The Work is Hastening, catch the vision!

"#StandOnHolyGround"

This week's as seriously filled with miracles!! The work is truly

hastening here in our little town of M!

So we went back to the house of a man, CJ*, that we talked to

on the street. He never answered, but we met his daughter, A* and

her kids. Turns out their neighbors used to be members and have been

trying to share the gospel with them. 2 days before we went over, her

husband, I*, had texted the member expressing that he wants to get

closer to God! So it was a miracle that we went over at that time and

were able to talk with the mom, A*! She has always been interested

in Mormons and said she has been meaning to pick up the Book of Mormon

that she has in her room. She and 3 of her kids actually came to

church on Sunday! They are super prepared and willing to try it out!

Another miracle- We Went to go visit a potential investigator and

actually ran into a recent convert, K*, and his mom M*! We never

before have been able to have a conversation with her, but because of

some humbling experiences that she is going through we were able to

talk with her! On Monday we showed her the because of Him video and

said it was just he hope that she needed to continue pressing forward.

We then ran into her again on Friday and showed her the mountains to

climb mormon message, she teared up and said that she knows it's time

to gain her faith back and start coming to church with her son! I

truly know that no matter what problems or challenges we face in life,

the Savior and His teachings, the gospel, will help us.

Another miracle-we received 2 referrals this week! One from the bishop

and one from the elders in a different ward! M*, the one from

bishop is also in a very humbling position right now in his life and

is open to hear our message and increase his faith. B*, the one

from the elders, is interested in knowing what we are all about!

We had zone meeting this week where the zone leaders and I trained our

zone of 20 missionaries on the things we learned at MLC. We did some

role plays and talked about how the spirit is the most important thing

in conversion. And the spirit can be felt the most in dedicated

buildings, such as members homes, church buildings, and the temple!

Our focus this transfer is #standonholyground. The miracle that

followed that training on Tuesday was by the end of the week we were

able to have 3 lessons at the church and set up a lesson to have in a

members home! When we are diligent, obedient, and faithful, God will provide a way. :)

One morning we got to do a service project for this less-active

family in the Spanish branch, in the desert! It was so fun! Their

property was pretty much a miniature Mexico with all sorts of animals

like turkey, peacock, ostrich, chicken, pigs, cow, goats, dogs, and

TARANTULA!! We got there and heard the Mexican music playing inside

the house and started weeding out in front. Then the best thing

happened... It started raining!! It actually rained pretty hard while

we were working and we found out it was 67 degrees! The coldest it has

been probably since last winter! Afterward, on the way home, we

stopped at this taco bus and got some super good tacos to seal the

deal.

Being a missionary is seriously the best. The work is hastening, no

unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing! We met a former

investigator who said he and his mom are willing to take the lessons

again and learn more! We met a less active mom who wants her non

member kids to come to church and learn more as well! And not only is

it hastening here, but also online! I got to have a Skype lesson with

one of my friends from home this week and am helping one of my less

active friends study the Book of Mormon through facebook!

I love you all! Hope you have a great week! Keep sharing your thoughts

about conference and sharing goodness on facebook! Remember to watch

meet the Mormons!

Sister Dewey

Week of Miracles!

This week was SO Good! I feel like I learn so much in one week it's crazy! One thing I learned is I love rain!! Haha go figure. I have never been so happy to wake up to it raining outside. We woke up to it, got to tract in it, then go to bed while it was raining! And that day it stayed below 100 degrees all day! #miracle

Another thing I re-learned is that the Members Rock!! Seriously though, this week was awesome, during our lessons they would just like take over and start teaching and testifying exactly what the investigator needed to hear. They were able to connect so much better and help bring out concerns. This work truly would not go forward without the members!!! Speaking of hastening the work, I hope you all got to watch the Talk by Elder Bednar this past week about sharing goodness! It was cool, this week I got to see the contrast of evil and good in this world. Sister E had a doctors appointment this week so I sat in the waiting room trying to read my scriptures while the news was on. There was so much evil on TV! Then during lunch after her appointment we watched elder Bednar's talk and he brought up flooding the earth with goodness, and using technology to do it. It made me think how blessed I am to have this Gospel of HAPPINESS! :)

