Come Listen to the Prophet's Voice!

Hi, y'all!

This won't be very long today. We've been out shopping and sightseeing in Lexington with our Ward Mission Leader's wife. Lexington is AWESOME! 

This week has been busy busy busy! We had a great Zone Conference on Tuesday. We learned about member missionary work and building faith to find. We are so incredibly blessed to have the knowledge of the restored gospel, and we have been commanded to share it with "those who are perishing in unbelief." Open your mouth and take the gospel to the hearts of those who are prepared, and the Spirit will take it into their hearts. Please pray for those who need this knowledge. Pray that they will be led to you. Have charity and courage. 

While in a small town outside of Paris, we came across a B, her 8-month-old boy, H, a younger married woman, and her sister, J, who was inside of the house. We started talking to them, and wow, it was amazing what happened. Brooke and Heather were pretty receptive to us. Heather expressed her recent "Come to Jesus" after getting caught up with a some serious things. B apologized for J's absence. She said that she lost her fiancé in a car accident and has since lost her faith in God. She avoids any conversation about God. As we were sharing our testimonies of Christ, J came to sit on the porch and was intently listening to us. We shared "Look to the Light" testified of enabling power of the Atonement. The Spirit was SO STRONG! One of my all time neatest experiences yet. Sadly, we didn't get any new investigators, but it was a wonderful opportunity to plant seeds. 

Saturday was a treat to be able to watch the General Women's Session! I love the central theme of sacrifice and keeping our covenants. Heavenly Father loves us perfectly. Our happiness is His goal. He asks us to follow His Son and to keep the commandments. In turn, He blesses us greatly. I love this gospel. It truly is good news! 

As General Conference is upon us, we have the opportunity to listen to the Prophet's voice. He receives revelation from God on our behalf. He guides and directs us. He counsels us so that we can return home. I invite you all to prepare by evaluating what more you want to learn for you own life. The questions that you have will be answered by those who have prepared messages. We are blessed to hear the words of disciples of Jesus Christ. 

Have courage and be kind! 💕 

Hermana Boyson

Our c-u-t-e eggs from Brother and Sister Smith! 

Old friends back together!

🌈 🌈 I just love us! And we love rainbows

Parallels and Pure Testimonies

Happy First Day of Spring, y'all!

It's been a busy week here in Paris, KY. We had exchanges with our STLs on Monday after P-day. Sister Johns came with me to Paris, and we had a great time together. We got in with Patsy, an inactive member of over 25 years. We only got to talk with her at her doorstep, but we were able to pray with her. 

The next day we had a lesson with Anthony, an 8-year-old who is preparing for baptism. His mom is inactive, so we have the opportunity to teach him. He's such a sweet boy and is preparing for baptism on April 8!  Sister Johns shared a lot of wonderful and much needed insights with me. I am always in awe of these young missionaries who have such powerful testimonies and insights. 

We had the opportunity to eat dinner with a few members this week and share messages with them. The Spirit I feel in members' homes is humbling and brings me a lot of comfort. I am so grateful for their willingness to open up their houses to us and the time they take to prepare a meal for us. 

We had a lesson with our investigator. She's pretty shy, so Hermana Starling and I wanted to do something different with her so that we could get to know. We brought her her favorite candy and watched Meet the Mormons/Conozca a los mormones with her. It was great! We watched the first three stories with her, and her favorite one was The Bishop. She also liked how family is such a strong focus in our religion. 

During personal study this week, I started 3 Nephi. In the institute manual, President Benson said this about 3 Nephi 1-7: "...the record of the Nephite history just prior to the Savior's visit reveals many parallels to our own day as we anticipate the Savior's second coming."  The introduction to these chapters says "Only those with firm testimonies and full conversions were able to remain steadfast prior to the Savior's appearance in America. The same is true to our day. Only those with firm testimonies and full conversions will be able to remain steadfast prior to the Lord's Second Coming." 

As I have studied these chapters, I have found that these words are true. It it necessary for us to have firm testimonies in Christ. Elder John H. Groberg said "If we think deeply, we realize that the first principle--faith in the Lord Jesus Christ--underlies all else; that is, it takes faith in Christ to repent or be baptized or perform any other ordinances of the gospel." I know that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved. He gave us eternal life. His arm is stretched out in mercy. We can repent through the Atonement and become like Christ. 

Love youins! 

Hermana Boyson

Exchanges with Sister Johns and Sister Endemann! It's been so great to see an old friend from my first area. 

Luhyouins!

It's serious biz in the Pioneer District. Front: Elder Walker, Elder Frigetto, Elder Benard, Elder Sherwood. Back: Sister Nielson, Sister Tripp, Hna. Starling, yours truly

We came to eat chocolate ice cream with Brother and Sister Young. ❤️ 🍦 

Six Months

Hola and Hello! 

