I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith

November 21, 2016

I feel like shouting hurrah for Israel with Paul:) Tina & Selmira were baptized this week! & we were able to see Denise & Kimberly again... miracles!:)

Oh, but I can't believe this week is here. 

18 months & 3 weeks later and my heart is full of gratitude for this opportunity I have been given to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't think I have adequate room or time to explain the things that I have learned & seen of the Lord while serving a mission but here are some things I have learned:)

It has been a journey. When I first came out, I struggled. It was so hard for me & I didn't understand why. I asked God countless times to help me and to lift me from the burden I was feeling. I didn't understand why I was going through the struggles I was facing & why they were affecting me in such a way, but I kept having this overwhelming feeling when I prayed that I needed to stay out & keep going. I have not gone through my mission alone. My Savior has carried me.

There are a lot of things that we don't know, and won't have the answers to in this life. But there are things that I do know. I know, with unshaken faith that Jesus is the Christ. He is our Brother, Friend, and Advocate. He loves us personally & has drank the bitter cup. He did it because of His love which never fails. He understands us for who we are & what we can become. God is our loving Heavenly Father. He wants us more than ever to follow His son and return to Him, yet He always gives us the choice. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He saw God the Father & Jesus Christ. He was humble, submissive, and faithful. He didn't know everything, but He never denied that which he did know. Jesus Christ's church is here again on the earth in it's fullness & entirety. Because of this beautiful news of the gospel, we know we can be with our families for eternity as we live faithful to Him:) 

We choose how close we will be to the Savior & we can truly come to know Him by reading in the Book of Mormon. It is the word of God & that is my witness to everyone that I see.

Every time I speak with someone, every time I bear my testimony, I feel so much joy and my testimony of the truth is strengthened. I know with my whole heart that this is the work of the Lord. He graciously lets us be a part of it. I know that this is His church & His gospel. It is the only thing that makes sense in this life. If we give our hearts & our will to Him- He can make us into something we never thought we could be. Because of Him, we can be different, because of Him, we can change. 

I wanted to share some of the things that my companions have taught me:)

Sister Donehue taught me the importance of being exactly obedient. 

Sister Brinkerhoff taught me how to be myself.

Sister Waite taught me the value of love.

Sister Nakata taught me that you can work hard and have fun :)

Sister Olsen taught me that there is beauty in everything.

Sister Tait taught me to see the good in every single person.

Sister Jensen taught me to keep going no matter what. 

Sister Noa taught me that it was worth the fight.

Sister Giles taught me what it means to truly be a consecrated disciple of Christ.

Besides getting bedbugs & staph infection on my mission ;) I am grateful for the testimony I have gained of my Savior & His infinite love:) He lives & His gospel is here. What joy that brings:) I am indebted to Him forever, for allowing me this chance to serve Him. I want to echo the words of Paul again...

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

I love you all so very much. Thank you for your examples of Christlike love & joy in the gospel. I love you & I will see you Thursday!:) 

Xo, Sister Stolworthy

2

November 14, 2016

Hello everybody:) This week was so busy but it went by so fast. It's crazy being here in Maryland with all the election news & things that are happening around. No matter what, I am grateful to be living here in the land of promise spoken of in the Book of Mormon. Mosiah 29:32 "And now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this my people; but I desire that this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike, so long as the Lord sees fit that we may live and inherit the land, yea, even as long as any of our posterity remains upon the face of the land."

This week we had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the Martinsburg & Harper's Ferry sisters!:) Sister Pickett came here with me and we had an incredible miracle. So we were going through our plans talking with everyone- but all of our appointments fell through and no one would let us in at that moment. I felt impressed to go try a headquarter referral (who is actually already a member.) We went there, but no answer. When we came out this old man wearing a Nets hat says, "You can hang out with me until they get home!" We told him we couldn't hang out but we could share with him more about the gospel haha. He asked us questions about the church & we taught him the restoration. It was one of the coolest experiences. All of the questions he asked were guided by the spirit & he genuinely wanted to know. We gave him Alma 34 to read & then referred him to the elders:) 

Wednesday we went on splits with Sister Guynes & Sister Verdier! Sister Giles went & taught a former investigator Brandi with Sister Guynes & I went with Sister Verdier to see a part-member family, the Welch's. The Welch's are awesome & the kids were so pumped to see us! They kept saying "Mom, we need to go to church!!!" Haha, it was awesome!:) We were able to share some verses with her husband Larry in the Book of Mormon & we taught Serenity (their 8 year old daughter) the restoration:) 

We also saw Jackie this week who is going to take some time to pray & ask God about our message. It broke my heart when she brought up that she missed her husband again. She longs & hopes that she will see him again. I thought about Grandpa Reed & Tutu who just know absolutely, that they will see their spouses again. The gospel brings so much light & peace. 

