Letter Number 73

I love this beautiful story of conversion.  We don't all have the same changes to make, but we all need to make some changes, and this story reminds us that the Lord can help us do that.  

We had an amazing skype with Jake.  He is happy and healthy and loving the Missionary Life.  I feel so blessed by this, as I know some of the missionaries struggle with depression and anxiety.

We will be excited to be reunited as a family next Christmas, but I would never give up these amazing years Jake has had in the West Indies serving his Savior.

Renaud Cimper got baptised!

Here is his story,

One night Elder Dayton I were walking on the side of a highway and it was super dark, as we went to pass this guy he turned to us and said "do you have a Book of Mormon?" shocked we started to teach him as we were walking almost to the same place where he lived.  As we talked to him we found out a really old guy who is a member happens to be his neighbor and talked to him about the Book of Mormon. This was about 5 months ago. He needed some help with his home.  We did a family home evening one night and helped him put it in order.  Little by little he has kept it cleaner and cleaner. It is still not my mother's house, but it is improving.  He smoked almost Two packs of rolled tobaco a day. Little by little we helped him smoke less and less till he was able to pay for nicotine patches, right before he paid for the patches he found a goverment system that provides them for free. During this whole time he had been going to the Church, and reading dillegently in the Book of Mormon. He went from being a guy who smoked and slept to someone with a life again in his bones, you can see the change is his whole figure. We watched over the last 5 months as the Lord healed him spiritually untill he could be baptized, There was a lot of patience and prayers and longsuffring and love unfeigned but alas he is baptized. As he  came out of the water he had the biggest smile on his face and it was so full of joy and love. He shook giddily everyones hands and told me that he was never going to do anything bad or illégal again. He said that this was a new chance that God had given him and that he was going to do eveything in his power to endure till the end.

It was incredible. Attached is a photo of the baptism, and also all the missionaires and some of the members when down to downtown Fort de France by the ocean and caroled. It was super awesome:) We all had santa hats and there was a nice cool Wind that helped us out with the heat.

As we approach Christmas, let our minds be centered on Jesus Christ who gave us all so we  could receive all he has.

let us pray, and study, and ponder on the wonderful atoning sacrifice, that his Spirit may be with us this Christmas season

I love you all dearly, thank you for your support, Merry Christmas

et Joyeux Noël

Elder Lewis

Renaud's Baptism

Caroling in Downtown Fort de France, Martinique

Christmas Skype with Jake

Letter Number 72....!

I get to Talk to my Son this week...I am so excited about that.  Reading this letter again, reminds me of how the Gospel can change our lives.  When we live with the spirit of our Savior on a daily basis, we have direction, focus, and as Jake said, "an eye single to the Glory of God."  As I reflect on Christmas this year I have tried to remember these words.  When we live with Christ's light in our eyes we have so much peace and happiness to share with the world just as these Missionaries do.  We don't have to be on a mission to share the Spirit of Christ.  We share it by the way we live every day.

 Merry Christmas

Jake and His Original District from The MTC Together again in Guadeloupe

This week was incredible! on Wednesday we were out contacting some apartment buildings trying to find this guys house that we taught in the area but out on the road, and we came across a sweet Saint Lucien family! The mother was super kind and very intelligent.  She understood clearly what the Spirit spoke to her heart and committed to a soft baptismal commitment.  Then at the end of this wonderful lesson, she offered a beautiful prayer and blessed us that the other doors in the apartment building would be opened and that their hearts would be softened.  We left the building and went to the car ( the turners are gone till the 30th and so we have their car, and also their senior couple responsibilities) and we had an impression about her prayer.  The Spirit pushed us to go back and Knock the rest of the building. The last door, a small woman opened up we introduced ourselves and presented a portion of our message, and she just waited. Her husband came down the stairs and started talking to us. He told us that he used to be a Christian but he had found to many contraditions in the Bible to believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, he was acctually studying to become a Jew, he wanted to believe but he couldn't bring himself to it. He asked us how we knew. (Great question right?) So we pulled out our handy dandy vehicle of the spirit, The Book of Mormon,  another testament of Jesus Christ, and started showing him how. He accepted a book and told us he would read it, but that he worked at the hospital and it would be difficulte to see him. we left to Zone Conference on Gwada and were greatly edified by our leaders as we talked about doctrine and all that good stuff, thennnnnn, We get back and we saw we had a missed call and a message. We listened and it was HIM! We called him back and he asked us when we could see each other. So today in the afternoon we are going over with our Branch President to see him! It was MIRACULOUS! 

