What a Week!

Hello, all!

This week has been a whirlwind!

Monday

Our "mini" missionary (she only stays for a week) arrived. 

Tuesday

We taught a new family! We taught the mother and two of her nine children. It was a great lesson. The mom was full of great questions. Heavenly Father has really prepared their family.

Wednesday

We had a wonderful district meeting! We talked a lot about helping people come to church, and having FUN while serving the Lord. Our district leader came up with "Church Go-Go juice" (blue kool-aid) as a reminder for our investigators to come to church. The label listed some of the side effects: long suffering, patience, love, kindness, the Spirit, etc. :)

Wednesday evening we saw another 8:30 miracle. It was late and we had some goals for finding people to teach that we hadn't met yet. We pulled into our apartment complex, parked, and just as we were getting out, a couple walked by. We struck up a conversation (thank goodness for people with dogs! It's a great conversation starter) and invited them to have a chapel tour later in the week.

Thursday

It rained buckets! (Which made for an exciting evening as we were dashing, no, sloshing between our car and various homes.)

Friday

Exchanges! Our sister training leader, Sister Rolfe, came to work with Sister Rollins and me. :) Our day started out with pulling weeds for a Jewish friend (her garden is amazing--one day she just took out half of her lawn and decided to plant a garden). We went with a lady in our ward to visit one of her sisters who has not been coming to church for years. She said she would come to church, and she did! She brought her non-member nephew, too. The Elders are starting to teach him. Also, we helped a family pack up their house. They're moving to Boston! We had a day full of service. :)

Saturday

We went with the ward mission leader to teach a less-active family in the ward. When we arrived the house was chaotic. The dog was eating the toddler's pizza, the baby was crying, the parents were clearly uninterested. We watched "The Lamb of God" with them, and afterwards asked the parents "What did you like about the film? How did it make you feel?" The mother said "Honestly, I can't say I liked anything about it." It broke my heart to hear her say that. This experience has helped me understand, just a little bit better, the sorrow the Savior must have felt as he said "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

We ended the day by stopping by Susan's home. We have been teaching her since I got to Cherry Grove, but she has cancelled our last two appointments. In an attempt to encourage her to come to church, we sang "Nearer My God to Thee" and told her we'd stop by the next morning to sing again, before church.

Sunday

MIRACLES. Sunday morning I went to Ward Council while Sister Burton and Sister Rollins and Sister Shaw went to deliver muffins to some of the people we've been working with.

Five minutes before church started, Susan and her husband walked in with the sisters. I was overjoyed! :) Sacrament meeting was especially meaningful to me this week, after this weeks events. I cannot even begin to express the gratitude I feel for my Savior. 

After Church we went to have lunch with a less-active family (a married couple and their 25 year old son). We sang for them and Sister B. sent a video of the song to my sister (apparently she put it on facebook?). I love the hymns for the spirit they bring! As we sang, I watched the countenance of Brother B. change. He loved it and said he'd be listening to it again. :) By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. (Alma 37:6)

We gave a chapel tour to the couple we met on Wednesday, and they said they would come to church! We'll be having dinner with them this week, on Wednesday.

At the end of the day we tallied it all up, and about half of the people invited came to church! (8 of 19) :) It was a miracle! 

OH! and I'm staying in Cherry Grove for another transfer. I guess there's more work for me here! I'm very happy to stay, I love this area.

So, feel free to send letters!

Love,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

P.S. Mini missionary= a week of miracles

6 Arbor Circle #628

Cincinnati, OH 45255

Happy Father's Day!

Hello! 

I hope you are all healthy and happy!

This week was great! The investigators we're working with are really progressing well. Tylor and Juanesha are preparing to be baptized onJune 28th! They're so excited. We had an investigator who threw away all of his anti-Mormon literature (we walked with him to the dumpster!) We met some new people to teach, Michelle is one lady that we'll be helping as she quits smoking. 

Saturday we had the opportunity to go up to Caesar's Creek to serve breakfast to the youth. Our stake had trek this weekend. It was so fun to see them all dressed up in their pioneer outfits. :) And I had fun flipping 500+ pancakes! :) I'll send pictures next week, I forgot to bring my camera. 

I am so happy to be serving a mission! The gospel is the way! If we have Faith in Jesus Christ, repent, are baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, we shall have eternal life! :) My challenge to you all is to read 2 Nephi 31 today. Before you read pray and ask Heavenly Father to help you to recognize a change you can make in your life to become more like  him. I promise that as you read, He will answer you.

