Miracles in Minot

Dear Family and Friends,                                         March 9, 2015

Well this has been a fantastic week! We are seeing so many miracles here in Minot! Thank you all for your prayers and support. We have found so many people to teach and the Lord is blessing this area immensely. We found a man named Godwin while tracting and when he opened the door he looked at us like we had met before. When we went back a few days later it was like we had known each other forever. After the lesson the member we had with us said, "He felt so familiar, did you feel the same way?" I know all have a divine identity and we lived all together with our Heavenly Father before we came to this Earth. I know I promised many people I would find them here on Earth and I feel that Godwin was one of them.

We also began teaching Geffrey, who has such a strong desire to be a disciple of Christ and he has all the pieces of the truth and I'm excited to help him see the big picture and help him put the pieces all together. He came to church this Sunday and our lesson was on the Holy Ghost. I was talking to him after the class and he said you know it was the Holy Ghost that got me here today. I wasn't going to come today but there was something inside me telling me to go.

We also met with Gilbert who is on date to get baptized and he is so excited to be baptized! He is so great he reads everything we leave with him and I can see how the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ is filling his life. He has become so much more happy in the few weeks I've known him and it is all Because of our Savoir Jesus Christ.

I came across an article on lds.org about Leo Tolstoy thoughts on Mormonism and you know me and literature we are best friends so I thought this was really cool. Concerning the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints he said, "Their principles teach the people not only of heaven and its attendant glories, but how to live so that their social and economic relations with each other are placed on a sound basis. If the people follow the teachings of this church, nothing can stop their progress—it will be limitless.” I know this is true. I have seen this progress in the people we teach and especially in myself and I know my potential is infinite because I am a child of the Almighty God, and so are you.

Tolstoy continued, “There have been great movements started in the past but they have died or been modified before they reached maturity. If Mormonism is able to endure, unmodified, until it reaches the third and fourth generation, it is destined to become the greatest power the world has ever known.”

 I know this is true as well and is currently happening right now. The Lord is hastening his work and I will be ever grateful to be at the helm of it! I know this gospel is true and contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love you all so much. Have a great week and know everything is possible, Because of Him.

Love,

Sister Williams

   **Here is the link to a wonderful video that you will all enjoy. Its message is for everyone--please watch it.

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng

                  My Blanket From Lexi!  It's so warm and fuzzy!!

 

                 A British investigator named Margret--I love her!!

            Out to Lunch with the Sisters after Zone Training meeting.

                   A Beautiful North Dakota Sky

Feast Upon the Words of Christ

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been a fantastic week full of new investigators and lots of lessons. The Lord has been leading us to those who are ready to hear His gospel and it has been an honor to be as tired as we are. We have really been trying to talk with everyone and it is paying off ten fold.  It is how we met Lamont on the way to a dinner appointment.

We had just gotten out of the car and I saw a guy walking across the street. I called out to him and told him who we were and if we could visit with him sometime and he said, "Yeah, I'll be back in ten minutes. I live right there in the green house." We were able to call a member quickly and we had a lesson with him. Come to find out he has a friend who is a member that has been trying to bring him to church for the past 6 months. We were able to meet with Lamont again a second time and he accepted to be baptized on April 18th.

As well as finding and teaching a bunch I've also been receiving a lot of personal revelation as I've read from the Book of Mormon. I love feasting upon the words of Christ every morning. It truly fills my soul with peace, happiness, and joy. I also have to give thanks to my sophomore English teacher Mr. Reichert who taught me how to properly feast upon words. The lessons I learned from his class have always stuck with me and are a big part of how I get so much out of my reading. I will always be grateful for the tools I have in my arsenal because of his teaching.

I know the Book of Mormon is true with everything I am. It is delicious to me and I look forward to every time I am able to feed my spirit through its words. I read a verse the other day that really stood out to me and showed me how much our Heavenly Father loves us and is helping us at every turn along this journey back to him.

Mosiah 1:17, "Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not prosper nor progress in their journey, but were driven back, and incurred the displeasure of God upon them; and therefore they were smitten with famine and sore afflictions, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty."

