Week 60

We had a great finish to our time in Osoyoos and Oliver, and on Wednesday morning we left dark and early to head back to West Kelowna for District Meeting. It was a really good training and I received a lot of answers and revelation! 

After District Meeting, we went and grabbed some A&W cause we had no food with us and no food at our apartment, except for rice and BBQ sauce. We were sitting there, eating, and this lady, clearly from off the streets, comes over to us. She asked us if we were students and UBCO. I told her we weren't, but that we were the missionaries on campus and that we help others come closer to Christ. She made space for herself where I was sitting on the bench and started talking to us. She started telling us what we believe, or more correctly, what the world says we believe, and I told her that it actually wasn't true! I told her that we believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that it is through him that we can be cleansed and made holy and perfect to be able to live with our loving Heavenly Father again. 

She was surprised and was more engaged. She started telling us that she had made a mistake and how it made her feel. I got to whip out my trusty Law of Chastity pamphlet, and pretty much taught her the lesson right there. Promised blessings and all. It felt good! Especially since it was an answer to prayers. Not necessarily to teach the Law of Chastity to her, but to be able to help someone. 

And then you wouldn't believe what happens next. She starts saying thanks and was getting so excited. It was all happening in slow motion. I knew it was coming. Terror struck my body. Fight or flight? Fight would normally be my response, but I am a representative of Jesus Christ. Flight sounded good, but again, I was a representative of Jesus Christ, pinned in a booth. Man. So I just sit. And waited for it. My whole body was screaming move!!! But I just sat there in anguish for what was coming. And boom. I felt so sick. I've got a tough stomach, but this one just kept getting to me. It took all I had not to freak out. She just planted a kiss. Right on my left cheek. OH MY GOSH. I thought I would die. Heavens! 

But all is well. I just calmly got up once she left, walked into the washroom, and washed my face. I can't believe she kissed me. What the heck? I mean, I get it. But still. I think Heavenly Father was just joking around with me a bit. He knew it would make me squirm. When we were leaving, she started smoking in the other booth. In A&W. Another lesson for another day.

And don't worry. For dinner we got to eat the rice and BBQ sauce. 

We have been really focusing on finding by the Spirit. We recently did away with QGCs as part of our Key Indicators and part of hitting the Standards of Excellence because it was effecting how we viewed and executed the work. We have seen so many miracles the past few weeks as we have really focused on what the Spirit is telling us, how to recognize the promptings, how to know we are doing the right thing at the right time, etc. It's fun! It's a lot of concentrated work. 

We planned Wednesday night for Thursday. Come Thursday night, we were following our plans that we felt were so inspired Wednesday night. And we went to each place and we tried to do what the Lord wanted us to do, but nothing seemed to really be happening. People didn't really want to talk to us, and we were starting to get a little confused on what we should do. But each time we went to our next plan, we felt like it was right. We took a minute to talk about it. We decided to each read something from the Book of Mormon to help us out a little. I prayed, asking Heavenly Father to help me find something that would help me know what to do, and hopefully opened to Ether 15. I kind of laughed in my head a little, and started reading. What did He want me to learn from this? I'll take anything! I got through the end of 15. Coriantumr killed Shiz. Alright. Cool. Then I started reading Moroni. I loved that Moroni said, "wherefore, I wander withersoever I can for the safety of mine own soul". 

Moroni was commanded to leave to be safe and to preserve the plates, but he did not receive directions for exactly where to go or what to do. He was left to do that on his own. I know he didn't do it all on his own, but he wasn't "commanded in all things". That gave me a lot more confidence it what we had planned. We are commanded to do something, and we may wander a little in the meantime, but as long as we are ready and willing to do what the Lord needs us to be, and we are out trying to see why we need to be where we are, then that is what I have to do. And I finished off with the Sacrament prayers. I love that we have the promise to always have the Spirit to be with us! 

