tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374453899335183432024-03-13T04:58:54.993-07:00Sister LewisTexas Houston South MissionStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13482127007015637451noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-16307047747211889442012-11-14T20:46:00.000-08:002012-11-14T20:46:01.466-08:00A little late this week...<div>
Hello everyone!</div>
<div>
Sorry it's a bit later in the week, but
Monday the library was closed for Veteran's Day, and yesterday we had
zone conference, so we weren't able to email until today. Our zone
conference was great! We learned a lot of great things that will
definitely make a difference in our work. We are really excited to go
try it out!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've had a pretty good week. We found some new investigators this
week. They had been attending the church for about two years, pretty
regularly, and then they started working on Sundays. One of their sons
got baptized, so it was good to be able to meet with him! They are
excited to have the missionaries in their home again. Maybe now they'll
be in a position to get baptized. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We are still working with our 12 yr. old. She's so great! She
loves when we come by, and is reading in the Book of Mormon. We just
have to get her to church, which is tricky, given her crazy family
situation. We've got some one to go over and get her, but the real
problem is making sure she's there. We are going to go see her later
tonight though, which should be really good, and should help us be able
to find a way to get her to church. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The mission has been having a big "de-junking" project.
Missionaries have been bringing all of their extra stuff to the mission
office. We've been cleaning it and getting it ready for a community
outreach program that happened on Saturday. But before that they did a
"missionary mall." So all the missionaries got to come up to Houston,
and we looked for stuff we needed, (we happened to need a blender) and
then they opened it up to the public. Missionaries had been inviting
investigators and members and others to come. And the best part was
that it was all free! The mission figured that we might as well give
all this stuff that we had just lying around to those who could really
need it. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
One of the ladies that I taught while I was in Houston 4 came
with the sisters to take a look around, so I got to talk to her for a
minute, and I learned that she is getting baptized this week! It's been
really cool to see how the people that I've met with are now coming
into the gospel. I had taught this lady for a few weeks, but it was
really good to see how much she's grown! It's been a really good week!
We ended up teaching a lot of people. We've got a few investigators,
and our next step is to help them get ready to be baptized. We've got a
lot of work ahead of us, but we are really excited for it!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, I think that's about it!</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Also, I forgot to tell you about Thanksgiving. We don't really know
what we'll be doing, but we did get invited to eat with one of the
counselors in the branch presidency. They actually belong to one of the English wards, but because there isn't enough leadership in the branch,
the stake calls some people from the other wards to help. So it looks
like it'll be a good old fashioned thanksgiving. The branch is also
having a Thanksgiving activity the Saturday after, so we'll also get to
try Thanksgiving-Mexican style! We're both kinda excited about it. But
I imagine our plans will fill up as the weeks go on. </div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-9350211886358670492012-11-12T20:23:00.001-08:002012-11-12T20:23:13.550-08:00November 5, 2012<div>
Hello family!</div>
<div>
Hope everyone had a great Halloween. We
had to spend Halloween inside, well, we worked til 6, and then came in
and did the rest of our studies. Halloween was actually a really good
day. We ended up having 5 lessons that day. We've been busy teaching,
and finding new people to teach. We've also been looking for less
actives this week. We also cover the singles branch in the stake, so
we've been trying to make them a focus this last little bit. We've been
going out with members to look for less actives, and we've been trying
to get referrals from them. One day it will happen, we will just have
to be persistent.</div>
<div>
Other than it being Halloween, I feel like has been a pretty
uneventful week. We didn't have to go to transfer meeting, which means
we get to stay together, but it also means that we had to plan lessons
for Wednesday morning. We've got a baptismal date with a 12 yr. old.
Her family (mom, brother, uncles, cousins) are all less active members,
except for the few that are active. She's really sweet, and really
likes to learn, and likes to talk with us. We also found a less active
for our YSA branch, who wants to come back to church, and she's really
neat. Things have bene going really well. It always seems like we
spend so long knocking on doors where no one is home or driving around
trying to find someone to teach, but when we get home for the night, and
add all our lessons up, it usually turns out to be a pretty good day. </div>
<div>
This email seems to be pretty short, but I can't think of anything
else that has really been going on. We just keep looking for new people
to teach, and helping the people we are teaching come to church, and
keep their commitments!</div>
<div>
Well...</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-56806609970549220332012-11-12T20:22:00.002-08:002012-11-12T20:22:18.408-08:00October 29, 2012<div>
Hello everybody!</div>
<div>
We got our transfer calls today! Hna. Cardoza and I are staying together for another transfer!</div>
<div>
We're pretty excited!</div>
<div>
This week has been pretty good!</div>
<div>
We've
gotten to spend some time with some more members this week, which is
always good. We've only had three Sundays of actual church this
transfer, so I still feel like I'm meeting people. </div>
<div>
We found a few more people to teach. It looks like there is some
good potential in all of them. (Plus I'm trying to be optimistic and
have the faith that all will get baptized!) I've learned that as long
as missionaries have the faith, that the Lord will work miracles! So if
I have the faith and am opitmistic, the Lord will take care of the
rest. But that if I think that some one isn't going to get baptized
then I am probably right.</div>
<div>
We've found quite a few new people, but we haven't been able to get
back to see them. I think that is my least favorite part of missionary
work. Setting the return appointments, and them not being home, and
then trying and trying and never finding them. We do have a lot of
people in the area that work a ton. They are never home! It's crazy
how much some people work!</div>
<div>
And we've been working with some less actives. Some are a little
more willing to come to church than others, but we are helping them come
back, and we are not giving up on anyone just yet. </div>
<div>
We had stake conference this weekend. It was really good! Everyone seemed to enjoy it!</div>
<div>
The branch, and the english wards in the building, had a trunk or
treat on Friday night. It was really cold! All of the members have
told us that winter has officially begun. The cold isn't too bad, it
just has this nasty bitterness to it. I'm going to blame that on the
humidity. Although Hna. Cardoza says it feels just like spring time in
Seattle. Last night, a member asked us why we weren't shivering. We
told him that is because we are used to the cold, and that this is
nothing!</div>
<div>
Well, I think that's about it for now!</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-63781106228513791752012-11-12T20:21:00.001-08:002012-11-12T20:21:40.022-08:00Short and Sweet<div>
Well, this weekend was pretty good. We met the wife of one of our
investigators and started to teach her too. The branch had a halloween
party last weekend, which was kinda fun, and some of the less-actives
that we invited showed up. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Hna.