Thursday we went back & taught Brandi & Travis the Restoration using the cups this time! They loved it:) Friday was exchanges & I got to go to Harper's Ferry with Sister Barton! Sister Barton is in her first transfer & is also from Las Vegas! She went to Green Valley high school :) It was fun being with her. She's already an amazing missionary & she is so charitable to every one.

Yesterday we were able to teach Janet again & she had a lot of questions about Adam & Eve. Even though she's grown up in a separate church for 60 years- she still is very open & her heart is open to learning more about the gospel. She has been doing her own study & research in the Book of Mormon & at mormon.org and the Lord has been blessing her for that. We also go to see Cassie & Christ & teach them about the Plan of Salvation. When we first started teaching them it seemed that Cassie had a pretty fair belief in God & Christ. After doing some deeper searching, we found out that she didn't believe Christ had died for her sins. It broke my heart to know that someone didn't know about the redeeming power of our Savior. As we taught them about his character, nature, and sacrifice it was so great seeing their hearts change and grow to an understanding of what the Savior's sacrifice can mean for them.

I am so grateful to be a missionary. My mission means everything to me. It has changed me forever. I am forever indebted to my Father in Heaven for letting me serve & represent His Son, Jesus Christ. I love you guys so much. 

Xoxo. Sister Stolworthy

3

November 7, 2016

Hey family & friends:) This week flew by.

We had my last zone conference Tuesday. It was very bittersweet but I was grateful that I was able to bear my testimony. It has been a joy thinking of all the things I have been able to learn and the ways I have been able to grow these past 18 + months. Sister Christiansen & I just cried together haha :)

We had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Cumberland Sisters & the Hedgesville Sisters this week! I got to be with Sister Reategui in Cumberland & Sister Curtis in Hedgesville:)

Tuesday in Hedgesville we were tracting in a trailer park & this man started to yell at us saying "why do you even go around talking to people about this" & all I kept thinking about was Paul when he says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ" It was amazing telling him that Christ told us to go into the world & preach the gospel to every creature and that was what we were there to do.

Wednesday we went on splits with Sister Wheeler & had a lesson with Carinna on Thursday @ Sister Harris' home. We taught the plan of Salvation & she said that it felt familiar to her! I love when people recognize truths they once knew before this life:)

In Cumberland Friday evening we taught a former investigator, Heidi, who had been having a really hard day. The sisters hadn't seen her in a year but she had been thinking of the missionaries that day. She's a single mom trying to provide for her kids but she feels like she is worthless & nothing in God's eyes. Sister Reategui & I both had tears in our eyes as we were able to testify to her of God's divine love & her heritage as a daughter of a Heavenly King. We told her that no one goes too far than the light of Christ shines. It was one of the neatest experiences of my mission. The sisters went back the next day & taught her the rest of the restoration :)

 

Saturday we got in with one of our investigators who's been having a crazy & busy week. We taught her about eternal families & she loved the idea of family's being united for eternity. That really is the whole point of the gospel & the whole point of a mission. To help people be with their family's forever. 

Yesterday we had an incredible miracle. Martinsburg, WV had a stake-wide fast for the missionary efforts here. With it being fast Sunday, Sister Hendricks, an awesome sister in the ward who goes out with us all the time:), bore her testimony about member missionary work. Then Brother Bandy got up after her & did the same thing. It was so cool! :) 

The story with Sister Hendricks is that she gave her neighbor Janet a Book of Mormon. Janet is a born-again Christian and likes to ask questions. We had the coolest restoration lesson with her. We taught her about Joseph Smith & how the Book of Mormon came to be. She understood everything so clearly including the great apostasy, prophets, priesthood, and why we would need the Book of Mormon. She said with tears in her eyes that everything made sense & that she knew completely the Book of Mormon was true. She said she was going to give it to her son-in-law who's a minister of her church to read haha. The spirit was so strong & it was so cool to see someone so humble & open feel the Holy Ghost being carried into their hearts & having her allow it into her heart. 

I know this gospel is completely true. I know it with my whole heart. Jesus Christ is the way by which salvation comes. This is His gospel. Share this glorious news with everyone you can:) & have them check out discover.mormon.org. I love you guys so much. Have a great week. 