When we aren't moving forward we move backwards but our Heavenly Father will be there to give us a push in the right direction again and again and again because He loves us.

I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Take advantage of the incredible blessing we have been given in the Book of Mormon I know as you read it you will understand your relationship with God more than by anything else. I love you.

Love,

Sister Williams

         He really wanted to read the Book of Mormon!

 I did some family history this week and I have Viking blood in me!

 Norwegian Church. We went to the Norwegian museum last P-day.

 Knock Knock Anna, Elsa are you home? I'm Frozen!

                     These are Turkeys in the tree!

                    Cool house we found while tracting.

 We are related to the founder of Ceder City! He is my Great Great Great Grandpa.

                   This is him, Henry Lunt.

Follow The Spirit

Dear Family and Friends,

This will be a shorter post on account of all my email time is gone, but have no fear there are a ton of pictures coming your way as well as a short thought.

The Spirit is the single most important element in this work. I learned this vital principle this week as I didn't follow a prompting. However, I know Heavenly Father is directing this work and helped me  correct my course. In my studies today I came across this verse from 2 Nephi 28:32 --

32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.

I know the hand of the Lord is always extended to us no matter what we may choose to do. He is always hopeful that we will choose Him and He allows us to choose Him every step of the way. I love this gospel and I know it is true. I know with all the fiber of my being the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Love,
Sister Williams

 Sister Woolsey, my new companion, and me in Minot, North Dakota

 My apartment in Minot, North Dakota.  It's cozy and cute.

 The other end of my apartment. It's small but comfortable and cozy.

 Exchanges and being reunited with Sister Barrett in Williston, North Dakota.

 A painting Gilbert gave to me.

"Ask and ye shall receive, Knock and it shall be opened unto you"

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been an exciting week full of changes! I got transferred to Minot, North Dakota the most northern part of the mission and I can sure feel it, burr. I love it here! My new companion's name is Sister Woolsey and I love her. I actually met her when I first came out to the mission field on the transfer train, so she is a familiar face. She is from Beaver, Utah and loves the outdoors.

We have already seen a bunch of success in this short time that we have been together. We were looking for people to teach in our Former Investigators section of our area book when we stumbled upon Gilbert. We gave him a call and he was very willing to meet with us. We had our first lesson with him on Saturday. He has a tragic and dark past but desires so much to bring the light of Christ back into his life. He has a very sweet soul and I'm so happy we found him. I know we were directed by the Lord to seek out his son who is so prepared to make covenants with Him. We invited Gilbert to be baptized and even before I could finish the invitation he accepted. I felt prompted to extend a baptism date to him as well which he accepted so he will be working towards March 28, 2015 to be baptized.

It was such a miracle that we were led to Gilbert. I know this is the Lord's work and He is directing it. I'm so grateful be a part of this work.  To be able to have this short time where my sole purpose is to help the Lord further His work is precious to me. I know this gospel is true. I know Christ lives and I have such a strong testimony of the power of the Atonement. I love you all so much and I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Williams

Why not Minot?

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been a crazy week full of excitement! I am getting transferred to Minot, North Dakota! It is about to get a lot colder, but I'm excited for this new adventure. I've met so many great people here in Fargo/Moorhead and I will miss them greatly especially my companion Sister Aiono. We have become truly great friends and it still hasn't quite hit me that we won't be serving together anymore.

This has been a truly fantastic week. I was able to see Mark pass the sacrament in church on Sunday. I'm so proud of all the progress he has made. It has been an amazing blessing to see him grow in the gospel. We met with Jen a bunch too and she is doing great! I'm excited to hear how she does from Sister Aiono. I've made a lot of memories this past week and I have a ton of photos so I will keep this short, but know that I love you all. I'm grateful for this time I have to serve the Lord full-time and I know with all the fiber of my being this gospel is true. We can accomplish anything as we rely on the enabling power of the Atonement and find true happiness. I love you all!

Love,
Sister Williams

  WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF MOORHEAD, MINNESOTA!

 Super pink and wind burned from walking to service at the food pantry!

