13 days till Christmas!? 🎄🌟

Fam! 

This week has been great! Sister Melgarejo and I are staying together in Hull for Christmas! We are excited. The ward here is amazing and they make it feel like home! (Well almost...) Christmas cards are a huge thing here and literally everyone gives you one, so on Sunday we got millions hahaha it is kinda funny. They have this huge table full of cards for everyone. It's nice and thoughtful though :) 

Highlights:

We received a referral a while ago and were finally able to get in contact with him! His name is Freddy and we met with him and his 2 kids who are 7 & 9. Freddy is excited to work towards a baptismal date. They came to a church Christmas party and was so cute how his kids were welcomed by all the other kids. Then the next morning him, his kids, and his wife all came to church! They loved it and loved the environment. And they all speak Spanish so Sister Melgarejo was in heaven! We are so excited for them! 

Carmen, the member referral has been facing some opposition from her family but was able to accept a baptismal date! We are grateful she has the example of their friends who are members. Member missionary work is the way to go! We taught her the plan of salvation and testified that she can live her family forever. She got emotional and said her father has recently passed, she said she felt so comforted when she heard that. 

We attended a funeral of a little boy today who passed from cancer. It was the sweetest little funeral. We helped the mom yesterday blow up hundreds of balloons and put them together for decorations. It was a lot of work but it made her so happy. She made it more like a party, a happy time that he gets to return to his Heavenly Father and not suffer anymore. She put out all the things he loved and had everyone wear bright colours and served his favourite food. It was a special, inspiring, service. 

Christmas is coming so fast! I can't believe it. I love the Christmas season and the feeling it brings. We got a little 3 foot white Christmas tree and decorated it last pday and made tons of paper chains and snowflakes so it's finally started to feel like Christmas! It's the best time of the year. I hope amongst the craziness you can all feel the true spirit of the season that come through remembering our Saviour and serving others. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week :)

Love, sister Stevens 

We helped with a ward primary activity 

This is Masen.  He is my little Bennett, they are so alike it kills me!

Funeral Prep.  9:45am-8:45pm at the chapel yesterday.
Our district in unified now :)

Funeral/Party

Sister Blair is being transferred :(

blessings from Heaven!

Family!!

Do you remember last week when I said that we had a district miracle and all of us found a new investigator? Well, they have all dropped us.. haha. I am a firm believer that Heavenly Father sometimes gives a miracle just for the moment when we really need it. But because of our desire to work hard we have really been able to see more miracles and the fruits that come from working hard! 

We have really been praying to find people who could be baptised in December. We went through our former investigators from the area and tried by some of them. One lady met missionaries over 20 years ago and she absolutely loves the church and we will be able to teach her this coming week. Another man we met on the street has met with missionaries before as well and loves them! We are also seeing him this week. It has just been amazing to see Heavenly Father's hand in our work. 

One of the families in our ward called the Nappers gave us a referral this week. It is amazing because we have been prayerfully helping them become more involved in missionary work and to invite their friends to activities and church. Sister Melgarejo and I stopped by the referral, her name is Carmen (she is even from Spain!! such a blessing for Sister Mel!) and we were able to teach her the first lesson and she invited us to come back to learn more! She even said that she feels like this is the right time to learn more. She said the Nappers have been such a great example to her and her family and she wants to be more like them. We testified that it is because of their faith in Jesus Christ. 

We have really been blessed this week!I am so grateful for the power of prayer and fasting. I have seen the blessings that come from both of those things this week. We will continue to pray and fast for these 'ones' we have been lead to find. And we will keep working hard to find more of Heavenly Father's children to teach. 

One of my goals recently is to work on developing the girt of charity. I know this is something that I can really help me to feel more love and compassion for people I talk to and help me have a stronger desire to serve those around me. 

Because Christmas is just around the corner I have a Christmas challenge for each family! So for me, one of the greatest gifts I have ever received is the Book of Mormon. I know that because of that book we can know that God is there and He loves us. I challenge each family to write their testimonies in a Book of Mormon and wrap it up and prayerfully decide who you want to give it to for Christmas! I know that it is the best gift you can give and someone can receive! Let me know how it goes :)

I love you all so much!!! Enjoy all the beautiful snow and fun Christmasy things! But don't forget to remember the reason for the season!!

love,

Sister Stevens xxx

We got help help decorate a tree for a member family.  But it was the saddest night.  She had just separated from her husband, she has 3 young kids and the their little boy who is almost 2 has cancer and had not been doing well.  She asked us to come help because she was moving.  About 20 minutes after we left he passed away.  She told us a couple days later that is was such a blessing to have us there that night.  We all just cried when we found out.  So sad, but she is so strong and she is grateful he isn't suffering anymore.  She wants us to sing at his funeral this week.  This will be the 3rd funeral I've been to since being on my mission.

