I have been forever changed by her.............

The Lord feels my time is up here in Kwinana and has called me to serve in Wembley with a sweet Hawaiian, Sister Lelupututau, and we will stay Sister Training Leaders:) Ahhhh I feel...excited;) Transfers really are such a bitter sweet thing, but I am so grateful for a mission President who knows where the Lord needs us! My companion right now, Sister Bailey...Holy Smokes...I have been forever changed by her. She will be an eternal sister and best friend of mine. She has taught me how to listen, how to LOVEEEE, and how to Work like there is no tomorrow. We often go on for like 20 minutes telling each other how much we love about each other trying to one up each other with compliments, but we finally just have to stop! She is...ahhhh I don't know if Hero does it justice. Missions are great for so many reasons, but the lessons learned with and from companions are one of the greatest parts. fortunately Sister Bailey has family in Provo Utah, so when she visits we will be able to catch up. And mom and dad, don't hate me but I'm seriously thinking of moving back here after the mission...haha I just love it! And that way I'd be able to see everyone from the mission 24/7. Ok stop freaking out, it's just a wish;) But boy do I love it hear, I truly am so grateful for my mission!

 

This week has been...ahhhhh I want to scream...another incredible one hahaha. Its funny how every week is just amazing, there seriously never is a bad one! We spent a few days in Kalgoorlie (major country/ mining town- 7 hours away, really dodgey but awesome) and saw a lot of miracles there with the sisters! The Lord always seems to bless us with miracles, and with great opportunities to learn from each other as missionaries, it's the greatest! It really is a privilege to serve as a Sister Training Leader, there is so much to learn from all missionaries! This week we also got to study with some of the sisters and we worked with some of them on inspired questions, and watched a video from "The District" (missionary training videos) on this as well.  On the video a mission president was training his missionaries on inspired questions and was telling them (just when they were about to rush a question) "GO TO HEAVEN!". He was encouraging them to ask a question from Heaven, that would really get the investigator to ponder. If there is one tip I would give to teachers, it would be to ask more inspired questions that are from heaven, because I have found that is often when the spirit is the strongest because it helps the people being taught THINK, AND THEN SHARE! ahhhh it's the best! So that is something I am going to work on more, is SLOWING DOWN...and going to heaven, before speaking! As a representative of Jesus Christ I am here to speak HIS words, and so I've got to do that!

 

This week we talked with a man who was not keen, was not interested in having God any apart of his life, and just wasn't going to have time for us. the spirit brought words from heaven that this man needed, out through our mouths. As I spoke I didn't feel as if it were me, it was crazy...I bore testimony of the importance of following God NOW on this earth, and that now is the time to prepare to meet him...The spirit told him that he will be filled with regret in the next life, if he doesn't take time to listen now...the turn around he made when a warning voice was raised, mixed with the spirit, was incredible! So grateful for the spirit who is the ultimate teacher! Anddddd I love being Bold...this is it! I have come to realize since being a missionary, the REALITY of the gospel. the reality of life after this. now truly is the time to prepare to meet God, to keep our covenants, and do our best to improve! I LOVE THIS gospel sooo much:)

 

This week our members invited Quentin to be baptized in a family home evening....sooo sweet, and he has even been coming to early morning seminary! He is already a missionary, and talks about serving a 2 year one...he will literally make the greatest bishop one day...I wish you could see him and hear his testimony! He loves the gospel, he knows it's true but is just a bit nervous to be baptized because he doesn't want to stuff up afterwards...sister bailey and I fell we have done everything the Lord has asked us, and we will continue to do whatever he asks, but we WILL EXERCISE MIGHTY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST that he will be baptized! This week I read about Alma who converted THOUSANDS of the Lamanites after praying with exceeding faith, and so now...that's what we will do! and miracles will be wrought! I KNOW IT!

