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

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

 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 working^amiracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were^bconverted 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.

Alma 24:https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/24?lang=eng

25:https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/25?lang=eng

26:https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/26?lang=eng

27:https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/27?lang=eng

A Christmas Miracle

Well, Christmas was wonderful!

I was so happy to talk to my family.

 

Now time for the New Year!

 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages

 

But first, a Christmas poem.

 

Once upon a cold Christmas in Michigan

Sister Bailey and Sister Heywood went a knockin'

Their nose were froze

And so were their toes

But still they kept a knockin'

 

People were busy getting ready to go

Drive to their families out in the snow

No one had to time

To hear a message sublime

But still they kept a knockin'

 

They talked to one guy

He might have been high

They didn't really know

He had to go

And still they kept a knockin'

 

The Sister's toes were frozen

So they headed back to the car to warm 'em

But they saw a door

And said "just one more"

So they went a knockin'

 

The family said come in

All the Sisters could do was grin

The lesson was very spiritual.

The Sisters saw a Christmas miracle

Because the Lord said "go a knockin'"

 

I love you all and hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

 

We've taught the family again since Christmas and are seeing them again this Sunday. :)

 

When God tells you to do something.

Do it.

And don't give up EVER!

 

This church is true.

Share it.

Everyone needs it.

EVERYONE!!!

Love,

Sister Heywood

 

Alma 19:16-17

 

Abish is the perfect member missionary!  She had been hoping and praying for a missionary experience and when she got the chance, she took it.

 

Pray for missionary experiences and pray to notice them when they come.

Also, pray for courage to act upon those opportunities to come.

I promise they will come and the Lord will bless you to know what to say and do.

 

Alma

21:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/21?lang=eng

22:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/22?lang=eng

23:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/23?lang=eng

 

Merry Christmas!!!

Well, I'm excited for this week. :)

 

CHRISTMAS!!!!

 

Go to mormonchannel.org and watch the Christmas videos :)

This Christmas time has been so special this year.

I love Jesus.

I get to teach people all about Jesus.

My life is 100% focused around Jesus.

It's pretty cool.

 

I can't wait to talk to my family.

It'll be awesome. :)

This week was full of miracles.

AND it was probably our toughest week.

Some crazy things have been happening here.

Like major trials ya'll don't need to know about.

It's been rough, but I know it's just the adversary trying to slow us down.

Too bad we can't be stopped!

Sorry Satan. You aren't getting these Sisters!

 

Our investigator Evelyn is progressing so well!

We teach her 2-3 times a week and almost every lesson we have a member with us.

We have daily contact with her too.

It's been so awesome to see her progression.

We've had two times that we planned to teach her the Word of Wisdom (she smokes like a chimney and we're tired of going home smelling like cigarettes) but it just hasn't worked out that way.

We kept forgetting the pamphlets for it.

We could teach with out them, but it's much better with.

So, we ended up teaching other things, but each time it's been perfect.

Those two times Evelyn didn't need the Word of Wisdom.

She needed those two lessons to prepare her for the Word of Wisdom.

When we taught the Word of Wisdom it was perfect.

She accepted it.

Right now she's only giving up coffee and tea, but she's doing a really good job.

After the New Year we are planning to help her give up tobacco.

It's going to be awesome.

I love her!

 

I am so grateful for the Savior.

I love this gospel.

 

Mas means more in Spanish, so let's have more Christ this Christmas.

And let's make Christmas an everyday thing. :)

I love you all!

Have a Merry Christmas!

 

Love,

Sister Heywood

 

Alma 17:2-3

The sons of Mosiah did three things. Studied the scriptures, fasted and prayed. We need to do this and go to church in order to have the Spirit with us.

 

SNOW!!!

You are all asking for my address.
I thought I said this before, but I guess not.

Send mail to the mission home.

They will send it to me.

When I write back to you my actual address will be on the envelope.

Then you can use that address instead of the mission home address.

