What more could a missionary ask for

Ok so take a guess...good or bad week for Sister Ensign..................of course it was AMAZING! Why? Becuase I am a missionary, and God will not let his missionaries go a whole week suffering and struggling without seeing miracles and tender mercies, just like he wont abonden and leave comfortless any of his  children. He truly will  rescue all his children who ask for help, and do their part in difficult times! ;)

 

 

Last week I experienced my hardest week as a missionary, but with that said, my testimony grew IMMENSLEY! I just want to be the BEST I can be, and be the kind of missionary God wants me to be); but sure enough after a few days of this struggle, God finally came and completely lifted me. There were some nights when I just had to talk with him for a while, but finally I spent a REALLY long time talking with him on my knees, and the next day...he lifted me more than i deserved! He lifted me through the Book of Mormon, (which applied perfectly to what struggles I was facing) as well as numerous tender mercies with meeting new people who needed us at that specific time, AND helping our investigators through some struggles as well!  God surely, will NEVER leave his missionaries, just like he will never leave any of his beloved children, he wants to help, we just need to reach up and grab his hand out-stretched to us! This week, truly was a building block for me as a missionary, and my testimony of the book of mormon grew even more! It really is a great time to be a missionary in Western Australia!

 

 

The Book of Mormon really is such a powerful book and I will NEVER be able to deny the power within it! I LITERALLY CHANGES LIVES- and it HAS changed mine and I am still overwhelmed with the spirit it can bring into our lives.  When we open the book of Mormon, it is lieterally opening a door way between us and God, and gives God an opportunity to talk with us and give us revelation!This week God blessed me with a tender mercy, he helped me see how much I have changed since i've been a missionary! I have been praying to "change" and be a more concercrated missioary and no i am not done changing, but I have begun this wonderful journey of having a "changed heart"! #itfeelsgood :) 

 

 

The Book of Mormon has not only changed my life, but this week I asked our 3 sweet african investigators how it has changed their life that wow...their answers just filled my heart witht the most happiness i have (almost) experienced as a missionary! Bobkie said he obeys his parents more and be more respectful, and doensn't swear- Malad said he feels closer to God and has been happier -and Blessing said she hasn't listened to one bad song since she has started meeting with us and reading the BOM! The gospel really does change people and their lives- it makes them more like Jesus Christ! Along with that, Bobkie and Malad's dad had all of a sudden (last week) said he wasn't sure about them getting baptzied anymore becuase he was unsure about the BOM...this broke my heart and sister Parsons and I prayed SOOOO HARD AND SO MUCH for him to have a softened heart...sure enough, several days later we were able to sit down with him and his wife, and answer their quiestions, and now they are soooo all for their kids being baptized! THis work is so important to God and he WILL provide a way, for his children to come into his fold! Ahhh...I loved it! God is amazing!

 

 

Last thing-0 we got the most amazing text from one of our other investigators this week-

 

"Hey sisters how r youz I hope you week has been great and youz are doin fine. i really enjoyed the last bible session we had on wednesday it really changed the way i feel bout myself n how i should act upon things n all week i've been feeling good knowing God's with me and i want to no if u guyz can come back and teach me more because i'm acutally learning a lot from youz  and i've been thinking about the baptizing n i think i should learn a bit more bout the mormon and get a bit of an unmdcerstanding from the start to the end before i rush into something ohhh and thanks from bringing taylah along i've made a new friend now:) with all the love from Angawin god bless youz"

 

What more could a missionary ask for....she is amazing and hopefully we will set a bap date with her this week.

 

 

Well we have another investigator on date! Her name is Kayla and she has been attending church for 7+ years, but finally just got permission from her foster  company to be baptzied, and so she is being baptized on the 15th! OUr ward is AMAZING and we have established such a great realationship with them, I feel sooo blessed to be in this area! I HOPE AND PRAY I don't get transferred in 2 weeks! haha)!!!

