January 25, 2016
This kid named Sam

This week I want to share a story..
 Since I  have been here in Silverlake, I have really noticed the example of the youth! 

I want to share a story of one of the youth named Sam!

My first Sunday here was fast and testimony meeting, and this kid named Sam gets up and bears such a powerful testimony of his earthly mission here, and his love for the Savior. It was powerful, so afterward I went up and thanked him, and asked him if he had his mission call, or if he was an RM. But nope, hahah he is a senior in high school!  He spoke with such power and love for the gospel. It was so neat. As time has gone on, I have noticed Sam often. He comes to church every Sunday, by himself. His parents are divorced and his family isn't active. This 17 year old kid has such a strong testimony, he knows where he is going and he knows he can get there and how to get there. I look as he is by himself, as the families scoot over and bring him into their family.

I am so grateful for the example of Sam, but also the examples of the families here in this ward, who bring him into their families.

He isn't the only youth who I have noticed who has a testimony, and is standing alone in their family. 

I am amazed at the youth in this ward.

ANYWAYS, 

We had a awesome week, it was a very cold one too. We love to wear our fleece line tights, haha 

We have got to  stay warm somehow!

We were able to see a lot of miracles, whether those miracles were finding a new investigator, or not crashing on our bikes :)

We have been just doing what we are doing!

Also, A special investigator I had in Houston named Rushinne got baptized.

I was able to go to Houston, where I was attacked with hugs and besitos from everyone.. haha it was neat to see everyone again.  It was a wonderful baptismal service as well, all in Spanish.. Sister Hunter was lost!  hahaha but thats okay :)

We have a good week ahead of us, President Nelson is coming..SAY WHAT? yeah, the next prophet :)

I am praying that I will be able to say the opening prayer or something! We are having a tri-mission conference on Saturday. (kind of a big deal)

I love y'all  :)

Thanks for all the prayers!

please please pray for my companion Sister Hunter.

xoxox

Sister Widdison

Baptism day

                                           January 19, 2016

 GODS TIME

 Howdy, Howdy, Hey :)

It's your favorite missionary ever ;) hehe

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A NEW COMPANION!!

Companion number twelve and what a good one to have :)

She is from Eugene Oregon :) She loves the mountains and loves running. AHW, SO GREAT, I KNOW :) Her name is SISTER HUNTER, she doesn't hunt but she is fun. Heavenly Father really blessed me with her! She is so fun to be around, it's her first biking area, so she is learning! she is great :) We have a good ol time. 

I just want to share one miracle with y'all this week :)

On Friday night we got the prompting to go and visit a less active member.  We biked over there, and as we were locking up our bikes, this truck pulls in the driveway, and the member comes out, and then sees us, and then her boyfriend, (not a member) was in the truck and he had just gotten there, and so it was like boom perfect timing, she "had" to let us in. ;) hehe. We were just sitting talking, and the boyfriend who is from up north lives right by the temple... LIKE WHAT! So as we were talking we felt prompted to share a random scripture in 1 Peter, after we shared it, our member just goes on and on about how hard life has been for her this past week, then her boyfriend shares with us how the day before his dad passed away. So we started to share the plan of salvation with him, and he just started to tell us how all of it started to make sense, and how he feels his fathers spirit. Then he started asking about the temple, and is so curious about how his father can be saved, but first he wants to be baptized so his dad can be happy.

I WISH I COULD DESCRIBE WHAT EVEN HAPPENED IN THIS LESSON.

The spirit was so strong, my ribs hurt... 

It was a moment I will never forget.

I know Gods timing is perfect. 

It's so perfect.

Plus, the Holy Ghost is AMAZING.

I am  grateful for the knowledge I have of the plan of salvation, that I was able to testify to this man of his father.

IT WAS SO COOL! many miracles happened this week, but this was one I know will stay with me forever...

P.S Texas is still hot.

XOXOX

Sister Widdison

My new companion Sister Hunter

Our district in Pearland

Fun time making cupcakes!

We are lots of help, can you tell?

We had a SNOWBALL fight

Biking, Biking, Biking

Putting in some service hours

                                                                                         January 7,  2016
1 Week.. 2 Area!

Oh my goodness.. this week was crazy!
 Since Hermana Halls companion went home, we cover two areas!

you would think that would be fun, but it's quite stressful actually!

To get from Kemah (her area) to my area is a 60 mile round trip. 

