10th weekly email

 Monopoly Ruins District Unity

Thursday of this last week was Thanksgiving and so our mission got most of the day off to ourselves! My district dedicated the day to play a game of monopoly. One if the elders told me they go hard at monopoly but nobody will ever finish a game with him. Everyone says it takes too long but if you say that, you probably just suck at monopoly. I do not suck at monopoly. I was playing monopoly before I could talk (trying to at least because my family would never play with me). Anyways, we got into the game and the elder that goes hard- got out first. I thought it would be a walk in the park to victory but little did I know, it wouldn't be. Fast forward an hour and I was one unlucky role away from being bankrupt. My only hope was the 1.5 thousand in the middle that you get when you land on free parking. I was three spaces from free parking and decided to role one dice at a time. Two. What are the odds that I got a one? What ever the odds were, I got it! I was most likely more excited at that moment than I would be at my first child's birth. Long story short, I built some hotels and ruined everyone's Thanksgiving. 


We did get to eat with members for Thanksgiving! This came as a surprise because the rules are kinda strict about eating with families and also, who wants to eat with the missionaries? They made a real good dinner and gave us a lot of the left overs, and some jam they made, and some rolls. I think they were just trying to get rid of food they don't want but I'm not complaining. I am complaining a little because I might be getting chubby. 


My companion and I have our fair share of stupid moments. Yesterday, my companion had the most stupidest moment of all🤭 we were knocking a door and a guy came to the door with his dog. He had not opened the screen door (which was dark and hard to see through) so my companion *clearly* did not see the dog. When the guy said "can you be chill" twice, my companion responded both times with "uh yea!". I quickly tell him that the guy is talking to his dog and he looks at me all confused. Anyways the guy was nice about it but he wasn't a fan of the church. 


One thing I loved this week was in Alma 32. This chapter talks a lot about faith. In verse 17 is says "Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe." A lot of people, including a lady we are teaching, want a sign from God to know it's true. Asking a sign from God not only shows your not humble but goes completely against faith. This doesn't mean God doesn't give us signs/mircales but ones faith should not be built on miracles. This is how I see it at least. 


Italian for the week: sei una scimmia (you are a monkey)


Vi voglio bene,
Anziano Lewis


Pics are 
Cats that like to be held, me lookin awkward in the district photo, chicken socks, post monopoly, meme I like

9Th Weekly Email

The power of a Homer Simpson gif

This week was a rollercoaster of emotions. To start, my trainer and I are both petrified to talk to random people so we don't find a lot of people. I have in my mind that everybody doesn't like me and doesn't want the gospel. This is mostly not the case, people are usually nice. Also, when people don't respond on Facebook, we have been taught to send a gif (usually Homer Simpson going into the bush) which I never thought would work. It did. 🤣some lady actually responded after I sent it so maybe it does work!


One amazing part of my week was talking to Rita again! This time, I made sure to get a picture although it was tough because she doesn't stop talking. 


One scary moment this week was being in a ghetto apartment that we weren't familiar with. We were trying to find the sister training leaders late on Saturday night when we knocked on what we thought was their door. I turn to my companion and said "I don't think this is the right apartment". Right as I said that, a big, burley black man (I'd imagine) yells "WHO IS THIS". My thought was that either one of the sisters has a really good scary (deep) voice or it wasn't their apartment. With a shaky voice, my companion let's out a "I think we got the wrong apartment" which was followed immediately by "I THINK SO TOO". We ran away before he opened the door and dealt with us face to face. After we found the real sisters apartment and were walking back to the car, I suggested ding dong ditching the guy but he didn't think it was a good idea🤔


A miracle my companion and I saw was getting a guy to sacrament meeting! It was hype because we didn't think he was going to come (sadly I think he has depression and doesn't like leaving his house) but we called him 20 minutes before and asked if he was coming. He responded very energetically, saying he'd be there in a few minutes! The gospel brings joy to anyone willing to hear it! Sadly, half way through, said he had to pee and just left after that. It's okay though *baby steps*


A spiritual thought I had this week is not super spiritual. Life is hard for everyone. We all go through challenges and we can through a pity party or we can go through them (like a train) with God by our side. Jacob 4:7 says "Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things". I like this because these challenges are from God to help us grow. That is why we came to earth after all!


This thought was brought up by a guy we met doing service for the ysa ward. He was a total jerk. I've never met anyone more negative in my life. Nothing we said was good enough for him. Kansas wasn't good enough for him and he wasn't happy to be here. I told him I'd been here for 4 weeks and was headed to Italy soon but I liked being in Kansas. He made fun of me. The moral of the story: don't be like this guy. life is what we make it so look for the positive things in life and focus on Christ and you can have endless joy.


Update on the license plates: there are too many to keep up. I don't know why it's a regular thing out here but it's funny! My favorite this week is "Letsgoo"


Italian for the week: pineapple- "ananas"


Make a Difference, Be the Difference


Vi voglio bene,
Anziano Lewis


Pics! Rita and I, elder Henrie (he's from viewmont), comp and i with a massive whiteboard above our heads, meme a sister made, district

8th Weekly Email

 The Sound of Music... in Kansas?

I've made a very big mistake. Some may say I've committed a serious sin. You may be thinking that I got my self into a predicament thanks to my mischievous ways, ending in me being send home. I will be staying in Derby although it's not Elder Lewis anymore. It's Elder Lewis with a buzz cut. My district leader said he cuts hair so I asked him to buzz my head. Today, we got the job done! Personally, I kinda like it although it's a very different. If you have anything nice to say, please message me and pick my confidence up. 


