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Sisterhood (from left to right): Sister Jacobson, Sister Draper, Sister Moulis, Sister McLaws, & Sister Smart on the end. :)

"Spring Forward"

A big welcome to daylight savings...kinda. :) We lost an hour this time because we moved the clocks forward, but it's great because it's a lot lighter in the evenings. And the warm weather makes everybody happier! On Saturday it was a beautiful sunny day and we went "whiteboard contacting." In Salisbury, every Saturday the market is on so there are booths and canopies everywhere in the town square.  It's a lot of hustle and bustle so it was perfect!! We wrote on our whiteboard "What makes you happy?" It was fun to stop people and hear their response.  The most common one, "The sunshine!!" Agreed. Some others said, "Money," "Family," and "Shopping." Talking with people about what made them happy made me happy.   We went on to tell them the reason we asked is because the gospel of Jesus Christ makes us happy.  Knowing that we're God's children and He's provided a plan for us is priceless knowledge that brings me the most joy. And that's something that isn't temporary or short-lived. It's ETERNAL!! How great is that?! It was a fun experience to talk to as many people as we did and street contact in a different way!

 

A miracle from this week was that our friend and investigator, Richard, finally came to church!! We were so happy for him!! We've been meeting with him for a few weeks now and he has great faith and has been diligently reading the Book of Mormon.  He is a great person and we're grateful to know him and teach him. 

 

We also had Zone Training this week and oh how I love Poole Zone! Seriously. When you look at the picture you'll understand why.  I love the Spirit and zeal the other missionaries in our zone have and I'm so grateful to work along side them.  I'm excited for General Conference this weekend and can't wait to see it! I know that the Prophet and Apostles are inspired men and I know that their message is true.  They speak with great power and dignity and it always makes me excited when General Conference comes around. I've decided I'll be attending one of the sessions when I get back because that was something I took for granted living in Utah.  It'll be a great blessing and privilege to hear from them this week.

 

Scripture of the Week: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;" -Psalms 24:3-4

 

Poole Zone Represent. :)

 

You Win Some, You Lose Some

For most of my posts I've tried to focus and share a miracle of the week because the good always outweighs the bad, and the Lord blesses us everyday!! It's the best thing to be a missionary - but it's not always smooth sailing. 

I think being a missionary is like being on a sports team.  Pick your favorite sport - surely it applies to most of them. :)  As a missionary, I'm part of the Lord's team and His team consists of my companion, the branch, the other missionaries in the mission (or even around the world), my mission president, my family, the general authorities, and other members.  Everyone on the Lord's team wants to achieve the same thing: we all want to "invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end." Each person has a little bit different position and responsibility on the playing field, but we can't be successful if we don't work together. Sometimes our team does everything we can to win the victory.  And we know we will in the end.  But some of the games of life are not always won.  Sometimes we lose. Things don't go as planned.  The Lord blesses us with right circumstances, with the Spirit, and with His help, but the one thing the Lord can't control is our agency.  We can not force anyone to do anything and the Lord can't either.  That's what's so great about our life on earth is that we have that gift to learn and progress!  Sometimes our own choices and others' choices just don't bring the victory we may have hoped for.  But just because we don't win every single game, and things don't always go perfectly, doesn't mean we stop playing!  We must continue to do our best, to play our position, and listen to what our coach tells us to do.  If we do, and we continue to follow the Lord, the wins will always outweigh the losses. That's just Sister B's two cents I guess. :)

This has been especially evident in the work this week. There is "opposition in all things" but that is proof that the work is true.  If it weren't, Satan wouldn't be fighting so hard against it. I'm grateful for the lessons I'm learning and the privilege it is to play on the Lord's team.  He really is hastening His work.  

This week we received an unexpected phone call from a less active sister who wanted to meet with us after years of not coming to church! What a miracle that was! We're going to see her this week and we're grateful for her courage.  

Scripture of the week: "Now in this case the Lamanites did fight exceedingly... Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, and their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.  And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God." -Alma 43:43,45-46

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Oh how I love the Salisbury branch! :) Sister Alisi had her baby last night right after the baby shower!

Hastening the Work

Oh my goodness.  The Lord is definitely hastening His work - especially here in Salisbury.  Unfortunately, we had a slight bump in the road this week since Sister Smart and I both got sick. (Or as they say here, "We were poorly this week.")  We had to take time to get some proper rest, but we're both just about back to normal now. :) 

Probably the best news of the week is the fact that Pam surprised us by coming to church!! It was the greatest thing to see her there! We are so happy for her and we know the Lord is very mindful of each and every one of His children.

