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