Wonderful To Me

Dear Family & Friends,

This week we have the amazing opportunity to stand in remembrance of the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He has been testified of since the beginning of this earth by his servants the prophets. Isaiah prophesied of the birth of Christ.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given...and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Then we have the angels coming to earth shortly before the birth of our Savior in Luke 2:

 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

What joy fills my soul to know that on that day so many years ago my Savior was born. He came to this earth because he loves me and you. He came to provide us with a way to have eternal families, forgiveness, progress, comfort, and a supreme example for which we can model our lives after. 

I know that just as real as was his birth and death; his resurrection is real. Just as the world was being prepared for his first coming, in which he would provide us with the ultimate escape plan, the Atonement; the world is now being prepared for his return. But he will not be coming in swadling clothes but in the glory of his Father. He is coming to finish his work and he has asked us to be prepared for that time by living his gospel, using his Atonement, and modeling our lives after the example he gave us.  

I'm grateful for the opportunity to work side by side with the Savior in his work. I love him. I'm eternally grateful for his Atonement and I will ever exclaim these words:

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."

I love you all so much and invite you to heed and harken unto the Savior's invitation to " Come, Follow me."

Love,

Sister Williams

             Christmas tree #1

Christmas Tree #2

 Stockings and I'm putting together a Christmas puzzle!

And then Bob Pickle Called...

Dear Family and Friends,

This week I had an amazing opportunity to feel of Heavenly Fathers love for me. This week has been a bit of a struggle for me. I couldn't figure out what was going on or why I felt so down. I kept working and being obedient trying to overcome it. Then on Saturday night I had a really honest conversation with Heavenly Father and I just asked for his help because I didn't know what to do.

The next day was Sunday and almost every person I came in contact with, I know, was able to be the hands of Heavenly Father to express his love to me. The talks in sacrament meeting were tailored for me and when I would make eye contact with various people they would kind of look at me and smile and I could feel so powerfully the love my Heavenly Father has for me. I'm grateful to know I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father and he wants more than anything for me to succeed. I'm grateful for my relationship with him. I know we can accomplish anything if we ask for his divine help.

Our teaching pool has been low and this week the people we were teaching dropped us, but then Bob Pickle called!! In Preach my Gospel in chapter 9 it says how the Lord will lead us to find people to teach or he will lead them to us; I know He is leading them to us. Bob had been taught by missionaries several months ago and he wants to meet with us again and it sounds like he wants his family to learn of the gospel. I know we are about to find many people to teach, I'll keep you updated!

I love you all so much and I hope you are having a great week! Spread the Spirit of Christ this season.

Love,

Sister Williams

First Set of Trunky Papers! Coming Home March 4th!

 The papers to DOOM!! Just kidding! See you in March!

 My Sister Training Leaders made these cute papers using words to describe me. 

 Helping some members to decorate their house for the Christmas season! I love Christmas!

 They call the archway decorations: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies. 

                 Cool Nutcracker!

I'm An Auntie!

Dear Family & Friends,

As of December 5th 2015 at 8:12pm I am officially an auntie! My brother and Sister in law, Parker & Ashley, welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Oakley Mae Williams, into the world. She is such a precious little angel and I'm so happy to be a part of her family!

This week was transfer call week and...I'M STAYING! I will be in Crookston, MN with Sister Bowser. Sister Anderson is going to open Bagley, MN and train a new missionary. I'm excited to stay in the same place and to continue working hard in this area.

We had a great experience with using the "A Savior is Born video!" We had planned to go tract Stewart St. and when we got there the spirit prompted us to go knock on the door of a cute, small, white house. A woman answered the door and invited us right in. We were able to share "A Savior is Born" with her and talk about the restoration. We are meeting with her again tonight!

We were able to get in contact with a former investigator named Angel and had a lesson with him this week. He is so prepared to receive the gospel. He told us he has been reading the Book of Mormon and it brings him a lot of comfort and peace. He is a single Dad of five teenagers and wants to set a good example for his children in following God. I'm excited to continue meeting with him.

We go every week to visit one of our members who has Alzheimer's and we sing to her. She can't speak and she doesn't really respond to us other than slight head nods and vacant stares. This time we brought a picture of Joseph Smith's first vision; where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ literally appeared to him. As she held the picture we sang the hymn "Joseph Smiths First Prayer" and her face lit up. She smiled so big and looked into my eyes so deeply as though she were trying to say, "I know this is true." It was a miracle to witness the power of the Holy Ghost bring to Laura's remembrance the truth of the gospel.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve my Savior Jesus Christ. Each day I'm able to testify of Christ; that He Lives and because he lives his Atonement has all power to help us over come sin, death, temptation, affliction, and, sickness. I love my Savior and I'm excited for the chance to show him my gratitude in my service to him.

