"What have you done with Sister Lewis?" - June 9, 2014 - From Solothurn

Heyyyyy Family! First of all, I have this whole little family history booklet about my family that I need to fill out before the new president comes. So I need some help . If you need some motivation, read what President Monson said about Hastening the Work in the June Liahona. Or Ensign. Whatever. And actually you should just read that anyway, because it's really good.  I'm so grateful to know families are forever.

So this week! Guess what? I had one of the most spiritual lessons of my life in the funniest setting. We had a joint teach (when a member joins the missionaries to teach.  It's just really good for people interested in learning more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ to get to know members of the local congregation who aren't missionaries) set up for this guy and then what does he do? He doesn't show up for his lesson. So before I could even suggest it our joint teach asks us to teach her a lesson. And at first she wanted to know more about what we normally teach as missionaries and then we ended up just having a the best discussion and the spirit was so strong and I think it was something that she really needed. She told us she had to run and write in her journal before she forgot everything she had just learned. We talked a lot about the priesthood and missionary work and it was just good.

Remember how I told you about M? Well she's pretty much my favorite person. That girl is not even a member and she has been putting up with so much anti-mormon ridiculousness. We are going to be seeing her every other week. But basically in the schools here they unfortunately teach that the Mormons are a sect. No really, they do. 

I've actually encountered a lot more anti-Mormon things lately. (Seriously Satan is working really hard. So I just have to work harder.). We had such a good lesson with Ch and then these two ladies came in who are there because of helping her with one of her sons because I guess he is sometimes a troubled kid and they sat down and her husband brought them coffee and Ch jumps in and asks her husband to bring us some coffee as well. Which is when one of these ladies jumps in and says, "No no no they don't drink coffee" before Sister Blohm and I can say anything like just a normal, "No thank you." And Ch was surprised and then this woman goes on and on and talks about all these things from the word of wisdom and then jumped right into how we have to pay tithing (Yes, faithful LDS people do give the Lord back 10% of what he gives us.  It's used to build chapels, temples, and provide materials to members all over the world, rich or poor.  It's used very carefully because it is the Lord's money and is not squandered and does not go toward any personal gain) or we're not allowed to enter the temple a year after we've been baptized and all this stuff. (the Word of Wisdom refers to a health code which includes not drinking alcohol and coffee that LDS members adhere to.  I have always thought of the "no alcohol" not in terms of alcohol being like sulphuric acid or something, but that because so many people can't handle it and it causes so much pain and heartache, it is best that we all forego . . . for each other) It was in German and Ch’s German isn't awesome (we talk in a combination of German and English) so I'm not totally sure how much she understood. But there is a good chance that this woman made sure she understood after we left. So I just told this woman how impressed I was that she knew so much and corrected a few of her gross exaggerations. The other lady who was with her had so many questions because she was just generally curious. And we have nothing to hide. Most of what she said was true. And I explained that the word of wisdom is because God wants us to not be addicted to anything so that we can preserve our free will. And Christina was on board and says she only drinks herbal tea anyway and the friend of the anti-Mormon woman could see the sense in it but this one woman, while still being semi-polite about it, was seriously trying to destroy us. Sister Blohm was pretty upset but as far as I'm concerned she just made the woman who came with her curious to learn more about our religion and made it so that Christina doesn't have any surprises when she learns about the Word of Wisdom. The only problem is we don't know what she said after we left. At one point I asked her how she knew so much and she said she used to be a member of our church. There you have it. And this woman is bitter. According to her, she was an active mormon for 10 years. We left the room without praying and then at the door I asked Christina if we could say another prayer with her (we had said an opening prayer and had a good lesson before these women came). So we went in a bedroom and said a kneeling prayer. And Christina apologized profusely because she could tell this woman had not been so nice to us. I could go on and on and I already have but that's basically what happened.  It's okay.  People do have so many misperceptions but it's so sad when they are so angry with Heavenly Father that they want to hurt someone else's faith. 

Yesterday was stake conference and we all watched a broadcast from President Uchtdorf and Elder Anderson in Zollikofen. And guess what yesterday morning President Uchtdorf rededicated the Swiss temple and Switzerland to the spreading of the gospel. 

This week I have an austausch with Sister Couper and she planned it so that it's on our year birthday! Technically hers is on the 11th and mine is on the 12th and our austausch is the 11th to the 12th. And I'm going to Thun to be with her.

What else. We had to say goodbye to President and Sister Miles this week at zone conference. That was sad but they gave us a great introduction to our new mission president and it was actually just one of the most spiritual meetings of my whole mission.

On Saturday we did two service projects. We helped a member paint the outside of their house and we helped an investigator in his garden. I spent so much time just picking up the trash that had collected in their garden.

