We Cannot Go Amiss When We Are Sharing the Gospel

Good morning!!

Right now it is pouring outside and thundering sooo loud-- I love it!!:) This week was great and super busy!! We were able to do a lot of service!! We helped the Pratts friend organize her quilting room and she even came to our pillowcase service project at the church Thursday and she asked Sis Pratt if we were going to come over again:) yay!! We also helped a family paint their fence, its huge!! And we were able to do service with our zone at a food pantry organizing all the cans and everything it was great!!

We also had zone conference which was sooooo wonderful!!!! We talked a lot about teaching skills, asking inspired questions because that is really how we can help understand and resolve peoples concerns, we also talked about knowing and explaining the scriptures better. I have improved a ton on that since being here in Texas but I pray everyday and study so that I can be better!! Scriptures are really what bring the spirit into lessons for sure!!

The Salvation Hut!

So this week we had some amaaaaazing lessons set up with our investigators and with awesome members to come with us, and all but one cancelled we were like-- really?!! It was so dumb, but it's ok this week we have a wonderful week planned as well!! One of my favorite moments was after we had a lesson with a member family they told us that it was nice to have energetic excited sisters in their ward to make it easy to introduce their friends to. That probably made my whole week, I think about that a lot, if the members truly trust us, I want to be the missionary that if I wanted to introduce my best friend to the gospel I would feel comfortable with a missionary like me! It makes me think a lot on how I act and the things that I do. When we are exactly obedient the spirit is with us and others can see that! I keep trying to be better!!!!

We also had another zone meeting this week which was great too and then I got to go to Denton on exchange with Sister Vaha'i it was so awesome!!!!! And it worked out so wonderfully that I saw all the people that I didn't get to say goodbye to before!! I looooooooooved seeing everyone I just felt like I hadn't left really that I was still in that area hahah!! It was so great:) We did lots of service while I was there too! But sad news, Natasha and the family were supposed to get baptized Saturday but Natasha is pregnant and is on bed rest for the next few weeks I guess:(

Back in Denton with Sister Vahai

But other good news is our investigator Delvin went to the YSA ward for the first time and he seemed to really like it so hopefully that will help him attend church more and be more involved I think it will be good:) And Wes came to church again too!! Yay, and our lesson was about the priesthood which was perfect because he seemed to have questions about it!! Then last night we went to the mission presidents fireside with Nate one of the recent converts which was really good too!!

My fav scripture for the week, this is when Stephen Burnett and Eden Smith are called to be missionaries   3 Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss.

Love her, we are having so much fun together!

Sister Benson showed me this one, I really like it because we cannot go amiss when we are sharing the gospel, wherever, whenever to whoever it is always the right thing to do!!!! And by the way Sister Benson is hilarious I love her so much!! We laugh so much now I love it!!!! Flower Mound is awesome!!!

Hurrah for Israel!!!

Sister Wells

It Is Nice Having Willing Members to do Missionary Work

Hey y'all!!

Hope you have fun in Florida, what all will you be doing there?? Sounds like a blast!!!

I'm having a hard time remembering the whole week so let's see what I can come up with, it was great!!

Monday: We had a pday activity with our zone, it was so fun we played glow in the dark tennis! I'll have to send a picture, the zone leaders really worked hard on this one haha:) it was in the church gym.  The court was laid out with glow sticks and the net as well and we put them on the rackets too and had a glow in the dark ball. You will be pleased to hear that team Wamsey was undefeated in our tournament:) I came up with that name, it was Elder Ramsey and I hahah. It was really fun!! We visited a few members that night and then I can't remember haha.

Tuesday: So we have an allotted amount of miles to use on our car for each month, we gave 125 miles to our zl's because they only had a 100 left for a whole week so we were nice thinking we would have enough but we totally didn't haha but it was ok because we biked!! It was so wonderful outside we talked to so many people it was crazy it definitely is more effective to be outside of our car! Sister Benson likes it too:) We shared Because He Lives with everyone and continue to pray for opportunities to share the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel!!

