Sister Peterson is the Sweetest

Hi Family,

So here is a recap of the week:

So Sister Peterson is my new companion. She is from Eastern Washington and this is her last transfer. She isn't trunky at all and wants to work so hard her last transfer - such a blessing. 

Tuesday night we were tracting and met these four 9 yr. olds who were asking us questions and asking if they could have a bible. We taught them also about the Book of Mormon and gave them pass-along cards to show their parents. It is amazing how close children are to the Spirit. I have had so many experience where children know who we are and want their parents to listen to us. Little kids just know!

Wednesday we had district meeting, and I also needed to plan out exchanges this week. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with taking over the area, transfers, exchanges, etc. So that night I got a blessing from our district leader and it helped so much. I know the power of the priesthood is real. Heavenly Father has helped me so much this week. After the blessing we went tracting and we met a man named Gib. As we talked to him we discovered that he had a friend who is a member that gave him a Book of Mormon about 20 years ago. Gib read the whole Book of Mormon and told us he knows it is true! SAY WHAAATTT?! That has never happened before. At the end of the contact the spirit was prompting me to invite him to baptism. Right when I was about to his neighbor drove by and started talking to Gib. Satan is so real and was trying to distract Gib. However, after talking with his neighbor Gib focused right back into our conversation. I invited him to be baptized and he said yes! It was the coolest feeling ever. WHAT A MIRACLE!!! He also told us that after talking with us he had a desire to start reading the Book of Mormon again. We texted him a couple days later and he said he is reading 1 Nephi right now!!! I am so grateful Heavenly Father led us to Gib!

We taught Khoa this week. The language barrier is still a challenge but he was able to understand why we pray and that we can live with God again after we die. The Spirit taught Khoa and testified what we were teaching was true! 

Since I have been in Star Lake we have been working with a less active. She has health problems that prevent her from coming to church. We have talked to her about the temple. She has such a desire to come to church and go to the temple. 

Sunday morning we were walking out to the car and we saw one of our neighbors trying to push her car into a parking stall. We asked if we could help and she told us she was fine but we could tell she really needed it. So we were trying to help her start her car. Neither of us had jumper cables so we pushed her car over to the side so it wouldn't be in the middle of the road. After we started pushing it the car almost started. So we tried pushing it again (the whole time I am praying) and it started. Heavenly Father answered our prayers and helped us get to church in record time so we wouldn't be late. At church the less active came. She hasn't been to church in 2 years! It was a miracle. She received a blessing and is now enrolled in temple prep! What a blessing!

The youth challenge has been going well. The youth have been sharing their experiences with us about how they shared the gospel this week using social media. For many of them it led to their friends asking them about the Plan of Salvation. The youth used doctrinal mastery scriptures to teach them more. It was so cool to hear about how they shared the gospel. It helped me see that this youth challenge was truly inspired by Heavenly Father! 

I am so grateful to be part of these miracles and see the hand of the Lord lead and guide this work. Being a missionary is hard but the best thing ever!!! 

Hope you all have a great week.

Much Love,

Sister Wynder 

Alma 31:34-35

Staying in Star Leezy

Hi Family,

So I am staying in Star Lake, but Sister McClellan is getting transferred. I have loved serving with Sister McClellan. She is such a valiant missionary who loves the work! I have learned so much from her. One of her strengths is that she is a happy finder. Sometimes it can be hard to be excited to knock doors or go contacting, but she has helped me realize how fun it can be. We have had so much fun together and have seen many miracles. 

My new companion is Sister Peterson. I have been on blitz' with her and we were in a trio with Sister Bowman for 2 days when Sister Pope was going home. I am excited, she is so sweet.

This week we went finding 2-3 hours about every day. It was hard work but it feels so good to talk to people about the Gospel. It is such a blessing to be a missionary and I love being able to bear pure testimony to anyone and everyone.

This week we were volunteering at the D.I. and while we were working we talked a little bit with a guy named Brian who was shopping. He asked us who we were and was really nice. He walked to a different part of the store and the spirit told me "Don't leave without talking to him again." When we were about to leave he was in the check out line. When we walked to the doors he was right there. I approached him and said it was nice to meet you and we starting talking again. He showed us some of the deals he found. As our conversation went on we told him our purpose as missionaries. I was so bummed I didn't have a pass-along card on me. I think that has been the only time on my mission that has happened. Right when we were about to leave the Spirit told me "have him look up mormon.org on his phone." I hate to admit this but I didn't act on that prompting. I have been praying that Brian will be at D.I. this week when we go.

