I believe in MIRACLES!

June 24, 2013

Hey Family! 

What a great broadcast! It was so great to see the Marriott Center filled with so many missionaries and to hear how the Lord is hastening His work! It really makes the work so much more effective when we work with the members, so keep up the good work! I am sure the missionaries there just love the going to the Stoker's house. Our mission president just emailed us and said our mission won't be using internet right away, but it is coming! I'm not sure how i feel about it, but it will all work out. 

Turns out the Great Harvest here feeds the missionaries for FREE! We took a trip to Henderson last p-day to shop and get some bread. It smelled like home! They had a cool sign that said "Give us this day our daily bread" and i liked that it was their way of sharing their belief in God and in the Bible. Also, just so you are aware, I probably gained 15 pounds at Anna's this weekend. She made us garlic shrimp and also some crab shrimp stuff that apparently called for 6 sticks of butter...it was SO GOOD. I told her I am taking all of her recipes so I can impress you guys when i get home.

This week was so wonderful. We had a sister's luncheon/ training on Thursday- there are now 50 sisters in the mission (it just about doubled in the past 2 months) and we are headed toward 65 by September. It so fun being a sister- we talk to so many people who are just taken back that there are "girl ones"- not just the guys on the bikes. So naturally we use it to share our testimonies and invite them to church. Sister Lake and I started to keep track of all the miracles we see each day, and it is insane how much the Lord is in our work. The scriptures say He will labor in the vineyard alongside the servants, and he has been doing exactly that. We met a guy named Michael on the street and he invited us to stop by his house sometime and talk to him. He is a freemason and it was so cool to learn more about that. Turns out they don't just exist on National Treasure. A few days later we were getting out of an appointment at the other end of the zone and we were impressed to go visit him. When we got there, he had some company and so we just started talking to everyone- mostly clearing our own name and answering the questions they had about mormons. There was a girl named Sarah there who was basically clinging on to everything we said. She told us that just the week before she had been pondering some of the questions of her soul, mostly pertaining to the Plan of Salvation, and had some other doubts about her own beliefs. As we taught her what we know, she just seemed ecstatic and said that was exactly what she needed to hear. She also said she was having trouble accepting her own weak testimony and didn't want to claim that she knew things to be true when she was still struggling to know for sure. I was able to relate part of Elder Holland's talk with her and read the story from the New Testament about the man who had faith that his son would be healed but declared, "Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief." She said she had been struggling with that for so long but hearing that story completely reassured her that she isn't the only one who needs to rely on the Lord to help her in her unbelief. It was so cool to be an instrument in the Lord's hands- to be able to give her the comfort He would have given her if he were here. That is the power that comes with being a representative of Jesus Christ. We are on His errand, devoting 18 months to His work. Sister Nieder said, "Don't you DARE pass someone on the street without testifying of the Atonement and allowing them the blessings of it. Don't you dare." I love that! That is why we are here on missions. To allow others the blessings of the atonement. Also, if you ever need a pick-me-up, listen to the Bill Carpenter conversion story. It is the best thing you will ever hear. 

It has been cool to be a part of the Book of Mormon challenge in the mission. We were promised that we would be able to relate the book to people we meet on the street or in their homes, or just in casual conversation, and it is happening! I met some guy on the street and he talked about how great America is, and so i whipped out 1 Nephi and read him the blessing of the promised land and how the Lord had a hand in guiding the settlers here and the wars and what not. Another guy we are teaching started reading Deuteronomy and the law of Moses and cut out pork and other food from his diet, so i read 2 Nephi 25:24-27ish with him. Cleared it all up. That book is MAGIC. 

Well, I love you all. Oh and here is a picture of us at Great Harvest, enjoying a chicken n berry sandwich ( i think). 