Cardoza and went as each other (we switched name tags.) We taught a few
people this weekend. </div>
<div>
Nothing else too crazy or exciting happened.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, love you all lots!</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-13213604137807743392012-11-12T20:20:00.002-08:002012-11-12T20:20:55.204-08:00 A Little Late this week....<div>
Surprise! It's your weekly email!</div>
<div>
I know it's a little late, but it's got a great story attached. </div>
<div>
We
went to the temple today. We're now allowed to attend the temple once a
quarter, on our P-day, so long as a member drives us. But because the
temple is closed on Monday, we get to change our P-day. So this week,
it's Friday. (This also means that we get P-day again on Monday!)<br />
We've still been working on finding new investigators, and helping them
get to baptism. So it's been pretty busy. We had a ton of lessons fall
through last week. No one was ever home. <br />On Saturday, the area
presidency came to speak to all three Houston Missions. It was a lot of
fun, and they gave great talks. I know I learned a lot! That evening,
the branch was having a baptism for an 8 year old member, so we spent
most of the afternoon trying to get an investigator there. He's been
kinda sick, so we managed to get him to the church for a blessing from
the elders, and then he just kinda hung around until the baptism.
Two other wards had baptisms that same time, so he saw a few people get
baptized. </div>
<div>
This week has been a little bit better than last week, we've found a new investigator, and we've found a few more lessons. </div>
<div>
We went on exchanges yesterday, I got to stay here and have Hna. Kennedy with me. </div>
<div>
The last two weeks haven't been too exciting, sorry. We just keep
looking for people to teach. We've got a few people that we've taught
one or two times, but we've been having problems getting in touch with
them, especially since everyone is home for only two hours everyday, and
they are all at home at the same time, but we never manage to find
anyone. It's kinda frustrating. But I know that the Lord has people
for us to teach, we just have to go out and find them.</div>
<div>
Well, I think that's it for now!</div>
<div>
Talk to you soon!</div>
<div>
Love, Amber</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-55612129531383094712012-11-12T20:19:00.002-08:002012-11-12T20:19:35.498-08:00October 8, 2012<div>
Hello family!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Wasn't conference just great!! I
can't believe it's over though, it all went by so fast. We got to
watch conference at one of the buildings in our stake, but other than
the missionaries, there were only two other members there on Saturday, a
handful Sunday morning, and somewhere in between for Sunday afternoon.
There were a lot of people who stayed home and watched I guess. But we
had a grea time! I was all excited about the temple in Peru! That's
where Simon is from, and I know a couple other members who lived there
or served missions there. I think this is the first time that a foreign
temple announcement has been so real for me, knowing how it really will
impact the members there. Then we heard about the missionaries! We
are all stoked, and a few of the elders were talking about how their
little brothers or sisters could leave right now, or before they get
back. We all thought it was really neat. As we walked out of Saturday
morning session we were all talking about it and remembering how
conference used to be like 80 hours long every session, and that the
last two hours had just flown by. </div>
<div>
(We also think we need to put some signs on our cars that say "Questions? Ask the missionaries...they can help you!"</div>
<div>
We
didn't get any investigators to conference, but we got some recent
converts who we weren't sure would be able to make it so that was fun.
The ward that meet in the building also did a pot-luck in between Sunday
sessions. </div>
<div>
But other than conference...</div>
<div>
We found a few more new
people to teach this week. We'll go back and see them tomorrow or
wednesday. We taught some less actives this week. We stopped by on
Monday, talked with them, and then set up an appointment to come back
later. The day we stopped by was the day that Hermano's father had
passed away. It was really neat to see the Lord prepare them and us to
be in the right place and the right time. It's been a pretty good
week. </div>
<div>
They have cut down on MTC time. Hna. Cardoza said that her group
was one of the last to do 9 weeks at the MTC, now they'll do 6. We've
also had that 12 week program thing for a while. I had the privilege of
doing when I got to Texas, since they had done it as a mission, and I
didn't get to do it. It really just means and extra hour of comp study
and a program to follow. New missionaries don't really learn how to
teach the lessons at the MTC, so they get to learn it in the field!</div>
<div>
I keep forgetting my camera, so I'll get some pictures next week!</div>
<div>
Well....I think that's it for now!</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
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Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-33671416648585394962012-10-07T21:19:00.003-07:002012-10-07T21:27:19.129-07:00October 1, 2012<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hello family!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Things are going really good here in Texas! It is cooling down quite</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">a bit. It was actually kinda chilly yesterday. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This week has been </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">kinda crazy, and really long and fast at the same time. We've been</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">trying to get in contact with a lot of people who used to be</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">investigating the church, and we've found a family that used to meet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">with the missionaries. We are really excited for them. We also have</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">a couple of other really promising new investigators as well. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We've </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">been working with some less-actives, and one of them actually came</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">to church yesterday! Yay! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">They did make a new ward in our stake, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">thus the big fancy meeting. It doesn't really effect us, but our</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">meeting time has changed, and the youth and primary programs are now</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">combined with one of the English wards.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Our zone conference with Elder Ellis was really good. We were really</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">spiritually fed by the messages that he and his wife shared.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And Saturday we got to go to the Relief Society broadcast. We went</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">with a member, and they invited an investigator that we have. So that</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">was really good. She really liked it. We were really blessed by the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">messages they shared.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We've been having a great time, and I'm getting to know the area</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(which is really big) and the members.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well, love you lots!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hope you all have a great week!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Love, Amber</span>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-63297389301954395112012-10-07T21:16:00.004-07:002012-10-07T21:27:54.408-07:00Transferred!<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Hello family!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I've gone back Spanish-speaking. Which we all thought was going to happen. I'm now in Kemah South. It's in the same zone as Galveston, so I've been moved back to the bay. Actually, where the Galveston off-island area stops is theoretically where ours should begin. But I think that change happens in the middle of nowhere, where no one actually lives, so we're still not sure on that. The area is quite the change from my last one. I've gone from fancy chemical engineers to migrant Hispanics. But I'm loving it so far. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Our little branch is really good, and there are some really good members here. We also work in the local singles branch. We don't get to do a whole lot of work with them, because the YSA boundries are a whole lot bigger than our Spanish ones. But it's kinda fun so far. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
We don't have a whole lot of investigators right now, or even a whole lot of less actives, so we've been going through our list of former investigators. We've had some good success so far, a couple of return appointments and whatnot. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
My new companion is Hna. Cardoza. She's from Seattle, and is in her third transfer. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
We are having special zone conferences this weekend. Elder Ellis (2nd quorum of the 70) is coming to speak with us and do a mission tour. It should be a really good meeting. The ward is in our building, so our branch and the two English wards, will be having a "special meeting" on Sunday. It seems like they are going to make a new English ward. Everyone is full of speculation. So that'll be really fun. It might mean that we have to change our meeting time. We'll probably go to 4 wards in the building after that. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
We have a couple of brand new converts here, and they are really solid. A young couple with a daughter. I've really enjoyed getting to know them. (I've noticed this trend where I come into an area with brand new converts, not just converts, but super solid members in almost every area I've gone too...have y'all noticed it too? I guess I'm here to strengthen brand new member, which I love!)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
We've been having some chillier days, which is good. I'm done with the hot. Although I've heard it gets pretty chilly on the gulf.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Well, I can't think of much else!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Love you lots!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Amber</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-54087055344904064872012-09-16T21:22:00.001-07:002012-09-16T21:22:23.419-07:00Groceries or Dinner?
