More missionaries in the family!

August 18, 2014
Dear Mom & Everyone,
It sounds like you have had a great week full of lots and lots of crazy fun things. there really aren't many lakes in England I don't think, at least, the only lakes that I've heard of in my mission is "The Lake District" which everyone goes to for holiday, and it is out of my mission boundaries.
    Spencer, Spencer, Spencer. What a gem. I miss that individual [in reference to Sis. L's cousin].

    It is  crazy that Jared didn't recognize Ashy, I don't feel like time has continued for anyone else but me, but, I guess it does!

Samara asked for this picture ages ago.
(She made these toothpick
dolls for Sis. Lybbert)

District photo!

    This week has been pretty exhausting, but good. I decided that I was actually going to try and put effort into morning exercise (instead of just exercising my eyelids whilst stretching...) so that might have had something to do with it, plus we have been endlessly knocking on doors for this transfer. Sister Seely and I have really been trying to be as obedient as we can, as effective as we can, and as positive and grateful as we can be because we just have not been teaching anybody who wants the gospel bad enough to work for it, and that's sad.
     Well, the Lord heard our prayers and helped us to both feel that we are adequate, and hard-working and that He is mindful of us. It is so hard on a mission to differentiate between feeling like you are doing your best and the Lord is just testing diligence and patience, or if you are doing something wrong in your finding techniques, or obedience, or you're not 'skilled' enough at street contacting, etc.
     The last two days, were the first times in ages that we've found somebody that told us we could come back and share more. We have return appointments with both, and members to accompany us. I could not be more grateful.
     The weather has become cold; it feels like it is Autumn. Last summer was so long, and hot, but yesterday we had cold winds and I felt like I was back in Southern Alberta. Haha.

Pistachio Pudding!

     I really have  felt my testimony of the gospel increase this week though as I've been studying on how to become more Christlike, and how to put my heart in this work even more. I love Sacrament meeting too, it has become one of the best highlights of my week.
     Also, thanks for replying to Sarah C, she really appreciates it. She's the sweetest.
Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Lybbert :)



August 26, 2014
Dear Family,
It is so exciting that we have yet another missionary in the family! Jayson will love it. I wish I could have been there for his talk, but I guess being a fellow missionary cousin with him is something only Gilbert and I got to do, which is way cooler. ahem. ;)
     Congratulations to Ashy for doing so well in the Highland games! You are phenomenal, girl!
     This week has been pretty great. We have been experiencing cold weather though, which isn't ideal, but we've been able to find a few potential investigators, one of which we are meeting with tonight, and I'm pretty happy about it.
     It's crazy because after a while of being here and experiencing missionary work, I haven't really come up with much to tell you that is new. I love Harrogate still, and Sister Seely is wonderful and I finally got the bathroom floor clean. (I thought the dirt was permanent, but now that we've mopped it a lot of times, it seems to be a bit better...I'm still wearing my slippers around the house though.).

Sister Seely's depiction of our nationalities

     And Grandma Lybbert will be pleased to know that I used her tactic for getting rid of fruit flies and it worked tremendously well. At first, Sister Seely wasn't quite sure about it, but when she saw the success, she was very pleased. We made three jars with funnels in them and fruit at the bottom, and then we'd put them in the freezer when they'd get a decent amount of flies. It was a food feeling to rid the house of something else that's gross.
     I have had some incredible personal studies this week.  This morning I was reading through The Gospel of Jesus Christ in Preach My Gospel and that led me to reading about happiness, and prayer, and sacrifice. I love how God really does know what experiences we need to help us grow. Some of the things that I've experienced on the mission have been perfect for that time. Just as we missionaries plan spiritual experiences for the people we teach, Heavenly Father has done that for us and he has backup plans too. That is also the beauty of agency. I love that this is all so simple, but so very intricate.
     I'm happy, the sun is shining, the work is doing well, and today we have a lunch appointment at the Peirce's, which is always extremely and absolutely delightful!

I love you all,
Sister Lybbert :)