Attached is a photo of Janell with her new companion sent to us by a senior missionary in the mission.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
HELLO! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
It is getting busy around here with the Festival of Lights that starts next week at the VC. It should be a good time. Next Wed night will be the night that the ambassadors from all over come and then the night after is the diplomat night. I think my feet are going to kill by the end of the month but I'm sure it will be a good time. I love Christmas!
Today we went and did service for the Salvation Army. They serve thanksgiving meals to the homeless every year. We got to help out with the food. They feed about 5000 people a day. It was super fun. I got a little burnt but all was well. After we got to have some food and I got to take a picture with a heavy weight boxer that was there. I don't know his name but it was fun. He looked like some professional sports player and I found out that he is boxing at the Convention Center in DC on Dec 10th. Maybe you can look it up to know who it was. I will try to print out the picture so I can send it home. Oh and next week I will seeing a general authority. Maybe I will just have a couple of photos with famous people to send home:)
Let see, a lot has happened in a week and I'm sure a lot more will happen in the next month. Thanksgiving is tomorrow and we are invited to the Bishop's house to eat. We will have a couple of our investigators there as well. Tonight we are eating with the Bishop and then we have an appt with our investigator who is also going to feed us. Oh the eating. I will take it easy though.
I love my new companion. Sister Joost is her name. She is so fun. We are kind of alike and we both are kind of laid back so it works out well. I'm kind of hoping that we stay at least a couple of transfers together.
I love you all so much! I love the work that I get to do. Heavenly Father is so aware of us and all of His children. Promise me that you all will always turn to Him. There is no better way. I can promise anyone that.
LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Sister Lewis
It is getting busy around here with the Festival of Lights that starts next week at the VC. It should be a good time. Next Wed night will be the night that the ambassadors from all over come and then the night after is the diplomat night. I think my feet are going to kill by the end of the month but I'm sure it will be a good time. I love Christmas!
Today we went and did service for the Salvation Army. They serve thanksgiving meals to the homeless every year. We got to help out with the food. They feed about 5000 people a day. It was super fun. I got a little burnt but all was well. After we got to have some food and I got to take a picture with a heavy weight boxer that was there. I don't know his name but it was fun. He looked like some professional sports player and I found out that he is boxing at the Convention Center in DC on Dec 10th. Maybe you can look it up to know who it was. I will try to print out the picture so I can send it home. Oh and next week I will seeing a general authority. Maybe I will just have a couple of photos with famous people to send home:)
Let see, a lot has happened in a week and I'm sure a lot more will happen in the next month. Thanksgiving is tomorrow and we are invited to the Bishop's house to eat. We will have a couple of our investigators there as well. Tonight we are eating with the Bishop and then we have an appt with our investigator who is also going to feed us. Oh the eating. I will take it easy though.
I love my new companion. Sister Joost is her name. She is so fun. We are kind of alike and we both are kind of laid back so it works out well. I'm kind of hoping that we stay at least a couple of transfers together.
I love you all so much! I love the work that I get to do. Heavenly Father is so aware of us and all of His children. Promise me that you all will always turn to Him. There is no better way. I can promise anyone that.
LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Sister Lewis
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
More Miracles
Background: I've added two missionary couples that served with me in the California, Sacramento mission in 2006-2008 to Janell's weekly report. They may be able to help me identify/locate Sister Johnston and the Carmichael Bishop (possibly through the Huff's) who met with the Ethiopian man named Ayalew. Anyone else in Elk Grove who can help identify the family Ayalew watched conference with would also be wonderful. Most of us realize these experiences are not coincidences as you will see in the two stories below. Thanks for any help any of you can furnish. -Val
Hello to my wonderful family. I can't believe that Trent is a missionary now. YES! I just saw the senior couple that is serving in the Baltimore mission. Their names are Elder and Sister Olsen and they said that they will be looking out for Elder Lewis! They work in the ghetto area and said that they would try to get Elder Lewis to be in their area. It is a pretty dangerous area I guess but they love it. I hope to see Elder Lewis soon!