 

 

This work truly is something so sacred and as members of the church we have a big responsibility to help God's other lost sheep...we are LITERALLY talking about their eternal salvation...It makes me feel so overwhlemed with the fact that God trusts me to do his work over here in Western Australia,  but with that said, since he has called me, and you guys as well (to labor wherever you are, as members of the church) he WILL provide a way for us to be a true disciples and missionaries- and that is a LITERAL PROMISE from him! He has promised to give us powerful missionary experiecnes if we do our part- and all our part is, is keeping the commandments, and OPENING OUR MOUTH! Sharing the gospel doens't have to be anything big, but every little bit counts!

 

 

My new motto- :) "Assume the good, doubt the bad" -Elder Holland

 

With all the love in my heart,

Sister Diondra Ensign

 

 

P.S

Happy Later Birthday to Uncle Dave, and Happy Birthday (this week) to Abby, and Zachy! Love you guys!

 

 

The happiness that has filled my heart

Sooooo ok.....this week...unbelievable! 4 PEOPLE COMMITTED TO BAPTISM FOR THE 22ND OF JUNE!!!! I can't even put into words right now, the happiness that has filled my heart! This week was really hard in a lot of ways, but I was also able to experience some of my happiest/most memorable times as well... #lifeofamissionary! (ya i'm still kinda cool enough to use hashtags ha)

 

 

So I just want to share one amazing experience i had this week with you guys! So last Sunday night, we got 3 new AWESOME African investigators! Bobkie (19 yr), Malad (10 yr) , and Blessing (11yr) (brothers, and Blessing is their cousin).  Well this week we met with them and the first appointment we had with them was sooo special! We went into the house to teach the lesson and we taught the powerful message of the restoration.  The spirit was just like BURNING in the lesson and the 3 investigators seemed to just eat this up, you could tell through their eyes, that their spirit just longed to hear more.  Well the time came when we asked them to pray to know if what we had taught them was true, but since it was a little noisy inside, i asked if maybe we could go outside just for a couple of minutes.  Out us 2 missionaries and 3 investigators went, and we knelt in the dark, underneath the stars, right outside their home in the back yard.  Bobkie offered a sincere and heart felt prayer, asking God if the Book of Mormon was true! (Ahhh I'm just dying inside thinking about it haha) but once he was finished, and we all talked about what we were feeling, they undeniably said that they knew it was true! Bobkie's words afterwards, "I know God is looking down upon us right now" and it was so true! Being outside, right underneath  the stars helped me feel it even more! The message of the restoration is powerful, and it does and will continue to reach the hearts of men, and burn within their souls! We then invited them to be baptized...Bobkie, said yes...Blessing, said yes...and Malad asked, "WHERE DO I GO IF I'M READY TO GET BAPTIZED RIGHT NOW?!?", that's when the spirit had just burst within me, and I couldn't help but just cry into my hands...These children KNOW that baptism is what God wants them to do, and they are willing to follow Jesus Christ's example.  i will never forget the amount of faith each of them have, I  truly look up to them so much, and have already established such a deep love for them!

 

Oh and their parents said they could get baptized;)....ahhh I'm dying!

 

The other sweet girl who committed to baptism is a 11 yr old girl from Taiwan, and she is just as amazing as the 3 above! For her baptismal invitation...before we could even finish inviting her (in the one sentence, "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?) she had already said, "YES!" haha.  She is just so amazing and such a great example to me as well!

 

I wish i could really go in depth about all our lessons, and investigators so you could see how much God's hand is in our work right now, but the time again is short!

 

Just know that I appreciate all your prayers so much  and they are definitely being answered, for our benefit! I want you to know that I am so happy right now, and God lifts me so much, especially on days when I need it most! I love you all and wish you the best for this next coming week! "God be with you till we meet again" (-boy singing from the mtc  ha-ha)

 

I Love You,

 

Sister Diondra Ensign

I was reminded of how much the Lord truly loves his daughters.

