Tuesday, January 28, 2014

My Butt Froze Off!

Man it is cold here!
And guess what Sister Graham and I get to do.
CONTACT!
One day it was so cold that the mission texted us and said don't stay out too long.
Well, uh that means we can't really contact.
It's interesting to try and figure out what to do when you can't do the only thing you can do.

Did that make sense?

So I had to talk on Sunday.
I spoke on why I believe.
I had a great talked planned out.
It was going to be so good.
Then while I was on the stand, the Spirit said "nope, you're going to talk about something else."
Ok.
So, I get up there and pound everyone with member missionary work!
It was fun :)
I talked about why I believe in member missionary work and stuff.
I hope that it helped people.

We've been able to get members to do some missionary work.

Sister Graham and I both sing, so on FaceBook we posted a video of us singing "Nearer My God to Thee" and shared our testimonies.
Then we invited all the members to share the video with their testimonies too!
It was awesome :)

Please DO MISSIONARY WORK!
It really isn't that hard. Just open your mouth and invite.
I know that member missionary work is so important.
I know it works.

Pray for missionary experiences and keep an eye out for them.

Here's a miracle for the week :)
We started an English class this week, because everyone here is from China.
We did't really expect people to come, but 2 people came!
Michael and Anna!
It was so awesome!
They are so sweet!
We have class again tomorrow and I'm pretty stoked :)

I know that this gospel is true.
Jesus Christ is truly the head of this church.
And you can know that too through prayer, diligent scripture study and church attendance.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Sister Heywood

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Hill Street

SO, as you may know, I have been transferred.
I'm on Hill Street with Sister Graham.

We spend a ton of time at the Institute.
The Institute used to be a Fraternity, we're smack dab in the middle of Greek Row (is that how you say it?)
It's interesting.

We spend most of our time out in the cold contacting because that's literally all that we can do.
Although, I do get to use FaceBook.
Ok, about the FaceBook thing.
I'm limited to who I can be friends with and stuff.
I may send Mormon Messages every now and then to random people, but yah.

Anyway, let me tell you about Sister Graham.
We're basically the same person, except she has a million stories about kissing boys and I have none.
It's cool.
We have just been having so much fun!
Seriously, she's great!

It's a little bit weird being in a singles ward, but whatever.
I love it here already!

We teach a lot of Chinese people.
A LOT!!!
There are millions of Asian people here.
They're the best.

One of our new investigators prayed at the end of our first lesson with him.
He said that he could feel God's presence. 
SO COOL!!!
My smile was so huge during that prayer.

The member that came with us is a convert to the church and he's from China and didn't grow up believing in God.
He said that the first time someone like that prays, it's like a big reunion.
I LOVE THAT!!!

Every time we pray it should feel like we're having a reunion with God.

Prayer is so important.
God is ALWAYS listening.
I promise.

I love you all so much!
Love,
Sister Heywood

PS
People stopped sharing what they think about the reading with me, so I'm going to hold off this week and let me know if I should keep doing that.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

I'm Getting Kicked Out & Where Am I Now?

I'm Getting Kicked Out

Well, after 6 weeks in Walled Lake, they're kicking me out!
Just kidding. :)
The Lord needs me somewhere else.
I loved this transfer, but am so glad that it is over.
Boy was it a toughie, but there were tons of miracles, so I still loved it! :)
Today we had to get gas before we came over here.
I was cleaning the car and a ton of junk was on my lap, so Sister Bailey had to pump.
She smiled at the nice man at the pump next to us and they started talking.
Sister Bailey taught him a little bit.
He was cool and taught us a little bit about his church.
We prayed with him at the gas station and went on our way. :)
It was pretty cool!
You know, I've prayed in so many random places.
Doors, parks, bus stops, post offices and gas stations.
It's awesome!
At first I thought it was weird, but I remembered that when I pray I'm talking to God.
It isn't weird to talk to God anywhere.
Now it's not weird anymore. :)

I love that we can talk to God.
The coolest thing is that He talks back!
He's my best friend and I need Him so badly.
He always understands, always listens and never judges.
I want to challenge all of you to make your prayers more personal.
Pray more often.
Develop an even greater relationship with God.
Pray, pray, pray!
And then sit and listen, open up the scriptures and God will talk back.
I love you all so much and I hope that you all have a great week!
Love,
Sister Heywood

Where Am I know?

