November 12, 2018. Happy Veterans Day

Hope everyone has had an awesome past week and Halloween! It was fun here, we had Refit on Tuesday and everyone dressed up in something they could still work out in but they brought disco balls so it was super fun. Our Refit instructor wore a big dinosaur blow up costume and it was hilarious! Halloween was pretty chill for us missionaries, we had to be in by 7.

We had such an amazing day Thursday, we were busy all day, and had some pretty awesome lessons. One was with our Friend Kurt! We were discussing the Restoration and he has a lot of knowledge about Joseph smith, since he has investigated the church before. But let me tell you, the spirit was so strong in that lesson, at the end of the lesson we asked Kurt what he is expecting to get out of meeting with us and the very 1st thing he said was, "well, I'm not baptized." and then was really overthinking the question and said some other things, then said, "I will have to get back to you girls on that question." But then we brought it back to baptism and I was prompted to share with him in 2 Nephi 31 about our need to be baptized and the savior showing the way. and after reading those versus, I said, "Kurt, the lord has set the example for us, we know what we need to do to follow his footsteps." And when we asked him if he would be baptized, he said yes. and right after, I said, "We both have been pondering, and we both have felt you can be ready for baptism by Jan.12th." and he goes, "woah, you just blew me out of the water." and was just thinking for a minute and asked, "How did you know to pick that day?" and we told him that we both had pondered and both came up with the same date and felt peace about it. He said that he never thought of looking at meeting with us as trying to reach a goal like baptism, but just to meet and learn. He was beyond grateful for us and the time we have taken to share this with him. 

Right after that amazing lesson, we had a lesson with a less active couple we have been teaching over Facebook messenger video chat. 5 minutes before calling them, we both felt like what we planned to share with them was not right. So we took a minute and tried to think of what we could talk about instead. sister Jones came up with the idea of talking about prayer and how to get more out of it. But what kept coming to mind was motivation? Like what is there end goal in all all of this? In life?. We both agreed with it and no joke when we called them, they told us that they were talking with each other about where they see there future going in the church and what they both want, it was insane! Revelation is real! But the spirit between the 4 of us was unreal, it was so powerful even though we were talking to each other through a screen. Something that I read in the ensign a little back came to mind during our discussion and I felt very prompted to share it. It is from Elder Corbridge from the 70 and is a talk he gave in general conference called, "The Way." He says, "The Lord’s way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel. “There is an opposition in all things,” everywhere, for everyone. Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone—without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier? Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don’t quit, and you will make it."

After sharing that, he started testifying and telling his friend he is with that she is looking for something she already is because she feels she is still trying to find a balance between the church and herself. It was very powerful and there were a lot of tears, happy tears! But it was amazing. The spirit can do amazing things when you let it into your heart and act on the impressions you receive.

We have struggled finding new friends to teach this transfer, but the Lord has really blessed us this week! We were able to pick up 2 new friends and one of them is Chender! He is from India (there is a huge population of Indian people here, they are so nice!) but sadly he is leaving to India for a few months at the end of the month, but it's okay, because we are already in contact with the India mission because of another friend we teach through Facebook messenger who lives in India, so we will make sure missionaries teach him!

Another miracle was these amazing people in our ward, the Litchfields. They told us there son who just went on his mission has a friend who has been very interested in the church. So they asked him if he would like to meet with missionaries and he said yes! MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK AT ITS FINEST! So yesterday, we went over and got to share the 1st discussion with him. His name is Junior and he is so on board with everything! We are way excited to teach him, but sad we will probably pass him off the YSA. Still grateful!

I am so grateful for this gospel and the blessing it is in my life. I have learned so much and continue to grow spiritually. I know how important it is we read the Book of Mormon daily, The prophet wouldn't just tell us that if it wasn't. I love what Nephi says, "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that is is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" 2 Nephi 25:23. I know the scriptures are written for our benefit, As Nephi says, it wasn't easy for them to write, it took effort on their part, and also faith. So we need to show our faith and devotion to doing what God commands us to do, and it's for our benefit! Love you all have a splendid week! 

They will all be dead next transfer other than sister Murdock and I😭

Well, the libraries are closed today due ti Veterans Day, so I am sending this fringe my phone.