So we hopped out of our car after praying, and walked into Walmart. Yes, again. We were walking around and we run into this guy from Mexico! Now that it's starting to warm up, all the orchards are bringing in help from Mexico. His name was Moises. We had a good conversation, I got his number, and we invited him to church. And he came! Moises came to church!! And he said he would come next week! 

We went on Exchanges with the West Bank Sisters, Sister Wright and Sister Huszti. I was with Sister Huszti in our area and we saw so many fun little miracles. We were going on campus before meeting with Stacy, and we met this girl, Joy*, who said she lives next to President Burt! We talked to President, and he told us that they were really good friends with Joy* and her parents and that they have been working with them for a while. We haven't been able to set anything up so far, but hopefully soon.

Sister Huszti and I were able to find a lot of joy in the work. I loved being able to spend time with her. 

For park-your-car Saturday, we borrowed bikes from so x-YSA members (they got married). We rode our bikes all around town. And we stopped and talked to everyone on the way. They were so much more interested when two girls on bikes in skirts stopped to talk to them. We met some really cool people. 

My favorite part, besides the great exercise, was when we were near the mall. I saw this group of men and they looked Mexican. We rode over and I started talking to them. Sure enough, they just arrived the day before and were here to work on some Orchards. There was a school bus-full of Mexicanos! And I talked to them about the gospel, church, the whole deal. They didn't have a phone, but said they would call if they had time to meet up. Even if they don't, at least we were able to have a good conversation about Jesus Christ. But I loved it. And I'm happy to announce that they asked me if I was from Mexico. Soy mexicana de corazon!

We got to teach a potential, Doug*. He is from mainland China and doesn't have much of a background about God or Christianity, but he has seen the example of one of his friends and loved how confident she was because of her belief in God. We taught the Restoration and it was a really good lesson, if I do say so myself. He texted us yesterday and said he was grateful for what he has learned, but right now he isn't interested in joining a religion. One day. Every knee will bow, every tongue confess. 

Well, that was a long one. I got to play the organ again yesterday in church... Also, I ran into a lot of other cool latinos. We might as well open a seasonal Spanish branch here.

No pictures this week.  It's not working.  And I keep forgetting to tell you, but Aimee was baptized a couple weeks ago!!

Los amo para siempre! Paz y bendiciones!

Hermana Lewis

Week 59

Hey hey! 

This week was fantastic! It also went really fast! 

We did a lot of member visits this week, less active visits, and non-member visits. 

Brother Card, a member of the branch, set up almost every lesson for us this week, and they have been experiences for sure! 

He introduced us to one of his renters, Deanna* (In her 70s). He said she was negative, but that it would be worth a try! We walked into her home and she had muffins, cookies, pastries, chocolate milk and apple juice set up for us. We ate a little snack first, and got to know her a little. We sat down and were going to watch the Restoration movie, and started to give a little background. She cut us off immediately and said that the problem she has with us is the Book of Mormon. She pretty much screamed at us for the next half hour. Then we watched the movie. The Spirit was so strong. Afterwards, you could see the change of heart she had. But she still didn't want to believe in the Book of Mormon or the truth about Joseph Smith. We testified and left on a good note. 

Brother Card had set up another appointment with her last night. We first listened to her tell us about how she knows the Bible is true because of mathematical patterns. We told her we believe and study the bible as well, but she didn't like to hear that. We talked to her a little about the Bible and the Book of Mormon and bore testimony. She had read a little from the beginning in 1 Nephi on her own and then prayed and asked for a passage that would giver her an answer. She told us about that and I was so excited to see what passage she went to. 2 Nephi 2. Awesome. That one is so good! Her heart was definitely not broken. We read through a couple of the scriptures she had read previously and she told us that the Bible doesn't agree with it at all. She took us to Genesis and sure enough, they did agree. Brother Card bore a beautiful testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and we followed. We left again on a good note somehow...

