Pictures 3-30-15

Weekly Letter 3-30-15

Hi Everyone!

I hope that you are all doing well! Thank you for the Birthday wishes! It was great, the members took good care of me :) We had dinner with Alexa, who is actually one of our recent converts from last transfer. She's 8 and she made me the cutest birthday card, it was fun! The day itself was just like any other normal day though, which was good, I almost forgot it was my birthday!

This week has been full of miracles! It's really neat to see how God provides when we ask him and do all we can to accomplish the task ourselves. We've been sharing the new Easter video, "Because He Lives" with everyone, it's amazing! If you haven't seen it I suggest you watch it ASAP!

helives.mormon.org

One of my favorite things about this video is that it doesn't just educate us about Jesus, it invites us to act. the last two words in the video 'Find Him' really stick out to me. I think that it doesn't only apply to those who don't know about Jesus and what he's done for us, but I know that we can all work harder to allow the Savior in our lives. I know I can. One of my favorite lines that is repeated over and over again in the Book of Mormon is "His hand is stretched out still". No matter how wicked the people got, Christ is always there, his hand is always stretched out inviting us to turn to him and rely on him. His atonement wasn't only for our sins, but also our afflictions, our pains, every suffering that we would ever go through. As we look to Him he can comfort us.

I really saw the truth of that this week. We've been contacting downtown a lot, sharing the new video with as many people as we can, and we run into some nice people and some not so nice people. One person in particular left me feeling especially down, but as we walked away, we passed a little family. There was a little girl, no older than 5 and she just looked me straight in the eye and gave me a big smile, she then pulled on her mom's shirt and started whispering to her, and immediately a story that has been passed around the mission popped into my mind. 

The story is that there were two sister missionaries who passed a little girl and her mother, and the little girl excitedly told her mother over and over that Jesus was walking with those two Sisters.'

It surprised me that that story came to my mind because I heard it once very briefly months and months ago and haven't really thought much on it since. But at that moment I felt the spirit come over me and I knew that Jesus Christ was walking with us at that very moment. 

I think that that is one thing that my mission has really taught me. We are never alone. Because the Savior lives today, he is always with us. He will always help us. As a missionary I've really come to love the Savior so much more as I've experienced just a taste of some of the great happiness and great sorrows that the Savior felt in His life. But I know that the difference is that we will never be alone as we go through each of those things is that we are never alone, because the Savior is there with us every time. 

I am so grateful for this gospel and the great truth that we have. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to share that truth with others. I know that the message that we have really can change peoples lives, that the the gospel is the most important thing we can have in this life. I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that through Him we can overcome ANYTHING. There is no temptation, sin, trial, or hardship that he can't pull us out from. I know that this is a Gospel of happiness, and that following the teachings of the church is the only way to true joy and happiness in this life and in the life to come. There is no one that is too far gone or beyond the Savior's reach. It doesn't matter who we were or who we are, the Savior is there, waiting to help us. "His hand is stretched out still."

I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful, spectacular Easter and conference weekend! Come to conference prepared with questions, because the spirit speaks through the prophet and your questions will be answered :) Love you!

Love,

Sister Lesser

Mom:

I'm doing better, my Birthday was really good :) A sister in our ward made her famous chocolate cake for me, and her Granddaughter made me a cute birthday card, so that was fun :) 

That's so exciting that Brooke is going on a mission! She'll be an amazing missionary :) 

We haven't picked up any new investigators this week, but we've found a few potentials, so hopefully we can follow up with them and pick them up as investigators. I'm getting a little more used to being an STL, but it's not easy. i don't quite feel qualified, but I know that I'm an STL for a reason and I'll learn something from it.

It sounds like you guys are going to have a fun week! Let me know how Mandee does at all of her auditions, that will be fun for her! :) I can't believe she's old enough to get her license now, weird! 

Thank you for all of the birthday presents, they were cute! I really like that blue skirt that you sent :) The pillow is great! Sorry, I didn't know how much they cost! there's a sister in the mission who uses one and it's really comfy! 