Also, my sweet companion has written this awesome email that I am going to send this week! Enjoy! 

Well this week flew by so fast it was crazy! But I will tell you a few highlights of the week (here comes the novel).

Monday:  We emailed, went shopping and then went to go look at some clothing stores because we thought that would be fun.  Well we spent maybe 20 min in one store and 10 in the other and were done. Yeah I am so not into shopping. We hung out with the zone then went to the apartment because I was not feeling good. But I do feel better now so all is good.  We had a lesson with our friend Jennifer she is so amazing!  I love her!  We talked about the fall od Adam and Eve.  She was blown away with what we believed. 

Also, all the new sister missionaries came in and stayed at our apartment. They are all so sweet! One will be trained by Sister Murdock and that trainee will be so very blessed. 

Wendsday: today was transfers. I am still IN May's Pond with Sista Stokes! We are excited to see what this transfer holds. We did get to stop by transfers since it is in area and I got to say goodbye to Sister Murdock. I don't think I will see her till she comes home in April and that makes me so sad. But it's okay. She is so awesome! 

Thursday: we went to refit and that's all I can remember. Yeah sorry team...jk we had an activity with the relief society and we are soup and make kits for kids who don't have homes. 

Friday: we had district meeting....I mean council lol. We have two of the three new Spanish sisters in our district and they are so cute! I am excited for this transfer!  

Saturday: we got to go to lunch with Todd at Costco. It was so fun! We talked and enjoyed food. He is the best! 

Sunday: L came to church! She was sick for like 3 weeks and that was no fun! But she is better. But now Sister Stokes is sick. Prayers for her (Sister Stokes) please. 

Well sorry this was short but I had to email on my phone only so that's no fun! But its okay. I love you all! 

Sister stokes 

Happy Halloween !!!! From Washington

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Monday: We got to go carve pumpkins with the zone. It was so fun to see everyone's pumpkins. Sister Jones and I had the opportunity to go to the Ensgin Choir concert also. Oh my goodness it was amazing! Our friend Laurie came with us and the office missionaries drove us down. We saw beautiful Seattle when it is foggy and oh my goodness it was so cool, the Space Needle looked like it was floating. 

Wesnesday: We had district council and we talked about being a successful missionary and that it all comes from the right mindset. I believe that is so true. If you don't think you can you won't, but if you believe you can then you will. It was so good! Then we went and had lunch with a sister in the ward (Sister Moffett). She is the best! We have the most deep conversations with her and we leave her house with our minds blown. But it's good. We helped her with some service. We had dinner with the Pereira's and they made us this amazing Brazilian dinner with chicken and rice and amazing black beans with sausage. It was so good!

Thursday: We got to go out and meet a member in the ward. She was so sweet! So we pull up and she and her kids are in their van. She tells us to come over and then invites us to sit in the passenger seat of her van. Lol so Sister Jones and I are squished in this seat trying to have a nice conversation with this sister. It was great! All worked out! We got to go serve at the food bank and that was super fun! It started to rain so that made things exciting. 

Miracle: We go to have a lesson with a family in the ward and when we get their they have friends over. So the mom of this family invites her friend to join in the lesson! It was member missionary work at the finest. So we taught a simple Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson. 

Friday: We got to go to Costco and have lunch with our friend L. She baught us lunch and it was really good! We got 3 hot dogs and 3 drinks for less than 5 bucks! Costco is the where to go!  Okay so the members in this ward are so cool! So the members we ate with were asking us what we will be wearing for the ward Halloween party. We didn't know so I threw out that my sister dressed up like an Elder one year. So the sweet sister helped us get white shirts and ties to be able to be elders for the party. It was great! 

Saturday: We saw lots of people today. Many of them were not interested and that's okay. We got to go quickly get dressed up and then our plan to be elders backfired because we don't know how to tie a tie. So we were waitresses. But everyone still thought we were elders, or women in black, or old fashion sister missionaries or those creepy twins in scary movies. Lol! It was so fun to be with the ward! They are the best! 

I hope you all have an amazing week and a Happy Halloween!!

love,

Sister Stokes 

"Do you want to be like sister Wilding or do you want to be like Jabba the hut?"

