Depending on Christ

I wish I had a video camera so y'all could see all that has happened this week. And mostly because I cant get to everything. This week was full of long hard knows, laughs and smiles, tears and utter joy. We saw a lot of miracles from contacting and just knocking doors. A few new investigators and potentials. But there are 2 things I really want to focus on... First: Wednesday was our lesson with Lynn and it was big. Last time we found the concern and Wednesday was the day to address it. We had a joint teach, Steffi who has become great friends with Lynn. So with the lesson we simply stated the commandment and what it entails. The Spirit just hit with the spirit and Lynn just cried. Steffi jumped to comfort her. 85% of the lesson was silent/ Steffi talked most of the lesson, which was helpful. (And to be honest I didn't say anything the first half of the lesson, just trying to follow their Dutch) It was a lot of sitting in the silence because you could see Lynn sitting there thinking and the Spirit working on her. I wanted to share a scripture, 1 Corinthians 10:13 and before I started reading I just started crying and then finally got to read it and bear my testimony. Then went back to my silence. The 3 of them talked more and more moments of silence. After a long pause Lynn was talking and I wasn't understanding anything! But she turned to me and asked me what I thought. I started to panic because I was lost but I trusted the Spirit and opened my mouth. It was quite awesome, dont know if she understood me or if what I said really helped. But she still wants to be baptized but knows this is going to be a long hard process. She is coming to know for herself and it is quite amazing. She thanked us for helping her find and walk on the right path. It's amazing what silence can do when you let the Spirit guide. I have no doubt Lynn will get baptized...just need to take it slow. Second: Agnes was baptized yesterday!!!!! Was incredible to see her glowing and be so happy. To stand on the other side at the top of the stairs of the font and watch her get baptized. I cant describe the feeling. To have been working so hard with her, to see a daughter of God who was lost, hurt, struggling and alone, to have seen the change in her life and the Christ encircle her and now baptized. It was beautiful. I now want that for everyone, more than anything! Funny thing was they forgot to start filling the font till after church so they started filling it with buckets. Was adorable to see her son Noah helping fill it. Also had 2 exchanges this week. Went to Brussels again. A goal this transfer I have was to give everything to the Lord and depend on him. As I have strived to do that and have made this His mission and His work. That is when I see the miracles and know our success is because we are working with Christ. Sorry this is short but wanted to share that with you all, we are having Zone P-day District vs District Indoor Soccer Tournament so time to go KILL! haha I hope y'all had a wonderful week and a good Valentines Day. I love you all! -- Zuster Young

