Last Words

Dear Readers,
So sorry that I haven't posted for a month. Emily's e-mails have been pretty short lately. She had a couple of very discouraging weeks after the amazing baptism in Sept. This is her last e-mail. She will be starting home Nov. 5.
Lori

We finally had a good week. But it was an amazing week. We found two new people, and they are getting baptized next weekend. They have been coming to church for almost 2 months. Timoteo was baptized, we taught a lot of lessons, and got an alcoholic started on ARP, and he loves it! He's doing so much better already! And Juan went to do baptisms for the dead in the SL temple, and we got to go see it! It was beautiful. Then, one of the workers came up to me and said "this is the reward of your labors" and that made me think back on all of the amazing experiences i've had. I'm so happy. I can honestly say that I have given it my all. I love this work, and I love the Lord. I will always do whatever He asks of me.

This week i have final interviews with President and possibly 3 baptisms, one is for sure, the other hasn't set the day yet, but it will be either this saturday, or next.

More about Juan

(From a letter Sept. 25)
I am going to tell you all about our recent convert Juan because he is amazing and the most miraculous convert I have. it all started at the beginning of the transfer. The elders in our stake were walking around their area, trying to contact people, and find new investigators. So they saw Juan playing on the church lawn with his grandson, and they talked to him. (Well tried, they don't speak any Spanish). So they called one of our zone leaders (from Mexico) and he came to talk to Juan. He told them that he had been trying to find missionaries, his sister is a member, and he wanted the peace she had. So we showed up and started teaching him. I have never taught anyone who was so receptive and prepared. He came to church 3 weeks in a row, he had a date for baptism on the second lesson, and he was baptized and confirmed exactly 1 month after we met him.

His baptism was the most spiritual/beautiful service I have ever seen. That whole week leading up to it was rough...Satan was working hard...But it all went away when Juan came up out of the water, and hugged his dear friend who had been there along the way, and wept from pure joy and gratitude...The spirit was so strong and sweet. It will always be one of my most cherished memories. Oh, and another miracle of it is that he only came here for 6 months on a visa, to visit his daughter, and he was baptized in that time! God prepares His people, and puts them in the right place at the right time.

(Note from Lori)
Emily will be finishing her mission on Nov. 5. We will be driving to Utah to pick her up and will be there for about a week.

No Tracting?

 I got to go to Oswaldo's baptism on Saturday (Sept. 6) in Kaysville, I was there to teach him everything, we just had to wait until the day his family chose for the actual ordinance. But it was really nice, and Juan came, he's getting baptized on Saturday! I'm so excited, he is amazing :). On a sad note, hermana Graham got her visa :'( so she heads to Spain on the 15th. Ima miss her a lot. But Hna Estrada and I will keep working hard and seeing miracles, and having fun! I'm sorry I'm such a terrible daughter and haven't written that letter yet! I have been so busy, it's the best! We work hard, have fun, and help so many people! I love my mission!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to the temple today. I've been learning a lot, our district is amazing, and the ward is great. But I got trunky for Kaysville when I went back for the baptism, i love that place, and everyone was saying "no te vayas, quedate aqui" (don't go, just stay here). I almost cried when I left again... It's like home to me jaja. I'll be back for sure. I'd like to live there actually. 

I am the happiest I have ever been, super busy, helping tons of people, and seeing miracles everyday with the best chicas in the whole world. The work is going great, Juan is getting baptized on Saturday, and we are teaching a lot of people, and several of them are progressing! We are teaching Alejandro, Juan, Jaime, Elizabeth & Javier, Margarita, and several less active families. It's the best :D. The weather is beautiful, warm and sunny pretty much all of the time.

 I have found a lot of peace here on my mission, it has been so calming and comforting, I know that I am a better person than that girl who left 16 months ago.