Dinner at the missionary house with our district and 2 recent converts

lol last Pday my back was hurting too bad... 

Christmas is coming!!!

Hi family!!

This week has been great! Many miracles!!

Some highlights:

Our ward set the goal of having 20 baptisms at the beginning 
of the year and so far there are 17. So we need 3 more!

And this week we had a district miracle! 

Our district all decided to fast together to find 
3 people who are ready for the gospel! 

And this weekend all 3 teams were able to find "the one" 
to teach!

 We all were able to find one person to schedule for baptism.

It was like an immediate answer to all our prayers!

 I just hope and pray they will continue to progress. 

We met this chinese guy named Dannis on the bus
the other night!

 I wasn't going to talk to anyone, but then I realised 
okay come on Sister Stevens

 this is why you are here!!! And i turned around 
and started talking to this guy 

and he was super interested and we were able to teach him! 

And he wants to get baptised!! It just showed me 
that I never know who is ready, 

so I need to talk to everyone I can!

There is an INCREDIBLE video and challenge the church has put out,

 I'm sure everyone has heard of the Christmas Initiative by now. 

But I just know that this challenge can truly light the world!

 I know it is inspired by Heavenly Father. 

There are a lot of crazy things happening in the world 
and we all need a little extra light.

 And Jesus Christ is the LIGHT! And this Christmas season

 we all get to be a light in someone's life. 

I challenge each one of you to prayerfully think about specific things

 and specific people you can reach out to. 

I know that each one of us can add a little extra light into this dark world. 

If you haven't watched the video I know it will 
bring light into your day instantly :) 

It can and will help us remember the true meaning of 
CHRISTmas. 

I hope all of you have a great week!

 And that you are all happy, even in tough circumstances.

 I know that true joy comes through our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
He is always there for each one of us. 

Love you all!

Sister Stevens

when you're never too old for the gosp :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow there are so many things to be grateful for it's crazy! This week I have been so thankful for the restoration of the gospel. As a missionary that seems to be something we focus on a lot. And it hasn't been until recently that I have really been able to understand and gain and testimony on the importance of it. It is a huge sign that Heavenly Father loves us. That He has provided a way for us to return to Him and be with our families forever. 

Richard was baptised this weekend and it was such a great evening! He said, "I have never had a night quite like this." It almost brought me to tears! We all were able to feel the spirit and he knew he made the right choice. It's never too late for the gospel!

Sister Melgarejo is doing great and working hard. It's still amazing to see how much she tries and how bold. She has been getting frustrated with the language barrier because it is hard for her to understand conversations and know how to respond. So in language study and 12 Weeks we have been doing our best to make that time more effective by practicing teaching and finding a lot. 

I have really enjoyed being a trainer, I am learning so much and realising how much I have learned as a missionary already. It pushes me to be most effective throughout the day and to be a good example. 

This week I hit my half way mark and I'm dying!! I am truly loving my mission and I truly love my Saviour. I could not be more grateful or happy that I have this opportunity to serve my Heavenly Father and to allow myself to change! That is the biggest miracle of my mission so far is being able to see the change in myself. I am so grateful that I have pushed through the hard times because that is when you can experience the joy. And I have been experiencing so much joy!

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving with our zone! Sister Blair and I organised a thanksgiving feast and every companionship brought something. It was a success and so fun! It's so great to be surrounded by the Lord's army :)

Remember, we have so much to be thankful for! 🍂🍁

Love you all!

Sister Stevens 

LOL we made so many homemade pies last night and this is what happened!  Luckily we are culinary geniuses and we fixed them and they are delish!

Sister Blair and I put together a zone activity and planned Thanksgiving :):)

Richard's Baptism!

Que Semana!!!

Hola mi familia! 

What a week!! (my subject)

It has been amazing, full of hilarious moments, miracles, and hard work! 

I am so thankful to have Sister Melgarejo! She is full of energy, motivation, love, and is very Spanish. I truly love her and we get along great. Yes training is stressful and I am realising how much is in my hands, but it is also such a blessing.  I am amazed at her willingness to try. Even though the language is hard and being a missionary is crazy she is trying. I feel like I am really growing and realising how much I have learned since being on my mission. 