Xo Sister Stolworthy 

18 months.

October 31, 2016

Hey family! Happy Halloweens! On Wednesday I hit 18 months of being a missionary :) I am so happy I have these next 3 weeks here in the MBM:) Also, thanks Cate & Jared for signing me up for my college classes tonight haha. Don't worry- I'm not freaking out or anything... maybe just a wee bit. But mostly because......we got bed bugz again. Let's just say I'm thinking of dumping my 2 suitcases and just coming home with a carry-on....

The trunk or treat for Hagerstown ward was Tuesday & it was great! The gym was packed & there were a few nonmembers :) Then Wednesday Antietam ward had their trunk or treat & our investigator Robin & her 3 kids were able to come. It was crazy trying to find her a ride but we were able to & it all worked out :) 

We were trying by a potential this week. We met this family from Sierra Leon.  This man Davies & his family, had met with missionaries before. When Sister Giles went to hold the door for him he said that he knew we were missionaries because of how kind we were. He said that we were always welcome in his home :) It's cool to see that our influence stretches wider than we realize. Those missionaries probably had no idea that he would come to Hagerstown :) 

Sister Wheeler drove us around Saturday night. They were having the huge annual "Mummers Day Parade" so we took a lot of side streets. We were able to visit with Jackie & she and Sister Wheeler just hit it off :) We read 2nd Nephi 2 with her and her eyes were open to a different and true perspective on Adam & Eve and why we face opposition in this life. 

We met this woman, Cassie, last week when trying to find a potential. She told us to come back so we did. We taught her about the Plan of Salvation. It was a really amazing lesson. She struggles with knowing her purpose & divine worth. She felt like she was always put down & told that she was a mistake. She even had thoughts of suicide. We testified of her divinity & of Christ's love as He was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane feeling every thing that she ever will. Friday we went back & taught her fiance, Chris. He had never been into religion but he was able to say his first prayer ever. It was a powerful prayer. He thanked the missionaries for showing him and Cassie the way :) Then the next day they came to the church for a church tour. They have a 1 year old & a 2 year old. It was really great being able to show them around the building and the emphasis on families. They are really special people. 

My favorite quote this week is from meeting with Mariah, a recent convert. She's been having boy struggles & she always dates men who are a lot older than her who don't treat her very well. She said she's been trying to take a break from boys. We told her, "Mariah, if we can stay 1 1/2 years away from men, so can you." She laughed & said "good point."

I love you guys so very much. I am so grateful & thankful for every day of my mission. Yesterday as we were out talking to people I ran after this man that I almost missed. I felt so much joy testifying of the Savior & asking him about his own beliefs and how they've strengthened him. As Chris said his first prayer I felt so much happiness knowing that even just that one step, of saying a prayer, is bringing his soul closer and unto Jesus Christ. It reminds me of the scripture in D&C about how great our joy will be if we bring but one soul unto Him. I believe that can be fulfilled in many ways. The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ is loving & accepting everyone. We can't have misconceived notions about others & we can't assume that someone isn't "ready" or "made for" the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is for everyone. We need everyone. We need their individual talents, abilities, and personalities. We need their love for the Savior. When we understand this, we will understand more of the Savior's love for us.

I love you guys so much. 

Xo Sister Stolworthy

PS - The church put out this new video series, "Unity in Diversity." It is amazing! This was one of my favorites by elder holland:) https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-03-0021-the-savior-understands-me?category=unity-in-diversity&lang=eng

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Blue light district ;) 

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Peter

October 24, 2016

Hello everyone!:) This week has felt like an eternity, but that makes me quite happy:) & happy birthday to beautiful Grandma Tutu!:) & happy anniversary mom & dad! Today makes 29 years- you guys are awesome:) 

This week in Antietam: We were able to teach Robin at the Motel 6. Her children were cray cray, but it was fun being able to teach them using the Restoration cups:) We gave Vivica a church tour & she has been reading a ton in the Book of Mormon. We had another lesson with Robin but she wasn't there:( Sister Granados came with us. She is amazing! She is always doing missionary work & coming up with great ideas to share. She is a great example. I'm sure that if everyone was like Sister Granados there would be a whole stake in Hagerstown :) We were able to visit Sister Thompson who is a returning less-active. The Jaccards (senior couple) are ending their mission in a week. They have done so much to bless the lives of those in the Antietam ward. 