What a great week! I celebrated my six-month mark on Tuesday! I feel so blessed to be here serving in the GKLM. The people of Kentucky are wonderful people. I have loved learning more about the Hispanic culture as I have been in their homes. They are such loving people, and I am blessed to be able to teach them in their language. 

We had a lot of wonderful lessons this week. Teresa's progression is slow, but this week she learned a lot through The Spirit. She has a lot of great questions, and we were able to answer them for her. Each time we taught a principle, she would say "Oooooooh. I understand." We could see everything clicking and coming together for her. It was AMAZING! I haven't had a lesson like that before!

On Tuesday, we were able to teach two recent convert. We asked them to write down what they want most out a life right now. Both of them wrote that they want peace. We testified that through keeping the Sabbath day holy, they could find the peace they're both wanting.  We know they know that keeping God's commandments brings blessings! We pray that they will be obedient and receive the blessings God wants to give them. 

Our Zone Meeting this week was fantastic! The focus of the meeting and the trainings we received was about members and member missionary work. A lot of times it feels as though teaching members is not good use of time because we're not teaching new investigators. We learned that through teaching and strengthening members, we are establishing The Church. We are helping build trust between missionaries and members. We can teach them how to find people for us to teach. I'm so looking forward to spending more time with members and allowing them to be prayerful in their search for prepared people.

After Zone Meeting, we were able to help a sister in our ward who we call Momma Rhonda. We had to opportunity to set up for her son's reception. It was so fun! They all were so stressed as any of you who have been part of wedding prep know. We strung lights and tulle, set up tables and chairs, and cleaned up the building's restrooms. #service

A dear friend of mine recently sent me an email, and I wanted to share a part of it with you all. She told me to prayerfully ponder this question and then sit and write down any impressions that come. Hermana Starling and I have been inviting members we teach to do the same, and we have seen how touched others have been. The question is this: "If the Savior was to come and sit next to me, what would He say to me?" I invite you all to take this question to prayer, and let the impressions flow. I know that as you do this, you will receive very specific impressions and an overwhelming feeling of love. 

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be there also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." D&C 84:88

Have a wonderful week, y'all!

Hermana Boyson

We found the cutest little store! Sorry it's so grainy! 

A cactus cigarette butt catcher thing. 

These were in bucket, so we thought we'd leave a note. Jajajajaja!

Lunch with the LexNorth Zone Sisters @ bd's Mongolian Grill. Yummo! 

St. Patrick's Day package from Momma Boyson. Thanks, Mom! ❤️ 

Rhubarb and Our Need to Remember

¡Hola, mi familia y mis amigos! 

This week was fantástico! 

We had another lesson with S and her boyfriend, L. They are such great people, and L wants to learn more and do more, but we feel like they're each other's road blocks. S works on Sundays. She said at first it was hard to miss church, but now it's what's necessary. It's sad to see how much she's changed by not attending church. I read Helaman 5:9-14. Pres. Spencer W. Kimball said this about memory and our spirituality: “When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be remember. Because all of you have made covenants--you know what to do and you know how to do it--our greatest need is to remember. That is why everyone goes to sacrament meeting every Sabbath day--to take the sacrament and listen to the priests pray that they ‘may always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them.’ Nobody should ever forget to go to sacrament meeting. Remember is the word. Remember is the program.” 

I know that to be true. When I forgot my covenants and purposefully missed church, my life was dark. I didn't realize how unhappy I was until I repented. The light of Christ was able to shine brightly in my life again, and I was able to feel peace and true happiness. I know that when God gives us a commandment, He will provide a way for us to accomplish it.

We were able to do some service again for the family who needed help with their horse stalls last week. We got them almost completely packed up and moved out. Service is one of my favorite things as a missionary. They were very appreciative. We could see how her burdens were lightened by our help.

We had dinner with two families in the ward this week. It's great to be able to share a message and to also gain wisdom from others who have such strong testimonies. And I got to try rhubarb for the first time! Mmmmmm! So good! Thank you, Sister Young! 

Tomorrow is my six-month mark. Holy buckets. I think I'm in shock that I've made it this far. There have been times when I felt like giving up because the language was too hard or when I felt like I couldn't overcome my weaknesses. I am grateful for the blessings, prayers, and uplifting words from my family and friends. I have loved these past six months. I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life as well as in the lives of others. My mom shared something with me today that I want to end with. 

"When we're prompted to do something or say something to or for someone, that means the Lord knows us and the other person.  So when people say they don't know if the Lord knows who they are, there's the proof."

I testify that the Lord knows you. He loves you. You are wonderful in His eyes. Heavenly Father sent His Son to die for you because He loves His children. Jesus Christ suffered what none of us can fathom. He did it because He loves you and wants you to return back home. 

Con cariño, 

Hermana Boyson

We found a cactus in a trailer park. Neature!

My companion and I with Angel. She's the funniest and sassiest human I've ever met. We sure love her!

You can't see it, but downtown Paris is behind us. We tried.