After that happened I have re-read Elder Rasband's talk "Let the Holy Spirit Guide." That was probably my favorite talk this past conference. I realized that I always want to be a first responder to the promptings of the spirit. I have been thinking about how the spirit works and as I reflected on times the spirit has really prompted me to do something I learned that the still small voice never gets louder but that the piercing feeling gets stronger and stronger. I encourage everyone to always act on promptings you receive no matter how small or big the task my seem. A prompting is a prompting.

Later in the week Sister McClellan received the prompting to talk to a man that was in our apartment complex as we were out tracting. His name was Charlie and we were able to teach him on the spot. The spirit then prompted me to ask him "what do you think when you think of baptism?" You bet your bottom dollar I followed it. His response was when Jesus Christ was baptized. We taught about the Doctrine of Christ and the spirit prompted me again to invite him to be baptized. It is amazing how the spirit works through us to do the Lord's work.

This week we started "Instrument in His Hands" - the missionary youth challenge. I am so excited for the next 6 weeks to see how the youth share the Gospel. The youth are awesome in the Star Lake ward and there is a lot of them too. The challenge this week is to post a scripture, video, or quote on social media (if you don't use social media - text someone). I would like to challenge you all to do the same this week! If you have a desire to serve God and share the Gospel it is amazing how the Lord will always place people in your path.

I love you all so much!

Much Love,

Sister Wynder

1 Nephi 4:6-7

Alma 53:20

Left to right: Sister Peterson (Bryn's new companion), Sister McClellan (Bryn's last companion), Bryn, and Sister  Purvis on exchanges

District Meeting

Treats from Trader Joe's

Click here for a "Fruit by the Foot Race" Video

Air-drum the Stress Away

Hi Family,

So to start off I think I have gotten almost all of my companions hooked on Capri Sun! We also have a D.I. in my area and last p-day I found a killer deal - I think my new dress will really get people's attention...(there is a picture at the end of the e-mail)

This week was a little crazy. We had Zone Conference! It was awesome and the spirit taught me so much. I love President and Sister Rasmussen - They truly have been called of God.

We went on exchanges this week. I was with Sister Bowman in Star Lake. She is the best and we work so well together. We had an awesome lesson with Shallu our new investigator we found last week. It was so cool during the lesson she told us that the day we contacted her she had been praying to know what church to go to and then we met her that night. It was so cool to look back and she how the spirit guided us to invite her to church. I am so grateful - that helped me see that I truly am being an instrument in the Lord's hands.

Shallu is 25 and so she went to the YSA ward on Sunday and loved it. She is going on a camping trip this week with the ward. We had to pass her off to the YSA elders but it's okay because she is progressing and on her way to the waters of baptism!

Sister McClellan and I received a referral from a former investigator a couple weeks ago. We finally were able to have a lesson with her. It is a mom and her 8 year old daughter. We had such a powerful lesson with them. Jeanie (the mom) asked golden questions and felt the spirit so strong. They both became new investigators.

We also went on a blitz this week with the White River Sisters. I was with Sister Golden - She is so sweet this has been her first transfer and she is a champ already! We were knocking on a potential investigators door but they didn't answer. We knocked on the door across and a 14/15 year old year answered. She was from another country and she told us she had never heard of Jesus Christ. It was amazing how the spirit helped us teach so simply to help her understand. Sister Golden asked if she had ever prayed before? The girl said "no." Sister Golden asked if she has a desire to pray? She responed "yes." We then taught her about prayer and left her with a Plan of Salvation pamphlet. Such a miracle and she said we could come back and talk to her family.

This week has been kind of stressful so Saturday night Sister McClellan and I had to find an outlet for our stress. We have been listening to Nashville Tribute Band a lot lately. I have also discovered I have a real love for air-drumming which has led to a sore neck and and the early stages of carpal tunnel. Haha. So I hope you enjoy the videos of BRYC! (link below)

In Relief Society yesterday the sister that taught the lesson shared this video called "You Never Know" I loved it so much and it helped me remember I need to be doing what the Lord wants me to do not what I want.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/you-never-know

Have a great week!

Much Love,

Sister Wynder

Helaman 3:35

I think this must be the D.I. dress . . . 