What else. Quotes of the week:

After my prayer Sister Blohm was laughing. Sister Blohm: I don't want to laugh but you just prayed for Ch to read in the BOM and she doesn't have a BOM yet (we were still waiting to get one in Portuguese from other missionaries).

One morning (actually it was Sunday morning after two hard-core service projects for the entire day on Saturday) I was especially tired and out of it and apparently not myself. Sister Blohm: Who are you and what have you done with Sister Lewis?

Welll I hope that was a good update. Life is good. I have purpose and peace. That is what the gospel gives me. Keep being the best.

"cute little romantic place or . . . " June 2, 2014 From Solothurn, Switzerland

Dear Family!

Sooooo did I ever tell you that Switzerland is the best? Don't get me wrong, I'm proud to be an American, but Switzerland just has so many things right! Anyway, I forgot to tell you that last Sunday they had this entire street closed. No cars allowed. It was a bike day! Bikes, scooters, rollerblades, and such were the only thing allowed on this major road the whole day. It was adorable. Also this morning Sister Blohm and I recycled some more old sister missionary clothes. There are places to recycle all over the place, even for old clothes (although they seem to be lacking in opportunities to recycle cardboard in some areas). I love Switzerland. For so many reasons.

Sister Blohm and I went on a hike this morning! I was a happy Sister Lewis. And Sister Blohm was happy too. So we went just from our front door to this trail up the mountain that we found one time when we went running but this time we got to take the trail and do some exploring. And of course the best part was going on the smaller side trails so that you felt like you were actually hiking. It was on one of these side trails that we found this secluded bench. Here's what Sister Blohm had to say about it: 

"Either this is a cute little romantic place or an isolated place where people get killed."

That girl has seen way too many scary movies and TV shows about crime. She even admits it. I have never heard someone make so many references to killing (see a former quote of the week!).

XX and X (one of her daughters!) came to church yesterday!!! XX is one of the members who hasn’t come to church in quite a while and we see her regularly but yesterday was the first time she has been at church since I have been here and since Sister Blohm has been here. She has promised to come other times, but something always got in the way. Last week she really was going to come but she somehow slept in. This week the elders happened to run into her at the train station and Elder Kelly asked XX if she was coming to church. XX said yes. So here's another quote of the week from yesterday:

Elder Kelly: I invited XX to come to church and she came!

Me: Yeah that was so good you should do that more often!

Elder Kelly: Well right now I have a 100% record of XX coming to church when I invite her and I think I'll keep it that way. What's your record, Sister Lewis?

Me: Um, 5%.

Yes, we have one of THOSE relationships!  He’s a great missionary and a lot of fun to work with.

We really are having some success with our less actives members. We also have this new investigator named C who we already love and who we also have our hopes way up for. We are teaching her and her son and her son's friend. We actually found them dooring! They live right by each other. 

CTH was doing really well. She came to our awesome ward activity on Thursday. She brought her little daughter and her little daughter found an instant best friend. She said she really felt something there. Before she told us she wasn't sure about coming to church but after the activity she told us she was sure she would come on Sunday. But, she didn't. She also didn't answer our phone call or our text. So we have no idea what's going on there.

Daddy I'm worried about your back. Get well soon.

You have new pictures in dropbox!!

Yesterday was a super good fast and testimony meeting. We had two less actives and two new converts bear their testimonies.

So one of the less actives that we are working with isn't so less active right now, she just has to work sometimes on Sundays (She is one of the ones who bore her testimony yesterday! I loved it.). But it's always hard to know because before she really was less active less active and lived with a man she wasn't married to and stuff. She has a daughter, M, who is 14 and not baptized but she comes to church very often and she also almost always goes to Young Womens. (The church organization that is for 12 - 18 year old girls...they meet together for an hour on Sunday and also once during the week).  When her mom doesn't go to church she sometimes goes with a friend who is a member. And I just haven't had so many opportunities to talk to her but last week I decided I was going to find a way to talk to her at church no matter what. I feel like I have been getting reminders from Heavenly Father that I need to try and help M make progress in the gospel because she has kept randomly coming into my head. And then last week she wasn't at church. Nooo! So we wrote her mom and her a note this week and visited her mom and at church I basically cornered her. Church was already over and she was about to leave and we were about to leave but I had to talk to her. So there wasn't exactly time for too much small talk. I had already said hi to her earlier so I just got to the point. I basically just blurted out something like, "Are you interested in us coming to teach you more about the church or do you not have time?" Her mom had told us we could talk to M about teaching her but that M is easily stressed and doesn't feel like she has enough time. But M said, "Doch!" When used in this way, doch means, "No, you're wrong!" Like disagreeing with whatever you just said. So she meant it as in, "No, I do have time!" So I asked when we could come and we have an appointment for this Thursday. And then I asked her if there was something in particular she wanted us to prepare for our lesson and she said "Surprise me." So that should be fun. I think we'll have continue being pretty direct with her.