This week was amazing to say the least! Satan took his toll on my companion and I last week, and really tried our faith, (and of course he did this week as well), but the miracles we have seen, and the investigators we picked up are...words cannot even describe them...but lets just say that the Lord has been way too good to my companion and I!


Two days ago, we were walking down the street, and 2 young men were walking on the other side and had a cigarette in one hand, and a beer in the other.  I felt the spirit tell me to go talk to them, so we began to walk towards them. After talking with them for a short while, I testified to them, of the power of the atonement, and that it IS possible to be clean from sin- they expressed their deep desires to feel of this! As we talked more with them, they told me companion and I how they have been wanting to quit smoking and drinking and in my head I'm thinking, "no way...this is just too 'golden'" haha.  They invited us to come back a short hour later, and so we met with them and shared the first lesson on the restoration of the gospel.  When we asked them what the thought and felt about what we had shared with them, they said..."words can't really describe it..., but good".  The spirit was burning so strong in that lesson, and they one of them was able to pray to God for the first time 7 years! In his sweet prayer, he asked God if the Book of Mormon was true, and asked to find out what his purpose here on earth is! Both Adam and LIam (the 19 and 17 year old young men) are desirous to learn more, and i can't help but feel so happy to know that all of their questions and concerns can be answered through the spirit, as sister parsons and i teach them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I have come to gain even a stronger testimony, that it is VITAL for us as missionaries, to TALK WITH EVERYONE! Regardless of what their circumstances are like, everyone has the desire within them (some deeper than others) to learn more about Jesus Christ! The spirit has also confirmed to me even more, that talking with everyone leads to new investigators, which means more people entering the waters of baptism, and heading in the right direction back home to God!

I know that this is the  true church! Satan really worked on me this week, specifically the day that my companion and I fasted; my testimony was tried, but again Heavenly Father stepped in and took me under his wings! He helped my testimony grow even MORE and reassured me of the truthfullness of the Gospel and the Book Of Mormon.  I am so grateful for this opportunity i have as a missionary, to study the Book of Mormon in a manner that i have never done before. It has already made such a difference in my own testimony, as well as in the work!

 

This week, sister Parsons and I went to check on one of our investigators Kathleen (yes- i think of grandma every time i say her name;)). She is a 13 year old girl from New Zealand and is just the sweetest/coolest girl ever! When we got to her house, she had been hanging out with her cousin who is also 13 yr. old from New Zealand as well.  We followed up on her to see if she had read the Plan of Salvation pamphlet we had given her and if she had prayed... ummm ok...her answer was amazing haha, she was like, "ya! We just read it together and prayed!" like all excited, and inside I'm just like...no way?!?!?! like freaking out haha.  Long story short they invited us to come in and "talk more about Jesus":)  She took us upstairs and out onto the balcony, where we sat on a queen sized mattress:) I caught the most beautiful glimpse, and one i will never forget, while spending time with them! I looked out, and first realized how beautiful my surroundings were the sunsets here are dreamy and it was just gorgeous, and then i looked at these 2 beautiful young girls sitting across from two sister missionaries;) God helped me see how badly he wants his precious children back, and reminded me of HOW MUCH HE LOVES HIS DAUGHTERS!  By the end they had their other 11 yr. old girl cousin join us, so i was privileged to see 3 beautiful girls soak in what we were telling them about God and Jesus Christ adn their love for them! I wish you could have seen the looks on their faces, they were so desirous to learn more and it was one i will never forget! God loves all his children, but there is just something special about the young ones..i have such a deep desire to help Heavenly Father bring these sweet girls, back into his fold! We meet with them every Friday, and I am so excited for them! We are also teaching their cousin who is a big 21 year old! He is sooo cool too:) But that means we are teaching 4 people in one home...can you say "FAMILIES!!!!" families are what is most important!

 

I love being a missionary and honestly would not prefer to be anywhere else right now! the work has been miraculous this week! 11 new investigators! God is being so gracious!!!

Things are great over here in Wanneroo! Hard, but great!

Love you all,

Sister Diondra Ensign

Serving in Wannaroo !!

