Merry Christmas

December 18, 2017

Merry Christmas,

Our YSA ward is the greatest, On Monday for FHE, they were going caroling and our lesson just canceled, so we decided we would go. One of them brought their guitar and is was an amazing experience and was so much fun. We ended up caroling to two random people that came out and wondering what we were doing, we gave them a light the world card and it was so great.

We took out Investigator Montana to the Family History Center this week and started her tree, it was really fun when we started to find names and her great grandparents, it is a lot of work though! She has no family history work done, so she is starting from scratch.

We Taught Shane, who is a recent convert his last lesson this week, I always forget that teaching comes to an end, I just want  to teach everyone forever!

Miracles:

• We had dinner with two girls in our ward and they gave us referrals to see and we went to this house/apartment type of thing and Josh answered, Sister Porter didn't realize till he told us his name, but her and her old companion met him awhile back at the bus stop, but the bus came and they didn't have time to set up a time to meet again or get his number, but he is way awesome and we are going to meet with him after break!
•  Sister Porter and I both felt like we should text our old investigator Ryan who dropped us, he was a refferal from his friend in utah. So we decided to txt him a scripture and hope everything is going OK. And he texted back saying that he was having dinner with his friend from utah at that moment and it was so cool! 

Our adventures:

We were in downtown Bellingham and it is like the city part of of Bellingham and we were looking for a former investigator. We found the building but it was a locked complex but someone came out so we just walked in, it was such an old building, I felt like we were in an orphanage home like from Annie lol. We looked everywhere for his door number but couldn't find it, so we asked a guy inside and he said it's probably one of the doors in the back outside. So we go back there and it is sketch, it was like an alleyway and to get to the doors, you had to climb up these metal stairs that look like a fire escape and climbed really high, it was super weird. But the former doesn't live there anymore, a guy named Lucien answered and he was nice, but not interested. 

Another house we went to to meet a referral was very interesting. it was a very old house that turned into an apartment, which is very normal here, but we just walked in the front door and there are doors that are the apartment doors, but no one was home.

Another refferal we got we could not find their house number, but we thought we found it but this house was way vacant. the porch was falling apart and there were a couple old smashed cars in the yard, we walked around because we couldn't find the front door, and then we read a note that said "It is illegal to occupy this structure" so we felt very weird and scared so we just left. Bellingham is an interesting place, people have the weirdest bright colored homes. 

I started talking to this man walking by and asked if we could give him the light the world card and he asked what is it and I told him it's a service initiative to be more like our savior Jesus Christ and he said " Nope that's gunna go in the garbage" and walked away, it was so funny, some people.

we went on exchange Friday with our Sister Training Leaders, I got to go to Lynden! It was so much fun, we met the funniest people. We were going to see a Potential Danny, but his roomate who is staying with him for a couple days answered and we was just telling us about his life in St. Luis and how Jesus has always been apart of his life. So we started to share the restoration with him and he cut us of and goes I love what you two are doing whats your names?? and then he put his hands our for us to grab and said a prayer with us. He was so funny, and I think a little high, and then he goes thanks so much for all you do and went in for a hug and Sister Kinaphus freaked! He goes, "There's nothin wrong with a hug" and then gave me a hug, lol.

We also met a really cool YSA named Josh and we were able to share with him the restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon, We got his number and will probably go back and follow up. I love exchanges, miracles are a real thing.

Our investigator Natalie came to church for the first time! She loved it, she is amazing. Her life is really confusing right now with her Fiance and everything, but hopefully she will stay strong. 

I love being out here on my mission, I have met so many amazing people and have made so many friendships. This gospel is truly amazing and changes people's lives. I know that This gospel is true and through it we can find true happiness that lasts. I love you all, I hope you have a great Christmas, Do something nice for someone this week, and keep following the calendar for Light the World!

Love 

Sister Stokes