When I was thinking of places that I might like to go I was like "well, I'd really like to go back to Ann Arbor."

Well, guess what.
I'M IN ANN ARBOR!

I'm not in the same ward that I was in before, though.
I am on Hill Street which means I spend all my time at the institute and contacting on the U of M campus.
SO FUN!!!

My new companion is Sister Graham. 
She is so awesome and I'm so stoked to be working with her!

Sorry I haven't sent like any pictures at all.
Lame I know.
I'll send them soon.
I will always have wi-fi at the institute. :)
Something else that will be different is that I have a FaceBook now.
I can't be friends with anyone from home and I have to disable my old account.
So Mom and Dad you don't need to keep that up anymore.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!

Address:

220 Glencoe Hills Dr #12
Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Love,
Sister Heywood
Alma 24:19
 19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to abelieve and to know the truth, they were bfirm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.
These people would rather die for their religion than go against promises they made with God.
I don't know about you, but I need to be more like these guys!

Monday, January 6, 2014

Send Me Some California Sun, PLEASE!

Well, guess what.
It snows in Michigan.

 
And it really stinks getting stuck in the snow.
How do I know this?
Well, I didn't get stuck in the snow 3 times yesterday and once on the way here or anything.

Yah, getting stuck stinks.
Especially when it takes an hour to get out.

Besides the fact that I'm freezing my butt off and it takes a million hours to get working because I have to put 50 layers of clothes on and brush snow and scrape ice off our windows, 
I LOVE IT HERE!!!
We've seen tons of miracles.

It's amazing!
This transfer has definitely been the hardest.
We've been hit with trials such as the following:
-Having to go to the ER from 9pm-3am
-Getting stuck in the snow.
-Staying home because I had the flu (Yah that happened this week too on top of everything else)
-Having crazy investigators who won't stop texting us dumb messages
-Crazy lady yelling at us because she had bad experiences with Mormons
-Leaving the lights on, on our car when we went to the temple for 2 hours.
-Getting our keys locked in a members home for 30 minutes because the member isn't home.

I know.
Awesome.

There have been many more.
I could probably go on for hours.
But those trials don't even matter!
They push us.

We have seen more miracles in this area than I have ever seen in any other area.

Yesterday we went to see the family that the Lord led us to on Christmas.
They have started reading the Book of Mormon.
They've prayed about the church.
They know it's true.
They have agreed to baptism on March 1.

The Lord prepared them.
And I am so honored that He has used me (the imperfect, crazy, little booger that I am) to be the instrument to bring them closer to Christ.
Me!
The little recorder that's cracked and chipped that 2nd graders learn to play.
God could have used a fancy cello and He chose me.

I found this scripture in my studies and I LOVE IT!

Doctrine and Covenants 35:13
13 Wherefore, I call upon the aweak things of the world, those who are bunlearned and despised, to thrash the cnations by the power of my dSpirit;

We are all weak.
That isn't a bad thing.
Through Christ we can be made strong.
AND if we work hand in hand with God and Jesus Christ we are stronger than ever.
When we join with God, no matter how weak we are, He will use us to "thrash the nations."
It says this over and over in the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 1:27
27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
D&C 1:19 (19, 23)
19  The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—

23  That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.
D&C 124:1
1  Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with your offering and acknowledgments, which you have made; for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show forth mywisdom through the weak things of the earth.

Alma 37:6
Now ye may suppose that this is afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

I am weak and God has chosen me to fight in His army.
I am so grateful for this opportunity.

I know this gospel is true.
I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God.
I know the Book of Mormon is true.
Because my parents led me in the ways of God I have built on a sure foundation and will never fall.

I love you all!
Have a blessed week!

Love,
Sister Heywood

Alma 23:6

 And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God workingamiracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and werebconverted unto the Lord, cnever did fall away.

They NEVER fell away.
Do all you can to be as converted as the Lamanites.
I promise that this gospel is the only way to eternal happiness.
Do not to turn to the world.
Turn to God.