Hello!!!

We made it:) :) :) Ya...the accents are awesome! I can hardly understand anything because they are so thick, but it's cool! I just feel kind of weird because of jet lag, but I'll get used to the time difference shortly (hopefully) ha.  When we first got here we went straight to the bike store and I got all the stuff so I'm excited to start riding:)  It came to 525 dollars (Australian money) just fyi:) So...The first bathroom I went into, I lifted up the toilet seat just to check for huntsman spiders...ya I'm already super paranoid. haha but I just wanted to tell you that I made it and I am happy as ever! I can't wait to find out where I will be serving and who my companion is! Adventures to come;)

Love,
Sister Ensign

p.S.

It's beautiful here:)

Yes, my visa came, it's really bittersweet

I don't know how to even start this out, but really I just can't get enough of being a missionary! Do you think the miracles have ceased...? NO!!! It really is so amazing the way that God works through us and how aware of each of us he is! Oh...and yes my visa came, but lets not talk about it yet:( Lets just say, it's really bittersweet!

 

 

Tuesday night after getting home, my companion and I sat down to plan for the next day, and decided to tract two specific streets the next day! We closed our planning session with a prayer, and let God know where we were planning on tracting, and asked him once again, to place someone in our path who would be ready to hear our message! Well Wednesday morning rolled around and we entered those two streets into our GPS and it couldn't find them, and unfortunately we had left our map and home, so we ultimately had no way of finding these two streets. So we decided to tract the country side, where the houses are more spread out since we had the car that day, and after parking and walking for a while, in the middle of what seemed like no where. We all of a sudden, came up to these 2 random dirt roads and looked at the signs....and guess what?!?! They were the two roads we had initially planned to tract on! Sister Cox and I looked at each other and smiles:)!!!" So we knocked on the first door, and guess what!? NEW INVESTIGATOR!!! ! Well unfortunately we had to quickly go to our dinner appointment, but planned to go back afterwards! Well while at dinner we asked the members is there was anyone they knew of that we could visit, and they told us of a lady who is less active! Immediately after dinner my companion and I went back to these two roads, just as we were parking there was someone at the mailbox in their car and Sister Cox and I decided to go talk to them! Long story short, guess who it was?!?! The less active lady that the members had told us about, and she lived on the street that we had planned to tract on! By the end of our discussion with her, all three of us, Cindy (the less active) Sister Cox and I were all in tears! We knew that God had planned all of our timing out perfectly! Cindy just kept saying, you guys were placed in my path for a reason! I've been trying to come back to church for 30 years, but i have no one to go with! She cried as she told us how badly she wanted to get married in the temple, because she knows it is essential, but her husband is not a member and doesn't want to be, and how it breaks her heart! She told us that she is going to come back to church and i reminded her that she can be forgiven of her sins after taking the sacrament, because she has been baptized, and then she can start over, fresh and clean and just be a good example to her family who isn't members! She was so excited by the end, and had such a light about her, as well as great faith to go and talk to her husband about maybe meeting with the missionaries again! She was such a great example to me, but more than anything, it was just such a great sign that God is so aware of us and he loves us so much! He knew what Cindy needed, and he directed my companion and I to her so we could all help each other out! God is so Merciful!

 

 

