finding peace in all things

This week has been great! I'm so grateful for all of the love and support I've been given thus far. I couldn't do this without each one of you and your kind thoughts and words.

Fernanda is doing amazing! She had her baptism interview yesterday, and she passed with flying colors! Woohoo! She is so excited to take that next step in following her Savior by being baptized. She has been making friends in the ward which is absolutely crucial. We're so blessed to have an investigator that is so prepared. It's such a miracle! Her baptism is this Saturday, so we'll be busy with that this week!

Courtney is getting there.. slowly, but surely. She has been having a hard time receiving answers. She's been praying and reading and doing everything right, but no answers seem to come. I mentioned to her about the importance of allowing yourself to feel things. Feel those promptings of the spirit, feel what God would have you feel. Courtney is very closed off emotionally, and I can't help but think that maybe that's why she hasn't been receiving her answers! When you aren't doing well emotionally, you absolutely cannot do well spiritually. So, we encouraged her to let out all the feelings she's been having lately and to just cry. Tears are so good! I know that Heavenly Father will answer her prayers through the Holy Ghost now. She's ready for it, and she's now open to it. 

Barbara, Fernanda's twin sister is doing.. ok. We met with her twice this week and taught her the restoration. She shivered during our lesson and said she had chills all over! (woohoo!!!) We told her that sometimes the Spirit testifies to us through chills! She said she'd never had those feelings before and that she really liked how it made her feel. We were so happy!!! Unfortunately, she had a rough couple of nights out with her friends.. but we're ready to get her back on track! She's the one that needs to have the desire though. If she doesn't want it for herself, it won't happen! Luckily, Fernanda is being the best example to her!

This week, I've focused a lot on peace. Peace in decisions, peace in my work as a missionary, peace in this crazy world, and peace with myself. We happened to have a fireside yesterday about peace! (would you look at that!) I loved it. My favorite thing that was said was:

No Christ, No Peace

Know Christ, Know Peace

Just think about that. When we know Christ, we will surely know peace. I've found that so many times on my mission. When I allow Christ to come into my life and help me along, I find that peace that I'm in desperate need of! My favorite scripture for awhile has been John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Christ has overcome the world. We know that for a fact! There are supposed to be trials in this life, but we know that through the healing power of the Atonement, we can find that peace to get through those difficult times. I'm so grateful for that knowledge. This gospel is a gospel of peace. I've seen that time and time again. I love my Savior and I know that He really is the Prince of Peace. Take advantage of that peace He offers, and watch the miracles unfold.

-Sister Stevenett 

i is for investigator!

Well everyone.. ground breaking news is about to come forth! After three weeks of diligently seeking for someone to bring unto Christ.. We FINALLY FOUND HER! The best part? She's our investigator Fernanda's twin sister! We'll be baptizing twins.. no worries :) Double the work, double the blessings :) haha! We are so excited about it! She's been living a crazy life in her short 20 years, but she says she's ready to change and become closer to God. Lucky for us, that's our specialty! Helping others come closer to their Heavenly Father! It's a match made in heaven that's for sure :) 

Fernanda is doing well! We're still on date for her to be baptized on the 28th (two weeks! EEEK!) She's reading the Book of Mormon like a champ.. already in Alma! She's keeping her commitments like crazy still which we couldn't be happier about! She is having some struggles as far as boys go.. but we taught her the law of chastity and hopefully things will be good to go! 

Courtney! She's doing so great! She set a baptism date for herself.. are you ready?? Drum roll please..... March 7th!!! Say whaaa?? We were so shocked that it's so soon! But of course, we're not questioning it :) She is seriously the strongest girl I know. She's been through so many trials lately, but she's just going with it. She trusts that God will direct her in the right path. 

Valentines Day aka Singles Awareness Day for missionaries was sooo fun! We treated ourselves to Olive Garden with a few other sisters! It was the best! We got "heart attacked" on our door by some other sisters in our hallway.. they taped chocolate hearts to our door and since then, we hear people come up to our door and try to quietly take the chocolate.. haha we love it :) 

Overall, it's been a great week! We're super grateful that Heavenly Father blessed us with a new investigator. Our hard work paid off! I definitely have a strong testimony of diligence now. It's so important to keep pushing through those hard times! I'm so grateful to know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is so aware of me and my needs. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.. prayer is real! It truly does work! I'm so grateful for the chance I have to talk to my Father in Heaven every single day, any time I want. What a blessing! Thank you all for your kind emails, thoughts, and letters! (I really like the letters!) I hope you know that I love you all :) .. almost as much as I love being a missionary! (just kidding mom) haha. Have the best week everyone.. remember.. miracles happen! :) 

Love Always,

Sister Scarlet Stevenett

photos

driving, driving, always driving

Fernanda & Barbara ... our favorite twins ever!

We are all so happy for Kevin and his decision to be baptized!

Kevin's Baptism!

Valentines from my sweet family!

Cute Sister McCrea leaving back to Alberta!

crazies

Another week, come and gone! This whole mission thing is crazy! I can't believe how fast time goes by! This week, we haven't had any success in finding a new investigator. Sister Brimhall and I have tried our very hardest! Tracting and street contacting for most of the day.. still no luck. We're not getting discouraged though, because we are confident that Heavenly Father wants this work to move forward more than anyone! He will make it happen :) Just in His own timing!