We are working with the R* family still. We gave them this cool "map to baptism" which is a calendar that we give them with all of the things they need to do to be baptized. They do have some concerns that we are working with but I have faith that they will be ready and prepared by that date! We also got some sad news this week.... The B* family who are amazing and supposed to be baptized soon. Well the dad who is working in South Dakota got called from his work that he needs to stay longer. And now we don't know when he will be home! This is a major setback because the mom and the kids are SO ready!! And the longer they wait the harder Satan is going to work on them. But I know God has His own timing.

So remember last week I talked about how we were going to focus on referrals this week?!? WELL... Let me tell you, God hears and answers prayers! In every prayer this week Sister E and I prayed that we would get a referral. And then we were doing Facebook and got a random call from Elders in the Mesa Mission that said they have someone moving into our ward! #miracle. Then, the next day we were out with a member and asked if she knew anyone that could use an uplifting message and she said her neighbor! So we will go by them the next time we are out with her! #miracle. Then, we went out to the desert again this week and after off-roading a little bit we found this less-active lady's house and come to find out she has 2 kids that haven't been baptized yet and are semi-interested! #miracle. Lastly, at dinner the member told us his neighbor wants to talk
religion with him so the member's going to ask his neighbor if we can join them! #miracles!!!!

Also another miracle real quick. If you remember C*, a lady that is totally against the Book of Mormon and doesn't understand our church... Well we found out that her DAD is getting baptized Mormon on Saturday in Mesa!!! That is Huge! Hopefully while she is there she will feel the spirit touch her heart and the power of that sacred covenant.
I love this gospel, I love the work, and I love you all!

Sister Dewey

"When we go out to the desert I feel like I'm at the zoo! Or more like a farm. Haha the members have sweet birds, cows, peacocks and cacti. Haha."

"At the H family's house for dinner in the desert!! Got to hold their bunny, take pics by their car, and see the skulls of the cows they have already eaten."

Transfer Calls!

This week was super Good! Learned a lot about humility, patience, and gratitude. I realized without God's help and the spirit, I am nothing.

We got to ride bikes this week for the first time since I've been in M*, because we didn't have members that came out with us. It felt good to ride a bike again, but it felt super weird going without a member. The members are everything, seriously, their testimony and their spirit change the while lesson and investigators listen to them more.

Met this super cool guy this week named J*. We went to go visit the R* family, who have kind of been off and on lately and their cousin J* was there. He seemed really interested in who we were and what we had to say. We talked about the plan of salvation (just pre-earth life and the creation) and he just soaked it up, and was asking
lots of questions. The next day we came back and talked about Jesus Christ and the Atonement. He, and the family, listened so intently showing that they had never learned about Christ before. The Spirit was so strong as we got to testify about Jesus Christ and His pure love for us. We found out J* lives in Phoenix, in the area I used to be in, so we sent a referral to the missionaries there and I hope the best for him!

Went on Exchanges with Hermana S* this week! I learned so much from her! Even though she has only been out 6 weeks, she is so powerful and humble. We talked about how truly humble we need to be and how we always need the spirit with us. I love in PMG how it says "your confidence should be in Christ, not in yourself. Rely on the Spirit and trust that He will guide you" she also taught me some Spanish!

It was a cool lesson for me about following the spirit and being humble. We were walking around and driving for a couple hours and were having no success. We had like 10 minutes before dinner and we could have easily just gone home early. But we felt like God needed us out here for a reason. We had already tried all the ideas we had in our own minds. So we decided to stop the car and pray. We were guided to a members house. Who turned out not to be there, but their neighbor was working in the yard. We decided to go talk with Him and found out he works with a lot of Mormon's and really likes us and wouldn't mind learning more! The coolest part was while we were talking the member came home and came over and talked with us too. We had a short lesson about Faith in Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon and then left. Leaving the member there to create the friendship! Heavenly Father is amazing and will always lead us in the right direction.