The work is going great, Juan was baptized on Saturday (Sept. 13), it was the most beautiful baptism I have ever seen. As he came up out of the water, he embraced his dear friend that has helped him to understand the gospel, and held on for 2 minutes, weeping from pure joy. All of us could feel that joy. And the elders who work in our stake came as well, (one set of them actually found Juan and gave us the referral, and the others helped a lot with the program) and they all agreed that it was the most powerful experience they had ever had at a baptism. It was just wonderful. And we (my companions and I and two of the elders) sang "A child's prayer", the spirit was really strong, and Juan cried again. H

So we actually aren't allowed to tract in this mission, no door knocking. We have to work 100% through member or missionary referrals and street contacting. But we are working hard, and having lots of success. And so much fun! Missionary work is the best! jaja :D.

 I am sad, because Hermana Graham left me today for Spain :'( I'm going to miss her a lot, she has been one of my favorite companions. We are busy, so busy that we don't know where to start sometimes! It's a good problem to have jaja. I'm nervous because this is Hna Estrada's last week, and I still don't know the area that well. But I guess it'll all work out, right?

I do feel so blessed to be able to go to the temple, it makes me so happy, and it's like a spiritual recharge! And I learn something new every time I go there. it's great :D

Working Hard!

This week was awesome, we had a meeting with Elder Arnold of the Seventy, a fun p-day, and Juan is on date to be baptized on the 13th of this month! He is so humble and prepared, God literally just placed him in front of us. I'm so happy, we are working really hard, I'm always tired, but we're always laughing and having an amazing time as missionaries. Life is wonderful!

 My life has been amazing these last few weeks. We are having so much fun, getting to know tons of new people, and watching lives change. I just don't have time to write all of the amazing experiences I have! I write them in my journal... Like I said, Juan is on date, we have 3 new investigators, they are all progressing and changing, we find, teach and will baptize all the time! It's the most I've worked on my mission, that's why I'm so happy! There are so many people here, and they are humble, and I'm HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Area/ New Companions

We had an exciting week, we had 2 investigators at church, and one of them really wants to progress. It's the best :). And we are finding lots of new people to teach. Yesterday we taught Junior for the first time, he's 15, and he said he just feels really happy when we talk to him about the church, and he said that last prayer, and when he finished he said "that felt good." We're really excited to work with him! My companions are the best, we're working hard and having tons of fun :). Life is so good!

We... shared D&C 6:14-15 with a recent convert yesterday, it was really nice. He's had a lot of questions, and we invited him to get his Patriarchal Blessing. We've been so busy, it's so exciting! I'm so tired all the time jaja. But that's how it should be. Have you all had any missionary experiences recently?

Rose Park and Working Hard

I'm doing great! I miss Kaysville A LOT, but I also love this area already! We have so much work to do! And yesterday we found a new guy who wants to know about the church, and even asked what time church starts! I'm happy :) and my companions are amazing, they both love the work, and are fun, and just awesome :).

I have to give a talk on Sunday :/ no me gusta. I get plenty to eat, I think I'm gonna get fat. The area is great, we're super busy because they added a new area to the one we already had, so we have to meet all the people the other missionaries were working with. I'm really excited to be here, I already love so many new people!

Transferred!

 Being obedient is a good thing! But you should be loving and kind no matter what... no se. I have seen that to be true with my companions as well. When we try to work things out between ourselves, and love each other, we change for the better. It's quite amazing actually

I'm really sad that I'm leaving this area, I've cried a lot, the members and investigators keep saying they're going to kidnap me so I can't leave. They keep begging me not to go... it breaks my heart. But I know that the Lord will take care of them for me. It's so hard to leave the people I love so much.

I'm being transferred to Rose Park, and I'm companions with a sister who is on her last transfer, and I will be training as well. 

Aug. 4

I'm doing pretty great, we have another person on date to be baptized the 6th of September, I probably won't be here because we have transfers next week, but as long as he gets baptized, it'll all be good :). Rogelio didn't come to church yesterday :( he didn't even have an excuse, he just didn't come. But he felt bad, and we're going to go see him today, hopefully things will get better. Baby steps right? But if you could pray for him, that would be amazing :). I'm going to miss this area so much when I have to leave, I love these people so much!

