Miracles!

Good morning!

If you're wondering why I'm writing today, we had leadership council at the mission home yesterday.

Friday I went on an exchange with Sister Smith! We saw miracles as we talked to everyone! We were able to find 4 new people to teach! At the very end of the day, at 8:30 we decided to contact some referrals we had received earlier in the week. One of those referrals was a mom and her daughter! They were happy to see us, and said we could come back!  We have really been focusing on finding families to teach. Saturday I had a wonderful exchange with Sister Abrams, again, we talked to everyone! The weather was beautiful, so there were a lot of people outside putting up Christmas lights. :) We were able to see some people that we hadn't seen for a long time, and we ended the day by having dinner and a powerful lesson with a member and his non-member wife. By the end of our wonderful day, my voice was gone. 

Sunday morning I woke up and my voice was still nonexistent. ...I had a great time at church. I greeted people with smiles and waves, Sister Syndergaard was my voice. Heavenly Father definitely has a sense of humor, because I LOVE talking. He probably gave me this experience so I could spend some time listening. I've never thought I was a bad listener, but it was a good reminder for me. :)

Sunday afternoon the Assistants to the Mission President called us and asked us to do a training at leadership council. We would have 20 minutes to train the leaders of the mission on revelatory studies. When they called us, I just laughed--I wouldn't be speaking any time soon. But, we agreed. Sunday evening we prepared for the training, and I went to bed. 

Monday morning I awoke and my voice was ... still gone. We went through the first half of leadership council and I still had no voice. I ate lunch. No voice. When I told Sister Syndergaard to prepare herself to speak, she kept saying "Oh, you'll talk." And then I thought, why not? :) I have been asked to give a training, and I am going to give a training. I thought of my patriarchal blessing. In it there is a sentence that talks about how I will have the health and strength to do all that I have been called to do. I shared it with Sister Syndergaard, and she said "you were literally called (on the phone) to do this!" Heavenly Father surely does have a sense of humor. :) So, we were nearing the end of lunch, and I said a little prayer. I asked Heavenly Father to help me to give the training. :) I said hello to someone. I squeaked. It sounded awful, but I could talk. :) So, Sister Syndergaard and I got up and gave the training (including some jokes about my voice.) I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers. He loves us and gives us challenges and opportunities to grow in faith. And stand with Nephi in saying, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

Miracles happen! :) I am a witness!

Other exciting news: This Friday in Time Square, advertisements for "He is the Gift" the new Mormon.org video will be playing all day. It's awesome! Everyone will be getting pass-along cards for the  video in the December Ensign. More info about He is the Gift, click here

The video will be launched in 2 hours! :) So everyone should go to christmas.mormon.org to watch it. (We got to see it yesterday, it's awesome.) #SharetheGift

I love you all! Have a wonderful day!

:) Oh! and Happy Thanksgiving! Here's a Thanksgiving Video. :) Enjoy! 

-Sister Lewis

Oh, the joys of being sick. :)  Luckily, I've been joyful anyway.