No Snow Yet

November 4, 2013
Dear Everybody,
I am still grateful for the lack of snow here. It rained pretty hard for a few days this week, but we managed to avoid a hurricane last Sunday. (It wasn't going to be crazy, but enough to keep us in.)
Halloween...i can't believe that it is over and I can't tell you how much I am glad because of that. Halloween has never been my thing, especially here where they don't even sell mini chocolate, just ugly gummy candy.
     For Halloween P-day, we dressed up (not really me, I've never been creative with the costumes) and met up as a zone at the Newcastle Chapel. There, we were sorted into houses (it was absolutely hilarious. There was the music, the sorting hat, and all) I was Slytherin, of course. Then we had contests. One was the Weetabix Whistle challenge. It was horrid. We had to eat a whole Weetabix as fast as possible, and then whistle. the first team to whistle, won.

Elder Harris & Elder Richards...yes they brought the carpet
(Aladdin and Jasmine for those who couldn't tell)

     On actual Halloween though, we had to be in at 6:30 so Sister Nigido and I celebrated properly by making a Christmas paper chain advent, and listening to Christmas music.
     There were some incredible miracles this week. Our goal for new investigators at the beginning of the week was 4. Half way through the week we were still struggling. I was struggling with having the faith to find people who are sincere about learning more of our message. We had decided one night that we would go knock some houses at Beaconside just before a tea appointment at a nearby street. We did, and I just had the feeling somebody would be interested. A man earlier on in that street even said, "I bet you'll find someone along here somewhere" (he was most likely being sarcastic, and trying to get rid of us, but I decided to just add his comment to my faith, hahaha)

Real Holly!

   Well, at the perfect time, an elderly lady, Joyce, answered her door, and we talked to her for a few minutes. then she let us in! We taught her and her husband, David, and it went wonderfully. I could see David's eyes become brighter as we taught more about God's love for us and about eternal families. We left with a commitment for them to read the BOM, and they became our new investigators.
     Then, Friday, we were knocking a street that I felt a while ago that we should make our way to. It was incredible. the first house let us in, we taught him, and he believed everything we said was true! Except he said that he's a Baptist and he believes God is ruling all of the churches...and that he really feels the Pope needs to change some things about the Catholic church... So, I don't think he really understood what he said when he mentioned God rules all of the churches... in a way I found it comical and a tad frustrating. Haha.
     The rest of the street was really receptive as well. We met a man, Oley, who became another new investigator. He doesn't believe in God, and he doesn't even believe in spirits. He's an engineer with some big company somewhere. He GAVE his daughter a brand new BMW. Anyway, he doesn't even see how if there were spirits, they could find each other because the earth is moving so fast that when the people die it's always in a different position. It was something I've never heard before, but I guess it will take a bit of understanding about the nature of God and this life.

Sister Mitchel...one of my greatest friends from Leeds.

    Then, yesterday, the last day we could have found any new investigators this week, we went to see Gwen. Sister Stromberg was on exchange with me here two weeks ago and we knocked into Gwen. She talked to us, and told ust that she wasn't interested and not to bother coming back. Then last week, Sister Nigido and I were out finding and I didn't remember that we had already knocked that street. We were half way down the street and of all of the doors we knocked on, it  was Gwen's. She was the only one on that road that we talked to previously. It was a miracle. I didn't' even recognize her at first but when  I did, and I realized she was happy to see us, I saw that it was a great miracle and that we were definitely guided there. She told us to come back on the weekend, and so that's when we went last night. She is our newest investigator! We taught her about the plan of salvation, and because of some hard times she is going through, she was feeling inadequate this past week and I felt that my faith to make miracles happen was waning, but the Lord has blessed Sister Nigido and me so much for our willingness and faith. We could have stayed in the flat last night because we technically had our tea hour and then language study, but I felt seeing Gwen was worth a try. It was definitely worth it.
     God loves us and he is watching out for us. We just need to humble ourselves and press forward in keeping His commandments and heeding the promptings of the Spirit.

Love you all,
Sister Lybbert




November 11, 2013

 Dear family,
I hope that you are all well and that you have been enjoying the snow because I'm still happy that we have no snow, just rain.

