First Baptismal Date!

     This week has been so great. Fiona had her baptismal interview yesterday and she is ready! She is being baptized on August 3rd at 6:00. You are all invited. ;)
     Magrath days sounds like it was fun. This is only the second time I haven't been. The first being when we were on our church history tour. I'm not too broken up about it though, although I could go for a nice family pot-luck right about now, haha.
     Spencer W. is a good kid. I mean it. never did I ever think a 6 hour road trip with my littler cousin would be so fun. (I knew he was cool, but I didn't realize HOW cool.)
     This is so exciting hearing about everybody's mission calls. I didn't even know half of the people you tell me about are going. It is such a great experience and I wouldn't trade it. Not even for all the pancakes and maple syrup in the world.

A double decker bus...I wish
it was red but blue will suffice

     As for me, this week has been a good week. We have been visiting Joyce (the really elderly lady) regularly and I love her more and more every time we visit. last week Sister Jodicke and I were having a bit of a hard time (not with each other, but the work wasn't going as well as we wanted and we were feeling a bit down-hearted). We went to Joyce and sat in her tiny living room and asked her how she was doing. She's becoming a lot more positive although she never really says her day has been good. We started teaching about the importance of the Book of Mormon. She wasn't quite understanding it. We then used personal experience, and started talking about why we were missionaries and how we sacrificed because of how important the message of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of Jesus Christ's gospel is. She was amazed by it and she asked, "don't you miss your families?" We then answered truthfully, saying that sometimes it is difficult but we know that this is only a short time we are able to devote ourselves to this work. She then took our hands, and very lovingly told us that we must never forget that our mothers feel the same way about us being gone. She said such lovely things that I will never forget. She stated that there is a special bond between a mother and her children, and no matter where her children are in the world, a mother feels like there is still a connection. She hugged us and told us that we are always to remember how much our mothers love us and that for now, she can be our mother. She is the sweetest person and I love her so much. I would have never thought that by showing her we loved her these past few weeks, even though she never showed any interest of love back, would make such a difference in my life and in her life.
     The next time we visited she told us something else that was so amazing. She told us something like this:
"You aren't going to believe me, but there is actually something different about you two. I mean, I have grandchildren, and children, and I love them. But, you come here and I feel a kind of love that I have never felt before. I feel like you love me, and I only met you a short while ago."
     We were then able to tell her that what she was feeling was the Holy Spirit and we were able to testify to her that we were called by a prophet of God to be representatives of Jesus Christ, and to love people just as Christ loves us. That was the moment when she understood why we loved her and why we had devoted this time to the service of God. That was the first time she knew she had felt the Spirit of God. It was incredible.
     A few days later, we visited again and brought her some of the roses from our front garden. It is really cute how happy she is to see us now. I could visit her every day.
     Some other really great expediences have happened this week too. We went to Bible Study again with the Born Again Christians. It is held at a couple's house right near some other investigators and Jayne Mason, so it's really convenient. Whenever we go, they are so happy to see us and ask us to come back. The Bible Study started with prayer again, and I can't remember if I mentioned it last time, but their prayers are really loud and long and it is almost impossible for me to pray silently. I still try, but I know why we are supposed to pry in reverence. It really disrupts the Spirit when prayers are trying to over rule each other.
Anyway, the actual study went great. The Pastor talked about how we can develop joy in Christ. Then the man whose house we were in, shyly asked the Pastor to clarify what the Book of Mormon was and where it came from. He then took his Bible over to the Pastor and showed him a scripture. The scripture was (sorry, I can't remember what one exactly) it was the one about how we can't serve God and mammon. He thought we were Mammons and that we believed in the Book of Mammon. We quickly clarified that Mormon and mammon are not the same person...it was a pretty funny circumstance actually. Then the Pastor asked us to tell them what the Book of Mormon was. We ended up giving the Pastor a Book of Mormon, and he said he'd read some so that we can talk about it next week. This is one of those moments where you do a heel click down the street afterwards, haha.

The perfect house. It's adorable!

Cool caterpillar chompin' on a leaf

A park with a lot of poppies.

     I really love the ward that we are working in too. Carol Mitchell is a lady who was re-activated about 6 months ago after being inactive for years. She went on a mission to Toronto back in the day, and she is an amazing woman.There are so many people that I have met that I feel are some of my best friends, and it's hard to think that one day I will have to leave England behind and leave my friends behind. Sister Mitchell is so cute. Whenever we are at her house, she always has multiple friends from other apartments in the building drop by, and they are all such different characters but she's just the kind of person that is friends with everybody. All of these experiences I'm having just make me think that they'd make a good BBC period drama. I actually feel like I am living in one.
     Something that has been really fun lately is Sister Jodicke has been teaching me a German song. It is a happy birthday song, and I really have no idea what I'm saying, but I have memorized quite a lot of it. We practice it when we are walking and it can get really funny.

