Incredible week

Dear Family,
This week has been pretty incredible. We had some wonderful visits with the members, and transfers didn't change anything here in South Shields.

Sweater from Auntie Trishy
 and Uncle Mark

     Talyia met us at the church last week so that we could read the BOM with her and originally she was supposed to come with her friend, Ellie, but Ellie wasn't able to make it and we were somewhat disappointed, but we went and to our surprise, we saw Talyia coming up to the chapel with a friend! It wasn't Sally or Ellie either so we knew she has really been inviting all of her friends to hear about the gospel. She's  a great example to me. Her friends are all looking at the changes she's made in her life and her example and I don't think they realize how immensely these things change lives. Of all of the people I've ever met, these 12 year olds are the most powerful. understanding, and receptive of all of the people I've taught. It's absolutely breathtaking how the your are so strong.

With Talyia and Brother
and Sister Power

     The great thing is that the youth are the strongest people we meet, but they can also be the complete opposite because the gap between good and bad is definitely widening and it is happening fast. It seems that the teenage girls here are either getting drunk on the weekends, or they are discovering the role of their Father in Heaven and their Saviour. I feel so much responsibility in bringing them to the knowledge that there is more to life than just living and dying. I feel so much love for them because I know that being that age is hard, and peer pressure is hard, but I know that they can be powerful and become great disciples of Jesus Christ. Talyia has opened my eyes on the greatness of the youth, and to think that our Joshy is now 12 as well, I have such great hope for him.

This is for Keith...Christmas morning!

     So, please read your scriptures, pray with all the energy of heart, and prepare yourself to partake in the ordinance of the Sacrament every week. Invite the missionaries over.
   I have really loved to hear all of your stories about Family History work and it got me inspired. We are going to hold a class in a few weeks that we can invite people to as we're knocking, for them to find out how they can know about their ancestors. I am also VERY excited because on lds.org you can order your ancestor's patriarchal blessings (I discovered that back in June) andI kept think back on that and how I needed to order some of my great-grandmother's, and so I did and I can't wait. I think that is incredible that we are able to do that.
   Some scriptures that I really love lately are:
Romans 8: 35-39
2 Corinthians 4: 8-10
Alma 37: 35-37

A Cemetery. They're all neat but
I like the ivy

    They have really helped me and strengthened my testimony that God is always on our side and we can rely on Him through all hard times. I also love what Elder Kearan (1st counselor in the European Area Seventy?) said at the last Mission tour. He told us that we need to realize that nobody is the same person this week as they were last week and that we shouldn't judge others or ourselves because of that. We can become close to Christ day by day and so we must not be harsh on others or ourselves if we are sincerely trying to work toward that. I feel like the time here is going by so quickly and that I don't have time to become the person I hope to be by the end. I can't believe that it is January.
     I love this work.
     I love you all,