This week was pretty full of up and downs. One of the ups was meeting Rita. We were driving around looking for service when we parked to help an old lady with her leaves. She instantly told us she was too old to be raking, in fact she said "I'm am 83 going on 84". I knew I had heard that before. She then told us she grew up in Germany during World War II. I've never seen it but I'm pretty sure The Sound of Music is based off of Rita. Anyways, we talked for about 45 minutes about her abusive neighbor, her sons and daughter in the military, and the Mets! It's incredible how quick witted she was for being a bit older. She was cracking jokes about the Miami Dolphins and her neighbors. 


That was one of the few successful contacts we had. To be honest, we don't have many. To be even more honest, we don't talk to a lot of people. My companion is a weenie when it comes to talking to strangers but I am too. Some people are very rude but were learning to be better. This guy was very anti-lds so I agreed to disagree but offered service to be nice. He told me he can work hard with out me or my false hope and that I learn how to work hard myself. He blocked me. Good thing because I was about to give him a piece of my mind. 


I don't want to go home but I do want to listen to normal music. I can no longer deal with my companions stupid mutual theme music. It's not too bad but that's all we listen to. While we were shopping in Walmart this morning, Dan + shay came on followed by tongue tide. It was *glorious*. I was on my own planet listening to non gospel music. 


I'm sorry to be so negative in my emails but the bad is what sticks out to me. Next time, I'll make sure to make a very positive email. Also, not much has happened in the Italy aspect. My companion is headed there on December first so I think I'll be the transfer after! I am happy to be in Kansas, I will enjoy my time here while i have it!


Vi voglio bene,
Anziano Lewis


Pics:
The district, 

sexual assault?,

 obliterating my comp in monopoly deal, 

pre buzz with sista Marriott, 

post buzz looking fine 

7th weekly email

Hebejeebees

After two weeks in the field, I can confirm that missionary work is tough. Although, having a fun district makes it all worth it. Calling my family makes it worth it. The blessing from God make it worth it. Most of our face to face interactions are with people that are inactive or have been taught and weren't baptized. This group of people usually have hard feelings towards the church so knocking doors gives me hebeejeebees. Yesterday, a family saw we were coming to the door so the mom shut the door in front of us and walked away. We knocked twice and a little girl in the house walked by, looked at us and walked away. It kinda hurt but that stuff happens. In my opinion, it's best to just laugh it off.


On a better note, after a lesson I looked up at the stars and saw a shooting star. That made my week.


Our closest investigator to baptism is actually from across the country in Pennsylvania! Crazy huh!


Yesterday was my first fast Sunday in the field. I've have never wanted to curl into a ball and cry more than yesterday afternoon. We ate dinner on Saturday at 6 and did not eat until about 4:30. Let me tell you, I was a grump ball. I would compare myself to a gremlin from that one movie... I forget the name but it's with the gremlin pets that get fed after midnight and turn into mean gremlins.


So far, you probably think I hate life by the first three paragraphs but it is actually so fun! I learned how to do laundry and I could not be more excited.


Nothing crazy happened this week but I'll make sure something sick happens next week. I bought some protein so don't be surprised if I get massive.


Also, for some reason people love customizing license plates. So far I've seen:
Worms
Hly ghst
Lvn 420
Bow1ing
Audiios (was an audi)
Ten 8
Bsweet
God lvu2


Make a difference, Be the Difference


Italian for the week: sacerdozio (priesthood)


Pics: my toothbrush fell in the toilet, 

new phone who dis, 

my companion and I, 

mean muzzy

6th Weely

  Derby? Never heard of her....

Good afternoon yall (from Kansas! Derby, Kansas that is). This is my first week in the field and so far, it's not too bad but it's a whole lot different than home mtc. Now I actually have to wake up at 6:30. Our apartment has a gym so that is fantastic news. 

The work here in Kansas consists of a lot of Facebook work. We are on our phones a lot but the problem is, I don't have a Sim card (I only have connection through wifi) and the wifi at our apartment is so terrible. The only time I can use my phone effectively is at the church. Other than that, I like to teach. That doesn't mean Im good though. I usually have a lot running through my head and can't put it in to words. That's were my trainer comes in! He's only been out for 3 months but he likes to talk. We are completely different people but have one thing in common: the gospel. So we get along well so far. 

One cool experience we had was talking to a recent convert. She loves to talk and I love to listen (dynamic duo). Yesterday, she was talking about tithing and blessings from God. One thing that stuck out to me was "if you were to wake up and only have what you thanked God for the pervious day, could you be well off". I like this because everything we have is all thanks to God. He blesses is in so many ways that we may not think of. My personal invite is to be grateful. That reminds me, it is November so we should be thankful anyways! Just be extra thankful 😌

Some other cool things happened this week. I learned how to solve a rubix cube 2/3 of the way and my companion learned to play the mine craft music on this weird little instrument. Also we bought candy for Halloween and nobody came to our door:(

I appreciate and am thankful for all of you

Italian of the week: if anyone talks to you in Italian (because that happens a lot) you can say "non capiso" which is I don't understand or "non parlo l'Italiano" which is I don't speak Italian

Vi voglio bene,

Anziano Lewis

Pics

1: my companion and I eating pizza

2: our protection against sin

3: instrument