There are roses everywhere!
I wish I could show you how
beautiful the flowers here are!

 

Leeds Art Gallery

    I also am grateful to everyone who has been sending notes, pictures, cards, drawings of spiderman, etc. because everything is so much appreciated. I'm sorry if I fail to reply sometimes, but I do love the support and I love you! NOTE: Sister Lybbert mentioned in a separate email that the fire alarm in the library went off last week so her emailing time was cut short. 
     Never forget the basics of the gospel. They are what keep our testimonies and our faith strong. Always read your scriptures and pray every day. It is more important than I ever thought before and I will say this to everyone who ever reads this over and over again.
Love you,
Keep the Faith,
Sister A. Lybbert

First district: Elder Williamson(South Africa), Elder Jardine & Elder Orr
(both Utah),Elder Juran -Zone Leader (Czech), Elder Amundsen (Norway),
Sisters Lybbert & Jodicke (Germany)

Me and a slug. Double ew!

Sweet is the Work

    First, I'll send the big e-mail and if I have time, I will reply to all the others. I feel awful when I don't reply but time is limited! I do love all of those who wrote to me though and I do appreciate all of the precious notes I found in my luggage when I came over! ( In case mom forgot to mention to you that I said thank-you.)
     I don't believe it has been another week, let alone a whole transfer. It really is insane. This week we have p-day Tuesday because it is transfer week. I will not be moving, and neither will Sister Jodicke! I am happy about this. I didn't want to have to leave all of the people that I just got close t o. Also, I didn't want to haul all of my things cross-country. NOT my kind of fun. :)
     After district meeting yesterday, we all went to Origin (a world buffet) at Leeds City Center for lunch. It was great but I'm glad buffets aren't an every day option, haha.
     This week has been pretty fun. We had a zone challenge that was focused on getting members out with us (member-present). As a mission, we communicate with other missionaries often by sending answer phone (voice mail) messages to let each other know our miracles of the day, if we scheduled someone for baptism, and the zone leaders use it to let us all know of things. Anyway, the challenge was to see who could get the most member presents, and it had a point system. We all had teams too. A lesson with a member present was one point, and if the member invited to church, it was an attack point against another team. Then it was a point if we found a new investigator and another attack point, and then if we scheduled, it was a point. Sister Jodicke and I were Spongebob and Patrick and Gary (surprised?) and it was really hilarious because we often attacked the Leeds 5 Elders; Elder Parker and Elder Leavitt, who were Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippen, etc. So our anser phones often had really lengthy stories of how these characters all fought each other. It was super fun. We didn't win, sadly, but we did get a lot of member presents!
    Also this week, Fiona has really been progressing. She wasn't sure if she wanted to wait until she went back to South Korea on August 10 to get baptized or to get baptized here. She prayed about it and she decided she wanted to get baptized with Sister Jodicke and me there wit her ! YAYA! I am SO happy about this. She just needs to come to church this Sunday, and then it is all a go. I feel so blessed to have met someone and taught them to see them get baptized. She really is adorable and has a strong Spirit.
     We also went to the Bible Study again this week. I can't remember if I told you, but it is with some Born-Again people from Africa and it is held in a lady's home. It is so interesting to see how different faiths worship but also how the Light of Christ can bee seen in all kinds of people. They sing exactly like you would imagine and then they pray a lot differently than us. they sing and then all pray out loud at the same time, and they pray so intensely that they almost sound angry. (I don't know how to really explain it.) Anyway, Sister Jodicke and I just pray silently while they are praying, and it is so hard to think. I really have learned the value of reverent, personal prayers. These people are great people and they love Christ very much which  is so incredible. They are also VERY hospitable and always offer us a whole lot of fruit and jice when we go there. I love them lots.
     Family Camp sounds like it was a blast! I will definitely be making sure it is just as fun the next time around (the time that I am there anyway).  Tell Daylen that maybe he needs to invest in some more duct tape, or garbage bags, or both. Hahaha. I'm glad  the fashion show was a hit and that Ashy's plans, once again, became a favorite. She always makes elaborate plans and somehow pulls them off. I have yet to learn that skill, haha.
     I am also happy that the boat is working. I sent it another letter and told it to stop being a baby. I think it just wants you to put my name on the side in vinyl letters. It misses me. ;)
     It has been SO HOT here the past couple weeks and FINALLY it has cooled down. I didn't believe I was in England until this morning when it was pouring buckets. It was the kind of rain I'd expected to catch a dreadful cold from like Maryanne Dashwood did. Before today, I though she may have been exaggerating. But no, Miss Dashwood was not.
    Brandon, your vocabulary always amazes me. I saw Crumpets in Tesco the other day and I wanted to buy them just for you, hahaha.
      Congrats to Chloe and Tannis and everybody [who is getting married]. This is all such exciting news!
     This week has been really great. I feel like I am becoming more patient with people, and with myself. Something else that I realized this week is that a mission is definitely a place where the Lord shows us our weaknesses. I have been so humbled this week as I have understood more the person I want to become and the things I want to strengthen within myself. I definitely have a lot to work on, and I have realized this more an more. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and to really be shown how I can develop better attributes.  
   Oh, and mom, we don't have 4 sisters in our flat, it was just that they came for a sleepover for the exchange. And Hugo is still alive, along with many other large spiders that live under the baseboards in the back entrance. I just throw shoes towards them to scare them back under there. I don't like seeing their legs poking out. It may just come to a point where we are breaking mission rules because pets are forbidden and I am not going to try and hunt those things down. I'd rather have them sign a treaty.
Love you all,
Keep the Faith,
Sister Lybbert