We are discouraged from putting our address out publicly.

 

Michigan Fact:

It snows here.
Have I told you that before?

 

Both Sister Bailey and I have never driven in snow until 2 days ago.

 

Don't worry Mom, we're both alive and careful.

 

On Friday we had the ward Christmas party.

Friday was also the day it snowed the hardest.

Remember, this was the first day that we both drove in the snow.

 

Our Bishop was worried about us, so the Elders followed us to our next appointment and stuck around for that then followed us home to make sure that we were safe.

Well, thank goodness they followed us.

We drove off the side of the road and got stuck.

Awesome.

Elder Windor got us out.

 

Haha, I thought it was super funny.

Sister Bailey, not so much.

Come what may and love it!

 

Well, we have a lot of investigators that have been taught for a long time.

None of them have been progressing though.

We are trying to see them all and teach a good solid Restoration lesson so that we can figure out where they are at.

Most of these people never had testimonies.

Well, all of them.

They just like the missionaries.

Which is ok, but if they aren't progressing then no bueno.

 

We're kind of weeding them out.

That's probably bad to say, but if we can't help them to progress, then we'll have to let them go. :(

 

We have had success so far!

We have only been able to meet with three of them so far and we have found their concerns and prayerfully found out how to best help them.

It's been a pretty cool process.

We know their concerns, we have invited them to make commitments, now they just have to keep them.

It's time for them to use their agency.

 

By the way, sometimes I hate agency and wish people didn't have it,

but then I have to remember that I chose this plan.

 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary!

I love it!

I have never been so blessed!

 

I am so grateful for this gospel.

I know that it is true.

 

I love you all!

 

Love,

Sister Heywood

 

PS

 

It is a small world!

The relief society president here knows my aunt and uncle Hal and Gaila because they used to watch her kids.

 

AND one of the Cunningham relatives is in my ward!!!

 

Alma 10:10-12

10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his ^aangel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath ^bdwelt at my house.
11 For behold, he hath ^ablessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.
12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was ^amore than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

 

The people didn't listen to the message until one of their own (aka a member instead of a missionary) spoke to them.

You members who aren't set apart as missionaries have a special ability to touch people that we can't.

Find them.

Bring them to the fold.

Ask the missionaries to help.

We are here to help you with your missionary work, not the other way around.

 

Alma 14:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng

15:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/15?lang=eng

16:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/16?lang=eng

17:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/17?lang=eng

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Tearin' It Up in Walled Lake

So, last week was my parent's anniversary!

Happy Anniversary!

I LOVE YOU MOMMY AND DADDY!!!!
I'm so glad you're still in love!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages

 

Well, I love my new area!
Walled Lake is awesome!

 

Want to know something cool?
Walled Lake is where I spent my first night in the mission field.

Sister Bailey was with me then and we were companions in the MTC!

Now we're back where we started together and it's been awesome so far!

We've been able to teach some people that the missionarie have been trying to teach for 2 years and that haven't been able to be taught.

 

A less active family came to church and stayed for all three hours.

They NEVER stay all three hours.

 

The Lord is just putting things in our path.

We're working hard and being obedient and things are just happening.

It's awesome!

The ward here is great.

I love it!

 

Bishop is awesome and is super pumped about missionary work.

The whole ward is.

 

So, funny story about Bishop.

He kept saying my name wrong.

He kept calling me Sister Heyword.

He even called me Sister Heymeyer once. Haha.

In sacrament meeting he announced my name and said Heyword.

He realized he got it wrong and I corrected him.

Then he said Heyword again and the whole congregation laughed.

 

When I bore my testimony I quickly explained how to say Heywood.

Hey, like hey how ya' doin'.

And wood, like the stuff you burn.

Well, the ward got a kick out of that and they like me already.

So, that's good haha!

 

I am so grateful to be a missionary!

 

I know that this church is true.

I know it with all my heart.

If you're not sure, pray about it.

Study it out.

Ask God.