This week one of our investigators told us a funny story. She was talking to her fiance and asked "is cursing a sin?" he said he thought it was. So, she decided (without any prompting from us!) that she would stop cursing. And she said that she was coming out of the house when something surprised her, and she said something helped her hold back what she was going to say. 

It's so great to see how the gospel changes people! 

“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior.

The study of the doctrines of the gospel will 

improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior 

will improve behavior. … That is why we stress so 

forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel”

Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

(“Little Children,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 17).

I love you all! Write me!

Also! Happy Fathers Day to the number one dad! I love you, Dad! 

And a special shout out to my brother, Drew and his fiance Jamie! (They're getting sealed in the temple tomorrow!) Wish I could be there with you! Have fun!

Sister Lewis

P.S. We are getting a mini missionary this week! (Tripanionship unite!)...singing video

Who Are You?

Dear friends and family,

Yesterday in a lesson with a 15 year old young man, I asked him a question. "What is the purpose of life?" He said he didn't know.

I meet so many people who fill their lives with jobs, sports, hobbies, TV, food, recreation, shopping, etc. and they don't know why. It reminds me of something my mission prep teacher told us. When he was a mission president in Thailand he used to tell his missionaries to ask themselves "Why am I doing?" when they were struggling. He promised it would help. 

Why am I doing ______?

If we ask ourselves why we do something, it requires that we have a purpose behind our actions.

Well, answering this 15 year old's question begins with  answering the question "Who am I?"

It was pointed out to me this week that over and over again in the scriptures the Savior introduces himself and begins speaking by saying "I am." 

"I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" Acts 9:5

"I am Jesus Christ the Son of God" 3 Ne. 9:15

"I am he who was lifted up" D&C 6:37

"I am the light of the world" 3 Ne. 9:18

"I am the law and the light"  3 Nephi 15:9

"I am the light and the life, and the truth" Ether 4:12

"I am the light which shineth in darkness" D&C 6:21

"I Am That I Am" Exodus 3:14

Christ knew who He was. His purpose was clear.

When each of us realizes that we are beloved sons and daughters of God, our path and our purpose is clear. Our Heavenly Father loves us, and his sole purpose and desire is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."  "Men are that they might have joy" and Heavenly Father wants us to live "after the manner of happiness." This is why we have a Savior--He is the light the life and the truth. It is only through Him that we can truly find happiness.

So, my challenge to you is to focus on your purpose. Begin with a prayer. If you don't know already know that you are a son or daughter of a loving Heavenly Father, I encourage you to ask Him. He will answer you, and he will help you know your purpose. 

I love you all. :)

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

Miracles Abounding!

Hello!

This week has been spectacular. As you may have noticed, I did not send out an email yesterday. Since it was Memorial Day, President Porter decided to switch preparation day from Monday to today, since holidays are a great time to find people at home! :) And I sure am glad he received the inspiration to postpone preparation day. Let me tell you why.

Yesterday we had a wonderful, MIRACULOUS day! One of the Elders had a great idea that we put into action. We went to one of the veterans parks in town, and drew out the Plan of Salvation on the basketball courts and in the parking lot. Then, we walked around for a few hours, talking to everyone that we met. That morning I had prayed that Heavenly Father would send his children to us for us to teach. Well, by the end of the day we had met twelve new investigators (we talked to more than twelve people, but we found twelve who were willing to set up a return appointment and learn more). By talking to everyone we were able to see God's grace in finding those who are prepared to accept the message of the restored gospel. Six of our twelve new investigators are couples (couples=families!). :) It's exciting to see the work hastening. P.S. I'm a little sunburned, but... it's all worth it. Twelve new investigators is more than I've ever found in a week! It's a miracle, if you ask me. :)

And the cherry on top.

This morning, on our way from doing laundry we met a young woman named Mallory. She and her husband have been talking about how they need to find a church. They moved here from out of state in November. We will be giving her and her husband a chapel tour tomorrow.  Heavenly Father is blessing us richly! :)

In other news... I hit my 9 month mark this week. Wow. Time is flying, I can hardly believe I'm halfway through.

Sister Lewis

Sister Shaw, Sister Christensen, and me at the "chalk art/ Plan of Salvation extravaganza" :)

A New Dress and a New Haircut:)

hello! I'm in a new place!

Hello!

