Something around those lines.
The other cool thing that happened at church the other day is that Tatiana Morales and her husband moved back to Rego Park this month from Virginia so they are back. She is literally one of the answers to my prayers. They absolutely love Hermana Cowley and so it has automatically opened their arms for me. What a great blessing and she is so wonderful. I asked her how jaci is and what the ward was like in Virginia. She said it was good and that Hermana Cowley is a fabulous missionary. I asked her about her language and Hermana Cowley is doing with the language. She said at the beginning of her mission it was hard but that she speaks pretty much perfect now :) I tell myself there is hope for my future :) Tatiana and I exchanged information and she is going to try and come out with us this week. I am excited! She is awesome and I seriously miss Hermana Cowley so stinkin much! It is weird to think we really aren't that far away and that we are doing the same work right now. Tatiana said Hermana Cowley mentioned that we were going to do a road trip after our missions and hit Virginia, and New York. I'm so down for that Idea
As for the work. There were a few things that happened that were really good. The Lord has blessed us with a lot of people that are investigating and that I really like teaching. The only problem is that they aren't progressing as fast as I would like them too. I'm not sure if it is a thing that just needs a little bit more time or if it is something that means we should drop and look for someone more prepared. It's hard to know.
Javier, Kathi,and Austin- They are so fun to teach. They like us teaching them in English because Austin doesn't speak enough spanish to really understand what we are talking about. They have good desire to learn an dwant more in their life. They have a lot of problems with the word of wisdom though and it's one of the things that is separating their family. They just lost a family member this last week so they were really busy with the funeral and family stuff so we weren't able to meet with them but hopefully we will see them this week. We are also teaching one of their in laws that lives in the same apartment complex. His name is Alfonso and he is a friend of a ward member and so he has been listening in that sense. Ward members are the best to teach with! I love it! I think it is a brilliant system #1. They just bear such powerful testimony #2. It brings a built in support system for when the investigator gets baptized. #3. Even though I have the gift of tongues sometimes I just feel like the natives are able to explain the concept better and clarify.
Jonathan- Mom thanks for your letter! I haven't given it to Jonathan yet but I think that he is really going to like it. I really liked it. A lot! He didn't come to church this last week but he did come to members homes with us this last week including a noche de hogar which is really good. We had a really good time at the Arguello's home with him. We had an appointment with another investigator right after and Jonathan ended up coming with us to that too. We have started teaching Altagracia and Tairis again. They are super awesome. We teach them English first. Jonathan helped sister Jasso and I teach english. That was kind of fun. Not going to lie Altagracia really struggles with the whole concept of English but Jonathan was able to do a lot better job helping her form the vowels than I ever have been. I guess it's because he had to learn it himself a few months back. We also watched the restoration video with them that night. We couldn't get the menu to switch to Spanish so it's a good thingJonathan was there becuase then he translated it for us. Really don't know if that lesson would have gone down without his help. He just needs to get baptized already! To me I relate him to the story of Alma. A person that is truely changed by the love and atoning sacrifice of the savior and once they find the fire and the testimony they go on a mission and convert thousands. I could totally see that for Jonathan. It's a continual up and down process yet I believe deep down that for the record at some point it is going to happen. lol. Pray that he gets a really good job soon that he doesn't ever have to work Sundays. I know that is a big stressor for him right now. He's been out of work for a few months and money is getting tight.
Frank, Altagracia, and Tairis- We were walking around this week and I really wanted to go look up altagracia. We stopped visitiing them back in the holidays because of the workschedule eof Altagracia. Altagracia hasn't been answering our phonecalls or anything. So I felt like one day we should go over there and look her up. Then we went over, knocked, and nothing. I was writing a card to leave with saying we had stopped by when the door slowly creaked open and behind the door stood altagracia. I couldn't believe how happy my heart was to see her. So we went in and taught her and then she invited us back for another week. She was really bummed though that sister stephens wasn't with us anymore.
Mildred and her mom Francisca- Seriously this past week I was able to be a part of one of the best lessons I have ever been a part of. I loved it so much! It was right after sister Jasso found out she was being transferred. She was super sad but it gave her a little kick to give it her all in the lessons that we had left together and she kicked trash man! It was one of those lessons where the investigators had tears in their eyes and the spirit was really there. The ONLY thing that could have made it better is if we could have gotten that commit for baptism that we have been searching for from them. They are super nice to us though and I think the lessons we have for them are phenomenal. I just want them to come to church and to join the church for the things that they know are true!
Isaac Morales- Met him this transfer. He is very open and has a lot of interesting views. Honestly I don't know if he is all there but he has a sincere desire to change and called us becuase he wants to know what the mormons have to offer. We stopped by his house this week and he wasn't there. We left him a card and found out that night that he is in the hospital. Back in dec. I guess he had stomach cancer and so they had to remove his stomach and everything else with it. So now he doesn't have a stomach and his intestines have some extra space to float around. What had happened is that his intestine had formed a knot and was cutting off circulation. So they had to cut him open and remove that part of the intestine and get him all untwisted. He's been really sick. We didn't know any of this, Yet sister Jasso kept saying hey are we by Isaac? We need to go see Isaac. I didn't see a lot of potential in Isaac as far as a baptism goes but knew it would be nice to see him but by no means were we close to his area. Later we were walking by Kathi and Javiers when she said it again and i said no we aren't there. But then we both got thinking and we realized we were walking by the hospital and we decided to go in and see if there was a patient there by the name of Isaac Morales. Sure enought there was. He was in the intensive care surgical unit and they told us that we could go up. cool huh? Ya he was really sick and he was really glad to see us. He asked us if we had another church magazine we could have. Ironically we had a visited a Less active who had randomly given us a Ensign to give to one of our investigators of whoever we wanted. It worked out perfectly. To me it was just a witness that you both recieve revelation for the companionship and it is very important to follow and be united in purpose.
Mom, sister Jasso has one of her friends post all her letters home on her blog. it is this... sisterjasso.blogspot.com You can keep up on her newsdates here. I think you should keep writing her inspiring things throughout her mission even though we aren't going to tbe comps anymore.
Mom, Dad, Happy Anniversay! I'm so happy for both of you! And very glad yo uwere married so I could be a part of this great fam! Have fun in Japan in a couple of weeks! I'm so excited! don't forget to take lots of pictures and to mail me something cool! :)So yo ustill going to Japan even though that big disaster happened over there? Oh guess what else dad? I had cherry Blossom herbal tea this last week from a little chinese store. Made me thing of you going to see the cherry blossoms in Japan in a little bit.
Anyway, love you much! Cuidase!
con amor,
Hermana Lewis
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Que pex
How you doing? I love you all so much. I appreciate all the letters, love, and support. This week has been pretty crazy. I wish I had a ton of time to write but p-day is ending in like 20 minutes.
The highlight of my week was mission conference with Bishop Edgely from presiding bishopbric, Elder Rasband from the quorum of the 70, and the Apostle Elder Neil Anderson. It was pretty tight. I got to shake all of their hands and talk to them a little bit. Scripture they used 3 Nephi 18:24. Relate it to the statue of liberty and Jesus Christ. I really think that the mission and the experiences you get to be a part of are awesome.
Mom I need you to do me a favor. Can you please send me my USB/jump drive? I think it is in that spare bedroom in the armwhah? I just am doing some organization of the area and I need something to back my paperwork on. It would be nice to save the templates and stuff.
We 've been teaching this really cute single mom named Jessica and her little boy Justin. Justin practically can't wait to jump in the baptismal font and wants it so bad but his mom is a little bit more hesitant. She has a lot of changes to make in her life but she wants to change which is the first step right?
Well I know this email is so short! I'm so sorry! I'll be better next week promise. I love you and feel eternally grateful for the family God has given me. I don't think I could be more fortunate. You know the mission isn't just about coming to help others on their journey towards God, but you get to benefit from the journey too as you do it right. My outlook has completely changed on the blessings I enjoy in my life. I love you all and pray for you. Mom thanks for your letters to me and Jasso. They are much appreciated. You are light to all those that get to be around and interact with you. I hope you know how much I love you and the gratitude I have for you. Take care and make the world a better place
All my love,
Hermana Lewis
The highlight of my week was mission conference with Bishop Edgely from presiding bishopbric, Elder Rasband from the quorum of the 70, and the Apostle Elder Neil Anderson. It was pretty tight. I got to shake all of their hands and talk to them a little bit. Scripture they used 3 Nephi 18:24. Relate it to the statue of liberty and Jesus Christ. I really think that the mission and the experiences you get to be a part of are awesome.