Love,

Sister Stoker

June 17, 2013

What a great week it has been! Yesterday was the best Sacrament meeting in the nation. We had 5 investigators there and 5 less actives that we have been working with. SUCCESS! And Sister Lake and I spoke about Fathers which was fun. One of our investigators kept yelling "amen!" during my talk and grunting in agreement so I felt pretty accomplished. Then Anna made us some "death by chocolate" to celebrate. She is way too good to us. We celebrated father's day at our first counselor's house- it was so fun to be around a family for a change. We have been hanging out at a half-way house here and it has been so rewarding. Everyone here wants to change their life and so they are very accepting to the message we share. The people work there love the missionaries as well and asked if we could come back and teach etiquette, how to apply for jobs and how to prepare for an interview, and how to sew! Hopefully I can figure that last one out without mom telling me step by step how to sew a dress. 

The work here has been non stop go go go. Right now we are working on strengthening our little singles ward which has been quite an adventure. I am so obsessed with the idea of riding a bike- I am probably driving Sister Lake crazy by now, but i love riding! It is so ineffective in our area though because we cover an entire Stake and riding around would not be a good use of our time since we have a car. But I did do it once when I was on an exchange. Not gonna lie riding a bike in a skirt is probably the worst idea known to man. We have been teaching a homeless guy at Jack in the Box who is probably my favorite. He is very down to earth- he used to go to a very prestigious college in New York and is a crazy artist. He has had a lot of questions about God and different doctrines though and each time we answer one of the questions of his soul he is like "wow that is best answer i have ever gotten!" I love the gospel. 

In most of our areas, Sister Lake and I are the minority. Because of this we are compiling a list of all the best black names we have heard. These are all people we have met and taught. 

Zion

Paris

Shelanda

Seven

Hykaem

Firman

Holden

Kadeja

James C. Lewis II

There are probably a lot more, those are just the ones we have actually gotten to know. Well i wish i had more time to write but there is too much to be done! Love you all!

Sister Stoker

Happy Fathers Day!

June 10, 2013

Hey Family!!

What a great week. You all must have some crazy faith in your prayers because I have been blessed SO much. So thank you for all your support. Mom-you'll be very happy to know that I make Sister Lake and I a green smoothie just about every morning and it is delicious. I learned from the best. Except the bland knock-off Wal-Mart brand of frozen fruit is never quite as good as our fruit from the tree. I was way too spoiled at home. We have seen so many miracles this week I wish you could just be here with me to experience them. We stopped by a less active's house in the ward one night just to check up on her, and she had been out on her porch praying for Heavenly Father to send her some comfort. We ended up being able to get the Bishop to come give her a priesthood blessing and she is now coming back to church and wants to come to lessons with us. We had 7 people at church on Sunday that we have been working with- we just about doubled that ward. It was such a great experience. Sister Lake and I were asked to speak in church next Sunday on Father's Day- I'm pretty sure I have spoken on Father's day at least 3 times before now. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I have the world's best dad and I don't mind bragging about him for 10 minutes. My talk though is more centered on our Heavenly Father, but one of the greatest manifestations of His love is the fact that He sent me here in a family so I could learn more about Him. So on that note, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!! Kids- make sure Dad doesn't do ANY dishes or cleaning or anything. And that he can take a nap on the Living Room floor where the sun comes through the window and shines on the carpet. You know his favorite spot. And PLEASE embarrass him at church. That's also his favorite. 

We went on back to back exchanges this past week- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we were on exchanges- it was so hard. You really learn the value in companionship unity and working together, and we didn't notice that until we spent half the week apart. I am really glad we went on them though. I learned so much from the other sisters I served with and really came to appreciate my area and my companion. Oh, and we found out on Saturday that I'M STAYING IN PARADISE! I figured that was going to happen, but it made me SO happy. We have a few baptisms scheduled in the upcoming weeks, so i'm excited to be able to see the fruits of my labors. 