 

Ahhh out of time, but more people committed to be baptized this week! Helen, a sweet woman from the cook islands said after reading and praying about the Book of Mormon...that she knows it IS TRUE! I just cried:) A long term less active (returned missionary, and all) has made the greatest changes over the past 2 transfers...the atonement is real!!! This week, he IN TURN held a BBQ where 20 non members came, he brought them all! This work is like a wild fire and it is rescuing the less actives as well.  The less active families we have worked with, since being in Kwinana...are active and on the family 15 for further strengthening! I LOVE THIS AREA, THIS WARD and can't wait to come back here this week...with that said, I am so excited for the new things our Heavenly Father has in store for me!

 

Love you guys, thanks for all your emails, updates, pictures, and everything! You are all the best!

 

Love,

Sister Ensign

.....the spirit just flooded the room when she asked those questions.

JUSTIN AND STACEY WERE MARRIED AND BAPTIZED!!! Thank you so much for your prayers and faith, because everything went so well this weekend!!! (AND THIS WEEK ahhhh!) It honestly was definitely one of the highlights of my mission! I sat there watching everything on Saturday thinking, "Is this real life?" After tears, sweat, fasting, mighty prayer...ahhhhhhh, all of that good stuff...they sealed the deal, and then made their first covenant with our Heavenly Father! They looked more confident and calm than we've ever seen them, and yes the wedding was sweet, but the BAPTISM!!! The whole focus was the baptism (which was the cool part) and the spirit was stronger than you can even imagine! There were so many non members (some who even came to church yesterday as a result:)) but wow...the ward made it such a big deal, and the day was just the most special thing ever! I just cried as I stood back, aside from everyone and thought about this family...they have come soooo far! They have made the largest change I have ever seen in anyone! They went from being completely broken...to now having a different look and glow, a different feeling in the home, more love for one another (like they are actually nice to each other now;), to having family prayer, and family home evening...I just sit here in Complete awe for my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ...they are the reason this family has made the change they have! They did it...all of it! I honestly feel so humbled to have watched the conversion take place within them...sweetest thing ever!

Today I was reading in the book of Mormon about when Alma and Amulek are working together like the greatest team (member and missionaries) and how Amulek is testifying to his people about the fact that the only reason some of the wicked have been spared, is because of the "Prayers of the righteous"...and honestly...your prayers, because you are righteous, are SAVING AND CHANGING LIVES over here in Kwinana!!! Thank you. thank you. Thank you!!! Many of your prayers were answered this week, and we were led to A LOT of new investigators who are just so elect! One of them named BRIAN ;) (Aussie in this late 40's) was standing outside his house as we were passing by.  We began to talk with him, ended up sitting down for a lesson, and WOW!!! We taught the restoration and he cried as he said he knew it was true, and that this was exactly what he needed right now in his life! He said that he has tried repenting and has felt it help, but hasn't felt completely forgiven of his sins...so we told him about Baptism and the beautiful gift of the remission of our sins that comes from it, and he committed to be baptised! He came to church yesterday and were telling the members (who told us) that when he saw us missionaries walking towards him (the day we met him) there was this light around us and that he knew we had something he needed. cool to just hear that the Lord is preparing his children and allowing them to come into the gospel by using us missionaries, weak and nothing compared to Him, to just introduce His teachings, to His children!
Then not only Brian...but another woman from the Cook Islands has been prepared by the Lord. We biked over, taught the restoration,(which was, oh my goodness...so special! The spirit was so strong she told us after explaining Joseph Smith's first vision, "I feel like I want to cry" ;)) and then by the end, accepted Jesus Christ's invitation to be baptized! Seriously...how blessed are my companion and I? We feel so blessed to just see miracle after miracle- the Lord truly is Omnipotent!

Last miracle I Would love to share is...ahhh,   I want to cry just thinking about it...but really special! This family (from America- woohoo) consists of dad (who is a less active member),  mom (who is a non member-but obviously grew up around Mormons) and their 2 sweet kids.  K....., let me tell you first...they are pretty much already Mormon. These parents are the greatest things ever and have the best family. Well we got in their home and decided to teach the powerful message of the restoration and just give a FAIR SHOT at hearing the restored message of Jesus Christ, .......we taught the lesson (ahhh sooo cool!) and then invited Sabrina (non member mom) to pray and ask Heavenly Father if what we had shared was true......she knelt down (and so did the whole family) and for the first time she prayed out loud in front of her husband and so SWEETLY AND INTENTLY ASKED, "Is the Church of Jesus Christ true? and......Is Joseph Smith a true prophet?"...the spirit flooded the room when she asked those direct questions.  She finished as we asked..."How do you feel?" She said :) :) :) "Really good.." (paused) "and light!"   We had a mini freak out inside and wanted to just cry!!! The spirit was so strong and it brought them to church yesterday! I guarantee she will be baptized soon (please pray for her) and then be sealed in the temple shortly;)! They have the greatest potential!