Baptism

The baptism was so Beautiful! Edgar was so happy, I love him! We've been working hard, finding new people to teach, and helping the enterigators to start progressing. It's been pretty successful. I love this area! And we've had a bit of success with less actives. It's been good :). On Thursday and Saturday we helped a family in the ward put in a floor! I'm going to come home knowing how to build a house (on the inside at least jaja). It was really fun. Rogelio helped out again, he's the best, he has changed so much in the last few months! He still has a long way to go, but he is doing great :). The family we helped has a son coming back from his mission tomorrow... that's crazy. When I got here, he still had almost 5 months left. Time has flown by. I love the people here, the ward is amazing, they all love me so much! Literally, I get random notes and text messages, and they always come up and talk to me at church. It's going to be really hard when I have to leave. Transfers are in two weeks, so yeah. That'll be interesting.

Service

July 14,

Well, we've had a good week. Edgar is on date to be baptized on the 26th! He's a 9 year old who's mom was inactive for 10 years and is coming back now. She will be a returned member on the same day that he is confirmed, I'm really excited :D. 


We had interviews with President this week, I really needed it. He always makes me feel so good about myself. This week he told me he is proud me. He said he's seen me change, and the things I have applied on my mission will help me for the rest of my life. And he said it's an honor to serve with me, which I don't get, but ok.


July 21,


We did service all day Saturday, Rogelio (a less active who is coming back to church) helped us paint a member's shed and then we started on a room in the house. We only got the base color down, and we're going back on Thursday, it was really good, Rogelio loves us and I love him so much! He has changed so much in the last few months, I know that he is one of the reasons that I was sent to this area. I am just so happy!!!

The work here is amazing, I love this ward so much, the people are amazing and I feel so loved by all of them. Edgar is getting baptized on Saturday, I love his mom and the boys so much! They are the most adorable little things ever!!! And Daicy, Rogelio, and Ana are all on the way to becoming returned members. I love this work. There is nothing better!



I am doing great! And learning tons. I feel so different, I know that when I go home, I will be sad that the mission is over, but I will be happy with how I served it, and I will continue to be a missionary for the rest of my life. So I guess there's not really a reason to be sad.  

Catching up on news

Dear Friends of Emily,
This blog is sadly out of date with her family moving. We now have internet so I will try to update today.
Lori (Emily's Mom)

June 18,
This week we had another amazing miracle. We went to go see Rogelio, one of the less actives we've been working with. We brought my favorite couple from the ward, the Trejos, they call me their "white-girl daughter" jajaja. And they turned out to be exactly the people he needed to meet. We shared the first half of 2 Nephi 31 with him, and in the end he told us that he quit his second job so he would see us at church next Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO HAPPY!!!!! It was such a miracle, when we met him, he told us he would never come back. But God softened his heart, my goal for this area was to see him come back, I feel so blessed!


From a letter dated June 30:

I've had an amazing week. Transfers are on Tuesday, I feel like I am leaving, but I hope not! I love this area so much! But I will be happy with whatever happens. We found 2 new people to teach, and got a referral that sounds solid! Work is finally picking up! And Saturday, I got to go through the temple with a young woman who I helped come back to church back in Layton. My first session in Spanish, it was amazing. Things here are going great. I'm so happy to be a missionary!

I have learned so much in these last 14 months! The most important is that I have come to understand, at least a little bit, what my Savior did for me. i owe Him EVERYTHING. But all I can give Him is my heart. My desire and obedience. So I am. I've dedicated it to Him. For the rest of my life.

From yesterday's e-mail:

 I bore my testimony yesterday, Rogelio came to church! But we promised we would get up and bear out testimonies if he came, so we both did. He loved it, he felt the spirit so strong, and he said he wants to keep coming. He hadn't been to church in 6 years! And when we first met him, he said we couldn't even invite him. He told us when he was ready, I am so happy!!!!

I did not get transferred, I will be in Kaysville for at least 5 more weeks. I was sure I was leaving, it's the first time i've been wrong haha. But that's ok. Who knows where i'll be for my last two transfers, I hope I get to go to Salt Lake! But wherever I go will be where the lord needs me. Just watch, you're going to be in the nursery soon :D you'll get to play with the babies! I'd love to do that, now all I can do is smile at them :'(. But it's ok. I love missionary work.