So, so much has happened in the past week. Last week we had a general authority come and speak to us. Elder and Sister Kearon. They are so amazing! It was a wonderful conference and the Sprirt was so strong. Me and my companion and one other sister sang at the meeting. It was a pretty song. Anyway it was fun to hear from them. They are amazing people. Sunday we had stake conference where another general authority spoke. We had a man call us and want to come to the "mormon" church. He met us there. He is a very sophisticated man who is from Ethiopia. The conference was great. After the conference we talked with him and found out that he used to live in Sacramento. When I told him that I was from there he got super happy. He said that he met with mormons when he lived there and lost their information. So I need you pappy to do some detective work for me if you could. He was friends with a bishop and his family that lived in Carmicheal in May of 2006. He can't remember his name. He met with a sister missionary by the name of Sister Johnston in June 2006-Aug 2006. I know this is not a lot of information but I told him that I would try to find out his name and maybe find that missionary. He has come across missionaries many times in the past 7 years but has never really listened and accepted the belief. He loves the people though. He told me that he saw us as his soldiers and teachers and he will allow us to teach him. He is such a nice man. He also talked about a family that he spent time with in Elk Grove. He talked about the big church which I think he is talking about the Stake center. He was there in Oct 2007 and watched general conference with them I guess. I wish I had the names of the people. I will check with him. He is a professor at a university in Australia. He is a very kind man. I hope somehow we can find these people that he talked with. I will try to get more information from him. His name is Ayalew. I will try to get his last name. I think that he was a little miracle.
There is another miracle that has happened within the past couple of weeks. There was a lady that I met on the street about a few weeks ago while we were on our way to a members house. I looked behind me and she was walking to her car. I just suddenly turned around and asked her if she was a dancer. She kind of looked like one but I just had the feeling to ask her that. Turns out that is was a professional ballerina and she has been one for about 20 years. Last year she had surgery on her foot and she hasn't been able to dance since. She is super down about it. We chatted for like a half hour about dance and other things. She is having shots in her foot and it sounded like the same thing dad did with his shoulder. I think that gave her some hope that the pain would cease a little bit. We talked about the joy of dancing and sharing that joy with others. I told her that she was able to help so many people and bring joy to so many by dancing and sharing her gift and talent. I told her that she has a gift and that she still can share herself with others. She was such an amazing person. She said that she teaches yoga now and told me where she teaches. I told her that my member friend that I was visiting loves yoga so I would give her the information. So anyway, after we met with her I prayed that someday I would see her again. We went to the member's house and we told her the story of this amazing person that we just met. We told her her name and she said, "shut up, I get her mail sometimes". She pulled out of the trash this lady's mail. I laughed and we joked how Heavenly Father is so awesome. I told her to stop by her house and become friends with her so that she can meet up with missionaries. I knew at that time that I wasn't in that area but it would be awesome to teach her. Fast forward to now, I am in the Chevy Chase ward which is pretty much the same area but just not with the singles. I just got a call from that member friend that she had a amazing story to tell me and that Heavenly Father loves me. I called her back to get the scoop. What happened was this: The member was at her own yoga class and over heard a conversasion of this lady talking about ballet and her hurt foot. So she went over to the lady and asked what happened and said that she herself had the same type thing happen to her. She then asked her name and the lady said, Elizabeth Gaither. This was the lady. And then the member friend asked where she lived and yep, it was the same lady. She then told her that there was 2 weird things. First, she gets her junk mail sometimes and second, that her missionary friends knows her. Elizabeth I guess just stopped and said, "I knew you were going to say that. I haven't stopped thinking about them since I saw them. I can't believe we didn't exchange information. That missionary just filled me with so much hope and I haven't been able to stop thinking about them. Do you have their number?" The member said that she invited us to dinner this week and then invited her. So funny that I have been thinking about this lady ever since I was transferred and have been praying to find her and teach her. Heavenly Father is so aware of all of us. Prayers are answered. I haven't met with Elizabeth yet but I do have her phone number now. I will keep you posted with more from this miracle.
I love this work. It is so wonderful. I know that our prayers are answered. I love that you all are doing so well. Sorry if my emails don't make too much sense sometimes because I am trying to write so fast. I love you all so much!!! Keep me updated!