Saturday was Also K*'s BAPTISM!! It was sweet!! And after he got confirmed he bore his testimony about how he felt the spirit while being baptized! Super cool! Also a recent convert, Michael, got to bless the sacrament for the first time! It was SO COOL! Missionary work is amazing. I love it. And this week is transfers and Sister E* and I are staying in M*!
Love you all!

- Sister Dewey

"Found this sweet cactus while tracting the other day. In one of the pictures I was holding onto the cactus...BAD IDEA. Even though the cactus looks like it only has big thorns spread out on the leaf.....it turns out that the whole thing is COVERED in little bitty teeny tiny thorns about a centimeter long. And the whole rest of the day I was trying to take them out of my hands. So lesson learned, even though I thought I could avoid the "temptations" or "traps" or "thorns" of satan, he is deceitful and disguises them with something normal. In the end, avoid evil and the thorns all together. It's much safer."  

"On exchanges with Hermana S*. We didn't have dinner that night, so after K's skype lesson with recent convert K* we looked in the kitchen for food. And we found ice cream in the freezer and perfectly good doughnuts in the garbage. Yep. That's the missionary life for ya!"

The M Zone! 

"This sweet small town restaurant we went to for lunch on Friday. The lady owns the store, Helen's Kitchen. And our waiter J* gave us free brownies! Best day ever!" 

"At a clothing exchange we were in charge of for a service project, while on exchanges with Hermana S*"

"This lady that just moved into our ward has 10 parrots and 1 big blue McCaw. It was SO SWEET! We ate dinner and got to hear them talk to us while we ate. They were saying "hello!" Haha it was so funny!"

Faithful April

This week has been amazing!

For one, it actually sprinkled a little bit one day! We got out of the car and was like RAIN! Finally! Feels like home! But that only lasted like 20 minutes haha its funny because when it rains here, it doesn't smell like rain, it smells like dust. Also it's pretty funny to watch people water their dirt and their rocks. (since they don't have grass as a yard). I guess they water it so that when its windy the dust doesn't blow everywhere.

On Tuesday, J* had her interview to be baptized. We were a little worried going in, but put our Faith in God and she passed! So new she is for sure getting baptized next saturday! I'm so pumped!

We also are teaching a 9 year old girl, L*, who is the daughter of a less-active. They started coming back to church and this week we extended the date of April 26th for her to get baptized! So that will be sweet. Also A*, the recent convert, her brother M*we have been teaching. And He pretty much told us that He wants to get baptized-he commited himself! haha he said he knows it's right and true! now he just needs to get sunday's off.

It's so cool because all these people have family that are members! Hence the focus on member missionary work. speaking of that, I just LOVED CONFERENCE!!!!! seriously, it was legit! We had J* and L* come and watch. But Elder Ballard's talk about following-up. DANG. I was like heck to the yes! He was so powerful, as well as Elder Holland of course. I loved his. And pretty much every talk this conference. It was sad because we were in the stake center and the power cut off right when the prophet was starting his talk... so I haven't seen that one yet...

We found out last night that my companion/trainer is getting transferred on Wednesday! And i'm staying here! It is very sad and i'm kinda nervous, but I'm excited for the change and the growth that I will have from it. Go forward with Faith. Just a cool experience: we went to contact a referral from the other sister's and we found out that person had moved back to Texas? So we just talked to the lady there and talked about God and how the message we have to share will bless her life and I testified of why I came on a mission in the first place. At first she was stand off-ish, but at the end she accepted a return appointment! And we had a member with us who is going to come with us back to teach her! I love missionary work!

I love you all! thanks for the support!

Sister Dewey

Magical March

Hello everyone!

This week has been so amazing, like usual haha. We had a less-active who invited one of our investigators over for dinner, and now they are friends and can talk about the gospel and strengthen eachother's testimony. It is amazing to see that when the members get involved they do the finding and teaching and the missionaries are just there for support and the preparing them for baptism.Also we had a referral come to us that turned out to be a less active that wants to come back to church and she has a 9 year old daughter who she wants to get baptized! I'm telling you every member whether active or not active has friends that can benefit from the Gospel. And when we work together as one the Lord will provide. On sunday was our first regular sunday in a while. and our first sunday with our newly changed ward! It was SO packed it felt like a stake conference haha. It's going to be great working with the new members from the old ward that are now in ours! Along with the boundary changes our ward didn't get any more missionaries so they're are still the 4 of us and our areas just doubled! It's crazy, but it will definitely be worth it as we can come together as a ward and start the fire of missionary work!