Mom I need you to do me a favor. Can you please send me my USB/jump drive? I think it is in that spare bedroom in the armwhah? I just am doing some organization of the area and I need something to back my paperwork on. It would be nice to save the templates and stuff.
We 've been teaching this really cute single mom named Jessica and her little boy Justin. Justin practically can't wait to jump in the baptismal font and wants it so bad but his mom is a little bit more hesitant. She has a lot of changes to make in her life but she wants to change which is the first step right?
Well I know this email is so short! I'm so sorry! I'll be better next week promise. I love you and feel eternally grateful for the family God has given me. I don't think I could be more fortunate. You know the mission isn't just about coming to help others on their journey towards God, but you get to benefit from the journey too as you do it right. My outlook has completely changed on the blessings I enjoy in my life. I love you all and pray for you. Mom thanks for your letters to me and Jasso. They are much appreciated. You are light to all those that get to be around and interact with you. I hope you know how much I love you and the gratitude I have for you. Take care and make the world a better place
All my love,
Hermana Lewis
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Baubtizaron! Felicidades!
Woot Woot! Sweet week man so miracle story for the day! Sister Jasso and I had our first 2 baptisms this last Saturday! So cool! I wanted to write about them last week but was short on time and wanted to make a good narration. So this is the Story of Antonio Infante and Oilver Gonzalas.
Most decisions that are worth anything take courage in this life. Such was the case for Antonio and Oilver. They escaped from Cuba some number of years ago from their communist country. They set out in a little boat where they rowed for hours by hand to escape and go unnoticed by the searching coastgaurd in the middle of the night. They were stranded in the middle of the ocean without any food and very little water for 7 days. A yacht found them a week later and resued them from dying and took them the rest of the way to America where they have been living in Miami for an odd amount of years. They decided together that they wanted to start over and start their lives a new and start over in Canada. They made their way up the country and stopped in New York when they found out that they needed visa's to enter Canada. So they called up the only family they had in New York, The Pena family. The Pena's are members in our ward. Hermano is less active but his wife is one of my favorite lady's in the ward and she always feeds us sisters good food now and again when we are in the area. They asked the pena's if they could stay with them while they waited for their visa's. So remember that SuperDomingo I told you about a few weeks back? Well that went down 3 weeks ago from last Sunday and Oilver and Antonio happened to come to New York for that weekend so the Pena's brought them to church with them. They really enjoyed the lesson on the restoration and the following tuesday my companion and I had a appointment cancel. We felt prompted to go over to Hermana Pena's to find out more about the 2 cousins that were staying with her. We sat down with her and she said ya they want to learn more and so we said great, when can we teach them. She said well, I'll call them right now. So she called them up and the 2 men were so excited that we were there they ran all the way from junction blvd and a normal 15 minute walk took them about 5. So we taught them the plan of salvation on the spot. We talked about baptism and how we all need baptism by someone with the proper authority to be exalted into the celestial Kingdom. We talked about how God's set the way for us to return back to live him but its was their walk with God and their testimonies could be obtained through their humble prayer and study. That was that. Antonio is the younger one. Probably in his 30's and Oilver is in his 50's. Antonio 's desire started and was really strong from the beginning. He had never been religious before to any extent or been baptized before and Oilver had a broader knowledge and as we explained things to him his knowledge and desire grew as well. So we started teaching on that Tuesday and Wednesday they committed to a date for baptism for the end of the month. We taught them every day for the past 3 weeks straight. They are so stinking awesome. Rock solid and they just make my little heart so proud. They were golden. I just couldn't believe how easy they were. People always say the baptisms they have they don't do anything. Sister Jasso and I felt so blessed. We had prayed for a baptismal goal that we were working for this transfer and we said 2 this month. God so blessed us to reach that goal and to start our missions together in the right way. What a great and rewarding day it was. They didn't have any problems with any of the commandments. The only thing they even had to change was stop drinking coffee but they gave it up over night. No big deal. They were baptized on Saturday and confirmed the following day on Sunday.
It was so interesting to talk to them after the baptism. All of the sudden we had this deep connection to each other. They had been in search of a new life and a change to start over. Little did they know that they were going to find it while they were waiting for their visa's in New York. Then they also told us that a few days after we started teaching them they found out that they didn't need visa's afterall to enter Canada. So they just decided to wait till after they were baptized to continue on their way. They wanted their baptism to be with family and people that they consider family and friends. They are going to keep in touch with us and then the missionaries in canada can continue teaching them and find the ward they will be going to over there and such. It is so crazy how the lord prepares the way for the people that are sukpposed to be at a certain time at a certain place. i'm very grateful for the opportunity that we had to teach these awesome Cubans! I know that God simply used us as the instruments and it could have been any missionary. Yet it was Antonio y Oilver's time. Whahoo!!!!! Woot Woot Woot! And such a rich experience to be a part of. I'm sad they are leaving soon but hopefully we will keep in touch and I told them they have to come to utah some day to see all the Mormons. lol.
The rest of our investigators look weak next to Antonio y Oilver but they are doing good. Napoleon y Yolanda are there. We only get to see them about once a week because they are so dang busy with work here. That's the thing with new york is that the people Siempre ALWAYS are running and ALWAYS working. Very little time to listen or make time for God. Don't you think that's a little bit of an oxymoron? To busy for God? So many people do it though. I think it is an eye opener for me. Napoleon and Yolanda did refer us to their sister in law though that is a member. She used to run the whole ward over in Ecuador but then she moved to New York and married a Catholic and hasn't been back since. So, we wnet over and met her this week. She is really awesome and was super nice to us. She would like to come back to church and so we are going to work with her. I don't know what it is with people and not wanting to make the effort to church. Granted you can't walk a couple of blocks like you can ever corner in Utah but if I can do they can do it right? WE even leave our house at 7 in the morning to go and get these people so that we can make it to church by 9am. So that I can make it to be the ward pianist for the ward. She is cool though and maybe we can get napoleon, yolanda, Juanita ( the member), and her catholic husband coming to church. How sweet would that be?
Jonathan is doing good. He is so up and down. This is the thing about sin. Yes you have a greater knowledge of what there is to experience. You understand the importance of opposition and you can experience first hand the consesuences yet once you experience it, it is that much harder not to fall back into it. Change is a hard process. yes we have the atonment of Jesus Christ, yes it really does work and yes it really does change you as a person but that doesn't make it easy and it takes more effort than if you never did it in the first place. It takes work, perseverance, and an obnoxious amount of tedious concientiousness of doing the little things like reading and praying every single day! I feel for him and with all my heart I so know he is capable of doing it with all my heart. Some of the other investigators we drop but he's different and he's going to make it. We just need to get him some good solid roots in the ward so that after we leave he is secured in the ward so he won't fall. His next big task is going to learn how to love and to trust other people.
Mildred and her mom Fransisca are sweet. They were a member referral from the broncs. We have been teaching them with members and it has been really good but we are having a hard time getting her to come back to church. She has been once but she works the night before and she always feels so tired. She likes what we are teaching her and always enjoy's our visits but she isn't willing to change. I'm thinking something must not be clicking because true doctrine understood changes behavior.
Found jessica and her son justin from the Elders. She is cool. Lived a crazy life in the past but is in a place where she wants to change. She is awesome. Her son justin is practically begging to jump in the font. She has some work to do though. I"m wondering if we could get justin involved with some awesome kids in the ward his age. He is only 10 but he seems so much older to me. You can tell he has had to experience and deal with a lot coming from a disfunctional home.
We were invited by one of the Sr. couples Elder and Sister Heinhold to their home for an FHE this last week. They wanted us to come and meet a cute new member family that has 2 little girls. They live in an area where they only have Elders serving because it is a little bit more rough but they wanted the 2 girls to see some sister missionaries. They were darling little girls. Bianca is 10 and Cheyanne is 14. They both said they had thought about serving missions and that the missionaries had changed their lives. It is so intersesting to see how the gospel really does change the dynamic of the home. The spirit makes such a huge difference. The Heinholds said that when they took the family home after FHE the girls absolutley loved it and that it was a memory they'll never forget. Sometimes the small and simple things are what counts.