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Williams  


                     Merry Christmas from Crookston, MN! Sis. Anderson, Sis. Bowser, and Me!

                          Got Antlers? 

                               I'm the hulk!  So watch out!

 We preformed at a nursing home and these ladies did a traditional Indian dance. We are teaching the woman in the hot pink dress with short dark hair and the one in the green is a member!

                  My Precious little Niece Oakley Mae Williams! She is the most precious angel from heaven!

A Savior is Born

Dear Family & Friends,

WOW! We witnessed many miracles this week! First, was Charlie. We went knocking on doors and we met a man named Charlie. We shared with him Joseph Smith's experience of seeing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the spirit was very strong. He was quiet and said he wasn't interested. We left him with a Book of Mormon and a Restoration pamphlet with our phone number on it. Well, a couple days later we got a text that said, "Hi this is Charlie. So what do I have to do to become a Mormon?" ....that never happens!!! We were all so excited! We were able to meet with him this week and he wants to learn more and progress in the gospel.

Second, was Lacey. We have a great family here in Crookston that has been talking about the gospel with their friends and they told us to go meet Lacey. She was super open and willing to read the Book of Mormon and had a bunch of great questions we helped answer. We are going to meet with her again this week!

Third, was Lamar. We were knocking doors again and we met Lamar. He plays football for the college and we got a return appointment. We met with him yesterday and he has been very prepared to receive the gospel. He has a strong relationship and faith in Jesus Christ and he recognizes the spirit very well. We are excited to continue to meet with him!

We had a training about planning by the spirit and being able to set achievable goals and we applied this as we were planning this week and in a matter of 30 minutes we were able to see the Lords hand very clearly. We planned to go contact a Former Investigator named Angel. Sister Bowser had tried him about 9 times before but as we were planning that name came to mind.

So we went and knocked on his door and....he answered! Not only that but he is interested to meet with us and we got a return appointment. Then as we walked down the street to get to the apartment building we planned to tract, some other Former Investigatores drove by. They ended up turning around and invited us to come back later that night. Then the first door we knocked on we met Jake and he wanted us to come back. Then we met Bob and Felicia. They answered the door like they were expecting us. Turns out she is a less active member and Bob is searching for truth! It was a very spirit led hour!

I love being able to see the Lords hand in my life. There is a new Christmas video the Church came out with yesterday called, A Savior is Born. I love it! It is so powerful and invites us to Discover Why the Savior was born for us. Click here to go see it!

I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Williams


Here are the Cards and link to website to see the video!

              The text from Charlie!!  What a surprise!

            My reaction to the text!  This never happens!

 We went to an Ugly Sweater Party!! It was super fun, but none of us had an ugly sweater, so we wore cute ones.

Miraculous Miracles

Dear Family & Friends,

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I've been able to witness so many tender mercies of the Lord this week and I know he has such a specific plan for me and for each of us! It has been a privilege to have a glimpse this week of how our plans are all interweaved together.

So I'm in Minnesota again, this time just 45 minutes north of my first area. We had an amazing Zone Conference yesterday and one of the men in the mission presidency lives in my first area. His name is Brother Pickeral. Well, he got up and was sharing an experience of a couple he had witnessed receive their endowments and be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity on Saturday. He told of how 15 years ago missionaries had knocked on their door and taught them the gospel and that they were able to be baptized.

However, they slowly fell away, until about a year ago when two enthusiastic sister missionaries reached out to them and helped them see the vision of the temple. He told how the husband had MS and as he was in the Sealing room he could barely kneel at the alter; but he did and grabbed the hand of his wife and they were sealed together forever. It was truly beautiful to hear. Tears streamed down my face as I realized I knew these people. Then he said their name: The Romo's. I felt my heart burst with joy! Brother Romo has one of the most powerful testimonies and I'm so happy for them!

Then today as I was emailing I opened my email and found out that one of the investigators I was teaching in Minot, Godwin, got baptized on Saturday as well!!  He was so prepared to receive the gospel and I'm grateful I had the opportunity to know him and to help him in coming closer to Jesus Christ.

I feel so happy its like my heart is just a ball of light! I love being a missionary!! I love serving my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know he lives! My life and who I've become and the changes I've made are evidence that He Lives. The Romo's and Godwin are evidence of the reality of Christ's Atonement and love for us. He loves us so much and I'm grateful for this opportunity to more fully comprehend that for myself in the process of helping others to understand it as well.

