Santa Cruz: Where the saints and surfers meet!

Hello everyone!!! 

So, when Sister Yunack and I arrived in Santa Cruz as the first sister missionaries to EVER be in this area, people kept talking about how the people here were so unique and that the city has a definite reputation. WELL! After much observation, I think I am finally seeing what that reputation is! Someone said, "Not everyone you meet in Santa Cruz is completely attached to the earth." THAT SUMS IT UP. Here are some fun things that I've learned about Santa Cruz:
- Hippies are alive and thriving. The 70s never ended. 
- The word "gnarly" is still hip here and is mostly used when describing people who can do amazing things near or on the ocean. For example: "I ran a run/swim marathon at 5 in the morning yesterday and it was freezing! I mean, who does that!" "A GNARLY WOMAN, THAT'S WHO!" This was a real conversation that I overheard while helping organize a race on the beach here. After this, I noticed the word "gnarly" many more times, and I think I'll just have to start using it to fit in here!
- You're not a redneck if you don't wear shoes.

While the people here are pretty open and pleasant, they aren't really interested in learning more about God. There are a lot of people here who are just good people, but they aren't interested in being close to Christ. If we talk to about 25 people on average every day, about 3 of those people will actually stop walking to let us say more. So far, we have only found one person from street contacting who told us that they wanted to learn more. But that's okay - there are people out there who need Christ and who are waiting to hear the good news that we have to share. :) There is a reason for why Heavenly Father put 6 missionaries in this area - there is work to do.

Yesterday, I walked into Sacrament in one of the wards that we cover and our zone leader said to me, "Sister Williams, you're giving a talk today?" And I said, "Ha ha, very funny, Elder Pak. Ha ha ha ha." And then I went to sit down. Well, while we were singing the opening hymn, Sister Yunack leaned over to me, and showed me the program. She said, "You're giving a talk today!" I looked at it and it said, "Sister Williams." And I said, "It's THAT (pointing to a lady a few rows up) Sister Williams, not me! They didn't ask me to give a talk!" And she said, "No, I forgot to tell you, they told me last week." And I said, "WHAT!? You're kidding!" And she said, "No, I'm not! I'm serious, that's you!" So......... I didn't even write anything down. I only had 10 minutes before I had to go up anyway. So. I just found a good scripture (Matthew 11:28-30) and a good hymn ("Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy") and bore my testimony on the following. AND, MOM - I kept it under 10 minutes. :D

I learned something really important this past week: CHRIST is the only one who can help all of the people that I meet. Sister Yunack and I were having a companionship study and she started talking about something. I was listening and then I just started CRYING and I couldn't stop! I just had a breakdown because I was so overwhelmed with everything! I'm sure I shocked my companion, but when she asked what was wrong, I said, "THERE IS JUST SO MUCH TO DO AND SO MUCH TO STUDY AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"
Because I have been spending so much time studying the Savior, our Father in Heaven, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have gained the capacity to love someone the very instant I meet them. And, I don't know what it is, but many of these people share ALL of their hardships with us during our first meeting together. I started to carry around these burdens that all of these people that I loved are carrying. It was REALLY weighing me down because I felt my helplessness in giving them relief from their trials. 
I think that God wanted me to learn many things from this: He wanted me to feel the weight of darkness, loneliness, sin, and pain that all of His children carry every day. Since He gave me the gift to love all of my brothers and sisters instantaneously, He also gave me a small portion of empathy to broaden my perspective of humanity. I think that He wanted me to feel these burdens so that I could solidify my testimony in knowing that Christ is the Savior of the world. I cannot save these people. I cannot take away their suffering. But the Savior can. 

I have to be honest: I was very burdened by all of the suffering that I have seen since being out here. But. This has just reinforced my testimony that this world NEEDS a Savior. And the great news is - we have one. Our Lord suffered everything so that He can heal us and give us relief. I KNOW that the Savior has the power to lift our burdens because of His Atonement. I know this because I have seen the Atonement working in my life, and it's a miracle. It's a miracle because nothing else can take away guilt and pain and replace it so perfectly with peace and joy. I cannot deny that Jesus is the Christ because of the fire that I have in my heart, and the light that I have seen behind the eyes of so many that we have the opportunity to share the Gospel with.

