Bless this week

Hiya fam!
Wow, what a week, seriously this has been the craziest week of my mission I think. 

So many things have happened I won't go into much detail about but I am so thankful 

for Sister Cook and that we were able to go through all this together.

But for starters, I am getting transferred! Sister Cook and I are both leaving Billingham. 

I am SO sad to be leaving Sister Cook! But I am excited for a new fresh start with a great comp :) 

Her name is Sister Hough and she is from Huntington, England. 

She just finished being trained so its gonna be so good. 

Last Monday night we decided we needed to move out of our house because of our neighbours. 

There have been quite a few problems and we did not feel safe. 

Luckily a family in our ward offered to let us live with them for a bit and it was truly such a blessing!

 They live in a little village, very beautiful and nice. We got to study outside in the backyard 

each morning looking out to a gorg english field. The weather has been SO nice, 

like almost too hot! I have quite the farmers tan goin on...
We woke up early to go running on forrest trails, 

it was a dream pretty much. The members really helped us feel so much love and feel at home. 

And they introduced us to some of their friends!!

We were able to do some service for some less actives, meet some great new people, 

and say goodbye to some of our fav peeps here in Billingham. 

There was one lady that really stuck out to me this week. 

She is catholic and has 7 kids and when she opened the door and let us in 

I was so amazed at how happy and faithful she is. She has been through a lot but her 

faith in Jesus Christ has really helped her through her challenges. 

I am so thankful to be a missionary and to become a better disciple of Christ. 

I am thankful for the tough times because it helps me appriciate the good so much more. 

The next 2 transfers are gonna be great :)

Hope you all have a great week!

Love, Sister Stevens 

Sister Cook and Sister Stevens last week together

farmers tan from our service project in 80 degree Sun!

LA teaching us how to crochet

a week at the Wicks

Goodbye to the Pikes :( faves

Goodbye to Dawn

Goodbye to Sister Mo :(
She has finished her mission as is headed back to South Africa

"Joy is a gift for the faithful"

Wow what a busy week! Sister Cook and I just looked back on our week and are grateful for everything we've been able to accomplish and learn. But man, we are exhausted. We had ward conference on Sunday and everything that was said was very inspiring but the most inspiring thing about the whole thing was our stake president's smile. He literally smiles all the time and it just makes me feel so happy when I see him, so this week Sister Cook and are going to work on our smiles :)

We saw a lot of members this week and were able to help them to think of some of their friends that they know could benefit from the gospel and showed them the Europe Area plan card. Its been a very helpful tool for the members to set goals for progression. We have also picked out the less active members in the ward who are in part member families. President has promised that this is where we will find the most success. So we've been trying by many of those families and have gotten in contact with great people, we will see the fruits!! 

We also knocked a lot of doors, probably more than I have knocked my whole mission! Its nice when we can talk and laugh in between, I love my companion :)

I was able to go on an exchange with Sister Mo!! It was the last one before she goes home next week :( She has taught me so much and has been a great example to me. We had lots of fun and relived some old mems from Hull. She really helped me see the progress I have made and the person I have become. 

President and Sister Turvey came to Billingham this week for interviews which is always a highlight! I l love them :) They both said they can't believe that Elder Norton and I go home the same transfer.. either can I!!! After interviews, we were on our way to our flat after trying by a former, and we noticed a man carrying grocery bags and them setting them down right by our fence. We ran over to help him, and at first he said thank you but that they were going to be too heavy for us (haha maybe for me but sister cook is muscle woman)  but we got talking for a few min about things. He's from Hungary but had been in the UK for close to 45 years. Great man. He decided he'd let us help carry his bags and we walked to his house. And we set an appointment to teach him! His wife has passed away and he has some great questions. I love when service opportunities arise and it leads to an investigator. We taught him and man does he love to talk. Haha taught him again and scheduled him for baptism on the 23rd of June:) yay! At the beginning of the lesson, he said he had no need to go to church and that baptism was great but not necessary- but by the use of the book of Mormon and the spirit guiding our words, we were able to resolve his concerns. It was a very cool expereince! By the end of the lesson he told us he would come to church on Sunday and we could baptise him then haha!! If only it worked like that:)

This week I have been learning a lot about repentance. I have seen and felt a difference as I have in my prayers each night looked back on the day and repented for the things I have done that aren't the best, or that I should've done. I have really noticed a change in the way I feel throughout the day and my attitude. Its been amazing! Something that I have been working on is to have more meaningful and uplifting sacraments. I had a very powerful experience as I took the sacrament on Sunday. I feel it is because of constantly repenting even for the small things and because I really pondered and thought about Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for that sacred ordinance we are able to have each week. 

