The Final Epistle

HELLO.

Sooo this week was great!!! I mean.. I went to the temple twice. of course it was great. and we had zone training and gave a training there! 

remind me when im home to tell you about the Espinoza's sealing.. I'm pretty sure it was the most special amazing experience I've ever had.  Families are eternal.  I know that for sure. Also, seeing all of concord for the first time in a year in the temple... im pretty sure thats exactly how the celestial kingdom will be. it was amazing!

Then yesterday... concord all came to brentwood to visit me and say goodbye. hahaha. the branch president's mom lives in our ward here in brentwood. so thats how that happened. it was amazing! I love them all so much.

So I guess I just wanted to end all these fun weekly emails with my testimony... GUYS. I know this church is true.  Seriously..... It is. And we have The Book of Mormon to testify of it!  I have grown to love this book so much on my mission.  It really can answer any question we have.  It can resolve any doubt we have as well. Go forward with faith, and read the Book of Mormon.(:

I am so grateful for my mission. BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE. seriously though, if i could, i would go back and do it all over again.  But I do know that that is not the Lord's plan for me.  I do know that he needs me home.  He has another purpose for me! But man, It's hard to leave.  I have learned so much here. I have learned that God has a plan for us.  I have learned that as we listen to the spirit, we can follow the plan! Isn't God's love for us amazing?  Seriously, I am so grateful to be  a part of this work.  Sharing the truthfulness of the restored gospel has been amazing. And it really is great to know that.. I can continue to share it! My mission doesn't have to stop here. I have realized that. 

All the people I've met have taught me that life is hard.  But that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be happy!! We can have a happiness that is impossible to find elsewhere.  It's cool to meet someone who really is satisfied with life.. they feel like they have all they need. Then they find the restored gospel.. and realize how much they were missing out on.

It has been the hardest thing ever to watch people reject this gospel.  Non members who reject Him, or less active members who do... it's frustrating! I just want to grab them and tell them what they are missing out on! But I know that Agency is necessary, and I hope and pray that they find their way back to Heavenly Father soon.  Because really.. They are missing out.  But I know that we all have these times.. where we are missing out on the blessings God has prepared for us to receive. And I know that as we come closer to Him and pray for strength.. we can come back.

I love this gospel so much.  It really is my greatest passion.  I am so grateful that I was born into it, so that I could be ready to go out and serve 18 months of my time to find Heavenly Father's lost sheep.  I love my Heavenly Father so much and I know that He loves me. 

I am excited to see you all, I will miss my mission like crazy, but I know that I am needed back in Utah. (:  Thank you for all the support you have given me while I've been out.  It would've been a lot harder without you guys.(: LOVE YOU ALL SEE YOU SOON.

Love, Hermana Stokes.(: 

trabajemos hoy en la obra del senor! (We will work today in the labor of the Lord!)

So life is great.  THERESA GOT BAPTIZED THIS WEEK!!!!!! and confirmed. It was such a beautiful experience.  It was definitely the craziest baptism I've had.. which involved us pulling it together ALL ALONE... and the person baptizing her ariving an hour late... and the font not being high enough so her having to be baptized twice.. the second time we had to fill up the font more and wait for that.... but it was amazing! Seriously even with all the craziness I am just SO grateful for our members. They helped so much! I was stressing out and overwhelmed because you know I get like that sometimes.. and Sister Roberts came over and hugged me and talked to me.  I am so grateful for members who can act like our moms when we don't have them. (: It was so amazing though.  The spirit was so strong.  After she got baptized she just knelt and prayed to her heavenly Father.  It was the most tender beautiful experience ever.  I love her so much.  It was a great week. (:

ALSO... I believe Jose got baptized this past weekend!!!!! We had MLC and I saw sister Vargas who is serving in el camino right now and she told me! He called them and just said he was ready and asked to be baptized as soon as possible!!!!! Wow I am so happy.  I am so blessed to have been a part of seeing his conversion.  Theresa's too. 

This week was awesome and this next week is going to be even better!!!!!! wanna know why!?!?!??! WE GO TO THE TEMPLE TOMORROW AND SATURDAY!!!!! tomorrow is our temple day.. so if i don't email you today no se preocupen. and saturday..... WE GET TO GO TO THE ESPINOZA'S SEALING!!!!! Since I was there for Diana's baptism, we got permission to go!!! HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE. I am so excited. (: so yeah....I am spoiled. (: I am so grateful for all the blessings I have received. 

We had two exchanges this week. I went to richmond with Sister Stapley.. then I went to marsh creek with sister hasek. (: fun fun.!

I am so happy. I love life. 

Have a good one! oh and my ponderize this week is 3 Nephi 5:13---"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."  

I love doing this work.  And I know this work is eternal.  This is always my calling. (:

Hermana Stokes

We had district meeting in this weird secret room in the attic of the church... haha kind of weird but fun!

here is theresas baptism! and i just got this picture of Jose's baptism!!!!! ah best weekend.

