"By the dawns early light" October 20, 2014 From Luzern

Heyyyyyy Family! Guess what I did today?!? I hiked to the top of Pilatus. Yes, I did! With my companion!  We gave ourselves an extended P-day because technically we didn't have one last week because on that P-day  we helped a member move all day.

So, we´re having a musical fireside on the 23rd of November in Luzern. And do you know why? Because musical firesides have become somewhat of a phenomenon in this mission. Sister Siems and Sister Peacock and Sister Maatta and I planned the first one and everyone loved it. So since that Fireside was the first lesson, then came the second lesson and the third lesson in Winterthur. And the second one was more about art and yeah they have gotten really good. Every time they have been more professional, and they're trying to make them more standardized so its easier for other missionaries to create them as well.

But I did not push for this musical fireside. Elder Schumaier did (and thanks to him you have all those new pictures to look through. There aren´t very many of me but there are some good scenic ones.). So it has been kind of a drama and on top of that they are having a musical fireside in Schwamendingen (Zurich) the week before and they asked me to sing in it. And I am probably singing in the Luzern one too so that a less active can participate. Pray that it works. Otherwise we were trying to get as many members as possible involved and not so many missionaries. 

In an effort to keep it easy for the Schwamendingen fireside, I'm singing a song I already practiced with a member in Solothurn and with Elder Cottam on the piano. We had planned to preform it on my last Sunday, but the member got sick. So now we will perform it! As a result, I had to talk to Elder Cottam on the phone to let him know, and the first quote of the week is from him.

Me: Okay bye I have to go . . .

Elder Cottam: Wait Sister Lewis! Oh say can you see . . . (he's not singing, just saying it)

Me: By the dawn's early light?

Elder Cottam: Oh good! I thought maybe you had forgotten 'Merica!

(I’m guessing this is because they were the only two Americans in the district when she was in Solothurn)

One time Sister Oswald and I were having some small public transportation issues and we had the following conversation (while walking next to the great, big, beautiful lake):

Sister Oswald: We could just hitchhike and get someone to pick us up.

Me: Or we could just steal that boat (There was a boat right there on that gorgeous lake.)

Uh...that leads into another story. Seriously I don't think there is a more beautiful lake. And I may or may not have gotten the chance to ride in and even drive a private boat on this lake. It was necessary I promise. We were with our referral. And it was just a blessing from Heavenly Father because I have been dreaming about going boating on that lake! Here's what happened. Greg (Greg is the owner of Alpenwild, and Sister Kate has worked for him in his office and as a hiking guide in the Swiss Alps)   referred a Swiss guide he works with who lives in Luzern and so we called him and he invited us to come hiking with him and a client for no cost. Missionary opportunity! Maybe not so traditional, but a missionary opportunity nonetheless. He had questions for us and we all talked about religion and how it played in to the history of Luzern and we met so many people who had been to Utah or something and even to temple square (for example the guy selling cheese). It was good. Aaaand then we were waiting for our boat to take us back to Luzern and a guy came out and offered us a ride in his private boat. That's it. See pictures. I don't feel guilty. I AM obedient. But normally missionaries are not supposed to be on private boats for reasons you can imagine . . . but no I did not get in the water nor will I ever on my mission. (Missionaries are asked not to swim throughout their missions. This is primarily for safety reasons and simply avoids many potential safety hazards that could be encountered by potentially inexperienced swimmers, dangerous waters etc.) 

So more about my great day today . . . It was a harder hike than Timp. (Mt Timpanogas is our local mountain where we live in Utah.  It's elevation is 11, 752 and the trail starts at 6,910 and is about 16 miles round trip)  Four hours up. Lots of elevation. And then we climbed around all over on top and added some more elevation and I was just obsessed with today!

Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit a nice member of our ward. I had the feeling more than once that I needed to do something with her. She is always at church, but never at activities. She has some friends in the ward, but not many. Sister Oswald had never spoken to her. I have had a few occasions to speak with her and I even sat next to her last week and I just asked her if Sister Oswald and I could come by to practice teaching one of the lessons by teaching it to her. She wanted to also feed us, but I expressly told her that we are just fine without any food involved and that we would just like to come and see her. We made an appointment for yesterday, and we went. She did insist on feeding us, and her inactive son was also there for dinner. It's these people who Heavenly Fathers needs us to visit! It's these people who need the missionaries in their homes every once in a while. Her ex-husband has tried to turn their children against the gospel and the church.  And here she is, ever faithful, coming to church by herself. We talked about the first part of the second lesson (the Plan of Salvation) and it was good. It wasn't like it was the best lesson the world has ever seen, but we all bore testimony, and she enjoyed it. She mentioned afterward that she never has had the missionaries over because she thought it might be boring for us with just her there. Of course we assured her that we had enjoyed our time with her very much, and she told us she would like to have us over again before I leave. I just had such a good feeling leaving the house because I had paid attention to a prompting from the Holy Ghost in making sure we spent some time with her. Sister Oswald was also very happy that we went. It was just good. I really felt like the Lord's servant, which is my favorite feeling in the world.

I got so excited talking about boats that I forgot to finish the Sister Oswald quote of the week. I'll try again:

One time Sister Oswald and I were having some small public transportation issues and we had the following conversation (while walking next to the great, big, beautiful lake):

Sister Oswald: We could just hitchhike and get someone to pick us up.

Me: Or we could just steal that boat (there was a boat right there and that gorgeous lake).

Sister Oswald: At least my idea was realistic.

Me: Mine was more fun.

Sister Oswald: True.

Well Family, I love you. My letters from Liddy and Jesse were special treats this week. The Church is true, and Jesus is coming again!! Ha ha I don't know if you remember me telling you that Sister Kervinen (one of her companions in the Missionary Training Center) and I ran around the MTC saying that. We were reminiscing about it on our exchange.