Sister Dewey's Zone 

We had a Zone meeting this week where our zone leaders sang a song about magical march. This month is truly going to be magical as we focus on the members and being consecrated missionaries. We had a zone fast on Wednesday and pretty much our zone is the best. The ZL's made an oar of righteousness from an oar they found in the alley... don't know how clean it is, but they gave it to the missionaries with the most member presents last week. So we got it, it's sweet. We are still focusing on the BOM in our mission as we continue reading it. I have seen my testimony increase so much as I have read and applied the teachings and then help my investigators apply the teachings. Seriously the BOM is the BOMB.com

"The oar of righteousness"

We went to give a Bible to a referral, he was sleeping so we talked to his friend and his brother and had a lesson with them about the restoration and they are interested in learning more. We have also been teaching a less-active's sister, Jz*. Jz* is legit.She doesn't show her emotion very much and when she starts feeling the spirit she just starts joking around. so it is hard to tell if she is really taking in what we are teaching her, but I have faith and Know that she will come around. Also I told you about J* falling off the wagon, yeah we still haven't heard from him, but we still visit the kids and for once the mom, v* sat in a lesson with us and said the closing prayer! She realized she needs to be an example to her kids! The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I love you all very much! Have a wonderful week! enjoy the rain, because it is starting to get hotter here! ahh!!!

Sister Dewey

"This random turkey crossing the road" 

MEMBERS!!

Hey family!

That is so crazy about all the snow in Oregon!! Sounds like it was pretty serious!! It was surprising that it wasn't that hot this past week. There were a couple cloudy days that reminded Sister Forson and I of Oregon.

This week has been crazy! We are still working really hard with out investigators:

-A* is coming along slowly... he hasn't come to church in a while and doesn't "have time to read the BOM" but he is still going strong on the word of wisdom so that's great! But really, the BOM is what converts people. If we are not willing to read the BOM every day, then our testimony will dwindle. President Toone has offered us a challenge to really focus on the BOM in our mission. We are challenged to read it within the next 9 weeks! It will be hard, but I know that it will bless my life and the lives of my investigators. so anyone is welcome to join! haha

-J* and his 13 year old brother H*, and their nephew J* who is 9, are preparing to be baptized on the 22nd! They are SO SOLID. And read the BOM at least 5 minutes a day as a family. They have come to church twice already and love it! We taught them about the Word of Wisdom saturday night. I knew that J* used to be an alcoholic and that he loves coffee, so I was a little nervous. BUT it was amazing, I believe that because he had been reading the BOM everyday and is gaining a testimony about Joseph Smith, he committed to live the WOW. At church yesterday he said that he didn't have coffee that morning and that he was struggling. BUT we told him how proud Heavenly Father is of him for making that choice and that he will begin to see the blessings from it right away.

-S*, and a 8 year old we have been teaching, that is a grandson of a less-active member, is getting baptized on Saturday.

"we live across a highway. So every morning and every night we pass over it. It's so cool! And reminds me of the song "life is a highway!"

This week, at Zone Meeting, at the New missionary meeting, at Ward Council, at coordination meeting and pretty much every meeting you can think of: the focus has been on the members and strengthening the members. So we are trying to switch our focus and time to visiting less actives, having dinner with part member families, and just trying to get the members to unite as a ward. Like I said before, our ward has over 800 members with less than 100 actually coming to church. So we are going to be working really hard these next couple weeks with that. 

We got to do some service on Thursday picking oranges from a tree! Oranges, grapefruit, and lemons are native here, and there are tree's everywhere! but the service was great and I got all scratched up on my hands and arms, it looks like I got in a fight with a cat haha.