We met with a woman the other day who is a member of the Mormon church but who hasn't been to church in months. She too was feeling the weight of corruption from the world and was very disillusioned with how people treat each other in the world. She had so much hurt and anger inside of her. Well, we are less than half her age, and so what could we do to help her? We haven't seen the world like she has, so what do we know? All we could do was remind her that Christ has taken on the world. He has taken on the world and has OVERCOME it (John 16:33). Because of this, we may find peace in Him. What an amazing promise after our faith. Our friend slowly started to cheer up after we reminded her of the joy that we CAN have in this life and for the life to come. Then, she came to church with us on Sunday and EVERYONE embraced her right when they met her. Remembering the Savior and following His example brings us to light and happiness, our burdens lifted.
To everyone who reads this, know that I know that God loves His children. He is aware of us and ALL of our struggles. Please pray for those who live in this world without this knowledge, who walk in darkness and loneliness. In the meantime, I am honored to be a full-time servant of the Lord, seeking to share the the light of Christ with anyone I meet. I have never, NEVER felt more fulfilled and joyful than I have since serving the Lord. 

I love all of you and pray for you daily. :)
Love, 
Sister Williams

New Area: Santa Cruz

I am now in Santa Cruz! Look up pictures!! It is beautiful here and the weather is amazing! Of course, the closer we are to the beach, the more breezy and cool it is. I'm so happy! 

My new companion is Sister Yunack. She is from VANUATU! If you're like me, then you'll have to look that up. It's near Fiji. She has been out for a year and she speaks amazing English for just having learned it in the MTC. We already tease each other all the time and we sing hymns together all the time too!!! It's so fun. Since this is probably her last area, she is really committed to working super hard.

So, before I got to this area, I lost my camera. I actually lost my camera near the beginning of June... It was SO SAD!!! I was distressed about it, so I decided that hey, maybe this is something I should pray about! (I know, sometimes missionaries are pretty slow when it comes to miracles for their OWN lives ha ha). I prayed to know if Heavenly Father truly is in the details of our lives. I thought that this was just a tiny thing, and I didn't know if God would care about it. But, I decided that I could have enough faith that God would restore my camera to me. So, I prayed, and then I read some verses in Enos in the Book of Mormon - the story about how Enos prayed with such great faith that he had complete confidence in God. Then, God gave Enos the thing that he was desiring, which was that the records of his people would be preserved. I thought, well, my camera is kind of like my records! So I prayed even more, and I felt a lot of peace that God would bless me in some way.
Later that very same day, I got a call from one of the other missionaries in my area. He said that he knew where my camera was, but he didn't know until that day that I had been looking for it! He then picked up my camera and gave it to me the next day!!!! So, my camera had been missing for three weeks, and then on the same day that I decided to pray about it, an elder found it and gave it to me! This really was the Lord showing me that He DOES care about the details of our lives!!!! He answered my prayer before I even got my camera back. He answered it through my reading of the Book of Mormon. And now, I have my camera back, and all of the memories that I have made so far on my mission. I am so grateful for this little personal miracle, and now I can testify to anyone who asks that the Lord is mindful of us and ALL of the little things in our lives. :) 
I am so excited for Wes to have his mission call. He is going to be amazing, and I knew that months ago. :) 

I hope you are all doing well. Please help the missionaries in your ward! The Lord is hastening His work in EVERY way. :)
Love, 
Sister Williams

End of Transfer #1!

Hello!

I am being transferred tomorrow!!! So, my address will change! Take note. :)

When I first found out that I am leaving Branham, I started crying. I have been here for six weeks, but I have already come to love the people here so much. I thought, "why are missions set up so that we are always changing? It makes it so sad to form relationships with people!" But then I realized something; since we only have a short time in the places where we live, we must be quick to love. Instead of being pessimistic about not having enough time to form solid relationships, I am going to be determined to love people as soon as I meet them, and to serve them with all of my heart. I realized that this is something that everyone is supposed to learn; this life is short, and we don't know how long we'll have with those we love. Therefore, the most rewarding thing is to love quickly and deeply. After that, we can have faith and hope that we will meet all of our friends and loved ones in the next life, and live in eternal happiness with God and Jesus Christ.

Something that someone told me about believing in God vs. not believing in God really stood out to me. Logically, it makes more sense to believe in God. Think about it this way: if we don't believe in God, but we live our lives in a wonderful way, loving and serving, and choosing good, then when we die, we will have lost nothing. However, if we believe in God, and we live our lives in this same wonderful way, then we are richly blessed for ETERNITY. You lose nothing by believing in God. Of course, it still takes a lot of faith on top of this logic to believe in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. But, I still found this to be an interesting point.

I can say even more surely now that I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I'm 1/4 of the way done with reading through it again. I wish that I was better and sharing my testimony of this book. I know that anyone else who reads it and prays about it with sincerity WILL know that it is true, 100% true, and that God does love His people. They will know that we have a prophet on this earth today, and they will want to follow him. They will know that God restored His true Gospel to the earth through Joseph Smith. It is beautiful to read another testament of our Savior, Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon.