<div>
It's the last week of the transfer. I can't believe how fast it's gone by. But this week has been really good!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've been doing a lot of service this week, which is fantastic! We love being able to help out anyone and everyone! We've been cleaning houses, stuffing envelopes, tying blankets with the young women...all sorts of stuff.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
This week has been kinda crazy too though. I sprained my foot
during soccer last week, and it got worse before it got better, so we
headed up to the doctor. (plus he doesn't charge the missionaries, and
an x-ray is really the only way to tell what is wrong.) But it's just a
sprain, and getting better quickly. (I guess I now take my soccer a
little too seriously ;) </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
And we had an exchange this week. I got to go to Manvel with Hna. Greenwood. She's in her second
transfer, so it was fun to be with her, and to go back to a Spanish
area. Although all the people we taught were bilingual and preferred
English, but it was still lots of fun. Manvel is kinda out in the
middle of the country, so we did a lot of driving, which gave us a lot
of time to get to know each other. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've had some really great lessons this week. We have three new
investigators! We've been trying to get a hold of some less actives,
and just this past week we've been able to sit down with them. One
family has two girls who we are teaching, and the other has just one
girl. We are super excited to be able to teach them, and to help their
families come back to church!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've also been able to get in contact with a few more less-actives, and were even able to teach some this week! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We stopped by to visit some members, just to get to know them, and
because we couldn't even put a name to a face when someone described
them to us. They are a really cute couple. But as we were talking with
them and getting to know them, she just got up and started doing
something in the kitchen. She's from the Phillipines, so I thought "oh
no, they are going to try to feed us, and we have a dinner appointment
in 30 minutes". And then the next thing I know, he's telling her "no, not
that, they don't like that", or "give them this brand we don't like that
one." Anyway, they started placing grocery bags down at our feet full
of stuff. Freezer meals, peanut butter, shampoo, laundry soap, water,
milk, bacon...all sorts of stuff. (We did eat some ice cream with them
though) I guess they used to feed the missionaries all the time, but as
their schedules got crazier and they weren't always able to have the
missionaries over, they asked the missionaries if they would rather
have dinner or groceries, and they said groceries. So we then drove
home with all that stuff, dropped it off quickly and booked it to
dinner. Which was a blast. But that's the fun story of the week.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, love you all lots!</div>
<span class="HOEnZb"><span style="color: #888888;">
<div>
Amber</div>
</span></span><div>
</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-57338733209252774682012-09-06T20:15:00.002-07:002012-09-06T20:15:37.094-07:00September already!<div>
Can y'all believe that's it's September? I sure can't! It's crazy how fast time goes! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I got the package, and the treats made it here ok!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
This past week has been pretty good. We decided to take our bikes
to the park at the edge of our area for p-day, and rode around a little
bit. It was kinda cool, and there were some neat bugs, and lots of
butterflies, but nothing too eventful.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We had zone meeting this week, which was lots of fun. We basically
reviewed what we learned in zone conference the week before, but it was
good practice that we all needed. We were also reminded of setting
goals the Lord's way. Seeking for his advice, and the goals He wants us
to set, which means we do a lot more praying, and a lot less trusting
in our plans. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We were actually able to get into TWO less active homes this week!
Wahoo!!! We were also able to get in touch with a few more. So it has
been a pretty good week.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
A family from the ward invited the three sets of missionaries in
the ward to their labor day BBQ, which was basically them, us, and one
or two more family members, but it was a lot of fun, and some really
good food. We also had zone activity yesterday, which made for a very
busy p-day. We played chair soccer, which means that they more or less
divided us up into districts, (although the four sisters managed to
claim our own chair and be our own team.) gave us a chair to guard
(kinda like a goal) and if your chair got hit by one of the two balls,
then your team was out. We managed to win a few games, and did fairly
well for ourselves. it was a lot of fun. Those six weeks of soccer at
the MTC really came in handy. Then we did some more less active hunting
last night. We found some really good leads, and we even taught a
lesson.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We haven't had really been impacted by the hurricane, it sounds
like it stayed mostly in Louisiana. Although a less active has some
family from New Orleans, so they came up to stay with her. We've had
some really great lessons with them. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
As far as scripture study goes...</div>
<div>
Studies are one thing that Pres. Ashton really wants us to focus
on. So he gave us all sorts of ideas. And in our very first zone
conference with him, we had a big zone study session. I've learned that
it is simply more that just reading. It's asking ourselves questions.