But all is well here! I hope you have a great week! and don't get stuck in the snow! -Sister Dewey

Sister Dewey's apartment

"There are either cactus's or palm tree's in every person's yard! it's so crazy!"

"HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! it's a heart shaped bush! So legit! haha"

Some more MTC pics:

(Sis. Dewey and her high school friend Elder Melanson!)

Headin' to Tempe

This morning Sister Dewey left the MTC and is headed to Arizona! She called her parents early this morning from the airport, and will be in Tempe later this afternoon!

Letter 2

Hello Ya'll!

How is everyone doing? I hope that all is going well now that school started again! And mom I hope you had a wonderful birthday! I sent you a letter... hopefully you got it... haha also you might be thinking why I am emailing today, on Sunday our schedule's got changed. so we have P-Day today and the next P-Day I will have will be in Tempe Arizona! So exciting! I can't believe I have less than a week before I go to Arizona! Although after this week I feel a little tiny bit more prepared, but I still have so much to learn.

This past week has been amazing though. It feels like I've been here for 3 weeks! haha They have this thing at the MTC called "magic sunday". Pretty much that if you can make it from wednesday to sunday, then you will be good. And last Sunday was truly wonderful, totally magical like they say. Plus it was fast sunday! I fasted for 2 different things and I was so blessed to have those things answered during the day. The Lord truly watches over us and cares about the details of our lives. That night we watched a talk by Elder Bednar called the "Character of Christ" and that changed me so much. It helped me realize how selfish and self-absorbed I am. I love how he said "the mission is not about you so get over yourself" haha I love when the General Authorities are straight up with you. During fast and testimony meeting that day we all got to bear our testimonies and the spirit was SO strong holy cow, it was amazing. I just wanted to never leave. We also got to go walk around the temple and take pictures. It is so peaceful there and I can't wait to actually go inside later today!

The past 2 days of classes have been so great. I literally feel like i'm learning something new all day erry day, which is probably why i'm here to begin with, but it still is just mind blowing. We have been teaching PI's which are Progressing Investigators and it has definitely been a learning experience. One of the guys we are teaching actually prayed at the end of the lesson for the first time in like 5 years! The Spirit was so strong and it is so cool to see his faith growing. Through planning, preparing, studying and teaching them I have truly felt the influence of the Spirit in my thinking. Through the plan study teach cycle I have really felt a unity with my companion Sister A. At first I was pretty lost and just let her do all the teaching, but i'm starting to understand how to be more comfortable and confident with what the Spirit is guiding me to say and how to teach with her more. It was cool because during one of the lessons we asked if we could share a scripture with Him and then we both turned to the same chapter without even knowing it until afterwards. And then yesterday when we were teaching a different investigator we were feeding off each other really well and helping each other out. It is so sweet to be sitting in a lesson and have the Spirit prompt you to say something.

Speaking of yesterday, it was probably one of my most favorite days here at the MTC. Although everyday is my favorite because it just get's better and better. The day started out really well because we had this guest teacher come in and help us study better and she was so passionate about it that I instantly felt the same passion. She said that she believe "Spiritual Violence is always the answer" meaning that anytime you have a chance to roundhouse kick Satan in the face, do it. haha she was awesome. And then our lesson with R* went really well and next lesson we are going to invite him to be baptized. But then we went to teach our TRC investigator and things did not go so well... and I was feeling really down afterwards, but my companion gave the most powerful prayer when we got back to our classroom and the Spirit comforted me in a way I have never felt before. Like tingling through my whole body. It was sweet and my demeanor changed. From then on last night, everything was just awesome and at 9:30 before we went home I read a poem to my district that the last district had left us. The poem is about missionary work and Jesus Christ. The Spirit was so strong while I read it and not only that but we could all feel the Savior's love for us at that moment and it brought us as a district so much closer. I am going to miss the Elders when we leave for Arizona next Tuesday morning.

