Miracles

BTW, Janell's birthday is September 13th if you wish to mail her your special conversion, testimony, or special spiritual story (see her request below).  Currently her address is 'Sister Lewis, Washington DC North Mission, 11700 Falls Road, Potomac, MD 20854-2823'.  Also, thanks to many of you who have responded that you enjoy receiving these messages.  Having a child, grandchild, or child of a friend on a mission is a wonderful blessing that provides constant miracles, joy, and tender mercies.  Thanks for being part of that with us. - Val

Wow, there is so much to say. First off I am so glad to hear about my Dobie. She is one tuff cookie I'll tell you that! I hope the pain goes away soon.

I actually had a lot happen this week. This has been a miracle week in so many ways. I had some tuff days but they were overshadowed by some great experiences. I have to first say to Mike and Wendy, thank you so much for your conversion stories. You have no idea how much that meant to me and how perfect the timing was for those. My testimony was strengthened as I read them and the Spirit was so strong when i was reading them. They strengthened me and will help me be a better missionary for my Heavenly Father to His children. He is so aware of us. He answers our prayers. Thank you so much for those. I would love to have all my family, if you can, please send me your own conversion stories. I know that there are stories that are private so you don't have to send me those if you don't want, but I would love to hear them. Mike, one of your stories about your mission helped in a way you don't even know. I was feeling a similar feeling as you were so reading it was a blessing and perfect for me at that moment. Wendy, your story was so great. I think so many people can benefit from your story. If you don't mind I would love to use some of your story in teaching. It also goes to show that member missionary work is the best way to do missionary work. I also love how Heavenly Father prepared you. I see people all around me being prepared and even some that are now prepared. Love it. Either your own personal conversion story or your testimony...or both which they kind of go hand in hand. Mom has my address so you can send it to me. A printed copy would be best since i can't print from this computer. I think it would benefit all of you too because it will be good to write down your own thoughts about the gospel and what it means to you. Ooo...that could be my birthday gift from all of you if you so wish to give me anything! I also would love to get those from everybody else who reads my letters and so wishes to send theirs too!

This past week there was indeed an earthquake. I was on the American University campus talking about a religion class that will be offered on campus (since we are not allowed to proselyte on campus). I was sitting on a bench and suddenly I thought my companion had come up and shook my bench. I looked up and the whole ground was shaking and the people sitting on the grass were so worried and everyone was shaking. It was kind of awesome! I thought it was pretty cool. It was funny cause people had to evacuate the buildings so there were more people outside to talk to:) And it was easy to talk to people because the earthquake made for a good convo starter..hahaha. I love it! But the true miracle of the day was when we were setting up our table at the beginning this kid comes to our table and asks if we were Mormons. We said yes of course and then he said that he wanted to become a mormon. We all just were in shock for a second. We found out that he is a freshman and he is from Folsom, CA. His parents are baptist but his grandfather was a mormon. It caused a division in his family but he always wanted to know more about us. Well, we can sure help him with that! We are going to see him tomorrow. He is such a nice kid. He is 18...so in a year maybe he will go on a mission...:) That was a miracle to me because I keep seeing people who want to hear about the gospel but they are not dedicated at all. They get baptized but then stop coming to church or stop reading and so on. I wanted to see a person who actually "hungered and thirsted" for the gospel. I read about them in the Book of Mormon but wondered if there was any such person. And then I met Karl. I'll let you know how it goes.

Another miracle I saw was the other day I was at the Visitor Center and this family came in. A mom and grandma and 4 little girls. The mom came up to me and whispered that her mom was asking gospel questions for the first time ever so she wanted to see a good movie. Well, we have those. Before I took them into the movie I offered the little girls a sticker that I had. I told them that it said, "I am a Child of God" on it. The little girl got a huge smile on her face and said, "I know that song! I'll sing it!" She then proceeded to sing the song and my heart melt. I then started to sing it with her. I almost started crying because she was so sweet. After that the grandma asked if SHE could have a sticker. I thought that was a little miracle. I didn't see them after the movie but I know that the grandma felt the Spirit while she was there. That same day there was another lady that came in the VC named Harriett who was my little miracle. She only came in for a minute but she wanted to stay longer. Her daughter was out in the car because she didn't feel well so she just wanted to come in for a minute. She had never been there before but she wanted to take all the pamphlets and pictures we had at the front desk. I asked her if she wanted to listen to the Christus and she started crying. She agreed and then after it I just hugged her. She said that she was definitely coming back. I hope to see her again. She was an angel with the purest heart ever.

