I Hope You Never Have to Dust Your Scriptures

     Thank you for clarifying the story of how Aunt Maureen and Uncle Robert and Mary Walker all connect. Every time I think of it, it makes me so happy!
    That is great everything worked out with the Temple shutdown and that you can all go to Surveyors! I would do so many things to have a s'more or a cow pie right now. I had pancakes again this morning but they were pancakes you just buy already made. it was okay but it was too cakey. It was a banoffe pancake though so it wasn't so bad. People love banoffe pie, cheesecake, bread, etc. It's just banana and toffee flavor.
   Good luck to Nolan, and well done Ashy! [Ashtyn had to speak in church the day that Nolan Fisher had his farewell]. I printed her talk off so that I can read it later. I love that there are so many missionaries going out. I was thinking the other day how powerful it would be to have all of the missionaries gathered in one place, and to look out and see them. It would be like t he orcs coming to destroy Minas Tirith (correct me if I'm wrong...I'm not too worried at the moment for correct LOTR references) but instead of ugly, blood-thirsty orcs, it would be happy and smiling missionaries with The Book of Mormon in hand, haha.
     Congratulations Kyler on your excellent swimming! I waqnt to take up swimming when I am back. It is so good for you and so fun. That's good to hear about Kristy Noad as well, I love stories like that when people don't give up and they end up being successful at what they have worked so hard for.
   That's a great idea to have a gumball machine, but do you feel like your children, maybe, might spend all of their money on gumballs whenever they walk into the piano room? (Not that you'd mind...it does go to you I guess!)
     I really loved the lesson in Relief Society yesterday too. I love Sister Gough and I still pray that they may have peace and comfort. Being on a mission is such a great blessing because I have understood the blessings of Heaven so much more.
   I'm also SO happy to hear how Joshy is doing with his scriptures, and prayer and how he is looking forward to becoming a Deacon. Sometimes I worried that my little siblings weren't as solid with their scriptures, (just because I've been away so often for school, and being a teenager/young adult I haven't really been around all that much to see them read) and this makes me so happy to hear. I encourage them to never miss a day. Sister Lindley spoke to us when they were giving their farewell, and she told us through heartfelt tears, "I hope that you never have to dust your scriptures." That has stuck with me and I hope that it stays with me forever. We might have to dust other things, and clean other things in life but there is one thing we should never have to dust, and that is our scriptures.
     Ciana has her license? WHOO! That is so great. Just watch out for deer, and stupid people. Probably more stupid people than deer. That is super exciting though. I can't believe that she is 17. When people ask I want to say she's 15 or 16. My little sisters are so old!
     This week has been pretty excellent. Sister Jodicke and I have worked diligently, and although the numbers were weak, we feel good about our effort. We did have lots of fun finding, and on Saturday we went on a blitz with the Zone Leaders (Blits = you go finding with another companionship in the same area...because we can't exactly go on splits with the ZLs). Before we went finding with them though, they came over with a shiny, brand new can of RAID, and they destroyed the spiders in our back garden. It was so gross, there were giant spiders running everywhere. I did not feel bad in the slightest.
     On Thursday night, we had an appointment that fell through, and Sam was going to come out with us as a member present. Sam has been re-decorating her house she and her kids just moved into, and so we offered to help her out. It was so nice to wear pants and just help out with a service project. We repainted her kitchen, and we burnt off the old paint that was on the door frame in the kitchen. It was really fun, and I love her to bits. She is super and such a giving, loving person. She is like another long lost aunt (I LOVE my aunts!). Her sister recently passed aqway from a heart attack, but she is so strong and although she has so much on her plate all of the time, she is never thinking about herself. She has four kids and takes them with her everywhere. She is a star.
     On Friday, we went to Bible Study again! And it went pretty great. We were talking about our thoughts on the Resurrection, and Born Again's believe that only Christ is resurrected, but the rest of us just die and continue living as spirits. Anyway, this was one of those instances where Sister Jodicke and I relied very much on the Spirit, and we were able to explain things, and find scriptures to help Nathando's husband (I don't know his name...I'm terrible at remembering names when they are foreign) understand how we will all be resurrected and that we are all heirs to the Kingdom of God. I felt like we were able to open his heart a little bit.
     (I'm out of order, I know) but on Tuesday, and yesterday again we visited Dennis Row. I think I told you about him, he's that darling old man from Farsley. Anyway, we were able to open his heart as well. Yesterday after church we stopped by for a few minutes, and he was just leaving his house. He invited us in for a bit and he told us that he had an impression that we would come and so he delayed his departure from home for a few minutes. Well, we came! And he was so cute. He told us he has been a lot happier since we've been coming 'round and since he's been reading the Book of Mormon. He said we're like his grand-daughters. He reads the Book of Mormon every day and although he doesn't entirely understand it super well, he enjoys it. He also offered to take us on a P-day to Whitby. He said he loves going there because Winifred, his wife, lived there and they always went together. He showed us photos and it is gorgeous. I'm not sure if we'll have the chance, but that would be so wonderful if we could go there.
     Saturday afternoon / evening, we were travelling to Pudsey for a tea appointment and then it started pouring rain. The kind of rain that just makes you feel cold,  and wet, and like a monster becaue all of your makeup is running down your face. It was nice because we were heading to Sue Brown's for tea, and she had a traditional Yorkshire dinner all ready for us. :)
     There have been countless miracles this week and I am so grateful for every single one of them whether we noticed them or not. I finished reading through the Book of Mormon and have started on the New testament. I am really enjoying it. I finally bought some crayons to mark my scriptures and they are so pretty now.
     I love the gospel, and I know that his is the restored church of Jesus Christ. It is a blessing to have the church wherever you go in the world, and that the members are really like family everywhere too.
     I hope that you are all well, and I pray for each and every one of you every day. I love you lots!
Sister Lybbert