Wednesday: We had district meeting which was good Sister B and I both gave trainings and led the role play so we just ran the whole thing hahah just kidding it was good. We were asked to talk about establishing our purpose at every lesson so they know why we come over, that it's not just some sisters or elders that come over and talk about God and Jesus with them, but that it is to help them grow closer to Christ through baptism and next to the temple!!:)

Thursday: Planning day. We planned a good week--we are going to be super busy!! I love it!! We saw Wes with Sister Waite and he looooooooves her so it's perfect fellowship, their minds think alike. It's really nice having such willing members to do missionary work and to come on exchanges with us here:) Wes had read all the subheadings to the chapters in the BoM whoa he really had a good outline of it all!! He said now he is going to read the book word for word!! We were so bummed he was going to watch conference but had multiple things come up:( but he said we can still come on Thursday. He said when he knew these things were true that he would be baptized, he doesn't really understand the apostasy and the priesthood so we will go over that again and if he truly reads and prays about the BoM he will come to know:) Also we saw Nate a recent convert, he is such a champ he shares the gospel with everyone and has shared 3 copies of the BoM in 2 weeks I love it!!!

A live bunny ran into the house while they were having and Easter gathering with the people they live with.

Friday: We had a district service project at Janet's planting a garden and cleaning her yard which was fun! We love doing service! And her husband who is not a member was sooooo impressed with everything so that's good :) We also went to the missions easter choir performance and Janet came, it was amaaaaaaaazing!! Just what she needed!! and I saw sister Vaha'i! And talked to Sister Ames and she is the best I loooove her so much!!

Saturday: Watched general conference which was fantastic but all our appointments cancelled haha!! I can't decide what my favorite talk was but I liked Claytons, we watched the first session at the Jacobsons with Delvin which was great!!:)

Sunday: Watched more conference which was wonderful, the stories were amazing I loved Elder Hollands and well all of them!!!! It's so amazing that as we have questions to bring as we listen we truly will get answers!! So the greatest news was that Janet's husband watched every single session with her!!! And she fell asleep a couple times and so would rewind it and he would watch it all over again with her!! We gave her a BoM to give someone for our BoM challenge and she said she was going to give it to him!!!:) So exciting for them:)

What was really neat was that as a mission we were studying the Saviors last week each day from the gospels and it made it feel so real! I love Easter I think its my fav now!!! I'm so grateful for our Savior and for all that he did for each one of us!!

And mom to answer your questions, I am looking forward to tomorrow because we have zone conference in Colleyville which is always amazing!! And Thursday we have 4 super lessons set up which I'm really excited about!! And on Friday we go on exchange with the stl's and I'm going to be in Denton with Sister Vaha'i! haha flashback!!! It's going to be great:)

Love y'all so much!!!

Sister Wells

I Truly Know That My Redeemer Lives

Morning!!

This week was really awesome!! I feel like this area has so much potential and we were able to see that this week!! The neatest thing happened:) We were going through our formers last week, and stopped by Wes, he told us we could come back and that he actually was just about to start reading the Book of Mormon so we went on Thursday with a member to see him and we were asking him questions about his previous experience with the missionaries and what not, but he didn't seem to understand, he said that he had just received the book 3 weeks ago which was from a member actually in the 5th ward!! We finally figured out that his dad and him have the same name, and that his father had previously taken the missionary discussions not him! He said that Brother Young had given him the Bof M and said that he would send missionaries over to share and explain more to him! The thing is, nobody ever called and told us to go over and see him!! But of course it was the spirit that did!!! Soooo awesome!! He said that he wanted to read 1 and 2 Nephi before we come this Thursday and he said "I don't really have a denomination that I attend," so we invited him to church and he said that's what he was going to ask!!! So he came to church in a suit and everything President Pratt said that he looked like a member already hahah!! He loved church and the testimonies! He said he would definitely be back next week and looks forward to seeing us Thursday!! That was the highlight of the week!! 

We were also able to see a couple part member families and they actually joined us as we shared the Because He Lives video and talked about it and set return appointment!! Delvin set a date for the 24th but didn't come to church on Sunday, we offered the YSA ward to him and he said he might try that out, so we will see what goes from here, we just thought it would still be good to have a date to work towards either way!! He really wants to be baptized he says. 

I feel like this week was really awesome for Sister B what really made my week was when Janet (Recent Convert) told her that she has never seen her this happy!! This week it felt like we were busy and working hard and we were able to be out everyday which was so wonderful and we even rode bikes and were able to share the Book of Mormon and talk to so many people! 