We took the 3 hour drive to Kelowna for Zone Meeting on Friday, had 3 hour Zone Meeting, and then took the 2.5 hour drive to Kamploops to have the Vernon Zone Meeting. They both went well. We got to do mini exchanges with Sister Cosman and Sister Nelson! They are the best! 

There is so much I could talk about, but I have run out of time again. One day I'll get this thing down. I know the Book of Mormon is true! I know it is the word of God and it has helped me know Christ better. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, called to do His work. 

Con amor,

Hermana Lewis

The little branch building.  So cute!

Last P-day we pretty much ran out to this little strip of land in the middle of the lake. It was a lot further than we thought. 

Look at that ice

We are staying in the building on the right.

Week 58

Operation Osoyoos: Week 1

We got a call last Monday night from our Stake President, and he told us he was going to send us to an area in the stake where they don't have missionaries right now, to see how it would do if missionaries were to come. We packed up and left Tuesday morning. 

We had a spiritual confirmation that we were supposed to go, and it just worked out perfectly because in Kelowna, all the students at UBCO and Okanagan College have midterms and Reading Break. We arrived and were welcomed by Brother and Sister Whitesell, and then Brother and Sister Fields. We had a nice meal of soup and grilled cheese and then the Fields took us on a quick drive of Osoyoos. We then got to work! We picked a couple ward members to stop by (active and inactive) also walked the streets to meet some people. 

And we've done that since! On Sunday night, we got the old area book for Oliver from the Penticton Elders, and we were able to stop by some formers. 

But we have had so much fun and joy come from relying on the spirit! 

1. We were tracting on Thursday in Oliver, and it was a street we didn't know, but had planned in. No one was home on the entire street, and we were thinking about leaving and heading somewhere else. But we felt we should stay. And we knocked on a door, and a cute old man, named Elliott* invited us in immediately! We were shocked! Inside was his wife Maisy*, and we met with them and did some How to Begin Teaching, where we found out they have toured outside the Cardston Temple, the Salt Lake Temple, and the Laie Temple and were interested in the Mormon religion. They were so kind! We are excited to meet with them again this week! 

2. We dropped by a former family, and they had moved, but the people living there invited us right in and told us how they would do anything for the Lord! They were so excited in asking us who we were and what we did! We also are visiting them later this week! And, Victor* is from Buenos Aires and his wife, June*, is from Columbia! Spanish!

3. On Thursday, Brother Card, a member in the branch called us and said he was setting up 3 appointments for us while we were here! 

4. Sister Fields, right when we arrived, gave us 4 referrals.

5. We spent the day in Oliver yesterday, and we had nothing to eat. We stopped at this pizza place and ate delicious pizza. And then the workers were speaking Spanish! So as I paid for my food, I started to talk to them and have a QGC. Then later that night, we visited with Dean*, one of the investigators Brother Card set up a lesson with, and we found out it was his daughter! So cool! 

There are so many more miracles, but I don't have the time to write them all! I'll keep you updated! 

Amor, amor, amor,

Hermana Lewis

A couple weeks ago, before transfers, we had Japanese food with Sister Tripp and Sister Lai. It was fantastic. 

The Japanese owners know us by name!

We had dragon fruit for breakfast the morning Sister Madson left!

We love pizza. Every time we go to UBCO, we have to pay for parking passes, which cost between $3-$5 at the cheapest. It really adds up on your missionary budget, and we ran out of money last month because of it. Which really was a miracle, because we found a spot where we can park for free! It's only a 10 minute hike on a mountain, but it works! We brought pizza along to keep us energized!

The minis!

All the past missionaries in the branch<3

The border!

That's Osoyoos. The Desert of Canada. Everyone treats it like it's the wild west and Arizona. Haha people walking around in cowboy hats and all. But it's been averaging below freezing the past couple weeks, with snow every once in a while. 

Sisters at MLC

Bottom, left to right: Ritchie, Wilson, Wright, Zundel, Driscoll, Yonk, Jeppson, Grant, Hemenway, Madson, Gamble, Bell, Schroeder, Lewis, Sister Burt, Ditto, Miller

Week 57

It's snowing, once again, in the beautiful Okanagan!