Connecting with Old Family Friends

     This week has been great. Last Monday we had a barbecue, and then played volleyball for Zone P-day. I was too lazy to bring a bag with my sport outfit so I chose the classy option and played in my dress. I also came up with a superb way of backhanding the ball instead of serving it. (The ball was not a real volleyball, so, no that didn't break my hand.)

Waiting for the bus

     Tuesday evening Sister Jodicke, Fiona, and I went to Carol Mitchell's house with cake to have a little farewell get together for Fiona. I love Sister Mitchell. It is adorable because every time we go to her house, she constantly has friends popping in and out, and she always leaves her living room window open and she has cats of all sorts also come for visits, then leave. I forgot to mention that there is not a single window with a screen here. I find it so weird because then bugs can get in, and the windows on the tower apartment buildings open wide enough for a grown man to fall out of and there aren't any screens. Scary, but with Sister Mitchell's cat friends it isn't so bad. Anyway, Carol is an absolute doll and I feel so happy whenever we get to visit her. I could spend all day every day at her house.
     Wednesday was SO GOOD. We had a mission-wide conference in Huddersfield at the chapel. Because of the British Pageant that was in Chorley (Sadly, we weren't allowed to go...it's in the Manchester Mission) there were a few apostles in the area. Elder M. Russell Ballard came to speak to us! Elder Jeffery R. Holland and I think another one, had a conference with the Manchester mission. It was so neat, and I hadn't seen all of the Leeds Missionaries together. When we sang the opening song, 'Guide Us, O, Thou Great Jehovah,' it was incredible and so powerful. I was sitting front and center, all of the sisters were sitting in the first two rows. Two members of the Seventy spoke first, and then Elder Ballard. I can't remember the names of the Seventy (they were foreign names...) but they spoke on how this church isn't split into a church for missionaries and a church for members, but it is one church where the missionaries are to teach, and the members are to find. Then Elder Ballard talked about motivating things for us missionaries, and this basically sums up what he said, "You want to baptize more? Talk to More!" and he spoke on Wilford Woodruff's experience with Joseph Smith after Joseph had passed away. Joseph and others were walking into the temple and Wilford was wondering why they were going so fast. Joseph replied, "We are in a hurry." Elder Ballard said that if the people in the Spirit world are in a hurry, we need to be in a hurry; everyone. [We need to be] in a hurry to find more people through family history; in a hurry to find more people to teach the gospel to. Everybody, every member, should be in a hurry to spread the gospel. Time is becoming shorter and shorter until the work needs to be fulfilled.