It takes 45 minutes, so we have to pack up stuff we need for three days then go and then live in whichever area, then come back to the other area! ... I was excited for the first "road trip", now it's just exhausting.. haha and we have about three more pack ups and "road trips" until transfer meeting. Then I will get a new companion on January 13th! and we will be done having "road trips" :) just good old biking in skirts in Silverlake! 

 

This past week was amazing. 

We started our week here in Silverlake, where we had an amazing family invite us over to have family home evening where we taught of the Saviors love and how we can see his hand in our lives everyday. It was so neat, the little 9 year old invited a friend over. BOOM! future missionary :) so that was fun! the mom and the dad both shared their testimonies of the Saviors love. I know it helped the kids hear and see that their parents love and know the savior.

 plus the dad helped fix my bike.. haha he got lots of blessings :) My brakes now work!! WHOOT

we also help a lot with a member named _____, she is starting her personal progress!  I am on a huge personal progress kick! I am planning to finish mine by February! So Hannah and Maegan better get working on it, haha we should all finish it by the time I get home.  We help ____ with a lot, we love to help her. She is in her 20's and has seven kids.. well, she has three of her own and four step children. Her house is crazy! I have learned a lot from her and I am grateful for her! Pray for my girl!

We also work a lot with the young women! We were able to help a lot of them this week with their personal progress, there is a beehive whose name is Kilara, and she and I are doing a project together! I don't think the young women here in this ward know how much they have impacted my life. We help them with preach my gospel and scripture study. It's cool to know they trust us, well duh we are cool sister missionaries ;) hehe  Just from really working with the young women here, my testimony has really grown of the kind of influence a lot of people have in our lives. I am grateful for all the examples I have in my life. shout out to my mom :)

As well, we really love to help the _____  family. She is a single mom of five kids, recently baptized in August, and is just trying so hard. She has a very good example of faith, she wants to just have a family. It's hard to see someone struggle, but I know she is on the right path with the gospel and support from this ward in her life. Pleas pray for this sister. 

Then we went to KEMAH!!

I served in Kemah a year ago. In kemah there are two sister areas, and I served in the other area, so all the people we visited I recognized! IT HAS BEEN SO FUN! and this Sunday we get to go the Kemah branch for church. :) I am excited to see all my old friends and the members I love :)

Since we are in kemah, it's a car area.. people let me tell you. I HATE CARS!!!
haha I love biking.. I get so tired and I feel like sitting in a car is just wasting time. hahah I love biking, plus fresh air and ripped skirts in bike brakes, nothing is better than biking :) 

In Kemah, we had some awesome lessons! 

We had a good lesson with a less active who is really scared to go back to church. So of course, I wanted to know why, so me, being bold asked her. It was so sad to hear of what was holding her back from receiving the blessing! Please pray for her that she can just come and see the church building with us!! 

We also had a funny lesson.. haha with this "juan" guy named juan.. (I hope y'all caught my joke there... Juan.. one.. hahahah) anyways, when he was in jail he got all this material from this one church and he is convinced that is the true church, but when we told him that his church wasn't the true church he was so confused. We didn't get to keep teaching him, but he was cute! he had no front teeth! So that was an interesting lesson... 

We also got to teach a really cool lesson in a super sketchy apartment complex.. haha the complex is called "Shady Oaks" hahah (don't google map that one mom) but we had a spiritual lesson about the plan of salvation, and it is so cool how Heavenly Father allows us to feel the spirit when we are worthy, even though where we were wasn't the best teaching location.

Oh and New Years... slept all through the night. #crazy

We had to be in at seven and I was asleep by nine.

hahahhaha

We went to church in Silverlake this Sunday, it was such a good Sunday! I just love biking to church. We have 9 am church, so the morning just felt so nice, and it was a beautiful day, and taking the sacrament was just good. Then TESTIMONY MEETING was so good.

 The members here impressive me so much. I am so grateful I have them as my example. I thought of what Rebecca might have been bearing her testimony about yesterday too... ;) and also we had the privilege to teach the Relief Society lesson. It was kind of scary, but it was good. We taught the importance of spiritual goals, and including Heavenly Father in the things which we want to accomplish.

Have you made your goals for this new year?? (proverbs 29:18)

I will share some of mine :) 

1. Finish the Book of Mormon by February 22nd (I have about 2.7 pages a day)

2. finish my mission

3. read all the gospels

4. make a list of attributes I want my husband to have

5. find out who the Savior is to me.. how can I know he lives? (I invite you to ponder this question, and read "The Living Christ")

6. RUN A MARATHON

hahahah some goals :)

the best one is #4 ;) hehehe

okay, love you!!!

xoxo

Sista Widdison :)

here are some pictures of me and Sister Hall :)

 heck yes my skirt is camo!