Well I think i talked a lot. I hope to hear how you are all doing. I love this gospel. It truly blesses lives and it is the best to see that. It truly does bring so much joy as the scriptues say. I love you all so much! Keep me posted!

Love,

Sister Lewis

Pictures

Left - First day on mission: Sister Otieno & Sister Lewis

Right - Madge (baptized 3 months ago) and Amanna (born 2 weeks ago) & Sister Lewis

Bottom - Sister Otieno & Sister Lewis

Top - Sister Morre, Sister Allen & Sister Lewis...Visitor Center Sisters

Bottom - Sister Lewis, Sister Liddiard, and Sister Clark

Big Day Tomorrow

Hello everyone.  First, I want to report that Jodee had her surgery today and it went great.  The doctor said that the gall bladder seemed to be non-functional and had a stone larger than a golf ball.  He was able to do it laproscopically and it took an hour and a half.  We were home by 2:00pm, and she is doing even better than we had hoped.  She will have a few difficult days, but she is used to that after her year with a bad gall bladder.  Thanks for all your prayers!  They made a huge difference.

Mindy is our granddaughter and Janell's niece...she is serving a mission in Russia.

For those of you who are not aware of all missionary terms...'Transfers' happen every 6 weeks, and the missionary is usually transferred to a new area and gets a new companion...but Janell is remaining in the same location with her current companion. - Val

Hello my family!

Oh gosh I wish my letters were more like Mindy's. She gives so much detail and information. I forget what my week was like because everything just kind of goes together. Sounds like life has been busy for all of you. Tell JoAnn that I want pictures of my baby...I miss her so much. That is so awesome that she got a job at a charter school. Tell her to write me. Also, i briefly was able to read some of Mindy's letter and it mentioned something about PC. Did Diane go to PC?? I'm jealous if that happened! I want everybody to go 2013. So...everyone prepare to do that:) I want to know how the surgery for Dobie goes. You should be there right now actually. I sure do miss that Dobie:)

Yesterday we had our first transfer. I am staying here in DC 2nd ward with Sister Otieno. This is her last transfer before she goes home. It was weird to see some of the sisters go home. They were all so great! I was so excited for all of them. It was weird to think about it because it seems like I will never be there and never go home. Ha. Not that that is bad, it just seemed weird cause they were all saying how it went by so fast. Pretty sure I've been here 10 years now and pretty sure I have 10 more to go!:) Oh, I wish I could remember my week better. On Tuesday we helped out a girl in our ward clean her wheelchair, scooter thing. It was fun. I love doing service. Her chair was pretty dirty so it was nice to see it all clean afterwards. She is a funny girl. Her name is Deb. I need to remember to take more pictures...I am so bad at that. Wow, I really can't remember anything that I did this past week. It seriously all goes together. Yesterday at the VC I had a cool experience. I chat online in the mornings 3 days a week and sometimes the people want missionaries to come by and bring them a copy of the Book of Mormon. A couple of weeks ago there was a man named Simon from the UK that wanted that. He had a BofM at one point in his life, and even read it, but lost it. So we referred missionaries to him. I called him yesterday to follow up with him to see if they came. I talked to him for about 15 min about the blessing of the Book of Mormon. It was fun to hear his accent. He is from northern England so it is more of a thick Scotish accent. I told him that I would call back in a week and we would talk about the Book of Mormon and what he read. He agreed. It was so fun. Also chatting yesterday I chatted with a guy named Carlos who was just looking for answers to questions. I taught him how to pray via chat. He was so grateful. I also sent missionaries to him. He said that he didn't know why he came online to chat but he felt good inside. HA! I love the Spirit! I will call him back in a week or so to check up on him as well. It is interesting, I was reading in Alma today about Ammon and Alma and how they had so much joy when they saw others come unto Christ. Now, I haven't been out long but it is amazing how wonderful it feels just to have someone feel the Spirit even though they might not realize that they are feeling it. So great!

Well, I don't know if I have much more to say. I really forget my days...must be my old age:) I am praying for all of you. I love you all so much! The gospel is so wonderful. Keep me updated with everything. Send pictures if you can. 

Love you all!

Sister Lewis:)

Current News from Sister Lewis

Clarifications:  Brian is her older brother who was a Bishop here in Elk Grove. A counselor was Steve Short.  Well, they both live in Utah now, and Steve was just called to be Bishop and Brian is now his counselor. 