  Sister Lybbert

Happy New Year

January 7, 2014
This week has been lots of fun. We had some great lessons, and miracles and good news...all four South Shields sisters are STAYING! WHOO! The intensity transfer night every 6 weeks gets crazier and crazier. I was pretty sure we'd be staying though. Not too much even changed  this transfer with our zone. And, exciting news, Sister Monroe is now a Sister Trainer Leader. It's so great to be able to go on exchanges with them all of the time, and now I live with one. :)
     My mind is blanked...but we found a fantastic new investigator! Her name is Samantha and we met her while we were knocking. I may have already mentioned her (I can't remember anything during e-mail time) but she is incredible. We had our first lesson with her on Thursday and she was so enthusiastic about being able to pray and find out if Joseph Smith really did see God and Jesus Christ. She felt the Spirit strongly and she had a great desire to come to church with us on Sunday. It was all too perfect though (things like this don't happen with ease...the devil always has a way of slowing things down...) and ten minutes before Sacrament Meeting, she texted us saying there was some problems with support from her family and friends. It devastated me, but we are praying that she will get in contact with us again and that all is not lost.
    It's funny Mom, that you mentioned Joseph Fielding Smith's book, because I picked that up today and read through the beginning about his mission. It really made me feel better and helped me again, to understand that this is all in the Lord's timing, even if this isn't Samantha's time, it will happen.
     As for Ashleigh, she's doing brilliantly. We are seeing her again tonight and she loved church on Sunday. She's really motivated to make all of the necessary changes and to gain the courage she needs to change her work schedule around. There are so many blessings that we have experienced this past week. I was nervous to go from having so much holiday to full throttle missionary work, but it has proved to be even greater than before.
    New Year's Eve we spent with Kirsty, her mom, and Sister Dodsworth. I love those three. They're hilarious together. We watched The Sound of Music and had some absolutely canny commentary fro everyone. I loved it. We then watched the end bit of  "Nativity!" because we love it.
   New Year's Day we had off entirely (which is probably the last day of my mission that will happen) and there was no transit going that day so we weren't able to go to Durham Cathedral like we had planned. Not to worry though, because we had a really spiritual and uplifting time in the flat. We read through our Patriarchal Blessings individually and then took some time to make goals for this year that would help us with becoming who God needs us to be. Then, we shared our goals with each other. It was actually so incredible and the Spirit was strong. I'm very excited for the year 2014. I just can't believe that it is already here. It is THE YEAR where Sister Lybbert will work harder and be stronger and become closer to God than she ever has before.
   I love you all and I'm grateful for your love and support. I am so grateful that my little bro has taken on the great responsibility of becoming a Deacon. I'm so happy to be here. I'm loving it.
    Oh! and on Saturday, Sister Nigido and I did some service for Len and Elsie Power because they have done so much for us over the Christmas time and when we first arrived here. So, we made them a nice dinner (Talyia helped us too!). We made the mushroom chicken Dad always makes and banana bread for 'pudding.' It was delicious  and they loved it too!
   Now for some more fun stories of how small the world is:
Sister Power (formerly Sister Elsie Deacon - she was just re-married last summer) has a daughter-in-law who lives in Sugar City, Id. He name is Katie Deacon. Could someone ask Marnie and Doug if they know her? AND Sister Power also served a mission as a senior sister in Nauvoo when we would have been there! Not only that, but the lady from the frozen custard shop, Helen Campbell, is a really great friend of hers now AND she is from Magrath [Welling actually]. All too fun :)
The church is true and being a part of this work is beyond incredible.
I love you all,
Sister Lybbert

Thank you to everyone for the Christmas packages!

December 30, 2013

Dear Family,

     It was so good to see you all on Skype as well! I was nervous at first and was trying to think of what I could really say, but it all seemed to go smoothly. I wish I could have taken longer because there is even more to tell you and I forgot to sing you the song I know in German! I was gutted when I realized I had forgotten to sing it for you! haha
     So my birthday was excellent. We had FHE at Claire's (the YW President) with Talyia and Sally and we watched The Polar Express in our onesies. I may or may not send photos...haha.
     Well, it just started raining again...blah.
     Then, Christmas Eve we had District Meeting and then a Zone lunch. Sister Peck and I made chocolate chip pancakes and then we all played a quick game of football in the chapel gym (in our missionary attire...it was fun).
     After that, we went caroling to a couple of the member's houses. We went to Edwige's, I will send a photo. Her and her kids are all so adorable. And then, we had to be in our flats at 4 so we built a huge fort in our living room and then we went to Sister Dodsworth's with Kirsty and Maureen (Kirsty's Mom) and then Sister Burgham. We had an absolutely wonderful evening. We read the Christmas Story, sang carols, I sang the lullaby you wrote mom, and then we ate food and told funny stories. It was a Christmas Eve I will never forget. I felt so happy.
    That night, we had t he greatest dance party to our wonderful selection of Christian Rap and Disney songs, and then we had a sleepover in our fort AND we were allowed to lie in until 8. To be honest, it still felt like half six but it wasn't. We then sand some carols and opened our gifts.
     So, thank you to the Fishers for the album, to my family for the Celtic necklace, the hat, the music and everything: Tirshy, Becky, Grandma and Grandpa, the Hubbards for the package and the basket of fruit (MUCH appreciated because everyone is just giving us chocolate and biscuits...haha), and all the other people who sent things. I really loved everything that was sent over. I appreciate it all so much and love you all for it. I am so grateful to you all.
      Later on Christmas we went to Ashley and Mick Cave's for dinner. It was lush, we had the works, turkey, ham, and so many good things and then for pudding we had sticky toffee pudding. Delightful!
  Then we went to the Kinghorn's and watched "What a Girl Wants" (because we all love it haha) while others Skyped, and then I Skyped. Then we went to Marian Deacon's so that another one of us could Skype and then we watched Home Alone 2.
     Boxing Day was nice as well. We had the day off for the most part so we chilled out, cleaned up the Christmas mess and then we went to the Hern's to play some games (YES, I played games!) We played Logo's and then I taught them how to play "Things". It was really fun.
     Then we had some good lessons with Ashley, and quite a few less-actives the following days. Ashley is so great. She has some concerns but nothing that is too hard to deal with. She's so solid. I really enjoy teaching her because she is so understanding and feels the Spirit strongly as we teach.
      I have had a fabulous Christmas season. I can't believe that it's almost over. New Years Day we have to be in at 4 again. We get to sleep in until 8! Whoo!!
   I love this work and I'm grateful for all that you have done to help me in it.
Love,
Sister Lybbert

