Hello all!
I'm well on my way to seeing all three states within the boundaries of my mission! I'm in Middletown, Ohio! My companion's name is Sister Driesel, and she is a wonderful, hard-working missionary. The people here are great! ...Mind you, I still really miss Peru. But they say you'll always love your first area (especially if you spent almost 6 months there).
We're teaching a darling 84 year old man named Bill. He is so excited about his baptism on March 8th. He would have been baptized earlier if his daughter would have let him! (She wants the family to be here for it).
On my first afternoon here I met our investigator, Brenden. He's young (20's) and is so humble! He loves learning. At our last lesson with him we were talking about the Book of Mormon, and he told us that he's noticed that he's happier when he reads the Book of Mormon. He's been reading it every day. :) He's lived a pretty rough life--but it's amazing to me how quickly the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes people. There IS power in reading the Book of Mormon. If you want to experience that, give it a try--open it up every day and I PROMISE that like Brenden, you will feel happier. You'll have more strength to meet the challenges that come your way. :)
The first couple of days in Middletown were pretty rough (homesick for Peru, getting over a monster cold, etc.) So, my first night I knelt and asked my Heavenly Father to send me some help--so I could adjust more quickly and get to work.
The next day after our first teaching appointment, we were sitting in the car listening to "The Lower Lights" (awesome music, by the way) when Sister Driesel pointed out a group of speckled gray chickens crossing the street. Two or three cars were stopped so the chickens could cross the road. The sun was shining, the music was playing, and the chickens were crossing the road. I laughed. :) Then I turned to Sister Driesel and said
"Why did the chickens cross the road?"
"Why?"
"To make the sister missionaries laugh!"
We laughed. :) To me, that moment was my Heavenly Father's way of brightening my day to help me adjust to an unfamiliar place. :) He knew what would make me laugh. Heavenly Father knows each of His children perfectly, and he loves to make them happy--even when it's something as little as chickens crossing the road.
I love you'ns! (That's one I've heard since being in Ohio)
Yours,
Sister Sarah Jane Lewis
NEW ADDRESS:
218 D Bavarian Dr.
Middletown, OH 45044
P.S. Maybe when I get back I can pursue a career writing Laffy Taffy jokes. What do you think?
