DON'T WORRY, JUST HAVE FAITH

the words from my father ^^^ could not be more true for me. these past two weeks have been...well LIFE. yes, life does come back around adventually. the life that we don't worry about until we start dying as missionaries. and, its nothing like i thought it would be like! i thought it would be a breeze...oh how i thought wrong. with looking back on my mission and looking ahead to what i have still, thinking about life when i go home, thinking about how to help others, etc, etc...it has been a little worry-some! but, because of it i am learning and growing a lot. still in the process, but its happening. i have faith that everything will work out in the end...or in five months...but its the faith i need to gain for the every day things that will get me to those points. i have been studying the scriptures, seeking my parents advice, praying a lot and trying to just take a big step forward on my own. a big step of FAITH.

"faith is the begining of all journies."

      "look behind you with gratitude and look ahead with faith."

"[faith] is what makes it so."

faith is an attribute i am striving to make strong. it may be a small word, but i means great things. i will do whatever it takes the gain the faith that i need and want. it will take time and hard work but it is how it will develop. i'm looking forward to strengthening my faith and can't wait for this journey.  the only way to make it perfect is through going to Christ every day. and seeking His help...because "with God all things are possible."

"a portion of [his] spirit"

Hello, hello! Sorry for the late email. I was visiting a beautiful place, Hunters Point. Sister Palu took me and it was much needed and appreciated. :)

 

 

brooklyn bridge

 

 

well this week was another good one, and man it flew by wayyyy too fast! Ah!! But, it's been awesome. We presented the 21 day promise to our ward yesterday and they are going to start it this next week! More miracles floating our way. So excited. We had a street sweep on Saturday and we were advertising general conference, on one poster we had a picture of president monson. This black guy came up to us and was like amazed that there was a prophet. He was like, "a prophet?? He's a PROPHET?!" And repeated that like six times, so funny. Haha! Unfortunately he took it in the wrong shocking way and thought we were crazy, but, he will remember that one day and then become a member. :) our investigator (G) is doing awesome! I've been praying so hard for her...we had Hermana viera come to the lesson with us and it was perfect. MEMBERS ARE THE KEY. she's just trying to seem an answer if this is right for her, she said she has a fear inside of her because if it is right she has to change religions and bring her family too. It really hit me and made me so grateful for her pure heart who really wants to know. (L) and (J) are doing AWESOME! Ah I love them. He just sat there and talked to us for like 20 minutes when before he would hardly let us know he was home. The ATONEMENT IS REAL PEOPLE. Our new less active friend (P), who we have been visiting came to our relief society birthday party!!! Everyone who asked her who she was and such would say, "Ellas son mis misioneras!" (They are my missionaries.) I cried a little. I love her! well this week lets just say has been...emotional. It's weird. Haha. Three transfers left is like NOTHING. I have felt the Holy Ghost a lot this week and I am so grateful for it. He gives me answers exactly how I have needed them but in his own time. I have received countless moments of comfort. I'm learning to seek for him more and make him more part of my daily life. So like the subject, a portion of my spirit, I've been thinking a lot, how indescribable the feeling of the Holy Ghost is and yet it is just a portion. I love this gospel so much. I love my savior. I love that families are eternal. I love you all!!!

the closest to manhattan i can get!

 

 

long island will always be my home...

happy st. patricks day

I love feeling like we have so much to do, and we do! It has been a really big learning week for me. This is kind of a run down of the week...

Tuesday morning (N) (the lady i met a few weeks ago) called us and said, "Sister Lewis, i need to talk to you. In person, today. I need help." So we left right away to go talk with her. She explained how she is losing everything, has no job and is getting kicked out of her house in a week. It is so hard to see people suffer and just plead for help. We talked to the bishop and he was so willing to talk to her but then she ended up not coming back the next day...i pray for her a lot and hope her and her kids are ok. That day i also had the prompting to call Hermana (V) from Patchogue. It seriously made me so happy to talk to her!! It was the best day ever. She said she is doing well and is going to go to the temple next time the branch goes!! She said that when we come back to visit we have to go see her! Also, one of her friends we were teaching...her son got baptized! She said, "hermana lewis, nuestras visitas no fueron en vano." pretty much saying that even though her friend didn't progress, with time she is and her son has become a member! So cool. Then we were teaching english class and one of the less actives in our ward who is recently coming back came! I was talking to her about how she was doing and such and i asked her how her boyfriend was. bad idea. haha but only for a moment! She said they broke up and aren't living together anymore BUT because of it she is realizing how she needs to change her life. It is so amazing to see the atonement working in peoples lives!! She asked me how she could get a temple recommend, i almost started crying.

So because Sister Palu and i are at the same exact points on our missions, we get along really well. haha! We have little panic attacks together often. :) One day we were walking down the street and i just needed to let it all out. (yes, i can do that now:) ) So i just started telling her how i felt and the feelings i was having! We are getting so old in the mission that we realize the things the adversary is trying to tempt or hurt us with. I'm so glad we have eachother to lift eachother up! She is such a good friend! On my mission i have overcome a lot of weaknesses, but also, i have noticed other weaknesses that i have. I am SO thankful for the Atonement of our Savior who helps me overcome these.

