Truly Sunny

My Zone

Well, it is finally sunny outside! Today is I think the very first that I can go completely without a jacket. It has been warm, but the wind has chilled things down a bit, and so today for now everything is completely calm.  This week I was able to see the Hutterite family for only a few minutes, as they wanted to see the organ recital... It was kinda anti-climactic to be honest. I saw the daughter, and I said hello, and then she said hello, and waved me a goodbye. As for our investigators, no one seems to be really progressing, except N but she is from Brazil and Speaks Portuguese, so I don't feel a really great connection with her sadly.  However I do have a really sweet little story to tell you.  I was in the Assembly hall and I ran into this middle aged man from Haiti. He was really nice and I asked him if he was a member of the church. Sometimes I think that I should specify a little bit more, because he said yes, but I think that he thought if I was just wondering if he was Christian. Anyway I told him about the story of the Sego Lilly (The one

Sister C & me with our minis

Mini-me Missionaries my
Mom made for us...name
tags and everything!

about how the pioneers prayed, and God provided them with this to eat). When I concluded the story he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "Will you pray for me? Because God answers Mormons prayers." I told him of course that I would pray for him, but I also let him know that he needed to pray as well, that God really does listen to his as well. I told him that God will answer him, although it might not be in the way that he wanted to be answered. I told him to always remember that God loves him. It was a really tender moment, and although I have not seen him since, I know that he felt the spirit, because I did. His name is Alexander Paul... I thought this was funny, because we all know another Alexander Paul.   Anyway I can't think of much else that has happened this week to be honest. I will keep working though :)  Love you all, have a wonderful rest of your week! Sister Lybbert

the BIG update

March 30
This week has gone by so fast! I am loving my new companion, she is such a hard worker, and it is also really nice because she is the district leader. We go on exchanges all of the time, and so I have gotten the opportunity to get really close will my new district. They are all so amazing! My roommates are just awesome too! I know that Heavenly Father made this one really good, because he knew that I was struggling with my last companion. Sister C from the Ukraine is Sister S's new companion. They were really good friends before they were companions, but Sister C just came up to me yesterday looking really upset, and she gave me a hug and just said, "I have cried so much already, it is so hard." I think that it is really good that they were friends before though, because Sister S seems to be a bit more obedient with Sister C as her companion, because she does like Sister C. I am just praying for the both of them, I think that they can be really powerful if they can work together.  Sister C (My new companion) Is really funny. She really loves to clean, which is really nice, because our apartment is Celestial. She calls everything  that she does not like, whether it is food, or decorations in the house or out of it "porcaria" (Which essentially means junk) haha. Now I am using that expression a lot.  

With President and Sister Risenmay

Easter was really great, we were able to go to music and the spoken word. It was a special, and there was this guy that was singing opera... it was amazing!   This past week as well there was a little bit of a scare, because a Sister was poisoned... she was alright after going to the hospital for a bit. She had accepted food from a complete stranger, well she is alive, but that is defiantly something that we are taught not to do when we are little for a reason. The only people I accept candy from is the other missionaries, people I actually know and the security guards :) Don't worry the sister is fine!   I saw Hanna Henrie yesterday! She came onto the Square and Derek Strate was also in her group, but It was amazing to be able to see her as a missionary. I have to admit I teared up a little bit. I mentioned T a bit earlier, he is really awesome, and we hope that some how we will be able to scrounge up a ticket so that he can go to conference, but things are not looking good. You would think that should be an easy thing to get on Temple Square, but honestly it is easier for people in the wards to obtain tickets.  Sorry this letter is a wee bit Scatter-Brained, but I don't know that there was a particular event that I could go into much detail on. We did have one really cool miracle though this week. I was taking a tour in the Beehive house, and there was a member among the group. After we taught the people about the importance of prophets and the Book of Mormon, he asked us quietly if there was anything that he could do for us.. We replied that he could

 
 share his testimony with someone, and be a missionary when he can, because we are all missionaries. He took the challenge, and about two hours later, we received a note with his information, and the information of one of the families that had come on the tour with us. We are now teaching the family, and he is going to be a member present. :) Members are amazing, and I know that the work would not be complete without them.  Anyways I love you! I got the packages! Thank you all for sending them, my roommates and district greatly appreciate the candy as well! I love the little notes, The Big note (the one that I had to roll out) and the hankies too! But most of all I love all of You!  (I had to write the last part because it rhymes :) )   XOXO Sister Lybbs

April 6

Meeting Bishop ZoBell, his
wife, and two oldest daughters.
{our home ward was split two
months after Sister L left on her
mission. She had never met our
 new bishop. It was so nice of
the ZoBells to find her and
introduce themselves.} 

wearing Sister C's earmuffs.
She is sensitive to cold because
 she is from Brazil. We decided
 that these look more like two
 unfortunate cats whose tails
 are attached to each other. We
named it Schubert.