Time is flying and I am enjoying my mission more and more! Hope you all have a great week :)
love,
Sister Stevens

After an exchange, these are the things Sister Mo said about Lisel:

Things we love about Sister Stevens 

1.      Very submissive to the will of God!! 

2.      Very persistent in finding people to teach, talk to everyone --> when you spot the person you go for them.

3.      You are so great at bearing testimony and personal experiences during lessons!! It makes you very human.

4.      You have such a great tolerance of people from everywhere!! Honestly this is your most unique gift. Because of it you get along with literally everyone. 

5.      You are not judgemental of the people you serve and serve with. 

6.      You are very patient with the Lord!! How about you've been in physical pain forever?

7.      You are always willing to improve!! 

"Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost." 

You are a successful missionary because you are COMMITTED to find, teach and baptise  more of the converted! Thank you for your example! Sister Cook needs you!! 

Work on: finding-- find their magnet to the gospel, point of interest  

 

Lisel said, "Sister Mo is so nice"<3

ice skating for P-day!

A member made this for me!!!  SO CUTE

A Mother's Day boost :)

Roseberry Toppings Pday Hike

It was so windy we thought we were going to blow off

Ice cream after :)

Hiya fam! 

Hope all you mothers had a great Mother's Day! It was the best being able to speak and see my family! I could not be more grateful for their love, support, and examples. They gave me a little boost to finish the next 3 months strong! 

This week has been good! Lots of ups and downs as usual. 

The work has been a bit slower as far as investigator wise so we have been doing a lot of knocking. We have had some good conversations and we will keep searching to find the one! We know as we continue to work hard we will be lead to those who are prepared. I have noticed when I am talking to people that sometimes I feel like its not even me talking. I have noticed so strongly that when we just open our mouths the Spirit will help us to know what to say. 

A funny thing that happened while we were knocking the other day. We knocked one side of the street and then went onto the other side. This really old lady opened the door and was like "I saw you talking to my boyfriend across the street" (he was probably in his 20s) and then she says. "If you keep talking to him I will scratch your eyes out." Haha we were dying, it was hilarious.

We are trying harder to really help the members. To strengthen them and help them with their missionary responsibilities. I really enjoy talking to each of them and getting to know them better. I have felt so much love for them as we have listened to their experiences. One less active couple that we are working with are so great, we love visiting them! Sister Cook and I both feel like we have a connection with them. We were having a lesson this week and we were just talking about things that they enjoy or like about the church and she was able to recall a spiritual experience she had when her dad passed away. When she shared it with us she got emotional and said since then she has always known their is an afterlife and that helped her understand more about the Plan of Salvation. It was incredible. When we are able to recall spiritual experiences they help strengthen our testimonies so much and help us remember that we do have one.

I am so thankful to be serving with Sister Cook! We have had a blast together and I don't remember the last time I have laughed this hard. It makes everything more fun. Its so natural to teach and talk to people. We have been reading the scriptures together each morning before planning to help invite the spirit more and I have loved it. I am so grateful! Its definitely been an inspired transfer. I would be totally fine to just finish here with her. 

I read Alma 44:4 this week and it really stuck out to me. "God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto out faith, and our religion.." I know that when we trust our Heavenly Father and put our faith in Him, He will help us through our struggles and bring us out on top. 

This morning we went on the prettiest hike called Roseberry Toppings. The tallest hill in the area! Lets just say I'm a bit out of shape so it was a good workout. We got to see the English country side from above and it was gorgeous. And the wind almost blew us off the hill.

Things are going good and time is flying. I am so thankful to be here and to have this once in a life time experience. 

Love, 

Sister Stevens 

ps Keep seeking out the ONE!! :)

Our last face time call with Sister Stevens!
100 days left!!

Go after the ONE

Hello! Hope its been a great week for everyone :)

So basically everyone we are teaching has fallen off the face of the planet or asked me to marry them or doesn't want to be baptised. 

Thats basically how our week went until Saturday afternoon when we decided to just find all day. We prayed and asked Heavenly Father where He needed us to be. A couple former investigators stuck out so we went by them and did some knocking in their area. We were able to get return appointments with both of them! Then we felt that we should start our fast, one of the things Sister Cook I were fasting for was that we would be lead to people who would accept our message. We knocked for quite a while after that and then this lady came up to us asking for 60 pence or to borrow our phone. We let her use our phone and she took us to this lady who had the number. Then the first lady left and we started talking to the other lady who eventually invited us in and we got to teach her about the Plan of Salvation! She was so intrigued and said she could listen to us talk all day! She even accepted a baptismal date. Then a little while into the lesson her 10 year old granddaughter came over and was so interested too and loved the Book of Mormon. They are excited to have us over tonight to learn more. Haha she also gave us 2 of her family members to go by! 

