The Plan of Salvation ROCKS

Hello family and friends!!

I hope you've all had a great week! I cannot believe it is the last week in January!! This month flew by! 

I don't have very much time to write today, but we have seen so many miracles happen throughout the week! Especially on Saturday!!

Friday was such a great day too.. ;) That night we had a dinner lesson with our investigators from Kenya, Africa. She made a really yummy Shepherd's pie! We had a funny experience that evening! After we had started eating, a man came and knocked on the door. He asked if she could print out some directions to some place in DC for him because his GPS app wasn't working. Kinda weird, right? So she went upstairs to print them out, while us missionaries started chatting with him. (Perfect opportunity -- he couldn't turn us down!) After he told us that he didn't believe in God, but wanted to, Sister Cordner invited him to pray and ask God if He was there when he got home. He accepted! He even took our number down and said he was interested to learn more! He was totally sent to that home for a reason :) Anyway, that lesson went really well! Our investigator had a friend over as well who is a member of the church and she shared her amazing conversion story with all of us. It was so powerful. I am so grateful for members who come along and join us in different lessons! They can connect better with the investigators!

On Saturday, we had two wonderful lessons with two Muslim women!

That afternoon, we went to see if we could set up a time to meet with this lady who we've been trying to meet with for a very long time. She let us right in when we came!! We were so surprised! As we got to know her, she told us that she is Muslim, but knows all about Christianity. She has studied it in college and grew up in a Catholic school. She is in her 70's now and has cancer. She was so nice and asked us so many questions!! When we taught her the Plan of Salvation, she was so excited and thanked us for teaching her! She told us, "You girls are amazing. You are both two young beautiful girls, and I just love how you explain things! You have such goodness in your faces."  She made me cry! She was so sweet, and the Spirit was so strong. It was amazing to see how the Spirit helped me know what to say and how to explain everything. She even told us that she was so excited to tell her daughter and Catholic neighbors about what we taught her! Wooo! :) We're excited to take her to the Temple Visitors Center sometime soon!

Later, on Saturday night, we had a great lesson with the Iranian Muslim lady we met last week. When we came in, she offered us tea. When we declined it, she said, "Oh! I better have my last cup before you tell me why I shouldn't drink tea!!" Haha! She has been so prepared to receive the gospel. It is amazing! She loved learning about the Plan of Salvation as well, and made sure she understood it perfectly. When we asked her if she'd pray about it, she said that she already felt that it was true. The Holy Ghost is amazing! I am so grateful that she is so sensitive to the peaceful and confirming feelings that come from the Spirit.

I know that Heavenly Father's hand is in this great work! I couldn't do it without Him. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share the good news of this gospel!! I feel so lucky to have grown up in the knowledge of the gospel! So many people are confused or lost, and I get to remind them why they're here and where they're going!! It gives me so much joy!!

I hope you all have a fun week! Seek for opportunities to share the gospel with everyone around you! Especially with those who might be losing sight of the end goal. Nonmember or member --- we all need each other's help! :)

SMILE  Don't forget that Heavenly Father knows and loves you!

Love you all!

♥Sister Winterton

"GET OUT!!!"

Exactly 2 months from today I was on a plane heading from Utah to Maryland. That time has changed my life! I have learned and grown so much. 

The experiences I had this past week have strengthened my testimony in countless ways!! Some things that happened on Thursday will blow your mind!! (Sorry this email is so long...I just couldn't leave any of the stories out!) 

As Sister Cordner and I arrived at the library on Thursday afternoon to do some online proselyting, we found that it was closed, so we decided to walk over to the Panera Bread restaurant where they have wifi. When we walked in, I noticed a man sitting near the door with his head resting between his fists looking down. I told Sister Cordner that he looked sad and that we should talk to him. So she tells me to invite him to come sit with us. Well....saying and doing are two completely different things! I'll admit, I was nervous ;) So after she finally convinced me to do it, the man started noticing us giggling and whispering at the table near him. He looked over at us as I started to speak. All I said was, "Hey! Do you,"  before he stood up and sat at our table! He read our name tags and asked about what church it was and where it is! We got his information and then he had to go because he worked there at Panera but he was just on break. A few minutes later, he comes to our table with two large cups for us to fill with soda! After we got our drinks, we pulled out the iPad to take a picture, and he ran over to get in the picture! What a fun memory :) 

After church yesterday we went over to his apartment to teach him and his brother and sister-in-law who live with him! It was a difficult lesson because we don't know how to speak Arabic ;) But they were very kind and listened very well. We are trying to figure out what to do exactly because they can't understand us very well. We'll see what happens.. 