Agnes' Baptism

Valentine's Day

Trip to Brussels

100 Days a Missionary

As of February 5th I've been a missionary for 100 days! I didn't know that until my family sent a poster of "100 things we love about you!" Thanks you guys! It was awesome! I was laughing so hard. There was like 4 things written about Oreos..I miss Oreos. haha Well I celebrated this monumental moment with a spectacular week of missionary week! No surprise there, but this was a very good week. 1st: Veronica- Last Sunday we went to the hospital with a member to visit her friend. #memberreferral Veronica is in her late 40's and is incredibly sweet. She has been in the hospital for 2 weeks now and was getting ready for an operation on Thursday. We talked and shared a spiritual message with her, and she lost it. She just unloaded and the spirit was so strong as we tried to comfort her. Left a BvM and our card. Two days later she called and asked me if we could go to the hospital on Thursday after her operation. All of her family lives in Netherlands and her husband or fiance or someone is missing (she hasn't been able to get in contact with him) and she asked us to be there so she wasn't alone. US! We just met her and she asked us to be there. So of course we went. And then back again on Friday, we were there for hours helping her and just talking. Its crazy that in a week we have developed this relationship with her and have so much love for her. I love that we as missionaries can do anything. We can drop what we are doing and go and serve. 2nd: AGNES!! This woman.. ha oh my she is getting baptized this Sunday!! WE have been over at her house a lot these last couple of days and each has been an incredible spiritual experience. Saturday was her baptismal interview and she passed. It was so funny because she was acting like she didn't telling us next time and then she jumped up and yelled just kidding! (She is African so pretty crazy!) She was so happy! Best part was she cursed the devil...."F-word Satan. GO JESUS!" Oh my lanta is was the funniest thing. I am just so excited for her. She also said "You two are my guardian angels. You are children of God and when I see you I am so happy, I want to follow you. I am now not a lone and I am a child of God." Oh I was crying, I was so happy and touched and to hear her say herself that she is a Child of God. Just so happy! 3rd: Hamode- He is the journalist I contacted last week. We had an appointment with him on Saturday. We sat on a park bench in the middle of Groenplaats, the center of Antwerpen. He has no knowledge of Christianity so it was a bit of a challenge to be careful with our words (luckily it was in English) We taught the Restoration and answered his questions. You could see the lightbulbs turning on and it making sense to him. I extended the baptismal commitment/invitation to him...I was hit by the spirit. He said, "Yes, that is the point but I need to take this step by step." YES! It was such an awesome experience. While contacting down in Groenplaats I was leading the way and accidentally led us down a Red Light District! Oh my goodness it was awful and I felt so bad that I led us there. I had no idea... yuck! So random... I love peanut butter. I don't know what it is or what happened but I love peanut butter! We go through a jar every week (granted the jars aren't as big as the ones back home, but still). And I am choosing to eat bananas...Yes that's right mom I am choosing to eat with, with peanut butter and liking it! ha! This was a very good week, we worked hard! My dutch is getting better, still working on it but its better! Alma 5:45-46 "I know these things of myself." We must continually learning and reaffirming our testimony. Our testimonies are our greatest weapon in the fight against the adversary and ther world. I like Alma, know these things of myself. I will do everything in my power to share it with others. I love you all and hope you have a great week! Love, Zuster Young

There is a HERO within all of us

Not a whole lot to share this week, the first half of the week we spent at the church planning and preparing for Zone Training. The theme was superheros and it went really good! I drew a superhero to represent all the points we wanted to talk about and that turned into a handout we printed and got laminated for everyone in the zone. Since I'm the companion of the Sister Training Leader I don't have to speak or really do anything for Zone Training, so I just did all the behind the scenes creative thinking and artsy fartsy things. haha It was so much fun and we just had so much fun planning it. It was a success! So biggest thing to happen this week was our lesson with Lynn. We had exchanges so Sister Jones was in Turnhout. So I took on Antwerpen once again with Sister Riley. The lesson was Lynn was incredible. Got to her house and we talked about soccer for a little bit and then got right into the lesson. I asked her about her reading in the Book of Mormon and also she has been going to Institute. She is so far in the Book of Mormon and her studies are just remarkable. The lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. We had a good discussion going and when I got to repentance it was the basics, right from PMG and mid sentence I froze and stopped talking. A thought came to mind to share a personal experience, but I didn't want to. I sat and played with my CTR ring and thought for a second debating what to do and say. But I followed the prompting and opened up to her and just shared my experience. I talked about repentance, the atonement and baptism. A power that I have never felt before came and I just spoke. I literally felt power as I spoke to her. I told her that we don't know what her "big question or struggle" is but we pray for her, and think about her all the time, and are here for her to do everything we can to help her. By this point she was crying. We sat in silence for a a bit while, I knew I just needed to let her sit for bit. Finally she got to a point where she opened up to us. B/c I trusted her, she trusted me and was very open. We now know the issue and we will work with her. There was a power that I can't describe and I just bore testimony and said all the the spirit told me to say. She was crying and I was so surprised that I wasn't crying... cause if you know me I'm a crier. Oh man the spirit was so strong. I felt Heavenly Father's love for her, and there is something big planned for her, he is working hard on her and I just know she has the power to overcome this. I love Lynn and I will do everything I can in my power to help her. Another thing, walking home from Agnes (which by the way is super prepared and ready for her baptism in 2 weeks) there was a man standing by a bus stop and I stopped to contact him. He is a journalist originally from Iraq. We have an appointment with him this week. He was very positive and said that he is confused and lost and wants to find the right path. He is a 45 year old and feels like he should know. Gave him a card and later that day he texted us and said he looked up the website and has so many questions! Exciting stuff being a missionary. I love being here the work is moving forward. The Lord with working with us and helping us. "Missionary work is not easy, because Salvation was never easy." -Jeffery R Holland I am paying a small price, walking a little of the path that the Savior walked to help move this work forward. I love you all and miss you. Hope you have a great week! Tot Maandag, Zuster Young

