I was reminded of the beautiful covenants I have made

So last week the email i sent was like 2 seconds long, and there was so much going on- and i feel really bad that i did not tell you everything wonderful thats going on, so today i'm just gonna bust as much out as i can in the 43 minutes i have left, because wow...this week...i can't even put into words how amazing it was!

 

 

KAYLA GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURADAY!!!! Saturday was probably one of the best days of my entire life! But before I tell you how wonderful it was, i have to tell you of an obsticale that obviously came up, (because lets be honest, Satan is going to try to do everything to get in the way right haha?!) Well we got to the chapel and were kind of crunching for time since we had just came from the temple, and went to start filling the font...but there was no plug...What do you do right? PRAY (after panicking just for a second) haha, anyways, i came up with the bright idea to grab a plate from the kitchen, and put it over the drain, have it suction itself down and then fill the font...did it work? Of course, becuase God will always win, and miracles happen! haha so, yes we used a big glass plate as a plug for the font and everything worked perfectly haha. Anyways, Kayla's baptism was soooo powerful and many of the other missionaries investigators even said how special it was.  After kayla was baptized and she bore her testimony...It was one of the most powerful yet, simple testimonies I have ever heard! She just cried as the shared it, and of course my companion and I were just crying like babies too haha.  Kayla is the one we met 2 weeks ago (referral from the bishop) and is just *golden! She also recieved the Holy Ghost yesterday too, and when the priesthood holders layed their hands on her head and the words, "recieve the Holy Ghost" were said, the spirit was just like dripping off of the walls.  The power of God truly is manifest in the ordinances thereof! My heart has almost never been so full of happiness!  

 

 

Not only was I so fortunate to experience the beautiful and sacred ordinance of Baptism, but also got to go to the TEMPLE and see 2 of Sister Parson's previous investigators recieve their endownments, just before the baptism (and we get to go back on Saturday for their sealing!!!) While sitting in the endowment room, i was just totally overcome with the spirit and felt so much peace and happiness as I was reminded of the beautiful covenenants I have made with Heavenly Father.  While sitting in the celestial room I was again, blown away with the strength of the spirit...what a remarakable place to be while here on earth in this crazy world- temples truly are a piece of heaven here on earth!  As missionaries, when we promise people there is more happiness awaiting them, I immediately think of the temple and how a lot of the happiness comes from within there. The temple truly is such a special gift that SO MANY poeple have NO IDEA about!!! Also, I always bear testimony of the reality of the spirit world and the fact that there are misisonaries there (and of course think of Chels, and Grandma/pa) and I DO...i know with all my heart that many are learning about the gospel...but along with that...many are accepting it, but literally cannot advance up to spirit paradise/receive more happiness until their temple work is done! PLEASEEEE make a special effort to become literal Savior's on Mount Zion for these people who have passed on, and help them with their temple work! They will fall at your feet one day, and this is not just something to think, "oh cute, thats awesome" but they will LITERALLY...FALL.AT.YOUR.FEET. in the deepest of gratitude, and thank you for SAVING THEM! What a special moment that will be! Try your best to go to the temple this week, and I promise you will feel an added peace to your life, and will NOT regret it, regardless of the sacrifices you have to make!

 

 

Bad news...Meemee's parents said she cannot get baptized...AHHH my heart just broke! She wants to get baptized soooo badly, but we obviously cannot do it without the permission of her parents.  Sister Parsons and I have been praying really hard for her and been fasting, but all we can do is accept the fact that God knows best and will make happen, what needs to be done.  It's hard to accept, but we just have to do our part.  We are still teaching her, and she is still progressing, but just not towards baptism...(YET)...I have faith that her parent's hearts will be softened! So unfortunately she will not be getting baptzied this coming Saturday, but Bobkie, Malad and Blessing will be!!!! I am sooooo excited for them and cannot wait to see them make their very first covenant with God! My heart is just pounding thinking about it right now, seriously like these.kids.are.awesome! LIke SOLID! They are the pioneers of bringing the gospel into their's and their families life, and boy are they strong! The like follow up with us on activietes/assignments/church, everything! They love it, and nothing makes my heart happier than hearing them talk about how their lives are continuing to change for the better! They are also being missionaries themselves-I can't rememebr if i told you last week, but we also committed Bobkie's friend, Paul, to baptism!!! He is not in our area, but he wants us to teach him and our ward is willing to help him (even if it means helping him with transportation that may take nearly an hour) just so he can enter into his first coveneant with God, become solid, and then transistion over.  Along with him we committed another one to baptism too...haha...her name is Kathleen. I wrote about her a little while back, but she committed as well- but unfortuantly her dad said No. But we have slowly worked our way in with her dad and are confident that his heart will be softened. They are such a sweet Maori family, and are actually related to some members in our ward, (but lets be honest, all Mauori's are "realated" haha) so we are gonna get them to all work together and then hopefully their whole family will accept the gospel. They really are so close, and I can already see them as a prime Mormon family haha. Anyways, so were working with her- and she too is being a missionary! She has been bringing friends to activites and stuff and has been telling everyone at school about the plan of salvation, and everything else she is learning! The work really is hastening, and it's cool to see our investigators doing the "HASTENING" not just the missionaries and members haha.

 

 

Angwain (the one who sent us that AWESOME text 2 weeks ago about her life changing and how God is working with her)- well this week we shared such a special experience with her! We got there and heard the best thing ever, her younger brother told us he LOVED church and that he loved how happy everyone was (and since he is so little, we were worried he was bored); and then Angawin told us how her LOVED it as well. She said the thought it was a bible study type thging, but how she was so happy to find out that she ACTUALLY could learn stuff! She also said, (in her words), "it felt like home"...my heart just melted...because sedriously, we CAN feel that sense of "home" when we go to church on Sunday's! Sunday's have been my favorite day of the week these past couple of days...mmmm i love 'em.  We are also told to get our investigators to churhc, and let God work his magic with them there/dont worry about it...and it was so cool to see God actually work so much within her and help her soooo mcuh! She then basically opened up to us, and just hard out told us everything!!! She told us how she was really struggling and how one night she finally decided to pray and ask God for help...(as she is telling us this, she is just bawling)...well she then told us, how 2 days later we showed up, and how she believes God sent us! Again we were just bawling with her and testified that God DID send us, and that the message we have CAN AND WILL help! We spent the majority of the lesson talking about God being our loving Heavnly Father and oh man...it was soooo powerful! HEavenly Father seriously loves us SO MUCH!!! I can't even put my feelings of this statefment into words...but i know his love is deeper than any of us realize! he wants to help us so much, but we HAVE TO DO OUR PART AND EXTEND OUR ARM UPWARDS TO GRAB HIS HELPING HAND! I know Jesus Christ is real, and even more than ever- "oh what joy this sentence gives, I know that my redeemer lives!"

 

 

I love you all more than you even realize, i seriously pray for you guys like 2938473987 times each day...seriously haha!

 

Love always,

Your mate, Sister Ensign

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