Well it was transfer week and I am now in Cherry Grove, Cincinnati! It's a great place! Sister Burton and I are having a lot of fun. She's from Holladay, UT and has been out for 3 months. :) The ward here is big and all the members are so willing to help us. :) Currently we're praying for and looking for families to teach. 

Because of my experiences this week, meeting new people, I know that Heavenly Father really puts His missionaries in specific places for specific reasons. I am amazed at how many miracles and tender mercies he has sent Sister Burton and me this week. I know He knows each of us individually. He has the map that will lead us to the greatest happiness, but we have to have a firm relationship with Him in order to be privy to that knowledge. :) Prayer is the passport to spiritual power, and it's our connection with our Heavenly Father.

I love you all! Be happy!

Love,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

6 Arbor Circle #628

Cincinnati, OH 45255

Zone Photo

By Grace Miracles are Wrought

Dear family and friends,

THIS WEEK WAS AMAZING.

I started out completely exhausted, but I just decided I wasn't going to let Satan get to me. I have really been working on making my prayers more sincere, and have relied on my Savior this week. And I have seen miracles as a result. I know that I could not have done what I did without the Lord's help. I am truly learning about grace. 

This week we had a great first lesson (committed them to baptism) and took our family on a chapel tour (they accepted a baptism date of June 7). David and Jenny are GOLDEN. They are so open and willing to learn. David has started reading the Book of Mormon, and the day after we taught the Book of Mormon lesson, he was already in chapter 5! We had so much fun sitting with them in church yesterday, they have two adorable kids. :) I am excited about what the gospel means for their family. While on the chapel tour I was explaining to the family about the role of a bishop, I received the distinct impression that David would someday sit up on the stand as a member of the bishopric. It was AWESOME. :) I love this work. I love how Heavenly Father blesses His children, even when we're not perfect. :)

I found out today that I'm being transferred! I am excited for a new area and the challenges and blessings it will bring. And I am EVER so grateful to have served with Sister Swenson. :)

I love you all!

have a great week! I hope you all got to talk to your mothers yesterday--I did! :)

If you haven't seen it yet, watch the mothers day tribute video on lds.org/motherhood.

-Sister Lewis

Some Photos

Hello!

Here are some pictures from the re-baptism of two members in the ward. It was the most spiritual baptism I have ever been to. I know that I understand the Atonement just a little bit more after knowing these good people. I will love and miss them. It was good to talk to you (family) yesterday!

Love you! 

P.S. I'm being transferred. 

P.P.S. Drew, you promised to send me pictures. And Sandy did too... I'll be waiting. :)

Love, 

Sister Lewis

It's May!

Dear family and friends,

Another week has come and gone! 

Tuesday morning we were going into the food bank, when one of the men standing outside, waiting to go in said "I like your badge! It says Jesus Christ on it!" That comment just made me really happy. 

Thursday evening we went to one of our appointments, but it fell through. We went back to the car and said a prayer. We asked that we might be blessed to find new investigators. We only had an hour left in the day to work. Next we went to meet a less-active member. We hadn't ever contacted him before. We knocked on the door, and the man who answered was his son. The son and his wife are living in the house while he's in Florida. We shared the message of the Restoration with them, and we will be returning to teach them this Wednesday! :) Just another example of how Heavenly Father answers prayers.

Saturday was a wonderful day! We had 4 baptisms in our ward in one day! :) I was lucky enough to attend 2 of them. I gave a talk on baptism at the first baptism and the second was our investigator, Teri's, baptism. Sister Swenson and I sang "He Sent His Son" from the primary hymnbook. We had a lot of great ward support, the room was full. 

It's wonderful to see the work progressing! :) I love you all. 

In the words of E.T. 

"Be good."

In the words of President Hinckley 

"You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good forsomething. "

Your favorite missionary,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

P.S. I'd love it if you all would send me a letter (please include a joke, I dearly love to laugh.)

:)

218 Bavarian Drive Apt. D

Middletown, OH 45044

Hello!

Hello all!

Just a quick update. We are having a baptism this week! Our investigator, Teri, will be baptized on Saturday and she's so happy! It is wonderful to see her choosing to make a covenant with our Heavenly Father. 

Sorry, I don't have much time to write this week. I'll try and write more next week. But I will just say that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers--I've had at least 3 answered today already!

Have a great day and keep your chin up! Heavenly Father loves YOU. And so do I.

Here are a couple of pictures I meant to send last transfer.

Love,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis