The Land of our Inheritance

Happy Memorial Day! the motorcycles were out here- hope they came out of the garage up there! What a wonderful day to remember all those who have defended this country! Thank you especially Dad for your service and to Aarom for your current service. Yay America! I was sure to wear Red White and Blue in celebration!

​(okay okay- so the picture is from last transfer.. but I wore the same thing..)
and you know what the best part of it is? This is the promised land that was prepared for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It shall be a land of liberty unto us - those who serve the Lord according to His commandments. (2 Nephi 1:7) and did you know that this land was kept hidden for a long time so the Lord could carry out His purposes in preparing it? I learned that in my studying of 2 Nephi 1. What an awesome chapter- and one of my favorite parts is found in verse 5 - where it says that the Lord has covenanted this land to all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. and all I could think about was David Marshal Stuart who was led here by the Lord. and then I was thinking that I don't know the stories of how my other ancestors came to America. Help family? And yep- I still love family history and am real excited to be able to really dive into it in 10 months!

Sister Brown and I are doing well here in Star Heights - here- a pictue of us! so you can meet her- the blondies are taking over!

I have to tell you about teischa this week! Oh my word she is progressing so well! This last week we had a lesson with her and her live in fiance and we committed her to pray about a baptismal date. We then went to tell her what had to happen before the baptism could happen - mainly that they would have to get married. and she looked at him and asked "what more are you waiting for? Let's do it!" it was so exciting! and then- she OFFERED to say the closing prayer! This is the one who we had to coax to say a prayer and finally after the 4th or 5th lesson she complied. It was so awesome! I just love her so much!

Qouestion for all of you- what does the Plan of Salvation mean to you personally? HOw did you gain a witness of its truthfullness?

I love you all! The church is true. Read the Book of Mormon - you will know it for yourself! Pray to know if it is true- again. and again. and again. I am donig that everyday righ tnow and it is incredible. The Lord will continually to answer you as you ask in faith. This is His church and this is where He wants you!

SIster STuart

sorry this is so scattered... a day in the mind of sister stuart! yay!

the sun is shining and the green is growing

We heard an incredible miracle this week- there is a woman who served her mission in Italy and before she left, she had a brother who was not living up the covenants he had made in his life and was choosing a path contrary to the one he had been taught to follow as a child. When this Sister, we will call her Sister Smith, was set apart as a missionary, the Stake President promised her that if she would write home each week and faithfully share her testimony of the Savior her family members would return. This she did and back here in NM, her sister in law began meeeting with the missionaries and attending church. The bishope called her into his office and extended her a calling to serve in the young women's presidency - only she had to be baptized first. When she went home her husband (sister smith's wayward brother) asked her when she would be baptized - to which she responded "when you can baptize me." She was baptized by her dear husband who returned to activity shortly thereafter. And it is apparent, this occurred because Sister Smith was diligent in following the counsel given her by sharing her testimony. This makes me wonder if I should be more spiritual in my emails home to you- and then I think again.. I will try. Maybe. Just know - I do love this work and I see miracles daily and I know I see them becasue it is God putting His hand in this work and showing His love for His children here in NM. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know He is the Son of God who is my Heavenly Father and His love is unmeasurable. I know the Atonement is real. It is through His grace that we are saved. The priesthood power is here on the earth and was restored by the prothet Joseph Smith. Thomas S Monsonholds those same keys today. This church  is true! and how much I love it!

I also love doing service! Which we are getting a lot of opportunitites to do here. This last week we transplanted some irises and there were so many that we got to take some home! 

​Now we just need to plant them before they die.. that is the plan for tomorrows lunch hour. hopefully we haven't killed them already. Oops..

also in our craziness as missionaries- I learned we have a backyard! and I tell you what - we need some missionaries to come and knock on our door to ask if we need any service done.. That place needs some attention! and back there just outside the door happened to be two chairs! perfect right? Right! they were pretty nasty though- so we covered em with blankets and moved em into the sunshine and did our weekly planning there. It was awesome! and what is even more awesome? first sunburn of the season! wahoo! (what a social missionary I am...) 
But we did have a wonderful planning session and we are excited for the week ahead of us!

But in highlights of the last week - We went on a church tour with the Cruz family and the spirit there was so incredible! They really are scared to make this change in their lives - and were really scared to go to church which is understandable- it is a change they are making. To help console this fear, we went on a tour of the church to acquaint (spelling.. eep!) them with the buiding and talked about the meetings. They really loved it! they talk like they are members already! They are so concerned with being able to live as we do- which is so incredible! now we just need to get over there and teach them the doctrine so the spirit can change their hearts and they will accept this glorious truth in their lives and be happy forever! well- eternally happy!

and that is what I have time for today.. maybe more spirit next week.. no promises though

know that I do love all of you! and I love this work. I am working hard and having fun - but I am sure you already know that..

Love Sister Stuart

​and this is what happens when you get lost looking for a gas station... and of course - I am the driver... but not the navigator! not my fault... 

okay maybe it was...