We had a visitor!

Just a note from me, Alysa's mom, we left for holidays Monday morning shortly after receiving her e-mails, so this post is late. There will be another Monday or Tuesday:

                                                                                                                       July 15, 2013
Thanks for all of the e-mails! I don't know if I will have time to reply to all of them because today we are meeting with out zone and another zone to have a water balloon fight. It is so hot outside and I am getting pretty tanned. (My face has also broken out...it's probably the stress + weather + the fact that maybe God wants to help out with our problem of being hit on constantly by creepy men + I needed to be humbled...)
   Oh, and Happy Birthday yesterday mom! In honour of your birthday, I spoke in sacrament meeting about Faith and how God can do anything (Mosiah 4:9; my favorite scripture) and THEN, upon request of Brother Appleby, the 2nd Counselor, Sister Jodicke played an arrangement of Come Unto Jesus and I sang a solo for the first time ever, and not the last because the Zone Leaders asked us if we would do it again tomorrow...(they didn't hear it, they claim it was 'inspiration' that they happened to ask us for a musical number this morning...ahhh). Anyway, I thought it fitting seeing as how my mother loves music and sings all of the time. It made me feel close to you on your birthday. :) (I was absolutely terrified once I got up there, and at the beginning I was super shaky but I got through it okay. I felt good about it afterward).
     This week has probably been the hardest so far. We were dropped by the mom and son who we had scheduled the week earlier. She felt like she didn't want to leave her comfort zone, and we tried to address her concerns but she just told us that she doesn't want to have lessons any more. It was really sad but I guess people have the ability to choose. They have so much potential though, which makes things hard.

(I'm sorry this e-mail will be all over the place)