Do I understand this phrase, what does this word really mean, and then
looking for more scriptures to answer it. And really letting the spirit
enlighten our minds. It's also making our own footnotes and cross
references to other scriptures that we already know about that talk
about the same subject, and using the footnotes. (And of course writing
it all down somewhere.)</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I had a really good study of Helaman 5 a couple weeks ago. It
actually took me a few weeks to get through the whole chapter, (and I
was using most, if not all, of my hour of study on it.) And right now
I've been working through King Benjamin's address, and Ether 12. These
are just a few starting points. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-70896028328869628432012-09-06T20:10:00.003-07:002012-09-06T20:10:47.703-07:00Kicked Out!<div>
Well, this week has been more of the same I guess. We've just been
looking for more people to teach, and have been really focused on the
less actives. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our zone conference this week was really good!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
They've been working on the air conditioner in our apartment. It
seems we have a leak. So they tried to fix it on Friday, and couldn't,
so they let us use a portable air conditioner this weekend. They've
been working on installing the new AC this morning. We are really
excited to have a working AC unit!!!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We took the bikes out for a little bit this week, which was fun, and nice to be back on the bike!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We managed to get ourselves kicked out of a complex this week.
We'd been going by to find some less active members who live there, and
the other day, when we were knocking on one of their doors, the manager
came, yelling at us, about how we were trespassing, and she had called
the police, and that we were no longer welcome on her property. Because
we were trying a few apartments, we parked at one end and walked to the
other. So she got in her car, followed us back to our van, and then
proceeded to snap a few pictures on her cell phone of us, and the
license plate number. We had tried to tell her that we were trying to
visit a specific member, and weren't really knocking other doors, but
she wouldn't let us say anything, and told us that we were lying. It
was kind of a funny experience. And definitely a new one. Missionaries
have been asked not to go around and just knock random doors by
management before, but neither of us had been told to leave and never
come back. So that's the funny story of the week...</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, it sound like everyone is doing well. School started this
week here. There is a very fancy private school just behind our apartments,
and they have the longest pick-up line ever!!! So we just try to avoid
that area from 2:30-5:00. It kinda reminded me of the charter school
days, but this line was soooo much longer. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I think that is about it for this week...</div>
<div>
Love you all!</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU">
<div class="ajR" data-tooltip="Show trimmed content" id=":5j" role="button" tabindex="0">
<img class="ajT" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" /></div>
</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-53517460194998912362012-09-06T20:08:00.002-07:002012-09-06T20:08:20.145-07:00August 20, 2012<div>
Well, I feel like there was something I forget to tell everyone last week, but now I can't remember. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our P-day was pretty crazy. The elders had the van all morning, so
we weren't able to leave our apartment until later on in the day, and
didn't have a whole lot of time to email. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We have been doing a lot of work with less-actives this week, so
even though we don't teach too many lessons, we are figuring out where
people are and when we can see them. Plus, the area got a little bit
bigger at transfers, so we have some new territory to work with.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We have a few people we are teaching right now, but we'll see how that goes. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We have zone conference this week! I am super excited!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We have also been giving a lot of service, we even helped our ward
mission leader move, so there isn't much time for tracting between all
the less active hunting and service we've been encouraged to do.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The English ward is very different from the Spanish ward. I don't have to play the piano at all, which is kinda nice! Plus the members are just a little bit different. There are a lot
more members who have been members all of their lives. The Spanish
wards have a lot of converts. Which means that the flow of church is
just little bit different. It's all good, just a little different.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We have had a ton of rain this weekend, which is good. And it's
actually a pretty decent temperature right now. Not too hot. The rain
cooled everything down, which was good becuase our air conditioner broke
this weekend. It is nice and toasty in our apartment. We've got fans
blowing, but their not doing too much, here's hoping that they maintance
people fix it today!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, I love you lots!</div>
<div>
Have a great first week at school!</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-24524238649111507422012-08-13T20:36:00.002-07:002012-08-13T20:36:15.147-07:00August 13, 2012 - Transferred!<div>
Well it's been a crazy, but good week. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
First off, I'm now in Memorial West. It's an English ward. I'm
really excited for a new experience. The Bilingual area was cool, but
this will be full English. We'll see how much Spanish I keep :) </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
My new
companion is Sis. Peck. She's from Bountiful, and has three brothers
and sisters. She goes home when I do, so it's been a fun week. Our
transfers were a little crazy because Sis. Peck's companion didn't get
put on the transfer list, so they weren't at transfer meeting. I had to
be companions with the other sister's new companion until we could
drive up to the apartment and pack all her stuff. It was kinda crazy! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
My new area was part of a van area, so we get to drive around a mini
van. There had been two sets of elders serving in the same ward, and
they were both bike areas, so on P-days they had to pick up all the
missionaries to do shopping and stuff. But they consolidated the areas,
so now there is just one companionship, so we only have to give them
the van when they need it. It's kinda weird being a missionary and
driving a mini-van, but it's kinda fun at the same time!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've got a few people to teach here, and a couple of really good
recent converts that we are still working with. We are always looking
for more people, and we are really focusing on working with less
actives. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Sounds like everything is crazy with school coming up and what not. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The weather is definitely getting cooler. It's weird to think that summer's almost over.</div>
<div>
It is still ridiculously humid though...and I'm still not used to it. (I am missing the nice ocean breeze though!)</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, I don't think there is much else going on, we just keep on working!</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>
Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-37121180119947868572012-08-08T18:39:00.000-07:002012-08-08T18:39:03.430-07:00August 6, 2012<div>
Well, today our transfer calls came....</div>
<div>
and I'm being transfered!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I'm excited to go see a new area, and I will most likely be heading up to the city! I'm going to miss the island though.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
But I'm a little sad to leave some of our investigators, as usual.
This week, we've been working with one of our Spanish investigators.
He asks a ton of questions, usually good ones, and is reading
in the Book of Mormon. Also, he really likes coming to church. He said
before he met with us, he would hope that someone would call him with
some work for him to do, but now, he hopes that no one calls him so he
can come to church! Plus, he's getting to be friends with the members
that we bring over.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We have also really been focusing on the less actives of the area,
using the new finding method! It's pretty fun! Plus missionaries are a
lot less scary when they are asking and showing that they care about
someone's neighbor. So people are generally a little bit nicer. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We also started teaching this cute 18 yr old. Her dad sent the
missionaries over. After we had taught her, and answered some of her
questions, we invited her to say the prayer. And it was so awesome.