I had a fun birthday. I actually forgot it was my birthday, haha :) but we went to this ice cream shop that's owned by one of our members, it's called 'Shuffles magical ice cream' that was really fun, they make their own ice cream and they had flavors like "rosewater" and "lavender lemon". fun stuff. 

Love you! have a great week and a happy Easter!

Mandee:

have so much fun in all of your tryouts! I know that you will do amazing, don't stress about it :) Be confident, you're an amazing singer and actress! Your pictures are cute! Send me an e-mail after your tryouts and let me know how it all went, I want to hear everything! Have a great week and a happy easter! Love you! PS. HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I can't believe you're almost 16!! 

Tyson:

You do look pretty funny in grandpa's oversized shirt, haha :) Happy almost Birthday! You're going to be 13, an official teenager, but you will always be an April Fool, haha :) have fun getting your cast of and your braces on! It's an exciting week! Congratulations on becoming rich this week, haha :) Unfortunately we can no longer make videos with our ipads, or else I would sing you happy birthday, but I'll be there singing to you in spirit :) Mandee's a better singer than I am, you should appreciate her lovely vocals! soon you won't even have those any more and you'll be so sad :'( Remember, there is beauty all around, when there's love at home :) 

Well, happy happy birthday! have a great week and Easter! Enjoy conference! Love you!

Dad:

Haha, I see you have discovered the selfie :) It looks great :) Love you! i hope that you have an amazing week and a fantastic Easter! 

Grandpa Bowcutt:

Thank you so much for the birthday presents.  It really is hard to believe that I'm 20 now! I sure hope that I'm changing on my mission, that's the plan :) You know what they say, if you only have 1 convert on your mission, let it be yourself :) Sometimes are harder than others, but I'm really trying to forget myself and get to work and turn my will over to the Lord :) 

It sounds like you guys are going to have a fun Easter! I wish I could be there, but what better way to celebrate the Savior's atonement than to try and emulate His life :) 

I'm excited for conference this weekend, It's gonna be good!!! 

Love you! have a great week and a happy Easter!

Grandma Bowcutt:

I'm glad that you had a great week! I also enjoyed the women's conference! I loved when they said that we should see everyone as part of our family, because we are all children of God. It was really fun to see :)  Have a great week! happy Easter! Love you!

Grandma Nanna and Grandpa Bick:

Hi! Thanks for the birthday wishes! I hope that you made it to Aunt Lisa's house safely! Have you gotten your new puppies yet? How's everyone? I forgot to ask, is Trevor planning on serving a mission? I hope that you have an amazing Easter! Enjoy conference! Love you both!

Griffin Family:

Thank you so much for the presents! I love them, and I loved the cute card you sent :) It's good to hear from everyone! Good luck putting in your mission papers Kaden! A mission is seriously the best thing that could have happened to me. It's not easy by any means, but it's definitely worth it, and where ever you get sent is exactly where you need to be. They say that many times missionaries get sent to specific missions not because of the location, but because of the mission president, so pay close attention to him, because you'll learn a lot!

Thanks for the e-mail Kylee! I can't wait to see you guys either! I hope that soccer is going well for you! Keep working hard, you've got an amazing talent. 

Good luck in dance Makell and Lindsey! 

I love you guys! Happy Easter! 

Aunt Marci: 

Thanks for the cute necklace! I love you guys and hope that you're doing well! What are Emma and Wyatt up to? Is Emma still dancing? I hope that you all have a great Easter! have fun in St. George! Love you! 

Aunt Lacey:

It's so good to hear from you! I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well and that Skylee's still going strong with Soccer. Basketball will be fun for her too, that's awesome! It sounds like you're going to have a nice relaxing week, haha :) Tell everyone Hi for me! I love you all! happy Easter!

Pictures 3-23-15

Weekly Letter 3-23-15

Hi Everyone!

This week has been crazy! We had transfers on Tuesday and I got my new companion, Sister Eyden. It's been a hard week because all of our investigators canceled, so we didn't meet with a single investigator this week, so this next week we're focusing on finding new people to teach.