Still teaching

I had a really good week. We were able to teach a lot of people, and some of them are beginning to progress! I've just been really happy the last few days, which is wonderful :). There is nothing I would rather be doing. We are still working with Ashely, and Margarita, and Marina Sanchez, and a bunch of other people, but those are the ones who are progressing the most.

Note from Lori:
Sorry I haven't posted much lately. We have been crazy busy with the move and selling our house. Most of our communication to and from Emily has concerned changes occurring with our family.

Baptism and Transfer

The baptism was great, Martha was so happy!

We are teaching Ashlee who is 12 and doesn't know if she wants the gospel or not... we're working on it. And we're working with several less actives. It's good.

Transfers are tomorrow, Sister Tranchina is leaving me :(. My whole district is getting white washed except for my area, so that's crazy. Sister Vincent is going to be my new companion, so that'll be good.

Mother's Day

Not much to report on Emily this week. She was able to Skype for about 40 minutes on Mother's Day. She says that they eat really well--sometimes too well so she has started running in the mornings. She looks and sounds really good. She is a little sad about her family moving. She will miss friends in the Ohio ward. They have a baptism on Saturday--Martha. She refers to her in earlier posts. Here is a small bit from her e-mail on Monday, May 11.

 I'm so excited for Saturday! It's really rewarding to see that all the hard work pays off when you see someone enter the waters of baptism and make covenants with our heavenly father. And it's really cool to watch them learn and grow after they have the Holy Ghost! 

More Miracles

I had two amazing miracles yesterday. One was that we had dinner at a members’ home, and she invited her non- member friend, who wanted to grow closer to God, and she accepted to hear the lessons! She is so prepared, we are very excited to be working with her! The second was with a less active named Rojelio. We met him almost two weeks ago, and decided we like him, so we went back last night. It was 8:30, so we were debating on going home (i happen to be sick right now :) or going to see him like we had planned. I said it was worth a try, so we stopped by, he wasn't very happy to see us, but he let us in. The sister we brought with us made friends with him quickly, and she related to his problems so well, it was a blessing! At the beginning he was very closed minded, but as we talked and bore testimony, we watched him change. He knew he needed to come back, but he didn't want to. It will be a process, but we know that he will. We already love him so much! I didn't explain it very well, but the short of it is that the spirit guided the entire lesson, we were able to say exactly what he needed to hear, it was amazing. I am so happy!!!!!!

Pictures

Spirit working

 I LOVE my companion! She is absolutely AMAZING. We are seriously best friends. We work so hard and so well together, it’s not even real.  We hiked Adam's canyon again and we left at 10:00. It was kind of last minute, but it was super fun. I'm getting better at hiking, when I get back we are totally doing round two of Mount Baldy ok?

 
Let me share an awesome miracle with you. And you can tell the rest of the family too :D. So yesterday we, and the Elders went to go visit a SUPER inactive guy that the bishop asked us to. That didn't go so well. Afterward we were outside talking about how it went and everything, then when we were getting in our cars, a dog ran up to us, so of course I played with it :D. And his owner, a 19 year old, came over to get him and so one of the elders started talking to him, and we all ended up talking for an hour. Dad, it was so amazing. He went to church for the second time in 2 years that day, and he said it's just because it made his mom smile. We talked about a lot, the spirit was so strong, we invited him to pray about going on a mission, and to start reading and praying everyday, and he said he would. He cried, and said he was really happy that he walked outside because he felt so lost and alone and he wanted to know what to do. It was so amazing to watch him change before our eyes. It's so cool to watch God touch others through you, you don't even have to be a missionary for that! So yeah, that was the highlight of my week. Pretty amazing I'd say.  The gospel changes lives. It saves them.

Serving in Kaysville

I LOVE KAYSVILLE!!! Just saying :D We found 5 new investigators this week, and had 3 at church, and yeah, i'm so happy!!! My new companion, Hermana Tranchina, is amazing. She's from Spain, and she's been out 6 months, and I love her already! This is going to be an amazing transfer :).


The ward has about 220 members, which will soon be growing, we already have someone on date to be baptized! Her name is Martha, please pray for her to stay strong! Our house looks like a ginger bread house, it's so cute, and BIG!