     There have been some great miracles this week. Saturday though, our fourth appointment with Anne and her girls fell through. I was pretty discouraged about it. It is so frustrating when things get in the  way that I know only get in the way because SOMEONE is trying to stop people from progressing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I happened to us most of this week with all of our investigators. I felt like our work was going no where. (Although we were visiting less-actives and that is just as important.) Anyway, yesterday Anne and her 10 year old daughter, Niemph, said they would be coming to church. We have Relief Society, then Sunday School, and then Sacrament Meeting. they said that they'd come for Sacrament. However, it started and they still weren't there. Then, just after the opening prayer, there they were! I almost jumped out of my seat I was so happy. We also had Audrey, a less-active who hasn't been to church in 20 or more years come too! It was a fantastic miracle, especially since we are whitewashing and have only been here for three weeks.
     Whitewashing for the third time does not make it any easier but I have seen so many miracles come from it and I feel that it helps me keep strengthening my faith.
   P-days are probably the most stressful days of the week and I forget everything I meant to tell you about.

It's autumn time!

     We found some great new investigators this week. Our neighbor, Marilyn, who has lung cancer and is praying herself free of it (and she' is improving). She's Methodist and very strong in her faith. We had the Elders go over and give her a priesthood blessing. ( We didn't go with them since that isn't allowed), but they were able to teach her a little bit which we hadn't been able to do yet. So, we now have an appointment with her Friday. We are praying all will go well with that.
     We met some more less-actives this week. One couple we went to see has the biggest dog I've ever seen. It is an American Bulldog but it is honestly the size of  the fake massive dog on the Sandlot, or bigger. I decided I really, really, really don't like dogs unless they are Ozzy's size or smaller. Even then, that's pushing it.
     I love this ward. Our Ward Mission Leader is the absolute best on the planet. I'm not joking you. Brother Mcfadyan is the kindest and the most enthusiastic about missionary work. We have meetings twice a week, plus, he is always willing to hold more if we need them. He is the greatest.
   I don't really know what else to say, except that things are going well and the work is definitely hastening. We had another great p-day at the beach last week, and one of my favorite (worldly) things is Ambrosia Rice Pudding from a can.

Love you,
Sister Lybbert


November 18, 2013

Dear Family,

I'm glad your Remembrance Day was nice. Mine was too. We had a few minutes of silence, and in Sacrament Meeting the talks were based on sacrifice.
     this week has been one of some great miracles. Last week we stopped by Marcy and Talia's house to see if they were in. I'm not sure if I told you about Marcy and Talia. Marcy is 18 and she  is interested in the church since her best friend, Johnny, died in August. Johnny was in our ward and so we are close with his mom. She want's to know more because the church was important to him and she believes there must be a god somewhere.

Our socks from Sister Docherty

   Talia is Marcy's 12 year old sister. She's adorable. She is reading the Book of Mormon and she wants to be a missionary. We told her she's going to have to be baptized first, haha. She's so sweet. We are so excited to help her and Marcy progress. Anyway, last week we met Talia and she's going to Young Women's with us on Wednesday.
     Another miracle was Saturday. We went by a potential to see if they were home, and they weren't. I was feeling a bit discouraged about it because it is a somewhat common occurrence. We walked and knocked the doors down their walk, I wasn't really feeling inspiration to do it, my feet were just taking me that direction. then, Imogen answered the door. At first she said, "Are you Mormons?"
"Yes! Do you know much about us?"
       "Yeah! I watch this guy, Shay Carl, on YouTube and he's a Mormon!"
 "Really? Well. could we share a message with you for a few minutes?"
     "Sure, come in!"

A card from Eve W. in Primary

It was crazy. She let us in, we met her and her little brother who is 14 and they are so excited to take the challenge we gave them to find out if the message that we share is true. They love Shay Carl and how family oriented he is. It's funny because Imogen told us in one of his videos he says if you ever have missionaries knock on your door, let them in and listen to what they have to say. I was so so so so happy. the Lord has great ways of preparing people.
   Among those big miracles, we had millions upon millions of small ones. A lady that has been less-active for 20+ years ( Audrey) came to church again yesterday! Whoo!
     This week has been great and tomorrow is ZONE CONFERENCE! I can't believe it has already been three months since the last one. And Transfers are next week. I don't think we'll be transferred so I'm not worried. I could stay in South Shields for the remainder of my mission. It is incredible.
     Thank you to the Relief Society (Sis. Taylor) and the Fishers for the emails and thank you, thank you to the Hubbards for the letters, and to Cammie for the card with the Thomas stickers and all of the other cards, and to Kaiah for being a regular writer. I'm working on her reply. AND I LOVE EVERYONE, so thank you ;)
Love you all,
Sister Lybbert