Bryn and Sister Bowman

Bryn and Sister Golden

Exchanges

Bryn and Sister McClellan

And if you want to watch a little air-drumming/lip syncing from BRYC (Sister McClellan's name is Crystal so I think BRY must be for Bryn and the C is for Crystal) here is a link to one of the videos (it is the shorter of the two she sent) - 

Air-drumming video link

Sweet is the Work

Hello Family,

 

Wow, so many wonderful things have happened this week.

 

We were on exchanges and Sister Everett was with me in Star Lake. We had a lesson with our new investigator Amy that was taught last year by the sisters. At the beginning of the lesson we taught some of the how to begin teaching points from PMG along with the Holy Ghost principle. It was so neat because after we explained what the Holy Ghost feels like she said a light bulb went off and it made sense. The Holy Ghost is key to conversion and the fact that she is now one step closer is so neat. 

 

We had a lesson with some other former investigators - a family. On their teaching record it said they had problems with the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith so we were a little worried. When we got there they were so sweet and welcoming. They asked us not to use the Book of Mormon because they didn't want to confuse their kids with the teachings of their church. So it was difficult because we had planned to read the BoM introduction with them. So we focused on Jesus Christ and we shared John 14:26-27. The spirit was so strong in their home - it felt like a members home. They told us we are welcome back and that the kids want to start going to mutual again. 

 

We had ward coordination with our assistant ward mission leader (Brother Avila) at his house. But his wife wasn't home...so he and his son brought out their couch from the living room for us to sit on on the porch. It was so fun and Brother Avila is a rock star member missionary! 

 

This transfer Sister McClellan and I have been praying really hard about what we can do to work with the youth. During weekly planning revelation came to do a missionary challenge with the youth. The theme is "Instruments in His Hands" - Alma 17:11 It will start on June 25 and go until August 5. Each week we will announce a new missionary challenge on Sunday for them to work on during the week.

Week 1 - Use social media to share the Gospel

Week 2 - Prepare names for the temple/ index

Week 3 - Invite a friend to FHE or a family dinner

Week 4 - Invite a friend to the "reward" activity

Week 5- Share a Book of Mormon

Week 6 - Invite a friend to church or to meet with the missionaries

At the the end of week 6 we want to have a party with food and games to reward them for sharing the gospel and also for their non-member friends to come too. We are so excited and it was amazing how it all came together. We got the approval from the ward council. We will also be teaching a combined youth lesson at the beginning of July.

 

This weekend we knocked on a Jehovah Witness' door. She let us in because she thought we were fellow Jehovah Witnesses...about 10 minutes into our conversation she asked me what my first name was. I explained to her why we go by "sister." She asked "You're Jehovah Witness right?" We replied, "No we are Mormons." It was pretty funny that she didn't notice our name tags or the Book of Mormons we were holding. She was a really nice lady though.

 

We had some crazy weather on Friday. We walked out of a lesson and it was hailing/raining so hard! We ran to our car and we were soaked!!! 

 

We also knocked into an inactive member from Sandy. He has lived here for 2 years and went inactive when he was a deacon. He is a really nice guy and said that just the other day he was thinking about reading his quad set his mom had given him and then we knocked on his door. His wife isn't a member but she was in California with her mom that has cancer. We left him with our number. He said he wasn't ready to come back to church but he would pick up his Book of Mormon and start reading it.

 

Earlier this week we met a woman in the parking lot of our complex named Shallu. She is from India and has been here for about 2 months. We invited her to church and gave her our number. Sunday morning we saw that Shallu had called us late at night while we were asleep telling us that she wants to come to church. We were frantically trying to find a member to pick her up, luckily the Nius were able to. She came to church and loved every minute of it. She told us and many of the members how happy she felt. It was so sweet to see how the Holy Ghost had touched her heart. She told us that she wants to "adopt Christianity." We are super excited to teach her. We never know who is prepared but Heavenly Father does and as we go out each day he places us in their path.

 

I love you all - thank you for your prayers, support,and sacrifices. 

 

Much Love,

 

Sister Wynder

 

Here are some pictures she sent this week - 

 

The couch on the porch at the ward mission leader's house

 

MLC (Mission Leadership Council?)

Faith=Miracles

Hi Family,

 

Wow, I seriously cannot believe it is p-day already. Time is flying so fast!

