Gaerwen Week 3

Happy Halloween! This week has been truly amazing! We are still getting to know the area but we are already seeing miracles with the work. 

Our first miracles was with Martin. Martin is our friend who is on date for baptism on November 24th. This past week we made a baptismal calendar for him. We really tried to plan ahead so we called members to help with the lessons for him for the next month. The members here are so willing to fellowship and it has made such a difference for Martin as he has learned more about the gospel. He attended church again this Sunday and he had such a good time again. We spoke with him about keeping the sabbath day holy and he has such a strong desire to attend church every Sunday. He also started reading the scriptures and praying regularly. I can see Martin's faith grow everyday and I am so excited for him to be baptized.

We had a major success with a less active family in the ward as well. They are the sweetest family but havin been coming to church for the past few years. Right before we came, the Elders had asked the Relief Society President about who she felt she should visit and she gave them their name. They were able to visit them once before they left but didn't have a chance to really talk to them about anything yet. We visited them last week and they opened up to us about all of their concerns. We weren't sure what we could do to help them other than just keep on coming over and loving them. We visited last night and their attitude had completely changed. They said that they both felt like they needed to strengthen their testimonies and that Sister Mueller and I were the ones they wanted to help them. I am humbled by the trust they have in us and I know that God will tell us that words to say to help them at this time. They expressed a desire to start from the basics so we are going to visit them over the next weeks and teach them the lessons. I am so excited for this sudden change they've had.

We also had zone conference this week. I had the opportunity to give a talk on "My Purpose", the first chapter of PMG, and I spoke about how we fulfill our purpose by doing the small and simple things that we are asked to do as missionaries. But that principle applies to all aspects of the gospel as well. Often times we see that when we are feeling farther away from the Lord it is because we have stopped doing those simple thing we have been asked to do everyday, such as reading our scriptures, praying, and serving others. Thankfully, even if we aren't doing them right now, we have infinite chances to start again. I am so grateful for the atonement of the Jesus Christ that allows to try again and again and I can tesitfy that as we do the small and simple things that our relationship with our Heavenly Father will improve.

Gaerwen Week 2

This week has been amazing! To start off, Wales is so beautiful! We are right by the Irish sea and everything is so green. We visited a castle today in Caernarfon and there is so much history there. It's been amazing to experience a new culture here.

The most exciting thing this week was that our friend Martin agreed to be baptized! Right now it is for the 24th or November. We are so excited for him and the decision he is making.

I was reading in the Book of Mormon, and it talks about in ether 12:6 that we receive a witness after a trial of our Faith. I know that if we press forward in Faith that we can receive a witness for ourselves. I love the scriptures!

Gaerwen Week 1

This week was my first week in a new area and it has been quite an adventure! My companion, Sister Mueller, and I whitewashed, which means that neither of us were in the area before. The majority of the week was getting ourselves acquainted with the area and getting to know the members of the ward. We also started going through our area book and contacting people who haven't been contacted in a while to see if they're still interested in meeting. A few people responded and said that we could meet with them this week!

Something I've noticed already in this area is how amazing the member missionary work is! The members of the ward here are so willing to bring their friends and family to church. We even had one member just come up to us this Sunday and give us her friend's number to contact. I know that as we all lift where we stand that we can help prepare the world for the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. I love this gospel so much!

I was given the opportunity to speak in church on Sunday and I spoke on the role of the Book of Mormon in gaining a testimony. Elder Bowen of the 70 spoke on this topic in the most recent conference. I've seen that my testimony has grown as I've set time apart to read the Book of Mormon. I wanted to invite each of you to set time apart in your day to read the Book of Mormon, especially you sisters who have just been invited by President Nelson to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. I know that as you do so that you will feel the spirit more in your life. The Book of Mormon is amazing!

In letter to Mom:  I forgot to mention in my group email but I get to drive here in Gaerwen... drive! It has been quite the adventure but I've only gone the wrong way on a one way street twice now so don't worry. The area I'm in right now is also so beautiful. We are right by the ocean and everything is so green. Look up pictures of northern wales and you'll see what i mean. I know you appreciate the beauty of nature so you will definitely appreciate that. 

Stockport Week 18

This week has been amazing! I found out that I'm being transferred to Gaerwen in wales! My new companion will be my STL this transfer. Her name is Sister Mueller and she is from Idaho. She is so nice and I am excited to work with her! I also get to drive in my new area. It will be interesting to drive on the left side of the road but it will be an adventure!

Conference this weekend was amazing! I can testify that the words of the prophets, apostles, and other church leaders are true. As we apply their words we will come to know that for ourselves. I especially loved President Nelson's talk on the name of the Church. It is truly the church of Jesus Christ and to call it anything else is offensive to him. I love his testimony and I invite each of you to read his talk once more and listen to the blessings he promises each of us as we do our best to restore the true name of the Church. 

This week I had exchanges with Sister Graham and it was so amazing. Sister Graham is also from Utah and is an amazing missionary. We talked a lot about joy, and how we can bring our joy to the work. This is truly a glad message we share, one that includes being with your family forever, and we show others that by our own attitude. As we try our best to stay positive and Find joy, others will recognize that joy in you.

Yesterday we had what we called miracle Monday, where across the mission we tried to find 150 new people, which is about 2-3 people per companionship. As we focused on being led to those that are being prepared, we saw miracles! For sister viteri, several of our potential investigators agreed to meet with us, even one who had been previously opposed to it. I know that as we exercise our faith and strive to put forth our best effort that we can see miracles, in missionary work but also in our daily lives.

 (I love my companion!)

Stockport Week 17

This week has been good! We saw a lot of progress this week, with some our recent converts and with some of our friends. We saw three of our recent converts this week and they are all doing good. We are working with some of them to attend the temple, which will be such an amazing experience. 

We met with Riz this week and he is so prepared to hear the Gospel. If you don't remember, we  taught him the first two lessons last week. We met with him again this last Friday and taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am amazed at his hunger for truth. Between the first and second lessons with him he read the testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith and although he is skeptical about an angel appearing to him, he has a desire to come to know this for himself. We are meeting with him again this week and I am so excited!

Every month we have a fireside where people who have been recently baptized come and share their testimonies. Ian, one of our friends, attended the fireside yesterday and had such a good experience. We've been at a standstill with Ian because we've taught him the first 3 lessons several times and he is not commiting to a day to be baptized. We invited him to the fireside and he had a really good experience! Afterwards, we were talking about Connor's testimony (he was one of the speakers) and how he received an answer to his prayer. We invited him to pray and have the Faith that he can receive an answer as well. He said he would do it and I know he will receive an answer!