 I'm pretty sure that I can't spell anything in English any more.

I know that if we bring our minds single to the glory of God that He will sanctify us and we will have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion.

I feel this, and I search for this and it has changed my life.

D&C121:45-46

I love you

ELder Lewis

Jake and Elder Sims...referred to by Jake as "MY SON" because he was his Trainer. At the top of Mt. Pele'

Letter Number 71...Elder Lewis' 2nd Christmas in the West Indies Mission

What a great story about a faithful woman overcoming her fears to strengthen herself and those around her.  I could just picture it.  I'm feeling like I'm glad this is the last year I only get to skype with my Son for Christmas...but so thrilled for his happiness and for the strengthening experiences he's having while on his mission.  He will forever be a better Man because of these two years.

Rebonjour,

Last week I wrote une noel, but it is really un noel martiniqai, I guess we are all imperfect.

This last  week was great.

The highlight was at fast Sunday.

For the last 3-5 years a really shy older sister has never been up to bare her testimony.  She is a very kind lady and her Grandson and cousin are members as of this summer thanks to her.  The Branch President gave   Elder Christensen and Me the assignment to go and help her go up and bare her testimony.  A few weeks ago we taught her the importance of testimonies.  After, we invited her with lots off persuasion to do it.  She signed a little contract we had made along with her Grandson and cousin.  Sunday came and before the meeting when I followed up on our commitment she had made,  pure terror was in her eyes.  During the meeting she looked over at me and our eyes met.  Trembling she prepared herself to get up and then got up and walked slowly to the microphone.  She spoke very softly and as she spoke the Spirit testified.  We were all filled with the love of Christ and courage.  It was an incredible moment.

I love my mission, I love these people, I love the Spirit.

Have a wonderful week

I guess I love you too

Elder Lewis

Questions From Mom:

How Is Ranaud doing?

It is planned that he will get baptized the 20th of this month! I have never felt someone be so ready! He is completely independent finding rides to Church. He quit a whole bunch of prescriptions that were doing weird things, and he hasnt smoked since the 17th! Truly a miracle! I have set the goal to baptize every month for the rest of my mission. It is so very possible.

Letter Number 70

I can't think of a better testimony to read about our Savior at Christmas time than this one shared by Elder Lewis.  We all need to change...all in different ways, but we all need the Savior's atonement in our lives.  As the Christmas season ramps up I feel a deep need to remember to keep Jesus Christ front and center in all I do...in all I say....in my countenance. Please pray for all our missionaries and for all those seeking the light of Christ in their lives.

Bonjour,

Well it looks like the clasic combo are staying together for Christmas and our second New Years. Kind of crazy? YES..... but it is all good.

I have a profound love for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Over these past few months that we have been seeing Renaud, we have seen moments where we just wanted to drop him and move on, we have seen failiures and successes and ups and downs. Never the less, we left a little place for a seed too grow. Little by little Renaud has changed from someone who smoked one or two packs of rolled tobaco to someone who doesn't smoke at all, he has left drugs, and coffee. He has taken up brushing his teeth and reading the Book of Mormon. Yesterday while I sat next to the good old guy, I could see the light of Christ in his eyes, they were a reflection of an inner purity that was becoming more and more pure. Little by little,  The Atonement has taken him and given him drop by precious drop of the médicine the atoneing blood of Christ. He will be baptized in late December, it is sure.

It all starts with a place, even the very desire to change.

We say "I am willing and wanting" and Christ says "Follow me" and he takes us, by some grace he changes us and turns us into better people. He alows us to aquire the attributes of Godliness and one day has promised to make us like he and his father are. Perfect.

"Come unto Chirst and be perfected in him" I know that He has the power to do it, I have felt it and it is written on my soul.

I love you all very much,

Thank you for the prayers,

Elder Lewis

Baptism on a Beautiful Beach in Martinique

The Elder literally wore his soles out...found these in a parking lot! crazy

District Meeting