Dobie & Dobes is her nick-names for Jodee. (Surgery to remove her gall bladder is next Thursday).  I'm pappy. 

Our 50th wedding anniversary is next year in June and her mom was asking her if she wants us to wait until she returns to celebrate. - Val

Of course Brian is in the bishopric again with someone he served with before as a bishop. That is awesome. I love mom that you will be a teacher! The conference talks are the best! You will rock it I know. I think that is awesome about fastball dad. You will have to let me know how it turns out! You know I love hearing about fastball! Also, if you have a lot of quotes and stuff to send me I would LOVE if you will mail them to me. That way I can have a paper copy of them so I will be able to look at them often.

So I am nervous for my dobie but I will for sure put her name in the temple. I will pray like crazy for her. I want her pain to go away so I hope that it will. Good luck my twin sister! You just wear your shirt that says, "I not tare. I one tuff cookie!" That will help:) Pray a lot too Dobes! Heavenly Father will help you the most. Ok? It will be ok!

Dad, I read a really good talk that you have for sure probably read before but I recommend it. I recommend it for everyone to read. It was a talk given by Ezra Taft Benson called, "The Keystone of our Religion". If you go to lds.org you can type it in the search box and it will come up. It is awesome. I think sometimes we foret how important the Book of Mormon really is and why we have it. I know when I talk to investigators they often ask why we have another "bible". This talk clears that up. There are also many scriptures that clear that up as well of course...which are in the bible and the Book of Mormon. Anyway, it is really good.

So another week has gone by. Wow. Sunday was such a great day. Sacrament meeting was sooo good. I did a lot of thinking. I was talking to one of the senior sisters the other day and we were talking about the importance of Sacrament meeting and how it relates to our personal revelation. Interesting to note that a lot of the general authorities talk about that as well. When we partake of the sacrament we are renewing our covenants we made at baptism and "becoming clean" again virtually. By so doing, we then have the opportunity to be more able to receive our personal revelation. Also interesting note, when Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey had that amazing experience in the Kirtland temple when Christ appeared to them and all those prophets, before all that happened, they partook of the sacrament. So, just another importance of going to church and partaking of the Sacrament is so that we can receive revelation. Church is awesome! Gospel is so true! There are many things to learn but I love the little insights that I get here and there. I have been talking to Elder Pack (he is a senior couple missionary here and a former member of the seventy) at the VC and I love to ask questions and then we discuss them. It makes me miss my pappy and how I would always call when I had questions or ideas I wanted to discuss. I'm glad there is someone here to go to...but I still miss my pappy:)

Just another note of my week, we have a night once a week called, "The Night of Music and Inspiration". A sister missionary is in charge of it and it is held at the VC. It is just an hour of music and little talks. I was asked to sing. So, I sang a duet with another sister. I was so nervous but I did it. The spirit still works even though my voice may not be the best. There were a LOT of people there. There was an investigator that came from the ward I'm serving in just because he wanted to come hear me sing. I'm glad he came because it was a very good, spiritual night and that is what it is all about.

Mom, as far as the 50th wedding anniversary, I would be fine if you waited till December. Whatever you two want to do. This is your big year! I love you both and how you are such great examples to me. What a true blessing you are in my life. I thank my Father in Heaven every day that He sent me to you two.

I'd better go. I love and miss you all so much! Tell Mike to find a way to come visit if he is working out here. I will give him a tour at the Visitor Center! Mom, I did get my pills...thank you! I think me and sister Otieno are going to go to the zoo today. Random I know but you know I like random! I love the zoo! ha. Keep me updated with everything! Love you all!

Love,

Sister Lewis

Recent News

Ok mom, I'm sorry I haven't been providing enough info for you..I will work on it now. So my apartment is off of a main street in DC. Life is fast paced here in the city. I room with my companion Sister Otieno and we have two other sisters in the apartment, Sister DeAugustini and Sister Chan. The apartment is fine and livable. The ants sure like our living room but I just send them to heaven where they will be happier (yes, that is right. I kill them). My companion is from Kenya . She is great. She thinks I'm crazy. She tells me that all the time. I told her that she loves me she just doesn't know it yet:) We have a good time on occasion but I don't think people understand why I love to laugh so much. It is the only thing that keeps me sane. There is one sister that makes me laugh though. Her name is Sister Perez. She is from Mexico. She is hilarious! I don't know why she makes me laugh so hard but she is funny. She told me that the first time that she met me she thought I was snobby but now she thinks that I'm super fun. It's funny cause I think that a LOT of sisters here thought or still think that I'm snobby. I swear that I do nothing but who knows. But once they get to know me they tell me that they think I'm funny. One girl asked if I ever did stand up comedy. HA, now she was pretty funny. I just have to laugh sometimes ya know.