First day Sister B has ridden bikes in the mish!

And I feel like I'm starting to realize how I can better establish purpose with members as we teach a lot of them here and really help them to do missionary work! This area just needs some hard work and great things will come I just know it and since there's always sick sisters here it hasn't really gotten that!! I think I understand now how at MissionLeaderConference we always talked about making sure ALL the missionaries understand what we have discussed because if they don't understand, then more and more wards will be like this one. 

I have loved starting to read the bible about the Saviors last week I can't wait to continue:) I loved bearing my testimony in both wards yesterday, it helped for everyone to know my name and to know I love the gospel and I want to share:) Sometimes it's hard because I feel like I have to do a lot and I don't really know the area still or the people since it's only been a week and a half but I know Heavenly Father is helping me so I can help His children here. At least I pray that that is true!! 

Yesterday in sacrament we sang I know that my Redeemer lives, as we sang I couldn't stop the tears from running down my face as I felt the spirit so strong, I truly know that my Redeemer lives and it gives me the greatest comfort and joy that I could ever feel in my life. I know that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ and I will be ever grateful that I have grown up with it my whole life and for this opportunity to share it these 18 months as a full time missionary as it has helped me recognize more the blessings and guidance it gives me and especially to those who I am serving!!

Hurrah for Israel!!

Sister Wells

We are always sent to certain places with certain people for a reason

Hi fam!!

I will try and answer your questions, but I emailed Brady a ton of what I would do in situations, give me a list of things and I will fill it in ok?? I guess I'm confused haha!!

This week was pretty good, I was sad to say goodbye to everyone in Denton I miss it so much already!! We had FHE with our ward mission leaders family and with N and her family which was wonderful!! And on Tuesday went and saw a lot of people as well!! That place is the promised land now it's really cool to see how it has blossomed!!

N and A :)

One of the Martino Families - I love them!

K and Sister Foster

Transfers were Wednesday and I am now in Flower Mound! It is a really nice area lots of nice homes and wonderful members who really want to share the gospel with their friends, they have been so welcoming and so I already love them a lot! That's one thing I've learned, that it is so important to gain the trust of the members in the ward, because if they don't see you as a representative of Jesus Christ, why would they introduce you to their friends? I was really praying to help me gain that trust as I came to this area and so it's been really cool to see God answer my prayer even in these short few days! Since this area is really nice missionary work is a little bit different, because they think that they have all that they need so we do a lot of member work. We cover two wards so we are at church all day just like in Copperas Cove, it's long but good!! There really isn't much going on in this area I guess one of the wards hasn't had a baptism in 5 years! and the other has had only 2 which makes me miss Denton, but I know that we can make it change because Denton did!! As long as we work hard and have the spirit! 

My companion is Sister B and she has been out for 6 months.  She is a real cutie!  I try and call as many people in the area book and try to make the most of our time!! I hope we can figure everything out:) I know that there is a lot of potential here and it's a pretty small area so hopefully we can start getting out on our bikes!!:) The weather is looking nice again:)

This is the "flower mound"  It is a little hill thing haha

I know that we are always sent to certain places with certain people for a reason, and I know that if I pray I can receive guidance on what we need to do here!! We are going through some former investigators and potential investigators and it has been pretty good and have some return appts set up for this week which should be neat! It was cool, one guy said yeah I was reading the book of Mormon so I'll start again before y'all come next week!! Yay! Hopefully it goes well!!

My companion and a new convert J who took us for pizza

Oh we live in the Pratts home he is one of President Ames councilors it's awesome and Sister Vaha'i and her companion are my sister training leaders so yaya I get to go on exchange to Denton woo hoo!!! I'll plan it the day of N's families baptism hopefully:)

Well I love y'all lots and hope you have a wonderful week!!

Sister Wells

These are the experiences that are so powerful!

Malo lele fefe hake family?!!

It was good to hear from y'all sounds like things are going well!! This morning I woke up to the cows mooing and went out in the nice crisp morning air and went for a wonderful run with my wonderful companion... hahah am I being detailed enough now??? haha just kidding I will try and give y'all more details, this morning I actually woke up and my throat kills hah but its ok!! This week was really awesome, we were able to have so many members at each of our lessons which is soooooooo important and so helpful!! I feel like I'm getting it more and more each week:)

Tongans

On Tuesday we had our zone council and it was awesome! We have a great zone, its so small but we are all so unified and we all took a day to fast for the names that are close to baptism for this month so that we can reach our goal that we have set! These are the experiences that are so powerful! Playing games and talking brings unity, but having spiritual experiences with each other truly brings it the most! 