 Conference is over, and it was exhausting, but a blast at the same time! It is so amazing to see so many people from all over the world who come together to hear the prophet speak. It is insane that it has already been over a year since you guys came down for conference and I stayed home with Kaiah and made the marshmallow eggs. It really does not seem like it was that long ago.  Thank you again for the Easter treats. It was such a wonderful miracle that we were able to obtain a ticket from the Zobells for T so that he could go to general conference . Regrettably he acquired a fever and so he texted us right before and told us that he was too sick to go. We ended up praying for someone who really needed it, and we were able to find a little Hispanic Lady in the midst of all the people begging for tickets who we mutually felt the spirit tell us that she needed the ticket. I am still really sad that T could not come. On the Bright Side S should be coming back to the USA this month if everything goes as planned. We are really excited that he will be safe, and will be able to attend an actual church meeting again.  Sister C is the district leader, and so we are on exchanges a lot. It is really nice in a way though because it gives me the opportunity to observe the role at a closer perspective, and to also connect with all of the Sisters in my district. I was able to see so many people from Magrath, it was really great, and I do not get homesick when I see them :) I saw Kaylee Jackson for about 10 minutes we were able to talk it was really great to catch up with her, and to meet her new fiance. I also met Rehanna... sorry I do not know how to spell her name. She was Samara's friend when they were in Kindergarten.. it is super crazy that we were able to recognize each other pretty fast, because it has been years! She had another friend with her and her friend just said.."Oh a Canadian Where are you From?" I told her Alberta, and then Rehanna was like, "Wait are you Samara's little Sister?" It was so cool, and we got a picture together as well.  General Conference was amazing. I was able to attend the General Women's Session (because we get to go once in our mission), and I was also able to go to the Sunday Afternoon Session. I loved how the woman's session and the talk by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy was focused on the Refugees. It really helps send the message to each one of us about what we really need to be doing. There are people in our community and out of our communities that need help, and we need to get out of our comfort zones and help them. I also really loved Elder Hollands talk  I wanted to share a little bit from the talk summery's, so here you go...  " Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that, that the Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them. If you stumble in that pursuit, so does everyone; the Savior is there to help you keep going. …  Brothers and sisters, the first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. That’s the first great commandment. But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. …  … Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever."  I really have come to know that this is true. On a mission I get a front row seat to observing how the atonement of Jesus Christ really does change people. Something that is common in every single person that it helps is that they want to be helped. God will NOT force us to follow him. He will not Choose for us the path that we will walk, but he WILL show us how we can be HAPPY IF we follow him. I know that we are getting close to the Saviors coming. It may be in a 100 years, it may be less, and it may be more, but for each of us it is coming. We need to prepare, if we choose not to start now, later might be too late. I always think that it is really sad when people tell me that they will research the gospel later, or that "right now is not a good time." It is always a good time, and when we decide to get closer to God later, we never will, because later seldom ever comes. We need to develop our relationship with him Today. I know that we are not perfect, and that we all have times when we do not do our best, but we cannot let those moments pull us down more, but instead to become a better person in the future. I love you all and I trust you all!  You are the Best XOXO!  Sister Lybbert

