November 16, 2015

HEY Y'ALL!! 
Well.. this is it!! Wow... I absolutely never thought this time would come around so soon... but it's time. I am so so so excited to see all y'all! This has been the most amazing experience in my life thus far and I know that I will be forever grateful that I came here to serve in the Texas Lubbock Mission! I had a great "last full week!" We did a ton of service- lots for a member and for the food bank boxing up Christmas food boxes. It's amazing to see how many thousands of families the Lubbock food bank feeds! We also had a great time with our ESL class- I have loved teaching them English! This week we played basketball and made a spelling game out of it and then one of the hilarious students, wanted to pretend he was a journalist and was interviewing the rest of us by asking us parenting 101 questions haha.  

We had dinner and taught the neatest family ever from the Philippines. They are members who haven't been to church in a while and we were able to teach them the Plan of Salvation and have a testimony meeting along with it! It's so powerful to see how the Holy Ghost teaches and testifies of the truthfulness and divinity of our Savior and His perfect gospel. 

I had my exit interview with my mission president, President Heap! He is the man! I love him so much- he likened my situation of going home to the scriptures and told me he was kicking me out of the "Garden" of Eden/ Mission Field- a place where living the gospel has been made so simple and I have been able to live "in" the world, but not "of" the world. There is so much truth to that statement! I am grateful for the inspired "My Plan" program that he started and to see how much it will help me to adjust. 

Want to know a mission miracle? The Sims family- recent converts that we've been close to and working with often- are going to the temple tomorrow to receive their Endowment and their 3 children will be sealed to them on Wednesday! Wow! It is so special to see others grow in the gospel and prepare to make further covenants with the Lord in His temple! That's what it's all about...The [End]owment in Mind. I am so grateful for this experience! I know that the Lord is hastening His work and will continue to do so! I have learned so much as I have entered so many different homes and taught the restored gospel. I know... I absolutely, 100%, without a shadow of a doubt, know that THIS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) is the Lord's true church here upon the Earth. It has changed me and I know that it will continue to do so. "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. (3 Nephi 5:13)

I love y'all! See you Wednesday! XOXO

Love, 

Sister Evans 

This is the Sims Family.. Brother Sims is a total hoot and was 

trying to tip me over- mid picture!

November 9, 2015

Hey Y'all! 
Wowza- I never really thought this week would come! I am so excited to see all y'all next week! That's nuts that now I am coming into Idaho Falls! Thanks for pullin' some strings for me! 

Well, this last week was a great week! It started out a little rough, but a Priesthood blessing definitely helped me! I am so grateful for worthy men who hold God's power that are able to act as voice for Him. Then we were led by the Holy Ghost to visit a certain apartment complex... the person we were in the area to visit wasn't around, so then we were really confused as to why Heavenly Father sent us there. As we were walking towards our car, we met a lady named S, and she is a member of the church who hasn't been active in nearly 20 years! She expressed how she is going through some hard things (which have humbled her a lot) and she is ready to turn to God again for help. She wants to come back to church! YAY! 

We had a great Zone Training this week where we learned more about goal setting, inviting people to be baptized with more confidence, contacting, and how to be more sincere when talking to our Father in Heaven through prayer. It was great! Sister Johnson and I visited the temple this week and I was able to do an Endowment Session for the last time as a full-time missionary in the Texas Lubbock Mission- bittersweet! 

I had a neat experience this week as I taught my ESL student, P. He is from China and is soaking in as much as he can about the Bible and Jesus while he is here in America. He asked me where he will go in 40,50, 60 years or so when he dies... great question! I was so excited to teach him the perfect and fair, Plan of Salvation and answer all his questions! We are so blessed to have this knowledge! He couldn't believe we had so many answers that "just make sense!" 

We also got to teach this really sweet Hispanic lady, R. She is so receptive to the gospel and the members that live directly across the street are such good examples to her. They take such good care of her and really keep their covenants. We also taught R The Plan of Salvation last night and she absolutely loved it! I love being a teacher of the restored gospel. It truly brings me so much happiness and I am so grateful to have the Savior at the center of my life. I love this perfect organization of the Lord's church- I am excited to continue helping others come unto the true sheepfold! I love y'all so much! God Bless. 

Love, 

Sister Evans 

 Erry'thangs Bigger in Texas...Including Sweet Potatoes

November 2, 2015

HEY Y'ALL!

Hello!  Your Halloween costumes were on point!! I loved them! We have such a fun family :) We didn't do anything quite as exciting as y'all did for Halloween- we played dodgeball, hand-ball, pigskin, and basketball at the church with some of the other missionaries. 