So on Wednesday we went to see N and the fam!! WE love them sooooo much!! It was so cool because we went and Isaiah the 18yr old wasn't there because he was at mutual!!:) yayay our ward is awesome and he is going on the high adventure this weekend!!! But anywho we were with the RS president and we were going to talk about the word of wisdom because N smokes, so I dunno sometimes I'm just nervous to see what people’s response will be so we were just following up on BofM reading and praying and she says she believes everything and she loves it all, so we start talking about commandments and why we have them and then say that the commandment we are going to talk about is one to help keep our bodies healthy and she says, "that is what I need! It's like you always read what’s in my brain!"  We're like whoa this is awesome, so we start reading the pamphlet with her and she says "you're going to have to explain the coffee and tea thing after I finish reading," so she continues and then  says "oh wait, duh! That makes complete sense, I totally get it, nevermind!" haha no one ever says that so we talk about it some more and Sis Stocker says "we need to make a plan to help you stop smoking" N says, "I think I need to pray and fast for help!" (the first Sunday she came was fast Sunday and we had explained the purpose of fasting and she loved it:) so we all fasted with her the next day:) It was the best word of wisdom lesson ever, we didn't even do anything, the spirit taught her! We saw them later in the week and they all committed to be baptized in April!!!!!!!!! and were at church Sunday! In gospel principles we were talking about how families can be eternal and I was kinda nervous because she's single and stuff but our ward mission leader is awesome and after the lesson she went and gave him a hug and said it was just what she needed!! Then in relief society one of those clipboards went around to sign up for bringing food to the dinner before the women’s general session in a couple weeks and she signed up!!! She is just so ready its crazy. I love her and her family so so much:) all that was the highlight of the week!! (I hope this is answering the questions that you sent to me mom) oh and by the way thanks for the package!!!! made my day:) I am so blessed!!

Leah got baptized Saturday but K wouldn't go under the water.  It was sad, maybe another time.  But it's still a cute pic. :)

We went on exchange with the hermanas in Lewisville this week, they are wonderful and I got to practice my Spanish, haha. So the big news is I'm being transferred this week to Flower Mound with Sister Benson! I'm pretty sad to leave.  I really love it here in Denton and I've seen it change so much and I love the people, but I have learned so so so much while I've been here which has really changed me and I am so so grateful for everything and everyone! And I am so excited to just work Flower Mound so hard!!!! I know it is exactly where I am supposed to go, Heavenly Father knows best!!:)

On exchange with bishop and wife.  I love them!

Ok so funny story for the week, we went to visit the S’s, an old couple in the ward and follow up on sharing the B of M with their neighbor, Sister S asks Sister V, "So where are you from?" "Tonga," she says, "oh we had a man here from there here last year!" Bro S "no he was from Samoa she is from Africa!!" hahahhahahahahah we tried not to laugh but we couldn't even hold it in so Sister S asks, "ok, well how long have you been out?" Sis v "10months" Sister S says "1 month?" Bro S says "no, 30 months your hearing is bad!" hahahahhahah too funny :)

I think that is all the good stuff for the week! I love y'all keep being great!!

Sista Wells

God Answers Prayers!

Bless Zachy's little heart he got the dad disease I hope all is ok and that his injury gets better I will pray!!! And sounds like everyone else had quite a fun weekend!! Did you get my package??

Practicing for the baptism :)

This week was busy busy but awesome awesome!! The weather wasn't... we had a wonderful night planned for Wednesday but the dumb ice made everyone cancel our appointments!!!! But on the bright side K had her baptismal interview and will be getting baptized this Saturday! We are excited for her she really has improved and progressed a lot:) such a sweetheart!! Right now we are working with a  lot of part member families and over aged children which is really neat, there is a 10yr old son of a less active lady in our ward that has really been interested in scouts and loves when we come over, and also one of our recent converts brother is starting to seem interested:) Lotssssssss of appointments cancelled this week which was a bummer because we had planned a wonderful week but it all turned out well!!