St. Bartholomew's Church

My favorite spot

    It was a really amazing conference. After the conference, and elderly sister missionary from the South somewhere in England was walking through the crowd and she happened to say hi to Sister Jodicke, then me, and naturally asked where we were both from. When I replied Canada, she held up her handbag, which surprisingly was a giant Canadian flag. I told her I was from Southern Alberta, near Lethbridge. She said, "I know a man from Lethbridge." I thought I'd just ask who, in case I might, by a small chance, know them. She told me, "Rasmussen, Bob Rasmussen." Then excited, I asked if she knew anything else so I could make sure it was Uncle Robert. She said he married a lady named Maureen. Anyway, it made me so happy to have a connection to my family. She said she knows him because he served his mission where she lived, in Hull, and she even said that his companion was George Donald Durrant, a famous LDS author of one of the books in the approved missionary book list. It made me so so happy . Small world. Oh, and the lady's name was Sister Mary Walker.
  Then yesterday, there was a missionary farewell for Callum McKeown and a baptism of the Leonard twins so there were a lot of people in sacrament meeting. Anthony came to sacrament which was really good, and I'm so grateful to Sam for bringing him and Amy, his little daughter. Sam sacrifices so much but she does it with the biggest smile on her face. Sister Jodicke and I helped prepare the food for the munch and mingle that happened after church, and so Sam, Fiona Roberts ( not the new convert, Fiona, but a lady from the ward) and the two of us had fun getting the food all ready.
     Another small world story: Callum's grandfather, Alex Stewart, is from Scotland (I forgot where..) and he knows Doug McLeman and dear Uncle Keith! (I don't know if Keith would remember him, but he said he knows who you are!) YAY!
     Oh, and on Tuesday we visited with a man named Dennis Row. He lives across the street from the chapel, and we accidentally went to his house one day instead of the lady's whose we were looking for. We got a return appointment and went there with John Cook. Brother Row is the most adorable old man. His house is the classic English house, with family heirlooms and bookshelves and everything in his house. In the living room he even had a little table with wine glasses and some schleor (I can't spell..) and there was the fireplace with a rug in front of it, and then old and quite lovely black and white photos, and then some paintings on the walls. I could have spent hours there just because it was so perfect. Brother Row lost his wife last year, and he had so many pictures of them from when they were young everywhere. The photos were so precious, he spoke of his wife, Winifred, so wonderfully too, and it all just made my heart melt.
     Today for P-day, we went to the Royal Armouries Museum and looked at...yep, armour! It was really interesting, but after looking at a few floors of armour, we felt we could come e-mail. It was realy interesting and neat to see it all. Oh, and we went shopping too. I have never been in such a classy mall. I will send photos. ;)
     Anyway, thanks everyone for your love and support and letters! In the past few weeks I've received letters from Aunt Katrina and Nicole Williams, and possible others... I can't remember. Also, I am sorry if I don't reply to all the letters. It is hard to have time to write, and postage is pretty pricey. I try my best though and it doesn't mean I don't like getting them. :)
Love you, and praying all the time for you,

Trinity Leeds Mall

Brother Townsend and his
2000+ car collection

Armour made for
King Henry VIII

Queen Elizabeth I and me

Sting

lots of war stuff

Helmet given to King Henry
VIII by Emperor Maximilian I
 of Rome

The Sword of Griffindor...Harry could have
just bought it, how daft!

At Trinity Leeds Mall

Shops at Victoria Square

Sister Lybbert

First Baptism

     This week was great, Fiona was baptized! It was an amazing experience and I am never going to forget it. She is so wonderful and I can't wait to hear how she does spreading the gospel in South Korea. The Elder that baptized her was Elder Paczensky From London, and then Bishop Davison confirmed her in sacrament meeting yesterday. She said she feels like a brand new person, and I know she is ready to be at this point. I love it when people start to recognize the power of the Holy Ghost in their lives, and now it is given to her as a constant companion. It is all really incredible that we are able to have that gift. I don't know what I would do without it, especially in missionary work.

     This week we did quite a lot of finding, and visiting members. For some reason most of our investigators and potential investigators were away on holidays this last week. It was a bit more difficult because we worked hard but as far as the numbers go, they were not as great as usual.

     I don't really know what to say about the week. I  think as time keeps going it is gettting hardera nd harder to remember the individual weeks, they just blur together.

     Oh, but we did have a Zone Training Meeting and interviews with President Pilkingon. I love getting together for meetings because there is always loads of inspired council that is given on how we can improve our missionary efforts and how we can improve ourselves. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by people who are all devoted to serving the people and bringing them to Christ.

     The weather this week has been pretty undecided on what it wants to be. It will be rainy, then sweltering, and now it is rainy. I actually prefer the rain. It is all the nicer to show up at someone's door wet from rain rather than from sweat.

   Today as we were cleaning there was a really big spider (REALLY) in my suitcase. We got it with the vacuum cleaner though, don't even worry about it. I am getting more used to it, and I don't mind as long as they aren't in my clothes, hair, mouth or my bed.

     I'm sorry this is so short. My mind is blank today.

Elder Paczensky, Me, Fiona and Sister Jodicke

Love you! 

Sister Lybbert :)

     

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