13 months down...5 to go...

we like to celbrate everything :)

Funny stuff for the week...we visited Russia! LIterally, i thought i was in a different country. We go into a grocery store asking if they do cash back...? They just give us the weirdest look and were like huh?? I tried explaining what it was and they just walked off and brought this worker to us who was hispanic?? He says, you speak spanish right? We were like yes...so he wanted us to try and explain to him which doesn't work because cash back is..cash back. Finally i was just like okay, thanks! We're going to get our groceries now. So we continue to shop and then ask another kid who worked there if they had chocolate chips? He just looks at us and runs to the back! We were like, what the heck?? Where are we?! And who doesn't know what chocolate chips are hahah. Oh my heavens...so they didn't have those so we go back to the front and i'm looking at the spices and the hispanic guy goes, "oh thats what you were looking for!" i couldn't help but laugh and just agreed. haha. Then one day it was SO SO windy!! like blew us away. So we are walking home and Sister Palu was walking all funny and i was like what are you doing?? haha she lifts up her skirt a little and says, "my tights are falling off!!!" they were seriously at her ankles! haha i peed my pants a little. Good thing in New York you can just be YOU. thats what i love about it. You don't have to pretend to be anyone else. Everyone accepts you for who you are. So, let us all be more like New Yorkers! :)

I love you and miss you all dearly!

where my poly-people at??

Buenas dias!

Well it was a very good week in Midwood! Heavenly Father really helped us with our goals this week and we hit and over hit them! It felt so good and to have a companion finally!! She is awesome, i love her! We are so much alike and get along really well! She is half tongan half samoan and from California! We actually came out together so thats fun!! My district leader and his comp are poly also (hence the subject of this email). i love poly's! :)

This week we met with the (O)- the parents aren't members, the two kids are. It is so cool to see the Lord preparing people who are ready to live the gospel. They came to church 2 weeks in a row! And she brought her husband all by herself!! She is so great, i love her. She said she will be baptized, she just wants to learn more and get a personal answer and do it as a family. It is seriously the best feeling and sight to see a family get one step closer to eternity.

Sundays, i love them. I will forever. They give me a re-boost and hope for the next week! Our members are getting more and more involved in missionary work. More are attending sacrament meeting and more are going to the temple! Member missionary work is the best way to do missionary work, members are asking us to meet and teach their family and friends.

I hope you all have a fantastic week! I challenge you all to study the talk by Robert D. Hales with me entitled, Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple, and Sacrifice in Service. I love you all so much! I miss you tons and can't wait to see you all! Thank you for your prayers!

 

 

they call us PALUIS. :)

 

 

 

a few goodbyes

sometimes we have to wear the elders shoes...

Adam J. Johnson, one of the sweetest guys i've met. We'll miss you!
 

goodbye elderes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Midwood for life

Hi everyone!! How is everyone doing?? I feel so out of the loop I realized, more than I already was at home, we are going to need to have a big family council when I get back! Haha. Well this week was
good!! Last one as a trio- thank heavens! I love these sisters and learned a lot of important things from it like, recognizing the lords hand everywhere in helping us accomplish things, patience, and relying on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Seriously I have watched miracles happen right before my eyes...it is the coolest most touching moment to experience. I will share a few...

We were riding the bus home and I sat down by this young boy and his
mom and brother were behind him. I said hi or the little baby and
tried to talk to him, then I started talking to the mom. She spoke
perfect English and was from Mexico!! Double whammy. ;) anyways, I got
to know her a bit then invited her to the FHE we were going to have in
a few days and told her a little about the church. She almost broke
into tears and said, "oh I need this so much right now, I've been
going through a really hard time. Thank you!" The bus stop came and we
were saying goodbye, so I gave her a card with our number. Then she
said here take my number! (That was a miracle in itself. People never
do that.)

Then sweetest thing ever-
mom this should give you comfort that I have my "New York mothers" here. They saw I didn't have a hot on and they about lost it!! Haha they were like we are going to call your mom and tell her! Then Jennie says, I have something that will be perfect for you. So she goes into her room and brings out a super cute scarf and HANDMADE GLOVES. I died a little. On our way home Hermana Jimenez says to me, "I feel like a missionary!" ❤️

my new york mothers :)

 

Sorry this is really long, it was just a fantastic week. :) on Friday we had a ward FHE and it went so well! A new family that just moved here from Honduras, came and LOVED it. On Saturday all of our appointments fell through so we went and knocked a building with the elders. The first building, not one door opened. Then we found another and it was perfect cause it was like 60% Spanish!! I talked to some really cool people who all said we could come back!! On the way home we were all walking back to the church and sister freeze was in the middle of telling elder rogers a story when she all the sudden decides to fearless a lady walking towards us. (She's known for funny approaches and startling people) so she steps in front of this lady and says hi! The lady jumps like a foot and BARKS at her!!! Haha! Yes like I dog. It was hilarious, she couldn't even respond and just walked back to us laughing hysterically! Sofunny.

Sunday was amazing. The bishopric was inspired to switch sacrament
meeting to third hour because everyone was coming late and not taking
the sacrament. It helped a ton! There were so many people! Jennie
came, parents of two members that aren't members, 3 less actives, ah
it was just amazing!! Sister Jimenez gave a really good lesson in
relief society about the work of salvation and keeping covenants. She
shared our experience with Jennie and invited them all to come out
with me! The Hermanas were able to share some of their thoughts which
was so nice and really hit how important visiting teaching is!! I love
this ward so much. I love my midwood peeps so much!! Oh! Then
yesterday a return missionary from our mission face booked me and
asked if I could talk to her friend who's sister is really struggling
and lives here. So she gave me all her info and asked if we could go
visit her! I am so excited to meet her, I feel like it will go really
well. She has three sisters like me and just feel like we will get
along well! Miracles people, they are so REAL. I cannot even explain
my joy of them. I also gained a strong testimony of fasting this week.
It is so powerful and works miracles!!

I love you all so so much. Thank you for your endless support and
love! I pray for you all, always.

P.s. I'm getting a new companion tomorrow! Yippee!!

zone activity bowling!