1000 Words

it was so wonderful to speak with my lovely family yesterday! I miss and love you all! Momma I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day with all of your girls! I know I sure loved it! I mostly told you aout everything that has happened (sorry for those of you who weren't there... but what I didn't tell you- I got a bike! and I kind of forgot how to ride one. yikes! good thing we still have our car... but I could rock that bike right? Right! no weird sister missionary on a bike here!

Also- here are all the sisters in our zone right now- to be changing tomorrow. So exciting! actually it wouldn't load- nothing else will.. so all you get is the one picture this week!

Be excited to meet my new companion next week!

Love Sister Stuart

Number 8! companion that is...

Another transfer has begun with yet another companion! yay! and the work will roll forward! we are so excited about the progress some of our investigators are making! we had 4 at church on Sunday - that is the most we have had in one sacrament meeting since I have been here! and all but one of them stayed for all three meetings! she had to go home to take care of a fussing baby after Sunday School. Oh it was so wonderful! and very exciteing to see the changes that occuring in these people's lives because they are decideing to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him - good thing they aren's expecting that to come immedietly! but it is neat to see the chnages in them . That is how I know Heavenly Father is really at the head of this work- becasue no man (or woman) could change these people the way the spirit can. He is the power of conversion. Not us as the missionaries. We are just the vehicles. and you know what the coolest part is? You don't have to be set apart as a full time missionary to be that vehicle! Shout out to Katy Bug- I got a letter from her a few weeks ago and she told me she was going to ICDC in Georgia and in addition to trading pins- she was going to trade CTR rings! How awesome is she?? spreading her testimony to the whole world that the spirit may influence their lives. how neat.

So my new companion is Sister Brown! not the Sister Brown i already had - that was white sister brown. I am now with blonde sister Brown. now I just need to be with Brown sister Brown and I will have been with all three! but the ward all things we will be together here until we die... So meet Sister Brown. from west Jordan Utah- and today - she turned twenty years old! companon number 4 to celebrate a birthday with! so of course - I made her breakfast.. and we didn't have any flowers.. so a weed sufficed.

and the sisters in the zone last transfer - 

I lvoe you all

-Sister Stuart

and the selfie Sister Brown took on my camera- sorry we don't have one together yet.. what a terrible companion I am! It was sister Draney who took all the pictures.... so don't expect as many this transfer!

Sob.

oh and the sob story for the week- I wore a whole in the elbow of my favorite shirt. then I went to check out the other elbow and pulled on it just a little bit - a riiiiiiiiip! it was a gonner. sad day. but jjust making more room in the suitcase right? Right!

Weekend of Wonder, Rio Rancho

Can you believe it?? April is outta here! and what a wonderful way to end this month!

We had such a wonderful week this last one! and it ended the best it ever could! Daid entered into the waters of baptism on Saturday, was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday and then we were able to go to the temple on Monday! What a great weekend! oh- and we sang some of my favorite hymns in churchon Sunday- what a tender mercy! and we sang hymn 230 - Scatter Sunshine and I couldn't stop smiling thinking of mom trying to figure out the alto part on that one- and I was going to try - only the chorister was sick, so I was up leading th emusic and I figured I shouldn't be making a fool of myself infront of the whole congregation.. so I didn't.. but I did smile!

the temple was so wonderful - of course! I am excited to be home where I can go weekly! Family- make it a priority to go to the temple. it is one incredible place. It is definitely something I took for granted before my mission. Now that I cannot go- that is all I want to do! of course..

Some sad things happened though - Darla did not want to let the Book of Mormon and the spirit change her life and dropped us.. That is okay though! someday she will be ready- like Sarah!

We saw sarah again this last week and this time with her husband Louis! and they are just the greatest! and her kiddos too. We had a great lesson on the nature of God and His church. It was really neat. Louis talked about how his mom needs to find a good church so she can get to heaven and not go to hell - and Serenity, the daughter, piped up and said "no dad- she won't go to hell- she will just go to the spirit prison where she will get to learn more." How awesome is that! Serenity is so excited about this gospel! We think she will really be the driving force behind this family. We hope to get her to YW sometime soon. She will just love it. We love them!

and I just love this work so much! it is so wonderful to be part of!

I love this gospel and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. and inspiration I received in the temple is just how much our Father in Heaven and Brother Jesus Christ really do love us. I mean, I have always known this - but lately I think I have been trying to depict them as more just than merciful and loving - but why? I know He loves me. I know He love you. I know His one true work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man - his children, that they may live with Him again. How glorious it is to be engaged in such an awesome work? and you can too- I hope you are. This work ishappening on both sides of the veil, so if you aren't finding people and friendshipping them into the gospel on this earth, find your ancestors and take them to the temple. They are waiting.

Love you all - Sister Stuart

Happy Birthday Sister Stuart

  

As always- need a picture in bed! no breakfast - we were fasting.. Nothing from home - we can't get into our mailbox right now.. so just me. in bed :)

And this is the lovely sister Baker who brought me my birthday crown and wand and a big hug! She is so wonderful. love her lots.