This week was great! I don't really have complete thoughts to share, but hopefully you get something from reading this.

We got mini missionaries this weekend from the lovely Vernon Stake! We had two staying with us, Sophia and Danica. We were able to see countless miracles as we were with them and they were troopers!

On Thursday, during weekly planning, we had lunch at the church with Sister Lai and Sister Tripp. We made waffles! We didn't have too much of a variety to eat with our waffles, but we made due with peanut butter, bananas, chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting, nutella, and syrup. It was so good. We had a lot of fun!

We are taking care of the car for a closed area right now, and making sure it is running every once in a while, and it died a couple times this week. So that was fun! We got to make a couple walking trips to pick up our other car. 

I dropped my planner in the mud the other day. That was fine. No big deal. So I go to pick it up and instead, I just stomped on it with my muddy shoe. All I can do is laugh about that one.

A couple weeks ago, when I was calling through the phone, I made a list of everyone I called and what happened. If they weren't interested, I deleted the number. If they blocked us, I deleted the number. If they answered, I set up a return appointment, or a date when it would be better to call. I wrote down a couple notes on what they were doing or something about them. And if they didn't answer, I have been going through and re-calling them. The other week, I called one number and got no answer, but they called back! It was this guy named Austen*. We found out he was an assistant for the UBCO basketball team. He said he has just been ignoring most of the calls, but decided that since we were so persistent, he would call and find out why. We talked to him and explained what we do, and he told us he was really busy, but keep trying, and sometimes he'll talk. We were on campus every day this week, and exploring and going anywhere we could. We ran into Stacy* and she wanted to show us the gym (haha). We didn't fit in at all. But that's ok! We walked down the stairs and there was this man walking up. I saw on his shirt it said Heat Basketball. I asked him if he was the basketball coach and he said yes! He asked who I was and I got to have an awesome conversation with him. He was so nice! And then I asked if he knew Austen*. He said he did and that he was in the gym and I could go talk to him! So we went! And he came out and we met him! We'll see if we can meet sometime soon! Also, we met one of the referrals he told us about on the phone! And we met one of the players a little later on in the week. We are working on just converting the whole basketball team.

We did lots of contacting this past week. 252 quality gospel conversations. We met some really amazing children of God, and some really stressed out children as well. But we know God and the Gospel can bless and help them! 

We saw a member from the family ward in the mall as we were running in to use the washroom. She was carrying around one of her pet bunnies. We walked up and said hi, and got to hold the bunny. It was so soothing! But anyway, at the end I was thinking it would poop on me. It didn't, but right as I was passing the bunny back to the Sister, it pooped. Good day. 

On Sunday, I saw the same member, and she said we can take her bunnies out to go finding. Then the people would approach us! So we are working on that! We'll let you know how it goes!

Last night we met with the Stake President, President Draper. I loved seeing how Christlike he is and seeing the devotion he had towards the saints in the stake, as well as the future members. I love seeing the example of him fulfilling his calling. I'm super grateful for the priesthood. And priesthood leaders. I'm so grateful. I could just go on and on. 

Sorry for this email. I'm not really sure what the point was, but I love being a missionary! I love meeting all of these people and being a part of their lives, even if it is for only 1 minute! I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! They live!

Con amor para siempre!

Hermana Lewis

Ich leibe waffles<3 

 Ich leibe schwester Schroeder!

Week 56

Jina langu ni dada Lewis!

This week was so full of miracles. God is eternally good and I can't even begin to try to express how loving and perfect He is. 

I love the experiences I am having as a minister of Jesus Chris sustained by the power and authority of God. I am grateful for my "right and privilege to represent the Lord" and that he has trusted me to bring his lost sheep back to the fold (PMG, 4).

Heavenly Father trusted us this week to teach so many of his children. 