I love KWINANA!!!! AND I LOVE THIS WORK! XOXO

LOVE,
SISTER ENSIGN

p.s Sam (our sweet recent convert) is speaking at stake conference next month!!! ahhhh we seriously have the coolest friends here and I am so grateful that I have been able to see many of their conversions take place!!! Best thing ever!

If the Savior were in this lesson, what would he teach?

What a great week!

 

We went to study with some sisters who have been struggling (one was thinking about going home), and while Sister Bailey and I were trying to figure out what to do during the study time with them...the spirit brought to our minds, to just focus on our Savior! So we wrote down 3 inspired questions

1.Why does the Lord need us to feed his sheep?

2. How can we make Christ more of the focus in our lessons?

3. What has Christ done for us?

 

K...I can't even put into words the spirit that was there with us four sisters in their living room. After all sharing our testimonies by answering those questions, we just took a few minutes to all go in different rooms, and pray...wow, what a sacred experience that helped recommit me to focus EVERYTHING on the Savior and his atonement!

 

That day we went out with a bang, and so did the sisters! They found 4 new investigators and sounded happier than they ever have before! The true cure to everything is to love the Savior more! This week as I have really thought about Him, and what he has done for me...the spirit has been with me so much more, and as a result, the spirit in the lessons we have been apart of have been so much more powerful, because we put EVERYTHING back on the Savior Himself! He truly is my rock, my best friend, my redeemer and my Savior!

 

This week I have focused on being more "HOLY"! I have been asking myself often...how would a true disciple of Christ act? Or what would a true disciple of Christ say right here? If the Savior were in this lesson, what would he teach? What kind of a testimony would I bare to the person if the Savior were beside me?

 

 It has begun to change me. "Holy" is what I'm aiming for!

 

I love you guys, sorry it's short!

 

Sister Ensign

 

Take a guess if He answered my prayer........OF COURSE HE DID!

Wow...the temple this week!....Talk about  a sweet, and tender experience! I am so grateful for a place of worship such as the temple.  I'm grateful that families can be made eternal in there, I’m grateful that we can make special promises with God  and receive great promised blessings in return.   And  I am so grateful that it is just overflowing with peace, love, and revelation! It truly is the Lord’s house!

 

This week we have had some really special experiences.   Just after going to the temple, that night we went and saw Nara (the NZ man in his 50’s who is super super spiritual) with our friend Brother Ta Paea (who dad, he reminds me so much of you! He is incredible) Anyways we went to Nara’s house and began to teach doctrine, when Nara had a “concern”  that needed to be addressed. We began to address it, when the spirit then moved our member Brother TaPaea to offer a priesthood blessing of comfort. That minute, Nara knelt down and Brother TaPaea layed his hands on his head to give him a priesthood blessing, using the power and authority from God to do so. When the blessing finished the spirit was sooooooo strong, that Nara was sweating like crazy! As soon as he returned to his seat, and the silence increased the spirit, Brother TaPaea said to Nara, “Nara, will you be baptized?!”.... after a little Nara replied and said, “just not quite yet” in the most sincere way. He is getting so close but has a few things to take care of first, but oh.my.goodness......the spirit and the priesthood are incredible! I’m so grateful for these experiences I am witnessing now, for I will never forget them! We again ended by walking to the yard and kneeling under the stars to pray...wow...I just can’t even put into words the feelings from the spirit that night. I know the priesthood authority is real, and I'm so grateful for Brother TaPaea for being ready and worthy to call upon it when it was necessary! The priesthood is a huge indication that Jesus Christ’s Church really is on the earth today...and not only is it an ancient church...but a LIVING church, how blessed are we?!?!  And I love that our members love missionary work, and love feeling the spirit! WE often kneel with them outside after lessons, in gratified prayers, because it seriously is insane the incredible spirit in the lessons when we work together as a team!

