Week #48

Hello World,

Transfer Calls came and I am going to the Jungle!! I got transferred and I am headed to Koewarasan back with Elder Hood!!! I was mostly pumped to be serving with Elder Hood for his last transfer. This last weekend we will able to be a part of the baptisms of Anna and Chris and is was amazing. It was  such a good way to end my 7 transfer stand in this area. I have to quote Anna and Chris directly after their baptisms. Anna in her testimony had finished her testimony and starts walking off the stand and says "wait a second I have something more to say, I will endure to the end, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen" and in the words of Chris (3 broken ribs all) directly after his baptism, "I feel like Jesus is standing right next to me." It was a very sweet experience to be able to hear them say those things. This area has got a lot going for it but i am excited to experience new pastures and learn more in a new place. This is really short today but I am alive and am headed off to the jungle! 

-Elder Lewis

Week #47

Hello One and All,

This week was wild one. (like every single one of them) This week was one of those weeks that I sat behind the computer and was like... what even happened this week. This upcoming Saturday will be super awesome.Transfer calls and also we have Christopher and Anna getting baptized. That will be super fun and I am excited! We have just had so many cool lessons with both of them this last week. We also did this fun and very messy service project digging motes for these banana tree beds. It was a blast but also super muddy. Also I think I am allergic to papaya fruit. I got some sort of gnarly rash from them (sorry if that is too much information) But this week was good. It's transfer season and rainy season is still in it's full wrath. 

My scripture for the week is Ether 3:4-5

4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared,that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.

 5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.

I Love this scripture for two reasons. One is that it shows that we must use our agency and two that we must have faith that is equal to the caliber of the Faith of the Brother of Jared. With the first point, for those of you that are not familiar with the background of this story, the brother of Jared inquires of the Lord as to how he should light his vessels to cross the great sea and the Lord basically tells him: you have your own agency, go out and figure it out yourself. Now by no means and I saying we should do everything ourselves and not inquire the Lord for anything. This same brother of Jared learned that the hard way with the Lord chastising him for three straight hours for not praying to him but the point here is that we must go to the Lord for confirmation with a plan that is open for changing. Then we see the miracles that come from it as this prophet of God did. And two the phrase "Lord,, thou canst do this" That power filled phrase is miraculous in the fact that it's a 100% knowledge that the Lord will deliver. I know that this kind of faith with access the windows of heaven and miracles will be worked in our lives. 

Love you all,

Elder Lewis

Week #46

Hello Everyone,

This has been an interesting week. Full of bike problems and doctor visits (everyone calm down--just foot issues). I finally humbled myself, rather, was compelled to be humble by one of our zone leaders to go get it checked out and they didn't even take it out -__-  I was pretty mad and decided I was just going to try and take it out myself again. But then my bike started doing difficult so just more wasting of time which I get very anxious when time is wasted but it's okay, got it all fixed and ready to go. This week one of the cool experiences we had was we re-sparked our investigator Anil with the help of The Ammon and Amuleck of Suriname Bro. Suradj and Bro. Weerwind. It was so awesome and by the end of our lesson he was basically begging us to be baptized. It was so cool!

The Scripture insight for the week is Mosiah 2:5-6

5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they   pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and   their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.

 6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple,every man   having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them; 

In our world today we face a lot of difficult things. The world in it's hustle and bustle is becoming more and more wicked. This past weekend we were able to have a zone conference about the Temple. I have come to appreciate the temple being away from one and not being able to go in the country that I am in but I know that every house hold can arm themselves together against the fiery darts of the adversary and everyone has their "doors towards the temple" That meaning that you all, as a family, are focusing on the temple, that everyone has a goal to go there and that you are also attending as a family OFTEN. It is a house of learning. I encourage all of you to make your homes more temple centered and preparing to enter into the Holy House of the Lord. Love you all! 

-Elder Lewis

Week #45

Dearest Family and Friends,

This week was a wild and wet one, very wet. I feel like the earth is once again being flooded. Every street is literally underwater and it's very fun to bike through. I want to give a shout out to all the mothers out there and for all you do. My mother in particular who is just amazing in every way and is the glue of our family!

This week was good one. One of the greatest miracles was our investigator Anna who is just progressing at light speed. She said she is basically ready to get baptized right now. It has been a huge miracle for us and I know she will be a huge support for the branch. We had a mothers day activity on Saturday night which turned into the members singing karaoke to old time blues and country music (super random) but it was super super funny.

Scripture of the week is 3 Nephi 24:2-3
 2 But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.  3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
To refine is defined as is to purify while making small changes and a fuller is someone who's job was to wash clothes to make them white and pure. THIS IS THE ROLE OF THE SAVIOR. Christ, our captain, His number one goal and purpose was to bring to pass the atonement to allow us to refine our weaknesses and cleanse our sins. I am so grateful for that because refining is a process, not a one time thing. It is small changes here and there to ultimately becoming a saint through the Atonement of Christ. I love you all so much and have a wonderful week!
-Elder Lewis

Week #44

Hello One and All,

This last week was a good one. Can't complain at all. First of all I want to give a big shout out to my dog, Lucy, who waddled across the veil this last week. She was the best dog that anyone could ask for and the toughest. I am convinced that dog didn't feel pain but luckily all animals receive a fullness of joy through the Atonement so I can imagine she's got someone to rub her belly 24/7. Sounds like a fullness of joy to me!

Anyways so cool thing that happened this week our investigator Kalof brought another one of our investigators to church. That was super cool. We are excited for the upcoming weeks to see some baptisms for us! There were 4 baptisms this last Saturday and it was such a cool service to watch. The church in Suriname is growing so fast. It's kinda crazy to think about how big it will be in 5, 10, or 15 years. We are excited for our baptisms on the 14th and 28th! Hopefully all will go well and we will be able to accomplish that goal.

Helaman 3:35 

Nevertheless they did fast‍ and pray‍ oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ,unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying‍ and the sanctification‍ of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding‍ their hearts unto God.

The spiritual thought for this week is this scripture. I love this scripture because it shows that becoming like Christ is a process. But also it gives us a formula on how to achieve that. I love the word yielding. It means to surrender or give up everything. I really love that. I know that progress comes from our personal surrender to the will of the Lord and if we inquire to find that out, He will show it unto us, the question is, do we have the attitude of Samuel who said "Speak; for thy servant heareth." (1 Samuel 3:10) Through this we will become purified and sanctified and qualify for celestial glory.

Love you all!!

-Elder Lewis