I love you all so much and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I'm grateful for the opportunity to devote all my time and attention to serving my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for who I'm becoming. I'm grateful to be able to view others as they truly are, children of our Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for the Atonement and I would like to invite you all to Discover Why Christ's Atonement is applicable to you.

Love,

Sister Williams


Here I am with the Romo's about a year ago! I'm so happy they went to the temple!

 This is me with Godwin when I was in Minot!

 We were tracting and met this really nice guy named Mike and he offered us a pop!

 Turkey Socks from My lovely Grandmother!

By Small and Simple Means Are Great Things Brought to Pass

Dear Family & Friends,

This week was great! I got settled into Crookston and we have been working hard. We have spent a majority of the week contacting people. One of my favorite parts of missionary work is being able to have meaningful conversations with people--To be able to know what matters most to them, what their concerns are for themselves and their families, and helping them to see how the gospel holds the answers to everything they are seeking after.

We had a great lesson with a couple of investigators this week named Jo & Heather. We wanted to help them see how the Book of Mormon answers the questions of their soul. They wanted to know why God would allow so much suffering and pain to occur in our lives and what their purpose in life is. We invited them to read 2 Nephi 2 and to pray with that question in mind before and after they read. We came back a couple days later and they had a change of heart. As they read from the Book of Mormon they found the answer to their question and had the desire to learn more and to come to church.

I know the Book of Mormon is true and if we read it with real intent and a desire to know if it is true the Holy Ghost will reveal the truth of it unto us. I love being able to turn to my Father in Heaven in prayer with my questions and concerns and then to open the Book of Mormon and hear his voice through its pages with all the love of a tender parent as he helps me along with gaining the truth I need line upon line precept upon precept. I'm eternally grateful to live in a time where the truth and fulness of the gospel has been restored to the earth. It is a testament and evidence of God's love for us, his children.

I love you all so much and hope you have an excellent week! Turkey Day is around the corner.  What are some things you are all grateful for? Email me your responses!

Love,

Sister Williams


The Book of Mormon-- If you want a copy let me know!

Gordon Stanley Lunt

Dear Family & Friends,

This week I received a phone call from my Mission President's Wife telling me that my Uncle Gordon had passed away. I knew he wasn't doing very well and when I received the call I was happy to know that he had been released from the pain he was experiencing and from the limitations he had in this life. 

I had the most wonderful opportunity to go to the temple after I found out about Gordon passing away. I went seeking comfort and to know he was happy. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and warmth run through my body during the entire temple session. As I sat in the Celestial room I knew he was there and he was so full of joy! I know he is doing missionary work there in the spirit world. I know he is able to do so much more now and I'm excited for the day when we will have a joyful reunion. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to strengthen my understanding of the Plan of Salvation through this whole experience.

I wanted to share some of my favorite memories about Gordon. With Christmas just around the corner (yes I know Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet) Gordon would always have a Santa hat on for most of the month of December and sing "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" all the time. He was a hard worker and I will never pass a Burger King without thinking of him. (He worked there for over 30 years) He taught me a lot about my divine identity as a daughter of God. He always made sure I knew how I should be treated by others, especially men, and I knew if I ever had a  problem he would be there. He had the biggest heart of anyone I know! He loves hugs and I will miss his whiskery kisses on my cheek. He always said "Take it easy" instead of goodbye. He was one of the greatest missionaries I know. He wouldn't let one person go by without engaging them in a conversation which would usually result in him telling them he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

I love him so much and I will miss him, but I know he is so much happier now and I know he will be watching over me. I love you all so much.

Take it Easy,

Sister Williams

Uncle Gordon and me before I left for the mission field! I love this guy to the moon and back again!

   We are so cute! Gordon and I hamming it up!

 My new companion, Sister Anderson. We came out together and she is from Temecula CA!

  Sister Bowser and I. She is doing her #FIERCE pose! We are in a trio now. 

 Three bedin' it! Mine is in the middle. The apartment is great and it has all the alarms and window locks and all that jazz =D

 Sister Richins and me (Mother and Daughter) after we went to the temple!

 Taking over the Mission Home! We got to stay there for a couple days and had the house all to ourselves so we had breakfast for dinner!

 My photo wall!  All my favorite people and places in all the world!

 Elder Renlund meeting me in my mission when he came to visit in September, just 3 weeks before he was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  What a wonderful man he is!