This week we had an EXTREMELY hilarious moment. So R, our lovely 82 year old investigator gave me some framed pictures of us and I was looking at one and I noticed something behind the picture.. You will never believe what it was... A full on diamond ring!!! HAHA and a picture he had made with me and him when he was younger (pics to come) we were absolutely dying of laughter I couldn't even believe it. Bless his heart. So we called our ward mission leader and him and his wife came to talk to us and helped me know and practice what to say to him. Me and Sister Blair went to his house and talked to him and set expectations very clearly (again) and gave him his gift back. It was so hard for Sister Blair and I to not burst out laughing when we were talking to him. We decided it was best for the Elders to finish teaching him. Its amazing because he has been reading and keeping all of his commitments! He had his baptism interview this last weekend and is getting baptised on Friday at 7 and you're all invited ;) 

This week has been miraculous. It has been a huge blessing because I have been able to work hard and do all I can. And because of that Heavenly Father has been helping me to focus on my purpose here in Hull and to not think about the pain in my back.

We have been working a lot with recent converts, helping them stay converted. One thing that Sister Melgarejo and I have been doing this week is reading the Book of Mormon with them and helping the apply it to their lives. I have noticed in my own conversion that the Book of Mormon has helped me to feel Heavenly Father's love and I know that it can help each of them to feel it as well. 

I have really been working on my prayers, their sincerity, being specific, and listening. I started keeping a prayer journal where I write down impressions and thoughts that I have. I have been asking for help to know how I can best help Sister Melgarejo. And its amazing because when I listen and wait I receive promptings! It has helped me so much to strengthen my relationship with Heavenly Father. 

It was Remembrance Sunday this weekend where we remember all those who have fought in the wars. It was a great service. Sister Blair and Sister Miller played Abide with Me (on the piano and violin) and she invited us to read the words as they played. It brought me so much peace when I read, "Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away. O thou who changest not; abide with me." I love the words to this song. Even when there are so many crazy things happening in the world, true joy and peace come through our Saviour Jesus Christ. And that is something that will never change or go away.

I am so happy to be a missionary and I had a breakdown today realising that this week I will be halfway done. Time is just flying and it will be so bittersweet coming home.

Love to you all!

Que tengan una buena semana! 

Sister Stevens

Best Birthday Ever!

Saying goodbye to Sister Mo

When you're old

Fam!

Wow another transfer came and went. And good news is, I'm staying in Hull!! Sad news is, Sister Mo is leaving. She has changed my mission and helped me so much. But I'm gonna be a MOM! Haha I'm training a sister from Spain named Sister Melgarejo. She doesn't speak hardly any English so it's gonna be an adventure! I'm excited but nervous. 

This week I'm just proud of myself haha because I made it and I know everything will be okay! Each day I didn't think I could get up and be a missionary again, but I did and I know I can do hard things. Heavenly Father has really been pulling me along.

My birthday was great :) The sisters made me feel loved and WOW so did all the emails. Most of them made me cry to be honest, I felt so much love and I am so grateful to all of you. I truly appreciate you all and your words! We celebrated by making pumpkin pie and dinner in a pumpkin! And then we did some missionary work! Haha birthdays are the best on a mission ;) I also got a surprise phone call from Elder Norton! That was defs a highlight.

I had a cool experience recently that I don't think I'll ever forget. So I was talking to this lady on the bus and just asked her about her family and she asked what I was doing in England. She opened up about her husband who has passed away and I explained briefly about the plan of salvation that has brought me so much happiness. And that this plan is perfect. I testified that she will be able to see her husband again. She started crying and thanked me for sharing that with her. I told her she can know it too, I gave her a Book of Mormon before she had to get off. I was so grateful for this experience because it made me realise that this plan can truly help and bless so many people's lives. You never know who will be affected when you open your mouth. So just do it, even when it's scary, it's worth it. 

We taught Relief Society on Sunday and it was intimidating but it went so well! We talked about the fruits of the Savior and how we have been affected by them. Then we shared Luke 22:32 , "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." We have all been blessed and strengthened by the fruits of the Saviour and now that we have them it's our responsibility to share them and strengthen others! We challenged the sisters to reach out and strengthen someone who needs it. And sometimes we don't know who needs it, so prayerfully ask Heavenly Father who you can reach out to. 

My Uncle Toddy emailed me and told me about a talk called "The Refiner's Fire" by James E. Faust and I read it this past week and I recommend it to all. He speaks about this family crossing the plaines to Utah and how 9 children & the wife all die and the
father is the only who makes it. And then he goes on to do all these incredible things. Elder Faust said, 

"He did not quit. He went forward. He paid a price, as have many others before and since, to become acquainted with God."  When I read this I just felt so much peace and gratitude for my Heavenly Father for allowing me to become better acquainted to Him and His Son. What is the price you have to pay to become acquainted with God? 

We have seen so many blessings here. Richard is doing great and he has his interview this weekend! We are excited for him.

Love to all! ❤️

xx Sister Stevens 

Birhtday Pics

(Sister Graff, Lisel's bishops wife.  They are from  America
and she has been a lifeline to us both this past week.)

My home slice