This week has been an extremely long week...a hard one at that. After this week I just wanted to curl up on the couch and eat a thing of Ben & Jerry's ice cream! 1st: 3 FLAT TIRES IN ONE WEEK! I am not even joking. Three different incidents this week with a flat tire, each one of them for a different reason. I'm not sure about the first one, the second one was a side puncture I can't explain, and the third was a nail yesterday leaving church. I don't understand why it keeps happening. I watch the ground and try to avoid things.I just dont have an answer. Quite frustrating. 2nd: Positive! Lynn is still on fire and is almost done reading the BvM. She came to institute on Friday and just loved it! The JoVos are really awesome and making her feel welcomed. She sat in class and answered questions and making connections to the BvM like she has been a member for years! I was impressed and just so glad we found her. 3rd: We went to look up an inactive member the other night and what a cool experience. His name is Kelvin and he has moved to England for school. He actually wasn't supposed to be home that day, but he missed his train and the address we had was his parents' house. So since he missed the train he was there. His mother let us in and he was so surprised to see us, very happy though that we remembered him and came to look him up. He is active in England but this ward just still has him on their records. (This ward is crazy so I'm not surprised). Well his mom and sister were there and they are not members and we talked and shared a spiritual message. We talked about the Atonement and how Christ is always there for us. Kelvin shared his feelings and said what we shared was what he needed because they were thigns he was struggling with himself, and he thanked us for coming and sharing that. We gave his sister a BvM also! Definitely not a coincidence! 4th: This week was more of a personal struggle for me. Was a rollercoaster of a week with things with investigators, church commitments and leadership obligations, hours of door knocking in the cold (Oh it snowed again!) and then myself. My biggest battle this week was against myself. You come out here and are on the Lord's errand. Working so hard. Doing everything you can and working so close to the Lord. But then the adversary likes to step in and cause a storm. And that is what he did. He was finding tactics to get in my head, cause me to be distracted and disappointed in people\things. I want more than anything to have my whole being in this work, my heart, might, mind and strength. This week I wrote out all my fears, things I want to change and let go of, did a 100% honest self evaluation. My personal studies were focused on how to align my will with the Lord's, overcoming fears and bettering myself as a missionary and daughter of God. One of the most beautiful weeks of studying I've had. I saw answers to my prayers and through a blessing yesterday from Elder Lyman, I heard from the Lord himself. I love reading conference talks and articles in church magazines, because they always go with what I studied in the scriptures and I find comfort and answers. I'm also thankful for an amazing companion who I feel comfortable and confident enough to actually open up to her and just talk about things. I am so thankful to be here on a mission and serving the Lord. Everything I am is in the work of salvation. I am doing everything I can to better myself so I can find those who are searching. I want the Savior to say to me: "Morgan, I recognize you not by your title but by your life, the way you are trying to live and the standards you are trying to defend. I see the integrity of your heart. I know you have tried to make things better first and foremost by being better yourself and then by declaring my word and defending my gospel to others in the most compassionate way you could. I know you weren't always successful with your own sins and with circumstances of others, but I believe you honestly tried. I believe in your heart you truly loved me." I love my Savior with all my heart. I am doing everything in my power to be his disciple and serve him fervently. I hope and pray we all have the same desire to follow the example of Jesus Christ. Just turn to him in prayer, he is always listening. He is waiting for us to lean on him and he will support us. I love you all so very much! Hope you all have a wonderful week! Love, Zuster Young

Transfer 1: COMPLETE!

I have made it a transfer!! Calls from President were last night and while we were at our (second dinner appointment) just hanging out at the Schiltz, we all had the phones on the table just anxiously waiting to get a call. And the verdict is.... Zr. Jones and I are staying together here in Antwerpen for another transfer!! WOOHOO!! I am so very excited and happy. Alright so this last week was one heck of a week. WE had 3 exchanges back to backm so from Tuesday to Friday afternoon Zr. Jones and I did not work together. I took on Antwerpen while Zr. Jones went to the other Sister Cities. It was a lot of fun leading the other sisters around my city, also very nerve racking because I didnt want to get us a lost. Which only happened once, and we werent really lost, we got on the right bus number just wrong direction. But thankfully we figured that out really quick and got off! Spent many hours door knocking again. On Wednesday I took Zr. Cowles out to Wijnegem for proselyting. The very first house we knocked the woman let us in and we talked to her about our church and gave a quick Restoration lesson. She is from Mexico, and we are going back this week to take a Spanish Book of Mormon to her! We got Agnes back!! We finally were able to have an appointment with her and after talking to her for a few hours and hearing what was going on, we got her back! The adversary was working hard and made her life last week very hard which brought her down and not ready to be baptized. Maar, all is well and she is set for a new baptismal date and she came to church. Also, met a family that is from the same place in Africa she is and they immeditaley hit it off! Now we have better support from the ward menbers. Lynn the JoVo! Okay I can not hold back my excitment with this one! So she came to church last Sunday like I had mentioned and we gave her a Book of Mormon. Well we had a lesson with her Friday evening. From Sunday to Friday she read all the way to MOSIAH 2!! She even was highlighting and told us that she read Isaiah from the Bible first then read the chapters in BvM. How incredible is that? We taught the Restoration and finally when it got to us talking about Jospeh Smith, I said the First Vision in Dutch. First time I ahve said it to an investigator in Dutch, and it was powerful moment. I felt the power and spirit so strong in that moment. We then asked her if she would be baptized and she got really emotional. We talked for a while and there are questions she is looking to be answered and then she is commited to a soccer team that plays on Sundays until April so she cant come to church every Sunday (which she was really disappointed about) but in the end said that baptism is what she wants. Oh my I was so happy! The best lesson thus far! And she is the coolest person! Went to Brussles to start my legality papwework for Belgium...now that ive been here 6 weeks. haha but the best part was I saw SISTER FAA!! I saw her walking in the station with evertyone else and I just ran across the train station to hug her. Man do I miss her. It was fun seeing her and being in Brussels for a bit! Went to Turnhout on Saturday to work the Sisters there. Saw Girl Scouts! They were walking the streets and singing songs...they were super cute and made me miss Girl Scouts. Also, we had a lesson with a gentleman named Issac. That lesson was increedibly powerful and the things we talked about were serious and oh man the spirit was strong. I cant describe it, as I talked to him I felt the power of the Spirit working through me. Another thing, Zr. Castro and I stopped by a WWF table to talk to the girls there. The girl with the red hair and I were talking and she was explaining what she was doing and then I explained to her. Half way through she stopped and started speaking english because she heard my accentm but then said that ny FLEMISH is really good! Oh compliment of the week! Things are great and moving forward. Oh and I have a flat tire... so gotta go get that fixed! But other than that I just love it here! I love the people and the work. Something I have learned this transfer is to pray. Pray ferevently. Pray with Faith. And just turn to the Lord in Prayer. I love you all, I miss you dearly. Tot Maandag! Zuster Young