I also know that the Book of Mormon can answer ANY question of the soul, or even any tiny question, that ANYONE may have. If you are wondering how this is true, send me an email, and I will tell you. :) I have tried it, and it has worked.

I have already met so many people who have seen MIRACLES happen in their lives because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that it is for EVERYONE, no matter where you come from or what you're going through.

I love my family so much and I am so proud of my younger brother, Wes, for being called on a mission. My parents must have done something right to have both of us going out at this time! This Gospel is true. That is why Wes and I can leave our amazing family to go and share the truth of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith with the world.

I will let you know what my new area is like next week! I am excited for more opportunities to learn, and I am accepting the fact that my life changes all the time now! I love you all, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Love,
Sister Williams

Week 2 in the Field

I have definitely gotten into the flow of missionary work a little bit better by now! I have learned to really put my efforts into reading the scriptures every day, because that's how I keep my testimony strong and ready to be shared at any moment. This is something that EVERYONE can do! :) 

Every day, we talk to so many strangers. It has become easier and easier for me to see them as children of God though. Since the first week I've been here. I no longer fear rejection and I can talk about the Gospel to anyone I see. I know that this is Heavenly Father answering my prayers. Also, since my companion and I have put a lot of effort into studying faith, He has blessed us to feel more confident in Him when talking to people about the Gospel.

Sister Young and I have had some amazing experiences with talking to people on the streets here. Many times, the people teach us just as much as we're teaching them. We have gotten the contact info from a few people, so I'll have to let you know how that goes. We can't wait to teach M, who has two sons that are our same ages!
Our favorite person was W. He is in a wheelchair, but we don't really know why. Anyway, he was the happiest person that we have met so far. He was just a ball of sunshine!!! :) He made us cry because of his attitude. We gave him a Book of Mormon and sent him on his way. Because of the circumstances he's in, we can't teach him more. But hopefully he will read the book and find even more happiness from it. 

Two days ago, I became very grateful that our mission is just a contacting mission and not a tracting mission - Sister Young and I knocked on someone's door and asked to see Sister so-and-so in the ward. Well... The guy looked at us for three seconds, said, "Bye." And slammed the door in our faces.... AWKWARD!! Ha ha. It was kind of awesome in the sense that we can check this off of our list as another missionary rite of passage. Also checked off on our list is being chased by a dog. Fortunately, we have bikes. :)
We have two investigators right now and they are both teenagers. We love them! They are the best! We have only gotten to teach them each once so far. 

I am still finding so much strength in simply reading the Book of Mormon every day. I have so much faith in this book and I know that it changes lives. Since being here, I have seen how faith really does change things. And I have only been here for two weeks. Less than that! I can't wait to see what else the Lord has in store as we continue to work here. Right now I am reading and highlighting in my Book of Mormon with these questions in mind: "Why should we trust in the Lord? How do we trust in the Lord?" I have seen miracles there that I have never noticed before because of this mindset.

New word of the week: DOGTACTING. Dogs + contacting. It's my favorite thing. All you have to say is, "Oh my gosh, your dog is so cute! Can I pet it!?!?!?!?" And of course, they say yes, and then while you're petting Sparky, you just ask them a few very inspired questions. :) My companion doesn't like dogs, so this is always my job. It works wonders though. :)
Thank you so much for the love and support. I am so happy to be here and doing this work. 

Sister Williams

First Week in the Field!!

HELLO!!!
Wow. WOW! The field is so different from the MTC!!! But. It is amazing. Let me just say that I wanted to cry probably every 10 minutes when being out and about because that's about how often someone would be NOT interested in anything that I had to say. BUT! Since praying my heart out to Heavenly Father for faith and bravery, I have gotten pretty used to talking to complete strangers about the things which we hold most dear. I have placed two Books of Mormon - one on the plane ride to San Jose (YEAH!!!) and then one in McDonald's. :) 

I saw this woman (J) reading a Bible. A BIBLE! I couldn't resist! I just walked up to her and started talking to her about the Book of Mormon. She has a cousin who is Mormon but hasn't investigated the church at all because the things she knows are "wackadoo." Yes. Wackadoo. :) That really made me smile. :) She also said, "Mormons don't believe the same thing that I do about Jesus." And I said, "Oh, what do you believe, if you don't mind me asking?" And she said, "Christ is my Savior. He died for me so that I can live." :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :D Yes. "That's exactly what I believe!!!!!!" And then I read a verse to her from 3 Nephi 11. :) So. I didn't ask for her information at all because she still seemed very skeptical, but I gave her a Book of Mormon and I told her that she can pray to know if it's true. :) So who knows what will happen with that.