We taught Angela the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Tuesday. We taught her about God's hand in restoring the plan of our eternal salvation and happiness. She had been reading from the Book of Mormon and praying. She loved the feelings she experienced as she did so. She told us how excited she was for her baptism and told us all of her plans. We taught her a few days later and went over the Word of Wisdom, praying daily, and studying the scriptures daily. She testified of it all and accepted it. She told us she was going to home to Penticton over the weekend, and so she would go to church there with the Elders if she couldn't get a ride back in time to come to YSA. Saturday, we got a text from her telling us this church wasn't for her. The timing may not be right, but "our message, which is centered in Jesus Christ, is of great value and importance" and that "no matter what [her] needs or concerns might be, the Savior and His teachings-the gospel-will help" (PMG, 176). I know that when she is ready, she will remember, just as Alma did, what we have taught her as well as the witness she received from the Spirit, a member of the Godhead, that these things were true. And when she is ready, she can grasp hold of the Savior and remember how close she felt as she read the words of his chosen prophets that testified of him.

Alma 36

 17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

 18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

 19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

 20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

We went finding on campus at UBCO (University of British Columbia) and testified of the power of Jesus Christ to everyone we talked to. I loved it.

We met one guy named Chad*. At the end of our conversation, he had to run to class, and we only had time to give him our number. We thought we would never hear from him again because that is just how it goes. The next day, we got a text from him telling us he wanted to hear more. We set up a lesson with him. We got to know him and taught the Restoration. He was so excited to be able to have his own Book of Mormon and to try out the promise given by the prophet Moroni, that he could read this book and know whether it was of God or not. We left him with 2 Nephi 31 and the introduction. He asked us when we could meet again to learn more. He came to church yesterday and enjoyed himself. He told us he read 2 Nephi 31 and the introduction and he loved it. We pray that he will continue to "come to know Him by reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon" as the Elders continue to teach him (PMG, 105).

On Friday night, some of our lessons fell through, and we didn't know what we should do. We decided to pray. Sister Schroeder and I both got the answer that we should go to Wal-Mart, even though that was the last place we wanted to go. 

"Pray for the Spirit's guidance, and valiantly follow the promptings you receive" (PMG, 91).

And we drove to Wal-Mart. We got in and we cleared our mind. Who did Heavenly Father need us to meet? We both felt a man. And we cleared our minds again. Old or young. We felt that it was an older man, but not an old man. We cleared our minds again. Where should we go? We pondered and waited a minute. We felt the electronics section. We walked to the back of the store and there was no one there. We began to walk around and tried to rely on the Spirit. We walked past an isle that had a man in it. We both paused at the isle divider. It was him. We walked down the isle, took a second to look at some power tools right next to him, and then said hello. His name was Norman*. We quickly got to know him just enough for him to feel comfortable and we began talking about Christ and our role as missionaries. We exchanged numbers, and we said we would contact him. On Saturday, he texted us and told us he wanted to learn more. 

Last night, we met with him and taught him the Restoration. He was amazed that we have a prophet of God on the earth to lead and guide us today and wanted to know for himself if he was a true prophet. We gave him a Book of Mormon and extended him the invitation to read, ponder, and pray to know if it was true. He was so excited and said he would be baptized as he came to know Thomas S. Monson was a prophet of God, that Joseph Smith was called of God and the prophet who restored Christ's perfect church on the earth again, and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. He asked when we could meet again so he could continue to learn.

"When individuals... feel the Spirit working with them, or when they see the evidence of the Lord's love and mercy in their lives, they are edified and strengthened spiritually and their faith in Him increases. These experiences with the Spirit follow naturally when a person is willing to experiment upon the word" (PMG, 93). 

If we had not acted, we would not have had that experience. If we had not asked, it would not have been given us. If we did not seek, we would not have found. If we had not knocked, it would not have been opened unto us. But we did, and like always, God kept his promise.