 Name tags and friendship rings =D I'm going to miss her!  BOO WHOO!!

 Have you ever seen a cuter snow shoveler??

 Being silly as we always are! 

 Even sillier yet!  Can we possibly ever be serious?

 This is Jen and her kids.

 This is Jen and her kids.

 Me with the big softy of a dog Lenny-- he is the sweetest!

 Me with the big softy of a dog Lenny-- he is the sweetest!

 Sister Aiono and me in a last photo together as companions!

                     Holding a bird!

 These are the Hegeness's they feed us missionaries every week and we love them!!

 Sister Brooks (I love her) and me Attempting to hold a tarantula in Sister Brooks' lab!

 Left to Right: Michelle, Me, Heather these are two of our investigators they are super sweet and I love them! I'll miss them!

 Name tags and friendship rings =D I'm going to miss her! We are eternally connected as sisters!!

Many Miracles!

Dear Family and Friends,

This was a good week. My companion got the stomach flu and we were stuck inside for two days. As a missionary your sole purpose is to help others come unto Christ which requires being around others. However, I know that this is the Lords work and He will not let us fail. One evening when my companion was sleeping I said a silent prayer and I was pleading with Heavenly Father to know how I can still be productive and further the work along while confined within the walls of our apartment. Then the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and it was one of our potential investigators we haven't talked to in awhile. As we talked she told me of the many changes she has been making and that she had been praying a lot and knew God was answering her prayers. I set up a time to meet with her, hung up the phone and fell to my knees with tears streaming down my face as I offered a prayer of gratitude.

Then we had a meeting with the Zone leaders for Sister Training leader responsibilities and they gave us three referrals and we have a return appointment with one of them. She seems very interested and I look forward to meeting with her this week.

I'm so grateful to be serving at this time and in this area. I know Christ is directing His work through His servants and I know I am one of them. I love this work. I love my savior and I know He lives. I love you all. Look for opportunities to serve one another this week.

Love,

Sister Williams

These are the Metallos. They are the senior missionary couple in the area. I love them! they are full of funny personality. We had our cleaning inspection and passed with flying colors! =D

 I'm the worst artist but this is supposed  to be sister Aiono.

 I had some time while Sister Aiono was sick so I learned Arabic!

The Spirit of Elijah

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been a great week full of personal revelation. I'm grateful for the knowledge that God answers our prayers and I've gained a stronger testimony of the power of fasting. What a great opportunity we have to fast and allow ourselves to be more sensitive to the spirit. I had a neat experience during my personal studies on Sunday when I was fasting. I was thinking about how much to donate with my fast offering. As I studied I was led to D&C 58:35--

   "It is wisdom in me that my servant Martin Harris should be an example unto the church, in laying his moneys before the bishop of the church."

 Well, I am related to Martin Harris. He is my third great uncle and I was doing family history on his line earlier in the week when I found many names to take to the temple. The fact that I received an answer to my question through the example of my ancestor, recorded in the scriptures, was truly faith affirming that we cannot be saved without our dead, in many ways.

In the zone conference we had this week one of the trainings we received was on family history work. We had the opportunity to do some family history this week and there is a new feature on familysearch.org called decendancy where you are able to find your cousins. In just one hour I found 24 of my cousins who need 38 ordinances to be completed in the temple. It was amazing to experience the spirit of Elijah and to help my ancestors have the opportunity to be eternal families. In Malachi 4:5-6 it says,

 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

I know Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and gave him the priesthood keys necessary to do temple work not just for the living, but for the dead as well. I've experienced the turning of my heart to my fathers and the heart of my fathers to me. I know our families can be eternal and I'm grateful for this precious knowledge and the time I have to share it with others full time. I love you all!

Love,

Sister Williams

       All my ancestors on their way to the Oakland temple! 

  Sister Anderson (Presidents Wife) and me at Zone Conference.

 Reunited AGAIN with Sister Park! We are still so in sync! Our outfits matched.

           Thank you Mom and Dad! I love my super duper warm coat!!

        French Manicures and Cupcakes on Preparation Day!

                           I love the sunsets!

         Sister Power at Zone Conference.