We have an apostle coming for mission conference this week. Elder Neil Anderson along with Elder Rasband and a member of the presiding bishopbric? Ya so it should be good. That's on Saturday. Family thanks for all your prayers and your support. I love you and miss you much. May god bless you !
Love Hermana Lewis.
Most decisions that are worth anything take courage in this life. Such was the case for Antonio and Oilver. They escaped from Cuba some number of years ago from their communist country. They set out in a little boat where they rowed for hours by hand to escape and go unnoticed by the searching coastgaurd in the middle of the night. They were stranded in the middle of the ocean without any food and very little water for 7 days. A yacht found them a week later and resued them from dying and took them the rest of the way to America where they have been living in Miami for an odd amount of years. They decided together that they wanted to start over and start their lives a new and start over in Canada. They made their way up the country and stopped in New York when they found out that they needed visa's to enter Canada. So they called up the only family they had in New York, The Pena family. The Pena's are members in our ward. Hermano is less active but his wife is one of my favorite lady's in the ward and she always feeds us sisters good food now and again when we are in the area. They asked the pena's if they could stay with them while they waited for their visa's. So remember that SuperDomingo I told you about a few weeks back? Well that went down 3 weeks ago from last Sunday and Oilver and Antonio happened to come to New York for that weekend so the Pena's brought them to church with them. They really enjoyed the lesson on the restoration and the following tuesday my companion and I had a appointment cancel. We felt prompted to go over to Hermana Pena's to find out more about the 2 cousins that were staying with her. We sat down with her and she said ya they want to learn more and so we said great, when can we teach them. She said well, I'll call them right now. So she called them up and the 2 men were so excited that we were there they ran all the way from junction blvd and a normal 15 minute walk took them about 5. So we taught them the plan of salvation on the spot. We talked about baptism and how we all need baptism by someone with the proper authority to be exalted into the celestial Kingdom. We talked about how God's set the way for us to return back to live him but its was their walk with God and their testimonies could be obtained through their humble prayer and study. That was that. Antonio is the younger one. Probably in his 30's and Oilver is in his 50's. Antonio 's desire started and was really strong from the beginning. He had never been religious before to any extent or been baptized before and Oilver had a broader knowledge and as we explained things to him his knowledge and desire grew as well. So we started teaching on that Tuesday and Wednesday they committed to a date for baptism for the end of the month. We taught them every day for the past 3 weeks straight. They are so stinking awesome. Rock solid and they just make my little heart so proud. They were golden. I just couldn't believe how easy they were. People always say the baptisms they have they don't do anything. Sister Jasso and I felt so blessed. We had prayed for a baptismal goal that we were working for this transfer and we said 2 this month. God so blessed us to reach that goal and to start our missions together in the right way. What a great and rewarding day it was. They didn't have any problems with any of the commandments. The only thing they even had to change was stop drinking coffee but they gave it up over night. No big deal. They were baptized on Saturday and confirmed the following day on Sunday.
It was so interesting to talk to them after the baptism. All of the sudden we had this deep connection to each other. They had been in search of a new life and a change to start over. Little did they know that they were going to find it while they were waiting for their visa's in New York. Then they also told us that a few days after we started teaching them they found out that they didn't need visa's afterall to enter Canada. So they just decided to wait till after they were baptized to continue on their way. They wanted their baptism to be with family and people that they consider family and friends. They are going to keep in touch with us and then the missionaries in canada can continue teaching them and find the ward they will be going to over there and such. It is so crazy how the lord prepares the way for the people that are sukpposed to be at a certain time at a certain place. i'm very grateful for the opportunity that we had to teach these awesome Cubans! I know that God simply used us as the instruments and it could have been any missionary. Yet it was Antonio y Oilver's time. Whahoo!!!!! Woot Woot Woot! And such a rich experience to be a part of. I'm sad they are leaving soon but hopefully we will keep in touch and I told them they have to come to utah some day to see all the Mormons. lol.
The rest of our investigators look weak next to Antonio y Oilver but they are doing good. Napoleon y Yolanda are there. We only get to see them about once a week because they are so dang busy with work here. That's the thing with new york is that the people Siempre ALWAYS are running and ALWAYS working. Very little time to listen or make time for God. Don't you think that's a little bit of an oxymoron? To busy for God? So many people do it though. I think it is an eye opener for me. Napoleon and Yolanda did refer us to their sister in law though that is a member. She used to run the whole ward over in Ecuador but then she moved to New York and married a Catholic and hasn't been back since. So, we wnet over and met her this week. She is really awesome and was super nice to us. She would like to come back to church and so we are going to work with her. I don't know what it is with people and not wanting to make the effort to church. Granted you can't walk a couple of blocks like you can ever corner in Utah but if I can do they can do it right? WE even leave our house at 7 in the morning to go and get these people so that we can make it to church by 9am. So that I can make it to be the ward pianist for the ward. She is cool though and maybe we can get napoleon, yolanda, Juanita ( the member), and her catholic husband coming to church. How sweet would that be?
Jonathan is doing good. He is so up and down. This is the thing about sin. Yes you have a greater knowledge of what there is to experience. You understand the importance of opposition and you can experience first hand the consesuences yet once you experience it, it is that much harder not to fall back into it. Change is a hard process. yes we have the atonment of Jesus Christ, yes it really does work and yes it really does change you as a person but that doesn't make it easy and it takes more effort than if you never did it in the first place. It takes work, perseverance, and an obnoxious amount of tedious concientiousness of doing the little things like reading and praying every single day! I feel for him and with all my heart I so know he is capable of doing it with all my heart. Some of the other investigators we drop but he's different and he's going to make it. We just need to get him some good solid roots in the ward so that after we leave he is secured in the ward so he won't fall. His next big task is going to learn how to love and to trust other people.
Mildred and her mom Fransisca are sweet. They were a member referral from the broncs. We have been teaching them with members and it has been really good but we are having a hard time getting her to come back to church. She has been once but she works the night before and she always feels so tired. She likes what we are teaching her and always enjoy's our visits but she isn't willing to change. I'm thinking something must not be clicking because true doctrine understood changes behavior.
Found jessica and her son justin from the Elders. She is cool. Lived a crazy life in the past but is in a place where she wants to change. She is awesome. Her son justin is practically begging to jump in the font. She has some work to do though. I"m wondering if we could get justin involved with some awesome kids in the ward his age. He is only 10 but he seems so much older to me. You can tell he has had to experience and deal with a lot coming from a disfunctional home.
We were invited by one of the Sr. couples Elder and Sister Heinhold to their home for an FHE this last week. They wanted us to come and meet a cute new member family that has 2 little girls. They live in an area where they only have Elders serving because it is a little bit more rough but they wanted the 2 girls to see some sister missionaries. They were darling little girls. Bianca is 10 and Cheyanne is 14. They both said they had thought about serving missions and that the missionaries had changed their lives. It is so intersesting to see how the gospel really does change the dynamic of the home. The spirit makes such a huge difference. The Heinholds said that when they took the family home after FHE the girls absolutley loved it and that it was a memory they'll never forget. Sometimes the small and simple things are what counts.
We have an apostle coming for mission conference this week. Elder Neil Anderson along with Elder Rasband and a member of the presiding bishopbric? Ya so it should be good. That's on Saturday. Family thanks for all your prayers and your support. I love you and miss you much. May god bless you !
Love Hermana Lewis.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Better late than never
Sorry I don't have much time to email today. I barely got to the computer today. Sister Jasso loves to shop.... We don't match in that way but thats a okay lol. P.S. Mom, could you pay my credit card? lol. Jasso forgot her wallet so I had to put some stuff on there.
Hermana Jasso is doing great mom. She is a solid rock. Some days I swear she is training me. She is I think actually. I actually lost my companion a couple of nights coming home on the train. She was right behind me and then I turned around and she was gone! So I went back to the stop thinking that she might have gone back to the ATM for cash and I just didn't see her. Waited for a couple of minutes and then I saw some creeper guy come out of the building so I started walking thinking that she had started walking home since she had keys. Called the other sisters in the apartment and asked her if she had reached the house yet when I could see she wasn't in walking distance of the house. They said no, so started freaking out after waiting for a few minutes and thinking oh no maybe she has been abducted! So then the sisters came out to come help me. Called the rest of the zone that lives in the apartment next to us and had a squat team looking for her. We said a prayer and 2 seconds later the zone leaders called saying oh we found her at the top of the train station. It all turned out good. Reminded me of the good old times with Sister Stephens when I was on a train talking or we would get separated on different trains. We always met right back up cause I would just call her on the phone. Some days are hard but its a growin process right? Hermana Jasso helps me in the language, to enjoy the moment, and to just be real with people. She could use all the support and love though. Her family writes her a weekly email but that is it. I wouldn't call it support cause they are just mad at her for leaving. She has a really supportive RM bf though that writes her often and gives her good advice. You could send her some cash every now and again. Her ward is financing her mission. She has a really awesome ward that really supports her a lot but still there are things the mission doesn't cover. It's always nice to get a little side $ towards the end of the month when things get tight. She is super independent though and determined.