“But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not. (Mosiah 4: 29-30)"

We have been given everything we need to have happiness now and joy in eternity. It is up to us if we use those blessings from our loving Heavenly Father. Through our agency, we decide if we are happy, we decide if Christ has power in our lives, we decide if we return to live with God again. Continually "feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:3). We need to remember how good God is and remember to do as he has asked, and "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven, and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all things which the Lord can comprehend" (Mosiah 4:9). 

"Trust in the Lord: he is [your] help and [your] shield" (Psalms 115"11).

 "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:4).

That is just a touch of what I have seen and felt this week. 

On another note, Sister Schroeder and I play "What are the odds..." as we are going about. We were walking down this street downtown, and there was only one man. I asked her what the odds were that she would bring up the hokey pokey in our next conversation. And we guessed the same number. 

Us: Hello! How are you? 

-Old man breathes hard, bent over in pain after shooting himself up... (No we didn't know he was before we started talking).

Sister Schroeder (nervously talking): We were just wondering if you had ever heard of the hokey pokey. You know...you put your right arm in...you put your right arm out... you put your right arm in and you shake it all about..you do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself about... that's what it's all about...

-As Sister Schroeder was talking, a car full of guys our age pulled up in an alley behind us and were watching. I was wondering what they were doing, and they just sat there. 

And then the old man says "That's what it's all about" as he lifts up his head and gives us the creepiest look. And just then the guys in the car shout something and we quickly take the out and they speed off. Pretty much just saved us from the creepiest man. 

One more miracle.

Love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Hermana Lewis

Most of the Zone after Zone Meeting. We got our Christmas present from the Burts.  Sister Lai, Sister Tripp, Me, Sister Wright, Elder Maurer, Elder Coomans, Elder Gleed, Sister Madson, Sister Heward, Elder McNabb, Elder Pectol, Elder Petersen, Elder Haase, Elder Ellis)  

Week 55

This week lasted an eternity. So it's a good thing it was a good week! 

Last Monday was good. I don't remember too much of it.

On Tuesday, we had a leadership meeting with President and Sister Burt, the Zone Leaders, and the two District Leaders in the Kelowna Zone. It was a super good meeting. And right after, we had our Specialized Training for the Kelowna Zone. It was also just awesome. This zone is pretty great and we are unified for sure! 

Right after our awesome meetings, Sister Tripp and I split on exchanges and we went to her area, the Kelowna 2nd ward. We taught a lesson to one of their investigators with a baptismal date, Aimee*. She is amazing. Oh my goodness. Her baptismal date is January 30th and she is so ready. I wish you could all meet her! 

We knocked doors, had a delicious dinner with the Rider family, and then did a little 12 weeks while eating Ice Cream. We had so much fun. 

Wednesday morning, we tracted and had so many strange conversations. Especially the time when we walked up to a house, knocked on the front door of one apartment and they weren't interested. We then knocked on their neighbor's door, waited for a response, and then rang the door bell when no one came. A couple minutes later, the husband comes out and tells us it's the same house. -_- 

While on exchanges, Sister Lai and Sister Madson set a baptismal date with Angela! It's for February 21st! 

On Wednesday night, we got to teach Stacy and have dinner with Jamie*. During dinner, we got a call from a branch member who shouted at us telling us they had a huge chicken with gluten free stuffing they had just made and we were late to pick it up. They then realized they were a week early. Haha not getting over that one:) And then we got to teach a lesson to Elise*, a girl from Quebec. The Elders found her and set up the appointment for us. I got to try to use my French. Let's just say it was a good night. 

On Thursday,  we had planning, and then afterwards, I got to teach Nikki*, Star* and Macy* in West Bank (a.k.a. Snow Bank)! They are so sweet! And we finished off the night with some contacting. 

Friday, we had Zone Meeting! I got to train by myself on opening matters, our new mission baptismal goal, and our new mission 9:00 am prayer. I accounted with Elder Ellis on how we have been doing as a zone with our baptismal goals for December and January, and looking ahead to February, and then I did a training on our mission/zone/personal culture with Elder Maurer. It was a good meeting! 