On Monday we took an hour bus journey up to Tidworth for a dinner appointment and FHE with a family in the branch. On our way there, we started talking to a lady sitting just in front of us on the bus.  Her name was Yasmine.  We told her all about the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith's First Vision.  She asked me, "So how can I get one of these books? Where can I buy it?!" I said, "Oh, you can have this one!" :) She was so happy. She went on to tell us that she had been fasting and she didn't think it was a coincidence that we started talking to her. She told us how she would love to come to church and would be able to come this week! We were so excited! Not only was she prepared to accept the gospel, just as we were coming into Tidworth, whilst talking with her, we got a phone call from the member that he would have to cancel for the night. Had he called and let us know any earlier, we wouldn't have been on that bus journey to talk with Yasmine. The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I'm so grateful we were able to meet her and that Heavenly Father continues to put people in our path to help and teach.

Scripture of the week: "6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Corn. 9:6-7

Spring has sprung! :)

Transfers This Week

I don't have time today to post a report for this week because P-day won't be until Wednesday for transfer week - but I will post one on Wednesday. Stay tuned. Thanks! :) 

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Inside the Cathedral. :)

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Exchange with Sister McLaws this week in New Milton! She's from Park City - Love her! 

Lost Sheep Round 2

Yesterday Sister Smart and I experienced one of the greatest things in our mission so far! It was such a blessing.  This is mostly what I wrote to my mission president today in my letter. 

Earlier in the week on exchange, Sister Smart and Sister Macaluso contacted a young lady and got a return appointment.  We didn't realize til last night that her address was outside of Salisbury and we had never been there before - we didn't even really know it existed. We caught the bus out but the address she gave us was no good.  The house was empty and up for sale.  We knocked the rest of the street, but with little success.  As we finished we looked across the street, trying to decide where to go.  The building across the way looked a bit like a church but we decided to go find out if someone lived there.  At the first door we knocked on the other side of the road, a tall slim lady answered the door.  We introduced ourselves and she asked us if we were Latter Day Saints.  We told her we were and she then replied "I am too..." What?! This lady was not on the directory or any record that we had seen!  She invited us in and went on to tell us she had been married and sealed in the temple 20 years ago, but then had been divorced 10 years later.  She ended up moving here and fell away from the church because a C of E chapel was just around the corner from where she lived.  She told us multiple times how she had recently been thinking of whether or not she should have her name removed or if she should come back to church again.  She explained how great the temple had made her feel and how she longed for that Spirit again.  Amazingly, we had just been  told earlier that day about a branch temple trip coming up on the 22nd of this month.  She found her diary and eagerly wrote it in.  She doesn't want to miss it. As our conversation came to a close, her eyes welled up with tears and she told us how grateful she was that we came in.  She recognized that she had lost her way and wanted to make her way back.  I will never forget the hug she gave us before we left -full of gratitude and appreciation.  The words of a song haven't quit running through my head yet, "Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are the lambs of his fold; Some from the pastures are straying, Hungry and helpless and cold. See, the Good Shepherd is seeking, Seeking the lambs that are lost, Bringing them in with rejoicing,saved at such infinite cost." I'm so grateful we were led to find Pam.  It really is true that the Lord loves each and every one of His children and He wants them back.  I was grateful to be a part of Pam's rescue that night. 

Scripture of the week: "And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy." -D&C 130:2

Sister Smart and I at the top of the Salisbury Cathedral today! What a beautiful view we had! 

Easter Already?

Easter candy is already here and it beats EVERYTHING back home. Cream filled Cadbury Milk Chocolate Eggs. Can't beat it. :)

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, March has given us a warm welcome. Thank the heavens. :) I haven't had to wear my puffy coat the last few days, so hopefully this type of weather sticks around. I appreciate the sun so much more than I did before, that's for sure. 

We had a miraculous day on Thursday. In the morning, we taught our investigator Kevin (who we found 2 weeks ago knocking) about the Plan of Salvation and he committed to be baptized and come to church!! Wow, we were so excited for him!! Then, that evening, we taught Sister Henstridge (one of the member's mother who is investigating) and she committed to be baptized and come to church too!! Our excitement was through the roof!! We are so happy for them! They both committed to be baptized at the end of this month and so we're praying and doing all we can to help them get there. :) The Lord is blessing these people and the Salisbury branch so much and I'm grateful to be a small part of His work. The other great thing was that both of them made it to church on Sunday as well, and Kevin even had to walk to the other side of town to get there. He is great.

This week we also met with some great members who told us they wanted to get involved with Family History.  This is a new big push in the mission and I'm really excited about it.  The new familysearch.org is AMAZING! I haven't been able to do a lot on there yet, but I just love seeing who and where I come from. Hopefully we'll be able to implement this a lot more into our finding and teaching.  The great thing about it is that if people can get excited about their family history, they're going to get excited about going to the temple. It's amazing how perfectly the Lord's Plan of Salvation, Church organization, and Gospel doctrine all work together for the "perfecting of the saints."  I love it. 

Scripture of the week:

"28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" -Matt. 14:28-31Salisbury District! From left to right: Elder Willers, Elder Astle (he's 6'7" can you believe it?! Tallest missionary in ELSM award), Sister Smart, Elder Wilson, and DL Elder Schmoekel.