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 :)

Texas Weather

Soooo hey y'all!! Sunday night we got a text saying to head to our apartments due to weather, wake up in the morning and I'm like it's not even bad out there but then went outside and there was like 2-3 inches of just ice--so hard to walk in. Sooooo we were grounded from our cars for the day. We kept way busy though as we had and still have lots of work to do organizing our area book since we got the elders area, we just have been too busy to work on it so I guess it was good!! But we were getting cabin fever!! hahah   It's not fair because the other missionaries live in town and can at least walk around and talk to people and knock doors, all we have are the Martino's... haha they are awesome though:)

ICE - not snow

Tuesday we were given privileges to drive between 12-6 if we were really careful!!! So that was awesome Heavenly Father helped us make the best of the time that we had. So we didn't want to sit and do book work all night yeah and we had 2 appointments so we asked the Martino's to drive us into town and we would walk and then have someone drive us back. It was freezing but it was awesome I felt cool hahah and we had a lot of success and placed many copies of the Book of Mormon:) still loving the challenge so so much!!!

So good to see her. She went teaching with us.

Today we had interviews with president and wow they are always so stinking amazing and the trainings were great too!! Such a great start to our day!! Now we have short time to email since our lesson cancelled with our awesome investigator:( but then we are heading to dinner soon!! So this investigator -- woooowwww so we got a referral for this lady over a month ago she was moving into our area, actually in Aubrey so close to us:) but we didn't have her address and so we called and called and called like every other day and finally she said we could come.  So we went on Friday, we were on exchanges with the Justin sisters, so we get there and she tells us her whole religious background and how she has had major life changes these last 6 months and so we briefly talk about the restoration and she says she feels like Joseph Smith... woah so awesome!! Then we share the BofM and she is like wow I will totally read that, I'm an avid reader and I'll tell my husband about it, I'll know how to bring it up with him and I'd love to come down to your church sometime!!! I was dying inside hahah such a sweetie!! But she is having money issues so yeah that's why she had to cancel, they are figuring out stuff and we are trying to help! But anywho it feels like every person we ever teach doesn't have a car and money, it's so hard, but I guess its because they are more humble they are more willing to listen.! I love them so much though!!!

Interviews -- Silly Elder Green

Well that's all I have time for today but I'll talk to y'all soon!! love you!!

Sister Wells

Hurrah for Israel!!

I Knew It, I Could Feel the Spirit

First off, I'm just very glad a member confirmed to me once again that provo beach resort has blue bell ice cream, I will attend there often:) haha It's good to hear from y'all thanks for some of your testimonies of the Book of Mormon I can't wait to read the rest of y'alls!! I love hearing others testimonies it inspires me and really strengthens my own and brings the spirit.

It was 75 degrees (2/14) -- now (2/16) it's 28 degrees!

So this week we had two exchanges with some sisters, and they are both Spanish sisters so lets just say I am a pro at espanol now... just kidding, I totally wish!! I really do, but its ok I'm getting better. I kind of understood what was going on in the lessons haha and I learned 2 hymns in tongan which I'm pretty excited about!! The really cool thing was that in the lessons even though I didn't really know what the Hermanas said I could feel the spirit as they testified, after the lesson I'd ask were you bearing your testimony at this point and they were like yeah and I said I knew it I could feel it. That was just so amazing to me!! 

She looooves them!

We had our zone council this week, I had to give a training but I loved preparing for it, it was just kind of about using time wisely and asking "What is my missionary purpose in this activity?" I am way better at managing my time than I used to be before the mish haha and I'm so glad!! We can get so much accomplished in just one day:) So the Book of Mormon challenge is going awesome we have been able to place lots of copies and also invite our members to join us as well!! That has been my favorite part of the week. Every morning after I read, I pray to know what I should write in my testimony on the front page and then pray throughout the day to be led to who I can give it to. He helps us everytime with out fail. When I was in Lewisville for xc Hermana M and I were walking to an apartment and we stopped to talk to 2 ladies and ended up the one was going to get baptized like she had her interview and everything, but then her mom wouldn't let her, she was 15yrs old. But she is now 20 and said she would have the missionaries over:) and her friend said she wanted a book as well!!! I was so excited I wish I could go see them again but I'll just have to follow up and hear how it goes:)

We like this one cuz it's blurry :)

Happy Valentine's from Texas

Also, Saturday morning when we were exchanging back, craziness happened my GPS stopped working........ and we were supposed to be in Denton at 12 for a meeting with our ward mission leader and then j's baptism was at 1:00.  We were in Lewisville and it was 12:00........ ahhh so we were praying a lot of course and Sis Vaha'i got us on some road and then we called the hermanas and they tried to help us and then we were on the freeway and I didn't recognize any of the signs and I was like are we going the opposite direction?! I thought we were going out of our mission haha since it's right on the boundaries but then all of sudden the GPS turned on and we got to the church 15min before the baptism. Talk about stress haha but Heavenly Father answered our prayers and led us:) The baptism was wonderful. Her dad was able to baptize her and it was a great day:) And yesterday she was confirmed:) It's kind of weird, but they all bought baptismal suits because we didn't have any that would fit them but it was so cute because we asked why did you all get one and Sister H said, "because we want them for when we go and do baptisms at the temple," their sights really are set on the right place:) they can't wait to go there later and be sealed as well:)

J's Baptism!

Our ward just started a 40 day fast for missionary work and its awesome! This area is really picking up and it is sooooo cool to see!! I love it!! I know the Lord of the vineyard is laboring with us!!

Have the best week ever!!

Hurrah for Israel!!

Sista Wells