WE SAW THE SUN!!☀️☀️

Hello!

I am amazed at the love and mercy I have seen from Heavenly Father this week. It has been an extremely hard week with many times I have almost given up but Heavenly Father won't let me, He is really trying to keep me out here! There have been so many incredible emails, little tender mercies, and amazing experiences that have been able to keep me going. I feel so grateful to still be here! As I have reached my year mark it has been so bittersweet.  I have come to love the people here so much. They have taught and made me realise how much living the gospel really does help us improve the quality of our lives. I don't think I could've gained the testimony that I have anywhere else. It is all worth it! 

We had Zone Training this week and the lovely Sister Blair organised a zone fast so the whole zone was fasting for me and my back! It was so thoughtful and brought me to tears on numerous occasions. 

In the training we listened to the Hymn Let Us All Press On. I wrote down some of the words that stuck out to me: 

Courage, for the Lord is on our side

We will not retreat

An unseen power will aid me and you 

The Lord we will obey

In the day of trial, the saints He will cheer 

Fear not 

I love this Hymn! One of the elders said it's like a battle cry. How we are all just trying to keep going and do our best to serve our Heavenly Father. We are never alone, He is always there to aid us and cheer us on. There is nothing Heavenly Father wants more than for all of His children to be able to return to live with him again. I know when we keep pressing on and when we don't retreat we will be able to make it. 

This week I have really been putting my trust in the Lord, He is in charge and He knows best. Even though we may wonder why we go through certain things now I know they are all for a purpose. One scripture really helped me to remember this this week. Helaman 12:1, "we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him." I know when we put our trust in the Lord He will bless us! So simple, yet so powerful.

Some more miracles from the week:

Our ifriend Martin is doing so well! We have been able to see him quite a few times this week and we committed him to live the word of wisdom. We brought a recent convert couple who have given up things to live the word of wisdom and it was amazing to have Martin hear the blessings from members of living the law. And so cool to see how they have been blessed for keeping the commandments. He is excited for his baptism on march 10! Please keep him in your prayers! He is making lots of difficult changes right now. 

3 of our progressing ifriends were able to come to church on Sunday and it was such a great experience for each of them. We are excited for the progress they are making!

Due to my current back issues and the little to no progress anything is doing WE ARE GETTING A CAR! #hallelujah So the drivers of Billingham better watch out because I will now be driving.... bless please pray for our safety. But I am so grateful, I'm hoping it will help me be able to continue to work and do all I can these last 6 months. 

Sister Bensige is a total boss. She is like training me again. I'm so thankful for her example of hard, dedicated service and exact obedience. She truly has a desire to help all those we come in contact with. I have been blessed with the most amazing companions!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love, Sister Stevens 

PS. I am going with my new driving instructor right now ;) wish me luck!  I'm excited to drive again.

Zone training and interviews with President :)

Sam, our friend who rides her 'bike' to church

Haircuts from a member this morning. Hallelujah! It's been too long.
He even blow dried our hair for us!!!💇🏼💈✂️

Christ is the way!

hiya!!!!!! (what they say in billingham)

This week has been a bit more difficult and I've had some setbacks with my back. But stake conference was this weekend and it was much needed. Everything was taking its toll and I felt overwhelmed and alone and homesick (which is the worst feeling & I haven't been this homesick since the early days!!) Saturday night sister Blair and sister koepf (her comp) slept over because we had stake Conf Saturday night and then again in the morning which was fun! Somehow whenever sister Blair and I are together I end up crying haha she just makes me emotional. I have been proud of my self because I have been holding it together but that night I couldn't anymore. (She's like my mom here) But the next morning was perfect (even Martin our new investigator came to church!!!!) and I have such a testimony that conferences and Sundays come at the best time to fill our tanks. Everything was just exactly what I needed to hear and it's amazing how the Holy Ghost can tailor everything to our needs. 