I am the daughter of Scott Widdison!

don't expect anything less :)

                                                                                                                                                December 28 2015
 Another Day

Well, Christmas came and went, short and sweet.

 Here are some pictures for y'all to enjoy :)

We had a huge mission conference. I was in the talent show!

I turned the piano players pages for him.. (applause was all for me)

Christmas Eve we went caroling in short sleeves.

I was in the nativity as well, I was an angel.. :) 

Christmas was another day..

We went and spent Christmas morning with the Steele family, We got to skype home with our families,  then we spent the day preaching the gospel.

Now today my companion is on her way home :(

I loved sister Sorensen sooo much!!! 

I am companions for two and a half weeks with Hermana Hall!  We will be covering both of our areas... so this will be interesting because they are 30 miles apart!

 short and sweet!
enjoy the pictures :)

xoxo 

Sister Widdison

We got our matching mugs for Hot Chocolate

I love Sister Sorensen

making cookies

Christmas Day

Christmas Conference

My talent in the talent show.... turning pages :)

Ready for a great dinner

This little guy had a secret for me, then leaned over and gave me a big KISS instead!!

Christmas

Thanks everyone

See, I told you I was an angel!

Christmas nativity with members

                                                        December 14, 2015

Wrapping paper and BINGO!

OH MY GOODNESS :)

first let me say..

I love my companion, SISTER SORENSEN, she is so funny! she just.. well.. her quote of her life is  " this would happen to me"

 haha she poured water on the phone, then all over her books.. then got our Christmas lights stuck in our ceiling fan.. hahha she just jokes all the time how she just has hourly trials and wants some grace in her life, but she always has me laughing :) I love this girl! We had a great week together :) 

she has me laughing right now people haha..

Last Monday we had a super fun family home evening with the Wright family, and it was crazy, they are from Canada, They just moved to Texas after living in Mexico for 6 years. ( I got to use some of my Spanish, so that was fun :) 

We also thought it would be a good idea to hop a fence that night too... wasn't too good of an idea, I will tell you that, well, not in a skirt.  Sister Sorensen got stuck.. hahahhahahahhaha oh man.. then we ran home to be in by nine, So fun! :) We were laughing and dying!

Oh my goodness we also had an adventure.. we wrapped a wall.. with wrapping paper.. twice.. haha we helped one of our members decorate her Christmas tree, but she then wanted her wall wrapped.. haha but we ran out of paper.. twice. haha so we had to wrap it.. it was awful. dont ever wrap a wall! but it was fun.. :)

WE also started doing some weekly service here at the retirement center.. so... WE PLAY BINGO!!  and it was probably the most boring game of bingo I have ever played, but its so fun! We get to help wheel them down to the room and then help them with their chips and make sure they don't cheat!  HOW FUNNY! I got two bingo's and I stood up and was loud and they all thought it was so funny! BINGO! they are fun old people :) and we get to help every Friday. :) 

We had a cute funny moment with one of our less actives.. she is kind of old, and kind of losing it. After the prayer.. " amen.." she just started laughing and was like.. "1 man.." hahha "2 men" HAHHAHAH we just started up busting laughing with her! but it was cute :)

We also had a fun ward party. and yup your girl went up and sang.. well I participated..:)

I went up front and helped sing the 12 days of Christmas  with a little dancing motion :) 

It was a fun week!! We work so much with members, and the young women!  One thing I have started is my personal progress :)

(YUP MOM BE PROUD) I never did it in high school, but now as a missionary we help the young women four times a week with their personal progress, so I decided to start mine :)  I have it planned where I will finish and get my medallion before the end of my mission :) I am excited!

 It's so fun, and the young women love helping me with it!! It has really helped me out! I challenge my sisters to get theirs done at the same time as mine!! lets make it a goal for February :) 

Oh my goodnes,s we had a lesson with EDU... just pray for him,

as well as our other investigator DAVID... they need some prayers!

I love you all :)

Enjoy the holidays :)

Love,

Sister Widdison :)

My new companion Sister Sorensen

Look at our wrapped wall in the back!

Christmas is coming

Our cute little tree.

Riding with our investigator

Singing and dancing at the ward party

Our awesome front door!