I am a firm believer that when we put in our effort and follow the Spirit Heavenly Father will guide us to people who are willing to listen and learn. 

We were able to have Zone Conference this week and receive great instruction from President and Sister Turvey and our leaders. We finished the conference with a testimony meeting that was incredible. Its amazing to hear the other missionaries share experiences and their personal testimony of Jesus Christ. It was Sister Mo and Sister T's last Zone Conference and the last time I will see Sister T! It was so sad, I am so thankful for the time we go to serve together. They are both incredible missionaries and will continue to do great things. They both bore their testimonies and it is amazing the change that Heavenly Father can make in each of us when we allow Him to. 

One thing that President talked about was what a testimony is. He said in General Conference no one said "I know" when sharing their testimony. President said a testimony is something you hope for. I thought that was really cool and I feel like when people look at a testimony like that they can realise they do actually have one. In Alma 32 a very popular missionary chapter it talks about how "faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen.." So when we have a hope that the things we learn or hear or feel are true, that is faith, and you do have a testimony!  

Another thing that we have been talking about as a mission and even at church is going after the ONE. In Luke 15:4-5 it says, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." Each of us know people in our lives who have wandered from the path and away from the gospel. And we have the responsibility to help those lost sheep come back. I feel like as a missionary I get overwhelmed of how many people who have strayed and how many people that are out there who don't have the gospel. But when we just focus on the ONE and how we can help that individual we are able to help bring that person back and not only that but we can show them they are loved.

So my invitation for you this week is to ask Heavenly Father who that ONE is in your life you can reach out to. You could just send a nice text, or bring them a treat! Just show them they are loved. I know you will feel so much joy when you reach out to others. I would love to hear any experiences you have :)

Make it a great week!
Love, Sister Stevens 

Last time with Sister Chiu

Heart attacking Clarissa

Bowling for P-day

I literally won at bowling 😎

Sister Stevens and Sister Cook

Grateful for the Holy Ghost!

Another week here in Billingham has flown by, I can't believe it is May! Where has the time gone?!

This week we have seen so many miracles and had some great experiences. 

I am amazed at how much Heavenly Father is willing to bless us when we have just put in the little effort that we can. Like the other night, I was in quite a lot of pain so we had to be in the flat for a bit and we used that time to call some potential investigators and former investigators and we were able to set up some return appointments! We taught them later in the week and they both became new investigators! Heavenly Father knows our desires and He will help each one of us when we put in our little efforts. 

One day we had to take our car into the shop and they said it would take a few hours but it ended up taking over 5 hours!!! It was quite a hilarious day because we had lessons we had to be at that were far away and because all our money got taken we didn't have any money for a bus... Luckily we got a hold of a member who was able to take us to our lessons. It was a miracle! But we met some great people we wouldn't have been able to with a car. One of the guys we met that day has really been looking for a change in his life, he struggles with some drug addictions. We were able to testify that he can find that change through Jesus Christ and give him a Book of Mormon. And he wanted to meet again! 

This week I noticed how Heavenly Father places people in our paths. There have been quite a few times this week when that has happened. One of the times we felt like we should go out to this area we don't usually work in because its kinda far. The first person we stopped by wasn't home but his neighbor was outside so we started talking to her and she was so open and said we can come back teach her! And then the next person we talked to was so nice and had a really strong belief and said we can come back and share more about the Book of Mormon too. Then another night our lessons had flogged so we were trying to decide where the best place for us to go was. We drove past this little estate and decided that was where we needed to be. Again, the first person we talked to was recently baptised and no one knew where he was! I am so thankful for the Holy Ghost. I think a lot of the time we don't always remember the impact he can have on our lives and how much he can help us know what to do and where to go. I definitely couldn't be a missionary without that gift. 

One of our friends who was planning on being baptised on the 5 of May told us he doesn't feel ready yet and feels like he needs more time. Which made us sad because we went over the interview questions with him and the spirit confirmed to both of us that his is ready. People's agency is the worst sometimes but we have to respect him and his choices and do all we can to pray for him and help him continue to progress to another date. I felt a glimpse of what Heavenly Father feels when we choose to not make the best choice. But He loves us unconditionally. 

