Week 69

Another great week! And it can all be summarized by Sunday! 

When we started off the day on Sunday morning, we were pretty far from hitting our goals. We got ready for church and got there at 7 to practice our missionary musical number (Sister Grant, Sister Hoffman, myself, Elder Persson, Elder Morris, Elder Eschrich, Elder Sigrest, and their new companion) for Ward Conference. We went to Ward Council and it was so great! We headed to Sacrament Meeting after. We sang "How Great Thou Art" right after the Sacrament, and it was pretty powerful if I do say so myself. 

Sister Hoffman stayed with a member and Sister Grant and I went to walk with Valerie to get the rest of church. She has been in the hospital with Anna since she was born. We got there and she wasn't able to come anymore because the nurse needed her to do some things with Valerie there. But we knew that there was a reason why we were there. We talked with everyone on our way back to church, and met a really cool girl! Hopefully we can meet up with her soon! We got back to church and it was perfect.

After church, we just stayed and made a mix of all the food we had left. It turned out to be pretty gross. We ate what we could and then left and did the work! We got 2 new investigators, another baptismal date with a cute woman named Gayle*, so many more lessons with members, and we just got to share our testimonies! It was so good! We didn't stop doing the work until we got home a little after 9 from a lesson! We planned, got results for the zone, and ate quesadillas and burnt brownies for dinner! It was so good!!

Other things that made this week awesome are as follows:

1. We visited a less active member and she fed us calzones! She had no idea that we hadn't eaten and wouldn't be eating for another 9 hours! 

2. Across the street from that member was a couple, Aishwarya* & Rahul*, who waved at us when they saw us on her porch. Naturally, we went to say hi after, and they immediately invited us in, gave us orange juice, offered to make us more food, and then we did HTBT and taught the Restoration! 

3. I have two wonderful companions for the next 6 weeks at least! Sister Grant and Sister Hoffman, and we are working so hard!

4. We got to meet the new missionaries! 

5. We had an amazing weekly planning session once again! And got to eat left over pizza from the new missionary meeting!

6. This one isn't all that awesome, but the Rogue we had in Kelowna, Hamilton, died. So they took our Rogue, Viper, up to Kelowna, and we got stuck with a blue Sub. Again. Not too awesome, but it happened. (This is not a complaint. I am grateful for a vehicle).

7. I was on mini exchanges with one of the new sisters, Sister Gartside, and we saw the coolest miracle named Tawna*!

8. We found out yesterday that Anna is hopefully coming home from the hospital today!

9. Human on 152st: I'm sorry ladies. My diabeetus is acting up. I've got to go buy more toilet paper. 

10. We got a referral! This lady, Krysta*, wanted a Book of Mormon! We went and taught her! 

11. I have had the coolest studies this week!

12. This quote from President Kotchel at MLC: We have cows. They are a lot like you missionaries. They like to create their own problems.

13. We got 5 referrals from a ward member!

14. One morning when we woke up, Sister Hoffman found a giant spider on her. We caught it, and then we found this silver fish (?). We put them in the same container. They were terrified of each other. But the spider's name is Radcliffe. We call the silver fish silver fish. 

15. Aishwarya was telling us this story of how a year ago, 3 sister missionaries like us prayed with her mom at Metrotown for her arthritis pain to go away. After the prayer, it did. Guess which 3 missionaries did? That would Hna Williamson, Hna Wilson, and me! So that was pretty cool!

I can't even remember what else I wanted to say! 

But I am so excited for this work! It is the best! I know that we are seeing so much success and we are so motivated because we have found more ways to align our will with Heavenly Father's will. We are doing their work and we are doing it with them! I know that God has a perfect plan for each of his children. I know he is real with a body of flesh and bone! I am so grateful I can have faith in him! I know that Christ is my Savior and does so much for me each day. I am grateful I can rely on him! And I could just go forever! But I am simply out of time! This is my plea. Similar to others. Turn to the only true God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and give them your will. Put your trust in them, and allow them to captain your life! I am not perfect at this. But the little amount I have been able to give up has changed me an hundred-fold! My faith and reliance in the God Head has increased so much. I am just in awe about the change. I can't even explain it, but my spirit can tell the difference. I have so much more hope and patience and charity! Christ is so real and his Atonement makes these changes possible. 

Like Bishop De Vera says, "I'm in love". I am in love with Christ! His love is consuming me! Now I just got to act on it! 

Les quiero! You are in my prayers!

Hermana Lewis

Celebrating Sister Grant's and Sister Hubert's Hump day!!!

