Jamaican's Party Hard! April 16, 2018

Hola Familia!

   This has been a great week for finding! We found two new friends ourselves, and the AP's came and knocked in our area Wednesday night and found us 4 more!!! They are amazing!!! Sadly those appointments fell through (that has been happening a lot these past two weeks, what do you do) but we have plans to visit them this coming week. We, as a mission, have been steadily hitting our finding goal, and it is just the best feeling ever! This is who we are, and the excitement, the urgency, and the desire to truly serve from the heart, to "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts" is growing! I love how Elder Holland used the term "mature" in his conference talk on Ministering, we are all truly maturing spiritually into more converted sons and daughters of God! 

   We went to Flamingo Gardens for service this week, and it was so fun! We were able to paint benches and walk through some of the park while we waited for one to dry so we could move the paint blanket underneath (the name of what those things are called is currently escaping me) They even fed us lunch for free :) This persistent Ibis bird stole Sister Thurman's tomato, though, and somehow she got an eye infection from it called Blufaritis(or something like that..) poor girl. Its kind of hilarious, though, because Sister Smith. who was companions with Sister Bohlen before I came into this area, had gotten it too! She is currently living with our STL's so she was able to call them and talk to her about what it was like, what she needs to do, etc.

   We were invited by our investigator Jennifer to go to a fundraiser lunch for Jamaican High Schools on Saturday, so we went after service(moving again! Word spreads fast!) and my oh my was that interesting! They had music blasting, I couldn't shout loud enough for my companion, right beside me, to hear what I was saying unless I spoke directly into her ear! Needless to say, we didn't stay longer that was polite, haha, as my companion said, "The Spirit left." We showed our support, though, she is the vice president of the organization that put it together. 

  Saturday night was the young men's auction/fundraiser//spaghetti dinner for their camp, and it was at the church. The feeling between the two activities was drastic. I love the church, and how when we get together in a spirit of love, support, and service, we make memories that are lasting, meaningful, and uplifting. The Church is true! What more can I say?

  I Love you all, have an amazing week!!!

Les Quiero Mucho,

Hermana Stokes

Pictures:

We got all of the leftovers from the Spaghetti Dinner, haha

Our Double Zone Activity last P-day--SO FUN!!!

This chain reaction of the two elders is so funny, he realized what Elder Marshall's "funny" pose was hahahaha

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April 9, 2018

Grape Leaves, Landfill's, and More!

Hola Familia!

   This has been a really fun week! The past two Saturdays we have helped investigators from other areas move, and it has been so fun! Haha, I might just come home super toned! Haha, just kidding. It is really hilarious because our district leader is really scrawny, and we joke about how the Saturday of conference he got squished by a mattress, haha, we were all dying, poor guy! We had to take the moving truck we packed for out District Leader's part member family to the dump because they had to get rid of all their stuff (they had two homes but couldn't do it anymore, and so there wasn't time to sell a lot of their furniture. It was kind of sad because some pieces were newer and pretty nice). It was interesting because the County Officials highly recommended that we didn't drive our cars up to the landfill, only the moving truck, so we decided the elders should go up in the truck since they are more of the "muscle" haha. It was hilarious, either way. 

   We also were able to go back to Flamingo Gardens this week for service, Sister Richards hadn't been yet! She loved it :) We were supposed to be moving tables for the wedding they had on Saturday, but ended up just picking up trash. It was fun to show Sister Richards the Gardens, though, they are so beautiful! 

    While knocking on Saturday, we met a couple. The woman is from Colombia and the man is from Jerusalem! His mom taught her how to cook a few Arabic Cuisines and she had made "Grape Leaves" for dinner that day, and invited us in to try it! I t was really good! A different spice/flavor than I am used to, but it sure was tasty!  The cooked leaves were wrapped around seasoned white rice, and she had something about ground beef but it didn't look like there was meat in it, who knows, with a stewed tomato on top, Mmm Mmm MMM it was good!

   We stopped by to visit our Investigator Ana we found a few weeks ago, and were able to share with her the full Restoration. She felt so much peace as we shared Joseph Smith's experience in the Sacred Grove, it was awesome! I love how the Spirit comes and brings that peace into the hearts of our investigators, we could not do it without Him! 

     I cannot express the gratitude I have felt this transfer for the wonderful experiences God has blessed me with in my mission. It is so amazing! HE is amazing! I love how I am finally reflecting fully upon all that I have been able to accomplish, how I have changed, and how God has used me as an instrument in His Hands, even in some small way. It is so humbling, it almost brings me to tears, every time! Haha, I love it! Thinking back over the past month, I feel so blessed that we have been able to find at least one investigator each week, which has been my goal this past transfer to find every week. God is so good! Last night, as we were knocking and no one was too interested, I was about to give up on that goal because we hadn't found any new friends that week, and figuratively "throw in the towel," when we knocked on Bill's door, who readily accepted a prayer. His granddaughter is in a bad way right now, so we prayed for her and Bill's family, and he was so touched by the prayer and how we testified the Gospel of Jesus Christ would immensely bless and strengthen his family, that we are going back this Saturday to teach him and his family more! Such a tender mercy that I really appreciate, and it is so simple! 

   I recently finished the Book of Mormon, and there is no doubt in my mind that it is true! I know it came forth by the Hand of God! I am now trying to figure out ways to study it differently than chronologically, so I am working on that. By topic using Preach My Gospel and other resources is what I am leaning towards, have any good suggestions? :)

   I love you all so much, and hope that you all have a wonderful week!!! Do great things!!!

Love,

Hermana Stokes

Pictures:

Service and when the Elders locked themselves out of the Chapel ;)​

April 2, 2018

General Conference---Life Changing!!! Happy Easter!

Hola Familia!

    This week has been wonderful, especially this amazing Conference Weekend! Wow, what a weekend! General Conference was absolutely amazing! It was a feeling unlike any other when we were all able to participate in the Solemn Assembly Saturday Morning and sustain President Russell M. Nelson as the Prophet on the Earth today. This is something I will never forget! It was so cool to know that the Spirit we felt in our Stake Center with so few members was felt in the Conference Center and around the world simultaneously! Almost no corner of the Earth was unaffected by the sustaining of a new Prophet on the Earth!!! I loved seeing President Eyring get all choked up and smiling, that was so tender and sweet! 

   I feel like each and every talk was so inspiring and full of love, and President Nelson's talk on Personal Revelation was life changing! He is a powerful leader, and an effective tool in the Master's Hands to do His Work. If you haven't watched all of Conference, or even a little bit, I invite you all to do so, you won't regret it! I testify that all that was taught over the pulpit this weekend is undeniably true and it will change your life if it hasn't already! 

   Times is flying by so quickly now, I still have so much that I want to accomplish as a full-time missionary, but I know the Lord will help me do and accomplish His Will, and that is the most important thing. Though we are not perfect on our own, with Him all things are possible.

  This week we haven't taught as much as last week, but we will keep pressing forward with steadfastness in Christ, with a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God, and of all men. I love that scripture, I have shared countless of times on my mission with members and nonmembers alike, and I know the Book of Mormon to be true. Daily immersion in the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon which was revealed especially for our time, leads to increased Spiritual Power. If that is something you are seeking in your life, Look to God and Live. Do as He commands, ans He will do all things for our good.

   I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Love,

Hermana Stokes