Afterwards, all our lessons had fallen through at UBCO, but we decided to stick to our backup, which was finding there. Which is really weird because it was at an unproductive time of day and it costs a lot for parking. But we did. We ran into Hala, and we had a really awesome lesson with her, which turned into baptism! We were just talking about God making sure she understood who he was, and it turned into baptism. Everyone! Baptism helps us understand who God is. It helps us come closer to him. I just love it. 

Then we talked to more people. They were few and spread out. And it was freezing. Then we got a hold of Angela! And she came outside in the freezing to talk to us for a second and was so excited. Before we could even say anything, she started talking about her baptism and how she wants it to go. She said that this past week, after going to church, she has been the happiest she has ever felt, and she knows it's because she went to church. She told us her cute conversion story, which isn't that long yet, but she was so grateful the Elders found and talked to her. God loves us.

Then we peaced out. 

On Saturday, it felt like it lasted forever. It was park-your-car day, like usual, but it seemed like it wasn't ever going to end. And it was snowing buckets. But it was beautiful! We ate lunch at Smoke's (shout-out to mi hermana) and it was so good! Also a blessing that we were walking all day so that the poutine wasn't too damaging. All our plans fell through today, but we did see Reagan at the mall with her mom and got to have a good talk with them. Her mom, Nancy*, asked us to pray for her to get a specific job, so that was awesome! We ended the night with coordination. And transfer calls! I'm staying another transfer here and Sister Schroeder is going to be my new companion! Sister Madson is headed to Abbey YSA. I'll miss her!

Sunday was great! Roxanne came to church and loved it, even though it was a worst nightmare for missionaries. The two speakers we had were both Stake high council speakers. They talked about baptisms for the dead, endowments, and initiatories. The Elders explained it perfectly in a text: "That moment when you wish you could report 0 at Sacrament..."

Afterwards, the Elders had a double baptism! Paul and Chao! It was super awesome! I love baptisms! They were both just so happy! The Spirit was super strong! They both worked so hard to make it to baptism and it paid off, of course!

After the baptism, we had dinner at the Wilson's home. It was exactly what I needed. We laughed and talked and felt the Spirit, all while eating food with the equivalent nutritional value of everything I have had the past two transfers. 

We went contacting the rest of the night and saw quite a few miracles. 

God is so real and this is so His work. I love it. Every single minute. 

Hermana Lewis

Week 54

This week was so great. Or as Julian, a member of our branch likes to remind us all, "Everything is awesome".

Campus was alive this week. Starting Monday, we went back to campus and talked to so many people! And so many people gave us their numbers and we set up return appointments for the next two days. 

The other week, I called through about 250 potentials and formers in our phone, and got to meet some cool people, and delete the numbers of the angry-at-life-and-the-missionaries people. Haha anyway... I got to meet some cool potentials as well! On Monday night, we got to meet with one named Hala*! She is from India and is so cool! And she also brought her friend (boyfriend?) to our lesson. And they are both so truth seeking! It was a super cool lesson!! We did HTBT and God is our Loving Heavenly Father! All the questions they were asking at the end lined right up with the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We left them with the pamphlet and told them to read it and look for their answers, and then we would meet again and talk about it (which was going to be yesterday, but they didn't make it to church). But they are still cool!

We had every lesson we scheduled fall through this week. So that was super sad. 11 lessons in just 2 days! But the awesome part was that as we set them up, we felt good. And we felt successful. And we were just so happy that we got these numbers and they were truth-seeking people!

We had MLC this week and it was just amazing! Crazy to see Vancouver again! And the sky was clear at night so you could see the grid of streets. I could still trace my way through the streets of Vancouver as we were flying in, visiting formers, members, and potentials with my mind. But the meeting was so good! I received so much revelation! And I'm putting it into action!

