"ISRAEL, ISRAEL, GOD IS CALLING!" (Week 30: 3/28-4/4)

-Mosiah 23:10: Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear
my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in
his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.

Mosiah 24:13-15-13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came
to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of
good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me;
and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders,
that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in
bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me
hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do
visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma
and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them
that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit
cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

These scriptures up here stood out to me this week during my personal
studies. Heavenly Father will truly not leave us deserted. We are His
children. Conference touched a lot about this.

What a week! It was very eventful! We started out with Zone P-Day and
we ended with a wonderful conference!

Monday: we headed to Mechanicsville and had zone p-day! It's always
fun. We then went with a member who also took us out to zone p-day to
visit teach! It was a wonderful day, full of laughter and good times!

Tuesday: we had a lesson with the part member family. We invited Jada
to pray about whether or not she wanted to be baptized. That night we
ran out of miles for the rest of the month. Luckily we only had two
more days left and those we walked. Which is all okay!

Wednesday: we knocked a whole little community. Nobody really answered
or wanted to hear our message, but we tried. Their hearts will be
softened sooner or later for the message of the restoration. Later
that day we went and visited with Brother Lewis. He is a jokester and
is struggling with getting to the church. We read the Book of Mormon
with him. It was great.

Thursday: we had weekly planning and we also had a lesson with the
Pierce Family. Jada told us that night that she wanted to be baptized.
It was amazing. She is so ready and she participates in lessons at
church! Most investigators sit there quietly.

Friday: we had zone meeting in Mechanicsville. I feel like as a
missionary we are continually having meetings after meetings after
meetings. But hey if it breaks up the work I am okay with that! Haha!
It was good. One of our members drove us there and then after took us
to Panera Bread. It was soo good. Better than McDonald's or Hardee's!
Friday night we had a MISSION! We took one of the families some food
because they don't have jobs right now. And they are struggling. We
had a member who was willing to get them some food and help them out.
This ward is amazing at helping others!

Saturday: AHHHH GENERAL CONFERENCE! I feel like it is a missionaries
favorite time of the year. Other than Mother's Day and Christmas! 😂😂
but conference was amazing as usual! Our investigators came and
learned and actually stayed for all 4 sessions. It was awesome! It was
so sad to see that people do not sustain our Prophet and/or the
Apostles. Though it happened, it truly strengthened my testimony of
prophets! I am so grateful for conference! Later that day we went over
to Jenna's! She asked us if we could help her move her bed. Well
lately I have felt that we weren't really fulfilling our purpose as
missionaries In helping her. I didn't know what to do and I took it up
to the Lord.

Sunday: we had another opportunity to receive more guidance... It's
truly an amazing experience. And man it's so sad seeing Thomas S.
Monson. It made me sad. Well I LOVED Elder Hollands talk. It was my
favorite. And you can ask my companion, I was jumping up and down when
hey said we will now hear from Elder Holland!

Remember who you are! Have a wonderful week!

I invite you all to share the gospel with one person this week! Even
if it is just your testimony. Gods work is hastening and so is Satans.

I love you all!

Love,
Sister Pewtress

Only a missionary would take a pic!

We were tracting and this card was faded! Looks like no one lives there!

Only tractors are sold on the side of the road, or farm use trucks! Haha

Here is the Main Street in Warsaw! One laner. 

Love you all!

Love,
Sister Pewtress

"HALLELUJAH!" (Week 29: 3/21-3/28)

Happy Easter to you all! 🌷💕 I am so grateful for my Best Friend, my
Savior, the one who I turn to when I can't bear my burdens. I know
that because my Savior Jesus Christ walked alone, that I don't have to
walk alone. I know that Jesus Christ suffered each and everyone of our
sorrows, our pains, our heartaches, so that we wouldn't have to be
alone. I know that through Jesus Christ we can be made whole again.
Jesus is truly, "the way, the truth and the life" of the world. It is
only through Him that we are able to return to Our Heavenly Fathers
presence! And what a blessing.

This week was wonderful. We didn't do to much so I won't have a Monday
through Friday! But some key things.

We had a referral about a week ago, and it was a part member family
(it's a weird situation) but the wife and one daughter isn't baptized
and the other kids are baptized. Well anyways we have been meeting
with them and the Spanish Elders as well have been meeting with them.
Well one of them feels so prepared to be baptized and was set on being
baptized on April 9th well because of the situation we have to hold
her baptism off until we get things all figured out. But her daughter
Jada will be able to be baptized. Hopefully she receives her answer on
when she needs to be baptized.

We have also been meeting with this young women named Jenna. I think I
have mentioned it in a few emails. Well Jenna has been through a lot.
Let's just say her life is not good, and she does not have good things
happen to her. But she is wanting to change her life around. We try
and meet with her at least every day! She hasn't yet accepted a
baptism date and every lesson we have is usually like 2 hours long.
And we usually only have our lessons be like 45 mins but she really is
just needing support at this time.

On Wednesday we also had Zone Trainings. We received so much guidance
from our President and his wife and the assistants to the president. I
know Heavenly Father has made it a commandment that we pray to him! He
wants to hear from us! We are his children! Just as any parent wants
to hear from their kids, so does our Heavenly Father! Make it a
priority to go to bed with a kneeling prayer and wake up every morning
with a kneeling prayer. I know as you do that, that your Heavenly
Father will answer the questions of your heart! He truly loves each
and everyone of you!

Saturday night we had the opportunity to hear from the leaders of our
church! I know that as we serve our fellow men, we in return will be
able to receive so many blessings from our Heavenly Father. His arms
are stretched out to us, we just need to go to Him!


I love y'all! And I am so thankful for the support you all give me!
Until next week! Here are some wonderful pictures! 😘💕

Love,
Sister Pewtress

Dying Easter Eggs!

Standing in the Potomac River! (This is the end of our mission boundaries)

This is the 5th time on my mission I have dyed someone's hair! Let's just say I'm pretty beast at it! 💪🏼

Maryland is right across the way!

"Happy Days, All is Well" (Week 28: 3/14-3/21)

Happy first day of spring! 🌸🌷 haha not. We had a wonderful week last
week with temperatures at around 70! And this past weekend we got hit
with rain and temperatures of about 40!!! The trees here don't know
what's happening. I don't know what's happening. I've realized that
the pollen truly does get to me.. Allergies be prepared. 😩

Monday: was great! We emailed all of you, and we came home and wrote
letters. First real break on a p-day!

Tuesday: we had an awesome lesson with a media referral that we
received from the church. She truly had questions about the plan of
salvation! We have tried all this week to go back and try to see her
but she hasn't been there. 😩 then later that night we went and
visited Jenna. Jenna is such a nice girl. She has been through a lot,
and has a lot of questions. When we go over there, she just talks
about her life, but we try and share the gospel with her and it's just
a crazy experience when we go over there. What some lessons might seem
to just take 30 mins, takes us to teach Jenna like an hour! 😂 but she
needs friends.

Wednesday: we went over to Brother Lewis' house and we helped him sand
a bench. He is fixing it up so people can sit and see him. He is such
a nice guy. He is handicap and so we try and help him as much as we
can! Later that night we had Tiffany Bradshaw come out with us. We
went and contacted some potentials! It was really great! She is super
nice and served a full time mission in Kansas/Missouri! So she knows
the troubles we go through as missionaries!

Thursday: Sister Halls hit her 9 Months today! So she went down to
Richmond and had mid mission! They are trained and taught and they
sleep over at the mission home. So where was I? I went to
Mechanicsville and stayed with another sister! We had a wonderful day!
And I tried Five Guys for the first time! And man was it good! 👍🏼 we
had some awesome miracles and found so many people for them to teach!