I've been called to be a Sister Training Leader, which is like a Sister Zone Leader who is over only the sisters, so I teach at all of the District and Zone meetings and I'm in charge of another companionship of sisters. That's pretty stressful too. Luckily we live with the companionship that I'm over, so exchanges won't be too bad. I love those sisters, they're great, so being their STL will be fun.

Despite all of our investigators avoiding us, we saw some cool miracles this week. We are supposed to invite one person to be baptized every day, and as we focused on that and accomplished it, crazy stuff happened! The other day we had been calling potential investigators in our area book, and then later that night it was almost time to head back to the apartment, but we still needed our baptismal invite, so we decided to speed walk around the block once and invite the next person we saw to be baptized. We saw two guys and ran up to them, and found out that we had actually called both of them earlier that day and set up appointments to meet the next week! God really provides when you're obedient to his commandments!

I love you all, have a great week!

Love,

Sister Lesser

Mom:

Hi mom! how has your week been going? thank you for the little e-mail you sent during the week, it came at just the right time :) is it spring break for you guys yet? This week has been alright. I'm not a trainer, I'm a Sister Training Leader. It's like a Sister zone leader who is over the sisters in the area. So I have to speak at all of the meetings and go on exchanges with the other sisters and stuff like that. It's pretty stressful, I'm not enjoying it too much, but I know there's a reason that God called me to do it. I'm sure I'll learn a thing or two from it. My companion has been out about 6 months. She's a good missionary. I feel like every transfer gets harder and harder. More stressful. The area is harder, STLing, harder companion. It's alright though. I know that Jesus Christ is our constant companion and that he'll help me through it. I'm sure it will turn out fine. Love you! Have a great week! Tell Mandee good luck in all of her stuff. 

Mandee:

So is the musical next year the little mermaid? That's cool! Good luck in all of your auditions, I'm sure you will do great! Good luck on your monologue as well! It sounds like you're still keeping pretty busy, is it ever going to slow down? haha. Have a great week! Good luck with everything! I believe in you! Pray about it :) Love you! PS. Don't forget the general women's conference this Saturday! It's going to be really good!

Tyson:

you should send me pictures of you in Grandpa's church clothes, that sounds like a hoot! haha. I can't believe you're taller than me and Mandee now, weird! I haven't met any famous people yet, but one of my companions met Nicholas Cage on the beach a few months ago. And my follow up trainer met a famous person whose name escapes me at the moment. Usually the famous people pop up in the Corda mandera area and I have yet to serve there. It sounds like you're having lots of fun! what are you up to now? are you playing any sports? has mandee been teaching you how to sing? that's good that you get your cast off soon! Good luck! Love you!

Dad:

Thanks for the reminder about the importance of obedience :) It sounds like you guys are all having fun! So you're planning on building the new house in Summer 2016, not this upcoming summer, correct? That will be fun :) What are the family plans for spring break this year? Are you staying with puppies or going with mom and mandee and tyson? how's everything going? Love you! Have a great week!

Grandma Bowcutt:

I'm glad that you're having fun in St. George! I miss that place :) It's pretty beautiful here as well, really green and everything is in bloom, which is amazing! It's so fun walking past all of the orange trees and getting to smell the beautiful orange blossoms!
 That's cool that Kylee's getting to do what she loves to do and that her dad supports her in it and is willing to take her all over the place! 

I hope you all have fun in St. George next week! Give everyone a big hug for me! Don't forget about the Women's conference this Saturday, it's going to be really good, I'm excited!

Grandma Nanna:

Don't worry about it, I understand that you're busy :) That's great that you had a new litter of puppies! How are they doing? Sister Tucker arrived in the mission this last Thursday, she's serving in Dixon right now, which is where I was born into the mission too! She's going to absolutely love it there! Thank you for the card and the money! we're going shopping today, so it's going to be put to good use! Love you! have a great week! Don't forget about the General Women's conference this Saturday, it's going to be good!

Grandpa Bick:

Thanks for your letter, it's good to hear from you!  I'm glad to hear that you're all doing so well! oh man, a trip to africa, that's going to be intense! I'm going to get home from college and see an elephant head hanging on my wall! haha :) Good luck with the new frenchies and selling the property! have a great week, love you!