Happy Birthday to Me and Merry Christmas!

December 23, 2013
Well folks, yep it's my birthday. I'm 21. That is unreal. Yay.
     Last week was fab. We had our Christmas party where the Billingham, Newcastle, and Sunderland Zones got together and partied. President and Sister Pilkington were there too. We had pizza, had the best talent show I've ever seen, and then watched "It's a Wonderful Life." I absolutely loved it all. For the talent show, President and Sister P did an Elf-Yourself video and it was probably the best thing I've ever seen.
      We sand a beautiful song, which I will try to send. If not, you'll have to wait until next year.

Sisters L & N with Talyia

Waiting for the metro

     And last week was marvelous because Talyia was baptized! It was the sweetest and the most memorable moment of my mission thus far. She's an absolute doll and she knows the importance of the covenants she has made with our Heavenly Father. In the past month of teaching her, we've had so much fun and felt the Spirit strongly. But the best part was right before she went under the water. I saw her eyes fill with tears and then she had all of us tearing up. I've never experienced such a powerful moment as that and it was a darling 12 year old girl who understood possibly more than anyone i know, how important this step in her live was.\     Then, yesterday, we had the Carol Service and it was adorable. All the kids were dressed up and seriously I wish all children had the accent they have here. It's adorable.\
    Also, Kaiah and Cammie especially, you NEED to watch "Nativity!". It is hilarious. Please, please, please watch it. You'll die laughing.
   What else? Well, this morning I woke up feeling a bit older, wiser and chubbier than usual. The latter isn't as nice but I deal with it, haha.
    I love the necklace, Mom, and I opened the b-day present from the members too. I saved everything else for Christmas though. AND Sister Munroe, Neilson, and Nigido decorated our study room last night and gave me a SPONGEBOB COLOURING BOOK. I could not be happier. Haha.
     We are gong to Michella's for lunch today. It's a famous Italian Ice Cream Cafe.
I love you all and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love,
Sister Lybbert

with Kirsty

with Sister Monroe at Toby's Carvery

Another Baptism coming up!

December 16, 2013
Dear Family,
I have some excitifying news. Talyia is going to be baptized this Saturday! WHOO! She's definitely ready and we love her to bits. She's also hilarious and she always makes fun of my Canadian accent. On my birthday we're going to have FHE with her and tonight we are going Christmas caroling. It's so fun to teach her as well.

Christmas Tree FHE with the Herns

     There are more miracles this week as well (as always...but this one is especially nice). On Tuesday someone rang the Bishop's office to ask about meeting times (miracle #1), then the bishop forgot to ask for their name and number (-1 miracle, haha), then Brother Jones dialed some magical code in the phone and got the number (miracle #2), and then gave the number to us. Then we phoned a few days later and made an appointment for the next day to introduce the church to her (miracle #3), AND she came! (miracle #4). We had an incredible lesson with her. Her name is Ashley and she's definitely prepared. We taught her the first two lessons and she accepted a baptismal goal! (miracle #5). AND Talyia came early for her interview so she sat in at the end of our lesson and, bless her, she testified so beautifully! (miracle #6). We are so happy and very grateful. And Talyia is as ready for baptism as she'll ever be. She's reading regularly and she has been having a great time at church. It's so cute because she wears her "I love Ed Sheeran" hoodie to church and comes on her Penny Board. She even came to church when she slept over at her friend's house the night before. She's really making it a priority. I will most definitely miss her when I'm transferred.