     Last week at the library, a short black man came up to Sister Jodicke and asked if we could speak with him outside after we were done e-mailing. Hesitantly, she agreed and we went out to speak with him. We had no idea what to expect, but maybe he'd be a miracle investigator of some sort. Well...it was not a t all what I expected. He asked us, "Would you know Jesus if you saw him?"
     We replied that we would hope so. Then he said, "Well, today you are lucky because here at the Bramley Library, you have come face to face with Jesus Christ."
     I was quite taken aback by this comment...NOT expected.
     We politely told him that Jesus Christ would come in a certain way and that he would manifest himself in the same body that he had before, but perfected. The man told us his side of the story... that Christ was re-incarnated into this new body... anyway..it was interesting.
    I expected something like that to happen in Salt Lake on Temple Square but, outside of the Bramley Library? (It is the equivalent of that happening at the Magrath Library...)
Next story:
    We went on exchanges last Monday night / Tuesday with Sister Leaders, Sister Melander from Idaho, and Sister Kinikini from Utah / California. We had a great time with them. Monday night while we were getting ready for bed, we spotted a HUGE spider in the corner by the bathtub (not as big as the tropics but definitely bigger than anything back home...like, its legs are probably 1.5 inchesa long and you can see the hair on them from across the hall...it could have used a shave).
     Needless to say, there was a lot of screaming going on. Also, Sister Melander was standing in the bathtub with the vacuum cleaner hose and one of my running shoes, Sister Jodicke was ready to turn on the switch for the vacuum and was holding a flash light because the light in the bathroom is burnt out, I was perched on the banister of the stairs, and Sister Kinikini was documenting all of this...
    After that whole adventure  we didn't even get it. It is still living in the crack that is in the corner by the tub, and we've tried to vacuum it up on multiple occasions now. Sister Jodicke was tired of it staring at us while we were in bathroom and so she put a bottle of facial cleanser in front of the crack to block its access. Oh, and we named him Hugo.
     On a less exciting note, this week a lot of people flogged (mission lingo for 'didn't show up / forgot about appointments.') It was so hot outside too, which just made us more tired and walking up hills even harder. Saturday evening we ended up walking for hours in the heat because the bus system isn't the greatest, and we had walked a really long way for one appointment, and they flogged us as well. I was more exhausted than I have ever been and I just wanted to lay down in the grass and sleep. We tried our best to keep going and I said a lot of prayers to have the strength to do it. I had to keep thinking about how the pioneers had to keep walking and so I had to too. It reminded me a lot of Zion's Camp. It was the next morning that I woke up with a face full of  spots. However, don't think that I am being too negative, I am just letting you know that when we have challenges, we need to keep pressing forward and remember why we are doing what we are doing. I really do love the work and I have become great friends with so many of the members, less actives, and investigators  Some of the people I visit make me feel like I am at home again. I will send you some photos of them soon. :)
     There were some great miracles this week too. Fiona is really progressing. She has accepted the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. Out of everything involved in those, she was having a hard time understanding why we can't drink on social occasions. We told her to pray about  it and to have faith that God can help her to understand. She prayed, and she came to the conclusion that alcohol on any occasion isn't good for anybody. I am so grateful that I have been able to see someone progress this far from the very start. She is really incredible and she has a lot of faith. We also looked up where in South Korea she could attend church (that's where she'll be returning to in August). There is a church building 10 minutes away from her house and the temple is even in her city! (Seoul). Anyway, I love her to death.
     I really love teaching appointments. Tonight we have on with Joseph and Chido, a father and his daughter, who are very strong Methodists. We started teaching Chido but then lost contact and decided we should probably talk with her parents too. Joseph refuses to look at anything but the Bible so it is a little frustrating, but the last appointment went okay. It just takes preparation and reliance on the Spirit.
    Also, last week we went to a Bible Study with some people from another church (I didn't understand what  church, but it's a "Hallelujay! Praise the Lord!" type ones with the majority of the people being black). It was really neat to see how Christians can be close because we all believe in Jesus Christ and all strive to follow him.  The opening prayer was somewhat different than how we would do it. We sang "How Great Thou Art!" (Sister Jodicke and I being the only white people there) and then everyone prayed separately out loud (Sister Jodicke and I said our prayers silently). It was a very cultural experience I guess. The topic that we all discussed was about how people have the Light of Christ, and we need to let our light shine. Sister Jodicke and I were even able to share a few scriptures from the Book of Mormon which was cool. The people there were super friendly and considerate.
     Anyway, things are going really great. I can't believe another week has gone by. Transfers are next week! (I do not think I will get transferred and I don't necessarily want to, it's just weird that I'm almost done my first.)
    Love you all and I am grateful for your support. I am learning so much and look forward to this week's experiences and opportunities to teach people. It is an incredible work that is going on in the mission field.
Love,
Sister Lybbert

Sister Lybbert with Anthony,
Nicola, Amy, and Chantel
(I'm not sure who is not in the pic)

p.s. this week I received letters from: Camille, more postcards from Teina, Mom and Joshy, Trishy and the Kiddies (that envelope was the thickest I have ever seen, by the way, haha). Thanks to you all!

Sis. Lybbert & Jodicke

      

Sis. Jodicke, Sis. Lybbert, Kia,
Jess and Lucy

Kia's cat likes to dring out of the
fish tank.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, St. Bartholomew's church is not the one I have the picture in front if. St. Bartholomew's is a lot bigger.The one I'm next to is a small chapel at the Armley Cemetary in Bramely.

It's Too Darn Hot!

     The last two days have been hot here. I got a bit of a tan, and I am so grateful that I'm not serving somewhere that is hot because I was in a flowy skirt and a t-shirt and I was still dying. (Not to mention my makeup was melting off my face.)

     I'm happy that your Canada Day went well. I gave a bunch of the Canada things to Jayne and her kids because they love Canada, and because I want to be their favorite missionary (don't let the other missionaries know...haha). 

     High River sounds like it is in an awful state. It is so good that people are willing to help and that dad was able to go up and help. I love how people can come together when they face hardships and that they c an help and support each other. Can you imagine what it would be like if people were too selfish to help each other after disaster? I think that would be the point where the world would just crumble to pieces.