I was able to go on my last exchanges this week with my trainee, Sister Udall! We had way too much fun together- it was just like times of old :) We had dinner with the sweet Shorter family and Sister Shorter's mom from Utah- it was so great! We did a service project this week for Meals on Wheels and landed ourselves in a picture and an article right on the front page of the newspaper! Then, later in the week, I got in a stupid little car wreck.. it was dumb! But all is well- no one got hurt! 

We visited a sweet, returning-less active family- they fed us (Pilot-House status) enchiladas! I'm not even kidding dad! All I could think about was you as I was eating them! 

We had one of the most spirit-filled, powerful lessons with another returning less active family also! They are working hard to be where they'd like to be spiritually and it's such a wonderful opportunity to be an instrument in the Lord's hands to help them reach their goals. I feel so blessed to help these families put Christ in the center of their individual lives and back in their homes. 

We had a mission tour this week with Elder Foster (of the 70). It was so neat! Something that I loved was how he helped us recognize that we are so special to our Father in Heaven. There are so many of us, but yet, every little thing that is important to us is important to Him! He had us liken the scriptures to ourselves and replace our names with others' and it was so powerful! 

I had a funny experience last night... haha- so I attempted to talk to an older spanish lady.. I think she was so amused that a white girl was trying so hard to speak her language. As we were leaving her house, I noticed a key ring holder next to her front door that said "CUBA"... so I took every chance that I possibly could to teach this woman the gospel! I claimed Harrison's roots and told her that I have family from Cuba... haha- I didn't convince her though because I pronounced it the American way- Cuba. She immediately corrected me and said "No! It's COOOOBA!" Oopsie! I guess I didn't fool her ;) It was a good week! I love y'all! Have a blessed day.

Love, 

Sister Evans 

 

I got to see one of my best friends, Sister Affleck, this week!

 I died over this work Halloween card-thanks for the 

good laugh Mom!

oops...dented door

Crazy Texans and their spare tree stumps...prior to the wreck!

October 26, 2015

Howdy Y'all!

Hello!! How's erry'thing going?! YAY for a new sweet baby girl in our family! Way to go Brittnie and Stettsen! I can't wait to meet her :) 

Well, we had a really good week here! We started off the week by heading out to our outlying towns, Ropesville and Sundown, for the first time! We had lots of success meeting some former-investigators who have been more and more prepared for the gospel over time! It's so neat to see! We took a member out with us, Sister Robinson, and she really clicked with the sweet people, so that's exciting for these individuals to have someone they already know and feel comfortable around before they come to church! 

We did a lot of service this week, too! President Heap has asked us to get at least 10 hours of service a week and for the 1st time in forever we're actually reaching and exceeding that service goal! We helped clean/ detail a member's kitchen (she just broke her wrist and isn't able to do much.) I feel so bad for her- she's got a full arm cast just like I had in high school! We also cleaned closets and carpets for another member, and got to paint some shelves white for the temple and church bathrooms! 

I had my last Zone Conference this past week and it was so powerful! The Assistants to the President instructed on normal and natural ways for both members and missionaries to share the gospel. I love the phrase that we can use in any conversation when talking literally about anything! It's "... that's what I love about my church!..." and then you carry on with your conversation! I've used it all week and every single time, they stop and say, "Wait, what church do you go to and where is it located?" I love it!! 

President Heap instructed about Sabbath Day observance at church and also the Book of Mormon! We are so lucky to have the Heap's! President Heap is a master teacher- all those years of teaching Institute have helped him be so spiritually knowledgeable and a powerful teacher! I can't wait for y'all to meet them someday! My testimony of the Book of Mormon has increased so much this week and I am so grateful for that sacred record! We must never treat it casually or lightly- God has revealed this book for our DAILY use! We absolutely NEED it's pure doctrine to survive the toils and strife of today's world. I love this book. It is so special to me! I hope and pray that each of y'all can have a testimony of it for yourselves! 

I love y'all so much! Have a good week :) Love, Sister Evans

[OH! And HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN!]

 That's a pirate ship in someone's driveway! Texans ;)

Took Sister Johnson to the top of El Templo!

TEXAS-Beautiful, right?

President Heap's Sweet BOM Display for Instruction

(he made these when he was teaching seminary. He had his students write their testimonies of the gospel in a hieroglyphic code)

October 19, 2015

Hello!

From the emails I've read, it sounds like y'all are doing well! Thanks for all the updates! I'm also doing great! 

We have had a week full of service, working with returning less actives, and searching for new people to teach! We started off the week with meeting a new family in our ward, the G family. They are trying to be more actively involved at church and were sealed in the temple last December! I love seeing others have such a strong desire to come back and be even stronger than ever before! We also visited another less active lady this week- her name is P and she almost bit my head off for calling her by her full name and not just "P" haha! Yikes! Sorry :) She's a hoot though! Then we had a brief little "mini" exchange with some of the other sisters that are serving outside of Lubbock- they came for district meeting and then we all had to wait to go to lunch because Sisters Carroll and Udall had a lesson, so we went contacting for an hour with the other sisters until they were done with their lesson! 

