November 18, 2013

This week has been SUCH a good one. We saw SO many miracles...as always. We got 5 new investigators which was such a tender mercy and they are so golden! There are good things in store for the Palo Verde ward. We found out though that the ward boundaries are changing next week AND we are having transfers next week so things are gonna change! I hope I stay though- i would love to spend the holidays with this ward.

We are going to the Temple with Yamilet this week!!!! I can't stop freaking out. We are going to do baptisms with her and just can't wait. Yesterday was SO crazy- Sundays always are. But we went to another Why I Believe fireside (converts telling their conversion story) and it was so powerful. Our investigator Arlene came and said she loved it. Plus a ton of the Priests and Laurels in the stake were there so it was fun for her. I had a sneezing attack throughout the whole meeting though which was really embarrassing. Also there is a PHENOMENAL mission prep class here- i may have mentioned it before but it really has made a huge difference in the missionary work here in the stake. Dad you need to call me as a member of the mission prep committee when I get home. I'm instigating it. The youth are just on fire!

There is a guy who lives in an apartment complex that we are always at and we tried to convert him one time but found out he is a less active member...so i guess we are still trying to convert him. But he came to church yesterday! He sat next to me and I kept trying to discretely rub my temples/ face ( i had a killer sinus headache from this cold I can't get over) and afterward he asked me if i was feeling alright and said he felt so bad for me. Well he didn't stay for all of church which was a bummer, but after the meeting was over we were headed out to our car and he was standing outside waiting for us. He had went to the store and bought me menthol patches to stick on my forehead. Money for him is pretty tight and I am pretty sure he walked to the store and back because he doesn't have a car. It was the sweetest thing in the world. And they worked!

We have had at least 5 invites for Thanksgiving dinner already- I have heard horror stories about missionaries eating like 6 or 7 dinners so pray for me.

Love you all! 

Sister Stoker

Baptism and Pictures

This has been the best week of the WHOLE mission!!

First of all, YAMILET WAS BAPTIZED YESTERDAY. IT was SUCH a powerful experience and the spirit was of course so strong. Her mom and friend came which was a huge miracle. Sister Remund and I graced everyone with a song- turns out when you are on the mission you don't have hours to practice, but it turned out. She was confirmed during the service too, and her face was just BEAMING the whole time. The BEST part though was when she got up and bore her testimony at the end. It was so simple and sweet but so powerful. What a day. That night we taught the mission prep class- it was a girls only night and so we talked about being a Sister Missionary and what an honor it is and it just got me even more excited to be out here! What a blessing.

We also had the chance to go to the temple with our investigator, Sister Rahim this week. We walked around the temple grounds and talked about covenants and helped her see the eternal perspective a bit more. The attendants at the front desk let her and her son come inside and sit in the foyer and what a neat experience that was! Not being able to go to the temple as often as you want makes you realize what a great opportunity it is. That day we also got to help a lady move apartments. We got a phone call the night before from a random number who got a hold of our card somehow and heard that missionaries like to help people. So we said heck yeah and spent a good chunk of the next morning moving her out and she invited us back to teach her! I have such a strong testimony of service.

Also this week was the Gladys Knight fireside- SO GREAT. She has such a powerful influence and I can't get over how much I love her. We invited a new investigator (who is african american) and she said she loved it and " didn't know Mormons let blacks into the church" which broke my heart, but were glad it was all cleared up. The performance was crazy- we went with Sheranda ( a less-active who i LOVE) and I have never seen a chapel that lively before! People were up and clapping and raising their hands and singing along. I loved it. And Gladys and her husband have such a strong testimony. It was so cool to hear their conversion story and their thoughts about Mormons before and after they met with missionaries.

LOVE you all! Thank you for the emails and the prayers :)

Oh and I finally found a cord to send pictures so enjoy!

Sister Stoker

Our Biking Adventure

with a crazy dog i had to walk...and by that i mean carry because he wouldn't move

Outside the temple

Gladys Knight Fireside

Yamilet's Baptism! 

October 28, 2013

Family! Thank you so much for the prayers on my behalf and for my head. I had a very severe migraine on Wednesday morning and didn't know how I was going to work but we decided to go to District Meeting anyway. Afterward, I received a Priesthood blessing from one of the Elders in my district and received some incredible council. I haven't had a headache since. He told me that my headaches won't last my entire life and there is something I need to learn from them. He encouraged me to study the scriptures and learn more about the enabling power of the Atonement and as I do I will be able to help those I teach. This week I was studying the New Testament and  Timothy 1:12 just hit me. Paul is thanking the Lord for enabling him then trusting him to be a missionary. He goes on to talk about the strength he recieved from his past and how it was only through the grace of Jesus Christ that he was saved. In verse 16 he talks about being able to use that experience to help those around him. I realiezed that I am not much different than Paul. Through the grace of Christ and power of the Priesthood I have been relieved of these headaches for at least 5 days now and have strengthened my testimony of His power on this earth. I have already been able to use this experience to strengthen one of the young women in the ward who needed guidance on feeling God's love. I have never had a past like Paul or Alma but have felt the exact same power that they did as they were relieved from their pain. It is crazy how much I have learned to appreciate trials in my life now. 

We set our investigator Jason for baptism on December 7th this week! He told us at the next appointment that before we set him he just had an overwhelming feeling that he should be baptized! This is no small miracle because that lesson was a crazy one. The member that was there definitely compared Christ to Pumba from the Lion King and said that Egypt is the Promised Land. Thank heavens the spirit didn't let that one sink into his heart and distract from the lesson. Also he is 17 and an amazing wrestler- he is top in the state and went to Nationals this weekend but was released because he got elbowed in the eye and lost his sight for a bit. So that was crazy. But we were excited for him.

We have a lot of new potential investigators we are really excited for- there are two girls in high school we have been working with who we might end up tutoring in school work. So if you all could pray for the Holy Ghost to bring Algebra and Goverment back to my remembrance that would be fantastic. it is the end of the month so naturally we have been biking again. We clocked 15 miles the other day! And it has actually been hot here- it definitely does not feel like Halloween. 

Well I love you all! Keep up the incredible missionary efforts in the Ridgeview ward! I am so excited for you all and keep you in my prayers. 

LOVE,

Sister Stoker