One of the most sincere prayers I've ever heard from an invesigator. We
are really excited for her. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've been working more and more every day, just working on getting
back to full strength, although I'm not reallly allowed to ride a bike
right now, so we've been in the car a lot. Which is good for my tummy,
just not the best way to do missionary work in Galveston.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
It's been really hot, but I think it's mostly the humidity that is
killing me. And I guess it isn't as bad as it was last year, so I'm
just counting my blessings. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, I think that's about it for now!</div>
<div>
Love you all lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>
<span><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-43040458069447958482012-08-08T18:36:00.002-07:002012-08-08T18:36:31.645-07:00July 30, 2012<div>
I can't believe that July is basically gone. It's crazy how time flies!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well,
since last week we had our first interviews with Pres. Ashton, and he
told us to find new people by going to the recent converts, less
actives, part member families, and young single adults. So we've been
doing a little bit of looking to find all these people in our 2 wards.
But it's totally working. We are finding people that would normally
tell us no in the street, or even if we knocked their door, but because
we're asking about their neighbors it gives us something else to talk
about. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've started teaching a less active sister who just moved here a
few weeks ago, but had been bringing her boyfried to a different
chapel. They got confused on which building they needed to attend. But
we were able to stop by and see them this week. She really wants to
come to church, and he is very open to reading the Book of Mormon and
finding out if it's true. Things are just starting to pick up, and
we've got some really good investigators right now, but we are still
doing a lot of looking. Only now our looking is a lot more successful.
So that's good.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I feel like there is more to talk about, but I can't reallly think
of anything. Looking for people in this new way is really about all
we've done this week. Although we also got to eat with English members
this week. Which is always fun. Mexican food sure is tasty, but I
think we get a little more variety with the English members. Plus some
members like to make the missionaries their guinea pigs when it comes to
new dishes. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well....I love you all!</div>
<div>
I guess if I think of something else I'll let you know, but that's it for now.</div>
<div>
Love, Amber</div>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-31083774038776695762012-08-08T18:32:00.002-07:002012-08-08T18:32:50.607-07:00Julyl 23, 2012<div>
Well, things are going good here in Galveston.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've got a
couple of really good investigators right now. Although we found out
today that our "Sunday miracle" is moving to Boston. So we'll try to
get the missionaries up there to teach her. But we had some more Sunday miracles yesterday. We finally got to teach an investigator from
the English area that had been out of town for the past few weeks or
so. We had a really good lesson with him yesterday. He remembered a
lot of what the sisters had taught him over two months ago. Then, we
went to teach an investigator that the elders had been teaching, until
he moved into our area. We've been trying to sit down and teach him,
and we had taught one lesson to his friend, but his roommate decided to
sit in on the lesson as well. So our teaching pool about doubled
yesterday!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
It has been pretty hot and humid down here. The only upside is
that there is almost always a breeze in Galveston. And we've had a hard
time finding people this week. There aren't a lot of people outside,
and there aren't a lot of people home when we knock doors. I think
there are a lot of homes in our area that are beach homes or vacation
rentals, so a lot of those people aren't interested. And the two places
where people congregate here are the two places we can't go: the beach,
and the cruise terminal. But we will keep on looking for people. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our zone conference with Pres. Ashton last week was really good!
He basically picked up where Pres. Saylin left off, and then taught us
the next step to being better missionaries, and how to better study the
scriptures. It was really cool! Then we got to say hello, and
introduce ourselves to him and Sis. Ashton. Tomorrow we will have our
first interviews with him. There haven't really been too many changes
yet. But I'm sure that some are on their way!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We haven't done much more than bike around, talk to people, and try
to find some lessons. We're going through a bunch of former
investigators, trying to go to places that we don't usually go in our
area, but we mostly just hang out on bikes in the sun.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well....I can't think of any thing else to say...It's been a kinda slow week.</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-50121751024832721432012-08-08T18:30:00.002-07:002012-08-08T18:30:29.816-07:00July 16, 2012<div>
Hello everyone!!!!!</div>
<div>
Thanks for the birthday wishes. It
ended up being a pretty good birthday. We still have birthday cake
sitting on our counter. We made the cake you sent, and my district
leader made me a cake as well...so we have been eating a lot of cake!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I got everyone's packages. All the shirts fit good. And they will all work. The new purse works as well. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our
zone meeting last week was very good. It was a little bit different
than the other ones. It was still focused on how to be good
missionaries, but we didn't do any practicing, and the meeting schedule
was just a little different. All of the Saylin's kids spoke to us, and
the Pres and Sis Saylin spoke as well. We then ate lunch with them,
took a picture, and got to say one last goodbye. It was an amazing
meeting. Pres Ashton flies in today. We are really excited for them to
come!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The wedding pictures look way cute! It looks like everyone had a great time. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
This
week the work has been kinda slow. We had to drop a few investigators,
and we couldn't get in touch with a lot of them. Plus we weren't
feeling like we were finding anybody who was super interested in the
gospel. But on Sunday, some of the Spanish members had brought their
niece with them, and asked us to sit with her during class and Sacrament
Meeting. We also had a dinner appointment with some English members
yesterday. The sister is actually the daughter of the Spanish members,
so the parents and the niece were at dinner. We taught her an amazing
first lesson, with the help of the family. She had been meeting with
missionaries in Mexico for like three years, and really likes the
church. We set a baptismal date with her, and she even asked us if we
could do it sooner. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
She has definitely been the miracle of the week. We get excited
everytime we think about how we get to teach her. We haven't had too
many other lessons this week. We tried a few new people, but it doesn't
look like much potential there, and we have one Spanish investigator
who is making some progress, but isn't progressing incredible quickly or
anything. This week we were finally able to figure out his doubt. So
it's been nice being able to teach to resolve that doubt rather than
just teach, hoping that we aren't making him anymore confused. We've
just been doing a lot of talking to people, and trying to stay out of
the rain. The rain has been absolutely nuts this last week. It would
just pour in the morning, all through our studies, and even lunch. But
then, right as we were getting ready to head out to work, the rain would
let up. So it's been cooler this week, and not as ridiculously hot as
it was before, but it's been really, really, wet. There are still
puddles in the street from all the water. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've got another zone conference this week, to meet the Ashtons,
and we will have interviews with him soon. We are starting the fourth