Bath time for Anna!

Week 68

This week was so fantastic! I just can't even begin to put words to it.

Last Monday, we went to English Bay with the Surrey Spanish Hermanas (Cendreda and Hoth) and met the Vancouver Spanish Hermanas (Polanco and Cobb). We got to spend time together before Hermana Cendreda leaves on Wednesday. Hermana Cobb had Luis, one of the recent converts we taught, meet us there and it was such a blessing! It was so good to see him! Val would have come as well, but she had work. We really just got to relax and enjoy the overcast, windy day at the beach.

At night, Sister Dromey, the primary president, came over with her husband, Richard, and did a Family Home Evening with Stacy and her family. It went so well! They loved it! And were so reverent! 

The whole week was filled with trying to cram in as many lessons and as much finding time and member visits as we could, which meant doing member splits. Every night we would come home so exhausted, but we would finish with a great nightly planning. On Thursday, we changed how we have been doing Weekly Planning, and it was wicked awesome! The Spirit was so strong and we felt so pumped to go and work and apply our plans!

We also were preparing for Zone Meeting. We had a really good preparation meeting, and as a result of all the preparation we had, I think this was my favorite Zone Meeting. The Spirit was present and we were all learning so much. Man. No words. 

On Wednesday night, Stacy, Rachel, and Tiffany had their interviews. That was crazy. We had correlation during their interviews. We were just dying to see them, but because of how shy they were at first, it took a while to get answers out of them. Sister Hoffman, Sister Yonk, and I were just dying waiting. But they passed and were so happy!

On Saturday, after a crazy series of events (including chasing down Stacy, Tiffany, and Heidi in the huge Surrey Central Mall), we got Stacy, Rachel, Tiffany, and Heidi to the church for their baptism. Holy cow. It was such a good service. We had one of the young men, Rayven baptize Tiffany, and then his dad, Brother Hernandez baptized Rachel, and Brother Gauna baptized Stacy. The program went smoothly, and Sister Hoffman, Sister Yonk, and I suprised Stacy and the girls by singing "I am a Child of God" In Swahili! And they understood us! It was so sweet to watch the look on their faces grow into a huge smile. Afterwards, Stacy could not stop shouting "I love Jesus", "Yes!" and throwing her arms up in a victory pose. 

They were so happy and looked so beautiful! They got the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday in church by Richard, and were just glowing. The ward reached out in a special way and just welcomed Stacy and the girls. 

We also saw Valerie, one of Stacy's older daughters at the hospital again. And we got to see cute baby Anna! Valerie is back on date and hopefully we will be able to see her a lot more regularly! 

I had so many funny quotes this week, but I only have a couple with me, so you'll have to be patient. 

While planning for Zone Meeting-

Elder Ricks: Then we can end on this note and not a 'don't wear those pants' note.

While we were visiting some returning less-actives the Elders were working with before switching areas-

Sister Yonk: What was it that made you want to come back to church?

Tony: The missionaries.

Sister Hoffman: What was it about the missionaries that made you want to come back to church?

Tony: I just liked the Asian guy.

Welcoming Stacy, Rachel and Tiffany to the ward in Sacrament meeting-

Brother Bandong: Welcome to the told of God.

Transfers are this week! I will be staying in Surrey 1st with Sister Hoffman, and Sister Grant will be joining us! Sister Yonk is off to West Kelowna with Sister Huszti. Sister Wilson is coming to Surrey Spanish! 

That's all for this week! I'll send pictures!

Con amor,

Hermana Lewis

English Bay!

Luiiiiiis!

Cutest little Filipino boy was afraid to walk on the sand!

FHE!

They always insist!

Racing Bishop DeVera home!

Meeting back up after splits with Erica! They are so cute!

Cleaning Delta's new apartment

Anna!

Heidi and Tiffany

The terrible trio!

New crew!

Brother and Sister Rosales wear themselves out in service!

Fiesta! After the Spanish baptism!

Week 67

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and so are his promises. Yes, the work is still hastening! We have been running all over. No more walking. And I do not say that because I want you to all think we are just saying a cliche missionary phrase, but we have literally been running everywhere because there are so many souls to save! From lessons to other lessons, to finding, to service, to whateveritmaybe. And to go hand in hand with that continuous exercise, we are also doing an awesome workout every morning. So my point in all of this is to say that we are really trying to show Heavenly Father he can trust us with his children, and that we may just be super spiritually and physically fit at this point in time.

