happy anniversary to me!

1 year already??

i honestly can say this was probably the fastest year of my life. of course, right? i have cherished every single moment. it has gone by WAY too fast and i thought i'd never be the missionary who said, "i don't want to go home." but i have said it many times already. and i don't, i feel like a greenie still and sometimes feel like i don't know what i'm doing. but, i promise i've grown IMMENSELY from serving the Lord. these next 6 months i'm looking forward to! My mission is never over, like we have heard from Elder Holland. I'm so grateful it never will be! so...this year i've learned A LOT. here are just a few things i'd like to share::::

-tender mercies. oh, they are so real and happen constantly. i have learned that a bunch of tender mercies make up miracles. we just have to be looking for them and open our eyes. i am so grateful for tender mercies. i have seen them daily. they strengthen me. they are a testimony to me that God is real and aware of our very needs & hopes. 

- who is kelsey karen lewis. i have found myself, i have learned who i am. who i am to become. it is amazing to me the perfect knowledge that my Heavenly Father has of me. i have learned that if i turn to him he can show me who he knows i am, and will help me get there. i have learned so much about myself that i didn't even know. whether it was from others telling me, the spirit telling me or figuring it out myself. im not there yet, but i'm grateful i know how to get there now.

- my testimony of the restored gospel. i hate to admit it but i really didn't know what i was getting myself into or what i was going to be exactly preaching. but i am eternally grateful to God every day that he has given me this opportunity to serve him for 18 months and develop a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know with all my heart that this is the ONLY true church of Jesus Christ and, it is why i am happy. and a very important part of that--the book of mormon. i love this book more and more every time i read it. it is the word of god and it does testify of Christ.

- i have a savior. i got this testimony that i have a savior when i was in the MTC. i still remember sitting in the 19M building watching a video about the life of the savior and getting the overwhelming love and conformation that Christ lives. i know it. and i desire to never stop increasing my relationship with him.

- patience. i thought i had it before, but...now i have learned a little more about what it really means. to me, it is being selfless. i really don't like being late and welp, frankly, on a mission that is just a little impossible sometimes. i have learned how to be patient with others, AND myself. patience--it really is a heavenly virtue.

- miracles. believe in them. they are REAL. i cannot even count the countless miracles i have seen and the unseen ones in the last year. and there are only many more to come. i have seen miracles right before my eyes; a very tender and special one within my own family. many, actually. the Lord is taking care of my family. and i pour out my heart in gratitude to him every day for it. missionary work is filled with miracles and it is incredible to witness them daily.

- gods will. this one i'm continually trying to learn and DO. but i have seen when my will and the fathers will are aligned that really--he knows what he is doing. he has a plan that is perfect. i am happier when i follow his will and i'm so grateful for the times that i have because i can see the fruits of it. i desire to do gods will daily because i know the goodness and perfection that it brings.

- joy. i have learned there is a difference between joy and happiness. i have felt joy when i am in the home of one of my brothers or sisters and see their faces light up with the gospel and feel true joy with them, seeing them change. joy is something that i want and love. not just happiness; but eternal joy.

- learning to love Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ. this is something i am forever going to learn how to do. i am grateful for the promptings of the spirit that has urged me to develop these relationships. it is something that i have been counseled to do and prompted over and over again to do. learning to love them is obeying the commandments, consecrating myself to them, and doing things to make them happy.

- prayer. it is my best friend. it is beyond powerful. it is real and it works. before i begin to pray i love picturing myself talking to God. it makes prayer so much more sincere and real. i know he hears AND answers my prayers. whether it is through others or personal revelation. he answers in his own time and in his own way. i love prayer, i have a testimony of it. it brings me closer to God and helps me know i am never alone.

these are just a very few of the many things i have learned and am continuing to learn. i can't wait for the next 6 months that i have to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind & strength and learn and grow as much as i can. i am eternally grateful for my mission and what it has done for my family, me, those around me and my future. please, NYNYS mission...never end. <3




best waffels EVER. try it, seriously.



one year with these pretty women!

a week that felt like a year

Buenas Dias!