I had some really neat experiences this week. I so felt the spirit filling my mouth with words during lessons this week. Many times I'll struggle to find words for my sentences yet even Hermana Jasso commented after the lessons wow sister you just said that like it was suave. Must have been the spirit in the moment. I felt so grateful knowing that if I continue doing my part that God will do and make up the difference. We had one lesson with this investigator Daniel. He has 2 kids and is separated from his wife. He had been given a BOM before and been reading it and was told he could find answers to all his lifes challenges. Another lesson was with Napoleon and Yolanda. I felt the power of the spirit in the room and for the first time I felt like they were getting it. Found some really great new investigators this week too. Had a lot of other really great old investigators DIE which is always a sad story. I always feel so sad! This is the hardest thing for me. I have these super spiritual experiences with these people. They experience the atonement and find these testimonies yet then they stop doing what they are supposed to and then they falter into old habits so fast and die!!! Shatter my heart into a million peices! It kills me man. Then these other people pop up out of no where and they just walk into the waters of baptism like its no big deal and they've been planning on it for ages. It's stressed me out this past week to the point where I made myself sick. Woke up with a bad head cold. It's these people salvation!
Also had zone conference which was really good. Loved it! All my notes are at home though so i'll have to write some next week.
So I leave with this since I've got to go.
I know that Jesus is the Christ. I bear witness that the Book of Mormon is true and that it separates us from other religions. It contains the fulness of the Gospel. It testifies of Jesus Christ and his teachings for the plan of happiness. It has a power unlike any other book which can be experienced by experimenting on its words. It brings the spirit and centers our thought around Jesus Christ. It leads and protects us. I know that this is christs doctrine and that his Church is on the earth today through the restoration of the gospel through the prophet prophet Joseph Smith. I know Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ and that his fruits and the Book of Mormon are evidence of what he experienced. If that experience is true all mankind have a need to repent and come unto the waters of Baptism by someone holding the priesthood authority of God. I love this gospel so much. It is the light and life. It brings happiness and success. Alma 26:12 Love it.
g2g more next week. Promise.
All my love,
Hermana Lewis
Hermana Jasso is doing great mom. She is a solid rock. Some days I swear she is training me. She is I think actually. I actually lost my companion a couple of nights coming home on the train. She was right behind me and then I turned around and she was gone! So I went back to the stop thinking that she might have gone back to the ATM for cash and I just didn't see her. Waited for a couple of minutes and then I saw some creeper guy come out of the building so I started walking thinking that she had started walking home since she had keys. Called the other sisters in the apartment and asked her if she had reached the house yet when I could see she wasn't in walking distance of the house. They said no, so started freaking out after waiting for a few minutes and thinking oh no maybe she has been abducted! So then the sisters came out to come help me. Called the rest of the zone that lives in the apartment next to us and had a squat team looking for her. We said a prayer and 2 seconds later the zone leaders called saying oh we found her at the top of the train station. It all turned out good. Reminded me of the good old times with Sister Stephens when I was on a train talking or we would get separated on different trains. We always met right back up cause I would just call her on the phone. Some days are hard but its a growin process right? Hermana Jasso helps me in the language, to enjoy the moment, and to just be real with people. She could use all the support and love though. Her family writes her a weekly email but that is it. I wouldn't call it support cause they are just mad at her for leaving. She has a really supportive RM bf though that writes her often and gives her good advice. You could send her some cash every now and again. Her ward is financing her mission. She has a really awesome ward that really supports her a lot but still there are things the mission doesn't cover. It's always nice to get a little side $ towards the end of the month when things get tight. She is super independent though and determined.
I had some really neat experiences this week. I so felt the spirit filling my mouth with words during lessons this week. Many times I'll struggle to find words for my sentences yet even Hermana Jasso commented after the lessons wow sister you just said that like it was suave. Must have been the spirit in the moment. I felt so grateful knowing that if I continue doing my part that God will do and make up the difference. We had one lesson with this investigator Daniel. He has 2 kids and is separated from his wife. He had been given a BOM before and been reading it and was told he could find answers to all his lifes challenges. Another lesson was with Napoleon and Yolanda. I felt the power of the spirit in the room and for the first time I felt like they were getting it. Found some really great new investigators this week too. Had a lot of other really great old investigators DIE which is always a sad story. I always feel so sad! This is the hardest thing for me. I have these super spiritual experiences with these people. They experience the atonement and find these testimonies yet then they stop doing what they are supposed to and then they falter into old habits so fast and die!!! Shatter my heart into a million peices! It kills me man. Then these other people pop up out of no where and they just walk into the waters of baptism like its no big deal and they've been planning on it for ages. It's stressed me out this past week to the point where I made myself sick. Woke up with a bad head cold. It's these people salvation!
Also had zone conference which was really good. Loved it! All my notes are at home though so i'll have to write some next week.
So I leave with this since I've got to go.
I know that Jesus is the Christ. I bear witness that the Book of Mormon is true and that it separates us from other religions. It contains the fulness of the Gospel. It testifies of Jesus Christ and his teachings for the plan of happiness. It has a power unlike any other book which can be experienced by experimenting on its words. It brings the spirit and centers our thought around Jesus Christ. It leads and protects us. I know that this is christs doctrine and that his Church is on the earth today through the restoration of the gospel through the prophet prophet Joseph Smith. I know Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ and that his fruits and the Book of Mormon are evidence of what he experienced. If that experience is true all mankind have a need to repent and come unto the waters of Baptism by someone holding the priesthood authority of God. I love this gospel so much. It is the light and life. It brings happiness and success. Alma 26:12 Love it.
g2g more next week. Promise.
All my love,
Hermana Lewis
Monday, February 14, 2011
Que onda
Familia!
Hey so great week. God is truely blessing us. Found some really great people this week and we are teaching some really great people right now with some very rewarding experiences. I extended my first baptismal commit this week to my first family this week! They said yes! Yet, we still have a lot of work to do with them. They are not thrilled at all about leaving the rest of their extended family in the Catholic church to go to some new church yet they really feel good things when we come and can see it is helping their family overcome challenges that they so desperately want to overcome. Their 10 year old son is just about to take his first communion and he has been spending the last 2 years going to expensive classes to prepare for this moment in his life. Yet he reads the picture book of mormon we give him every single day and he loves the stories. The father Javier is doing a great job reading and he has more curiousity than anything which is agood start to lead his family. Kati is the mother and wants more than anything to be a good mom yet has come from a rough background and has a fiery temper and wants more peace to be in the home. It's been really good and I really hope I'm able to help them in the way that God wants. I think it would be awesome to see them baptized this transfer.
Jonathan is doing good. It's people like him that make the work all worth it. He is such a champ. It is so crazy to me to think that for someone that doesn't believe in a real loving god and then to go to knowing the Book of Mormon is true and that this church is true.... wow. He has a very unique set of circumstances and I know we were put in his life for a very specific set of reasons. He has been in new york for about the same amount of time that I've been in the mission. Just about 6 months. Before that he lived in Ecuador. He lived a life in Ecuador I only hear about in horror stories and you think don't happen in real life. To real people. But they do. He ran away from Ecuador in hopes of getting away foHe never prayed much before he met us yet the day before he met him he told us that he had said a pray something around the lines of "God, if your there please give me the means to change my life." The very next day we found him on the train. He learned perfect English here in the states and by the time I met him I didn't even know he felt more comfortable speaking spanish becuase his english was so good and he spoke without an accent. He was able to have his interview with President, President only speaks English keep in mind. Since that interview, his English has progressively decliined and i have to teach him in Spanish. I find it so interesting and I honestly think the Lord has been preparing Jonathan so that he could have that experience with President. God works in Mysterious ways. Jonathan has some time before he can get baptized and this time is going to be crucial for his eternal progression. Got any ideas on how to create real spiritual experiences for him to increase his faith and help him see how much faith he really has developed since he has started receiving the discussions?