A Week of Miracles

This has been a very long week but for me, I have grown a lot this week. To start the week I went on exchanges to Gent, Belgium to work with Sister Fleming. We were on the train for an hour from Antwerpen, then biked 45 minutes to an appointment and worked in that area till our dinner appointment. The lesson fell through so we spent the next 3 hours door knocking. It got to point that we were quite cold and it was about dinner time. We got back on our bikes to go find a place to warm up and so Sister Fleming could make some phones calls. The only place was a Lukoil gas station... so that's where we went. I bought us some hot chocolate and there was a gentleman also buying something. When he saw my name tag and then over heard Sister Fleming on the phone he stopped me and asked me if we were the Mormon missionaries. Of course we are! ha And he and I talked for about 30 minutes. He travels a lot but he loves the Elders, and whenever he sees them he sits and talks with them. He has attended church in Brussels but is not a member. He bore a beautiful testimony of Joseph Smith and the respect he has for him. It was crazy! The things he said about Joseph Smith were simple and basic but it was sure testimony. He then thanked me for leaving everything behind and coming to Belgium, a place were religion is lost and the people really need us. And then he went on his way. His name was Fernando, and I felt the spirit there in that gas station. Another awesome experience, we had District Leader Council on Thursday and afterwards we usually go to the Centrum for lunch but Elder Bosco said let's just go to the McDonald's around the corner. So we did and we all ordered and started eating (which by the way is much better than American McDonald's) and one of the employees came over and asked us for a card for her coworker. So Sister Jones handed her one... that night on the train on the way to Netherlands her coworker texted us!!! Her name is Lynn and she gave us her whole background and said she has questions and wants to learn more. So we were in Nederland all weekend and said we have church on Sunday and we could talk with her then. SHE CAME TO CHURCH!! And she stayed the whole time and participated in all the classes and the ward welcomed her with open arms! The JoVo's (the young single adults) loved her. I gave her a Book of Mormon and we set up another appointment. She plays soccer as well so we hit it off great! Sitting with her class and I just have a great feeling about her and am SO very excited! I also gave my first talk in Sacrament meeting yesterday.... I felt like a primary kid reading her talk all slow and it was just ridiculous. But I think it went good as well! Our baptism with Agnes fell through... unfortunately.. she was ignoring us and then when we tried to talk to her she was just angry and shut us out. So bummer.. we won't give up on her but are giving her space. This week we have spent hours finding and door knocking and not seeing much success but we kept working hard and doing all that Heavenly Father asks of us. We had times where we could have just gone home and done other things but instead we chose to go keep knocking on doors in the dark and rain. We continued to show our faith and desire to do the work and Heavenly Father has blessed us with Lynn and other little miracles. It is amazing to be a missionary and to see Heavenly Father's love for all his children. It's been hard this week, I had moments where I wanted to just stop and cry but I forgot myself and went to work. Our best effort is all that He asks of us and He will take care of the rest. I love you all and hope all is well. Have a great week! Love, Zuster Young

Well not too much to say this week... but I can't believe that it is already 2015! So for New Year's Eve we had to be back in our apartments by 4pm because it gets really crazy here and we are not allowed to be out and about past then. So Sister Jones and I bought some food and we had a feast of champions...homemade pizzas, cookie dough, candy and goldfish! haha WE BUILT A FORT!!! And watched all the church movies we own. I know a killer New Years Party!! Hope everyone had a great New Year! Shoutout to the Sparrows...Thank you for the beautiful christmas card! Went on two exchanges this week to Lokeren and then Turnhout, Belgium. Beautfiul little towns! It was fun to go and see other places and teach lessons there. We were teaching a gentleman who is a trainer for Turnhout's Men's soccer team. He gave me the u21 Women's Coach's number and told me to call then so I could play with them. Getting soccer referrals... it was awesome!! Anywho...This last week we taught a ton of lessons. It's been really hard lately, we are continually rejected. So we do a ton of finding and spend hours knocking doors and street contacting. I just know and have this feeling that there is someone we are looking for. So can't lose hope. Taught a lesson on New Years Day and Elder Lyman just turned to me asked me to bear my testimony and talk about the Book of Mormon, just handed the lesson over to me and I wasn't nervous at first and the words just came out. There wasn't a single word I didn't know in Dutch and the spirit was so strong. Such an amazing moment. But this last week was good... We taught about 6 lessons, biked in the pouring rain all day Saturday (1 hour to Ekeren and then an hour back). It has been exhausting this week biking so much. I think it is finally catching up to me, my legs are feeling pretty heavy! Anyway, Agnes is still set for her baptismal date in two weeks!! And we had an appointment with Lieve yesterday, she contacted us, and now after our lesson yesterday SHE HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE!! She is so prepared it is incredible. Can't wait to see her move forward!! It's been a long hard week. But I have enjoyed it and am so happy to be here. The Lord continually keeps showing me that this is where I need to be and picking me up. Finally got to play soccer today!! Oh it felt good and was a blast! Hope all is well! Sorry this is a crazy weird e-mail and just all over the place. I miss everyone and love you all dearly! Happy New Years! Love, Zuster Young