That was basically the highlight of talking to strangers here. We are whitewashing our area, and so we are starting fresh. We need to find people to teach at this point! Most people politely take a card, but don't listen to us say much more. That's okay. I have been working on having such great faith to know that the Lord has prepared people for us to find and teach. :) I have to admit though - I've wanted to cry many times because of fear and lack of direction at times. But I still feel like overall I'm still content and peaceful in the Lord.

My companion is this awesome 6'2" blonde volleyball player from Arizona. We get along super well! I am delighted to be with her. She is 19 and has only been out for 6 weeks though! And she's training me!!!! We are going to have a lot of adventures. Her name is Sister Young and she's a convert of 3 years. AWESOME!!!
OH MY GOSH I FORGOT TO MENTION!!!! I AM IN A BIKING AREA!! I'm so so so so so happy about it! We don't have a car at all!! All of the other sisters do. But President Watkins found out that I love biking, and so he put me in this area. YAY! :) We got to pick out a bike from his collection, and I have a basically brand new white amazing bike that is amazing. :) It's all decked out with lights, and I'm going to get a basket today so that I can stuff it with pass-along cards. We literally stop whenever we see anyone on the street. I'm sure that we are quite a sight trying to bike in our skirts. :) Wind is not our friend. Ha ha. But since there are basically no crazy hills, we're just cruising along, staying in shape instead of riding in a car all day, and we love it. :) 

We have so much work to do, and we're so involved with the Lord and the ward council. I am happily busy doing this great work. So, thank you to everyone who is making it possible for me to be here. It is a privilege.

Please let me know how you're doing. I love you!
Sister Williams

Week 5

Ola!

This past week has been so amazing. Basically, I have cried every day since being here, but they are happy spiritual tears. Even though our investigators are just our teachers, my companion and I still pray for them and treat the lessons as if they were real people. This has paid off since we have had some amazing experiences here so far. I know with more conviction that God helps us grow in the areas we need to most, especially when we ask Him specific questions. For example, we were learning how to teach the Plan of Salvation, and I wanted to have a stronger testimony of eternal families. Of course, I love my family so much, but I know that there are a lot of people out there who are part of broken families. I took my questions with me to the temple and I had a lot of time to think there. I felt the Spirit so strongly in my heart when I thought of my own family and how much love is present there. Then, I had the opportunity to bear my testimony of how much I love my mom and how much I know she has influenced our family for the better because of her spiritual example. In these ways, Heavenly Father helped me understand more about why it's so important to have our families all centered around Christ.

Last Sunday, I was in a small choir with other people in my district. We sang "Come Thou Fount" and it was so much fun. The lyrics of that song are amazing. My favorite line is: "Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; here to rescue me from danger..." I can't remember the end of that part, but every time I hear it, I feel the Savior's love in my heart again and I am ready for another week!

I can't believe how much I love the Book of Mormon now. Before, I had a testimony of the book and I loved it. But since reading here, I have grown to cherish every chapter in the Book of Mormon. When I hold it in my hands, I think about what a miracle it is that we have it. Also, the feeling that I get when reading it is different than any other feeling that I ever have ever. This is because it is true and it's from God. I just got to read 3 Nephi chapter 17. I love this chapter because the love that Christ has for us is very plainly yet significantly stated. Whenever any verse in the Book of Mormon or Bible talks about Christ healing people, I feel SO MUCH love, peace, and comfort in my heart. It really is so important for people to at least hear (if not accept wholeheartedly) the message that Christ lives. The fact that Christ lives means that our pasts can be reconciled, we can have strength in the present, and we can have so much hope for the future! I am trying to continue my strong testimony that the Atonement applies to everyone and everything, and that we are the most safe and happy when we are truly in God's hands. Something that I will be praying more about in the next few weeks is how much power we actually have when we have faith in God. If anyone questions the fact that having faith in God gives us more power to do things, then they could come talk to me and I could tell them a few stories. I just know that having faith isn't just a fantasy that cushions life for people who believe in God. No. Having true faith in God and Jesus Christ means gives us the power to be free from our own weaknesses and shortcomings and become something much more empowered and strong with God's help. This is what I will be reminding myself when I'm knocking on doors next week - scary! But I can do it, with the Lord's help. :)