This week in Hagerstown: Met a really cool lady named Krista. She does dialysis 3 times a week because her liver is failing, but she has incredible faith in Christ. We taught Michelle- a former who was hit with anti- she was going into labor last week & literally was having contractions while we were there! Haha. Friday we had a miracle!! :) We were stopping by a potential named Kimberly in the northaven trailer park. We couldn't see if the number was a 5 or a 3. We asked this lady outside if her name was Kimberly. She said she was the wrong one & pointed us in another direction. So we went to another trailer & talked to a cool lady named Cassie. Then a few minutes later Kimberly called us & said she was the right one & to come back and see her! :) If you're a missionary you know that no one ever purposely calls you haha so we were excited! We went back & taught her and her boyfriend about the restoration. Her boyfriend Bobby had prayed & asked God to help her out. After Kimberly enrolled herself in an addiction recovery program for alcohol Bobby said that's when we showed up, the next day. They are both so prepared! :) When we were in the trailer park the next day to have one of our investigators get a blessing, we saw Bobby outside. He had come across anti material so we were able to clear things up for him & help him understand the importance of the restoration. Sister Giles & I now have a really strong testimony of contacting our investigators daily. More than I ever have before. Satan will work at all ends to try to deter them from the truth. That night we were trying by some potentials & no one was home but we saw some people outside around 8:45 at night so we decided to park & go talk to them. We met this man Moses who was sitting outside his apartment all alone. His wife had died 2 weeks ago & all of his kids were in NC. It was a really spiritual experience to be able to talk to him about the plan of salvation & promise with our whole soul that he would be able to see her again. 

Saturday night after dinner at Bishops we went by a couple, Danielle & James who we had talked to a couple weeks before. They have 2 cute little boys. It was really great getting to talk to them about the Restoration & about families:)

We had another miracle. Sunday night we were downtown. It was a blue light area & just not a safe street but our plans were down there. We felt weird & that we should leave so we did. We went running out of our next plans with an hour left in our night. We were going to visit a potential when a lady that Sister Giles had met 2x on exchanges walked by & invited us in. We didn't have her address or phone # since she hadn't given it to the sisters willingly. It was a miracle!:)

Thursday we had leadership council & we talked a lot about the faith of Peter. That made me so happy because Peter is one of my favorite people. Sister Giles & I were studying his life this morning for an instruction. Peter had a firm knowledge of Jesus Christ. While at the sea of Tiberius he leaped out of the boat to swim to the shore. Even though he had mortal weaknesses, he was the most loyal, devoted disciple to Jesus Christ. He exercised his faith constantly in the Savior. I hope to be like Peter- not just on my mission but throughout my entire life. 

Yesterday we visited a less-active who kept telling us she was way too busy for church & for Jesus Christ. It broke my heart. This life is all about service, the celestial kingdom is all about service. If we aren't willing to give our time to God, what makes us think our time is even worthy anything? I know that this life is all about the Savior & about serving & giving all we are to Him. It's not just on a mission that we sacrifice our will to His, it is throughout our entire life. Love you guys. 

Xo Sister Stolworthy

another great week in Hagerstown!

October 17, 2016

Hey family!! We have had a great week here in Hagerstown, the weather is awesome too:) I think I forgot to mention this in my last email, but President told us that we are now covering Antietam ward for the single sisters! So it is like we are covering 2 wards. Antietam ward is very big but we have seen so many miracles since we started working with the women over there:)

Tuesday we stopped by a referral the elders gave us in Smithsburg, Jackie. She was getting evicted that next morning! So we went over & helped her back. Then the next morning a recent convert, Joe Sines, helped us take 2 truckloads down to her motel & to her storage unit. Robin is a single mom & she is moving into Antietam boundaries. We are going back to see her tomorrow! :) We are also going to be teaching her neighbor Sarah :)

Wednesday we went to see a media referral who lives down in Sharpsburg. It's about 15 miles away so Sister Stoops from Antietam came & took us. We were able to teach Amy Oliff & her mom, Jan. They had incredible testimonies of the Savior's love & Jan had a really good understanding of the restoration & of the work of modern day apostles & prophets:)

Thursday we were going to teach someone who wasn't there for their appointment so we pulled to the side of a random road to make calls. Sister Giles got out to talk to a woman we saw outside & turns out she is a less-active in Antietam ward. She is hard to get in with but she was so surprised to see sister missionaries:) We talked with her for a few minutes & set up an appointment to go back & teach her and her roommate. We were told she's hard to get in with so it was definitely a miracle that she was outside when we were driving by:) Thursday night we were able to teach our investigator Vivica, who's 18, about the Book of Mormon. The next day she went & read 14 chapters! She is very open & willing. She is amazing! She was going to come to stake conference, but she got sick. Please keep her in your prayers:)

Friday we contacted a media referral who was actually in the hospital. We went & brought her a bible & a Book of Mormon. She started to cry when we came. Her humble & simple faith was power for her. We also visited a former investigator who had also come across anti information. On my mission I have been so grateful for the truthfulness & testimony of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon can change our lives & it can transform any belief or desire into a knowledge. It is so important that we read it.