The biggest thing I've learned so far is to recognize and work with the Spirit because we can't do the Lord's work without it. And the 2nd thing is to rely on the Lord for strength, comfort, knowledge, pretty much everything. I have learned a lot so far, but it has only just begun and I have SSOOO much more to learn! I am excited to be here though. Today the new missionaries come in and tonight we get to meet the new district in our zone! I totally remember how nervous I was a week ago. it's crazy, it feels like so long ago. The food is also getting really old here, haha I feel bad for those who have been here for 7 weeks! But I love it here, the church is true, keep being the awesome people that I know you all are! love you lots!

Sister Dewey

Letter 1 - MTC Baby!

Hello everyone!

It is my 3rd day at the MTC and my first P-Day! Being here these past few days has been great! I love it here, the Spirit is so strong. I have an amazing companion, her name is Sister A. She is from Layton, Utah and we stay in a room with another companionship.(Sister K and Sister R) Us 4 are all going to Tempe, Arizona! Sister A is really special because she has already served a 3 month "trail mission" in South Salt Lake. So she already knows the lessons and how to teach by the Spirit. I am really grateful for her because she has taught me so much. It is hard sometimes because I feel like I'm way behind and slowing us down, but that's how I grow! My district is awesome too. It consists of us 4 sisters and then 4 elders.(Elder P, Elder A, Elder A, and Elder L) All the elders are going to Oakland California.Yesterday we got to go around and tell eachother why, how, and when we decided to go on missions. Through that we have really bonded, So much so that sometimes when we are supposed to be studying we just talk haha but it's all good.

The first day here was a little overwhelming but that night really made it sink in that I was missionary. After dinner we had a "teaching experience" where all the new missionaries got split up into 3 groups. Then we rotated 3 times and as a group tried to teach 3 different "investigators" and bring them closer to Christ. It was very eye opening and humbling. I realized how much I don't know. It was crazy. I realized how important it is to be simple in your language and doctrine with those who don't know anything about the church. I realized how important it is to be unified, in this case, as a group but normally as a companionship. And the biggest thing was that we are teaching people, not lessons. It was so vital to relate to the people and follow their needs. That experience was very real and cemented the fact that I am a full time missionary now, there is no going back haha. Another cool thing about Wednesday was that it was New Years Day. Probably the coolest day to come into the MTC. The MTC presidency talked to us and pointed out that it is quite symbolic. We have the chance to leave our 2013 selves at home and become a new person for 2014. A Completely different person and to commit ourselves to the Lord.

Yesterday was my first full day at the MTC. And let me tell you I am tired, haha but it is totally worth it. We pretty much get to eat, go to class, eat, go to class, eat, go to class then go to bed! It's great. haha but actually, it is. Yesterday morning we learned about our purpose as missionaries, which is to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." The lesson was really cool and changed my perspective on the purpose of missionaries. Then after lunch we had our first class with our district and we learned about the Plan, Study, Teach cycle. That was really amazing to learn and then practice. I did my first role play with Sister A. I was very nervous but because I had prepared and asked for the Spirit, I was able to be calm, speak slowly and feel the spirit guiding me. Then that night we met with the Branch President and he trained us some more and gave us rules of the MTC. The biggest thing that they stress here is Obedience. That's the number 1 way to be an extraordinary missionary. I totally believe it too, because when you do what the Lord asks, you are entitled to His Spirit and Power. Also last night I got called to be the "Sister Training Leader" for my Zone. This is kind of the equivalent of the Zone Leaders. I focus on the Sisters and help them with anything they need. Then I go to leadership meetings with the DL and ZL and the Branch Presidency. It is a little overwhelming because next week it our job to meet with a new district of missionaries that are coming in next Wednesday and help orient them to the MTC. I feel like I don't know anything right now, but luckily that's a few days away. I am so excited to be here and to learn and grow as much as I can!

here is my MTC address, I leave on January 14th!

Sister Annalee Dewey

JAN14 AZ-TEM

2007 N 900 E Unit 50

Provo UT 84602

Well I hope all is well at home and at school! I miss all of you and am still adjusting to missionary life. I have so much to learn and I am excited for this next week! And being able to feel the spirit all day every day is the best! Love you all, thanks for everything! and Happy Birthday on Tuesday Mom!

Sister Dewey