     Tricia and Mark got a dog? That's funny because of all people I didn't think they would do it. That's fun though. The more hair I find on the counters from the last people that lived in my flat, the more I tell myself that I am never having a pet, unless it is hairless, or unless it is a wallaby. (Don't quote me on that later though because some dogs are really cute.) 

     Good luck to Gilbert! This will be a great adventure and an even greater learning experience. I'm glad that we have so many missionaries in the family. Yay!

     This week has been really great. Sister Jodicke and I have been finding so many miracles as we have been teaching and finding. We almost reached Standards this week without even realizing it until Friday. 'Standards' is what everyone tries to reach, but it is really difficult especially in a whitewashing area. We were so close but on Saturday night, our appointment fell thorough and most of the people who were going to come to church the next day, bailed.  We were really disappointed but we kept working hard and using our time wisely even though we knew we couldn't get Standards. We had to remind ourselves that it isn't about the numbers, but about how hard we work toward helping the people.  

    We met a really adorable South Korean girl on the street last week. Her name is Fiona. She was receptive to our message and we found out she lives really close to us, which is SO nice. She has been meeting with us pretty often and she came to church with us yesterday and loved it. She was happy with how friendly the people were and how it felt in the church building. She even asked us to find out if there is a church near her in South Korea. She was a huge blessing to us and we are grateful that we found her. It is amazing that sometimes when you don't think street contacting will be successful, it is. I didn't feel at the time that I was prompted to talk to her, but looking back, I know that I was. That is why it is so important to talk to EVERYONE.

    There was an experience a few days ago that really made me realize how much i have come to love the people, and how I am learning more and more how Christ must feel when He sees people in unfortunate circumstances. We were a bit early to go to our tea appointment so we decided to knock around the area. We came across this 80+ year old lady and started talking to her. She told us that she has no way to change her beliefs now because she is so old, and sick, and deaf, and she can't even make it to her own church. She told us that she's dizzy all of the time, and she can't do anything. She said she hopes every night that she can pass on. It was really sad as she told us of her struggles, and we told her that she is a daughter of God and that He loves her. she had no faith or hope left and she said she had no desire for it. I felt  so terrible for her, and I don't think I have ever felt so much compassion in all of my life. I asked her if we could offer a prayer with her. As I started to pray, I just cried. I never imagined that I would ever cry like that for someone I didn't know, and right in front of them. I desired so baldy for her to know that God loves her. That's all I prayed for, and I still pray that she will come to know that. We are going to visit with her tomorrow and see how she is doing. 

     I have had so many good experiences this week, although I have had a lot of hard ones too. It is sad to see people desire the gospel and then not keep their commitments, and even say they don't want to meet with us anymore.  But through persistence and faith, Sister Jodicke and I keep finding more miracles than not. We have been so blessed.

     I know that the work I am involved in is so important and that it will bring blessings as I do my best. I love the gospel more every day and it has become more apparent how important it is to live by the things we are taught by the prophets of God. Commandments really do help us to have more freedom and more joy. I am grateful that I have been able to come on a mission and I owe a lot of that to all of you who have supported me. 

     I love you all so much and I pray for you often. You are all great and I am glad that I get to hear from you!

Love,

Sister Lybbert

P.S. I got letters from J.P. Grandma and Grandpa Atwood, Cammie, and Mom and Dad! Whooo!

P.P.S. George made us the most delicious African food the other day. I don't think I have ever had African food before, but it was AMAZING.

Fish and Chips and Vinegar

Fiona and me eating our fish & chips

All of the trees here are so beautiful.
Whenever I see a really nice tree,
I just think of Emma and Mr. Knightly

 

Castle (Folly) at Roundhay Park. The
Mansion and Folly were built in the 1800's 

Mansion at Roundhay Park. It feels
weird to wear pants! We had a picnic
on the lawn and wrote letters.

Me on the path way again

This is a pathway to Clara Drive,
an absolutely beautiful area in Calverly.
 Try to Google Maps it and look at the
houses. I felt like I was in heaven.
All of the houses are gated so it
wasn't exactly easy to go knocking,
but it was amazing.

Gate at Roundhay Park

July 1, 2013

     Things this week have been pretty great. We had the departure meeting for President and Sister Lindley on Wednesday and that was so nice to be able to get together with lots of the mission. President and Sister Lindley are so great and although I only knew them for a couple weeks, I will miss them. (BUT I am very excited for President and Sister Pilkington too!) President Lindley is hilarious  I told dad all about how he's excited to be back home so he can ride his custom Chopper and listen to his rap music. He does not look like that type of person, that's why it is so great.