HAPPY ARE WE

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o'er;

Fighting for a kingdom, and the world is our foe;

Happy are we! Happy are we!

Glad to join the army, we will sing as we go;

We shall win and wear it by and by

So this hymn explains my feelings today exactly. I just put some of the lyrics that stand out. but HAPPY ARE WE to be doing the Lord's work.  Seriously, I just am overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude lately.  I LOVE THE MISSION. I LOVE THE GOSPEL.

This week was awesome!!! THERESA PASSED HER BAPTISM DATE!!!! SHE WILL BE GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY.  I am so proud of her!!!! I have seen such a change in her. It is amazing!

We had two exchanges this week. I stayed in the area for both.  One I was with Sister Thao!! I love her. And the other I was with Hermana Heyn. (:  It was great! 

We had our haunted house cleaning for halloween again.  It was great.  Gotta love deep cleaning. (: Halloween was fun. (:  We had stake conference this past weekend as well. Both sessions were amazing!  I love the word of God so much.  

So this week my scripture is DyC 84:85 Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.

This scripture helps me remember that I don't need to worry about all my weaknesses.  The Lord will help me, and I will be able to remember anything I need to remember to share to the people. (:

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/wilcox-brad_his-grace-is-sufficient/

^^^^^^^^^ you all need to go read this talk. I read it this week and... wow it's amazing.  So that is what I have been thinking about a lot this week. Grace.  He uses an analogy that I LOVE.  Really though, it is amazing. It is amazing to know that we have already been saved by grace.  But... we could have so much more!  We have the Atonement here to use.  Why not use it?  Christ paid for our sins because he knows our potential.  He knows what we can become.  Well, we should accept his gift.  Let grace change you.  I love the gospel so much, and I am so grateful for the atonement.  The church is true!!!!!

Have a great week. (: 

Hermana Stokes

😊😊 here are some pictures of our zone after carving pumpkins.. and the missionaries in the area on halloween after sports in the morning!

PYC

Wow what a good week. Seriously, life is good. we had two exchanges this week! they were awesome .(: one with sister Wu from China.. and one with sister tanner from washington! good days. (: i love exchanges! i stayed in the area for both.

We had interviews with President on Tuesday. That was really good. (:

Hermano Montiel came to church AGAIN! He is doing AWESOME. We are so happy. Also, they came to Porque Yo Creo!!!! woo. (: they are the best.

Pray for Theresa, she hasn't been coming to church. :/ we are going to have a talk with her this week. (:

My ponderize scripture: DyC 63:9 "But behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe."  I love this scripture so much.  I have realized on my mission that it is okay not to know everything.  We are not going to know everything. And like it says here... faith does not come by "signs" or "evidence".  Faith comes through prayer and with God's help.  Then you will get that evidence for yourself that these things are true.  The gospel is true.  I know it.  And I know it because I know the Book of Mormon is true.  

We had PYC this week and it was amazing. enjoy all the pictures! I saw carlos, the espinozas, carlos pena, olga.... and from san mateo i saw Angel, Sergio, Jose, Juan Carlos, Mary Ann, Doris y Gilberto.... it was AWESOME. (: I love pyc. it was really good. realllly good. Also.. the departing missionaries sang. there are 6 of us. me, and 5 elders. haha. it was good, and I also gave my testimony. it was good. (:

also, tender mercy of the week.... WE SAW SISTER MERRILL!!!! I don't know if you remmeber them, but they were my family in concord. they are so amazing. and we saw her randomly at one of the chapels we start exchanges at. (: it seriously was the best thing ever. I was so happy. picture attached. (:

Hermana Stokes

Charity never faileth

Dear people.

Okay so sorry I didn't tell you guys my scripture for last week.. it was Words of Mormon 1:7.

But this week my scripture is 1 corinthians 13:2-3.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity,it profiteth me nothing.

 I love these scriptures.  I love that Charity never faileth.  It really is the most amazing concept.  And these scriptures make me think a lot.. even if we are good at a lot of other things.. if we have not charity.. we are nothing! It's crazy. But it is so powerful.  

Things are going well here in Brentwood.  (:  I love the work.  We are teaching a lot of people who like to bible bash us right now.. haha one of them is Brother Ferrier.  His wife is a less active member.  He has a lot of religious background and does not believe in the church at all but is open to learning.  Last night we had this awesome lesson with him.. It is good because Hermana Hilton knows the bible really well.  So she was able to show him a lot in the bible. But also, it was really cool because as we were teaching this quote from PMG came to me by Brigham Young:“If all the talent, tact, wisdom, and refinement of the world had been sent to me with the Book of Mormon, and had declared, in the most exalted of earthly eloquence, the truth of it, undertaking to prove it by learning and worldly wisdom, they would have been to me like smoke which arises only to vanish away. But when I saw a man without eloquence or talents for public speaking, who could only say, ‘I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of the Lord,’ the Holy Ghost proceeding from that individual illuminated my understanding, and a light, glory, and immortality were before me. I was encircled by them,filled with them, and I knew for myself that the testimony of the man was true”  Then it was so cool, we were able to testify so powerfully.  And I don't know if he felt the spirit because you have to be willing to be able to feel it.. but I felt it so strong.  It's just so cool that the promise is real that the spirit will testify of what we say. (:

Theresa is doing great, the Montiels as well! We didn't see Isaac this week.