The most surprising and CRAZY thing happened on Thursday night. We went to go visit some former investigators to see how they were doing. No one answered the first door we knocked, but the second person we went to see let us right in..... 

The man who answered the door must have been her son, but the woman we went to go see lived in the basement of the home. He let us right in and the woman (probably in her late 70's) was at the bottom of the stairs asking who we were. When she saw that we were missionaries she brought us into her room downstairs. We asked how she met previous missionaries and told us that they had knocked on her door, and that the last time she saw missionaries was about ten months ago. She was very nice and said that she respected Mormons and our religion. She even told us that she would love to have us over for lunch sometime. When Sis. Cordner asked her if she had read the Book of Mormon, all of a sudden she started yelling at us about how the Book of Mormon wasn't true and to stop asking her stupid questions. She went on saying harsh things about the church. Being very bold and polite, Sis. Cordner said, "well I don't agree with," and suddenly this older woman got up and screamed "GET OUT!" repeatedly. Sister Cordner and I hurried and ran up the stairs as fast as we could! (That lady was quick!!) As we ran out the door, the lady grabbed Sister C by the arm and threw us out. We quickly ran to our car and heard "You've met the devil tonight!"  All we could do was cry. Tears flowed down our faces. I had never felt that kind of terrible feeling in my entire life! How traumatic and sad! I could only think about how Joseph Smith and the early saints must have felt when they were persecuted. I also thought how sad it was that that woman has no idea what she turned away. We were able to end the night well by visiting a nonmember with a member in our ward. I will never forget that night! 

So now you're wondering what I think about that experience 4 days later.... It was heaven-sent!! I am eternally grateful and feel so blessed to have gone through that!! Sister Cordner and I have been able to relate our experience to many topics and questions people bring up. Also, I would admit that it's just a cool story ;) After we told of of our Zone leaders what happened on the phone, the first thing he said was, "Sisters!! That is so rad!!!" Ha! And then he shared Ether 12:6 with us. What a coincidence! Our District Leader texted us that scripture after he found out about us having a rough night! Little did they know that that scripture would become our slogan! :) "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." ....we had just gone through a trial of faith! 

Yes it was terrifying, but what happened on Thursday night, and throughout the rest of the week, changed my personal understanding of faith. FAITH is POWER. I testify to each of you that if you have faith, Heavenly Father will provide!! Doubt and fear are the opposite of faith. 

On Saturday morning, we had the privilege of having a whole-mission conference!! (They require permission from the First Presidency). President Holstrom, one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy, spoke to us! Along with Elder Perkins of the Seventy! As they put it, both of them had the privilege of shaking hands with each of us missionaries. :) They gave very powerful talks. One of the main points that Pres. Holstrom gave was that they do look at how we are doing as missionaries, but more importantly at how we are doing as sons and daughters of God. He talked about how missions are not just for bringing nonmembers closer to Christ, but to help us missionaries gain an eternal conversion. I know that my mission is doing just that. 

**on a side note.. On the way to the conference a deer jumped across our windshield!!!!! It was the craziest thing! No damage was done luckily, just a few screams! :) **

On Saturday night, Sister Cordner saw a wonderful miracle take place!! After we went to check on a potential investigator who ended up not being home, Sis. C asked me if I wanted to practice doing some door approaches. Of course I say yes.. ;) After waiting a few minutes after knocking the first door, a lady answered the door. As soon as she understood who we were and what we were doing, she let us right in! She is Muslim, but told us she knows it's not correct. She has recently been reading from the Bible and studying Christianity. She had sooo many questions and we talked with her for almost two hours. The best part of it all.... She told us, "don't think I'm strange for saying this, but before you came here, I was trying to connect with God and figure things out. And then you two knocked on my door!" Heavenly Father sent us right to her at the right time! It was amazing!

I have definitely received a witness after the trial of my faith!! (Ether 12:6!!) 

This past week is one I will never forget!! :) I am so thankful for all the things I learn each day!! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Think about your faith as you endure certain things in your life right now. How can you put more trust in Heavenly Father? I know that as you pray and talk with Him, He will give you strength!! 

I love you all,

❤️Sister Winterton 

P.s. Do you recognize those two girls that are in the pictures? Yep. They are recent converts (baptized a few months ago) in my ward! They were featured on General Conference in October! :) They are wonderful!! They inspire me so much!

1st Trip to D.C.

#YOSO

Wow! I cannot believe it is the middle of January. Time is FLYIN'.