     The boat likes me, that is why it is not working. ;)

     Yay for Canada Day Parades! I miss real burgers. There is a small cafe near my house with good burgers, but it just isn't t he same, haha.

     Last P-day we went to Roundhay Park and this P-day we are going to go again. It was Zone P-day so we just played Capture the Flag, and today we are going to go look at the Mansion and Castle part of the park. We were going to go to Howarth (where the Bronte sisters grew up) but Sister Rushworth was sick so we are  re-scheduling. I am excited for that though.

     We have had some pretty great experiences this week. There have been a few times where we just felt a bit discouraged and then something happens that brings our mood back around. On Saturday we had knocked all day and there weren't very many people on the streets. We were absolutely exhausted. I could have actually fallen asleep while walking, and my legs were so tired, haha. I was getting kind of grouchy too because we just seemed to find nobody who would even talk to us. I don't know what it is , but even if all we do is say 'Hi" to someone, they notice the name tag and run away. (Sometimes they don't, and that's so nice.) 

Me at Harrier Fountain in Roundhay Park

       Anyway, we had some time to kill before the ward BBQ and we were so tired, BUT we decided we should go knocking anyway. We went down a road near the church and knocked on a few doors, talked to a lady in her garden, but nothing too great. Then, we saw an elderly man working in his garden and by that time I just really wanted to help him garden because I was so tired of walking. He declined our help, but we got talking and got on the topic of the famous motorcycle races that take place on the Isle of Man. He told us that he raced in those races and asked if we'd like to see his bike. He showed us his garage which was also the home of a REALLY nice BMW, two classic MG's (I don't know cars , so don't judge if I didn't get it right, haha) and his bike, which was custom made in Germany in the 30's. All of these were in mint condition. His walls were lined with photos, and trophies and he told us some cool stories. He was the cutest old man ever. I felt like Lightning McQueen after Doc Hudson was discovered as a famous racer, haha. We have become friends and Sister Jodicke and I are going to take him cookies this week. We talked about the church too (we ARE missionaries) and we invited him to the BBQ. He was very gracious about it and I think as we become better friends things will go great. I know that that was just what we needed at that time because it made our whole day so amazing.

     We also had a lesson with George, a 30ish year old guy from Zimbabwe. We went with a member from the ward, Sam Harrower, who is the coolest person I know. She is a convert and has four adorable kids. She's a really powerful missionary too. He didn't read the Book of Mormon like we asked so we started to read the first chapter with him. Afterward, he said ( in a really cool African way) "Whoa man, that's powerful!"

     We taught him about the importance of  reading, praying and going to church and the lesson went great. He said some pretty hilarious things during the lesson, and there is no way that I can describe it to you here, but I will try.

     We discovered that he's a DJ and is SO good. He showed us some of his tracks, and he raps in his language (Zimbabwe language, haha) and it is seriously amazing. ANYWAY, he told us that we should come to one of his shows, which is in a club, and we politely declined and told him we vcan't go in clubs, or pubs and that we don't drink (Word of Wisdom hasn't been taught yet, haha), and then he said, "But they need people like you in the bups!" (Referring to the fact that people are drinking, and it's where sinners go, haha). It was great. He also told us he is going to mix a song that is about us. I am pumped, haha.

     Things have been going so good. It is hard to look back and try to remember all of the things that I wanted to say. I need to bring my journal to the library next time.

     Anyway, I am so grateful for the experiences I have had, and even though there is a lot of hard things about this, there are way more rewarding things. I just love being here and devoting this time to the greatest cause of all. Missionary work is so important. After the Missionary broadcast, I have really understood that Missionary work is for everyone all of the time. Seriously  I think I just want to be a ward missionary forever after my work here is done. It is a powerful and important calling.

     Yay, family for being more consistent with Scriptures! I know, it is so hard when there are distractions but I look forward to the hour I get to spend every morning reading the scriptures and learning more about the gospel. I have also learned how to better recognized revelation. The Spirit is so powerful and it is important that we are ready at all times to recognize its promptings. Elder Bednar spoke at an MTC broadcast and said that we don't need to worry about whether it is a prompting, or  just us thinking as long as it is good, then it is of God.

With Elders Oler, Smith and Erikson from Southern Alberta

     We had another experience a couple of days ago where a lady basically stood in her doorway and ranted to us about how  there is no God and that science proves everything. Nothing that we could say could make her feel otherwise, and she didn't give us the chance to say anything anyway. I was pretty discouraged after that, but I read this morning in 2 Nephi 8:7 and that helped  It talks about how we don't need to be afraid or discouraged when people revile against the word of God. As long as we have a testimony, and have the commandments written on our hearts, there is not a reason to fear.