My district here is truly my family away from home. We are definitely brothers and sisters. I have heard that not every district is as close as ours. Last night and for the past few nights, we choose two people to spotlight. We go around the room in a circle and say our favorite things about that person. There is so much love here, and it's all because of the Spirit! Really, we don't know each others past lives. All we know is the amazingly strong conviction that we all have in knowing that Christ is our Savior and that our Heavenly Father loves us so much! The only thing that could have made us this close in less than six weeks is getting to hear everyone's testimonies every single day. I am also just impressed with how much the elders in our district treat the sisters with respect. We are already excited for our district reunion. :)

The sisters in our district also know how much the Lord loves us because we all got re-assigned to the SAME STATESIDE MISSION! I am going to call my family tomorrow and tell them where I'm going. But anyway. The Lord is keeping us all together for a little longer, and then we'll all eventually be in the same mission in Brazil. I definitely feel a sense of love and security since I will be traveling with my new family here. The elders in our district are all going to different missions, but they will have no problem with keeping in touch.

The most fun thing that I did this past week was clean the showers. Yes, clean the showers!!!! I got to clean with other sisters in my district and we were singing Disney the entire time. Everyone knows that bathroom acoustics are AMAZING! :) So yeah. Scrubbing the showers was a good time.

Thank you all so much for your prayers. I'm sure that my mom will post my reassignment as soon as I tell my family. I leave the MTC Wednesdaymorning at 5am.

Love,
Sister Williams

Week 3

Oi, everyone!

Best Portuguese word of the week: diligentemente. It's pronounced "jilly-jent-chi-MEN-chi." We have a little chant for it in our district because it's the most fun word to say with an equally amazing meaning (dilligently)! :) I am definitely a Portuguese convert by now. Spanish is just okay. :)

The MTC is ever amazing! I heard that the sister to elder ratio is now 50/50! SISTER POWER! It's so exciting! We all share a similar motivation and love for the Gospel that the atmosphere is thick with an ecstatic spirit. I feel blessed to be here every day!

The most amazing spiritual moments from this week were all in meetings. On Tuesday, Elder Richard G. Scott came and spoke to us! After the choir sang, he said that he felt like he "died and went to heaven!" We sang an incredible arrangement of "Nearer My God to Thee." Anyway, my favorite part from Elder Scott's talk was when he said, "I love the Savior. I love him because I KNOW him." When he said that, I felt the spirit touch my heart so strongly... I felt in my heart that he is so close to our Savior. Hearing Elder Scott's talk made me feel closer to the Savior. I wondered if I could be so close to the Savior myself that my investigators would feel closer to Him JUST from speaking with me. So, that is my new goal.

I had to - I GOT to give a talk in church on Sunday! In Portuguese! They don't tell anyone who is speaking until 5 minutes before they speak! So, everyone writes a talk. That way, you have many talks to draw from when you're in the field. Anyway, I spoke about recognizing the Spirit. Of course, I have only been learning Portuguese for three weeks, so my thoughts were expressed very simply. That's okay! I just bore my testimony about how I know that I feel closest to the Spirit when I have love in my heart for those around me. My dad shared a scirpture with me that was awesome. It's Mosiah 5:13 in the Book of Mormon: "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served...?" This goes along with what Elder Scott said about knowing the Savior. I have been praying heartily to understand how to become closer to my Heavenly Father, and this is how He answered my prayers - service and love. So, needless to say, I am so happy and grateful to be on a mission and in a position to serve serve serve. I couldn't be happier to be here right now.

I made a friend in the shower!!! That is, I forgot my towel, and so a sister had to go and get it from my room for me... :) Then, a week later, I forgot my towel again, so I had to be brave and speak up again... This is how that conversation went:
Me: Um... Is anyone leaving the bathroom anytime soon?
Mystery sister: Yeah, do you need something?
Me: Yeah, I forgot my towel! Can you please go get it for me?
MS: Yeah, what is your room number?
Me: 353! Thank you so much!
MS: Wait... Sister Williams? \

Me:... Oh my gosh, are you the one who got me my towel last time!?
MS: Yeah! That was me!
Me: Darn it, my companion is going to make fun of me so much! Ha ha... Thanks!
MS: Yeah, no problem! Ha ha ha.

So, we're totally friends now. And we've never eve met each other in person. My forgetful nature has given me a friend!

I am currently in Alma in the Book of Mormon. If anyone is wondering about what God is like, just READ THE BOOK OF MORMON. He loves His children, and He implores us to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and return to Him. The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ. Those who truly have a testimony of Jesus Christ will know of its truth when they read it. I am so grateful for this book - it truly is a miracle and an amazing gift from God. :)

Thank you to everyone who sends their encouraging words my way. If you ever have any interesting spiritual insights, let me know! I drink that stuff up here. :) I know that I'm in the right place at the right time, doing the right things. It's all thanks to the Lord. :) Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Sister Williams