Well family I love you! Thanks for being so good to me. Jesus is the Christ and I love Him very much.

"Should I check your fridge too?" - May 26, 2014 From Solothurn

Hey Family! 

First. Linds I got your letter! It had gone to the mission home because Dear Elder is silly and they turn certain punctuation symbols and German letters into question marks so Dear Elder wasn't sure about the address so they sent it to the mission home. Maybe if you send it with a normal a instead of a ä it will come directly to me. But I loved your letter so much! Such a fun surprise.

Next. I finally got another package full of vitamins that went to WIEN! About six months ago. But I got it and just make sure no more packages go to Wien.

What else. We have a new investigator named XO. We speak English with her. She is from Kenya and has great English and German. We had a killer  lesson with her and I already have my hopes wayyyy up.

An update on the mom and girls we've been teaching. You're not going to like it. We heard from her friend (our less active who brought her to church) that she heard something bad about the church and that's why things have changed. Nooooooooooooooooo!! Satan is a clever guy, isn't he? Now she won't follow through on an appointment with us. And we need a chance to clear up whatever falsehood she has heard. Ugh. It's frustrating.

We had interviews with President! That was good. I can't believe that he's going to leave.

Good news!! A member from the ward is trying to help Sister Blohm and me with German! Bad news: He spams my email inbox every week with about 9 emails about German stuff. And I will never read them. I don't even think he's technically allowed to email me. But the good news totally outweighs the bad.

Did I ever tell you about that awkward time when I found alcohol in a member who is less active's fridge and I was way awkward about it? I was putting away the salad dressing and I ran into the alcohol. I didn't really say anything but we both felt awkward. That is a necessary introduction to the quote of the week from our visit this week. (FYI - This refers to the "Word of Wisdom" . . . a health code followed by people of the LDS Faith.  No alcohol, coffee or smoking is part of that commitment.) 

Me (looking at a coconut coffee package at her home): "Hey it's coconut!"

Her: "It's coffee."

Me: "Yeah, I noticed. Should I check your fridge too?"

She has two brothers who are bishops. She went on a mission but she came home earlier and is choosing not to be active with Church.  But we are best friends. I really love her.

Sister Blohm: "Shsdgilaskjlydkm yiaodfaisjflkakdfajf yfiadjfka." Something like that. I couldn't understand it at all.

Me: "What?"

Sister Blohm: "Sorry sometimes I don't know how to say something in German or English." Yeah so that unintelligable stuff was Danish. I love listening to other languages

XOX and her two kids came to church! That was amazing. And a new convert brought 3 FRIENDS TO CHURCH!! He's a rockstar. Plus he ran into one of our former investigators this week and told her we missed her at church. Celestial material that one.

I don't know what else. We're trying. I've never had it so hard as in Solothurn. I don't know what it is that's different.  I love teaching the gospel and I would love progressing investigators. But I am happy and I know that the church is true. That's just the problem. I know the church is true and I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and I just want to be a good enough missionary for Him and His true church. And Satan will always try to get you to think that you're not good enough. I just want to be better in every way.

This talk is one of my favorite's of all time. It was given by Elder Bednar at the MTC and we watched a recording of it in the MTC. . But I have it now through someone in our mission who somehow had it and I am sending it to you. It's just such a good message. And I am so imperfect. Here's a link to that article: "The Character of Christ"

I love you family! Thanks for all the support.

"This isn't Utah!" - May 19, 2014 From Solothurn, Switzerland

Hiii!! I'm here early because we have to go to Zurich today to do some legal stuff for Sister Blohm so she doesn't get kicked out of Switzerland (because she has already been here a year). 

Ganz wichtig: My sim card broke. Meaning I can't take any pictures. I don't know where to find a new one. Can you send me one? Luckily I don't think I lost very many pictures.

So there is a huge favor that I would love you to do for me. That is, to gather the quotes of the week that have something to do with my companion (just Sister McEwen and most importantly Sister Siems who really wants them). We do this thing where you make your former companions a baby scrapbook about your time together (but who has time for that? No one). But Sister Siems really wants the quotes of the week in hers but I don't know when I would collect them all.

Does Bishop Davis know my blog address? I know he likes to keep close tabs on the missionaries.

