Odds & Ends

Hello family!

Abby--

I am so happy for you! And so proud of how much you have grown in just the last couple of months:) your patriarchal blessing is such a beautiful gift from a loving Heavenly Father, and you're right-- it is him speaking DIRECTLY to you! My advice would be to journal down the feelings and impressions you had yesterday during the blessing! And then when you receive your written copy of it, read it OFTEN! :) I think you'll find the comfort and peace you've been looking for. :)

So, my week was........

Long. Tiring. Frustrating. Hard. Odd. Hilarious. Miraculous. Strange.....

Really a wide spectrum of things!

Not a lot happened...

We met with Janice Davis almost every day this week... Trying to get her to read the Book of Mormon and pray daily on her own! But she just won't do it! The stinker! I love her to death... I really do. She makes you feel like the most important person in the world, like a million bucks. And she's got a crazy sense of humor.... (She's a lot like you Abby!;)) but she also is lazy. She's bed ridden, unable to move by herself. All she does is sit on her bed day after day. Sometimes watches British comedies.... But other than that, she has lots of free time to read the Book of Mormon! But she won't...

We ask her if she prayed.

"Nope"

"Well, why not Janice?"

"I dunno! You tell me!"

"....... Janice......"

"Sigh.... There's really no reason NOT to....."

"Exactly! So let's get you to do it!"

This conversation happens at least every other day. I'm definitely learning patience in long-suffering..... We finally just decided to sticky note attack her whole house. And call her daily. Hopefully that will do the trick! We are just trying to get her out of his rut!

Wednesday night we spent all 3 hours in the evening Tracting... And it actually was really great! Everybody that answered the door was very kind to us and listened to what we had to share. We found a couple of potential families and this really sweet older woman named L. Lewis! (Maybe we are related.....?) She's so darling. Just a lonely woman with a whoooole lot of health issues! :( so keep her in your prayers!

Thursday we had a lesson with summer in a members home. We are trying to get her introduced to more kids her age, so that she will feel fellow shipped and welcomed. The lesson was so powerful. All focused on the Book of Mormon! She hadn't really been reading it much before then... She read all in the bible. But after that, she was way more excited to dive in and find answers to her questions!

Also, at the end, we asked her if she had any questions or concerns... She said no, but hat she would like to make a comment. We said alright....

Then summer proceeds to tell us how in violin she just got her new piece for the summer concert and it's REALLY hard and she's nervous, but she's glad she's a second violin and not a first... Hahahahhahaha ohhhh summer!

So we told her that if she reads the Book of Mormon before she oracticies, that God will help her learn her piece!

Friday was really cool because we had a neat opportunity to sing at a funeral! This 90ur old lady that we were teaching passed away last week... And her great grand daughter invited us to the funeral... So then we asked if we could sing, and they were more than happy to have us!! So great! Except also, it was so... Odd. Because it was my first time at a non-LDS funeral....

Not only that, but we were going to a baptist funeral..... Needless to say.... We were definitely the minorities there! Haha it was a really different experience. I absolutely loved all the gospel music they were singing! :) I felt right at home;) my little piece of "white chocolate" heaven;)

It turned out to be a wonderful missionary moment, because afterwards, people kept coming up to is and asking lots and lots of questions. And we had a nice little discussion with the preacher at the luncheon afterwards... , (over our 100% Mormon "funeral potatoes" that we brought!;))

Sunday was really spiritual.

They had a changing of the bishopric in the Leesburg ward! It was truly amazing to witness. I'm excited to see what unfolds with this change! Words cannot fully describe what I felt during sacrament meeting... But I learned a lot. And it was all a very sacred experience for me.

That evening we saw Jan Jones..., and guess what?! SHES GOING TO ENTER THE TE,PLE THIS SATURDAY TO DO BAPTISMS FOR HER FAMILY MEMBERS!!!'

This will be Jan's first time in the temple! She's been a member since 2006..... And when I got here in January, she had hit rock bottom.

Now, she's prepared to enter Gods holy temple, to do the work of her loved ones. AND she has her recommend to receive her patriarchal blessing! A month ago she would not even think about the subject, wanted nothing to do with such.

Jan Jones is my hero.

I wish that you all could take a moment to stand in my shoes, and see and feel the things I have seen and felt over the past 3 months. I have truly witnessed a miracle take place. I've seen the miraculous power of the infinite atonement come into Jan's life and change, heal, strengthen, uplift, and restore her to a new person.

I love this gospel so much. I feel so blessed to have taken part in helping Jan find her way back to the Savior. It's been amazing:)

This week really was hard and had a whoooole bunch of rocky points... But I can honestly say to you that there was not a single time where I felt like Heavenly Father had forsaken me! This week was a lot like alma 26:27-30

"27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world--not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some."

There were moments his week where my heart was depressed... But every time, I felt the spirit touch my heart. I felt encouraged to keep going. Press forward with faith and hope. All would be well.

And as I endured with patience my afflictions, I would witness a miracle, or see a tender mercy! I was truly able to recognize the hand of the Lord in my life DAILY.

And now at the end of the week, Alma's words perfectly describe where I'm at:

35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

I truly have every reason to rejoice!

Leesburg ward is the promised land, and I feel lots of miracles just around the corner. We just need to be diligent in searching out what the Lord would have us do! The members here are amazing, and I never thought it would be possible to feel right at home with so many strangers. I love the people I serve very much. I know that we are all children of God.

I'm blessed to have such an amazing family! You have always supported me through so many things, and I am so grateful for the support and love you continue to give! I'm glad you decided to keep me;) and haven't given up on me yet!

This gospel is just so good. The atonement is incomprehensible... But it is all encompassing and eternal. I would be lost without it. I love my savior so much.

This week I learned that the literal translation of "Mormon" means "more good".

Truly the Book of Mormon is just more good:)

All things that are good come from God and everything denotes there is a God!

Remember that, and share your testimony with a friend this week! I love you!

Love,

Sister Carly Lewis