Wow, what a week, The days just seem like they are getting shorter and shorter and time is just flying by. We have been having lots of lessons with our members and it has been super fun! When you have lots of lessons, time just seems to pass you by and you don't have time for everything you need to do! But that's life. 

We had Interviews with President and Sister Wilding this week. They went great, I asked President if I could read "The Infinite Atonement" by Tad R. Callister since we are aloud to when we have 6 months left and he goes, "No, Because that would mean you only have 6 months left." Haha, then that led to a conversation about time and how it just flies. 

Funny thing as my header is what sister Jones tells me when I want to eat junk food.

Laurie:

We officially started the 15 step stop smoking program with Laurie! It is going so well! She is so determined and ready it's amazing. She has all the reasons to quit and just needs to put it to action. She has bought all the things she needs and we threw away all her ash trays and lighters and everything! It was an exciting step. She is doing really good, it hasn't been easy for her, but hard things are never easy!

We had the Russian sister come over and had dinner together! Sister Jones and I made a cake and cupcakes and it was super fun! Sister Koroleva turned 20!

We had the missions very 1st Full mission Conference this Friday with Elder Whiting of the seventy and it was amazing. It was a last minute thing that he called President Wilding and told him he's coming! But I will never forget the spirit that was felt in this conference. From the beginning, Sister Wilding could not stop crying and president was super emotional as well. After we all were seated, Elder Whiting wanted to shake all of our hands, and so we went row by row and go to shake his hand, 168 missionaries later haha. He started off by saying, "this is an Apostolic meeting and we will all receive revelation."  Oh my goodness he was right. His message was so simple, yet I learned more by the spirit in this meeting for many reasons. He talked about the Holy Ghost and how we need to know how He speaks to us, because it's like salt, we can't explain to someone else how it tastes.We need to put them in a situation where you know when you're feeling the spirit, You can ask them how they feel and confirm to them it is the spirit. We have to be worthy of having the Spirit with us. As missionaries we are given the authority to preach the gospel, but it's up to us to receive the Power, and the power comes from the Holy Ghost. All the changes that have been happening in the church are preparing us for something. Elder whiting used to cover the Asian region as a 70 and he was at the devotional with Elder Christofferson and he said something that will stick with him forever, and will now stick with me forever, "I believe what the Lord is waiting for is greater righteousness, not more wickedness." How eye opening is that! I always thought to myself, how much more wicked does the world need to get for Christ to come because it is already super bad! But that's not what he's waiting for! He is waiting for us to stop waiting around for Him to come and start doing more than we have been! It all makes so much sense now of why all the changes have been happening. 2 promises God has made that have not happened yet is the gathering of scattered Israel, and the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. "We need to have eyes to see." We need to truly see what is happening and how important it is we start doing what we've been asked to do. Words from Elder Whiting, "Take this work so seriously, see your role in this. If not you then who? It has to be here, it has to be you. We need to elevate and accelerate the gathering of scattered Israel before Christ can come." The Lord is preparing us! I really loved how he emphasized the importance of sharing this with those around us. Why would we keep this from others? It shows faith you have faith on this message when you invite and share with others. See how this gospel has changed your life, why wouldn't it do the same to someone else? "The Tool to gather scattered Israel is the Book of Mormon." You need to make this as real to them as it is to you, truly help them see how the Book of Mormon has impacted you and the reason you turn to it for comfort and guidance. it's not just stories. Why is it so important to you? "We are the Link to help them see the relevance of the Book of Mormon." Every person has something they want to change in their life if you are aware of it or not. The power of the Book of Mormon is a tool of healing that can fix broken things. We need to introduce the Book of Mormon with the right power, don't treat it lightly." 

Sorry this is so long, I just know how important this is and I have a huge testimony on the importance of missionary work.

Our mission president is making it a priority right now to go to the ward councils and to talk about missionary efforts and us getting 20 lessons each week. Yesterday, his first Councilor in the mission presidency President Profitt came to ours because President Wilding went to 3 others yesterday, but one thing they are going to change in the future in only having dinners with members if they bring a returning member or a non member to dinner with them. They just talked a lot about utilizing the missionaries more in the ward because we are being "under used." It was really good though and I think it opened the members eyes more in the ward council to how important it is to be help missionary work.

Well, I love you all and hope you have an amazing week this week! 

Love,

Sister Stokes