What a week!

Where to begin!?

I don't have a lot of time (we're supposed to be in Fort Wayne in 20 minutes.... it's an hour drive... oops!)

This week has been filled with lots of grace! Lots of little miracles. :) It's wonderful to be a missionary. Ooh, I love it.

This week we had family home evening with a recent convert family and had so much fun. I am so grateful for all the family home evenings I had growing up. :) Family time is important. 

Friday I went to Huntington for exchanges and we had a great day! I always learn so much from the other sisters. :) Sister Chavez and  I had a grand old time. It was pretty cool, we taught one of the investigators that I had taught on exchanges in Huntington a year ago!

Saturday we had a "media split" day, where members came out with us to take pictures and document what we do all day! :) We delivered cookies, taught lessons, played games with the folks at the nursing home, found some new people to teach, and did a virtual chapel tour. It was a good day. :)

Earlier this week I picked up an old Ensign and read "Walking in Circles". I thought it was cool. One of the quotes at my study desk came from that article, and I never knew it! 

My favorite part of this week was yesterday. I got to sing "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" in sacrament meeting. Singing is one  of the ways I express my love and share my testimony, so it was pretty neat for me to be able to say goodbye to the ward in that way. The arrangement from 17 Miracles is so beautiful. Luckily we have a sister in the ward who is talented and came up with the accompaniment for me to sing with. :) We recorded it Thursday night when we practiced, I'll see if I can get a copy of it to share. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! :)

Much love,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

P.S. Some people have been asking questions about when I'm speaking in church. I have been told it will be March 22ndbecause of ward and stake conferences.

Hello!

This week flew by!

We had a lot of great things happen this week. Lots of opposition, but lots of good things too. 

On Monday we had family home evening with a family in the ward. The dad is a member, and the mom wants to be baptized! 

Tuesday we met Lavar! He's a family man and we're excited to teach him! Later Tuesday evening we went to the Relief Society activity with our investigator, Debbie. She completely surprised us because she usually just sits at her computer when we teach her husband Ronald. :) But she had fun! :) 

Valentine's day was pretty eventful! We had lots of blowy snow! We had a blizzard in the morning (you couldn't see the cars in the parking lot outside the windows), and the rest of the day the wind blew the snow around--as if it were still snowing. We had lunch with a member and afterward taught Derrick, one of the people I taught when I was here a year ago. (The fact that he met with us again was a miracle!) He wants to learn again, and we're hoping that time and experience have softened his heart. 

Lots of little miracles every day! It's cool when you have experiences that let you know that you're in the right place at the right time, we had a few of those. We were supposed to teach a woman named Rose, but she wasn't home. So we decided to go and see if Austin was home. We were approaching his house and sister Nielsen said "His car isn't there." I felt like we should try to see him anyway. We pulled up and I looked around. Just to my right there was a lady standing at her window. I waved, and she waved back! It turned out to be a lady that the sisters before me had taught--and she was moving. She was only back for 24 hours so she could pack! It was a blessing to be able to see her. She'll be meeting with missionaries in the city where she's moving. :)

Yesterday's Relief Society lesson was really wonderful. The sister who was teaching made the analogy of how sometimes we might feel like we're living in a desert.

 

Things seem kind of dry, desolate, hard, lifeless,  and dull. 

But when examine our lives, even the hardest times, we find that there are flowers blooming on the cacti, and the skies are clear at night, making it an ideal place to look up and see the stars.

It might seem cliche, but finding the silver lining makes a big difference.

I love you all!

-Sister Lewis

1858 S. Business 31 Apt. 2D

Peru, Indiana 46970

True Love: The Pure Love of Christ

Hello all!  This week has been great! We had some powerful lessons, met some interesting people (I've always wanted to teach a pastor!), and had a lot of fun. :)

This week I've learned a lot about love and agency. Two of the most powerful things we can exercise in our mortality. The best example of love and agency is that of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He chose to suffer for our sins, pains, afflictions, weaknesses, temptations, sorrows, and death. He did it out of love.

One of my companions showed me Moroni 7:42-48. Only, she replaced the word "charity" with "the Atonement."

 42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

 43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

 44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have the Atonement in his life; for if he have not the Atonement he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have the Atonement.

 45 And the Atonement suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things,believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not the Atonement, ye are nothing, for the Atonement neverfaileth. Wherefore, cleave unto the Atonement, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 47 But the Atonement is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

I am so grateful for the Atonement in my life. I am continuously learning about  grace, that divine enabling power, given to me as I seek to do Heavenly Father's will. It's humbling. I love this work! I love the gospel! I am aware that I have weaknesses (very aware!) and I am SO grateful for a Savior to help me. I am learning that his grace is sufficent. :)

image credits: lds.org

I'm going to read this talk this week. I thought I'd put it up so you could all enjoy it with me:

the-tongue-of-angels

Love,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

1858 S. Business 31 Apt. 2D

Peru, IN 46970

P.S. Pray that we find our mail key... we lost it on exchanges in Huntington last Friday. :) We don't want to have to pay the $40 for a new one. (Now you know that if I don't write you back it's because the mailbox is holding your letters hostage for a while.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

hello! :)

Zone Fun Day 02.02.15

I don't have much time today, but I hope you are all having a lovely week!

We had zone conference on Tuesday! It was great! We learned a lot about how important it is to leave a good legacy. :) 

We are teaching a sweet couple who are so prepared!! :) It's so awesome to see someone who is earnestly seeking truth. :)

Our sister training leaders gave us a referral this week. Wendell is in his 70's and is just the sweetest grandpa! We went yesterday (in the middle of a blizzard) to help him get started on his family history. :) Such a miracle that the sisters met him, and that we were able to meet him. He wants to be baptized! 

Also, an 86 year old lady named Reba who has never shown interest in being baptized agreed to be baptized next month! We are just seeing so many miracles! (I think it comes with the snow...)

Well, I don't have much time left. Zone funday today in Huntington. :)

Much love,

Sister Lewis

P.S. Be good and watch this video.

good-things-to-come

 Lauren was the girl I taught in my last ward. I left 5 days before her baptism. :) So happy she was baptized!!