April 13
First off I am really quite excited to see the Family of M Wurtz from Magrath on Friday, as they are such lovely people.  Yesterday we had a zone conference. They are always so powerful, and my favorite parts are always the testimonies at the end that the sisters that will be departing soon give. I always write down just a little bit of what the sisters say in each of their testimonies, and so I thought that I would share some with you today...  Sister O (USA) Spoke about 2 Cor 9:15 " Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."   I really love this scripture now, because I had never thought much about it before. We cannot fully understand The Atonement of Jesus Christ without the feelings that we obtain from the Holy Ghost. This is why so many people have a hard time understanding the gospel if they are just looking at the "hard facts" or just reading scriptures without praying for the Spirit to guide them. One reason why the the gospel is so precious is because much of it really cannot be just comprehended without God's help.   Sister O'D (USA) Said, "Go home, but never go back."  It makes me think of Lots wife, she wanted to go back. We should never try to just go back, otherwise the time that we spent on the mission has not truly changed us, so even when we go home, we need to let the good changes stay, and shape us into what God wants us to become. This can also be applied with anything that is good, not just a mission.   Sister B (South Korea) told us, "This is not the last time that we have to meet. We can always be eternal friends, through the gospel of Jesus Christ."   I think that this is perhaps one of the saddest part of meeting people from all over the world. We most likely will not meet again until we are all in God's presence... but who knows, perhaps I will be able to visit someday. :)   Sister C (Ukraine) testified, "Russians don't cry, but I am Ukrainian so it's okay... Don't tell anyone though ;)... As we do God's will we will find happiness."   I know that this is true. I have seen that as Sisters really just strive to do the will of God, they are blessed, and that when we trust in him we will find miracles.   Sister D from (France) stated, "You might not find the one investigator that you are looking for, but you are making a difference in the lives of people around you."   As I have talked with people, I have seen this happen. Most people that I meet on the square are only interested in hearing things at the moment, but do not feel ready to have the whole gospel. This is alright, because just like we all need to learn step by step so do they, we all need to strive to help each other. I know though that miracles do happen, and that we can find those who are willing to follow Jesus Christ. Just imagine what it would be like if each member of the church just prayed for a year to help just one person to make covenants with God. I think that we would see miracles, and we would find that each year each member would in fact be able to help one person if they tried.   Sister J (Finland) Said, "Without the gospel and the atonement, we cannot do anything with our lives, I am so grateful to serve a mission. I did not have a thousand baptisms, but at least I converted myself. I know that the Saviour lives."  and Last but not least, Sister T (Norway p.s. She is one of the  APs) "I am so grateful for the testimony that I have received. When the Savior sees me I don't want him to have to ask, "lovest thou me?" Because I want him to already know that I do through my actions."    I just love to be able to hear the testimonies of all of these sisters from all over the world. There is power in this unity that I cannot describe. The gospel truly does connect nations, and there are no boarders for the love that it brings. Sometimes there will be sisters who are companions and both from countries who are fighting with each other, or not in good terms. The gospel truly has no bounds, and it is amazing to be able to just take a glimpse into what Heaven really is like. I think that when the millennium does come, the world will be kinda like temple square, and the nations really will be joined together.   We also spoke much about the duty of the missionaries, and of all members. President Risenmay testified, "Duty is something that is required. In accomplishing our duty, there are critical moments, moments that almost history hinges on.... Great events are usually connected to duty, they are the critical moments, where everything is hinged. The thing that you will find is similar in most of your patriarchal blessings is that we were saved for this time, and that our children are covenanted to us.  The war in Heaven has not ended, it is our duty to continue to fight for God. It is not about us it is always about the Savior. When we serve with an eye single to the glory of God as we do this we will have the gospel unfolded to us, and we will be filled with the light of Christ."  Before President Poulsen left he said to all of us, "Motivation is closer to the natural man, because it is satisfying our own will. Nephi was probably not very motivated to get the plates and slay Laban. Samuel the Lamanite was not motivated to get up on the wall and be shot at. The Savior was not highly motivated to be crucified. However Christ and his followers fulfilled their duty because they understood duty, and love. They understood and lived Charity... With motivation it would always be easy, but we are made of tougher stuff...Every single person can learn to talk with God. Everyone can be better today than they were yesterday, and they can be even better tomorrow."    I know that I have been quoting a lot of missionaries today, but I just love the messages that they have to share. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and that It is through the ordinances and covenants that we keep that we will be able to live with God again. I know that the Priesthood power has been restored, and I just wish that the whole world could know it. Everyone is children of God. I know the Holy Ghost will testify of truth, because I can see in the eyes of the people who we teach when they are feeling the Spirit testify to them of the Restoration. I went on exchanges with one of our zone leaders, and it was such an amazing experience, I do not know how Sister M (Ukraine) does it, but with every contact we would make I could really just feel that the people were being converted. Some of them even cried. I hope that I can become as bold and loving as she is, she is just a power house I swear she never even takes time to eat. I love this gospel so much, and I honestly cannot imagine my life without it. I love you all! XOXO

with Kaylee...besties
from High School

With Shelby Russell Oberg
She and Sister L used to be in
YW's together and did Highland
Dancing together.

with Rehannah (Samara's
 Kindergarten Friend)