We helped a sweet 78 yr. old lady named Frances this week with moving her stuff out of her apartment so that they can re-do the tile and carpet. That sweet lady has got some serious spunk!! She used to be a baptist preacher and is the funniest woman ever! 

It sounds like y'all got the video of me riding on a little kid roller coaster - that was at the Zant's home! They are a super fun family! We were asked by a member to come and stain a fence this week for a non-member family next door! We had a great time :) Hey Dad, now I am an "experienced stainer!" I can help you with the deck next time! haha. 

This week is going to be great! My last zone conference is this Wednesday- nuts! We are also traveling to our outlying towns to meet some former investigators in Ropesville and Sundown. Those are some nice Texas town names, huh?! I love Texas so much! This is the greatest place to ever serve! I love what I have been called to do! I love everything that I am learning about the gospel, myself, and others. I absolutely love being able to share my testimony each day! I love y'all and will talk to ya next week! 

Love, Sister Evans 

I forgot to share my "ponderize" scripture last week... 2 Nephi 9:18

This week's.... Mosiah 2:22

And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

Package from the Fam!

God Bless Texas!

October 12, 2015

Hello! 

Thanks so much for the emails and THANK YOU Harrison for the package and flowers this week! I got a kick out of everybody wearing our Halloween vest haha! Too funny :) 

Well, I picked up Sister Johnson this week! She is awesome and is from Payson, UT. She has been out for 7 months and has been serving in Childress, TX the whole time. This week we were given tons of service opportunities! It was great! We moved a really sweet Polynesian family this week out of our ward.. in return, they gave us every ounce of their food! SO NICE! 

We had a really neat experience this week as we prayed about where we needed to be the following day at a certain hour- we received inspiration to be on Jayson Ave.. as we walked, talked, and knocked that area, we met one of the neatest men ever! His name is R and he lives right off of Jayson- talk about inspired! R and his wife B and their 4 daughters have been searching for God recently and we showed up on their doorstep! I am grateful for the promptings from the Holy Ghost! 

We served this week on the temple grounds, wiping down all the granite. We have a beautiful temple here! We just got our Moroni replaced, because the hail damaged his head and took the gold off of him! He's 11 1/2 ft tall! That's taller than 2 of me stacked on top of each other!!  

We were invited back over to the Stake President's home last night- their family had a get-together with lots of friends, mostly all non-members and wanted the missionaries to be familiar faces to them :) I love the Kimball family! It is so neat being able to see so many members get excited about missionary work! This truly is the Lord's work and I am so grateful to be a part of it! I hope y'all have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Evans 

My new companion Sister Johnson :)

 Anyone Up for a Halloween Cupcake?  You know I'm in!

 Thank you Kenzie for the Fall Package!

 This is my 1st trainer-Sister Bearnson-she just made it home!

Conference flowers from Harrison :)

Package from the Family

October 5, 2015

Hello! 
Happy rainy Monday! It's good to hear from y'all. It's been a great week- we started off the week by doing some service at the food bank with lots of other missionaries! We got a lot accomplished- many hands make light work! Not sure who said that... but it's true! We had a "Death Day" Party at Freddy's (ice cream) for Sister Manning because she goes home in like 2 days! Sister Carroll, Udall, and Beesley joined us :) I have great friends. General Conference was SO good!! I loved every second of it!! My poor companion got hit with the flu on Sunday, so we missed the morning session, but we will definitely watch it soon! What were some of y'all's favorite talks? These were a few of mine: (so far!- can't wait to watch the Sun. Morning session!)

-Elder Durrant- "ponderize" a scripture and save money each week

-Elder Uchtdorf- Simplifying our Discipleship

-Elder Cook- "Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion"

-Elder Hales- debt, education, dating/marriage ...probably one of my VERY favorites! 

-Elder Holland- the divine role of mothers- LOVE!

Ah! So good! I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost that is able to speak to us directly and teach us individually. Heavenly Father knows us so perfectly! My testimony has been strengthened a lot this weekend and I am so grateful that I was able to listen to the words of the Lord's chosen prophets and apostles. What were some of your thoughts from this conference weekend? 

This week I will be taking Sister Manning to the mission office and she will be flying back home on Wednesday. I will be picking up my new companion, Sister Johnson! She is a sweet girl- I have served a little bit around her when I was in Canyon/Amarillo and Dalhart. She is great! More deets to come... :) 

Well, I love y'all! I hope you have a great week!

Happy Fall Y'all.

Love, 

Sister Evans 

[ We went to Freebirds Burrito Co. and it's tradition to make a "foil creation" after you eat.. so I kept the tradition alive and made a CTR ring! haha ]

 Texas Cotton Fields