Just a little about our investigators for the week:

Fernanda- The elders in our district had a baptism, and Fernanda came! She brought a friend with her too, so that was fantastic! She is still so ready to get baptized. Unfortunately, Satan is working so hard on her right now because he knows how happy she's about to become. She's been having some struggles with temptations. For some reason, strange East Indian men LOVE her. She's having a hard time saying "NO" and staying away from them. No worries, Sister Brimhall and I love her SO much that we call her every day to make sure all is well and that she hasn't fallen into any traps. :) Fernanda also came to church this week! Woot Woot! A counselor in our bishopric pulled her and I aside and told her about a dream he had this past week. He told her that there is a woman on the other side of the veil that is thrilled for her joining the church and that she's so proud the decision she's making. I was afraid him telling her that would freak her out.. but it did the exact opposite! Turns out, she's been having dreams about her aunt who had passed on. She's even more motivated now to get baptized! I'm thinking this lady just wants her temple work done.. eh?:)

Courtney- I'm not sure how much I've mentioned Courtney.. but she's the best. Her boyfriend is a member and is serving a mission in Argentina. His mission president just informed him that he can no longer communicate with his girlfriend in any way. So.. Courtney is super sad about that. She's trying so hard to be happy and follow the rules, but it's hard. And on top of that, her grandpa just got diagnosed with cancer. This girl is just being hit with trial after trial! But.. she's still going strong! No baptism date yet.. but she's coming to church every single week! We love her!

Well, I've learned on my mission that there are two types of old ladies.. reeeeeally nice ones, and really grumpy/I hate my life ones. We've tracted into several angry old ladies and it's really sad. As soon as they open the door, I use my "sweet granddaughter" voice.. and they still yell at me! Yikes! My favorite old lady this week said the following..

Me: "Hello!!! We're missionar....

Her: "I HAVE MY OWN CHURCH AND WE DON'T GO DOOR TO DOOR!!!!"

oh you poor lady.. you need some charity or something! .. well.. Jesus loves you...!

Despite all the crazies we come across, I love being a missionary. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now. The work in Winnipeg is improving.. slowly, but surely! I am amazed at how mindful Heavenly Father is of every single one of us! It's the best when you know that you're doing the exact thing God wants you to be doing. I'm so happy to be here! I love this life! I love being a missionary!!!

-Sister Stevenett

i love winnipeg.

Hello Everyone!

I can't even believe I've almost been in Winnipeg for two months! Where does the time go?? This week has been so great! Lots of fun things have been happening! First off, Fernanda is back home now, and quit her job so she could come to church! Yesterday was her very first time. She's so adorable. During the sacrament she leaned over and whispered "Sister.. where do I put my gum???" haha she's the cutest. She loved fast and testimony meeting! (who doesn't??) Still right on track for her to be baptized on February 28th :)

This week, one of our lovely members Baki (pronounced Bahee) made us food! She's from Sri Lanka and makes quite interesting food combinations. She walks in with this giant plate with a big ol' fish and some toaster strudles. (uhh....) Yep. It was a fish. Eyeballs and all. For those of you that aren't aware.. I hate fish. If it makes my house smell like a lake.. it's gross. haha! But, we ate it anyway. Well, when Baki was in the kitchen, Sister Brimhall, (bless her little heart) would eat my nasty fish for me. She's the best! Eating all the foods I don't want :) Don't worry.. pictures to come :) But the toaster strudles were good?

Oh yeah! We got our car back! We only had to walk for three days or so. Not too bad.. but boy am I grateful for a working vehicle! It was definitely a tender mercy. So grateful!!!

Transfer calls came this week! Looks like I'm staying in YSA! Woohoo!!! There's so much I want to do with the ward that it would be a shame if I left this early! Last Monday for FHE, we did Zumba! (well.. the missionaries didn't.. trying to be all dignified and all) but, one of the members named Pescila, came up to me and gave me this HUGE hug. Then whispered "this is from your mom"... tears. real tears. yep.. crying at FHE like it's nobody's business. So for the back story: Jakee, this sweet philipino from YSA recently moved to Salt Lake, so I told my sweet mom to be her friend. They had lunch last Monday, and apparently it was really good for Jakee. She really needed to know someone cared about her! (good job mom!) and so she told Pescila to give me a biiig hug when she saw me next and told her to tell me that it's from my mama! Sweetest thing!!!

This week, I've focused a lot on promptings. I'm a big believer in asking to understand promptings from the Spirit. Heavenly Father has definitely blessed me this week with those sweet whisperings from the Spirit that let me know that I am loved, and that I am indeed a daughter of a king! I am so grateful to know that Heavenly Father has my best interest in mind, and that He knows my full potential. When we have Him on our side, we never need to feel lonely! I think President Monson says it best: "As we seek our Heavenly Father through fervent, sincere prayer, and earnest, dedicated scripture study, our testimonies will become strong and deeply rooted. We will know of God's love for us. We will understand that we do not ever walk alone. I promise you that you will one day stand aside and look at your difficult times, and you will realize that He was always there beside you."

I know that God lives, I know that He truly knows each one of us. Let Him in, and see the miracles happen!

Love you all!

-Sister Stevenett

we FINALLY got our car back!

fried fish and toaster strudel mmmm

sure love this companion of mine!