January 16th

Hola Familia!

   This past week has been great! I think I say that every week, haha, but the mission is just so amazing! We had some amazing experiences this week! We found some new investigators or "friends," as that is who they truly are, and I am so excited to keep on meeting with them and sharing with them their part in "The Father's Story." Last week, we were trying to make up for going so many miles in the car already, so we biked a few days, and one day we didn't use the car at all! It was really fun, the weather is SO nice right now, I love to just be outside! We were able to bike into a few gated complexes (heehee) and we met Vivian and her family! Vivian has been praying for 3 weeks for her son Joell, who was also there, that he would be able to figure out his life and what he wanted to do in school, work, etc. and stay on God's path. It was incredible to be an answer to her prayer and share the joy that having faith in Jesus Christ has brought in our lives! We were able to talk with them for a few minutes and Vivian told us to come by whenever, that we are always welcome, and she told us her gate code and to write it down, haha! We loved it! It is always a tender mercy to find people who are kind and open and ready to hear God's Truth, which is that His Gospel is here in its FULLNESS in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so grateful and humbled to be a part of the hastening of this great work, to prepare the minds of the people to receive Jesus Christ at His Second Coming!

    We also knocked into Anny, Manny, and their grandkids Giovanni(7) and Kiki(13). We were looking for a potential but didn't have the full address or last name(so we couldn't look up her name in the call box) so we biked up to it, locked up our bikes in an open complex across the street and walked in(we thought that might go better, haha) The gate to walk in was open! Miracle 1 for the night. So we are heading into this apartment complex that is absolutely huge, we kept walking and walking, trying to find the back and start there, but it just kept going! So we decided to find the right spot and start knocking. After 45 minutes, we found Anny! She loves God and talking about him, and has even visited our church once before! We sat down and started taking and she asked us to share a message with her and her family right then and there! So we taught about God's plan for all of us and that knowledge blesses us, and it was so great! She is so funny, and sometimes goes off on random tangents, and at our return appointment the next day(Sunday night) we met her daughter Megan who seemed more genuinely interested. We taught them the Restoration and gave them the Book of Mormon to start reading, so we will see how they continue to progress.

   Something that I heard a while back, I think in a Sunday talk, was that "We gain control of our lives by gaining control of our time." I really love that quote, it helps motivate me to make the most of each day God has given me!

   Sister Bohlen and I have been having so much fun, we love the ward so much! Even though this area is challenging in its own way, I know there are people here that God wants us to meet and He will lead us to them as we do all we can to be worthy of the Spirit. We are nothing without the Holy Ghost, and that is how we become effective tools in God's hands, just like all the great missionaries of old! 

  We had Zone Conference this week, which was super good! We also were able to watch President Monson's funeral, which was amazing. His life was full of love and service, and he is a great example to all of us! I know that President Russell M. Nelson is a prophet of God, and will continue to lead and guide this, His Church, in the direction it needs to go. 

   I love you all so much, and want to leave you with just a few short thoughts that I wrote down at church this past sunday (stake conference with a SE regional broadcast from Salt Lake City) from Elder Bednar on Repentance:

"Repentance requires 1) A Savior and 2) An honest heart and real intent"

That is what we all need to truly and fully repent! Christ has given us the wonderful gift of His infinite Atonement, and I know it will help all of us to become better on the large scale of things, and in the little things. It lifts me every day on the mission, and it can uplift and change all of us for the better!

   I love you all so much, have an amazing week!!!

Love,

Hermana Stokes

 

My New Address

12941 NW 2nd St #1-104

Permbroke Pines, FL 33028

Pictures:

I made French Toast Astrada! It was so good!

Face paint at a double zone activity(we also had mini pie eating contests!)

 Zone Conference Lunch

We finished the cat puzzle!

Among other things...​