With Sister Munroe

     There have been more miracles. I found a warm coat! Sister Monroe and I bought the same ones so now we are all matchy matchy. And we are writing a most fantastic Christmas Carol melody. I will video it so you can see it in the future. Christmas is so soon! AND I am 21soon...argh...I want to be `5. I don't believe I've had a full year of being 20...that's not okay!
    No snow! (miracle #780921340978) and there is a lady in this library who is wearing a string of Christmas lights shaped as Santas. (-1 miracle)
   What else? Well I loveyou all.
   Happy Christmas!
Love,
Sister Lybbert

p.s. thank you for the girts, and letters, and cards, and thank you to Grandma and Grandpa L for the Mickey Mouse bandaids because I had a paper cut when I opened the card, and because I know when I was little I'd always use up all of your super durable fabric band-aids. :)

Fabulous Week

December 9, 2013
Dear Everybody,
     THANK YOU for the whackload of e-mails today. I don't have time to reply to all of them, I'm in a bit of a rush today but I do appreciate every single one.
     To all of you who inquired about sending Christmas things, they are to be sent to my flat, not the mission office (to avoid chaos). However, since it will probably arrive after Christmas, it is alright if you send them to the mission office. If you need my flat address, contact my mom (assuming you know the telephone number) and she can give it to you or e-mail it, or facebook it.
     This week has been so so so great. Gwen is progressing! Before we met with her on Saturday, I was feeling a little doubtful that she has been working on the Word of Wisdom like we had committed her to because she flogged our appointment on Friday. We felt that we should go by on Saturday and see how she was doing.
     We went to her house, and there on the table was a cup of coffee, therefore, by doubts were still somewhat present. But, when we asked her about it, she said she's improved from drinking 15 cups a day and is now only drinking SEVEN. Whoo! And, she flogged but it was because she had to help her daughter and our appointment just slipped her mind. It made me so happy. She's even looking for options to help her to stop smoking. She is praying sincerely for help as well. I am so so happy.

Talyia

Talyia and Trish

     AND Talyia...golden. We were able to meet with her quite a  lot this week, and we even met with her mum and Marcy [her sister]. It was so nice and she's been reading the Book of Mormon regularly.  She's on chapter 11. She texts us whenever she reads a chapter because she's so excited. She came to church again yesterday and although we weren't in Young Women's or Sunday School with her, Clair (the YW president) said that Talyia was answering all of the questions, and even doing the writing on t he board. She also brought a friend to the activity on Wednesday. She's a great example to her family and friends. And she's only 12! She's not much older than Joshy. I feel like Josh must be so old now because Talyia is clever, mature, and she is gaining a real testimony of the gospel.
    We've had a fabulous week.

Our Family Christmas tree photo

What else? I love having flatmates. It makes everything so funny and exciting.



And I'm so excited for Christmas.
Love you all,
Sister Lybbert

Weeks 24 and 25

November 25, 2013
Excitifying news with transfers! I'm not moving, Sister Nigido is also staying and WE'RE GETTING FLATMATES! There is another set of sisters coming to South Shields and I could not be more  thrilled. It is Sister Monroe and her trainee whom we will meet tomorrow. There is a good chance, since there are only three sisters coming in this transfer, that it is Sister Neilson, my fellow Canadian / long lost cousin. I am so happy. Ah, the joy!