Friday: I was still with Sister Hudson, but Sister Halls was coming
back! So we did some more tracting and had an awesome lesson with one
of their investigators! It was really great! We then decided to eat at
Chick-Fil-A! Because in Warsaw they don't have anything except
McDonalds and Hardee's! 😭 earlier that morning we got a call from
Brother Dunn who is a counselor in the bishopric. He called asking if
Sister Halls and I would be willing to speak in church this Sunday! Of
course we had to say yes! But yeah we only had 2 days to really
prepare a talk! but later that day, we had an awesome lesson with
Cindy who is an investigator of ours and we had another lesson with
Jenna! She committed to be baptized too!!! She is soo amazing!

Saturday: it started raining! 😭😭 but it's okay! A couple of nights
ago, we get a text from the Spanish elders giving us a referral! And
so we decided to go visit them. So the dad is a less active member and
has 2 girls and then the mom has one girl but they aren't married, so
it's kind of a sticky situation. But we are teaching Candice and her
daughter Jada! They are so awesome and want to know more. It was a
crazy day!

Sunday: we had our talks and I spoke on prayer! And it was an okay
talk, but I truly did it by the spirit. It was kind of crazy! I wrote
all these things down but never used the notes really! But it's okay!
Later that day we went over to Jenna's and taught her again! We then
went over to Sister Kilman's and got some enlightenment on the ward!
It was an awesome week full of miracles!

I know Heavenly Father truly answers prayers and He wants us to pray
to him! I'm so grateful for prayer because I know He truly is
surrounding me!

I love y'all! And I hope you all have a great week!

Happy Easter!
Here's an awesome Easter video! --- FollowHim.mormon.org.

P.S. I am doing a lot better, I'm taking it one day at a time. I can
feel all of the prayers! So thank you! I know that as I look at the
positive each day, Heavenly Father will make the weakest things become
strong! You all are the best! ❤️



Love,
Sister Pewtress

Our investigators dog! Buster! He runs away all the time. So we chased him for her!

Using some power tools! ✌🏼️

Spring is in the air! Okay not the sky

Our car is way down at the other end and we tracked this whole street. 

Dreyers ice cream, is called Edy's on the East Coast! Same taste! 

First timer at 5Guys! 

"Why Did The Sisters Cross The Road?" (Week 27: 3/7-3/14)

So why did the sister cross the road?? Haha well we had to knock on
the door! Lol!

Well hey y'all well like I said last week I have been transferred. I
am now out of the city and into the country! Yep I'm back out in the
country! I am now serving in Tappahannock, Virginia. But I'm not in
Tappahannock, I am across the river on a peninsula in a small town
named Warsaw (spelt like its sound). You won't get any more country
than this in the mission! And a couple of weeks ago in Tappanhannock
and other parts of the mission a Tornado came through. Well it got a
lot of Tappahannock and part of Warsaw. Homes were messed up and trees
knocked down. It was so sad!

Monday: well Monday we packed everything and we emailed you all! We
said goodbye to all of the fancy Dale City members. We had some
awesome times.

Tuesday: transfer meeting. I said goodbye to Sister Ngosha as she
headed back home  to Tanzania. And I also said goodbye to some of the
Hermanas that I lived with! It was extremely hard but it's okay! A
cool thing happened. So Hermana Hansen lived with me for a transfer
right when I came out. Well before that she trained someone. Well at
transfer meeting we were hanging out with all of them and Sister Halls
(Hermana Hansens "baby") and I were standing next to each other and we
were like what if we were Ina Trio (with Sister Ngosha) well we were
sitting in transfer meeting and they call my name and my companions
name and guess who it was!!!!!??? SISTER HALLS! Crazy! Well back to
Tappahannock we went.

Wednesday: first real day in Warsaw! We drove all day to visit members
and less actives and visit with some people learning the gospel! Not
so much happened! Let's just say it takes 5 miles to get from one
house to the next. So we use our miles pretty crazily! OHHH and I hit
my 6 MONTH MARK! I have a year left of my mission! And time may fly by
but man is it long too!