General Conference and a Transfer

Conference was wonderful! I loved it. We took the Lopez family, Laura, and Javier! They all loved it, and we have a promise from a general authority that if we get investigators to conference, they will be baptized some day, so that made me really happy. I am getting transferred tomorrow actually! I'm going to Kaysville, so i'll be really close to my first ward. I can't believe it, I'm gonna miss Hermana West, but I'm ready for the change. 

Rough Week

My week was probably the hardest week I've had so far :D. All of our appointments cancelled on us, but then we had an amazing Zone Conference on Thursday, which helped me feel better. But on Friday during weekly planning, Hermana West was complaining about a pain in her right side... yeah. She had her appendix removed Saturday around 9 am. I spent the night in the Hospital! It was crazy, and it all happened so fast! She is doing pretty well, we might actually be able to go out and do one or two visits tonight, we'll just have to see how it goes.

I did get to go to sacrament meeting yesterday, and Laura came! I was really happy. It's been cool getting to do so much for my comp, especially since she usually doesn't let me do anything for her. I win!

But yeah, that was my crazy week. This next one is the last week of the transfer :'( I think I'm leaving Bountiful. It's going to be really hard, but that's the way of the mission after all. I'm excited to see what happens. 

Emily's Birthday!

I had a wonderful birthday. I ate peanut butter balls, and my companion and the lady we live with put up balloons, and we went to church, and then my recent converts made us lunch, then we had a meeting, then the family we live with had a birthday dinner with CHEESECAKE!!!!, it was great. After that we had a few lessons, one of them was with the Malespins, they're less active, they got me a cake too. We had an amazing lesson about the Atonement with them, the spirit was so strong. That was actually the best part of my day :). Then the district leader got us all together at 9 and we had more cake haha. His companion had his birthday yesterday too. Every time we saw each other we yelled happy birthday, it was fun :D. 

We had another amazing week, we got 4 referrals! And we were able to contact them, and we got one new investigator, and one potential investigator! I'm so happy, this area is so different from when I got here, we have stuff to do! I am so glad to be a missionary, there is no greater work!

God's plan isn't for things to be OK. It's more things to be better, more beautiful, and more filled with joy than we can IMAGINE! Isn't that amazing? I got to explain that to a sad family last night, and it was amazing to see the hope start to shine in their eyes. That's what the atonement does, it gives us hope. It's beautiful!

Lara is doing well. We had an amazing lesson on Tuesday, she prayed, and said that she knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and she wants to be baptized! She also called her mom and asked if she would like to listen to the missionaries, and she said yes! Lara was supposed to come to church yesterday, but she didn't, and they couldn't get a hold of her. I hope everything is alright, we have another lesson with her on Tuesday, so hopefully she is there and everything works out. ( Lara is the 17 year old from Colombia mentioned in the Feb. 24, post.)

New Investigators

 Missionary work is the most wonderful thing in the world! We had a really good week, we got two new investigators, Javier and Rosa.   They had been taught before, but they want to learn again, we are excited to start teaching them. And the Lopez parents are getting married soon, I just know it! Please pray for them, I love them so much!

 The Lopez parents specifically need to be married, that is the only thing stopping them from being baptized. I want nothing more than for them to be an eternal family!

 We get to have a mission meeting with Elder Ballard, and he wants to shake all of our hands! I'm so excited! I want to look him in the eye, and know that I am a good missionary, that I am doing all that God wants from me.

Still in Centerville/Bountiful

I had such a good week mom! Tomorrow we have transfers, but I don't have to go because they're leaving Hermana West and me together!!!!!! I'm so happy! And yesterday we found a new investigator, she wants to be baptized, and I know that she will, she's 17, from Columbia, and she has always been looking for a church that made her feel loved by God. We're so excited for this transfer, we know that we will see baptisms and many more miracles! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!

Guess what happened to me? On Friday a sister in an English ward called and said that her daughter has a friend from Columbia who wants to know more about the gospel. So we had dinner then a lesson at her house yesterday. She saw my name and she knows you! Her name is Rachel Hansen (well now it's Howe) and her parents are Craig and Gloria! I guess you (Dale) and James used to do lawn work for them. She said to tell you hi, it was really special for me to meet someone who knew you, and the girl we taught in her home wants to be baptized! We are so blessed Dad!