week of the transfer. It's weird to think that this transfer is halfway
over. An when it's over, I will be halfway done with my time in
Texas. It is a little crazy to think about.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well...I can't think of anything else to say. Other than our miracle on Sunday, work wise it's been kind of a dull week.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
Hope you get to Texas safely!</div>
<div>
Amber!</div>
<span><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-49459780219245783072012-08-08T18:26:00.005-07:002012-08-08T18:26:45.668-07:00July 9, 2012<div>
Happy Wedding Week Everybody!</div>
<div>
I can't decide whose week is going to be busier, yours or mine! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Today
we have zone activity, so that should be fun, as well as special zone
conferences. Plus next Monday is when Pres. Ashton will get here, so
we've got a few more meetings planned out for this month. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
This week has been pretty good. We had zone meeting this week,
which is always fun. July 4th was an intersting work day. We had been
given permission to do our last hour of studies at 8:00 rather than in
the morning, if we would find it too hard to go out and work with all
the festivites. But because it was a holiday, there were plenty of
people to talk too. And we were able to schedule some appointments that
night, but they were both Spanish appointments, because Hispanics don't
really celebrate the Fourth of July. But the next day, there was
absolutely nobdoy in the street, and all of our appointments fell
through, we even had a member to come with us. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Last night was the
special investigator devotional. Once a month the zone has a devotional
where recently baptized members can share their testimonies and
experiences with investigators of the church. We had two investigators
(one Spanish and one English) who came. It was really good and they
really liked it. Plus, we got asked to find someone to do the special
musical number, but our member was unable to help us at the last minute,
so we sang. It was a little nerve racking. I much prefer sitting
behind the piano where I don't have to look at people, but I think we
did ok. (I couldn't just sit behind the piano and make my companion
sing all by herself!)</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I think even crazier than Brenna getting married is that I will be
turning 23 this week. Still not sure if I'm ok with that. It's too
old. Plus it's weird to think that if I hadn't gotten sick that I would
be flying home tomorrow. (not that I'm bitter about having a few more
months in the mission, just that it's weird that my MTC companions are
coming home.) </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We're still getting things figured out as we work on combining the
areas. It seemed like all the English investigators just fell off the
face of the earth. I think with it being a holiday and all there were a
lot of people who were out of town, or super busy, or had family, or
whatnot. So I can't tell you about any of them. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We've got one real solid Spanish investigator though. He really
likes coming to church, and came to the devotional last night. Plus, he
has a million questions for us everytime we go over there. We're still
working on answering them all. </div>
<div>
Well....I can't really think of anything else. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Hope everything goes well this week!</div>
<div>
Love, Amber</div>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-17944198372508561842012-07-02T21:49:00.005-07:002012-07-02T21:49:51.916-07:00Pictures, moving, and a bilingual area!<div>
Eek! I can't believe it's July! I'm actually having a bit of an
age crisis. 23 just sounds so old. I think me turning 23 is weirder
than Brenna getting married.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Anyways, transfers were last
week. They combined the Galveston sisters into one area. So we teach in
both Spanish and English, and get to go to both sacrament meetings!
Which means we had to do some moving. We had to vacate my old
apartment. We now live at: </div>
<div>
515 1st street. Apt 362. </div>
<div>
Galveston, TX
77550. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Send stuff here! There aren't missionaries living in my old
apartment so change this fast!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
My new companion is Sis. Hull. She's from Hermiston Oregon. We
get along really well! We had a good time this week moving, and sorting
through all our stuff. We took a lot of things like dishes, desks, and
whatnot, that we had in both apartments and went through it all and are
going to keep the best stuff. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Since we had to combine our areas we had a
lot of new planning to do. We to catch each other up on investigators,
members, converts, less actives, and what not. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I am way excited to be in a bilingual area! We are going to have
so much work. We had only been able to leave and work for a few hours
in the evenings. After studies, and cleaning, moving and rearranging,
there hasn't been a whole lot of time for proselyting. That will
definitely pick up this week. We have a lot of work to do. Each area
had about just enough work to get along, not a ton, and we had quite a
bit of time betweeen visits. So now we have twice as many
investigators, and people to visit, we should stay pretty busy. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, it sounds like everyone is happy and busy and having a good time!</div>
<div>
I can't really think of anything else to tell you all.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
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Fishing with the district!</div>
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Hna. Worthen and Hna. Lewis made a cake!</div>
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Sis. Holmes and Hna. Lewis</div>
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Zone Activity - Playing Quidditch!</div>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-19154307292438541992012-06-25T11:48:00.001-07:002012-07-02T21:50:40.853-07:00An Awesome Week!<div>
Hello Family!!!!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
It is crazy to think that a whole
transfer has gone by. Today they called us to tell us that my
companion, Hna. Worthen, is getting transferred. I'll be staying here
though, so I'm kinda excited to see who my new companion will be. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our
new mission president isn't coming until the middle of July. His wife
is pregnant, and is due at the beginning of July, so they won't be
coming out until after that. I don't know of any other big meetings
that we are having, other than this week's transfer meeting. (Which
should be fairly well attended, there are a lot of missionaries
leaving/coming in this transfer. )</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I can't believe that July is just around the corner. We stopped to
talk to some people yesterday who were putting up their 4th of July
decorations. Which really just made me think that my birthday is just a
few weeks away as well. I can't believe I'm going to be 23, it just
sounds so old. But after my birthday is the wedding. I hadn't really
thought about that until just now as I was reading your email. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We got a storm watch text last week. It looked like there was a
storm headed our way, but today we got an email from the office saying
that this storm probably won't make it to us. It is supposed to get
pretty hot this week. But it does stay a little cooler (about 5
degrees) here in Galveston, as opposed to in Houston, so that's good. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Work wise we had an awesome week! We found a couple new
investigators, one of which accepted a date, and had two people come to
church! We also had some really good lessons this week. We took one of
our investigators out to a member's house, and ate dinner with them,
and then had a lesson! It was an amazing lesson. We are going back out
there tonight with him for a FHE. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We also did some service for our landlord. Our complex is pretty
small, just a few apartments, so we are always willing to help with
whatever. One of the apartments was vacated last week, so we asked if
we could help get it ready to rent again. He asked if we would be