Napoleon and Yolanda are good.... Napoleon is not getting it for the purposes that he needs. Yolanda likes all of it but isn't willing to budge without her husband. Even though we keep telling her salvation is personal. Even though she has a good relationship with God in the end she is going to need a little bit more in order to be exalted... of course everyone can be saved. But that 's not the goal people. It's to be exalted and receive all the blessings that God has in the celestial kingdom and la vida eterna.
Found another really cute catholic familiy this week. The father has a member sister in Utah but they don't associate with her he says. He doesnt' believe in god because of all the bad he has seen in the world but he sees what it does to his kids w/o God and he wants us to teach them so that they can choose for themselves. Really backwards I know. The mom is not cool with us there though because she is hard core catholic. Honestly i think the father is just really mad at God and chooses to not acknowledge him to make his life easier. It's hard though sometimes when you have really bad things in your life. Things that you didn't choose but are consequences of other peoples actions or foreces outside your control. I'm praying the parents hearts will be softened. Their children are beautiful and really smart. They are a peruvian family.
My comp and I were very fortunate to be blessed with many appointments this week and our numbers totaled to almost 30 full out lessons which was awesome and about a 1/3 of those were with member presents which always is so much better! I am so eternally grateful for the members that come out with us and help us teach. They really help clarify things and everything that is a language barrier can be cleared up. I love it.
I know this church is true. I know it blesses our lives. We stopped by a less active this week who talked to us about he started coming to church back in the day. His family noticed the difference it made in their home and so they also became interested in the church. His mom was also baptized as a result of that. AFter that lots of his family got baptized in Mexico. It's a chain. This gospel isn't just important for you. But the influence that yo uhave on other people.
I really love the girls in our pad. I'm learning all sorts of things. This morning sister Jasso and I woke up and made a big breakfast for everyone. The zone leaders and the spanish DLs live next door and then we also made breakfast for the sisters. We made Mexican food and man it was delicious! I learned how to make this really good authentic mexican salsa ( man, its spicy) and then mom I've learned how to make hand made tortilla's. It's quite facil actually. You would love to spend a little bit of time in the kitchen with these two mom. They are pro's. We never really have time to cook, which is unfortunate but at the same time I hope that it all works out in the end. Spanish is coming... mas o menos. I think the mission is one of the steepest learning curves I've ever been on but it is so good for me. I had one of those epiphanies yesterday and I just woke up and smelt the fresh air. Wow, I'm in NY on a mission speaking spanish. Weird....
Okay so mom, I have been meaning to email you about these people you tell me about every now and again. Kelsi is engaged!!!!!?????? WHOOT WHOOT! Congrats Kelsi! ;) Love it! I definitley approve think he is one of the very few people that could pass for marrying one of the best people I know :) I'm so happy for her. Can't wait to hear a little about it from her. I know she is always crazy busy. Hopefully I'll be fortunate enough to see the pics.
Mom, I know this could possibly be annoying for you but could you just order or get me some new boots? I just never have time to go looking and once again I'm not going to have time today. The storms here this winter have been terrible but it feels like it is starting to warm up so I'm looking for some boots I can wear more for rain and slush now more than warmth. Rain boots will cut it I think until next winter. I mean if you do that thing you were telling me online you could just send them to the mission office and it's like the same if I ordered them right? If you can't find any that are good just let me know and I can just make do with what I have until I run into better.:)
Hey so great week. God is truely blessing us. Found some really great people this week and we are teaching some really great people right now with some very rewarding experiences. I extended my first baptismal commit this week to my first family this week! They said yes! Yet, we still have a lot of work to do with them. They are not thrilled at all about leaving the rest of their extended family in the Catholic church to go to some new church yet they really feel good things when we come and can see it is helping their family overcome challenges that they so desperately want to overcome. Their 10 year old son is just about to take his first communion and he has been spending the last 2 years going to expensive classes to prepare for this moment in his life. Yet he reads the picture book of mormon we give him every single day and he loves the stories. The father Javier is doing a great job reading and he has more curiousity than anything which is agood start to lead his family. Kati is the mother and wants more than anything to be a good mom yet has come from a rough background and has a fiery temper and wants more peace to be in the home. It's been really good and I really hope I'm able to help them in the way that God wants. I think it would be awesome to see them baptized this transfer.
Jonathan is doing good. It's people like him that make the work all worth it. He is such a champ. It is so crazy to me to think that for someone that doesn't believe in a real loving god and then to go to knowing the Book of Mormon is true and that this church is true.... wow. He has a very unique set of circumstances and I know we were put in his life for a very specific set of reasons. He has been in new york for about the same amount of time that I've been in the mission. Just about 6 months. Before that he lived in Ecuador. He lived a life in Ecuador I only hear about in horror stories and you think don't happen in real life. To real people. But they do. He ran away from Ecuador in hopes of getting away foHe never prayed much before he met us yet the day before he met him he told us that he had said a pray something around the lines of "God, if your there please give me the means to change my life." The very next day we found him on the train. He learned perfect English here in the states and by the time I met him I didn't even know he felt more comfortable speaking spanish becuase his english was so good and he spoke without an accent. He was able to have his interview with President, President only speaks English keep in mind. Since that interview, his English has progressively decliined and i have to teach him in Spanish. I find it so interesting and I honestly think the Lord has been preparing Jonathan so that he could have that experience with President. God works in Mysterious ways. Jonathan has some time before he can get baptized and this time is going to be crucial for his eternal progression. Got any ideas on how to create real spiritual experiences for him to increase his faith and help him see how much faith he really has developed since he has started receiving the discussions?
Napoleon and Yolanda are good.... Napoleon is not getting it for the purposes that he needs. Yolanda likes all of it but isn't willing to budge without her husband. Even though we keep telling her salvation is personal. Even though she has a good relationship with God in the end she is going to need a little bit more in order to be exalted... of course everyone can be saved. But that 's not the goal people. It's to be exalted and receive all the blessings that God has in the celestial kingdom and la vida eterna.
Found another really cute catholic familiy this week. The father has a member sister in Utah but they don't associate with her he says. He doesnt' believe in god because of all the bad he has seen in the world but he sees what it does to his kids w/o God and he wants us to teach them so that they can choose for themselves. Really backwards I know. The mom is not cool with us there though because she is hard core catholic. Honestly i think the father is just really mad at God and chooses to not acknowledge him to make his life easier. It's hard though sometimes when you have really bad things in your life. Things that you didn't choose but are consequences of other peoples actions or foreces outside your control. I'm praying the parents hearts will be softened. Their children are beautiful and really smart. They are a peruvian family.
My comp and I were very fortunate to be blessed with many appointments this week and our numbers totaled to almost 30 full out lessons which was awesome and about a 1/3 of those were with member presents which always is so much better! I am so eternally grateful for the members that come out with us and help us teach. They really help clarify things and everything that is a language barrier can be cleared up. I love it.
I know this church is true. I know it blesses our lives. We stopped by a less active this week who talked to us about he started coming to church back in the day. His family noticed the difference it made in their home and so they also became interested in the church. His mom was also baptized as a result of that. AFter that lots of his family got baptized in Mexico. It's a chain. This gospel isn't just important for you. But the influence that yo uhave on other people.
I really love the girls in our pad. I'm learning all sorts of things. This morning sister Jasso and I woke up and made a big breakfast for everyone. The zone leaders and the spanish DLs live next door and then we also made breakfast for the sisters. We made Mexican food and man it was delicious! I learned how to make this really good authentic mexican salsa ( man, its spicy) and then mom I've learned how to make hand made tortilla's. It's quite facil actually. You would love to spend a little bit of time in the kitchen with these two mom. They are pro's. We never really have time to cook, which is unfortunate but at the same time I hope that it all works out in the end. Spanish is coming... mas o menos. I think the mission is one of the steepest learning curves I've ever been on but it is so good for me. I had one of those epiphanies yesterday and I just woke up and smelt the fresh air. Wow, I'm in NY on a mission speaking spanish. Weird....
