Hi yall!

09/18/2017
I will email next week! Love yall!

09/25/2017
So sorry my email was short last week. We have been super busy. Last week we had 3 lessons and a dinner appointment on Monday. Then we have had an all Sister missionary Conference on Friday. Exchanges were on Thursday, and General Women's Conference was Saturday. 

We have 5 people set for Baptism dates. One of them will be getting baptized on October 7! Her name is Lyndsey. We are so excited for her. The others are set to get baptized in November. 

Today we went to the beach as the Pensacola and Foxrun districts. attached will  be some pictures.

I encourage you all to read Mosiah 3. It talks about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Also, if you did not watch the General Women's session of Conference, here is the link for it. It was very uplifting and empowering.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng&cid=HP_SA_23-9-2017_dGC_fBCAST_xLIDyL1-B_

To Be Prepared, or Not To Be? that is the question

Hello all!

 

Don't worry I am Safe and Sound! 

Hurricane Irma has not it us!The hurricane is going to hit Tallahassee and Panama City areas. I am a couple of hours away from that, but we will only be getting hit by rain. They evacuated the missionaries in those areas to higher ground. We do have to be prepared for it because another should be coming after hurricane Irma. We are required to have a full tank of gas and a case of water in our house and in our car. It is kind of fun to be here in hurricane season, because gas is sold out and so is water.... You have to go early in the morning to stock up.

There is a Florida Tallahassee Mission Facebook page that receives updates from our mission president about what is going on.

Anywho, I got to go visit Daphne, Alabama. We got a call friday night at 9:50 saying that we were having zone conference the next day because the hurricane is going to affect Tallahassee and Panama City zones, and our mission president needed to be there for that. Then around 10:10 we got told that even though we were combined with another zone, My companion and I would still be training the other missionaries. Even though we had been preparing all week, we had not confirmed our plans, so we had to put together our lesson in 20 minutes, and finish it up the next day. It was a very eventful zone conference.

This week, we had to take our car in for an estimate at the Auto Body shop, well when we were done, we were driving it down the street, and had parked at someone's house, we got out and went and talked to the person, but when we got back in to restart the car, it would not start. So we said a prayer to know what we should do, especially because at the Mission office, they were having troubles with their phones. Then shortly after, it finally started. So we started to head back, and were able to stop and talk to 2 girls that were walking down the street. We were able to give them both a Book of Mormon, the only thing was, i had grabbed a Book of Mormon off the floor of the car, that my companion had written her testimony in to send to her friend. We did not know this at the time, until they called us an hour later to let us know we had given them a Book of Mormon with writing in it. We told them to keep it. Then as we continued driving, the car started to act up, and the meters stopped working completely. So we pulled over and talked to the Mission office. They told us to stop driving the car, and leave it at the body shop. So while we waited an hour and a half for a member to be available to pick us up, we decided to go contact some people on the streets. We met a guy named Greg, and were able to talk to him about the Book of Mormon, as well as give an introduction to the Plan of Salvation, then we met another guy named Ricky, and we were able to teach him the entire Restoration, as well as give him a Book of Mormon. As we talked with Ricky, he kept saying that everything we were teaching was true. Though these gentleman were both not in our area, we sent them off for the other missionaries to teach.

We also were able to get a new Ward Mission Leader, named Noah. He is a return missionary from Australia. Hopefully we will be able to help the work move forward!

Spiritual thought:   We heard a talk on Sunday about the reason of coming to church, is to come for Jesus Christ. In 1 Nephi 22:25, It says: "And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture." No matter if the people are imperfect in the church, Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are perfect, and that is why we come to church. 

I love you all!

❤ Sister Lewis

My companion and I decided to do a hurricane preparedness drill photo shoot (as you can see, I can remain calm as long as I have my family and Heavenly Father in mind). The other pictures are of us traveling with our Sister Training Leaders to Daphne Alabama. And the rest are random pictures.

Love the People, then teach them lessons

Hello!

I hope yall are having an amazing week!! This week, I studied to find out what my purpose is, and slowly "line upon line, precept upon precept" I am finding out Heavenly Father's will for me. It started on Tuesday, when I decided to give pass along cards to the people in the drive through window at Mcdonalds, telling them that I am a missionary. Then another day, we were at Sonic, and I decided to ask the carhop for his number and gave him a pass along card, and explained that we share messages about Jesus Christ. Then I talked to a lady who was walking her dog, and I asked her for her number and address to contact her and share a message. Finally, today while at Walmart, we were in this gentleman's way, and he was very friendly so after we had walked past him, I decided to turn around and go give him a pass along card, and let him know about the message that we share. The stories continue, but basically, I have been give help by Heavenly Father to talk to everyone.

This week at Institute, we talked about families, and building our families on Christ. We took the scripture, Helaman 5:12 and changed the word foundation, to families.I invite all of you to do that as well, and I know that as you build your families on Christ, they will be strengthened.

Also, this week the Elders got in a car crash with our car, everyone is safe, but we no longer have a bumper.

Please watch the attached videos! they are uplifting!

Love you all!!!

❤🚴Sister Lewis

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-01-012-why-am-i-here?category=mormon-messages-2016&lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/media- library/video/2011-10-042-for- god-so-loved-the-world?cid=HP_ FR_1-9-2017_dPFD_fMLIB_ xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng

A Picture is worth a Thousand Words

Hi Yall!!

I just wanted to say thank you to those who have written me. I really appreciate it! I am so thankful for all of the love and support that yall have given me! I hope you have an awesome week!

