"For The Last Time, Hermana Stevens"

August 8, 2016

"2 John 12"

"Haha I'm just kidding:

     Wow. what is a sister to say? I'm going to do my best to make
this a decent readable size but who knows. It has been a fantastic
week here. I am amazed daily at the blessings the Lord pours out to us
each and every day. More people to teach, more members to help, more
everything. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. (Have I mentioned that before?)

     As I was reflecting on my mission today, I was brought back to
the very beginning I remember so clearly the moment I decided to serve
a mission. The months preparing, the mission call, the setting apart,
waking up that first morning and getting on a plane to Mexico. Little
did I understand where that journey was going to take me. I am and
will forever be grateful for my mission. I have met so many people,
learned so many lessons and grown so much! I set out on a mission
because I knew that is what God wanted me to do and I owed him big
time. It's interesting though because I've come out even more
indebted. It has come so fast and I am so thankful for every moment. I
have learned some of life's greatest lessons here. I have more fully
learned the gospel principles and have been able to strengthen my own
testimony.

     I know that this church is true how else could someone like me
teach the gospel. How else could I learn to speak Spanish almost
fluently in 18 months? How else could I have learned all I've learned
and felt all I've felt. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. If I
didn't, I wouldn't have spent so much time saying it every day. I know
that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that we have a living prophet
today. I know the power of prayer and personal revelation. I've seen
the miracles of fasting. I have seen lives changed by keeping the
commandments. I know that Jesus Christ died for our sins and felt our
pains and sadness and is there to rejoice with us through the good. He
did it so that we could change everyday. I know that Gods plan of
salvation is perfect and that he wants us back. I know that when we
are worthy of it, the Holy Ghost can guide us to go, do, and say what
God would have us go, go, and say. He uses us to bless the lives of
others. I know this church I true. I have been so deeply changed by
living it and I know it can change anyone who sincerely kneels and
asks. God loves his children.

     Thank you everyone who has helped me though my mission. Through
the good and the not as good your thoughts, advice, testimonies, love
and prayers helped. I will be eternally grateful for my mission. I
know it's true.

For the last time,
              Hermana Stevens"

Thank you everyone for keeping up with Liv's mission! We are all so proud of her accomplishments and spiritual growths! She is amazing and we are so excited to see her this Saturday!!

-Mia :)

"I LOVE MY MISSIONARIES?"

July 18, 2016
:Things are looking uuuup! Things are looking up here in East Sac! We have been so blessed! I have never had such success in finding on my misison! Its not that we are finding a crazy amount of new investigators but we are constantly finding and the people that we are finding have so much potential! They are people that we have found or that have been referred to us that ACTUALLY want to learn about the gospel! so many miracles that we have found this week let me share a few;

     

     WE FOUND A FAMILY!! For those of you who are not familiar with missionary work, finding a family that is interested is the missionary dream. Quite honestly, finding a functional family here is a dream but we are really really excited about this one! The mom was a referral that we had in our area book when we arrived but when we went by nobody was home. The very next day, some other missionaries made contact with her and referred her to us so we went by right away. When we got there, her son answered the door and when we asked to speak with his mother, he brought his father. The father asked who we were and we explained that we were missionaries and that she had said we could come and visit. He let us in and went to get her. When she came in she said "I didn't want you to come over today because I was busy." she seemed annoyed so we apologized and asked when a better time to come by would be. We shared the first part of the restoration and set a return appointment and then asked if we could leave them with a prayer. She offered to say it and when she prayed, She prayed to god in the name of Jesus Christ and asked for "forgiveness for not wanting to receive us at first". We went back with a member for our appointment and it went so well! Her and her 8 year old daughter and her 6 year old son sat in with us (the father was at work) and she said that she has been thinking about getting baptized but she wants to learn more and be ready to commit to the covenant. They couldn't come to church yesterday because they were out of town but we have another appointment with them tomorrow. 

     We were able to participate in two blitz's this week (When all of the missionaries in a zone work in one specific area for a short period of time trying to contact former and potential investigators). One was in our sisters area in North Sacramento and the other was in our zone. When we went in our zone, we found a couple of potentials for the elders who we were helping and also in return, we got a referral for a man from some other sisters. Both times we were out of our area focusing on someone elses area, We were blessed with a referral! Yesterday we went to visit the referral that the sisters gave us and we met the man and had a long conversation about how "If there is only one God, there should only be one religion." He has a lot of really great questions that we have a lot of great answers to! We have a return with him tomorrow. 

