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.

This week in the OCM!

Hello all! :) I hope you had a spectacular week! Mine sure was!

This Thursday we had the opportunity to hear from Wilford W. Andersen of the 2nd quorum of the Seventy. It was a wonderful and uplifting meeting. In a leadership meeting prior to  the main training he talked about how disciples of Christ are different leaders than those of the world. In the world power flows from leaders. In the Lord's Kingdom power flowsto the leaders because they are meek, humble, hopeful, faithful, and filled with charity. We talked about Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-46 as the model of good leaders. I have a lot to work on! :)

  41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion (sharing knowlege and listening to one another), by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

 42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

 43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

 44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

 45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

 46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

During the main training meeting we learned about head knowledge, heart knowledge and soul knowledge (putting head and heart knowledge to action).

I was honored to be able to sing "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" during the meeting. Elder Seegmiller played the violin and Elder Smith played the piano (he arranged the whole musical number.) I love singing the hymns because it brings the Spirit so strongly. :) 

I wish you all could have heard the arrangement, it was beautiful. (it was a lot like the one in Seventeen Miracles).

Have a lovely week!

Love, Sister Lewis

We woke up to snow this morning.. here's my view.

Exchanges with Sister Rolfe

Photos of a Pretty Spot on The Side of the Road:)

Agency and Service

This week has just flown by! It's been a great week.

Tuesday we planned for zone meeting and I went on my first exchange as a sister training leader! Guess who I went on exchanges with?? Sister Carlson! (she was my 2nd companion in the field). It was awesome! 

Zone meeting on Wednesday went really well! Sister Syndergaard and I trained on how to set expectations with those we teach (Why are we there, what do they expect from us, etc). It really helps focus the relationship between missionaries and the investigators. Also, we trained the zone on how to be a consecrated missionary. How obedience leads to sacrifice, which leads to consecration. :) There's been a lot of hard work going on here the past week. It's great! :)

Thursday I had an exchange with Sister Martineau. Together we found 2 new families to teach! It's awesome. Heavenly Father is preparing people for us to teach. 

One of my favorite things that happened this week: We were on our way to contact a referral in an apartment complex, and while we were walking in the parking lot we came across an old lady (she was probably 90 years old- she reminded me of my Grandma Carr). She was going to check the mail, but was having a hard time staying steady. The wind could have blown her over! So I offered her my arm and we checked her mailbox and walked her home. Her name is June, and she was so sweet. :) Sister Syndergaard and I decided that if we hadn't been there, she probably would have fallen.  It was pretty cool being at the right place at the right time. :) Heavenly Father prompted us to go where June was, because he looks out for his children. :)

:) I hope you have a lovely week!

Love,

Sister Lewis

205 Sycamore Ln. #62

South Lebanon, OH 45065

Letters are welcome. :)

Here's the picture I tried sending last week. Sister Syndergaard and me on Halloween:

Photos with a Bear, Sister Syndergaard and Sarah

Here's a picture of me and my new companion!!

One of the members in our ward collects stuffed animals. :) His wife bought this for him at Costco this week. :) haha

My Birthday Week and Photos!

My Birthday was AWESOME! Thanks to my family, friends, and ward members! :)

I'm getting transferred.. but! we had a great week. I have learned so much while I have been here in Eaton. I am happy that I could serve here with Sister Worthen. She helped me learn a lot about forgiveness, patience, and obedience. I am leaving her as a more diligent, obedient, and faithful missionary. :) I am excited for a new transfer! I know there will be a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I'm up for the challenge, because I have Jesus Christ on my side.

This week I have been focusing on praying with faith. I had one morning where I prayed specifically to be led to someone who was prepared to receive the Gospel. That afternoon we contacted a referral (his neighbor thought he might like some help with his yard) and we met Steve. He had great questions for us, and I could tell that he had really thought about religion, and his relationship with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. We had a great lesson with him about the Restoration. On Saturday I prayed specifically to be able to find a new investigator, and when we went to teach a current investigator family, they had invited their cousin over and she joined the lesson. It turns out she's always wanted to visit a Mormon church. She's a Sunday school teacher at a Methodist church, but she has been prepared. :) It's been a great, faith-building week for me. :) 

Now for the fun things!