Weekly Letter 3-9-15

Hi Everyone!

This week has been really fun! It's so crazy to think that it's the last week of the transfer, and I hit my 10 month mark this Saturday!! Crazy! 

So on Saturday we did a whole lot of exploring, we woke up early and went and jogged around a lake that we discovered about 5 minutes away from our apartment! It was really pretty and there were lots of swans and geese everywhere! Then for lunch we went and explored a part of our area where we hadn't been before, it was way up on top of all the hills and filled with great and spacious buildings, haha, just kidding :) but seriously, some of the biggest houses that I have ever seen, and they all had an awesome view of Santa Rosa! it was really fun :) Later that day, we got to go work in another missionaries area for a while, and we got sent to Guernville! It's this crazy town right on the Russian river with little windy one way streets and beautiful redwood trees. It was a really fun drive :) It was weird though because we're actually not allowed to proselyte there, we have to have a specific appointment, otherwise we can't talk to people because Guernville is the vacation spot for people with "alternative lifestyles" from the bay area. It was kind of a crazy little place, but a fun experience!

We picked up a cool new investigator this week! His name is Robert and he is elect! He is very willing to listen and learn about our Savior Jesus Christ. We were teaching him the restoration, and both Sister Finlinson and I felt prompted to share with him a video about Joseph Smith's first vision. Afterward Robert told us that the video reminded him of a spiritual experience he had had in which he really felt God's love for him. He told us that he had never shared that experience with anyone before, but it came to his mind so clearly as he watched the video. It was such a cool experience, and cool to see how the spirit truly guides us and help us to know what God wants us to do to accomplish his work! I'm beginning to figure out more and more how to understand the promptings of the spirit!

We also have an investigator, Wally, who took the missionary discussions about five years ago but stopped due to family opposition. The more we go over, the more and more open he becomes. The first time we met with him he said that he didn't even want to hear about attending church because there was no way he was going to do it! And now he is considering it and he is reading from the Book of Mormon! It's so cool how the spirit works with people and touches their hearts to testify of truth. This gospel really does bless the lives of the people who live it :)

I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood! Yesterday an elderly sister who we teach and her son were very sick, so we went and visited with them and two men from our ward came with us and gave them each a priesthood blessing. The spirit was so strong and I could just feel the power of their faith and God's love for them. It was such a great experience and I am so grateful that that great power has been restored to the earth and that it is available to us to bless each of our lives.

I hope you all have a great week! Love you! 

Love,

Sister Lesser

PS.

Cool quote from Relief Society this week!

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature...yes Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world." - Ezra Taft Benson (Born of God - Ensign, July 1989)

Mom:

Hi! I got the package, thanks! :) Haha, Sister Finlinson's mom sent her a thing of cadbury eggs as well and both packages were gone by the next day! Honestly most of it was probably the other sisters in the apartment :P haha. They were good though :) We're going to the beach today! We're going with both zones in the area, so it should be fun :) This time we're going with all of the Sisters and Elders in the Santa Rosa area. Last time we kind of just walked the beach, but I think they're bringing games and stuff this time, such as football and beach vollyball. it's too bad to hear that mandee's play wasn't good! was it like Titanic or why wasn't it good?  Tell Mandee good luck tomorrow.  Have a great week.  Love you!

Mandee:

I'm sorry you're not enjoying your play! That's too bad, but I'm glad you will be able to try out for the theatre competition thing! Good luck with Solo and Ensemble, you will do great!! What song are you singing? Love you! Good luck!

Tyson:

How's it going dude? How's your arm feeling? I haven't really eaten anything too weird lately. A member is taking us to some Vietnamese restaurant tonight so that should be interesting. Another member took us to a REALLY expensive steakhouse last week and bought us $60 dollar steaks and we're going again this Friday, so that's exciting. How is school going? what is the most fun thing you did this week? have you been reading your scriptures? Love you, have a great week!