On the metro at 5 a.m. for zone conference

     The weather hasn't been too bad. Today it is quite nice but on Wednesday it was hellish. (I'm convinced hell is a place where there is freezing rain, cold winds, boisterous thunder, lightning, and nobody has proper coats or boots or mittens.) Our appointment fell through Wednesday evening and we were knocking in it. I am going to buy a new coat sometime soon, but when P-day rolls around the weather is nice and I fell more motivated to do other things, like be at the chapel with all of the missionaries. Last week, Elder and Sister Marsh, the missionary couple in Newcastle, brought loads and loads of apples they'd picked from a member's tree and all of us were slicing them and then they made apple pie. That's something I miss, is Dad's apple pie. We watched Monster's University. I think I loved it better than the first one. It was hilarious!

across the Tyne to North Shields

Sister Nigido (my daughter), me,
Sister Decker (my sister), Sister Jodicke
 (my mother) and Sister Burningham
 (my grandmother)

     On to the more spiritual side of things, Talyia is the most adorable friend of ours. She is so excited to come to Young Women's with us tomorrow and she came to the ward buffet / Georgina's baptism on Saturday. Georgina was being taught by the Elders. Elder Saolotoga, from Australia and Elder Wells from Utah. It was a miracle because not only Talyia came, but her mom slipped in the back just as the dinner was about to start. I'm so grateful her mom came to be with her. The other night, her mom stayed and listened for a little bit while we were reading the Book of Mormon with her. Talyia is the sweetest girl in England. If I'm ever rich enough, I'm flying her over to visit me in Canada. She is only 12 but she has real desires to know more about Jesus Christ, and about how she can find peace in this life and the one to come. It was so cute because she was outside with her Penny Board when we showed up for one of our appointments, and her dad was in but her mom wasn't so we couldn't go inside. So, we ended up teaching her while we made laps around the block. We probably walked around her block 12 times and it was so cute because I fell like she's just like Ashy in some ways and I care about her just like a little sister.

Sisters Cavallero and Nigido...
my friends from Italy

     I love South Shields. We went on exchanges with some of the sisters in the ward last week as well and I had such a great time. I don't know what else to say except I love it here.
I'm so happy Kaiah is loving her job, and things are going well.
I love you all so much and I'm always praying for you. The Lord is mindful of all of his people and he will guide us and help us when we humble ourselves and ask in faith.
Love,
 Sister Lybbert




December 2, 2013
Dear Family,
Oh, bless! Penny and Erik are adorable! [cousins' babies that I sent pictures of to Sister Lybbert] I am so happy that you were able to go down and see them and that I was sent photos. Mom, you look hot (young, vibrant, happy) ....so do Grandpa and Grandma.
     This week was excellent. It is really funny because the flatmates that we gained in South Shields are Sister Monroe and Sister Neilson, my long lost cousin from Cardston! It was so strange to meet another person from home. We were looking through photos and it's odd to see people that I know or when we were looking through Mara's wedding photos, it was weird for her because she's really good friends with Kirsty.
     I still haven't found a warm coat, I was going to today and then we decided to go to Newcastle for P-day and watch anime with all of the other missionaries...yes, we do that on our p-days and I'm not complaining...I'm actually enjoying it. I think because with my Chinese missionaries, and all the other missionaries it is just so funny. I know how to say "What are you?!" in Mandarin. Sister Wu taught me. :) She's from mainland China and was converted when she was at school in Greece. Her MTC teacher was the missionary who taught her in Greece. Small world ;)
     This week was great. We saw some miracles as we extended the Word of Wisdom commitment to Gwen, and she accepted! Gwen is so sweet. She has so many struggles, nevertheless, she is willing to exercise faith and try giving up her smoke and coffee.
     Talyia is a doll. She came to church on Sunday and she loved it, and she came to young Women's last Wednesday and loved that as well. WE made pizzas. She made a sweet one with peanut butter, jam and all sorts of sweets. It is hilarious because people here don't even comprehend how peanut butter and jam go together. Sister Nigido thought I was off my rocker when I put it on my toast. She loves her giant jar of Nutella and all of her other Italian things. She has real Parmesan cheese and real mozzarella cheese... like not the kind you shake out of a tub. Fancy schmancy.

   What else? Well, I love this ward to bits.

I've been asked to sing at the Relief Society Christmas Party and I was wondering if you could e-mail me some songs or things that we could maybe do? I don't know if I'll have time next week but I'd like O, Holy Night if you could send it. :)
   I'm so excited to see your book! I cannot wait.
   I don't really know what else to say, except that IT"S DECEMBER AND CHRISTMAS IS SO SOON!
I'm not sure how the Skype thing works, but will any time work for you? We'll probably do it in the evening or late afternoon here.
Love you lots,
Merry Christmas!
Sister Lybbert