Okay so mom, I have been meaning to email you about these people you tell me about every now and again. Kelsi is engaged!!!!!?????? WHOOT WHOOT! Congrats Kelsi! ;) Love it! I definitley approve think he is one of the very few people that could pass for marrying one of the best people I know :) I'm so happy for her. Can't wait to hear a little about it from her. I know she is always crazy busy. Hopefully I'll be fortunate enough to see the pics.
Mom, I know this could possibly be annoying for you but could you just order or get me some new boots? I just never have time to go looking and once again I'm not going to have time today. The storms here this winter have been terrible but it feels like it is starting to warm up so I'm looking for some boots I can wear more for rain and slush now more than warmth. Rain boots will cut it I think until next winter. I mean if you do that thing you were telling me online you could just send them to the mission office and it's like the same if I ordered them right? If you can't find any that are good just let me know and I can just make do with what I have until I run into better.:)
Monday, February 7, 2011
Wow! God loves Me
Wow, family
All I can say is that God loves me... ALOT. This whole training thing is more fun than I thought it ever could have been. Of course yes it is a lot of work and it totally different but I love it. God has answered every one of my prayers and there is nothing like a new missionary that brings in light and hope and spark into the work.
My "kid", daughter, companion, sister, her name is Hermana Rosee Jasso. And guess what she is fluent in Spanish. She is half Mexican and half Philipino. I can't tell you how much she is helping me out with the language. She loves as I try to speak with her in our called language. The other really awesome thing is that Sister Winterton is training right now too. She just hit her half way mark in the mission. Their companionship is the English program but her kid is straight from Mexico and so she feels more comfortable speaking Spanish with us sisters than anything else right now too so it rocks for learning the language. I'm loving it. We have the youngest pad in the mission and we are firing it up in there! Watch the miracles come baby! Oh Yeah!
So my companion Hermana Jasso is so stinkin awesome I can't even tell you! I thought no one would ever be able to my trainer Sister Stephens yet this girl teaches me something every day and she's helping me continue to see the best of both worlds. She is a fireball. Just so you know a little bit about her....
She is a convert for the church. She is the only member in her family and the rest of her family remains "carasmatic catholic". She has been a member for 2 years. A couple of years back one of her co-workers inviter her to a movie night to watch the Best Two Years. She watched the movie and had some curiousity as to the "little blue book" in the movie. Thought the thought of Elders was very intriguing that they go out for 2 years of their life because of their faith. She really liked the movie though. The very next day on the street she saw some Elders on the street and approached them. She said, "Hey I'm looking for one of those blue books you elders have. May I have one?" Now these poor Elders were so taken off guard, they didn't know how to react. I think the fact that she is so gorgeous, nice, and asked the dream question that every missionary wants to hear might have had something to do with it. My companion thought that she had said something wrong because they were so shocked. Ironically the Elders didn't have an extra with them at the moment but they got her info and of course and went to give her one later that night. 2 months later she was baptized.
When she found out that the sisters could go on missions too there nothing more that she wanted. So she prayed about it and got her firm answer that she was going to go. She started preparing. Turned in her papers and received her call and opened it as her 2 best friends also opened and got their calls the same day at her bishops house. She didn't tell her parents till the week after she got her call that she was going on a mission. Her family is furious at her for leaving them. She has no family support and is doing this completely on blind faith and trust in her Lord. She has a message that she knows is true and their is no greater desire she has than to share it with those people here in New York. I know that the support and love of my familiy has helped me more than anything out here in the field on the rough days. She is one example to me. She is a rock and super good natured, happy, full of the spirit, and just radiates light where ever we go. I know God has sent her directly to my life. She is one of those people that when you meet you almost think you've met before. We both feel that way about each other but I don't know where I would have met her before.... pre-earth? lol. She feels the same. She is from Los Angelos. I admire her strength and love of everything. We've got some rocking goals for the upcoming transfer and I'm hoping the Lord will bless us in our good desires. We just got to keep our chins up about everything and work hard ya? :)
This week was way sweet in that we had a mission conference. Elder Pearson from the quorum of the 70 came and talked to the mission. I just absolutely loved it. It was everything that I needed to feel me right back up to the top full of goodness. I felt the spirit so strong and it was like revelation overload. The amount of revelation in that room was so cool! He talked about a lot of really coool things as well as sister nelson and president Nelson.
We have a goal to read the Book of Mormon as a mission by May 7. We are looking to baptize the rest of our 800 by the end of May as well. Which means we have 201 baptisms to find before then which would be awesome and totally probable and believable as our missionaries go forth with the spiritual power they have been ordained with. Now they just have to act and access it by their faith, obedience, and actions. 2/3 of the church her in New York are first generation or converts to the church. It's amazing to think how many members here are converts to the church and how important it is to keep our generation strong and thriving on spiritual knowledge. There are over 8 million people in the New York South Mission.
"Hearken" what does it mean? To listen and to obey. The first law of heaven is obedience and all other laws are predicated on this divine law. The spirit always hearkens us to listen and change. It is solely up to us. True doctrine understood, will change behavior. The teacher has to be the spirit because the spirit is what changes hearts to change behavior.
True doctrine understood, wil change behavior. Power of structure makes a missionary powerful. Studying and focus for the day in the morning. Personal and pondering reflecting for the day. Reflecting on the day and going to bed on time allows people to be successful. Structue and self discipline in your life provide power and success.
What=>Principles=>Exaltation
Why=>Doctrine=>Love
Ovedience=>Faith=>personal righteousness=>Repentance (change)=>Covenants=> Spiritual Power
3 Nephi 5:13
One of your most sacred and powerful things in life is your...
1. Identity- because your identity is made up of vaues, beliefs, rules your attitude, behavior lead to actions ur actions become...REALITY
Prayer is how we find our alignment with God.
-prayer is the way we change ourselves. Not the way that God changes our circumstances. We pray for the spirit of discernment, so that we change ourselves so i have the spirit to say and do exactly what I need to say and so that I can do it. ehlp me to change and know. the pure love of Christ is to change the hearts of his children. Our blessing we receive on the mission are conditional. Conditional on working. Working to obtain blessings. Who am I? I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I wear his name every day. I am acting in behalf of his name. I use his Holy name every day as I teach, as I pray, and as I think.
Yes there are many religions that teach of Jesus Christ. That believe in "God" but we have one God, one fe, and un bautismo no? It's the same God. The same loving God that sent you here to learn and to grow. I didn't come on the mission to New york to tell people they are wrong. but to help build faith, find truths and come unto christ through being baptized by someone who has the priesthood authority of God. I know this gospel is true. If your willing to do the work, there is nothing that cannot be overcome through the atonement of God. Know your outcome. focus with eye of faith. The mission is simply the training ground for a greater mission ahead. I love you family! May you have a wonderful week.!
Mom, I'm sorry I haven't told you what I want in the package. I've been so busy I haven't had time to really think about it. I LOVE the packages. It makes me feel so loved. Don't worry about making it anything fancy. Seriously. It just makes me feel so good to know you stilll love and miss me :) Don't send me any candy or sweets. I'll just eat them. I love your bread... it's always delicious. I could use some new tights... black, navy, and brown are the colors that I use. Calcium? I love those shoe inserts for support in my shoes if you want to pick 1 or 2 up at Walmart for my boots. I need some Brooners Body Wash. I can't find it here and everything else just doesn't work as good. YOu know that castille soap dad gets from the store? I would love some of that. I have to go buy some new boots. I've already worn the other ones out that you sent me. They were awesome for about the first month and then they started getting water in them and then last week they ripped all the way up the back. I've duck taped them for now but I'm going to have to get some new ones. It makes me look hard core though right? lol. I love getting photos but I'm running out of cool places to put the prints that you send me so you can just attach them to emails from now on if you want :) Whatever you want. I"m not going to complain either way. I got a way cute Valentines package from the rice family this week. All the of marc & stephs cute kids drew me pics and stuff and some goodies. They are so thoughtful I loved it!
Love Krisina
All I can say is that God loves me... ALOT. This whole training thing is more fun than I thought it ever could have been. Of course yes it is a lot of work and it totally different but I love it. God has answered every one of my prayers and there is nothing like a new missionary that brings in light and hope and spark into the work.
My "kid", daughter, companion, sister, her name is Hermana Rosee Jasso. And guess what she is fluent in Spanish. She is half Mexican and half Philipino. I can't tell you how much she is helping me out with the language. She loves as I try to speak with her in our called language. The other really awesome thing is that Sister Winterton is training right now too. She just hit her half way mark in the mission. Their companionship is the English program but her kid is straight from Mexico and so she feels more comfortable speaking Spanish with us sisters than anything else right now too so it rocks for learning the language. I'm loving it. We have the youngest pad in the mission and we are firing it up in there! Watch the miracles come baby! Oh Yeah!