One of the main things that was able to help me is my personal relationship with my saviour. This last week I started using the extra 30 mins in the morning studying the New Testament and I love it!  Building my relationship with my saviour is something I am trying to improve on. I realised at conference that my relationship with Him can get me through to the end of my mission if I keep working on it. It brought me comfort to know I am truly out here because of Him and His sacrifice for me. I can give up 18 months if He gave His life. When we really want a good relationship with Christ we need to forget what we want and focus on what He wants. I think that a big reason I am facing this trial right now is so I can come to know my saviour better. And to me that sacrifice is worth it. I am labouring and serving and working because I love my Heavenly Father and Saviour. He is the reason I came out and He is the reason I am staying out. I know Christ can heal me, but for now He wants me to keep learning and growing for now but one day I will be healed. I know as I keep trying, He will give me the strength & help I need. We just need to PRESS FORWARD (2 Nephi 31:20) & God will provide a way. 

President Turvey talked about the miracle of feeding the 5000+ woman and children with 5 loaves & 2 fishes. He had the congregation close their eyes and try and image this scene. I remembered watching the bible video with a recent convert this past week and the simple prayer that Christ said to bless the food. And miraculously there was food in abundance. Heavenly Father will give us all we need plus more sometimes we just need to ask in a simple prayer. Miracles are brought through prayer & through prayer we receive the strength to carry on. That doesn't always mean He will give us everything we want, but when we align our will with His, we will be given what we truly need in abundance! I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who loves each one of us unconditionally. 

Here in Billingham we meet lots of completely different people sometimes you can't even believe some people's lives. One guy we met this week is named Martin. We have been able to teach him a couple times this week and he came to church! He doesn't have much belief in anything but his motivation is what happens after this life, we think he is worried about what happens next. We have to teach him very simply, but he seems to be really enjoying everything so far. Another is Joann, she is going through many challenges and there couldn't be a better time to have the gospel in her life. We are just trying to help her recognise it by teaching the results because she is quite closed off and mad at God. It makes me sad because a lot of her choices have gotten to where she is now.

But I know that God truly loves us no matter what and He is always there for anyone who will turn to Him.

Love to you all!!

Sister Stevens 

Investigators Daughter

Past companion Sister Chiu!

fail cookies

Billingham!

Wow where do I begin? This week has been amazing! 

My companion is Sister Bensige from Sweden! She is a hard worker and so focused! A great example to me, I am so happy to be her companion. 

I'm in Cayden's old area so I get to meet all the people he knows haha so they have high expectations of me.. thanks cayd ;) 

It was so amazing! This week we visited his recent converts Ruth & Lawrence and they were so grateful to have met missionaries. They shared when cayden bore his testimony it really touched them. It's amazing how a simple testimony can help someone so much! I love being able to know all the same people as he does!

So this week on our second day together we met this guys named James. He was with his son Jack who is 6. We were just talking about God and his beliefs and we invited him to learn more. He said it would be okay if we came by to teach him more! So we've been teaching him this week and he came to church with Jack on Sunday! The most amazing thing is that he doesn't have a belief in God at all but he has a desire to know and hopes that there is a god which is the start. Everything everyone said at church was perfect for him! It was fast and testimony meeting and it was the most incredible sacrament meeting I've ever been to. The bishop got up first and just explained what a testimony is, that it's not about our travels or big long stories and it doesn't have to be long at all. Everyone who got up just bore a simple, yet powerful witness that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and that we do have a Heavenly Father who loves us. And how the church truly has changed their lives. It was so perfect for James to hear! Heavenly Father was directing that meeting. It was incredible haha Jack the 6 year old investigator even got up and said he just found out Jesus died and he was so sad about it because He was his only hope! The next people who got up quickly explained that Jesus Christ does live again & yes it is true that Christ is our only hope. Haha I don't think I stopped smiling the whole meeting! 

Today we went to Redcar which is the seaside! We got together with some other sisters and ate fish & chips and lemontops which they are famous for. It was fun to see an English seaside town and do some exploring. 

We watched the Joseph Smith movie with one of the recent converts, even though I have seen it a million times it still amazes me how much he went through for the gospel. It truly inspires me how willing he was to follow Heavenly Father's counsel no matter what. 

Hope you all have a great week!! 

I'm sorry to those who I was not able to email back! Love to you all!

Sister Stevens 

1st day in Billingham

Seaside!  Redcar with the Sisters

Headed to Billingham!!!!!

My loves!