Thursday: we had weekly planning of course. We had dropped everyone in
our teaching pool and we were going to start fresh with new people to
teach. And we also helped make quilts for the hospital! It was with
some of the relief society. It was quite fun! Let's just say though I
don't sew, but I can iron and cut material! 👏🏼😂

Friday: we had prayed to go find someone on this random street and we
had knocked every door, but the very last door, the lady was outside.
Her dog had come up running to us. Well her name is Linda. She goes to
church but was very open to hearing more about the restored gospel! We
didn't get an exact scheduled lesson with her, but she said we could
come back! So that was cool!

Saturday: Sister Halls and I had prayed for guidance on Thursday on
where we needed to go and we went to a map that we have in the
apartment and closed our eyes and pointed to a place on the map. We
chose a street called "Sunnyside" and we decided to go knock it. Well
we found 2 potential investigators, and they are related as everyone
else in this town! Haha! Just kidding. It was a crazy day! We then
went a visited this less active who comes most of the time.he lives
alone and just really likes company so we visit him a lot.

Sunday: we had church and we had meetings that started at 8 so we were
at the church at that time. Our ward starts at 10! And we are the on.y
ward that is in that building. The Spanish "branch" missionaries just
translate what they are saying to their investigators and so forth.
This branch became a ward last year about May. I believe. So it's just
a baby ward. But it's so cool! We had ward conference, so the bishop
talked, and he talked about sacrament. It was a wonderful talk. After
church we had a potluck! It was so good and the southern food was
great! Pork and Cole slaw on a roll was fantastic!

This past week has been really long. Sometimes it's good and sometimes
it's bad, but I know all will be okay!

I wouldn't continue being on my mission if I didn't know this church
was the true church. I know it is. I know Heavenly Father has called a
prophet to open this dispensation. Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of
God. And Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today!

I love you all!

Have a great week!

P.S. My new address is: 25 Town Center Way #6, Warsaw, VA 22572

Love,
Sister Pewtress







The tornado disaster



A vine/tree going through the house.

"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One Transfer Call!" (Week 26: 2/29-3/6)

Woah what a crazy week! So much happened! Let's have a run down! Sorry
this email is super long!

Monday: we emailed! Pretty great! It was super fun! Then after
Preparation day we went over to a family in the ward named the
Blakely's, where we had Family home evening! It was super fun and we
talked about love and loving each and everyone of our family members.
We had an activity where we passed around a piece of paper with each
persons name on it and while it went around the room, each person
wrote what they loved about that person! They loved it. We then had
sugar cookies, the ones from the store.... Yeah they are sooo yummy!
(Not as good as my moms though)

Tuesday: Sister Ngosha got to go to the temple and tour Washington,
D.C.! I'm a little envious of her. But I'll be there soon! While
Sister Ngosha was at the temple I got to be on an exchange with
another sister. Her name is Sister Garrigues! She has only been out
for I believe 4 months? It was fun! We had quite a few lessons. One
with a less active, Ann who was preparing for baptism, and Joshua who
is a recent convert! They were awesome lessons! At around 4 o'clock I
went with Marie who is also a recent convert and we went down to
Fredericksburg to pick my companion back up! Let me just tell you....
The Vegas 5 o'clock rush hour is nothing compared to Nova traffic
(Northern Virginia)! It was sooo crazy! We then ate dinner with Marie!

Wednesday: we went to Ann's house because she was being interviewed
for her baptism on Saturday! She met the qualifications for baptism
and was now ready! It was so exciting to see her. She is such an
awesome person! Later that night we had the opportunity to go visit
with a less active, Negat. She works every Sunday so she doesn't get
the chance to come to church! 😭 I hate how this world works on
Sunday's! But she is just so awesome and her faith in Jesus Christ is
sooo strong!

Thursday: not much happened.. Just a regular day in the mission field.
Didn't have a lot of lessons, but we had one with Richard (recent
convert). We also ate lunch at a Chinese Buffet. It was really good!!