So here in Moxee there are a lot of gangs and crime, k well not a lot, but definitely quite a bit and pretty much everyone we run into, is either a gang banger, druggie, or just all around super weird! haha but don't worry, I flippin love all of them sooooo much! This week we met a gang member named Matt and had probably the best experience on my mission yet! Matt used to be involved with a gang, is still hooked on drugs, and just totally lost. He has been shot 5 times and stabbed while in a fight, but knows that God is real, otherwise he would not still be alive! Well when first talking to him, he was all cool with his black clothes and hat haha, with his ear phones in and not really giving us the time of day. He was also very mad at God and expressed his anger to us. We let him vent for about 25 minutes and then began talking more. I cannot even explain the significance of this, but by the end he literally had the BIGGEST COUNTENANCE CHANGE I HAVE EVER SEEN! After talking to him, and reminding him of the atonement and the power of it, he literally was asking us, "what do i need to do to be clean?!"...crazy right?! He wanted it soooo badly, he had the light of Christ within him, like we all do, and he "yearned for good". It was a miracle in itself to talk to him and promise him some wonderful blessings if he were to turn his life around, but also the elders quorum president was running and stopped and talked with all of us! He said to Matt, "Matt, i know that these sisters ran into you for a reason, and i know they can help you turn your life around! listen to them and meet with them, i promise it will help!" and was just super nice to him and everything, but ya...Matt is ready, he wants to change! It was the coolest thing i have ever seen! Sister Cox and I literally left in silence, we were in awe at what had just happened. Esp3ecially because we had said things to him that were not from us, but from our Father in heaven.  I wish I could tell you about all the miracles from this week, but I don't have time :( just know that they definitely aren't ceasing!

I know God lives! I know God loves us! I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and Redeemer! I will never be able to deny that, nor the fact that Joseph Smith is a living prophet! I couldn't be happier right now, i just love being a missionary!

 

Serving in this mission has been such a blessing and i am literally heart broken that i have to leave next week, but i know that there is a reason for everything and God must need me in Australia. But i have loved serving here sooo much and will never forget it, the experiences I've had, nor the people! I LOVE MOXEE WASHINGTON!!!! ;) Ya I'm crying right now, this is such a bittersweet experience!

 

Love always,

Sister Diondra Ensign

If I join your church will I be as happy as you?

Soooooo....God has been so good to me this week! First things first... I LOVE MY COMPANION! Haha seriously! We have seen so many miracles this week, like it is unreal!

 

Monday we saw our first one, when we found an awesome investigator! We had fasted and prayed really hard on Sunday for a new investigator and found one on Monday! Guess what though...Tuesday got even better! Tuesday, I kid you not, door after door new investigators were coming! And not only were these people...like, "sure i guess ill read the book of mormon and meet with you again", but they were like super pumped about it and like, "ya i've been looking for something like this in my life". My companion and i would walk away from each door and just be like, "no way?...he/she is golden!" and then we would go to the next door, and say the same thing afterwards! God was blessing us so much and I know that it is because my companion and i were and still are working soooo hard! We are prayerfully seeking which road (specifically) to tract on (for the next day) each night as we look on the map, and then in our closing companionship prayer, tell God where we are going to be and ask for those who are elect to be there and to be receptive to our message and IT IS WORKING! This week just between my companion and I, we have 11 new investigators and the "standard of excellence" for our whole district (10 missionaries) is 13...my companion and I almost met our whole districts goal! My companion and I have to stop often and just give a "prayer of thanks" because God is being way to good to us! It was cool though because after tracting and everyone wanting to hear more of our message, we were taking notes about one lady (so we had stopped on the side walk) and a butterfly (the first one i've seen over here in WA) flew over my companion and I and I immediately thought of Chelsea! i know that angels are watching over me and helping me so much! your prayers back at home are literally carrying me and the work over here, so thank you! Please keep them coming!

 