So my companion Hermana Jasso is so stinkin awesome I can't even tell you! I thought no one would ever be able to my trainer Sister Stephens yet this girl teaches me something every day and she's helping me continue to see the best of both worlds. She is a fireball. Just so you know a little bit about her....
She is a convert for the church. She is the only member in her family and the rest of her family remains "carasmatic catholic". She has been a member for 2 years. A couple of years back one of her co-workers inviter her to a movie night to watch the Best Two Years. She watched the movie and had some curiousity as to the "little blue book" in the movie. Thought the thought of Elders was very intriguing that they go out for 2 years of their life because of their faith. She really liked the movie though. The very next day on the street she saw some Elders on the street and approached them. She said, "Hey I'm looking for one of those blue books you elders have. May I have one?" Now these poor Elders were so taken off guard, they didn't know how to react. I think the fact that she is so gorgeous, nice, and asked the dream question that every missionary wants to hear might have had something to do with it. My companion thought that she had said something wrong because they were so shocked. Ironically the Elders didn't have an extra with them at the moment but they got her info and of course and went to give her one later that night. 2 months later she was baptized.
When she found out that the sisters could go on missions too there nothing more that she wanted. So she prayed about it and got her firm answer that she was going to go. She started preparing. Turned in her papers and received her call and opened it as her 2 best friends also opened and got their calls the same day at her bishops house. She didn't tell her parents till the week after she got her call that she was going on a mission. Her family is furious at her for leaving them. She has no family support and is doing this completely on blind faith and trust in her Lord. She has a message that she knows is true and their is no greater desire she has than to share it with those people here in New York. I know that the support and love of my familiy has helped me more than anything out here in the field on the rough days. She is one example to me. She is a rock and super good natured, happy, full of the spirit, and just radiates light where ever we go. I know God has sent her directly to my life. She is one of those people that when you meet you almost think you've met before. We both feel that way about each other but I don't know where I would have met her before.... pre-earth? lol. She feels the same. She is from Los Angelos. I admire her strength and love of everything. We've got some rocking goals for the upcoming transfer and I'm hoping the Lord will bless us in our good desires. We just got to keep our chins up about everything and work hard ya? :)
This week was way sweet in that we had a mission conference. Elder Pearson from the quorum of the 70 came and talked to the mission. I just absolutely loved it. It was everything that I needed to feel me right back up to the top full of goodness. I felt the spirit so strong and it was like revelation overload. The amount of revelation in that room was so cool! He talked about a lot of really coool things as well as sister nelson and president Nelson.
We have a goal to read the Book of Mormon as a mission by May 7. We are looking to baptize the rest of our 800 by the end of May as well. Which means we have 201 baptisms to find before then which would be awesome and totally probable and believable as our missionaries go forth with the spiritual power they have been ordained with. Now they just have to act and access it by their faith, obedience, and actions. 2/3 of the church her in New York are first generation or converts to the church. It's amazing to think how many members here are converts to the church and how important it is to keep our generation strong and thriving on spiritual knowledge. There are over 8 million people in the New York South Mission.
"Hearken" what does it mean? To listen and to obey. The first law of heaven is obedience and all other laws are predicated on this divine law. The spirit always hearkens us to listen and change. It is solely up to us. True doctrine understood, will change behavior. The teacher has to be the spirit because the spirit is what changes hearts to change behavior.
True doctrine understood, wil change behavior. Power of structure makes a missionary powerful. Studying and focus for the day in the morning. Personal and pondering reflecting for the day. Reflecting on the day and going to bed on time allows people to be successful. Structue and self discipline in your life provide power and success.
What=>Principles=>Exaltation
Why=>Doctrine=>Love
Ovedience=>Faith=>personal righteousness=>Repentance (change)=>Covenants=> Spiritual Power
3 Nephi 5:13
One of your most sacred and powerful things in life is your...
1. Identity- because your identity is made up of vaues, beliefs, rules your attitude, behavior lead to actions ur actions become...REALITY
Prayer is how we find our alignment with God.
-prayer is the way we change ourselves. Not the way that God changes our circumstances. We pray for the spirit of discernment, so that we change ourselves so i have the spirit to say and do exactly what I need to say and so that I can do it. ehlp me to change and know. the pure love of Christ is to change the hearts of his children. Our blessing we receive on the mission are conditional. Conditional on working. Working to obtain blessings. Who am I? I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I wear his name every day. I am acting in behalf of his name. I use his Holy name every day as I teach, as I pray, and as I think.
Yes there are many religions that teach of Jesus Christ. That believe in "God" but we have one God, one fe, and un bautismo no? It's the same God. The same loving God that sent you here to learn and to grow. I didn't come on the mission to New york to tell people they are wrong. but to help build faith, find truths and come unto christ through being baptized by someone who has the priesthood authority of God. I know this gospel is true. If your willing to do the work, there is nothing that cannot be overcome through the atonement of God. Know your outcome. focus with eye of faith. The mission is simply the training ground for a greater mission ahead. I love you family! May you have a wonderful week.!
Mom, I'm sorry I haven't told you what I want in the package. I've been so busy I haven't had time to really think about it. I LOVE the packages. It makes me feel so loved. Don't worry about making it anything fancy. Seriously. It just makes me feel so good to know you stilll love and miss me :) Don't send me any candy or sweets. I'll just eat them. I love your bread... it's always delicious. I could use some new tights... black, navy, and brown are the colors that I use. Calcium? I love those shoe inserts for support in my shoes if you want to pick 1 or 2 up at Walmart for my boots. I need some Brooners Body Wash. I can't find it here and everything else just doesn't work as good. YOu know that castille soap dad gets from the store? I would love some of that. I have to go buy some new boots. I've already worn the other ones out that you sent me. They were awesome for about the first month and then they started getting water in them and then last week they ripped all the way up the back. I've duck taped them for now but I'm going to have to get some new ones. It makes me look hard core though right? lol. I love getting photos but I'm running out of cool places to put the prints that you send me so you can just attach them to emails from now on if you want :) Whatever you want. I"m not going to complain either way. I got a way cute Valentines package from the rice family this week. All the of marc & stephs cute kids drew me pics and stuff and some goodies. They are so thoughtful I loved it!
Love Krisina
Monday, January 31, 2011
Mi ultimo dia con mi companera Hermana Stephans
Wow, I can't believe my life right now. It is nuts! Sister Stephens and I are running around the area trying to see all the people she wants to say goodbye too, packed, and ready to go for her flight home tomorrow. She is the best trainer I could have asked for. I am so grateful that she has been my companion for my first 2 transfers here. I feel really grateful for her in my life. We didn't see any baptisms this last weekend which is something I really wanted for her yet I just tell myself we have to have a little bit more patience. Its funny because she still thinks and says this area has the most potential and the most people she has ever worked with in her mission yet the only area she hasn't baptized anyone in. Although we are here to baptize, it definitely doesn't show how much work or effort your putting into the mission. She has taught me a lot, she is a great example, and has influenced the lives of many people here in New York. I hope to follow in her footsteps. Yet if she is going back to Kansas, you know what that means! New Companion! Whoot woot! Haha mom, I'm so grateful for your inspiring letters you wrote me this week. They really do bring such comfort to my heart. We have some really great people right now that we are teaching and they are all at critical moments in their lives. I was worried about the strength of my companion and her ability to help me in the work. As much as I'm trying, my Spanish is still inadequate from where I would like it to be in order to teach. There is nothing like the mission experience I decided. As soon as you get comfortable with one dynamic of the mission God decides to have a sense of humor and throw a new variable into the equation. Mom, you letter of advice on telling me I was ready to handle my area with my new companion was much needed. I finally came to terms and I really did feel ready and I knew that I had the time I needed to do those things required of me. I was set to go but no, we get to throw in that new variable. President called me into his office Thursday night to talk to me for an unexpected interview. He called me into his office and talked to me for a while. He and the A.P's have been talking a lot about upcoming transfer calls and have decided to make me a trainer for the next batch of greenies coming into the mission. Mom! I"m going to be a mom tomorrow with my own little kid in the mission! I believe we have 3 sisters coming in with this batch of missionaries at transfers tomorrow and I have no idea which missionary I will receive but all I can say is I"M EXCITED! yet petrified at the same time. There is quite a bit of talk among the missionaries that know I'm training just because I think it will be interesting to see how it all works out. Yet, I trust President with his decisions and I believe him to be inspired. I feel honored that he has put so much trust in me and that I have his trust to do a good job with our wonderful missionaries coming in. I asked him in my interview, "President, do you really feel good about me training at this point in my mission?" He almost got emotional as he answered me and said absolutely. He said, you know sister lewis there are many sister missionaries but we choose trainers who we believe will best build up the work here. We trust you." It's a good feeling yet it's also a lot to live up to and fulfill.