LOVE
Sister Lewis
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Background: I've attached the photos of Sister Gordon, Janell, and Andrea who was baptized last Sunday! Val
This week has been a very busy week. We just went through transfers today and I was transferred to the Chevy Chase ward. I stay in the same apartment but just have to move rooms. My new companion's name is Sister Joost. I call her Joosty Toasty. I like her. I will miss my Sister Gordon but Sister Joost is a goodin too. She is from Southern California but her family now lives in Arizona. I was SUPER sad to leave my area though. I LOVED my DC 2nd ward. I loved everyone. I loved the singles. It felt like home. I kind of knew that I would be transferred because I was completely happy. Can't be too content on the mission. Apparently they don't like when you are content:) I was really sad but I'm now ok with the idea. I need to meet new people and learn how to work in a family ward. I guess Senator Reed is in my new ward. I know cause it will still be in the same building as my DC 2nd ward and I see body guards at church every week. It shall be an interesting ride but I am excited. I am also going to be a senior companion. People around these parts keep making a big deal about that. I can really care less. I think my first item of business as senior companion will be to make my companion senior companion. Ha! I think people take those titles too seriously. They keep congratulating me like I won some kind of contest or something. I don't like it but it is what it is. I'm just glad to have an awesome companion. She will be great and I will learn a TON from her. I'm ready! Also my new District leader is like a major scripture master guy. I have so much to learn.
Well I love hearing about everybody. I will try to see what I can do about taking video of me. I will ask a senior couple if they can do that for me. Keep me updated about everything.
OH I almost forgot! Andrea got baptized last Sunday! I love her so much! She bore her testimony and it was so awesome. I love seeing people's lives change for the better. She seems so happy and I am so happy for her. She is such an example to me. She is super smart and I know she will be the means of bringing so many souls to the knowledge of the Savior. She will be visiting her mom who lives in the bay area and I told her to go visit you in Elk Grove. You will love her. She is so great! She kind of reminds me of Wendy a little bit...maybe that's why I love her so much. We plan on taking a trip to Disneyland after my mission. I hope Diane will be in on that too!
Well I'd better go. I love this work. I love my Savior so much. The Book of Mormon IS true. This gospel is everthing. I love you all so much and miss you like crazy. I will be able to talk to you soon so that should be so awesome!
LOVE YOU!
Sister Lewis
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Background: "One Clear Voice" is a women's musical quartette that our daughter LaRene performs with. Val
Date: Thu, Nov 3, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Wow you have all been busy and it sounds like so much fun! I miss all of you so much! I wish I could have been there in AZ. I love that time. I hope you took some footage and that I can watch it when I get back...in a year:)
How did the fastball tournament go? I love that your friend gave a lady a Book of Mormon. That is awesome! It really is so true and anyone can know of that if they read and pray about it. Which brings me to tell you that the girl that we have been meeting with and reading the Book of Mormon with will be getting baptized this Sunday. There is power in the Book of Mormon! I have gained a stronger testimony of it everyday of the truthfulness of it. It has helped me so much reading it so much everyday. I have noticed better days lately. There really is so much power in that Book because it IS the word of God and it testifies of Jesus Christ. By reading it you feel peace and comfort. It answers questions and leaves you feeling so great! I will give the Book of Mormon challenge to anybody. If they read and pray about it with a sincere heart, with real intent and having faith in Christ, they WILL know the truthfulness of it. If they want to know if it is true, tell them to to read it and pray about it. Now I challenge all who are reading this to the Book of Mormon challenge. If any of you who read this letter know of anybody who wants to know whether the gospel of Jesus Christ is true or not, try this. Have them read and pray about the Book of Mormon. I promise that they will know that the gospel is true and that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God. It is just so true.
Well the work here has been good. Last Sunday we had a concert at the VC by Jon Schmidt. He is a piano player and is SO good! It was a fun concert. Christmas time should be fun! I also found out that a general authority is coming to the mission next week. That should be good. I was asked to sing with a couple of other girls for when he comes. It seems like I'm asked to sing all the time lately. I haven't performed yet but I'm sure once I do the asking will cease :)
My companion bought One Clear Voice's newer CD so I'm always listening to Rene! That is fun! She said that Rene sounds like Barbara Streisand...go Rene! :) Mom, I did get my scarfs by the way THANK YOU!