 

 

p.s.s    Elder Hamula is coming to our mission in March for a mission conference (which will be such a privilege) and has asked that we read the BOM from cover to cover before he arrives. That assignment puts us at about 15 pages per day, which I LOVEEEEEEE J I have already had some really special experiences while reading, and would like to share a couple of them with you! First off, I know that The Book of Mormon IS TRUE and that is really can answer any questions or concerns we have! This week while on exchanges I was encouraged by a sweet sister to ALWAYS take a question to “personal study” and so I have been doing it...k, seriously I have received the greatest answers from just reading the first parts of Nephi! The Lord has spoken to me and answered my questions, and just filled me with the spirit so much! Another cool thing is;  those we have been teaching are now loving to read The Book of Mormon, and praying! We have made special efforts to have a lesson with each of those we are teaching, on how to properly read and pray...this has sped up their conversion so much, and has literally CHANGED THEM! Yesterday Shakia was telling us how she loves that the Book of Mormon was written for HER! She is exactly right;) I also loved something else she said...She said, that when we come visit their family everyone is so much happier and there is just a better feeling at the house for the rest of the DAY...BUTTTTTTT...when the come to church, that feeling stays the WHOLE WEEK! Worshiping Jesus Christ on Sunday’s truly does bring a spirit and lifting to the week, that CANNOT be found anywhere else! I know that’s why the Lord has given us the commandment to keep the Sabbath Day Holy...so he can bless us when we do!

 

Yesterday at church was another sweet, sweet, experience! Our ward loves all our investigators and Recent converts who come, which is really really really good to see. But yesterday we took our 2 investigators up with us to bear their testimonies (one of them being Sue-anne, who is being baptized on Saturday) and wow...like EVERYONE was crying! It was the sweetest, most heart felt, and spiritual testimony ever! She testified that THIS IS TRUE! That this gospel really does bring more happiness than anything else, and that she is so excited to be baptized! Ahhh along with everything else she said, you could just feel the Holy Ghost working through her so tenderly! Speaking of church...the Coyle family was there 30 min. There all ready and excited for church, and they even fasted for their first time *including the little kids they have;)...IT was so cute, when Ethan (7yr. Old) partook of the sacrament (bread) he said, “that's my first meal of the day!” haha. Their family has changed so much!!! just want to cry thinking about it! I can’t wait for you guys to meet them one day, they are definitely one of the highlights of my mission! Less than 2 weeks till they are married and baptized, so Pleaseeeeeee keep praying really, really, really hard for them!!! J I know that things will be great though, and wow...I just am so happy for them and the changes they have made!

 

So in a few weeks, we will be out of baptisms...So yesterday I pleaded with the Lord to please help us find more of his children who are ready, and elect...Take a guess if he answered my prayer....OF COURSE HE DID! We went over to see an investigator last night (that we haven’t seen in ages cause we weren’t sure if he was super keen)...and his 18yr. Old daughter was there! K...cutest thing ever! They are from the Philippines and she is really strong in the Catholic faith, and has just the greatest relationship with our Loving Heavenly Father. Well we taught the restoration last night, and COMMITTED HER TO BE BAPTIZED!!! In her kneeling prayer that she offered at the end she told our Heavenly Father that she loved the Book of Mormon and knew it was true, “because this church as the permission”...she is amazing! Every response to our questions we asked her to check for her understanding, were spot on...she was so aware of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is defiantly one of Heavenly Father’s elect daughters, and great things are in store for her!

 

Love,

Sister Ensign

 

 

P.S

I don’t really share funny things that happen a lot because the spiritual ones are just better ;) But i can’t wait to share them with you when i get home. But this past week i got a video of me scaring my companion..........oh.heck...............literally the funniest thing I have ever seen hahaha I can’t wait to show you;)