This past week we had zone conference. It was so nice to have a little change. I learned SO much! President and Sister Matsumori are so amazing. I sure love all of the senior couples as well. I had a chance to meet some of the elders in the mission and they are all so cute and little. It makes me miss all of my nephews. None of the other sisters talk the elders because of elder/sister relationships or something like that. I guess I'm just a rebel! You know, it is possible to talk to someone without falling in love with them. hahaha.

Let's see...Oh dad you will LOVE this story. The other day we were downtown going to go talk to some members in the ward and we met a guy named Stephen. He said that he wanted to sit down and talk to us sometime. We didn't even have to invite him to talk! He asked if right then would be ok so of course we agreed. He started to ask us why we were on missions and then we found out that he was a missionary himself for his church. He was apart of the penacostal baptist church or in other words, he was an evangelical! I just laughed to myself because I thought about you. He wanted probably to save my soul! Well, we met with him even though I knew he didn't really want to learn. He was super nice though and everytime we invited him to do something he would invite us to do something. Haha. He wanted to meet with us some more but with someone who doesn't have the intent to truly learn, we can't waste our time. BUT I will  say this about it. It confirmed even more that this church is TRUE. Oh my. He told me what they believed and I loved hearing it and everyday I think about things that he said and how it makes NO sense to me. In 2 Nephi it talks about how the gospel will give light to the understanding, this is so true. Whenever I read the scriptures and pray and learn anything about the restoration of the gospel, it just makes sense and it is so good. When he talked, I was SOOOO confused. It made no sense. I'm glad that he is a good guy and wants to do good. That is wonderful. I was just so confused.

The mission is hard but it is good. I have met many awesome people. In zone conference we discussed how as a mission we are going to do a "40 day fast" together. What this means is that we are going to fast and pray for a day and write down all things that we do that poke at the spirit (anything that leads the spirit away). The spirit is the only way anyone can be successful in missionary work because it is the one that does the converting and we are just the vessel. But the vessel needs to be able to have it. Once we have the list, we fast from those things for 40 days. We pray everyday to be able to do it. I love this idea. There was a talk by a guy who did it on his mission because it was the counsel of a leader that spoke to them and he said it changed his whole mission because he had the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. I know that this is needed in order for me to be a better instrument in the Lord's hands because this is His work. I will let you know how it goes.

I love you all so much. I really do have the greatest family ever. I want you all to know that I know that this gospel is true and if we strive to live and follow the commandments with all of our hearts, that our Heavenly Father will pour out His blessings upon us. I have been so blessed already in my life to have such wonderful examples that surround me. I love my Savior and this is His gospel. It is only through Him and His gospel that we will find peace, comfort, and joy in this life and in the eternities. Always remember that. Draw near unto Him so He can draw near unto you. It is true. All of it. I love Him. I love all of you. Write me. I love hearing about life. :)

Love you,

Sister Lewis

July 27

So that you are not confused, the first paragraph Janell is referring to a story that I sent to her....Val

Thank you for the spiritual message dad.  After I read it I read a passage in Alma 12 that I thought applied a little bit.  It was verses 9-11.  I guess the whole chapter is good and the man can be likened unto Zeezrom.  Maybe read about Alma and Amulek and Zeezrom.  Alma and Amulek were perfect missionaries.

So, this work is hard.  You think that you got an investigator and someone to teach, and then they never call you back.  I am tired a lot of the time but somehow I can keep going.  I have questioned my ability to do this over and over, but I know that it is what I need to do.  I do love it.  I'm not trying to be negative at all because there really is no better work to be done.l  There are good days and then there are hard days.  But Heavenly Father is always there and that is my comfort.  Knowing the truthfulness about this gospel is the best blessing ever.  I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the the light and the life of the world.  The scriptures are so true and testify of truth over and over again.  People can know the truth and have happiness and joy in life if they would just read it and abide by its precepts and then pray about it.  I love that everyone can have this truth and this joy.  It just takes a sincere desire.

I love all of you so much.  I miss you all and always pray for you.  Let me know about Jodee.  I didn't realize that she is having surgery...should I be worried? 

Love you all and miss you all!,

Sister Lewis  :)