Jessica's baptism went through this weekend! It was a double baptism with one of the Elders's investigators, Sierra* (her and her family are now ours due to some transfer changes). It was such a powerful baptism! The Spirit of God was burning so consistently. The talks and prayers were amazing, and the performing of the ordinance was wonderful. They both knew the importance of the covenant they were about to make, and made it with confidence and trust!

Right after Jessica's and Sierra's baptism, we rushed over to Delta in horrible traffic, to get to Callie's baptism! It was super sweet and everything was tailored to fit her needs and understanding! 

On Friday, we had MLC. It was a really great experience, and the Spirit did it's job! We are excited for Zone Meeting this week and being given the chance to bring the message to the Elders and Sisters in the Zone! President Burt is so inspired! 

Last Monday, we were delivering mail to the Elders in Delta so they could open it before P-day was over. We asked where they were and they told us the Lovely Fashion store. Hahahaha so we drove out there and gave them the mail. It was outside of  this Indian strip mall (It is tradition among the Elders in the mission to buy men's punjabi clothing and wear them as pajamas. Don't ask.) and they had just finished buying their stuff. Once they left, we went in the store, naturally, and bought ourselves some punjabi clothes. And that is what we are wearing in our pictures on our way to MLC.

Stacy, Rachel, and Tiffany are looking FINE for their baptism this weekend! They are all really excited! We have family home evening tonight with Stacy's family and Sister Dromey, the primary president, and her husband. We are so excited! 

I have a lot of funny quotes from this week, but I left my notes at home. Stay tuned for next week! But keep Stacy and her family in your prayers! 

This week at church was insane. And thank goodness for missionary-minded members. We had Sierra and her family coming, as well as Stacy and her family, and then a former, Iliana*, and her friend. We had two rides to pick up Stacy, Rachel, Tiffany and Heidi, and then Sierra and her family live within walking distance to the church. Iliana and her friend, Dawn* took the bus. Sister Hoffman and I left Ward Council early to go make sure Stacy and her family was ready to get to go by the time the rides arrived. Sister Yonk stayed with the Relief Society president to welcome Sierra and her family and Iliana and Dawn. We got to Stacy's house, and it turned out her grandchildren, Dagoberto* and Robin*, were coming as well! We were one seat short! So we started calling ward members but no one was answering their phones! We had no way to get the last child to church. The first ride came and took 3 kids, and we waited for the next ride, who said they could take two. They came late, but the member explained to us that she had a feeling to drop off her son at church before she came and picked up the rest of the family, but didn't know why. She came and had just enough seats for everyone! Don't be afraid to act on a prompting! 

Once we got to church, we were trying to handle all of these wonderful people. Stacy, Rachel, Tiffany, Heidi, Dagoberto, Robin, Leah*, Sierra, Trace*, Jewel*, Jessica, Stephanie, Keri, Olivia*, Irene, Victory,  Tom, Mike, Iliana, and Dawn. The Elders helped us out, as well as Brother and Sister Dromey, and Sister Salvador and Alex, her daughter. We survived barely all 3 hours, but it was so good! Thanks for your prayers!

I had some sweet studies about sacrifice and understanding. You may wonder how that came to be, but they went hand in hand. Holy cow. But it all tied into covenants. If there are two things that motivate me to do anything in life they would be (1) I am a covenant daughter of my Eternal Father and (2) Jesus Christ Atonement is infinite and just for me. If you are looking for direction, motivation, understanding, hope, peace, and a whole lot of Spiritual strength and direction, I would definitely invite you to study sacrifice (Bible Dictionary), understanding (Topical Guide), and read Preparing to Enter the Temple along side your Patriarchal Blessing. And then get to the temple!! You have the opportunity to enter the House of the Lord. A refuge from the world! A harbor. Follow the counsel of God's chosen representatives, be worthy of a temple recommend, and go often. "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven"! Use the atonement, be sanctified, and fellowship with the Lord.

Con amor,

Hermana Lewis

Is this funny to anyone else?

Caught after the act.

15 month mark and long fish!

Driving to MLC really, really early in the morning. So worth it!

We were driving, going so fast, and passed this street. Then we turned around and took a couple minutes to enjoy the beauty God gave us.

Sister Hoffman, Tyson (WML's son), y yo before the baptism.

Jessica!!!

Sierra!

The kids.  I promise I have a tan.

Sister Hoffman, Olivia, Stephanie, Keri

Me, Jessica, Jessica's mom, Sister Yonk

Sister Yonk, Me, Callie, Sister Hoffman