willing to help paint. So Hna. Worthen and I went down one day and
started painting, but we realized that it would take us way to long to
paint it all, so we invited the rest of our district over. It was a
great district wide service project! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I think that is about it for this week!</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-41114997845317838302012-06-24T18:41:00.004-07:002012-06-24T18:41:41.727-07:00June 18, 2012<div>
Hello everyone! </div>
<div>
It's been a pretty good week here in Galveston!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We
have four new investigators this week! One of them is the mom of a
part member family we are teaching. The dad is a less-active, so we are
working with him, and the kids are recent converts. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We also started
teaching this guy, Eric, who we had kinda been playing phone tag with
for a few weeks. But we finally got out to see him, and had a great
lesson with him. He had actually been meeting with missionaries a long
time ago, and was thinking about getting baptized, but didn't. So we
set a date with him. We are hoping that he progress really well, and
will actually come to church with us. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our other two new investigators
are friends who have just recently come up from Mexico. One of them
also accepted a baptismal date. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We are working on finding new investigators, always. But we've had
some good lessons this week, and had a great lesson with some members
at the church.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
One of the things we do to help members with
missionary work is take them on a tour of the church building. We ask
them about experiences they've had in the different rooms: relief
society, primary, chapel, that sort of thing, and then take them down
into the font, and ask them about their baptisms, and which of their
friends and/or families they would like to see the font! It's a way
cool experience, and the spirit is really strong. So we got a couple of
referrals of people we can go teach from this family. Now we just have
to do some follow up. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our baptism last week got confirmed yesterday. They did the
service right after church, so confirmations were yesterday. That was
really cool. I also got to accompany the primary sing to their dad's,
so that was fun. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
It's crazy how much this little branch reminds me of my first
area. Our proselyting area covers about half of the island, as well as
a few towns right on the mainland. And it being Galveston, not
everyone has a car. It just makes me think of Guadalajara, and all the
people who didn't have their own cars, as well as all of our members who
lived in the little towns outside of the city. But I think that is
part of the reason why I love it here!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Last week our P-day was pretty fun! We did some fishing (although,
as usual, I did not catch anything!) But it was still fun. We had a
good little BBQ, and played a little volleyball, and fished. It was a
fun day!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Well, I think that's about it!</div>
<div>
Love you all lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-81871664549272666002012-06-24T18:38:00.002-07:002012-06-24T18:38:40.732-07:00June 11, 2012<div>
So first off, yesterday was baptism day! We had the baptism of
Sammie, a nine year old, and Yeny, an eight year old (the missionaries
have been working to reactivate her family for a while, so she's almost
like one of our baptisms,) and the elders in our branch also had a
baptism. They just did the service right after church, so there were a
lot of members there. It was a really neat experience.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Other than Sammie, we haven't been teaching too many people. We
have one investigator, Vidal. He is the brother of a less active
member, and is friend's with Yeny's mom. So she invited him to come
over to her house one night while we were there and we started teaching
him. We just taught him the plan of salvation last week. I think we
are just going to read with him in the Book of Mormon next time. We've
been trying to find new investigators, so we've been calling and
stopping by all of the people in our planners. We had a few lessons on
Saturday, but it is really hard to get a hold of some of these people
down here. Hispanics just work and work and work. I don't get their
lifestyle. So, it's hard to find times when they are willing to listen
to us. But we have the faith that we will find some! We are doing a
lot of finding. We eat with members about twice a week, and are always
looking for more people to share the gospel with. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Tonight we are going to do a FHE with a part-member family. We are going to teach them about Lehi's dream. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We had sister's conference this week. I got to accompany Hna.
Harper again! I love being able to play for everyone! Plus, I always
play the hymns in all the meetings I go to. Lots of piano time! Lots
of the sisters gave talks, and Pres. and Sis. Saylin both spoke to us.
We had a question and answer session with president, and then we went
over to the mission home for dinner and testimony meeting! It was a
really good meeting, and it was great to hear messages directed to us as
sisters, and as sister missionaries. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Sounds like lots of good wedding stuff is going on! I bet it's going to get pretty crazy really soon!</div>
<div>
Today we are going to have district activity. We are going to go
to a members home and go fishing, and have a pic-nic, and maybe play
some volleyball and/or frisbee! We are pretty stoked!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I'm so happy for Sarah! That is way exciting! </div>
<div>
Well, I sent some pictures, so I hope everyone enjoys them.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>
<div>
</div>
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Hna. Lewis and Hna. Harper</div>
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Sister Lewis and Hna Lewis!</div>
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Hna Lewis and Sister Holmes</div>
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Hna Matthews, Sister Holmes, Hna Harper, Hna Moreno and Hna Lewis</div>
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Hna Lewis and Hna Alsup</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Hna Moreno (from Spain!) and Hna Lewis</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Sammie and the Ward Mission Leader</div>
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The Hnas. with Sammie and Yeny</div>
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The Hnas with Sammie and her family</div>
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The Hnas with Yeny and her family</div>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-32292111864904911902012-06-04T10:51:00.001-07:002012-06-04T10:51:39.594-07:00Tri-Mission Conference and a New Stake in Houston!<div>
Hello family!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I was sad to hear about Gramma Bobbie. There has always been a part of me that assumed she would just live forever! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
This week has been pretty crazy. We had a zone meeting this week. That was a lot of fun. We learned some new ways to share the gospel with people! It is just what we were hoping to learn from zone meeting: how to get more people to listen! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Then on Saturday, we drove up to Houston for a Tri-mission conference. Elder Paul Johnson of the seventy was in town for our special meeting yesterday, and had a few hours free in his schedule, so he decided to speak with the missionaries! The
missionaries from the other two Houston missions came as well. And I
finally got to meet Sis. Cable! She was there, and was looking for me! He also had a few area authorities with him. It was a really good meeting! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Yesterday,
they created the 18th stake in Houston. Which is why that meeting was
so historic. In order to create this stake, they had to shift like 6 other stakes around. Our stake lost a ward or two to
different stakes (it may have even been the new stake) so we were
invited to go, even though nothing changed for us down here.