My Polynesians!

On Thursday we were kinda sad because we had only placed one Book of Mormon that week and that was not good haha so we were going to visit a less active member and before we went in we prayed and sincerely asked to be led to someone we could share the Book of Mormon with and so we got out of the car and heard like the smallest noise coming from the house next door so we just decided to walk over there and sure enough there was a lady wiping down her chairs in the garage! We started talking to her, she was hesitant and first but by the end she laughed with us and said we could come back anytime!! It was so cool!! God answers prayers! And I gained a testimony of doctrine and covenants 61:3 But verily I say unto you, that it is not needful for this whole company of mine elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief. We have to talk with everyone and not rush rush to our next place because He has placed people in our path for us to talk to!!

Mission Leader Conference

We had Mission Leader Conference on Friday which is always the best meeting!!!! And on Saturday I had to help the Spanish elders because they had no one to play the piano for their baptism so 30min before it started they asked if I would hahahha I'm not the best but I hope it was ook!! We saw the Huskeys and they are having their temple recommend interview on Sunday so that they can go and do baptisms:) I'm soooooooo happy for them!! I heard they friended you on facebook mama??haha Then on Sunday we were like sooooo sad because we couldn't get a hold of N and the family and they didn't come so after we went to stop by their house and they had just gotten back from Dallas because of some family problems there so that's why they hadn't answered our phone calls and everything but the son Isaiah came to our youth fireside about the

Show this to my brothers -- I'm fat!! haha

Book of Mormon last night and it was so so so wonderful and just perfect for him!! So we are excited to see them again this week:) It's so neat how the members and us missionaries are really starting to work together in our ward!! Our ward council was amazing and they are so supportive and we are all in this together!! I love it!!!!

After her baptism interview.

I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon in my life and so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ! I know that it is true!!

I love y'all!!!!

Have the best week ever!!

Sista Wells

Getting ready for our morning run!

The Aubrey countryside by one of our investigators trailers.

We Met An Amazing Family

So I feel like I just emailed y'all but I will let you know what has happened these last few days!! So we went on exchanges with the sisters in Decatur on Thursday and they are supposed to go for 24hrs buttttttttt Friday it snowed a ton!! (well for Texas it did haha) and we weren't allowed to drive.  We are out in the country so especially no members would drive us so we had a 2 day exchange hahah!! And man I am so sick of being stuck in the barn.  We finished organizing the whole area book and just started calling numbers of former investigators, potentials, less actives to set up appointments for this week, pretty good!! We are going to be busy! Thank goodness on Saturday we got a member to drive us and exchange back and get back Sisita Vaha'i:) and then we got someone to drive us into town to walk around and then the Martino's (the recently returned mission pres. from the Phillipines and his wife) went on exchange with us. They are awesome!

Snow in Texas

Walking to dinner.

 We have the most amaaaaaaaaaazing family that we met!!!!! Well the spanish elders met them and referred us to them!! Wow Natasha is the mom and then Isaiah is 18 and Kiona is 14 and Alex is 3 we gave them the plan of salvation pamphlet and she read it and read the first chapter in the BofM and got the gospel library app. She had written down questions and we answered all of them and she loooooooooooooooooved the plan of salvation, that we lived with God before and that we can after!! She said she would definitely be baptized!! Then they all came to church yesterday and loved it!! Natasha's words "I'm just ready to be filled," and "I REALLY enjoyed myself today" and she wants to come next week to the baptism to see what it's like!!! I like cried she was so awesome and even the 18yr old loved young mens and said," i dunno about everyone else but I'll be here next week!" what teenage boy says that?!! and he is excited to go to mutual on Wednesday and a member invited them over for dinner with us this week!!! That was def the highlight of our week!!!! 

Exchange

Cold!

Once again I am always just amazed and sometimes forget that God really is preparing people, this is His work this is His glory that we can ALL have eternal life!!!!

We heard its supposed to snow again this week,,,, I really hope not. I love it here in Denton I love all the missionaries and I love our ward members they are so helpful and so sweet, and pray for us and I just love it!!!! I just love y'all so much too!! Just keep being awesome!!!!

Hurrah for Israel!!

Sista Wells

Our Barn :)