I 'm glad to hear that everyone is doing good. My family is really the greatest. I love hearing the update about everyone. Keep me posted about everything! Mom, I will let you know about Christmas and what I will need. It will be fun to talk to everyone. Tell Lynda that she definitely needs to go home for Christmas cause I would love to chat with her too! Mom, tell Jared Fox that I say hello and that the ward mission leader that I work with knows him. His name is Robert Kitz. Funny small world.
Well I love you all. I'd better go. Keep me posted!
Love you!
Sister Lewis
How did the fastball tournament go? I love that your friend gave a lady a Book of Mormon. That is awesome! It really is so true and anyone can know of that if they read and pray about it. Which brings me to tell you that the girl that we have been meeting with and reading the Book of Mormon with will be getting baptized this Sunday. There is power in the Book of Mormon! I have gained a stronger testimony of it everyday of the truthfulness of it. It has helped me so much reading it so much everyday. I have noticed better days lately. There really is so much power in that Book because it IS the word of God and it testifies of Jesus Christ. By reading it you feel peace and comfort. It answers questions and leaves you feeling so great! I will give the Book of Mormon challenge to anybody. If they read and pray about it with a sincere heart, with real intent and having faith in Christ, they WILL know the truthfulness of it. If they want to know if it is true, tell them to to read it and pray about it. Now I challenge all who are reading this to the Book of Mormon challenge. If any of you who read this letter know of anybody who wants to know whether the gospel of Jesus Christ is true or not, try this. Have them read and pray about the Book of Mormon. I promise that they will know that the gospel is true and that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God. It is just so true.
Well the work here has been good. Last Sunday we had a concert at the VC by Jon Schmidt. He is a piano player and is SO good! It was a fun concert. Christmas time should be fun! I also found out that a general authority is coming to the mission next week. That should be good. I was asked to sing with a couple of other girls for when he comes. It seems like I'm asked to sing all the time lately. I haven't performed yet but I'm sure once I do the asking will cease :)
My companion bought One Clear Voice's newer CD so I'm always listening to Rene! That is fun! She said that Rene sounds like Barbara Streisand...go Rene! :) Mom, I did get my scarfs by the way THANK YOU!
I 'm glad to hear that everyone is doing good. My family is really the greatest. I love hearing the update about everyone. Keep me posted about everything! Mom, I will let you know about Christmas and what I will need. It will be fun to talk to everyone. Tell Lynda that she definitely needs to go home for Christmas cause I would love to chat with her too! Mom, tell Jared Fox that I say hello and that the ward mission leader that I work with knows him. His name is Robert Kitz. Funny small world.
Well I love you all. I'd better go. Keep me posted!
Love you!
Sister Lewis
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
More News
Background: You are receiving this email late because we just returned from AZ (as Janell mentioned). I was there playing baseball (been doing that each year since 1988. Janell was 6 years old when it started and has attended over a dozen times, and loved those trips). - Val
You must all be in AZ right now! So jealous! I bet the weather is wonderful there. Although, it is pretty awesome here in the fall I will say:) The weather was so perfect this morning. It was a Zone Activity day so we went to the mall (Smithsonian). It was SO cool! We went to the aerospace museum, the dinosaur one and then one more...I don't remember the names. Whoops:) It was fun to see all of those places. The team I was with in our little "amazing race" game took all the pictures because my camera started dying. I was so sad about that. After the activity me and Sister Gordon stayed and walked to the Lincoln memorial. It was so awesome. She took pictures with her camera so I will print those out and send them to you later. It was fun to see it all. I am kinda sad cause the reflection pool by the Washington monument is under construction so there was no water. Bummer. But all in all it was pretty awesome. I think we will try to go back to the city soon to see more.
This past week has been super good. It has been crazy busy. It feels like we are always rushed for time and I love that. I like being busy and having people to see and talk to. Let's see, last Sunday we had a baptism...we had nothing to do with it but it was such a wonderful baptism. She was ready to be baptized. It was such a spiritual meeting. Last Saturday there was a spanish night at the Visitor Center that we went to. There were performances from different countries and that was a lot of fun. I didn't understand anything they were saying but it was still fun to see dancing!