He WILL answer you.

Promise.

 

I love you all!

 

Love,

Sister Heywood

 

Alma 8:30-32

30 And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.
31 And they had ^apower given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their ^bpower until they were bound in bands and cast into prison. Now, this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them.
32 And it came to pass that they went forth and began to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them.

 

The Lord protects us when we defend a righteous cause.

NO ONE will stop His work from being finished.

The Lord's church WILL cover the earth.

 

Alma 10:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/10

11:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/11

12:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/12

13:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/13

It's Been Real Farmington Hills

Michigan Fact:

It's cold.

Have I told you that before?

 

Shout out to Rachel Wilson for getting her call!
I'm proud of you sista!

 

Well guess what.

I'm getting transferred.

Tomorrow I tell Farmington Hills goodbye and go somewhere new.

I have to leave Sister Taylor and get a new companion.

Where?

Where the Lord needs me?

Who with?

Who the Lord chooses.

I'm sad to leave Farmington Hills.

I love this place to death, but I knew I would have to leave some time.

We've got 10 investigators and things are just getting started!

The work is picking up a lot and I'm leaving.

Though I'm sad, I'm excited for change.

It'll be good! I know it!

 

Time flies out on a mission.

I swear I just got to the MTC yesterday, but that was 6 months ago.

Nuts!

 

I have grown a lot here in Farmington Hills.

When I was in my first area I would make my companion knock on the doors and ring the doorbells.

Now I get up there and knock.

I knock loud and proud, and sometimes I do so 2 or 3 times.

 

I'm getting better at leaving lessons up to the Lord.

My studies are better.

I'm actually learning things instead of reading things.

I'm studying and pondering instead of going through the motions.

 

I keep a study journal now organized by topics.

What?
That's not me.

Well, it wasn't.

Now it is. :)

I feel more like the missionary I knew I could be.

I feel more like the missionary the Lord needs me to be.

 

Ok, so what happened this week?

Thanksgiving did. :)

We prepared a super cool Thanksgiving message with scriptures and a song.

We walked door to door with the ukulele and looking super cute.

 

Everyone let us in!
Just kidding.

I wish everyone let us in.

One person did.

Some people said yes at first and when we said "yah it'll be a song and a scripture," they said "oh actually, we're busy."

Right.

 

Monday night we went to a non-denominational Thanksgiving service for Farmington Hills.

It was awesome!

Different church leaders spoke and we sang songs and visited.

It was awesome!

Everyone thought we were nuns and asked what order we're in.

I didn't think I looked like a nun.

Oh well.

 

We also had a great Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday with a ton of families at the church.

It was awesome!

 

We found 4 investigators this week.

We're pretty stoked about them.

They're awesome!

 

Well, in the heart of Thanksgiving, watch this video. :)

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911161818001

 

I want to share an experience I had with thanking God.

A few days ago I woke up.

I was really troubled by something totally stupid.

I was crying when Sister Taylor couldn't see my face and holding back tears when she could.

I couldn't control my emotions.

I couldn't get these worries out of my head.

I went to the stress books we've been given and evaluated my stress.

I realized I was having a stress emergency and I wasn't responding well to it at all.

One of the suggestions to deal with such situations was to kneel down and thank God for 5 specific things.

I thought "uh that's not even related to my problem. That won't help me."

Well, I did it any way.

When I was done praying, my burden was completely gone.

I wasn't freaking out.

My worries left me.

It was a miracle.

 

In Sunday School yesterday we learned that people who thank God often and are grateful for everything are healthier physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, so BE GRATEFUL!!!

I am grateful for this gospel. I know it's true.

I'm grateful for my family and I know that we will be together for ever.

I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and I know that it is true.

I am grateful for Joseph Smith and I know that he is a prophet of God and that he restored Christ's church.

 

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Heywood

 

Alma 5:37-38

37 O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are ^apuffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone ^bastray, as ^csheep having no ^dshepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath ^ecalled after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not ^fhearken unto his voice! 38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good ^ashepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not ^bhearken unto the voice of the ^cgood shepherd, to the ^dname by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.

 

God is calling for you. His hands are outstretched to you. He LOVES you.

He's calling to everyone, because He loves EVERYONE

 

Alma 7:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/7?lang=eng

Alma 8:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/8?lang=eng

Alma 9:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/9?lang=eng

 

I've Never Seen so Much Road Kill in My Life!

Michigan fact:

There is road kill.

Lots of road kill.

Everywhere.

Gross. 

Well, this was another exciting miracle filled week. 

We found a new investigator at the door!
We taught the Restoration.

The Spirit was there.

We're going back to teach her on Tuesday.

AND she's getting baptized on January 4!

AND she is friends with a member of the church and has obviously talked to her friend about the church.

Sweet! 

Our investigator Joseph is getting baptized!
December 28.

We had a super Spirit filled lesson with a member there.

Last week Joseph wouldn't commit to a date and said he would this week.

At first we still had a rough time getting him to commit, but then the Spirit took over.

We taught the Plan of Salvation with the pamphlet.

Joseph is so grateful for Jesus Christ and the Atonement, which he didn't know much about.

At the end of the lesson we invited Joseph to pray.

We told him to ask if what we taught is true and then said that we would be quiet after the prayer until he talked.

We told him to pay attention to how he felt.

We all kneeled down and waited.

We waited for a good 2-3 minutes in silence, on our knees, bowing our heads.

I don't know what took so long for Joseph to start, but that's ok.

The Spirit came in and hit me like a wall.

The room was so filled with the Spirit.

It was incredible!

Joseph prayed.

He said the most beautiful prayer I've ever heard.

When he finished, we waited a little bit.

Joseph said, with the biggest smile, "I'm so happy right now."

The member that came with us bore a powerful testimony to Joseph that Joseph was feeling the Spirit.

We told Joseph that he can have that feeling with him all the time, and the first step is to be baptized.

We said, "We want to set a date with you for baptism."

He replied, "What day."

:D 

You know, everyone measures a missionary's success on how many baptisms he/she got.

I don't care about that number.

I don't care at all.

If I never see anyone baptized, that's ok.

Certainly, I want people to get baptized, because that's the first step to returning home and I want people to make that step.
Unfortunately, some people get baptized and aren't converted.

I want converts.

I will have at least 3.

One of those being myself. 

I love this gospel with all my heart.

I know that it is true.

I know it.

God lives.

Jesus Christ lives.

They are two separate beings and Joseph Smith saw them.

God and Jesus Christ spoke to Joseph Smith and through Joseph Smith, the Priesthood (http://mormon.org/faq/purpose-of-priesthood) was restored and God's church is on the earth. 

I love you all.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Sister Heywood 

Study time! 

Alma 1:25

 "25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were ^asteadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with ^bpatience the persecution which was heaped upon them." 

We need to stand firm in our faith. DO NOT BE MOVED! 

Here's a great talk about that and some other scriptures you can cross reference this with.

Stand Strong in Holy Places by Robert D. Hales

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2013/05/stand-strong-in-holy-places 

Romans 1:16

"16 For I am not ^aashamed of the ^bgospel of Christ: for it is the ^cpower of God unto ^dsalvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

http://www.lds.org/manual/new-testament-student-study-guide/the-epistle-of-paul-the-apostle-to-the-romans/romans-1-i-am-not-ashamed-of-the-gospel-of-christ?lang=eng&query=romans+1%3a16 

Mosiah 5:15

" 15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in ^agood works, that Christ, the ^bLord God Omnipotent, may ^cseal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who ^dcreated all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen." 

AND I also liked Alma 3:19

"19 Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the ^acurse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation."

Remember, God NEVER distances Himself from us.

We distance ourselves from Him. 

Next week:

Alma 4:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/4

Alma 5:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/5

Alma 6:http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/6