Grandma Nanna:

I'm glad everything is going well! Hopefully they find out what's going on with Libby, I'll keep her in my prayers! I look forward to hearing your conversion story, I'm really excited :)

I think the thing that I like most about my mission is the changes that I've made in my own life and the people that I meet. It's definitely hard work, but It's very worth it, and I've made some good friends :) I don't cook much out here, there's no time!! Yesterday I helped a member make a yummy peach cobbler though, so that was really exciting :) 

I hope you have a great week! Love you!

Grandma Bowcutt:

I'm glad that Great Grandma is doing so well and that she had a great birthday! I'm excited that you get to see Brian and Aliza and their family and baby Beckham! That will be really fun for you and grandpa :) How is Grandpa doing? Have fun at bear lake! Love you! 

Pictures 3-2-15

 The broken down car

 View from where we broke down

Sister Oaks with my companion and I.

Weekly Letter 3-2-15

Hi Everyone!

This has been a crazy busy week! I feel like there's really no 'normal weeks' on a mission, every day has some kind of crazy event in it that leaves only about an hour and a half of proselyting time each day! It was really cool this week though to see how the Lord really does provide when we put our minds to trying to reach our goals each day. The Lord has put so many miracles in our path!

This last friday there was a meeting for all of the leadership in the mission, so I got to see my old companions, Sister Holguin and Hermana Grant, again!  That was really fun to get to talk to them and to hear how both of my old areas are doing :) One of the English sisters serving in Dixon right now actually gave me a baptismal program for a man who I had been teaching in Dixon, Sonny Walker. It was so cool to hear that he had been baptized! It's really a neat experience to see that even though someone doesn't get baptized while you're there, doesn't mean that you're not planting little seeds of faith :) Another man from Dixon, Steve, was a heavy smoker when My companion and I started teaching him, and now he's cut back to one cigarette every couple of days and he's on course to be baptized! You never know how your efforts and example will affect those around you!

So during the leadership meeting, I became in charge of three other missionaries and we were headed to set up for the Stake Relief Society Conference that was happening on Saturday. So on the way there we got a little lost and the car started to freak out and make crazy grinding noises. We pulled the car over and turned the car on an off several times and it was still doing it! So we called the office and Elder Powell, one of the senior missionaries, came to check the car and, of course, there was nothing wrong with it and there hasn't been anything wrong with it since!! It was crazy, but we talked about it and we wondered what might have happened had the car not done that. Maybe nothing would have happened, but maybe some crazy driver would have come and we would have gotten in a crash or something. There's no real way of knowing, but as we talked about it, it was really cool to think that God really does have his hand in everything, especially in protecting his missionaries :)

Saturday was really cool! Sister Oaks, the wife of the apostle came and spoke to us at the Stake Relief Society Conference! It was so cool to get to speak with her a little bit and to hear a little of her story. The subject that she was speaking on was "Ponder the Path of Thy Feet". One of the things that I loved most that she talked about was simply trusting in the Lord and his timing. Sister Oaks is Elder Oaks' second wife, and she was single until she was in her 50's. She talked about how she had been promised in her Patriarchal blessing that she would have a family and children, and how it really took a lot of faith and trust in the Lord through the years. It was a really good reminder to me that the Lord has a plan for each of His children. We need to follow His commandments, do what he asks us to do, and trust in Him, and everything will fall into place, and we will come to know the path that he has especially for us.

So that was my crazy week! I hope you all have a great week and that you pay attention to the miracles that happen all around us! Love you!

Love,

Sister Lesser

Mom:

My week has been pretty busy! There was a Stake Relief Society conference on Saturday and sister Oaks (the wife of the apostle) came and spoke.  We went and helped set up for the whole thing on friday, but our car started making horrible grinding sounds on the way there so we pulled over and called someone to come look at it and of course it was fine when they got there! Crazy cars... There are four sisters who live in our apartment. Since we're right in the heart of the mission though we have other sisters come and stay with us every once in a while when there are meetings and stuff going on.This last friday some sisters came and stayed with us from Eureka. There was a leadership meeting on friday and I got to see Sister Holguin and Hermana Grant again! That was fun :) sadly Vacaville is in ruins though, Sister Holguin thinks she might be emergency transferred because of it... but Dixon is on fire! yay! :) Satan is hitting Vacaville really hard right now. The zone isn't getting along with one another and Sister Holguin has just been having a really hard time with everything lately. All of their investigators dropped them, our recent convert Kathy has been acting really crazy lately and yelled at Sister Holguin in Sacrament meeting, and she got verbally attacked by some pastor guy who told her that she was the devil and was dragging people down to hell. It's really too bad. Vacaville has so much potential and Satan knows it, he's everywhere in that place trying to stop the work of the Lord. But he will not prevail!! (I'm pretty glad that I got transferred out of vacaville now though). Maybe :) I wouldn't mind, I love Vacaville :) Nope, no big plans coming up this week! Thank goodness, I need a week without a whole bunch of crazy stuff going on :) Next week though Elder Nielson is coming back to the mission to talk about the new IPads.  Love you!