Friday: we had zone meeting! Woop woop! So much revelation comes from
the meeting! After that we were able to go to a lunch appointment with
someone from Bolivia, we went with the Hermanas and she fed us
Sillaponchos(sp); which is rice, with French fries, a piece of steak,
with an egg (still runny) and some tomato and onion mix w/ vinegar! IT
WAS SOOO GOOD! After that we went to go see Ann again! We wanted to
make sure she was prepared for baptism and answer any last minute
questions!

Saturday: Sister Thiele made Sister Ngosha and I baby blankets for our
kids! So we went and had to tie knots on them! They are soo cute!
After that we came home and ate lunch! We then had a lesson with a
Recent convert, now less active family who is going through a rough
time, we testified that Jesus Christ knows all of our pains and
afflictions. But after that lesson we went over to try and see
Kingsley who was suppose to get baptized today, but didn't... 😥 he
wasn't ready! But we headed to the church because Ann was getting
baptized today! She was soo prepared! She was so happy and excited to
make this covenant with the Lord. So we went to the church. We had the
program all set up! Everything was going sooo well! She was baptized
by her uncle who is also a convert to the church! As she came up out
of the water, the spirit engulfed her. She came out of the water and
cried! Sister Ngosha and I were both in tears! It was an amazing
experience and opportunity and I know there is a reason why I am here
on my mission! This joy that people  feel as they are baptized with
the priesthood authority is tremendously amazing! It was such a
powerful and testifying experience! As we were driving home from the
baptism, we were so happy! Until we get a call from the Assistants to
the President. Yes 6 weeks is up, and guess what..... Sister Pewtress
is getting transferred again! 😳😳😭😭 I'm going to miss Dale City.
This area is so amazing and there are so many prepared people! So I
will no longer be here. I'm not sure where I am going yet, but we will
see!

Sunday: what a wonderful Sunday! Ann was able to receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost! And the spirit was so strong! All day we were saying
goodbye to members and finishing up all of our stuff! We are so sad to
leave!

Monday (today): throughout this past week and these past 6 weeks have
often wondered to myself if being a missionary was worth it. If
missing my family had to continue. If I needed to stay. I wanted to
come home because missionary work isn't easy. Each day you are tossed
around, it's as if you have been thrown in a fire and back into an ice
cold river. It's physically, emotionally tiring. So why do I stay? My
companion has asked me that a couple of times this past transfer. I
thought to myself, my Savior didn't give up on me, so why should I
give up on Him. As I have been studying so many things have come to my
head. Specifically today! I was reading "Missionary Work & the
Atonement" by Elder Holland (an apostle). Here are a few key things
that have stuck out to me!

- "I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation
is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church
of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head.
How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever
easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders
have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and
mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit
of Calvary. Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about
anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be
presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and
investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know
something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token
of that same price."

This is so true. Missionary work isn't easy because this is salvation
we are talking about. These past 6 weeks I have come to know my Savior
I have pleaded with Him and with my Heavenly Father if I should just
come home. And I know Heavenly Father answered my prayers. I am not
needed at home. There is nothing back home that is waiting for me. But
I know there are people (just like Ann) who are waiting for me! I know
I need to "Forget myself and get to work!"

I know my Savior is there and that He is aware of each and everyone of
our trials. He knows what we are going through and he has taken away
most of our burdens, but we have to follow Him! I know my Heavenly
Father loves me and each and every one of you! I know you can talk to
him in prayer whenever you need him!

Sorry this email is so long, I just felt that I needed to share this
with you all! I love you all so much! And I miss you dearly, but the
Lord has need of me here!


This upcoming Wednesday I hit my 6 month mark! Crazy to think I only
have a year left and oh how that time is going to fly by!

I love you all so much!

Talk to y'all next week! 😘😘😍💓

Love,
Sister Pewtress

Ann's Baptism!






My companion and I!



The Hermanas!


Exchanges!!