"YOU'RE A FIREWORK, COME ON LET YOUR COLORS BURST!" (Week 44: 7/4-7/11)

This week has been great! There have been so many fireworks! So many
people.. And so many awesome changes!

So Monday was the 4th of July. Super fun day! Except it was raining
ALL DAY! We had Sisters P-Day! We went to Downtown Fredericksburg
where we were able to get some pizza at Bennys's and because it was
packed inside we are in an ally way to keep dry! We then walked around
there until we were soakin wet. Sister Manson and I then decided to
leave and go get Rita's ! That was the BEST NEWS EVER!! Later that
evening we had fireworks at a members house and so that was fun!

The rest of the week was just a regular missionary week. Except we had
zone conference on Wednesday! It was a great time to spend it with
President and Sister Smith. I already think that this change was all
good. It has been awesome to get to know them. They are super cool and
fun and easy to get a long with.

So I hit a month mark once again and it was 10 months. It's really
scaring me how fast time is flying. I honestly think back and think
wow... 10 months ago I was at the MTC just preparing myself for this
mission. It's amazing to see the change that I have had in my life. I
don't want my mission to end. Virginia is my home. And it's extremely
sad. I have met so many great people!!

Saturday we had our ward party. We tried getting our investigators
there, but NONE OF THEM SHOWED UP! 😩😩 sometimes it is so frustrating
trying to get them to things. But we got to know the members a little
bit better! Let's just say as the night went on the water came out.
Sister Manson and I were soaked by the end of the night..but it was
super fun! :) ohh and I got to pet a alpaca! SUPER COOL!

No one showed up to church yesterday. And it was truly a great
sacrament meeting. They talked about being Christians. I loved every
talk.

Well this week I finished the Book of Mormon again. Truly a great
book! It is sooo TRUE. Each time I read it, I gain an even stronger
testimony. How wonderful! I have now decided reading it again but with
an emphasis on Charity and Love. And it has been amazing so far. The
Lord truly loves us and is in the very details of our hearts.

I am so grateful for this gospel and the truth that we have that has
been restored. I am grateful my mission and how much I have changed
for the better. Missions are an amazing opportunity to be selfless, to
give your life for the gospel. One of my favorite scriptures to go a
long with that is Mark 8:35- "For whosoever will save his life shall
lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the
gospel’s, the same shall save it."

I love you all! I'm grateful for all the support I receive! Have a
wonderful week! And stay strong!!

Transfer calls are this Saturday, so not sure if I am leaving but I
would hold off in sending things if you are..

Ohh and don't forget it's 7/11 day!! FREE SLURPEES!! 🎉🎉👍🏼👍🏼

I love you!

Life is soo great. Remember to look at all the wonderful things God
has given you! He loves us so much and knows each and every one of us
by name!

Love,
Sister Pewtress

RITA'S

Happy 4th of July!! 

Petting an alpaca! 

Sitting in an ally way on the 4th of July!!

Our member made us Cafe Rio for dinner! She even put it in the tin! #YUMMM

Happy Birthday America! 🇺🇸💕

"PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! 🇺🇸🇺🇸" (Week 43: 6/27-7/4)

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸 thanks to all those out there who have served
our country to keep our freedom!

We have all won the lottery of life. The best lottery.. We have the
resorted gospel of Jesus Christ here on the earth! How awesome is
that?

This week was sooo loooooonnnnnnnnggggggg!! I feel like it was one of
the longest weeks ever!

Maybe because there was so many things that we had to see happen. We
had zone conference on Tuesday where we said goodbye to President and
Sister Wilson. So sad to see them go, but I am so thankful for the
many things that I have learned from them. We then got a new mission
president. President and Sister Smith came into the mission on Friday
and we got to meet them and shake their hands on Saturday! We will
have another Zone Conference this week to visit with them again!

We had a lot of people who were out of town for the week/weekend. We
weren't able to see Derrick or Brenda. 😭 because they went to New
York! JEALOUS! But we met some new people. Rose and Jim are super cool
we actually met them last night while tracting! It was pretty awesome.

This week I have been praying for patience and boy let me tell you...
When you pray for something you'll get it. So careful what you ask
for! Haha! Just kidding. It was a very humbling experience. So last
Sunday during the passing of the sacrament, I was praying. I asked,
"What Lack I Yet?". Well I was told that I needed to work on my
patience. And this whole week my studies have been on patience. I have
had to have lots of patience with my companion, with the work, and so
much more. But at the end of it all we were able to see so many
miracles. But during sacrament yesterday, I was thinking about a
scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 121: 7-8: "7 My son, peace be unto
thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small
moment;
8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou
shalt triumph over all thy foes."

Patience has to deal with faith. I know that as I continue to work on
it, I will be able to be more patient in the things that I have a hard
time with.

I'm so grateful for this promised land. I'm grateful for the
sacrifices people, both servicemen and their families have made, for
us to be able to live in a country where we can have religious
freedom. That is why the people came here in the first place. There is
a scripture in the Book of Mormon, that talks about the promised land!


OHHH and I got to see my recent convert who works down here in Fredericksburg!


Ether 2:10

I love you all! I miss you lots, but there is so much work to do!