Dad:

Thanks, Love you too :) Haha, Tyson wouldn't be Tyson if he didn't push Mandee's buttons :) Mom says that you've been working a whole lot this week!! Do you think it's going to slow down soon or are you going to keep working a whole lot? 

Thankfully I haven't given a sacrament talk yet on my mission *knock on wood*. We are finding our new investigators the same way as in my other areas. We haven't tracted at all here though. we've been doing a lot of member work, going through the lists of less active members and stuff, and we've seen a lot of miracles come from that actually. When Elder Neilson of the 70 came and talked to us he really emphasized doing member work, and he was right, it brings miracles!

So what's one of the greatest miracles or craziest moments that you can remember from your mission? Were you an AP? Do you have any fun plans coming up? Love you! Have a great week! Don't work yourself too hard!

Mandee:

You'll like Mads :) Are you still going to try out for both though? I can't believe you tried to dye your hair purple! It's going to all start falling out if you keep dying it as much as you have been! I'm sorry that you missed the theatre competition and that you're not liking the Mikado. At least you have Sadie doing it with you :) It sounds like you've made a good friend from it :) So do you think you're going to be asked to the dance? Have a great week! Love you!

Grandma Bowcutt:

It's so true that those things are the building blocks of conversion. Conversion is a slow steady process that never ends, and if we're not being converted the process goes in reverse! 

That's great that Daniel and Tayler are coming to visit. I'm excited that you get to see Aliza and Brian and their family as well! You should take pictures of cute little Beckham for me! :) That will be so fun for you guys! 

Tell Grandma Eloise happy birthday for me! That's so great! I hope that she is doing well and keeping healthy :) 

Love you! have a great week!

Grandpa Bowcutt:

Aw, I'm so sad that you won't be able to run a marathon, I know how much you were looking forward to one :) haha! 

I'm glad that you are doing so well! 80% function isn't bad at all! That's great :)

Everything is going great here :) I'm trying really hard to love the people and especially to love my companion and to work in unity. It's so true that when you love the people and God that it makes the work fun and worthwhile :)

Have fun hanging out with Daniel and Tayler and Brian and Aliza and their family! That will be really fun for you to see little Beckham :)

Love you! Have a great week! have fun!

Grandma Nanna:

Hi Grandma!

I hope that you are doing well and that everyone is happy and healthy :) How is Libby doing? I was wondering if you would share your conversion story with me :) I think I've heard little bits and pieces of it, but I would really like to know what brought you to the church and how you found out that it was true for yourself :) Love you! Tell Grandpa and everyone Hi for me! Have a great week!

Pictures 2-25-15

Weekly Letter 2-25-15

Hi Everyone!

This week has been pretty crazy, our schedule has been all over the place with meetings and temple trips and what not...I keep waiting for a normal day to happen, but it seems like the crazy days are the normal ones now, haha :)

This week was filled with crazy people and crazy miracles! We met with our new investigator Sam again, we actually went out to dinner with him and his daughter Jada a few days ago. It was so cool to be able to talk with them, they had great questions about the gospel and are truly seeking for truth in their lives. I just thought "this is what it's all about" finding those people who are really looking for more in their lives. Sam has no religious background what so ever, and barely even knows who the Savior is, but he is willing and wanting to figure it out, and I'm so excited to be a part of Sam and Jada's conversion process!