So this week, we had more appointments either cancel on us, or we had to reschedule them because we didn't have any ward members available to drive us. Being in this area has helped me to decide that when I get off my mission, I want to be a good member missionary, and help the missionaries out as much as possible.

On wednesday, we went to young womens with a recent convert, and a less active. They had a game night and sister renfro and I were able to participate. We definitely made a fool out of ourselves, but that is ok. 😁 

Thursday, we woke up and decided that we would start looking for service. So we texted and called a few of the members. We were able to go to a less active member's house and rake the front yard and sweep her driveway off. We also shared a message with her as well. 

It had been a hard week last week, and so this week, I was not as cheerful as usual. And i prayed to find out what I could do to change. Well Heavenly Father gave me the answer of finding ways to serve those around me. So i talked to my companion, and we called a few members to do service for them. Although, many said they were okay, we had 1-2 that agreed to let us serve them.

To end the week, on Friday, we had a member call us to see if we wanted to go to KFC for dinner with them. KFC had these $5 meal deals. It was so much fun, because it reminded me of when my family would go on roadtrips, and occasionally stop at KFC for dinner. 

Saturday, we were able to wash someone's floor, by using scrubbing brushes, and being on our hands and knees. We also had dinner at the Bishop's house, where we were able to eat teriyaki chicken and rice. The best part about this dinner, was that the bishop had taken some pain medication for some kidney stones before we came over, and so he sat on the couch and would talk to us for a second, and then pass out, then talk, then sleep. It was so funny to watch!

Enos 1:26-27 "... I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days and, have rejoiced in it above that of the world." I know that as I testify and teach the gospel as much as possible, the Lord will provide more people, and He will help us to be joyful, and to find strength through trials.

Love Yall!

Sister Lewis

I went from Relief Society to Elder's Quorum

3 strikes, you're out!!

hi yall!

Good news!! i am staying in Pensacola with sister Renfro!!!

This week, has been a hard week, we had lots of appointments fall through and cancel. But on the brightside, the members were with us for alot of those appointments, and they were willing to help us out. 

I am so grateful though for the Holy Ghost, and how it helps us to know what to do next. John 14:18 describes this best. I know that Heavenly Father watches out for each and every one of us and comforts us.

Sorry this email is so short!  

Love you all!!

Sister Lewis

P.S. enjoy these pictures!

Pensacola brings Miracolas

Hi yall!!

So i have found that some weeks my email will be short, sometimes it will be long. But if you ever want to email me personally, I most likely will get back to you.

This past wednesday, we biked all over town, looking for some former investigators, and less actives. You see, since we are in a car share, we bike monday through wednesday, and have a car thursday through saturday. I really enjoy it, because it is keeping me in shape.

We have been able to find many potential investigators, as we bike and walk and talk to everyone. I am working on being super courageous so that I am able to talk to as many people as possible, and be able to testify to them on the spot. However, I am really good at giving them a Book of Mormon, and teaching them about how it works with the bible. 

Yesterday, us 2 sisters, and the elders that we share a car with, decided to do a fast for miracles, not just for the work, but for the ability to work with the members and to love those around us. As we did this fast yesterday, two members emphasized missionary work in their talk, and even encouraged people to sign up to feed us. while in relief society, they even talked more about missionary work. We had more people offer to come out with us for lessons than we have had in a while. We even had one member, who called us yesterday when it was pouring rain, and said she would be available to drive us to an appointment with someone. I was so grateful for her, because we would have had to walk or bike in the pouring rain, and been drenched by the time we got to our appointment. 

Because of this, I have a testimony, that fasting truly does bring miracles and blessings, no matter if we recognize it or not.

I love you all so much, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Sister Lewis

this picture is of a kid in the ward wearing a future missionary tag.

another picture is of the stuff that a member gave me. She used coupons, which is the best thing ever!

Heavenly Father's Plan

I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of us. I know that throughout His plan for us, He places different people in our paths to help us through this plan. This past week, I was able to reflect on all of the love that Heavenly Father has for me, and all of the people he has placed in my path along the way. I have made many great friends while being out on my mission and as I am in a new area, that is only 20 minutes from my last area, I have been able to see the wonderful friends/ family I have made throughout different points of time. Last Thursday, I went to Bishop Storehouse, and was able to see some of the members from Pace. As I talked with them, they gave me some warm welcomes. I was able to see that Heavenly Father does watch out for me. I was also able to see some of the lives I had touched as I followed Heavenly Father's plan. But I know that it isn't about how many lives I touch because really, it is how many lives Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ touched as they used me as an instrument in their hands. I am so grateful for this gospel and for the peace and comfort Heavenly Father gives me. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be here in the Florida Tallahassee mission. I am also grateful for the kindness that the people have shown me here.

This week I asked, "Who is the one that has their hand in our lives daily?". and I thought about something I was told before my mission by an amazing missionary. He told me, as He pointed upwards, that it is Because of Him that we are who we are. Then I came upon this answer: The answer is our loving Heavenly Father. He is the source of all miracles. He is the source of light in times of darkness. He is the one who helps us to stay strong. When asked, "Why are you so awesome? or how do you do it?" Realize that it is because of Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Because of His Atoning Sacrifice in the Garden of Eden, and on the cross; we can be forgiven, we can be healed, we can be comforted, and most importantly, we can be loved. 

It is because of Him, that we can do all things. It is because of Him that we can have strength.

" And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backss, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions"(Mosiah 24:14). It is because of our Heavenly Father's plan for us that we can have our burdens lightened, that we can have strength in all things.

I love you all so much!!

Love,

Sister Lewis