Love,

Sister Pewtress

Wayne, Derricks grandson was trying to get rid of my hiccups. Lol! He went and put this costume on. Haha😂😂😭😭😭

My recent Convert, Ann!

The beautiful green trees! It's like a canopy...

Cars like parked on the highway to watch some fireworks.. Lol! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🎉🎉

"LEAN ON ME! 🎤" (WEEK 42: 6/20-6/26)

Isn't the Savior great? We can literally lean on him. We can lean on
him through our trials and our afflictions. Our sad times, and more
importantly we need to remember him during our greatest times as well.
I'm so grateful for my Savior! One way I remember my Savior and what I
am grateful for is... So I have this journal that I write in, and I
write down a miracle, something funny, and 3 gratefuls that happened
that day. It truly helps me remember that my Savior really does
provide many things for us.

This week was probably one of the craziest but more successful weeks I
have had in a long time. So let's get started.

Monday: just your average Preparation Day! We had Zone P-Day, which
consisted of some fun times of oompa! And no time for anything else!
😂😂 we then went on exchanges with the STL's! I went with Sister
Hansen in her area and worked with some YOUNG SINGLE ADULTS! Reminded
me of the work that I did I'm Harrisonburg! :)

Tuesday: I was still with Sister Hansen. We contacted some people.
Then what a lesson with a less active named Mila. She basically said
that our religion was a joke. She basically dropped us. But she wanted
to talk to the Branch President. It was soooo sad. We decided to get
some ice cream at the famous ice cream shop here in Fredericksburg.
It's called Carl's. Really good ice cream! :) later that day we ended
back with our real companions. It was a really good day!

Wednesday: we had our last zone conference with President and Sister
Wilson. It was quite the zone conference. I am so grateful for the
sacrifice that they have had as they have served here in the Virginia
Richmond Mission. I am also grateful for the love that they have shown
to us. During zone conference we had all given Sister Wilson a scarf
and the Elders gave President Wilson a tie. They are making quilts
with them for our mission Reunions. It's sad to see them go, but I
know that as we get President and Sister Smith we will have a good
time as well. I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful mission
president and for them to sacrifice their time and dedication to the
Lord.

Thursday: we had a lesson with this lady named Jane and her a friend
Tiffany. Sister Manson and Sister Olson had a lesson with them on
Tuesday and they went in thinking they were going to bible bash, but
ended up not bible bashing, but today was kind of a different story.
We had come in planning to teach the Plan of Salvation. We have these
cut outs we use in order for people to truly understand. Well as we
were going through it they decided to kind of start bible bashing. It
was kind of rough, but we decided that they weren't truly ready for
the Gospel of Jesus Christ just quite yet. Maybe at a later time. We
then visited a less active who has some health problems which makes it
hard for her to go to church, but we read the bible with her. Later
that night we visited with Derrick. Lately I have realized that this
is the Lords work and when he wants people to make the promise at
baptism he will send them a feeling. Derrick stil, hasn't been
baptized and has been taught over a 100 lessons, he has been to church
at least 10 times and has read the Book of Mormon. But hey Lord's
timing right. We then visited another less active. It was a very
successful day!

Friday: we went to a nursing home where one of the members is staying.
She has Alzheimer's. Well while we were there some of her family was
visiting. They were members as well. They were so glad to see that we
were visiting with her. It's so sad to see people like this. But as
Sister Manson and I were leaving we were talking. We were talking
about how after we die and as,we are waiting in the Spirit World we
will be able to see them again, but that after we are there we will
see them as resurrected beings just like Christ. Perfect, no problems,
etc. it makes me so happy to know that our imperfections will be gone.
And we will be made whole. Later that night we visited with an
investigator named Amanda. She has 4 kids and is living in a rough
situation. It's soo sad. We told her that she/her kids need a better
life. That she would be able to find it in this church. We invited her
to come to church, but on Sunday morning she cancelled and basically
said that she has been doing a lot of thinking... And that she thinks
the Mormon culture isn't for her. We talked to her and we asked her if
we could come and just talk about it face to face... She agreed. So we
will be meeting with her this week. We of course then saw Derrick and
Brenda.. Super cool.

Saturday: we went over to help Brenda and Derrick finish painting. The
rooms look so good. After we did that we had dinner with them. We had
chicken curry! It was soo yummy.

Sunday: such a great Sunday!! Derrick came to church and he stayed for
all 3 HOURS!! YAYY! We then went over to their house again after
church and we had dinner again with them. Lol! They love us and think
of us as their own kids. Derrick said to me yesterday, this is your
home away from home! I just love them!

I am so grateful to be serving a mission. Lately I have been
reflecting a lot about what I want to accomplish in life. I know that
serving a mission has changed my perspective on the way I want to live
when I get home. Missions aren't an easy thing, but when you are
serving with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, and using the
Lord as a crutch, it is a lot easier. We are not capable of anything.
NOTHING. The only one who is capable of doing this work is Jesus
Christ. We simply need to be instruments in HIS HANDS!

I love you all! I hope y'all enjoy your week!

Much love! 💕💕

Love,
Sister Pewtress

Carl's with Sister Hansen

Goodbye President and Sister Wilson

The last time and the first time!

Painting!!

Sister Manson and I!!