We were able to attend the temple today! Every time we go it is such an amazing and spiritual experience, and the view from the Oakland temple is breathtaking! One of the Senior sisters, Sister Porter, brought us. Going with her was great, she's such an amazing example to me, and she has such a sweet spirit and love of God and all of His children. I love listening to her stories, and how she turns every situation into a missionary moment. As I listened to her stories and sat pondering in the temple today I really realized how amazing it all is. We have the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and the gospel blesses our families and every aspect of our lives! I thought about all of the people who reject us on the street every day who just don't understand what they're rejecting, we're offering them a second chance, a clean slate, everlasting life! It really made me rethink why I'm out here serving and how I can be a better representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We did a lot of contacting this week, and in the process we ran into a couple of people who "used to be Mormon". It was so interesting to talk with them and hear their stories about why they no longer believe, and it's just like  President Uchtdorf said, when we remove ourselves from the light of the gospel, gradually over time our spiritual sight dims and you look back and can't remember why you believed in the first place. It was so sad to see these people who had strayed from their ways and lost sight of the vision. It happens so slowly. It's the little things that convert, reading the scriptures, praying, going to church. When those things stop then the opposite happens. Sad :(

It's amazing to see how the Lord is hastening his work though :) He really has his hand in every little aspect of our lives and is leading us to where he needs us to be. We see so many miracles each and every day!

I hope that your week has been great and that you will look for miracles this week! Love you!

Love,

Sister Lesser

Grandma Bowcutt:

I'm glad you didn't miss your chance, it's good to hear from you :) Thank you so much for the valentines card and money! It's so nice to get letters :) 

Haha, I can see Wyatt doing that :) I can't believe how old everyone is getting!! Is Emma 6 now?!?! and Kaden is 18, wow! When will he start his mission papers?

How is Grandpa feeling? Is he doing any better?

I hope that you both have a great week and don't forget too many things, haha :) Love you!

Mandee:

It sounds like you're having lots of fun! What in the world is Waffle love? I've never heard of that before... That's cool that there is a theatre team. Can you do that and productions or madrigals? I'm sorry that you're not liking the play. Did you dye your hair darker? Love you, have a great week!

Tyson:

Thanks for the Video, haha :) I can't believe you broke your wrist!! I also believe how big you're getting, I barely recognize you! What's up with your voice?!?! weird!!! haha :) I hope that you're doing well and that you don't do anything else to injure yourself this week :) Love you!

Weekly Letter 2-16-15

Hi Everyone!

It's hard to believe that I've already been on my mission for 9 months, the time has just flown by! I look back and see how far I've come and how much I've learned and It just doesn't seem like there's enough time left to learn everything that I'd like to :) It's been a great 9 months, and I'm excited for the upcoming ones!

This week has been great! We've seen so many miracles here and picked up two new investigators! It was really cool, one of them we picked up by going to visit a less active member who lives in a sober living environment. When we got there, one of the other tenants was waiting there with him to talk to us. It turns out that Ken, the less active, had been listening to the Book of Mormon on tape and Mike, our new investigator, had been listening with him and really enjoyed it!

We also were able to pick up a new investigator named Sam. The Sisters met him in a parking lot back in October, and we gave him a call about a week ago and set up an appointment with him. We were able to have a lesson in the home of one of our senior couples, and the spirit was so strong! We were planning on teaching the restoration, but for some reason we ended up really focusing on families and how the Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses our families. We found out that he didn't have any religious upbringing, but he really wants it in his life. We also found out that he has a 10 year old daughter and it was so cool to see how the spirit guided the lesson to be exactly what he needed to hear!

I've really been seeing lately how important it is to have the spirit with you at all times. People can really tell if the spirit is with you or not, and if the spirit isn't with us or if we're not paying attention to the promptings of the spirit, teaching just doesn't work out. I've really been learning to focus on the spirit and learn how I can have the spirit to be with me at all times, and how much better it is when the spirit is with us. I've been seeing that being grateful for everything and focusing on the positive is really an important thing to do to have the spirit with us.

I hope you all have a great week! Love you!

Love,
Sister Lesser