My missionary nick name/ phrase..." If you're sister lewis' companion watch your back, she might send you home." I miss sister Williams oh so much, but I'm so glad everything is getting worked out back home. On Monday we were talking to sister calderwod on the phone and president gets on and says, "pack up...I'm coming to get you two right now." So we were at presidents from Monday night to Wednesday evening. Then found out she would be leaving Thursday afternoon. Oh the emotions of this week, I'm going to look back one day and think...wow good thing I didn't realize then all that I was feeling! Haha it's been crazy. But on the plus side, we got to go to pf changs with president, his family and the APs. :) on the way home from presidents he told me that there were no trios In the mission right now to split up for me to have a companion so that I would be working to pools with
the English sisters in our area. Do you think you can work in both English and Spanish? ( but really just me in Spanish cause they don't speak or understand it) My first thought was, oh yeah we can totally do this no problem. Then reality kicked in and I felt all the stress come runnin back! We moved all my stuff over that night. And took sis w to the airport the next morning after breakfast with the district. Then a slap in the face from missionary work ( in a good way) I'm more than right back in it. Before it even started I was like okay Heavenly Father I'm handing it all over..i can't do this on my own. And that's how it's been...he's been there for me ever since. I'm looking forward to this trial because I know the savior is going to become my very best friend and I'm going to strengthen that relationship. I remember talking to bishop foutz in one of my last interviews and he told me something like (mom and dad you might remember this) I will be the missionary that has a hard mission whether it's companions or whatever but that it's because it is gods will that I will be that person to be strong in the situation. At the time I took it as fear and didn't think it would happen. Well after almost a year I am now realizing how right he was and is. And I'm grateful for it. It's making me astronger better person.

But I must say it's evidence I miss my Spanish people when we are
teaching a lesson in English and I say " ...Jesus died on the
cruz...and then the garden, wait I mean cross not cruz." We visited a
young primary boy in our ward to help him write a talk. We walked
upstairs and closed our eyes as he told us and led us into the dinning
room then opened our eyes and he had made us all a glass of lemonade.
It was adorable.


Yesterday was a day I'll never forget. It started with a potential investigator texting me telling me she wants to come to church and asked for the address. I may have got a little excited! And sure enough she came and loved it. Everyone thought she was a missionary haha it was so cute. Then we went to 6 hours of church! Sounds like misery but I loved it and I think will enjoy it for a few weeks. :) I need the extra spirituality! The Lord is taking care of us and helping us so much so that our plans work out working in two different pools.

Crazy experience last night, after our lesson with the less activefamily we are working with, we go to try and just stop by another
members house who didn't come to church. As we get in the building a
woman from Pakistan comes behind us and in her broken English asks us
if we want some tea because we look so cold. We finally realized she
wanted us to come right then and there. So this sweet woman took us to
her apartment, sat us down in her home, gave us sweet bread and rice,
curi food and soup and orange juice. Seriously we were like in shock
about what was going on. It was the weirdest but nicest thing ever!
Then sister freeze and I discussed under our breath what would happen
if we asked to pray with them...we asked them if we could say a prayer
with them and she said oh yes it's my prayer time! You can do it with
me, I'll give you a scarf. ( the ones they put on their head) We
kindly said, that's okay we will just watch. So then she got all
prepared by washing her face, hands and feet and swept the floor. We
sat on the other side of her and she proceeded to lay her rugs down
and started doing their prayer. It was really interesting! We invited
her to church next week and she said she might come. It was a cool
experience, such nice people! The children were adorable. Then we made
it to visit the members we were planning on seeing and ended up really
establishing a good relationship with the Hermana that I've been
wanting! She is so cute. And they shared a plate of fruit with us. I
love New York.