                                                                                                                         December 7 2015

English or Spanish...?

Hello everyone :)

Another fabulous fast week here in Texas... but really.. so fast..

I cant believe how fast time has gone, it scares me.

Drum roll please.... :)

Area number seven... haha 

I AM NOW IN SILVER LAKE! 

and y'all can now call me SISTER WIDDISON! I am in the only sister English biking area in the mission. haha 

HOW LUCKY AM I ?! :) 

I have once again been blessed with an amazing companion! Her name is Sister Sorensen  she is from good ol UTAH :) She hunts and fishes and likes to run!! AHHH :) and has curly hair. so cool :)

She is such an amazing disciple of Christ. I am so excited to work with her, except she goes home in three weeks, so I have three weeks to learn this area take it over :) but the lord will help!

Its kind of cool, the area I am in is actually the English version of my very first area of my mission, so all of it is very familiar and the church building is the same one! SMALL WORLD RIGHT?!

All the pictures are of me saying adios in Houston, so enjoy them! 

saying goodbye

I will miss these friends!

I guess you know where my face is going!

My favorite investigator, Angel

My last time teaching English class

My first night here in SILVER LAKE was amazing!! We went and visited the cutest family and they just had such a strong spirit and love in their home, it was overwhelming and something I haven't felt in a home for 6 months.. such love.. it was a home. It was powerful and then we get to go to Young Womens every Wednesday and help with the youth! so we went, and I was bulldozed with hugs, all the young women and the leaders and the young men and the leaders just swarmed to great me and welcome me to the ward... oh my goodness.. I feel so loved here. I am so grateful! It was so fun, we got to help them make care packages for the missionaries in their ward (hey, Christmas is coming up soon... care packages.. ;) ;) hint hint.. hehehe ) but it was so fun!!

We work a lot with members, just helping them and truly being in their homes! We went and helped the relief society with a cookie exchange, and we helped Sister Wilson makes some enchiladas. 

hahha its been so fun :)  After making the enchiladas we shared a message about missionary work, and her son Bruce, 15, shared his testimony and a story about how he prayed to have a missionary experience and how the following week someone asked him all about Mormons. His testimony was so neat,  so we invited him to share it during fast and testimony meeting.. AND OH MY GOODNESS HE DID :) IT WAS SOOO COOL!! he is going to be a great missionary :) 

We also get to work a lot with a recently baptized family, the Steeles,  we went and helped them just try and work in unity, and I am so grateful I get to be their missionary and help them.  Please keep this family in your prayers!!

Also, the Kent family. They are a family where the parents are less actives, but the kids are active. The parents drop their kids off at the church for Young Women and for church and seminary, but they just don't go to church.. interesting? yeah.. haha but on Friday night we had such a spiritual experience with them, where brother Kent shared his testimony and a very personal story about his brothers passing. I have never felt the spirit so strong from someones testimony before, it was amazing to hear this mans testimonies of his trials, but yet he just won't come to church. I am grateful for Gods plan.. because this brothers testimony strengthened mine, and I know one day he will come back to church! 

 MIRACLE AS WELL :)

We were biking and we saw this dad who was with his kids, and they looked like they were going to be racing.. so duh I was like.. y'all are racing? let me count down... hahaha... running is my life... so they raced and obviously the sons won but the dad was so interesting in our "reflectors.." hahah He said we just had something that we carried and he wanted to know what it was, so we told him who we were and then an hour later, he was just so excited to learn more and come to church. his name is EDU, that's short for Edwardo! He is from Mexico, so I got to use my Spanish :) he was a miracle, he is going through such a hard time right now, but he knew we were placed in his path. (plus he works at Costco, and I love Costco.. haha)  he came to the Christmas devotional last night, and loved it. he loves Mo-tab now... hahaha so that's a plus right :)! 

Please everyone pray for EDU, because he needs this gospel to help him in his life in order to forgive and move on... pray for my man!! haha 

AMAZING WEEK HERE :)

I have an amazing companion! 

an amazing ward!

I am also in culture shock... hahha

well, 

love,

now and til I die...

SISTER WIDDISON :)


oh and Christmas cards from family and friends can be sent to:

(Kaylee's mom here, and you thought I would really put her 

address here, You're funny, you can call me for it though. I will

however give you the mission home address.

Texas Houston South Mission

602 Eldridge Road

Sugar Land, Texas  77478

Now this is a Christmas tree!!