                  

Harrier Fountain in Roundhay Park

     I really loved the scripture 1 Nephi 22:31. I really found the phrase "and thus it is" something interesting. It is a simple phrase, but it kind of is like saying "and there you go, it is that simple." The verse tells us to keep the commandments, and endure to the end. And thus it is.

Anyway, I love you all, thanks for your love, prayers, and your e-mails and letters!

Love,

Sister Lybbert :)

 

Eating a Magnum

Knock, knock....

Dear Family,
     Things are going really well. With how Sister Jodicke and I have had to start up our own teaching pool, we have been really good. We have a few investigators and we have found them either by knocking or street contacting. I am getting better at talking to people, although it is so frustrating when people are rude. The other day we had faced a ton of rejection and we were both tired and hungry and in low spirits but kept knocking anyway. Everyone was being rude and so when one man at his door politely rejected us, it made me so happy that he was actually polite, that I thanked him for it and shook his hand. I'm sure he was taken aback but I didn't care, haha. I was just tired of grouchy people. It is so funny because people always claim to be so busy, but actually they're just on the way to the same bus stop you are, and your bus doesn't come for twenty minutes, haha. It has been a good lesson for me though; that I just need to build my faith and confidence that I will be directed to the people who have been prepared to hear this message. So far I have seen that happen lots of times.
     This week, Sister Jodicke and I were on the way to a tea [dinner] appointment and Sister Jodicke felt like we should knock a certain street on the way. We were able to get contact details for a beautiful family that I am sure have been prepared for us, and a married couple who we have already been able to make an appointment with. There are so many other instances of miracles that have been happening. Even when our plans don't go according to schedule, it is usually because we are supposed to meet someone else.
     The same day we were facing a lot of rejection, we were walking toward a house that we had planned to revisit and we decided to pray before we got there that we would finally be able to find someone with an open heart that would listen to our message. Not two minutes later, there was a man walking toward us and he listened to us. We taught him about the Book of Mormon, and we had a return appointment. The house we were actually praying for rejected us, but I realized that our prayer had been answered anyhow. That was the only man that day that actually listened to our message and we felt so blessed for it.
     I am so grateful for the experiences I have been having. It has been hard but it has opened my eyes to so many things. I can't believe that I've already been in the field for two weeks.
     the members here are really great. Our dinner appointments have gone well, and this week we were able to meet with a lot of members and less-actives.
    There is a lady in our ward that wants to move to Southern Alberta. She had been planning on it for a long time, and so it's been fun to talk about it. Elder Erickson, from Raymond, was the one who baptized her too, and she just loves to talk about Canada and everything. Her name is Jayne and she has adorable little kids. She is super sweet and funny.
     I love you all so much. I am grateful for your love and support and I can feel it still.
     I know that the gospel is true, and that God loves each and every one of us. I also know that the things that really matter the most are the gospel and my family.
  That is insane about the flooding. Hopefully Magrath doesn't get hit by it.  I heard about it yesterday at a tea appointment. I hope that everything is okay soon. It makes me sick to thing about the damage that is so close to home.

Love you lots,
Sister Lybbert


A note Sister Lybbert sent a couple of days ago for anyone wanting to send her packages:

Packages have to be sent to the Mission Home.
If it is clothing, you are supposed to write it as
USED whether or not it is.
Don't send anything over $100 (make the claim to
be under $50 no matter what)
Mark it as a gift.
Don't send any beef products (I don't think you
would anyway)

Whitewashing...but not with paint

An airplane shot. It was so beautiful!

Dearest Family,
Thanks for all of your emails / letters! It is so nice to have them. I'm sorry if I don't reply to all of them, because I don't really have tons of time to do so, but I will try.

This week has been crazy. First off, my companion and I are whitewashing (we're both new to the area) and so all we did for the first three days was basically tract, and street contact, and knock, and knock, and ... knock. I have shin splints from walking so much but other than that I'm fine. Also, I'm always tired (but happy..haha) I think it has to do with the fact that this is such a different lifestyle than what I was living before. Getting up at 6:30 remains difficult, haha, and every chance I have (which is during lunch hour and tea hour...so not really any) I try to power nap. Walking everywhere is kind of nice though.

Sister Lybbert & Sister Jodicke

My companion is so great. I love her to bits. Her name is Sister Jodicke (Yu-di-ka) and she's German and is the sweetest trainer I could have asked for. Also, it is nice because our district leader and his companion live just across the road from us and so they helped us figure out our bus schedules and everything. Their names are Elder Amundsen, from Norway, and Elder Orr, from Utah/Winnipeg/ Cardston or something. He didn't really make it clear to me, haha.

