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

Easter--My Testimony of the Savior

Dearest Family and Friends,

I hope you had a wonderful Easter! I know I did. Saturday began with a bright and sunny 70 degree morning. We helped an investigator paint her new apartment (that was fun!) and we made lovely Easter egg sugar cookies and delivered them to investigators and members. :) It has been wonderful-- all weekend we have been sharing our testimonies of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I'd like to share that with you.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of our loving Heavenly Father. It is His Atonement and Resurrection that gives us the opportunity to repent, to change, and become more like our Heavenly Father. Because of Him we can rise above our circumstances and become something more than we are. I know our Heavenly Father sees us as we can become, not as we were, not as we are now. He loves us and wants the best for us. He sent His Son because of this great love. I know that Heavenly Father gives us commandments for our protection, and that our Savior is always there to offer us strength as we strive to keep the commandments, and as we face the trials that will inevitably come to us on our journey here on earth. I know that Jesus suffered for our sins individually--and that's what makes it possible for Him to understand our trials and struggles personally, completely. He can empathize with us perfectly, because He knows us perfectly. I know that 3 days after His crucifixion, He rose again. He lives! And He loves you. I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

Another Bedbug, Another Baptism, Another Wonderful Week.

Hello all!

This week has been a whirlwind of activity and emotion! We've had ups and downs, most of them were crammed into the latter part of the week.

Thursday we had a wonderful lesson and chapel tour with Giovanni. The spirit was so strong as we taught him. When we asked him how he felt, he said he felt at home, and that the feeling he had was as if there were some indescribable power filling him. Yes, he felt the Spirit. At the end of the lesson, he accepted a baptismal date of April 19th! We were so happy and excited for him.

Friday was my sister's birthday (Happy Birthday, Cecily!) When Sister Driesel and I got up to exercise, I was pulling on my socks when I looked down at my leg... and there, sitting serenely on my leg was ... you guessed it: a bedbug. EEK. The horror. The horror.

Thanks to some trusty zone leaders, we soon sprayed the apartment, and washed and dried our clothes and sheets again.Also, the other sister missionaries in our ward helped us throw away our couch and chair. (We weren't taking any chances). We're pretty sure we got the bug from an investigator--who we had actually dropped the night before. We're pretty confident that we are bug free in our apartment, but if you know how to pray, you could pray that all the bedbugs die. :) 

Saturday began with less chaos than Friday. Thank goodness. Soon after our morning study, we received a voice message from Giovanni's mom. Her husband just found out that Giovanni was going to be baptized, and won't allow it. So, that was a sad start to our day. About 20 minutes later we received a phone call from another new investigator, Teri. She had some questions and wanted to see us. We were able to see her later that afternoon. We invited her to come to the General Women's Meeting that night. She attended with us, and enjoyed it. She came to church on Sunday as well, and while we were sitting in the chapel, waiting for sacrament meeting to start, she asked "How long do I have to come here before I can be baptized?" :) She will be baptized on April 26th. At the end of church her friend (a member of our ward) asked her if she liked church. She told him "No, I didn't like it. I LOVED IT!" 

:) Bedbugs, miracles, just another wonderful week in Middletown.

Transfer calls came this morning. Sister Driesel will be transferred and I will be training again. 

Love to all! :)

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

218 D Bavarian Drive

Middletown, OH 45044

Write to me. :)