It was not a Spanish-only thing like I had orginially anticipated. I
don't really know why I thought that. But it was fun to be there, and to see how excited the members were for the growth of the church in Houston!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
But there was a lot of traveling this week!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
But
I had heard about it in my last area, and their Spanish stakes were
affected, so I guess that's how I got things all mixed up. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We are going to have a baptism this week! We are pretty excited. Galveston is a tough area, so we are very excited for her!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I don't really have much else to say, there wasn't a whole lot going on this week.</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>
<span><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-7141829129522046182012-05-21T14:06:00.000-07:002012-05-21T14:06:19.624-07:00Transferred!<div>
Greetings from....</div>
<div>
Galveston Island!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
That's
right, I've been transferred down to Galveston Island. And it is
great! I love being down here! It is so different than being in
Houston, or even the Houston suburbs. The whole place is dripping with
history. Which is reallyl cool. Plus, I get a more "southern" feel.
Houston is a relatively new city, it really started to grow once air
conditioning became affordable for everyone. So even the poor
neighborhoods didn't feel that poor or even that old. But Galveston on
the other hand is totally an old little city. I guess I'm about as far
away from the mission office as the missionaries get. So you should
totally send stuff to me here, instead of at the office. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
My companion
is Hna. Worthen. She's from Centerville, she's the third of four
girls. And we get along really well. We hit it off right away. And
Galveston is a bike area. We don't even have a car. So we ride around
everywhere. But that is the best way to do it. We split the island
with the elders, and the area of the English sisters is about the same
as ours. So we have a car that we share to use for things like going to
church, shopping, and heading up to the mission office for things like
zone conferences and stuff. Sometimes I even forget that we are on an
island. We do a lot of our work in the "middle" of the island, so we
don't see the ocean that much. But that's ok. There is definitely an
island feel to everything. People just live their lives at a slower
pace than they do in Houston. Plus, we see all sorts of people riding
around on bikes too. It's fun to ride along side them and talk about
the gospel. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
There is just a little Spanish branch here, so they share
with the English ward. And they combine for things like primary and
youth activities. So our meetings are backwards. We start with Sunday
School and then Relief Society and Priesthood, and then have Sacrament
meeting. It's the smallest branch I've worked in. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The last week of school must be fun! And crazy! I don't really
want to think about what summer is going to do to our missionary work.
There will be so many tourists here. But last week was crazy,
especially since we had to help with transfers! Hna. Alsup and I were
asked to go "running." It's where they take the new missionaries,
direct from the airport, and give them a chance to do some street
contacting. I had the privilege of being assigned to work with the
sister from Spain. Which was fun for both of us. Especially since we
played the "do you know" game. And she had quite a few friends that I
served with in Madrid. So it was really fun to make those connections,
for both of us! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We still go running in the mornings. I've found that
unless you get a companion who is a die hard runner, the both of you
have to talk yourselves into it. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I bet you all had a lot of fun up at Tyler's house. And I would
love to see some pictures! (I will send you some next week for sure!)</div>
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</div>
<div>
And it sounds like you are all having a lot of fun playing games! I loved the engagements that you sent! They are so cute!</div>
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</div>
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Before I forget I should probably give you my address:</div>
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2216 Ave. O (that's an O as in Oreo!) Apt #3 </div>
<div>
Galveston, TX 77550</div>
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</div>
<div>
It
sound's like it's been a crazy week in Russia! But conferences and
stuff like that are always fun. And we as missionaries always love
going to them. Last week, it kinda hit me what it must be like to have
to plan the conferences. We just always show up, and everything is
just there and taken care of. We stopped by the office a few times
last week, and we had to help accommodate the new missionaries for
their first night here, so I got a little glimpse of all that goes on.
I'm glad that we as missionaries don't have to worry about it. </div>
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</div>
<div>
More!!!</div>
<div>
<div>
I forgot a few things that I wanted to tell you!</div>
<div>
Like the cool contacts of the week!</div>
<div>
Last
week, (so my last week in Houston) we went to the park to do some
contacting, and talked to a guy who is going to be a four time Olympic
athlete. He's getting ready to head to London! I believe he does Tae
Kwan Do. He had some really good questions about the church, and we had
a good little conversation with him.</div>
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</div>
<div>
And then just the other day, here in Galveston, we talked to the
flag man of Galveston. Apparently, from what I could put together, he
carries an American Flag across the country without money. He's just
got the faith that other people will take care of him. </div>
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</div>
<div>
Ok, so I really think that that is all for today!</div>
<div>
Love you lots!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937445389933518343.post-73394869799097110612012-05-21T13:58:00.001-07:002012-05-21T13:58:19.240-07:00May 14, 2012<div>
Hello Everyone!</div>
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</div>
<div>
I know it feels a little weird to write to you all right after the phone calls yesterday. But we do get some time!</div>
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</div>
<div>
I'm glad I look better, My weight is still not what it was before I
left, but I don't feel like I need to get there. I'm ok with where I'm
at. </div>
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</div>
<div>
I totally believe that they eat a lot of mangoes in Honduras. I've
heard they get to be super cheap here during the summer! So I'm kinda
excited for that. We actually teach quite a few people from Honduras
here, so I often throw in that my cousin is serving there. We like to
show people that the church is the same no matter where you go, so using
other missionaries is a great way to do that.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We found a great little family last week. He really wants to be
able to set aside Sundays. He's a mechanic, and has his own business,
so he works a lot, but he's noticed that his friends who make the
sacrifice to go to a church on Sunday seem to be happier than he is
right now, so he wants to be able to make the change. And his wife
really likes what we are teaching. They do their reading, and have some
great questions! He even told us not to answer some of them because he
wants to read the Book of Mormon and figure them out by himself! They
have two daughters ages 10 & 5. So they are a cute little family.</div>
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</div>
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This week is transfers, and I'm getting transferred! I can't tell you where yet, but next week I will! </div>
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</div>
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Hope everyone is doing great!</div>
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</div>
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Love you all!</div>
<div>
Amber</div>
<span><span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<span><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span>Jen Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13119042106449789856noreply@blogger.com0