This week has flown by, but what's new? Transfer calls were last night and tomorrow I am headed up to Billingham! It's going to be an adventure but I know that's exactly where Heavenly Father needs me. And good news I will be serving near Sister Blair for her last transfer! Heavenly Father knows I need her. 

I am so thankful for this time I have been able to serve in Hull. I am so thankful for all I have learned and experienced here. I have really been able to learn to see the Lord's hand each day. There are so many amazing people I have been able to serve with and get to know that I will miss dearly. Hull will always have a special place in my heart! And so will Sister Melgarejo! Ahh we are sad to be apart but we will be friends forever :) it has been such a blessing to see her progress as a missionary! I have learned so much from her. Also I didn't think it could get colder, but this week has been the coldest yet. I have literally worn all my layers and now I get to go to the north where it will be colder! Pray for sun in England please :) 

We met with a former from about 10 years ago this week and it was such an amazing lesson! It was so cool to see how prepared he was and a lot of it was because of the missionaries that taught him so long ago. When we meet with people once or just talk to them on the street we get to plant that first seed. Sadly, he is moving to London next week but we will refer him to the missionaries there! 

Hahaha so we had a lesson with this guy this week and we met him at the bus station and then we're going to take the bus to the missionary home. We just started talking on the bus and he started asking more about the Book of Mormon and what makes our  church different. So we explained to him a little about it and he got up and said, "this is not for me" and walked off the bus. It was quite hilarious and we just looked at each other and laughed. Bless him. 

 Well I am forever grateful for this mission I am serving. I know that this is what Heavenly Father wants me to be doing and I am thankful for all I am learning about the gospel and what really matters in life. It's hard, but it's so worth it. 

I hope you all make it a great week!

Love, Sister Stevens 

awww...goodbye to the Napper family :(

When you have to pack...

Goodbye HULL!!!!

On our way to the Aquarium we got lost and found this

The Deep Aquarium

Steven, an investigators son

Best comp ever!!!

Obedience brings blessings!

Hello family!

Another week has come and gone and I can't believe it! Time just flies too quickly. I am really just trying to enjoy every minute of being a missionary because too soon it will be all over.

I feel so grateful to be a missionary and get to see that hand of the Lord so much each day. He is always there, we just need to look a bit harder sometimes. 

I am learning so much about obedience and when we are obedient that is when the miracles and the blessings come. We all need to learn obedience in life because that is how we will make it back to our Father in Heaven. I have been reading and studying about the life of Nephi. I am amazed at how willing he was to obey and to trust in the Lord. He says in 1 Nephi 18:16 after his brothers bound him with cords, "Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions." Sometimes we still face challenges and hard times even when we are obedient, but that is because Heavenly Father wants to make us better, he wants us to learn and grow. We too can thank God even through our trials just like Nephi did! 

We started seeing a former investigator named Anna from Poland again, she was just extremely busy with the holidays and wouldn't make time to see us. But we had an incredible lesson with her. She said she notices a difference when she reads the Book of Mormon, she can feel a warm feeling in her head. We helped her to recognise it as the spirit and then helped her to remember she can have the Spirit with her always! Anna has a little son who has sports every Sunday morning, so it is almost impossible for her to get to church, but we will keep working with her and help her to see that the results of going to church are so much greater than sports! 

Brian, our investigator from China has been meeting with the elders in a close by area because one of them is Chinese speaking. He feels more comfortable speaking in Chinese so it has helped a ton! Which has been great, he has really enjoyed meeting with them. He also said the Book of Mormon has helped him see what really matters in life! He does have some small concerns with joining the church because of certain traditions in China, but he said he loves the people he has met who go to our church. He says they are very friendly and they seem happy, he is looking for that same happiness. We promised him that he can feel that same happiness he just has to give up certain things! Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. 

I am thankful for this gospel and for the blessings it brings to our lives. I am so thankful to be born of "goodly parents" who taught me the gospel all growing up. I am thankful I get to teach what they taught me. The gospel is truly how we can be happy and have direction in our lives. 

I invite you to pray for the chance to stand as a witness of Christ each day and I know you will have the best week ever!!

love, sister stevens

Pretty Hull!

recent convert Gundars and Nellie a member <3