Saturday we went with Sister Merill to teach a former invetigator, Will, who had concerns about being married before baptism. Sister Merrill bore the most powerful testimony of the gospel. We also read 1st nephi 17 with Carinna & finished up Selmira's lessons before her baptism! :) We also met these hilarious women who said they were going to come to the trunk or treat as the three blind mice. That was great ;)

Sunday we saw the coolest muraccclez!!:) We visited a part-member, Sister McCray in the Antietam ward. She is amazing & has such a strong testimony of Heavenly Father & is preparing for the temple. I was blown away by the gratitude she had in her heart for the Lord sending her the gospel. Her husband was the one who was introduced to the Book of Mormon but he passed away 2 months after meeting the missionaries. He knew the gospel was true so someone in the ward will be doing his work:) We also went by a potential named Jackie. Jackie is 79 & her husband died 6 years ago. He actually was born the same year as Papa Wilcox & passed away the same year which I thought was pretty interesting. She said she would never convert to mormonism. When we asked her why not she said, "Well, I never really thought about it. Maybe I just put a mental block." We taught her the restoration & she had so much joy when we talked about the first vision! :) It was one of the most powerful lessons I had ever been in on my mission. She said she had learned so much & that she would pray. She said she still misses her husband everyday. We testified of eternal families & of the joy of the gospel. She is an amazing lady.

This week in MyPlan it talked a lot about goals & aligning our will with God's. That we are becoming not just learning. This talk by Ezra Taft Benson changed my perspective on so many things. I hope you guys can all read it, it will change you!!:) He says, "Some men are willing to die for their faith, but they are not willing to fully livefor it." I love you so much & I am so grateful for you examples of discipleship & love.

 Xo Sister Stolworthy:)

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/12/jesus-christ-gifts-and-expectations.p9?lang=eng

13th transfer, final area, x3 with Sister Giles!:)

October 10, 2016

Hey family! Crazy, crazy. For my last transfer I will be staying in Hagerstown for my 3rd transfer with Sister Giles! :) So excited because there is so much work to continue to be done here in Hagerstown & I love Sister Giles:) I have learned so much from her & grown so much from being her companion.

This week was great! Because of the whole bed bug dilemma we had our exchanges on hold haha. So this week we went with Harper's Ferry & Charlestown :) I stayed here in Hagerstown with Sister Hartman for Harper's Ferry & then went to Charlestown with Sister Johnston! It's funny because I was originally supposed to be companions with Sister Johnston about 9 months ago so it was fun getting to be her companion for a day:) 

Please pray for Annie. She is having some family problems right now because of her decision to meet with the missionaries:( She truly wants to change her life & come closer to the Savior & we know that this is the adversary's way of attacking her right now. 

Thursday we had a really amazing lesson with a lady named Allison. She has been heroine free for a year. She told us her story of how she kept relapsing but that with the Lord's help she's where she's at today. Sister Wheeler came with us & it was a really powerful lesson. She is an amazing lady.

We still got to meet with the Prieto's, Carinna, and Lisa this week. Please keep them in your prayers as well:) The sisters had a miracle on exchanges. They were able to meet with a sweet lady, Glenda, who is a former investigator. She was hit with anti after they met with her the first time. The sisters were able to go over & answer all her concerns. Sister Harrast bore powerful testimony & Glenda said she would come to church & pray about the Book of Mormon! :)

Yesterday all of our appointments fell through, but we were in the right places at the right time to see God's hand. We felt inspired to go see "Sharon" so we looked up the Sharon's in the area book & went to see one of them. We met a lady who's father died 20 years ago & she was still mourning his loss. We were able to testify that there was a plan for her family. We also met a lot of other really great people.

That is my favorite part about missionary work. That God is at the head & that this is His work. He will not fail us, forsake us, nor will He do that to our investigators. His arm is stretched out still, and He is waiting for us to turn to Him. I know He loves us with an infinite love. I love you all. Have an amazing week. 

Xo Sister Stolworthy

Harper's Ferry!