Our mission is having a huge push on the Book of Mormon this transfer, and i can't wait. Guys. That book is MAGICAL. I have seen it change lives here on the mission, but it will never change someone's life more than it has changed mine. I can feel the power in it as I read, and as i testify of it and introduce it to everyone i get a chance to, I know they can feel its importance. We taught someone the first lesson then introduced the Book of Mormon this week, and by the end of the lesson she asked us where she could buy one that day because she couldn't wait to read it. The spirit is bound to testify of that book as you do, and it will. Every time you share a passage from the Book of Mormon, the spirit will be in the room. As a mission, we are doing a "refiner's fire" challenge. We are all going to read the Book of Mormon this transfer to help refine us. The fire refers to the blazing heat here in Vegas this summer (we got to 110 this week). I can't wait and I would love for you all to read with us! If you can. It is about 7 or 8 pages a day (it actually ends on Dad's birthday- July 21st) and it is a great way to strengthen your testimony. As i read, I have been highlighting the characteristics of  Christ, Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost (each in a different color) and i am amazed at what I have learned so far. It is so cool to see how they are all united in purpose, yet they each have different roles in helping us return to live with Heavenly Father. 

Over the past month I have gained the greatest appreciation of Sacrament meeting. We have been meeting with someone named Chris who is so awesome. The elders who were in this ward before us had taught him the first lesson, so we picked up from there and taught him the plan of salvation. He was skeptical about it all at first, but by the end of the lesson he told us he knew the plan was God's plan. So naturally we invited him to be baptized. Lo and behold, he told us he had already been baptized in the church, about 10 years ago, but it meant nothing to HIm and he wanted to be baptized again. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way, but we taught him about the blessings of taking the sacrament and he is now progressing towards being worthy to take it. I had never fully comprehended the power that comes in renewing our baptismal covenants each week- Heavenly Father is allowing us to have that baptismal experience every 7 days and it is something so sacred and powerful, there are people who would kill to be able to take it each week. Like Chris. So strive to be worthy to renew those covenants, and each sunday remember what you are promising Heavenly Father. (It is found in D&C 20- I can't remember the exact verses.) 

Also, my whole mission is obsessed with Mindy Gledhill (but, who isn't?) so feel free to ask her if she wants to come do a mission conference or something here. I don't even know if that is a real thing, but its worth a shot. It would definitely be well received.

Oh and SHOUT OUT TO ANNA PALAKIKO!!!!! She is hands down the best cook in Vegas and is WAY too good to us. And Anna if you are reading this, you better have read 1 Nephi 3 already. And marked up those scriptures. But really. Anna is my homegirl and Sister Lake and I are always trying to find excuses to go over there. She fed us the world's best tacos and some chile last month. I really did die and go to heaven. 

I'm sure you all have heard about the World Wide mission leadership conference thing President Monson is speaking at- I'm so excited! What an amazing opportunity. You all better watch that and get excited about your own missions!

LOVE YOU!!

Sister Stoker (or Stalker- that is what I'm known as to some people here. Whatever. It means i'm persistent)

June 3, 2013

This week has been nuts. As always. We have been going on tons of exchanges which is fun, but i hate missing out on lessons here. I went to another YSA ward here in Vegas though, and I met a Wiberg! Small world. She said she was Holli's cousin. We have been having so much success with less actives- we visited one that we just picked from the ward directory and afterward she said she is going to prepare to go the temple and start coming back to church! So exciting. We have been finding tons of new investigators too- we honestly can't keep up with all the work here. This week i'm going on an exchange with Sister Burrup's companion who hardly speaks english- she learned it in the MTC and is here as a spanish missionary, so that should be fun. I'm actually excited and am picking up some spanish because about every other person we talk to here is hispanic. I was able to tell some lady i want lettuce and rice on my enchilada, so i was proud of myself. 

We find out about transfers on Saturday...I'm freaking out. I do not want to leave this area at all. But I know I'll be serving where I need to be and when I will need to be. 

Well I love you all! Keep the updates coming...I love hearing about all that is going on!

Love, 

Sister Stoker