This transfer we were saved!!! I still have Sister Cordner. :) We are
so glad!! I heard a lot of trainers got transferred from their
trainees....but not this power twosome! We are going to have a great
transfer! I'm going to miss my District Leader, but our new one is
pretty awesome too!! We are so excited! I'm glad to have leaders who
like to have fun and work hard! I feel so much strength and support
from everyone in the mission. It's a blast! With the transfer, we only
cover one ward! It feels pretty much the same besides not as many
meetings on Sunday :)

So we went to DC last Monday!! Sister Sivley and her daughter Hannah
went along for the ride :) They gave us the best trip!! We rode the
metro in, and our first stop was the White House! It is pretty small
compared to what you think. We rode the elevator up to the top of the
Washington Monument!! So pretty up there. We then went on a personal
tour through the U.S. Capitol Building! (We have connections...;)) I
even saw one of my old Seminary teachers inside!! She is serving in
the DC North mission with her husband! So fun! Oh! And on the way to
the Capitol Building, we stopped shortly at the museum that is in The
Night at the Museum!! :) I want to go there again sometime! What a fun
day :) ...even with all the walking and CRAZY wind!!! We almost got
blown over!!

On Tuesday is snowed a bunch!! It was pretty exciting! Finally! :) All
the kids out here were super excited for it to come! (Their school
gets canceled and delayed!!) I feel like it is December now that the
snow has arrived! Ha! Anyway, it's been freezinggg. Thank goodness for
gloves! (And cars!!)

On Thursday we went to go fill our car's tires with air. As we started
on one tire, a man just walked up and basically took the air hose out
of our hands and finished them all! How nice! We started talking about
where he works, and what he believes, but a car came up behind us to
use the air and forced us to leave.. But Heavenly Father truly does
look out for us! It feels like whenever we try to do something,
someone else takes over and does it for us! ;)

That night we had an awesome visit/lesson!! The lady that we have been
trying to get a hold of was finally home! The missionaries did service
for her a few months ago and she was pretty interested to learn. She
has just been very busy with the holidays and work. Anyway, she is the
sweetest lady!! She is about 40 years old and has a 5 year old
daughter. After many hugs, she invited us to come in and we made
s'mores with the two of them in the fireplace! So fun :) It was so
comfortable and she was so impressed with everything we shared. It is
so fun to share the principles of the gospel! They are so simple and
full of truth. She was impressed with how tithing works and how our
leaders don't get paid. She was also excited to hear that children
aren't accountable to be baptized until they are 8. It was a great
visit! We are excited to teach her more.

A 16 year old girl who has been going to church for about a year with
her friend-who's-a-boy ;) has agreed to take the missionary
discussions!! We are so excited! :) Her mom is going to be sitting in
on the discussions as well! Getting new people to teach is always
exciting!

On Friday (planning day!!) We made fancy hot chocolate to go with!
Sister Cordner and I know how to have a good time! :)
On Saturday we made it to Nielson's Frozen Custard finally! Some
members in our ward own the one here in town (and I think the wife's
parents are the company owners..but not positive). Missionaries get
half off!! Woo! So fun :) Earlier that day, we got to take care of
President Riggs' youngest daughters! (They are in 6th and 10th
grades). That was kind of cool! :) We just drove them home after they
had dinner at the Gerard's with President Eyering!! because President
had a meeting right afterwards. How cool would it be to have dinner
with the leaders of the church pretty often?! :) Anyway, the Mission
President and his family are wonderful!

Yesterday Sister Cordner and I helped with the Relief Society lesson!!
We role-played as an investigator, recent convert, and as young women.
They took turns practice teaching us about prayer and how it has
influenced their life! That was pretty cool. It was fun to see them do
what we do everyday :)

Later that night, we visited a member who has a lot of struggles. The
Spirit was so powerful. As we shared a scripture with her, tears
welled up in our eyes and I could feel the love that Heavenly Father
has for her. He truly does love each one of us so much. I felt so much
love for that lady! The scripture we shared was John 16:33 "These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world." In this world we WILL have tribulation and afflictions,
but there is no need to fear. Christ has overcome them for us. I am so
grateful for Christ and for His eternal love for us.

I'm so grateful to be a missionary!! Sometimes it does get hard, but I
know that this mission will come to an end. I might not be able to see
the end right now, but it will come soon! I must give my all! #YOSO.
You Only Serve Once! Ha!

We can do hard things!! :)

I love you all so much and pray for all of you daily. Have a great week!!!
Love,
Sister Winterton

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