I'm Staying In Peru!

Hello, hello!

Happy Birthday to: my companion, my brothers, Sam and Thomas, and my friend Elder Will Christensen in Texas!

So, they announced transfers yesterday and I'm staying in Peru! (not surprising, since I have to finish the 12-week training.) But I'm excited to be here. Peru is great.

A photo with Rafael Rousseau at church!

This week Rafael came to church and he loved it. Hopefully we can start teaching him regularly. (I'll send a picture!)

Earlier this week we had a zone activity (we made zone t-shirts!) There are too many things to write about and I don't have much time, so I'll just share the miracle we had yesterday. Derrick Stapleton, our previous investigator had dropped off the map after his non-baptismal date (sept 28) and we hadn't been able to contact him. He wasn't ever home, he didn't answer phonecalls and we were a little concerned. So, yesterday after our thrift-store shopping trip to Wabash, Sister Crosby and i decided to rake the leaves in Derrick Stapleton's front yard. Well, it was inspired. 5 minutes after we began raking leaves, Brother Stapleton walked out of his house, looking stunned. We were able to talk to him about where he'd been/why he'd been avoiding us. He said he was a little overwhelmed with things and had just shut everything out and had been hiding in his house. He told us that he had been thinking about coming to church this past sunday but was nervous about being judged since he felt like he stood us up for his baptism. "Thought you had the tub all filled up and everything!" he said. Well, we were happy to tell him that he is always welcome at church, baptized or not. :) It was a miracle.

I love autumn in Peru! I love the smell of burning ditches, stargazing at 6:30 in the morning when we run, groups at curbside campfires on Grissom Base, the sound of trains in the distance as I fall asleep, porch swings, Christian biker dudes (every man 55+ in Peru has a Harley), cool breezes, the fields, the red and orange and yellow leafy trees, but I especially love the people, of course.  God is good to me.

I love you all,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

1858 S Business 31 Apt 2D

Peru, Indiana 46970

P.S. any suggestions for what to do on my 21st birthday? ;) So far all I have planned is the ward chili cookoff ...and missionary work, of course. :)

Quaker oval box made for me by Allen Stuber, investigator. age 78. it's walnut! :)

We were at a meal appointment when the elders showed up to our same restaurant. :) (they're in our district) coincidences...

Me + Sister McDonald's (Ward Relief Society President) giant St. Bernard, Isabelle. This is from our service day a couple of weeks ago. (even Isabelle helps with missionary work --you'll have to ask me to tell you the story of how she helped re-activate 3 members!)