     We met a man from Spain this week as well! He was in our areabook and just got really busy when the missionaries first tried to teach him so they moved on. We met him at a park and talked about his expectations and his desire. Turns out, he has a brother who is a member of the church! He was so interested and sincere! He said last time the missionaries met with him he stopped smoking and he has cut down on coffee. We are really excited to be teaching him! He is super cool.

     As you can tell, things are going really well here in East Sacramento! We are working with a lot of people right now and they are doing really well! Hermama Vergaray and I have a lot of fun here! I love mission life! We are working hard here in the boiling sun I have a nice sunburn to prove it ;) Thanks for the love and support! I love hearing from each of you and your daily endeavors!:) Hope you are all doing well out there! have a very happy week!! :)

--Hermana Stevens"

July 25, 2016

"HELLO! 

     Things are always good here in East Sacramento but they were quite slow this week. We had a really hard time finding this week but we were able to find. We are still trying to work with out members a lot to strengthen them and find through them at the same time. It seems to be working so we are still in a good spot. I got in my very first bike accident! Not exactly it is pretty funny. We were biking home for the night and I was on an elders bike because mine was broken so the bike was too tall for me and the bar in between the seat and the handle bars was too high. I was biking really really fast on the sidewalk and then a little ways down a car was pulling out of a parking lot blocking the sidewalk so as I went to brake, I realized all of my brakes we out. so I swung my leg over the bar and dove into the grass and landed in a graceful little summersault. :) walked away with a scratch on my knee and most of my dignity. it was pretty funny and I got my bike fixed because I don't trust others now. Hermana Vergaray also got in a bike accident. Her handle bars hit a power pole and she landed on all fours :( pobrecita! she got it worse than I did.

     On Thursday, I started feeling sick and it full blown hit both of us on Friday so we stayed home on Friday which was quite boring but needed I think. We were going to have such a great day too! But we had to reschedule everything so that was a huge bummer. I lot 8 pounds though so its not all bad ;) we are back and good though ready for this week!

     Our investigators are doing really well. The family that we found is doing well. The mom and the sister both read from The Book of Mormon and they said they were going to pray about it. They were one of the appointments we had to cancel though so we will be visiting them again this week. They are so sweet though out of the blue the mom texted us on Thursday and said "Hola Hermanas! Have a beautiful day! May God bless you!" definitely made my day. 

     We were also supposed to have exchanges on Friday so now for this week we have 1 team up and 2 exchanges! we are going to be busy busy but I like busy! We are looking for a week of miracles. We are very excited to be able to be with our sisters all week because they are fantastic missionaries and we love them. Also I get to go to the temple tomorrow and what would be a better way to start the week?!

     All in all things are good, we are happy and now healthy. The work is moving forward greatly and I love it here! :)

-Hermana Stevens"

August 1, 2016

"Good day! It has been a super busy week! We went on a team up and two exchanges. We were able to see all of our sisters this week and so it has been so fun! I went on a team up with Hermana Paredes and we were able to find a couple of good potentials that they can start working with. On Thursday, I went on an exchange with Hermana Scott in my old area in Rancho Cordova! On Friday, I went on an exchange with Hermana Leon and we worked in my area. She too is a really great missionary. She is from Peru! She told me a little bit about Peru because I told her porter is going there. I want to go there.

     This week when we were on exchanges, Hermana Leon and I were walking to a potential and a man poked his head over a fence and said "hola!" so we went over and started talking to him. He said "are you selling something?" and we said "no. We are missionaries and we are sharing a message about Jesus Christ!" and then he said "oh! Well, is there another time you can come by and we can talk more about it?" and I kind of laughed in my head and though "hey! thats my line!" so we left him with a pamphlet and we set up a return appointment for tomorrow. I love when people contact me!

     We have been trying to get our investigators progressing quicker but they have been leaving town and working a lot this week so we have a lot of appointments this week! We are really excited for the lessons that we have set up!

     Not a whole lot more to say. We have another week full of appointments and meetings. I went on a temple trip with my departing group on Tuesday. I am SO thankful for the relationships I have made here on my mission! I LOVE MY MISSIONARIES! I have MLC on Tuesday, departing missionary interview on Wednesday, Zone training on Friday and exchanges on Friday! So crazy! time is flying! I love this work!

Hermana Stevens"