So these next few weeks will be hard but so worth it with so many
miracles! I'm thankful for the elders in my district who are helping
me a lot and most importantly The Lord is right by my side. I know he
is. I love you all!

just doing some laundry!

miracles galore!

Hola mi familia!

Well, the subject of this email pretty much explains this week. It's been a crazy, up and down, emotional, funny, memorable, tough week yet with lots of tender mercies and miracles. I'm grateful we have been able to see the miracles throughout days that seem so long and
frustrating. To start off the week I about ate it straight on my face twice within 45 minutes. The first time I tripped trying to run and catch a bus right in the middle of the cross walk, so embarrassing I was dying laughing, then we were crossing another street and my boot
heel slid on a pieces of ice...all four limbs were in the air as I
screamed and then sister Williams screamed and grabbed my arm and I
caught myself with my other. This is why we have companions! Oh my
gosh we were laughing so hard we had tears running down our faces. But
as for health, Sister Williams has not gotten much better and I feel
so bad, whenever we thought something was going to work out something
that ruined the good always came right after. We were in the ER from
5:30-11:30 Friday night and they didn't do anything whatsoever to
help. President called the elders and had them bring us food and
company cause we were so bored and starving. She hasn't been able to
get the tests that she needs and we are still trying to figure out
what's wrong. We had a MRI scheduled for today and we get a call
yesterday saying they won't be able to do it anymore because the
machine broke. What the?? I was like is this a joke? Oh my
heavens...poor thing. She is taking it all so well, it's amazing.
Please keep her in your prayers!

I went on exchanges with sister millet for about 12 hours before I
couldn't stand not being there with sister Williams ha so we brought
them back lunch and talked for a little bit. But to make this story
more exciting the night we left as we were leaving there was this guy
trying to park over this other guys cones. They were all in each
other's faces arguing and such. And we are just looking at each other
like what in the world is going on?? Then the guy gets in his car and
starts running over all the cones as the one guy is throwing them
under his car. Oh how I love New York. Then we shortly find out that
their house has no heat or hot water...so we gather some blankets and
head over to a senior couples house and have a little camp out in
their living room and STILL got to bed by just after 10:30. Then
because they take such good care of us here, they wake up and make us
eggs, ham, muffins, hot chocolate, the best breakfast I've had in a
long time. But I had a good time with sister millet, we have a lot in
common and she is so great!

As for missionary work, we were blessed to still get some done without
leaving much at all. On Saturday night our ward had a clothing
exchange and make over night. We had a lot of members come, less
actives who do hair and make up came and did others for free and some
non members came too! It was successful!! Then in sacrament there were
a ton of people who bore their testimonies that we went over 15
minutes! I was so happy to hear their testimonies grow. They are so
great. We taught the (G) last night with the bishop and it went
really well! They have a long way to go but with all the potential in
the world. They had a friend, (A) who was there and stayed and read
the Book of Mormon with us! Afterwards he said how he felt so good and
thought the book was amazing and that he wanted one. I told him we
could bring him one, as I was getting his information he asked about
church too. Pure in heart! We have an FHE tonight with the (G)
family and him at bishops house. MIRACLES ARE REAL.

I am so eternally grateful for all your love, support and faithfulness
to this gospel. It is truly bringing miracles into our family and
individual lives. That is one thing I have a very strong testimony of
is miracles, even though healing a blind person seems crazy and that
it couldn't happen today, we see miracles today that are just as
amazing. I know that very single one is from our loving Heavenly
Father and savior who love us more than we can comprehend.

5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with
power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all
eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the
children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go
forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick,
raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their
sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the
hearts of the children of men.

7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger,
thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto
death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his
anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

(Mosiah 3:5-7)

27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ
hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God,
to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the
children of men?

28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those
who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto
every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of
men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.

29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles
ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to
minister unto the children of men.

(Moroni 7:27-29)

I love you all SO much. Miracles are happening, no matter how big or
small we just have to open our eyes and recognize them!

                                                          and yes, my first haircut ever!