Yesterday Sister Blohm had a really hard day. After Sacrament she went in the bathroom and cried for half of Sunday School and then again for all of Relief Society. I didn't know what to do and I felt so sad that I didn't feel like I could help. I basically just left her there after checking on her and then took care of her after church. Yesterday in Gemeinderat the bishop pretty much gave one of our investigators to the Elders because he is a man and it just makes more sense. But it really tore Sister Blohm apart. The Elders are having much more "success" than we are at the moment (they have another baptism on the 1st of June).  And the investigator that the bishop gave to the elders is the one we had just written that ward email about. He is probably the one who is closest to having a baptismal date (he has had one once before but said he wasn't ready) and he was our only investigator at Guiseppe's baptism and the only one who came to church yesterday. Sister Blohm just felt like why are we even here if the Elders can do all the work? We meet with a lot of less actives which the Elders don't really do, and that's really not as "rewarding" as meeting with investigators. Actually, Sister Blohm has had "success" on her mission, as in she has played a part in 5 people choosing to be baptized. One got baptized a week after she got into her golden area (so even though she wasn't a huge part of the teaching, it was still great to be a part of), then there was another baptism in her golden area, then she baptized two men in St. Gallen (unfortunately both of them are not only inactive now but literally MISSING. No one knows what happened to them.). And then she had another baptism in St. Gallen who was a referral from a member. Anyway, she's been frustrated and I've been frustrated because I don't feel like we teach well enough together to prepare anyone for baptism anyway (I know, that's so awful but we both are still struggling with our German sometimes!). We have a challenge teaching together, mostly because neither of us are really strong as we would like to be in our German. Our English lessons go much better. So we've had to talk a lot about what "success" really means, which I feel like every missionary should understand, and I think is particularly important for Sister Blohm to understand so she doesn't get so discouraged.  SUCCESS IS IN THE INVITATION. If you are inviting people to come closer to Christ through commitments and following up, then you are doing your job. If you are not inviting people, then yeah you are not doing your job as a missionary. I'm grateful to be learning right along with her though.

Jocelyne and her daughters are still doing okay. It was too stressful for them to come to the baptism on Saturday (which literally broke my heart). And she was visiting a friend in the hospital yesterday. We visited them last night to figure out what was up. I think things have been going a little too fast for Jocelyne. The communication barrier does not help. So we just need to go slower, be more patient, and also clearer (we need to be good at teaching!).

But we had a good week. Like I said, I love the less active members we work with.  One of them wasn' home when we showed up for our apointment but I felt better when she called us and texted us yesterday to say sorry and to talk about the flooding in her home country. She really is sweet. She gave the elders two new investigators by promising two of her friends that the church would give them jobs. They came to the church (she gave them the address), and the elders were here and explained that that's not actually true but it turns out they are actually interesting in the church and loving the Book of Mormon. The other less active came to church yesterday!! Which is huge. And it was cool because one of the missionaries who taught her was visiting. Plus she also just communicated with us more this week so I am happy.

Guiseppe's baptism was amazing. The members were so supportive. Guiseppe is a miracle. He bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting yesterday in Italian (with translation from a member) and three of his kids and his wife were there to hear it. He even told the ward to let him know if there is anything he can do to help them.

Thank you to Ciarah for my package!!! And to the whole Cook family for my birthday wishes. You guys are the greatest.

I need the music of the arrangement I sang at my farewell. Can you please send it?

Also I forgot to say that last week we got to have a fireside for the missionaries from the temple president. That was pretty neat.

So Saturday was a good day because we went through the temple with a new convert, Guiseppe was baptized, and we had a great lesson with two members present after the baptism. 

The other best part of the week was when our new convert told us that she hadn't smoked in 10 days (although I'm not sure that still stands). She's really great though.

We also did a service project helping a less active clean her house. She was so appreciative.

Quote of the week:

Sister Blohm and I were walking home last night and there were these tractors working in a field.

Me: "Why are they here? It's a Sunday! They should go home."

Sister Blohm: "This isn't Utah . . ."

Elder Kelly and I talking about Guiseppe's children.

Me: "His daughters are really nice!"

Elder Kelly: "Yeah? I think (insert the name of the son who was at the baptism) is the nicest. And by nicest I mean the most interested in the church."

From our lessons with Guiseppe when he feeds us all spaghetti:

Guiseppe: "Essen! Essen!"

When we're not eating enough (according to him) . . . "Keinen Kompliment!" (that's not a compliment to the chef!)

Really Guiseppe is just the best person ever.

So the week really was good. I am happy. I know what it means to be successful and I love being a missionary for the Lord Jesus Christ. Inspiration has come to me this week in the way of a line from "Come, come, Ye Saints." "Why should we think to earn a great reward, if we now shun the fight?" Men are that they might have joy, but we are also here to fight. We are here to prove ourselves. As much as we might not like it, life is not meant to be a breeze. But it isn't just about this life. This life is the time to prepare to meet God. We may have much joy in this life, but there is also much joy awaiting us on the other side. Don't shun the fight. Remember the real reason we're here. That's a lot easier to do as a missionary, but I want you all to remember it too. Love you family!

Short emails and long letters are still good Momma. Love to all!!!