Last week I thought of Mindy cause a family from Russian came into the VC. I just talked to them for about 20 min and it was so cool! Their son is getting ready to go on a mission. I think the dad hinted that his son should write me and get my email but I pretended that he didn't ask for it. That is just so awkward. But, they were super nice and awesome and it made me want to be in Russia. The wife, as she was leaving, just hugged me and said that I touched her heart. I just melted. I bet those people in Russia are LOVING Sister Browning! They are so wonderful and nice. Maybe someday we will have to go there Cepta Browning!
Well, as you all may know I am loving this work. I don't want to change wards. I would be content to just stay where I am for the rest of my mission. On Sunday there was a girl who came to church with a friend of hers and when I talked with her she said that she wanted to meet with us to learn more. I love those moments! She said that she doesn't know much about the church. She was raised with Atheist parents so I'm excited to meet with her. She seems so awesome. She met the friend who brought her to church on the metro. I love member missionaries! They are the key to this missionary work!
I have to give a shout out to a couple of people. TAMERA! You had twin girls!!! That is soooo wonderful! I love being a twin and I love that you have twins! I got the letter that Sheldon wrote and the pictures from your boys....oh man they are so cute! I love you all! I will want to see pics of the cute new ones!
Also, a shout out to Financial Services! I got the Halloween package and it was SOOO awesome! I miss you all so much! It was so fun to get the wedding announcements of the married ones...I am SO excited and happy for both of you guys! My Trava is married and Govn'a! Oh, the joy you all bring to me. Keep me posted on everything. Sounds like it's been busy around there. Ashley, thank you SO much for my favorite candy!!! You remembered! OH and by the way my nephew got called to your mission! I love missions!
Well I'd better go. It has been a long day today but such a good one. I love and miss you all so much. I hope to get a letter from your mom and dad ;) I hope you are all having a blast in AZ and I want to know all about it. Love you!
Sister Lewis
This past week has been super good. It has been crazy busy. It feels like we are always rushed for time and I love that. I like being busy and having people to see and talk to. Let's see, last Sunday we had a baptism...we had nothing to do with it but it was such a wonderful baptism. She was ready to be baptized. It was such a spiritual meeting. Last Saturday there was a spanish night at the Visitor Center that we went to. There were performances from different countries and that was a lot of fun. I didn't understand anything they were saying but it was still fun to see dancing!
Last week I thought of Mindy cause a family from Russian came into the VC. I just talked to them for about 20 min and it was so cool! Their son is getting ready to go on a mission. I think the dad hinted that his son should write me and get my email but I pretended that he didn't ask for it. That is just so awkward. But, they were super nice and awesome and it made me want to be in Russia. The wife, as she was leaving, just hugged me and said that I touched her heart. I just melted. I bet those people in Russia are LOVING Sister Browning! They are so wonderful and nice. Maybe someday we will have to go there Cepta Browning!
Well, as you all may know I am loving this work. I don't want to change wards. I would be content to just stay where I am for the rest of my mission. On Sunday there was a girl who came to church with a friend of hers and when I talked with her she said that she wanted to meet with us to learn more. I love those moments! She said that she doesn't know much about the church. She was raised with Atheist parents so I'm excited to meet with her. She seems so awesome. She met the friend who brought her to church on the metro. I love member missionaries! They are the key to this missionary work!
I have to give a shout out to a couple of people. TAMERA! You had twin girls!!! That is soooo wonderful! I love being a twin and I love that you have twins! I got the letter that Sheldon wrote and the pictures from your boys....oh man they are so cute! I love you all! I will want to see pics of the cute new ones!
Also, a shout out to Financial Services! I got the Halloween package and it was SOOO awesome! I miss you all so much! It was so fun to get the wedding announcements of the married ones...I am SO excited and happy for both of you guys! My Trava is married and Govn'a! Oh, the joy you all bring to me. Keep me posted on everything. Sounds like it's been busy around there. Ashley, thank you SO much for my favorite candy!!! You remembered! OH and by the way my nephew got called to your mission! I love missions!
Well I'd better go. It has been a long day today but such a good one. I love and miss you all so much. I hope to get a letter from your mom and dad ;) I hope you are all having a blast in AZ and I want to know all about it. Love you!
Sister Lewis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)