Well on April 18th my journal entry started, "Not everyday is filled with pink roses" hahaha...it was a hard day haha! But that's ok, because we can't have all good in our lives, God doesn't want us to be comfortable with our circumstances, he wants us to constantly learn and grow! It was just hard because we had to drop an investigator (not one of the 11 though ;)) Along with that we had talked with a really rough family who was just lost, and they live in a hoarder home and it was just a mess. Well we sat and talked with them and one of the aunts who was there was once an investigator and was ready to be baptized the following week when her son died and her life completely changed. she said she still knows its true but is just battling with her self inside and understands that SHE needs to change. She is now homeless, and lost. We tried to offer every bit of help, from employment to my own backpack, but she wants nothing. It broke my heart and i just cried as i talked with her and prayed with her. It may not be her time now, but she will come around sometime, i know it- because she has the light of Christ. Well this homeless lady Sally, was visiting her niece's house and he niece and nephew-in-law are now our two new investigators. At first Darrell and Rosey have 3 kids (ages 2, 5, 6) and live in...not the best circumstances. They do not look like your typical investigators, in fact they are heavy smokers and have a couple missing teeth, but they are WONDERFUL! They were not open at first and Darrell, kinda even gave us the cold shoulder but since we have first met him, his countenance has changed sooo much (seriously like night and day)! My companion and i spent a couple of hours with them in their yard (their house and yard shows their hoarding issues) cleaning it up and I now have a better understanding of the fact that SERVICE OPENS DOORS! We have such a good relationship one with another and have shared some very spiritual experiences. We took them on a church tour and the spirit was SO STRONG in the chapel! After praying with them (inviting them to pray and ask God if this is the path he wants them to take) and them receiving an answer "yes", and I invited them to be baptized! They said they would think about it and we told them to take the question of "should i get baptized" to church on Sunday and God WOULD answer it!!! I'm crying right now even thinking about it, but guess what?!?!/ They haven't said they want to get baptized yet but in sacrament meeting, a returned missionary gave his homecoming talk about the doctrine of christ and how baptism is essential in making it back home to live with GOd and our families. How PERFECT IS THAT?!?! The spirit was so strong and they definitely felt it too:) They are starting to shine more and more of the light of christ- i couldn't be happier for them! I love to see the change in people, and especially in people like these investigators! I know that anyone can change regardless of where they have been or what they have done! God loves all of his children, and he will prepare a way for them! One other thought...GOD WAS A PERFECT PARENT AND STILL LOST 1/3 OF HIS CHILDREN! Children may wander, but it's not always the parent's fault. We all have our own agency, but God loves us and will not leave us! We just need to trust in him and NEVER lose faith, and NEVER give up on anyone! Anyone can change!

 

This week i'm telling you has been unreal! We have invited a lot of people to be baptized and 1 said "yes" the rest haven't said it yet, but are totally feeli'n it- i know it! They will come around:) just wait for next week's email, i bet (i'm having faith not being caucky , haha) I will have some good news to tell you about who has committed to baptism out of our `11 investigators. My companion will occasionally turn to me and be like, "who are you? you need to be translated!" because miracles are not ceasing and she thinks it's me haha, but it's really not! and i'm not just saying that , like really....ITS GOD! and He IS preparing the elect, we've just got to find them (and this week we've lucked out, and really found some of them ;)) My companion is so great and we work so well together, especially in lessons! Ahhhh i love it just thinking about it! We have grown really close this week and it's because we are putting the Lord and his work first. She reminds me a lot of Austen in some things she does haha, i love it!

 

Well i wish i could tell you about all of the amazing investigators but my time is short. But just know all your prayers are definitely being heard and answered here in Moxee WA!!! It's awesome here, haha, I can't tell you enough, how redneck it is here, but it rocks! Tell Genna that I have thought of her so much while talking to so many of the people here, haha. One of our investigators really has a good hick accent, and he is AWESOME! He told my companion and i on Saturday..." YOU JUST GLOW!" If we join your church will we be as happy as you guys?" and we were like freaking out we were like "YA!!!! And we promise you that you will be!" because it's true, this gospel is what brings us real and ever lasting happiness, and that's why i am here on my mission! I want to share that happiness with others:)

 

Well I love you guys and want to share one last scripture with you- it's in 1 Ne. 17:13. When it say's Wilderness, replace it with wherever you are...(Bountiful, Syracuse, Herriman, Salt Lake, Orem, Provo, ect)

 

"And i will also be your light in the Wilderness, and i will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led"

 

I Love this! It applies to all of us! Your all amazing! Love you:)

 

love,

Sister Ensign

p.s. mom, your package was AMAZING! and your letter and the package came on the days i needed it most.

 

And the boston bombing?!??! WAS OUR family over there ok?!

mom- your wonderful i'll write more but just know i love you so ooooo much