President Turvey has asked us to read Alma 58 for Zone Conference tomorrow, so this morning for personal study I read it. I invite you all to read it because I know it can relate to everyone! It's incredible how Helaman's army, even though it was so small was still able to overtake the Lamanites. And it was only possible with the help of Heavenly Father. They were filled with fear for what they needed to do but as they poured their souls in prayer to give them strength and deliver them from their enemies the Lord assured them and spoke peace unto their souls, even in the midst of battle. I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who loves each one of us and doesn't want us to feel scared or overwhelmed. Just like He spoke peace to Helaman's army He can speak peace to our souls through our battles. I know when we turn to Him in prayer and take courage we will overcome our battles. 

Hope you all have a great week!

Love, Sister Stevens 

 

knocking

Martin :)

Our friend/investigator Sam and me in her leather jacket

You can find happiness where you are

Pretty England, and we've been seeing more sun lately :)

Sister Cook's 1st time to the ocean!

Pday Pics

Fish and Chips and Lemon Toppers at the coast :)

Prettiest tree.  I remember seeing these trees last year!

Wow what a week! 

There have been many ups & downs as usual. That's what life's about, the hard moments make me enjoy the good moments so much more. There has to be opposition in all things. 

We have been blessed with more of the sunshine! Summer is coming, even if it is an English summer. 

Some highlights

A member invited us over with one of our investigators we are working with. The best part was she set it all up! It was so great to have him in a members home and to help him feel more comfortable. We also watched the Restoration after we ate and the spirit that was there was incredible. He said he felt so calm and peaceful as he watched it. I am amazed at even though I have seen that movie so many times I can still feel the spirit so strongly every time I watch it. I have such a strong testimony that Jospeh Smith was able to restore the true church again on the earth. 

We started working with a less active family who invited us back to have lunch this week! They opened up to us about some of their concerns and challenges they have with church. I was so impressed by Sister cook and her inspired questions and willingness to follow the spirit. 

One of our friends we have been working with for quite a while as been really busy with work and it was so random but I felt like we should take her some flowers and a note. When we go there she was in and was really excited to see us. She said she got home from hospital earlier that day. We had a lesson with her and she said she wants to be baptised a lot sooner than she though. It was a straight miracle because she was planning to wait years but just through reading the scriptures and praying on her own she has realised she wants it sooner. When we choose to follow the little promptings that's when the miracles come. 

In Wednesday at 1:30 am someone starts banging on our door, we look out the window and there are 2 cops. My heart started beating so fast! We opened the door and said someone had broken into our car. Some things were stolen and they said they arrested our next door neighbour because I guess someone saw someone jump over our fence. They had us fill our statement forms and they finally left at about 2:30. They told us to not touch our car until they fingerprint it. So the next morning a detective came and fingerprinted our car. It was quite the adventure and we are glad it's all over with now. 

Something I am really trying to improve on, well there are many things. But one thing is showing people love. I have seen so many times when we show our love to others it can really change people. It's something I need to continually pray for and only Heavenly Father can help me develop. 

I am so thankful for the Book of Mormon. Every morning as I read it I feel so much peace it helps me so much throughout the day. I love reading about all the stories and I love how much it talks about Christ. It makes me want to better testify of Him and His power. 

Thank you for all the prayers and emails! They mean loads :)

Have a great week!

Love, Sister Stevens 

So Happy!!!

Its been a great week in Billingham! I have a new companion and she is seriously an answer to my prayers! We get along so well and have had a blast so far and I feel like I have known her forever. I can't remember when I have felt this happy on my mission. I feel like myself!! It seems like Heavenly Father really wants me to enjoy and be happy the final months of my mission and I am so grateful! He truly cares about each of us and wants us to be happy, such a blessing.

Easter has been such a special time on my mission. I love talking to people we meet about it and sharing that Christ lives again! I love that Easter and spring happen at the same time and everything is coming back to life, it is a great representation of Christ coming back and resurrecting. We got to sing in town with our zone for Easter and it was so fun! 

2 of our friends came to church this Sunday and they loved it. They are both struggling mentally and socially at the moment and they both felt welcomed and accepted at church. This ward is great at helping people feel accepted. One of them called us that night and thanked us for the great day at church he had and for caring about him. I feel like when we can help people feel loved, it totally changes them. 

We got to go to an amazing musical Easter fireside in Newcastle on Sunday night with a recent convert. It was centered on our Saviour and how He lives today! A family of a sister from Norway came because she is finishing her mission and sang. They are like famous in Norway and it was amazing.

Also, Martin is going to the temple on Saturday and I am so pumped for him!!!! He is doing so well and has been loving church. He fits right in :) 

I hope you all have a great week!!

Love, Sister Stevens 

Easter Sunday

Easter Caroling