 Our area is a poorer area, it has some "posh" neighborhoods but for the most part they are just really dingy. It is nice like that though because it's all of the posh neighborhoods that have rejected us the most, and been more rude. It is amazing how humble so many of the people are here.

The first couple of days, like I said, were hard. i feel like I was really struggling with wanting ot be out here and finding the motivation to find joy in the work. At times I was feeling homesick and thought of how nice it would be to be at home with all of you With lots of studying, and more praying than I have ever done in my life, I found that I was able to just focus and remember my purpose for being here. I felt a lot like I did when I first moved to Edmonton.

Our first knocking experience was a miracle. It was my first day out, and I felt sick to my stomach because I felt like this was going to be the longest time of my life. Sister Jodicke and I decided to just go knocking through our neighborhood because after Orientation Meeting we didn't have a lot of time to figure out our area.  The third door we knocked on was opened to us by an elderly man with coke bottle glasses. he let us in straightaway to share a message and then we found out he is a member. He is really cute, his name is Mr. Townsend. He lives by himself and is rather lonely so it was nice to be able to visit with him. It brought my spirits up a lot.

Something that I have noticed here, is that Andy was right. I haven't experienced dog hair in the food yet, but there is dog hair everywhere. The first few days in this area, with all of the messes and clutter and hair and smoke, I felt pretty uncomfortable and somewhat (or a lot) disgusted. For all of you who will get the reference, it was very comparable to how Jenny Lee must have felt when she first started her work. BUT I knew t hat I could just get over it and love the people. It has been improving every day with how I have been able t o do that. I really have met some amazing people.

St. Bartholomew's Chapel, in Armley, Leeds

I really am starting to love this area too. To get to the bus stop, we have to travel through an old War cemetery in Armley that has a really old Gothic style church. It is really beautiful.

Oh, and Brother Jensen was correct. Everyone calls me 'love.' It is a nice addition to people's rejections. It softens the blow somewhat, haha. Something that is really interesting is when we ask something along the lines of "if you came to know that the message we share is true, would you follow the example of Jesus Christ?" and they say, "No...sorry." So, basically even if they did come to know the truth of our message, they'd still just want to keep living their lives as they are. Doesn't make much sense.

As missionaries, we are supposed to constantly bear testimony to the people that we meet. At first I found this hard because it was hard for me to bear testimony to people that I had grown up with and are members of the church. Every day though, I feel more comfortable and more sincere in it.

I know that the Lord is really protecting me and guiding me and Sister Jodicke. We went to visit a less active family the other day and when we got to their house, they claimed that they didn't know we were coming, and that the Elders were coming later. (They actually did know that we were coming, and we spoke to the Elders the next day and they cancelled on them too.) So, feeling disappointed, we just started knocking the street. It started raining and became really windy. We weren't finding much success until we knocked on one house and a 19 yer old girl answered the door. She was super cute and she let us in. We talked about so many things and she was really curious about everything. She and her family are strong Methodist and I didn't realize before, but Methodists believe many of the things we do. We gave her the first discussion (The Restoration) and set up a date for her to be baptized. I'm really praying that her family we be openhearted about this and that they will value the message of the Book of Mormon.

It is also interesting when really religious people don't care that we have another testament of Jesus Christ. They are so strong in the Bible, and they follow Christ in all of the ways they know how, so wouldn't they want more?

It is so nice to study every morning for so long too. It helps me to wake up and get excited for the lessons. We have been blessed so much too because we have appointments booked up all week and we whitewashed. That doesn't usually happen.

Church yesterday was good. the ward is big and there are a lot of Primary kids. Our tea list for this week is basically booked up, which will be so nice because I'm tired of eating ham sandwiches and bananas, haha. Oh, and Sister Jodicke makes the BEST oatmeal. Yes, mom and dad, I like homemade oatmeal. (This kind, haha). She makes the oatmeal in half water, half milk. Then she puts a drop of Golden Syrup (they put it in rice pudding too, and it is so good) and some granola-type cereal in it and mixes it around. We have had it every morning and I LOVE it. It is so so so good.

I love you all so much, and I am grateful to all of you for your support and the strength you give me. I am starting to love the work even though it is physically draining. I love when people start to understand the importance of the message that we share.

With Sisters Cochran, Peck, Pacis and Read

Our 'party' we had as roomies a
couple of nights before we left the MTC
Sisters Peck, Klemm, and Pacis

Love you so much,
Sister Lybbert