lisellovingleeds : "Lookin ford to me baptism"

Hello!!

Believe it or not, it's a bright and sunshiney day here!!!! Wow we are basking in 50* weather🌞🌞🌞🌞👌🏻 Wow! What an incredible, hilarious, emotional, roller coaster of a week! We keep working hard and smart and are simply LOVING life! Wow, I just love my mission. I am so so happy. I love being able to meet people from all different walks of life and learn from them as we come closer to Christ together.

Let's start with the best news of the week... Martin was baptised! It was a very happy day! Wow, we just love Martin! He is such a character ~ keeps our days full of cheerful laughter and spiritual highs! We are so proud of him! The spirit was present and the night was focused on Christ which is how it should be. But hahah that doesn't mean it wasn't without a few classic Martin moments. Here's one....

• We spent half a day searching Billingham for a triple XL white button down - 19inch neck, but it didn't even end up fitting him! Then the tie was a clip on, but since it wouldn't button... no tie! But don't you worry, it worked well enough for him to be dressed in white!

We were also able to experience a miracle! So he had been sick all week and when we saw him on Friday he was getting worse! But then when he came on Saturday for his baptism he was completely fine and healthy. Then back at church the next day, he was horribly sick again. It was another sign to us that Heavenly Father was there helping him along to make this sacred covenant.

This week in Matthew 10 I read what Jesus was telling the Twelve Apostles before they set out on their missions. "Freely ye have received, freely give." The Apostles have also been told that they "must do all that they can to give comfort to those who mourn, to give strength to those who are weak, to give encouragement to those who falter, to befriend the friendless, to nurture the destitute, to bless the sick, to bear witness, not out of belief but out of a certain knowledge of the Son of God, their Friend and Master, whose servants they are”.

My whole life I have been the recipient of this comfort, strength, encouragement, etc.... what a privilege and joyful thing it is to give that back! Of these, my favorite recently has been comforting others, especially as I am more able to empathize, and to share my knowledge that Christ is our Savior! I am happy to say He is becoming more and more my Friend and I'm slowly becoming a better and more faithful, grateful servant.

Our song this week: Let Us All Press On

We have played it over and over! It's invigorating.

"If we do what's right we have no need to fear,

For the Lord, our helper will ever be near.

In the days of trial, his saints he will cheer!

And prosper the cause of truth"

Take courage in knowing the Lord is on your side! I love that we really don't need to fear anything in life as we are actively choosing to make time for Christ and follow the example He set. He is not only always near us, helping us along. He is also our cheerleader!! Calling us by name! This seriously gives me courage to do anything. Fears about the unknown and the future diminish. Keep your pedal on the gas folks, and keep on keeping on in the work of the Lord!

As mentioned, this week was hilarious and I'm not sure how to even explain it all, let's just say I look a little tumble down our full flight of stairs. But all is well in Billingham! Hopefully these pictures can express a bit. Especially the baptism pics and our discovery of this never ending field of yellow today!

Lots of love, Sister Stevens