 

During the week we have been praying a lot about our investigators. Some of them just aren't making a lot of progress so we left the ball in their court and have been using our time elsewhere for now. We were a little nervous at first because we didn't want to drop our main investigators. However, Elder Dube and President Rasmussen have talked a lot about using the Lord's time wisely and if someone isn't progressing consider using the Lord's time elsewhere. So that is what we did. We had the faith that the Lord would place other people in our path and that is exactly what he did this week. We were knocking on doors and we found a new investigator named Khoa from Vietnam. He has some really sincere questions and listens to what we have to say. There is a little bit of a language barrier but we pray he will be able to understand. 

 

I went on exchanges in White River this week with Sister Nebeker. She is so sweet and White River is having a lot of success. During the exchange we had a lesson with one of their investigators also from Vietnam. He has a stronger accent than Khoa so after that lesson I feel like Khoa's language barrier isn't as bad as I thought. We also got a referral from some other missionaries. So we called the referral - a man named Dan. During the call he told us that he wants to come to church and that he needs Jesus in his life. We asked what his religious background is and he said he was Buddhist. We taught a brief Restoration lesson over the phone and he was so excited to hear that the Gospel has been restored. He said he would be at church and that he wants to learn more. Wow! What a miracle - phone calls like that don't happen often.

 

This week I have learned more about the importance of goal setting and planning. I had no idea how much planning went into missionary work before my mission, but it is great! It is amazing to see that when you plan the way Preach My Gospel teaches how much the Lord places people in our path. Miracles are happening!

 

Hope you have a great week. I love you all!

 

Much Love,

 

Sister Wynder

 

P.S. Cafe Rio tastes just as good in Washington!

Left to right: Sister Golden, Sister Nebeker, Me, and Sister McClellan

1 Year ... whaaattt???

Hi Family,

Star Lake is going swell and I love Sister McClellan!

This week we have been working with our investigators to help them know if the Book of Mormon is true. They are willing to read it but it seems that they aren't willing to pray and ask "is the Book of Mormon true?!" We had interviews with President and Sister Rasmussen and they gave us some great advice. It is such a simple prayer with a lot of meaning. I think some of our investigators are scared to receive a yes because it means they are going to have to commit and change their lives. I am praying so hard for them!

This week we went on an exchange with the Lake Holm Sisters. I was in Lake Holm with Sister Arnold. Our last lesson on the exchange was with one of their investigators Brother Smith. He  has been investigating for about 8 months and hasn't ever committed to baptism. We planned and prepared well for the lesson. He has been taught the Plan of Salvation but had a hard time understanding the premortal life so that is what we planned to teach. At the beginning of the lesson I used the Holy Ghost principle to invite the spirit and during the lesson we taught from the scriptures about how we lived with Heavenly Father before this life. Brother Smith was understanding well and in the middle of the lesson we asked what he was learning from the spirit? He opened up and shared what he was feeling. One of the members that was there asked such an inspired question that hit Brother Smith right to the heart. Brother Smith told us about his parents and the challenges he faced growing up. We were able to bear powerful testimony of a loving Heavenly Father. That lead into discussing the Atonement. Sister Arnold bore sincere and one of the most powerful testimonies I have heard on the Atonement. The spirit was so strong everyone in the room was either in tears or on the verge of tears. At the end of the lesson Brother Smith said that he knows he is going to get baptized he just doesn't know when. It was so amazing to see how the spirit worked through all of us and the effect it had on Brother Smith. It was probably one of the best lessons I have ever taught/been in on my mission. My testimony of the Atonement grew that night and also how the Holy Ghost truly is the ultimate teacher. 

Miracles happen on exchanges!!! I love working with and serving the sisters - it is such a blessing.

We also went on a blitz (2 hour exchange) with the Surprise Lake Sisters it was so much fun. I have really felt Heavenly Father qualify me to help the sisters. We were able to help them with contacting approaches and ways they can work with members. Heavenly Father allowed us to cross paths with some great people and solid potential investigators for the Surprise Lake area.

I am so grateful to be serving with Sister McClellan. She is such a hard worker and we have so much fun together. I have learned a lot from her so far!

This week we have continued to meet so many diverse people. We had dinner with a family from Laos and a former investigator is from Romania and fed us some Romanian food. I love it here!

Also a great video to check out - the new Mormon Message"Music of the Gospel.

Much Love,

Sister Wynder

 Left to Right: Sister McClellan, Sister Wynder, Sister Rigdon, and Sister Arnold

Puget Sound