I got to see Hermana Wilson!!!!!! She is now a Sister Training Leader in Nanaimo! I missed her so bad! And I got to see Sister Ditto! She is so amazing! Man. I am so lucky.

I don't even know how best to explain this week, except through the quotes and scriptures I liked. A lot of times, it wasn't new information, but it is true, and it just sticks to my heart and soul!

First things first, the Elders taught Sunday School two weeks ago and it was on the Priesthood. It was so great. I just love the Priesthood. And my ponderize scriptures have been all about it! It was a really good lesson, though.

Elder Maurer: The Priesthood authority is the power to do what God would do if he was in this room, right now.

They explained that the best way to know if you have repented of everything is to try to use your priesthood, and you immediately remember everything you've done, and know if there is something you need to fix before using it. So cool. So then I asked what it felt like to use the Priesthood.

Elder Ellis: It is part of the purpose of man to perform in the priesthood, so when you use the priesthood, you feel whole. 

I think I got the most out of that lesson, for sure! 

And we watched this video, which I had never seen before, but I love it!

Our District Leader called us to see how we were doing and check up on commitments we were given. We talked about the goals we had for ourselves and our area. 

Elder Petersen: We're going to have to white-wash Kelowna YSA because you are both going to be translated.

I was studying Bruce R. McConkie's life. And I felt so inspired. And I love him. 

"He has permitted me to suffer pain, feel anxiety, and taste his healing power."

"I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.

"But I shall not know any better then than I know now that He is God's Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that Salvation comes in and through his Atoning blood and in no other way."

"It is now all in the hands of the Lord."

I'm obsessed.

Highlights from MLC:

President Burt: Waste, wear out, and kill yourself. 

A sign: Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that you're stupid and make bad decisions.

President Burt: It's no coincidence that you serve as mission president for only 3 years. It ends right before you die.

Elder Ricks: Put Christ first, yourself last, and others in-between.

President Burt: I don't care what we have to do, but are we willing to do it?

Elder Reynolds: Our desires to not bind our actions.

President Burt: Everything we do as missionaries is Celestial. We are not Celestial yet, so just keep going!

We had a couple missionaries who were going home (2/3 were my Zone Leaders at one point), and these were parts of their dying testimonies:

Elder Buchanan: I am a servant of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I cannot go back to who I was because this is who I am.

Elder Bonfield: I'm not the same person I was, and I can never go back to that. You can bet I'm going to work hard when I go home and I'm off this council to baptize monthly and help others come unto Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

Elder Cottingham: We came from somewhere, we are here on our missions for a specific reason, and we'll go somewhere after. And if Joseph Smith really saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, it's enough motivation.

President Burt: I'm trying to be like Jesus. I'm trying in every way.

Church yesterday was exactly what I needed. 

The Elders gave talks yesterday and they were really good.

Elder Maurer: You are enduring to the end if there is opposition to living the Gospel, and you still decide to live it.

Elder Maurer: It's a game of patience.

Elder Ellis: Our journey is going from humility, faith, conversion.

Logan Morris (in his farewell talk): The more you read (the Book of Mormon), the more you learn.

Last night, we had a YSA broadcast. Elder Nelson is the coolest. Same with his wife!

Elder Nelson: A prophet had given me an assignment, so I set out to do what seemed utterly impossible.

As we were watching the broadcast, we had a couple streaming problems. It would play a little, freeze, buffer, rewind, and then play again. 

Elder Nelson: I was with my wife Sally, my wife Sally, and my grandson (or something like that).

Steven (one of the Elders investigators): Haha that's weird. Both his wives are named Sally.

A really cool girl came to church yesterday that the Elders found. Her name's Angela*! So keep her in your prayers! 

Stacy is back! And she came to church! And she's now practically best friends with Angela! Great member missionary right there.

That's all for this week. Transfer calls come this Saturday... Sorry for how confusing it might be! 

Love you all!

Love,

Hermana Lewis