When I've been praying I sometimes catch myself trying to ask God to change his mind or thank him for an answer to my prayers in some form other than what I wanted.... lol. If it changes last minute, it will be the Lords will, if I really get a fresh missionary tomorrow, it will be the Lords will and I'm going to do with my whole heart, might, mind, and strength. I don't know I have a lot of emotions about the situation yet I know that if it is of God and he really does want this to be then it will work out. Besides, even though I'm not the most "seasoned" sister in the field all things are possible con Dios no? :) It was really cool because I understood the blessing and it was exactly what I needed. I do know that through God all things are possible and if this is really what God wants me to do for this next transfer it will be through him I accomplish it. It doesn't matter as long as you have the spirit. Which I am learning day by day but I know once I get better at it. My life is going to get so much better. 3/4 of my patriarchal blessing is about following the spirit. 99.9% of my setting apart was about blessing from following the spirit, and every blessing I've received in the mission promises me really cool things "as I follow the spirit". I received a blessing from my zone leader this morning. He's from Brazil and he speaks Portuguese and Spanish best so he gave me the blessing in Spanish. Elder Anand blessed me will the abilities I need to succeed for this transfer. Told me to love in order to instill the gospel in the hearts of the people. In the blessing it stated several times that I have been and am prepared to train and I'll fulfill my purpose as a missionary. Half of me wants President to change his mind yet the other half is anxious and eager to work. Training really is the perfect way to accomplish the work though because there is no set stereotypes and new missionaries just have the vibe to work and getter done! Yeah baby. Which is exactly what I have been wanting. They also want to learn the language and the older missionaries sometimes have a negative outlook about speaking Spanish all the time which I know I need in order to progress at a pace that want. There isn't going to be anyone saying " that's not possible " etc etc etc. So all in all I think God has just been very mindful of my prayers and he's answering them in a way that I wasn't expecting . Moral of the story: Prayers work in accordance to God's love and will. What you want isn't exactly what you need in life. Yet family please continue to pray for me. For me I don't think I will receive a greater opportunity than when I get these to train in the field. They are amazing. Shaping and molding a missionary to succeed the rest of their mission. What a privledge and great responsibility. I"m stoked! YEah baby!
So this week was good. We had another HUGE snowstorm but New York was a little bit more equipped and ready this time. Not so confined although the airport was closed down for a few hours. For a variety of complications some missionaries headed out to the Canada mission got stuck in the New York airport and since it was closed down from the storm they came and worked with us missionaries located in queens. We had 2 sisters come and stay in our pad for a couple of days. Sister Hanson and Sister Glenn are going to Canada English Speaking mission and they were just swimming in all the newness around them but I thought it was cool. I told them they should enjoy it while it lasts. You only get to be in the best mission in the whole wide world for who knows how much longer. lol. They just nodded and laughed but the office elders that drove them to the airport a couple of days later said the sisters said they loved new york and were wishing that they had been called to NY, NY South because they thought it was so cool! So it must have worked lol. Sister Stephens and I took sister Glean out with us to some appointments. Sister Gleann didn't speak a lick of Spanish but she was loving it! We got her contacting on the trains and talking to people all over the place. We also found a Spanish family that we got to teach and they preferred that we taught them in English because they spoke both and then that way sister Glenn could help us. Sister Gleann's very first lesson /night in the mission and she gave a beautiful account of the first vision. I haven't been able to do it more perfect myself. She brought that spirit right into the room with full power. Made the mom of the family cry and the whole family was just very open to the idea. I was touched and just thought to myself wow, this is rockin! We have a return appointment with that family tonight. They want to change and start coming to church more. Even the father has expressed desires to Change and come to church and such more. So Javier is the father, Kathi is the mother and they have a 10 year old son named Austin. I'll keep you updated on them. Yeah so it was fun to have Sister Gleann along for the ride while the storm cleared out.
g2g love ya!
Sister Lewis
When I've been praying I sometimes catch myself trying to ask God to change his mind or thank him for an answer to my prayers in some form other than what I wanted.... lol. If it changes last minute, it will be the Lords will, if I really get a fresh missionary tomorrow, it will be the Lords will and I'm going to do with my whole heart, might, mind, and strength. I don't know I have a lot of emotions about the situation yet I know that if it is of God and he really does want this to be then it will work out. Besides, even though I'm not the most "seasoned" sister in the field all things are possible con Dios no? :) It was really cool because I understood the blessing and it was exactly what I needed. I do know that through God all things are possible and if this is really what God wants me to do for this next transfer it will be through him I accomplish it. It doesn't matter as long as you have the spirit. Which I am learning day by day but I know once I get better at it. My life is going to get so much better. 3/4 of my patriarchal blessing is about following the spirit. 99.9% of my setting apart was about blessing from following the spirit, and every blessing I've received in the mission promises me really cool things "as I follow the spirit". I received a blessing from my zone leader this morning. He's from Brazil and he speaks Portuguese and Spanish best so he gave me the blessing in Spanish. Elder Anand blessed me will the abilities I need to succeed for this transfer. Told me to love in order to instill the gospel in the hearts of the people. In the blessing it stated several times that I have been and am prepared to train and I'll fulfill my purpose as a missionary. Half of me wants President to change his mind yet the other half is anxious and eager to work. Training really is the perfect way to accomplish the work though because there is no set stereotypes and new missionaries just have the vibe to work and getter done! Yeah baby. Which is exactly what I have been wanting. They also want to learn the language and the older missionaries sometimes have a negative outlook about speaking Spanish all the time which I know I need in order to progress at a pace that want. There isn't going to be anyone saying " that's not possible " etc etc etc. So all in all I think God has just been very mindful of my prayers and he's answering them in a way that I wasn't expecting . Moral of the story: Prayers work in accordance to God's love and will. What you want isn't exactly what you need in life. Yet family please continue to pray for me. For me I don't think I will receive a greater opportunity than when I get these to train in the field. They are amazing. Shaping and molding a missionary to succeed the rest of their mission. What a privledge and great responsibility. I"m stoked! YEah baby!
So this week was good. We had another HUGE snowstorm but New York was a little bit more equipped and ready this time. Not so confined although the airport was closed down for a few hours. For a variety of complications some missionaries headed out to the Canada mission got stuck in the New York airport and since it was closed down from the storm they came and worked with us missionaries located in queens. We had 2 sisters come and stay in our pad for a couple of days. Sister Hanson and Sister Glenn are going to Canada English Speaking mission and they were just swimming in all the newness around them but I thought it was cool. I told them they should enjoy it while it lasts. You only get to be in the best mission in the whole wide world for who knows how much longer. lol. They just nodded and laughed but the office elders that drove them to the airport a couple of days later said the sisters said they loved new york and were wishing that they had been called to NY, NY South because they thought it was so cool! So it must have worked lol. Sister Stephens and I took sister Glean out with us to some appointments. Sister Gleann didn't speak a lick of Spanish but she was loving it! We got her contacting on the trains and talking to people all over the place. We also found a Spanish family that we got to teach and they preferred that we taught them in English because they spoke both and then that way sister Glenn could help us. Sister Gleann's very first lesson /night in the mission and she gave a beautiful account of the first vision. I haven't been able to do it more perfect myself. She brought that spirit right into the room with full power. Made the mom of the family cry and the whole family was just very open to the idea. I was touched and just thought to myself wow, this is rockin! We have a return appointment with that family tonight. They want to change and start coming to church more. Even the father has expressed desires to Change and come to church and such more. So Javier is the father, Kathi is the mother and they have a 10 year old son named Austin. I'll keep you updated on them. Yeah so it was fun to have Sister Gleann along for the ride while the storm cleared out.
g2g love ya!
Sister Lewis
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