My birthday was great! I made a "birthday cake" (pumpkin pie bars) to take the the ward Harvest Party. Sister Worthen and I judged the pumpkin carving contest, and we made little pumpkins that look like us. We had a great time eating delicious chili, talking with members and their friends, and ended the evening by passing out candy for the trunk-or-treat. (Thanks to Jordan for providing the candy!) We had a lot of less-active members show up and an investigator family came as well! I'll be sending pictures! :)

I love you all!

-Sister Lewis

If you write to me this week, please send letters to:

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

c/o Ohio Cincinnati Mission

P.O. Box 11671

Cincinnati, OH 45211

CHANGE IS GOOD.

Hello!

I moved! :) I am now serving as a sister training leader in the Little Miami Ward in the Cincinnati East area. :) The ward is HUGE! There are about 265 people who come each week on average. The members here are very focused on sharing the gospel with their friends and it's exciting to be serving here! I'm serving with a new companion, Sister Syndergaardfrom Roosevelt, UT. :) She is an amazing and powerful missionary, I will definitely be learning a lot. She's been really patient with me as I have been trying to learn the area and the ropes of being a sister training leader.

As a sister training leaders we are responsible for working with the zone leaders to motivate, uplift, and train the missionaries in our zone. We are in charge of arranging all the exchanges for the 4 companionships of sisters in our zone. :) It's awesome! One of my previous companions, Sister Carlson is in the zone, so that should be a lot of fun. :) 

On Halloween we drove down to the mission home for an all-day leadership council. (For pictures see the Ohio Cincinnati Mission page). It was a wonderful experience! I love learning from President and Sister Porter and the Assistants.  I took so many pages of notes. We talked a lot about being a consecrated missionary. But really, this applies to any member of the church who has made covenants with Heavenly Father.  It takes discipline to be obedient to the commandments. We  must offer something to live a life of sacrifice. We must give of ourselves (give our will) to set apart and dedicate ourselves to Him--to live a consecrated life. The greatest sacrifice we can make for Heavenly Father is that of changing ourselves. Heavenly Father wants us to give up whatever it is we don't want to give up. Why? Because that's when he can change us.

Sacrifice is an act. Consecration means changing your nature. You are the sacrifice.

We were given the example of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham waited years and years for Isaac. Isaac was pure and clean, he was the best son ever. Abraham was a wealthy man, he had land and riches. But God didn't ask him for his riches (though that might have been a sacrifice for him). He asked him to give his son--the person dearest to him.

(*funny side note: President Porter said it should have been Sarah--his wife should have been dearest to him.)

It just made me think, whatever it is in our lives that we are least willing to give up, that is what Heavenly Father wants from us. If it's a hobby that takes precedence over church service, or an addiction that takes time away from family, or even career pursuits that take our minds away from being a disciple-- He wants whatever we don't want to give up.Mosiah 7:33 helped me put it into perspective. 33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put yourtrust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure,deliver you out of bondage.

This weekend I have been working on giving a few things up. And let me tell you, it's not easy. But I have seen a change in myself already. Little things that might have distracted me or kept me from being effective are diminishing. In my own life I have seen how the Savior has helped  deliver me from bondage.

I know that Jesus Christ is the key to overcoming any weakness. He suffered it all for us so he can help us through it.  

11 And [Jesus Christ] shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Jesus Christ suffered for our sins. But he suffered for other things as well, not because he had to, but because of his love for us. He did it so he could help us through our infirmities (weaknesses) and through our temptations and pains. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so happy that I can repent daily and change each day to become more like Him. :)

I hope everyone has a spectacular week! :)

Love,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

205 Sycamore Ln. #62

South Lebanon, OH 45065

Isn't it funny? I moved from NEW Lebanon to SOUTH Lebanon. :)

Letters and packages are welcome!!