Changing

Guess what happened, I saw Jim and Rachel today! We were driving to the Salt Lake Temple, and they were in the car next to us waiting for a light! I got to say hi to them, it was weird, but great :D first time I've seen my family on my mission, it's pretty impressive.

Here is a list of things that have changed about me on the mission that are hard to believe:

1. I eat an avocado every other day, they are so good! (note from Lori: she did not like them at all before her mission.)

2. I love spicy food!

3. I ate a green bell pepper the other day, and it was really good, I may  buy some today

4. I sang in sacrament with my comp. It was rough, but I did it.  (Emily would hardly ever even sing with the choir, let alone a duet).

5. I sing around the apartment all the time, I think Hermana West hates it... oh well!

6. I can make really good beans! Like, really good! (my Mexican comp liked them so yeah)

7. I would rather wear a skirt/dress than pants (so sad)

8. I now realize that 1 hour of studying is nothing, it's not enough!

9. I thank God every day for the amazing family that He has given me, and for the love that I have for them. 

There is no greater work than this, I have never been so happy, and I will never be the same.

Week of Miracles

I have had an amazing week! In my personal study I read the talk "Beware of Pride" by President Benson, and there were two quotes that I wanted to share with you. "If we love God, do His will, and fear His judgment more than men's, we will have self-esteem." I have found this to be true on my mission. I have made aligning my will with His the focus of my studies and my prayers, so that I can be the missionary He needs me to be. As I have done that I have come to see myself as the Beautiful Daughter of God that I am. I look in the mirror, and I see who He sees, not who the world sees. All I want is for the world to see Christ when they look at me. I've also been working on smiling more, which has made a real difference. Now I don't even have to try! I am smiling almost all the time, and it makes me truly happy! 

We finally found a new person to teach! Her name is Suzi, she is from Mexico, and she wants to learn more about the gospel. We had been trying to find her home and never could, but on Friday we went to knock on her door right before dinner, and it ended up being an hour long lesson! It was a miracle, we are so excited to teach her the restored gospel! Luckily our dinner appointment was a former mission president, and he and his wife were perfectly happy to wait for us. Before we left I asked if they had any advice for a missionary who had just reached her halfway point and was having trouble accepting that. What he said really touched me. He said "Sister Lisonbee, just keep doing what you are doing. You are an amazing missionary, I knew that from the moment you sat out there on my porch the first time to discuss your ward..." He said more but that's not important. I really needed to hear that that day. I know that Heavenly Father is pleased with my work, even if the numbers aren't high, that's not what matters. I have been able to see how I have touched people's lives for the better, and that brings me joy. 

We also went to return some dishes to a member, and it turned into an hour long discussion. She had just read something that is going to help us to teach an investigator family that we have been working with for a while. I'm so excited to see them grow and change as they draw nearer to Christ!

Then there was last night. We had a lesson that changed me. We have been working a lot with a less active, I think i've told you about him, and he has slowly been changing. Well last night we had a lesson with him in a member's home, it was amazing. We started off by sharing 3 Nefi 22: 7-8. He had doubts about God and His love. He tried to answer the questions we asked the way he thought we wanted, instead we told him that he needed to be honest with us. So he was, and we were able to address his concerns. The member we were with is a 28 year old girl getting ready for her mission, and she just bore her testimony of the love that God has for us. Then sister West bore hers, and then I bore a piece of mine. The spirit was so strong. I said things that I didn't think of as they came out of my mouth. I looked him in the eyes, and I saw the change happen. We went home afterward, and he sent us a text saying thank you. We talked for a bit then he said. When you were giving your "messages" I felt peaceful and calm. It felt good. I asked him if he knew why and he said "the spirit." He recognized that he was feeling the spirit. It was a miracle. I have been working with this young man for 4 months, and last night I watched him change. It was the most amazing thing ever. I feel so honored to have been a part of that. I feel at peace with myself and with God, I am happy.