I also went on exchanges with Sister Tata! It was a wonderful day. (:

We also gave two trainings this week!  one at antioch zone and one at concord. it was fun. (:

Here is an awesome video link.. you should all watch it. (:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-10-01-apostle-testimony-montage?category=prophets-and-apostles/prophets-and-apostles-sub-category&lang=eng

Also, here is a picture of us and our roommates! I realized you guys have never seen them.. they aren't even in our zone and we aren't in our apartment much so we don't see them all that often. But they are the tongan sister in the area and are awesome. (: sister Mataele and sister Jones or Sonasi(her tongan name.)

and also here is a picture of the concord zone.. and us! it's the other zone we cover. did I tell you? we got two more sister companionships this transfer.. so that means two more exchanges(: 

Love you all! 

Hermana Stokes

life is good

Hello!!!

This week was good. We went to the visitors center with Theresa!! That was so good. We were able to attend the Why I believe fireside as well. for english. It was really good! She is doing really well and is progressing.  We just are trying to figure out how to strengthen her even more by November 7th.

The Montiels are doing well as well... he came to church!!!! and is going to be coming every sunday!!!! we are so excited about that. Ah they are awesome, and we feel so close.. we just need to figure out how else to help them.

Isaac is awesome!! So we had a lesson this week and we watched the conference talk by elder Martino.  It was awesome. Isaac at the end was like, "I actually felt impressed to fast and pray about the church this past week. I am going to soon... I feel like I was the same way.. before I was just praying out of curiosity. Now I really want to know what God wants me to do."  Ah it was so awesome!!! We are hoping he can overcome the temptations of Satan though. Because he is really close with his pastor at his church and we are worried that when the pastor finds out he will try to stray him.  But, that's when Isaac just needs to learn to listen to God rather than man.

Everyone is doing well!! Sorry this email is short.. not much else to tell. but the church is true!!! I love you all so much, have a great week!!!

Hermana Stokes

pictures: our last district picture before elder martin went to his mission in india! and the second one is us at the temple with Theresa(:

life would be nothing without conference

Oh my goodness I love conference so much. (: SOO MUCH. 

What talks did you all like? 

all of them I'm sure. 

Okay so this week was good! We had MLC. That was really good. 

Oh I guess I should say, I'M STAYING IN BRENTWOOD!!!!!!!! I'm going to end my mission here and Hermana Hilton is going to send me off(:  I am happy beyond belief!!!!! Oh my goodness this is a dream come true. It's so nice because Me and Hermana Hilton can just work super hard this last transfer.  I was scared to have to go through another adjustment then have it be over before I knew it.  But I am so glad that I can just stay with her. Plus, Brentwood is the BEST. We get so spoiled here. (: So I am so happy to stay.  Hermana Hilton and I will have spent 4 transfers total together! only 3 in a row. But total, that is 6 months together! So it's fun. (:

I love conference. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk.  I think it is so important that we remember what he said.. THE GOSPEL WORKS. It just does.  Do what he told us, think about your time in the gospel? what good has it done for you?  We were talking about this with the Westons a while ago.  The gospel is so awesome. And even if it weren't true, it would be okay like that. Because I mean, think of everything you have done while being part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... thing of everything you have learned... do you regret any of that? probably not. so it's so worth it. but you wanna know what makes it even better? IT'S TRUE. (: I am so grateful for that. (: We are so lucky to be a part of it.

I also loved the ponderize talk. (: I strongly encourage all of you to take Elder Durrants advice! Ponderize a scripture a week. I know you can do it, it won't be hard I promise.  I already started doing it today.  My scripture of the week is D&C 103:36 

 36 All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith.

My MTC teacher gave this to me the day I left, but I have never really taken the time to learn it and remember where it is. So I figured this will be a good start.  I love it because on my mission I have learned how important diligence, faithfulness, and faithful prayers are.  The Lord really cares about us, and he is willing to help us in anything. But he does expect us to do something as well.

I LOVE THIS GOSPEL. AND I LOVE THE MISSION. (: life is good. I love you all! I invite you all to go over your conference notes and choose a goal that the spirit whispers to you to work on.  I promise it will make you happier. (:

Hermana Stokes  

Sorry, I took no pictures. So here's some cool quotes/pictures I found. (: