short sleeves & tightless!!!!!

Quote of the week:

"Of this be sure, you do not find the happy life...you make it." - Thomas S. Monson

This week has been a bit better, I decided if I am going to stay I need to make the best out of the next 5 months and do all I can to fulfill my purpose as a missionary. Heavenly Father has blessed us so much as we have pushed through. He knows what we are capable of and He won't push us more than we can handle. I am so thankful for the beautiful weather we have had! We have been able to go the last 2 days without tights! Haha it looked like my calves were glowing though because they haven't seen the sun in months. 

I have studied to word "peace" a bit this week and have come to realise that we decide if we have peace through life or not. It's kinda like us choosing to be postive or not. Peace comes when we remember we have a Saviour and Heavenly Father who love us! I have noticed so much more peace in my life when I have realised I can't control everything but put my trust in Heavenly Father's perfect plan. 

We were listening to Joseph Smith's First Prayer in the car today and some of the words really stuck out to me: "but undaunted, still he trusted in his Heavenly Father's care... Suddenly a light descended..." I loved this so much because sometimes we don't always know what we need to do or how we will continue on, but then suddenly just when we feel like giving up a light comes. Not always all at once, but gradually the light comes in. And I am so thankful for that light. I promise it will come when we continue in patience and trust. 

It has been a very adventurous week, trying by lots of former investigators, meeting lots of new people, and finding service opportunities along the way! We have realised that in order to soften the hearts of people here we need to serve them first. We noticed this couple painting their fence and asked if we could help them, surprisingly they said yes! We got to know them and resolved many of their stereotypes of mormons haha. We tesified about how the gospel of Jesus Christ has helped us and our families and they are letting us come back and share more with them! 

We got to travel to Leeds for an appointment and man was it strange to be back in my birthplace.. So many mixed emotions walking through those familiar streets. I was thinking back to a year ago when I was there and realising how far I have come which makes me so grateful for the hard times because they have made me who I am today. 

Most of the former investigators we have met this week we have noticed from their records that almost all of them have stopped seeing missionaries right after a trial. It made us sad thinking about how instead of turning to Christ and receiving His help they decided to turn away from Him. And I have noticed that when I have turned to Him and asked Him for help I have been able learn and grow so much more than if I were to just go through it alone. 

Today we did some exploring! We drove up to the English country side and didn't have a set place we were going and we ended up at a castle! We drove through some beautiful green, rolling hills, quaint villages, and saw lots of little lambs. I felt like I was in a movie! The english countryside is breathtaking. 

I hope all of you have a great week!!! Thank you for all the support, love, and prayers xx

Love, Sister Stevens

PS GENERAL CONFERENCE IS THIS WEEKEND!!!!! Best weekend ever!!!! I know when we go prepared spiritually and with questions we will get so much more out of it. I have such a testimony that our questions will be answered through the Holy Ghost or from what someone says. That is my invitation for you! 

Pday adventures.  We found a castle, some cute farms, and some lambs!!!

Zone Conference.  We miss Hull!!!

back to Leeds

buying milk for this lady who dropped hers :(

Little Cakes

Let's just start with a quote from the Restoration movie from one of my heroes Joseph Smith, "sometimes God brings us low, to lift us up higher." Well this week He has brought me low. It was a real test of my faith and my commitment to Heavenly Father. He really tested me and is continuing to test me to see if I trust Him, really trust Him. I am trying to patiently wait until He lifts me back up again. 

Sister Blair (well she is now Lauren now... ) read this story to me quite a few months ago and I read it recently and I feel like I could relate to Elijah in 1 Kings 19. It may sound a bit dramatic, but it's the best way I can describe how this week went. 

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life..."

But then little things happened to help him keep going for a little longer.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink...

I know that when times are tough the problem won't always be fixed, but Heavenly Father will give us little things to help us keep going and doing the things He asks us to do. 

Some of the things that helped me keep going this week were:

We made triple chocolate Ghirardelli brownies, got McDonald's fries.. some comfort food was much needed this week.

We have had an addition to our companionship and now we have been a trio! Sister Met is from Belgium and one of the kindest people I have ever been around! She is only here for a week though so we will say goodbye to her tomorrow. She has been a great support to us and has helped me focus on what really matters. 

One of the recent converts texted us and said to come over so we could meet her friend! We went as soon as we could, that's like a miracle text! So we ended up teaching her friend and she is even letting us teach her more! She's had some really challenging times and has struggled with a lot of the things our little trio has gone through and is currently going through. It was amazing to see a blessing I received come true that my experiences and relationship with Christ can help others. I was thankful to know that what I am facing can benefit others. 

Springtime is here and there are bright yellow flowers everywhere and cherry blossom trees. It's so pretty!

We have gone by lots of former investigators and found some great people who want to learn more so we are happy that Heavenly Father is leading us to prepared people! 

Sister Mokeghle (my companion from Hull) is now in my zone which is a miracle! So fun to be reunited with mission friends! 

I know that He will keep putting little cakes to help me keep going to do the work He has called me to do. We need to trust in His wisdom, not our incomplete knowledge. He knows the bigger picture whereas we can see just a little part of His plan. 

I have wondered a lot this week how I can continue to serve this mission through this pain, wondering how Heavenly Father expects me to continue on. I feel as though there isn't much more I can do. But I am recognising something He wants me to learn, to rely on our Saviour's grace. He makes up for what I cannot and He loves me through it all. 

I know Heavenly Father is so proud of each one of us when we push through, even when it's hard, and even when we don't want to. I know with His help we can do hard things! And we can say, "not my will, but thine be done." 

I can't express how much the little emails I get from people saying, "I felt prompted to email you" mean. It helps me keep going and helps me to remember that everything will be okay. Don't ever deny or ignore a prompting! 

I hope you can all see the little cakes that He gives to help us keep going. I know our Father in Heaven loves us, more than we can even comprehend. 

Love, Sister Stevens

We teach this little girls' mom English and she kept attacking me.
haha...so cute!

Cherry Blossom Trees and the Trio

"Lookin ford to me baptism" - martin

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 

We found the most beautiful yellow field today!  I love the English countryside <3

Yummy food...eating healthier

Matching skirts we found for 8 pounds :):)

Goodbye Sister Blair!!!!!

Martin's Baptism!!!

Miracles

Wow it's been another amazing week here in Billingham! I am truly happy to be here and to get to know such amazing people. 

Miracles from the week:

Martin passed his baptismal interview this weekend and will be getting baptised on Saturday! We are so excited for him and for this step he is taking to follow our Saviour Jesus Christ. We have been a bit worried because we haven't been sure if he is ready but in a closing prayer he said the other day after a lesson I felt the Holy Ghost confirm to me that he is ready and he really does understand this commitment he is making. I felt so much peace and comfort and excitement for him! It's incredible how someone can go from not knowing who God is to being able to say he believes in Him just from prayer, reading the Book of Mormon, and coming to church. I'm so thankful for the simplicity of these 3 things that can bring us so much light and understanding. 

We taught another one of our investigators more about the afterlife because she was worried about her grandparents who haven't been baptised. We taught her about the spirit world and how they are having the opportunity to learn about the gospel & then through temples she can be baptised for them! She loved the idea and it brought her a lot of peace. I think it's such a blessing we have the knowledge of the restored gospel so we don't have to feel frightened or worried about what happens after this life. 

We found a salad and sandwich shop walking distance from our flat this week! Which is a huge miracle because literally I have no found a good salad since being here in England and it was delish :):) and it opened a week ago, Heavenly Father just knows haha. 

So we have been teaching English to this girl for a while here and this last time we taught her we asked her if she wanted to learn more about what we do as missionaries and if she wants to know more about God & Jesus Christ and how they can help her and she said yes! When we taught her that god loves her she wrote it down and said it made her really happy! It was so cute! 

I have recently read & studied the story when Christ walks on water and Peter walks to Him in Matthew 14. I just want to share with you all some of the things I have learned:

v. 25 - it wasn't until the "fourth watch" or the early hours of the morning, after all night of rowing and fighting the waves Jesus came and helped them. Sometimes we have to struggle and fight and keep pushing through difficult times until we receive our own heavenly help. 

v. 29-30 - when Peter walks on the water he does it while keeping his eyes focused on Christ.  But when he looks away and sees all the waves & what is around him he starts to sink. When we get distracted and our lives aren't focused on Christ we will start to sink and we won't be as happy!

v. 31 - but when Peter cried out Jesus "immediately stretched forth His hand and caught him". When we cry out for help, Christ will always catch us, He is always there. 

Ah! I just love the scriptures! They gave brought me so much peace, joy, and comfort as I have really taken the time to study & liken them to my life. And I know you can feel that same joy as you study them as well!

Thank you for all the love, support, and prayers! I can feel it!

Love you all! Have a great week!

Xx, Sister Stevens 

Sister Blair's last p-day

till they meet again in 5 1/2 months in UTAH!!!

Pday fun

This is how I feel about driving in England

                                                                                                                              Zone pday, the senior couple made sloppy joes 😊😊😊😊😊

Sister Melgarejo gave me this cute apron

When the sun came out for 10 minutes

Martin after he passed his baptism interview