Working Hard

My area is starting to pick up, we found someone new to teach this week, and we have our first lesson with her today, I know that she will keep meeting with us! And the members are starting to work with us, so I'm very excited! I got kissed on the hand by an old guy in a nursing home on Saturday... it was really awkward, he said he wanted to meet with the missionaries in his area, but only if they are as pretty as me ha ha. too bad they're elders :p. And we went to a less actives house yesterday and he was passed out on the couch because he has started drinking more again... so that was sad, but I know that he will get there, it will just take time. We had lots of miracles this week. We have been trying to contact a former investigator, and decided that if he didn't answer on Friday we would stop going by. So as we were walking back to the car, his neighbor came out and talked to us a bit, and then said that he would set up an appointment with the family for us! So we gave him our number, and are excited to see what happens. And we've had lots of good lessons, and I've just been really happy lately! SO yeah. Missionary life, el la mejor!

Serving

One week from Wednesday is my hump day. On February 5 I will have exactly 9 months left of my mission. I can't believe how fast time is going by. I am so grateful for all of the amazing people I have met. All of the wonderful experiences I have had, and miracles I've witnessed. God really does love me to give me this chance to serve His children. I am so excited for what this next 9 months has in store for me! I'm going to meet more amazing people, grow even closer to my Savior, and become a little better day by day. I will continue to give all I have to the Lord. There is no going back! He has changed me forever, and I could not ask for anything more. 

There is something good that comes out of every bad thing. "it all works out in the end, and if it hasn't worked out, it's not the end." That's my new favorite quote. And my new mission scripture, Philipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." I already shared that, but I love it so much I’m gonna share it again! Lean on the Lord, and He will support you. He knows what we need every second of every day, and He will give it to us. All we have to do is ask, and be ready and willing to act on the answer we receive. How amazing is that?! He gave us so much already, and He keeps giving us more. He just asks us to do a few small, simple things in return. 

Still in Bountiful

Hi family and friends, we didn't hear much from Emily this week. I guess she is like her mom! Here is what she shared:

Transfers are tomorrow, and they are keeping Hermana West and I together!!! I'M SO HAPPY!!! So yeah, we are working with a lot of people, things are slowly changing for the better in our area. I'm so glad to be a missionary!

New Year

 The weather here hasn't been too bad, mostly in the 30s, and it hasn't snowed for about 2 weeks. My companion thinks winter is almost over. Poor Hermana West -_- haha. She's missing Cali right now. We had a really good week. We got to watch Tangled and Epic on New Year’s Eve as a district, that was fun, it kind of reminded me of what we do, good relish tray food, and meat, and movies ha ha. It was really nice. But I still went to bed at 10:30.  

We have been working with a lot of less actives, and we got some of them starting to come back to church! I'm so excited for them! We had a miracle this week. Well, we have miracles every day, but this one was really amazing for us. All of our appointments fell through on Friday, and we didn't feel good about any of the names we had written down. So we started to drive, and I felt like we should pray about where to go, so I pulled over and we prayed. We didn't get a clear answer, so we started to go to one family, but then sister West said "no, we need to go straight here" so we did. Then she said we needed to turn left on a street, and when I did, it didn't feel right and we both said we felt like we needed to visit an investigator who lives in an apartment. When we got there, Hermana West said the prayer and as soon as she started praying, i felt that this sister was not who we needed to visit, but a less active family that lives in the same complex. As soon as she finished I asked her what she had received, and she named the same family! We both thought we were crazy, but when we found out we had the same thought, we knew where we needed to go. It took us a while to get to the answer, but we did. And we had to show God that we would follow His directions before He trusted us with the answer. That's how He works, we have to gain His trust first, then, as we act on the promptings we receive, He will trust us with more and more. 

I'm so happy to be a missionary. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. Some days I just feel like I'm not doing anything to help anyone, but then I see what has happened, and I am so grateful. And those few times that people accept invitations, and show true faith, make it all worth it. I love these people so much! I want nothing more than to help my brothers and sisters come closer to our Savior, and take advantage of His atonement. 

Les quiero! Have an amazing week!

Love,

Hermana Lisonbee