Monday, August 23, 2010
!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Everyone :)
"I [Sister Amanda Christine Lusk] having been born of goodly parents [ken
and terri lusk], therefore i was taught somewhat in all the learning of my
father [to become a great missionary]... having been highly favored of the
Lord in all my days [because my amaszing wonderful family sends me great
packages that i love] yea; having had a great knowledge of the goodness and
mysteries of God, therefore i [have the best family in the whole wide world
and couldn't have asked for a better one]" 1 Nephi 1:1
I love being companions with Sister Iwamoto. I wish she lived in the US. We
talked with this lady who was not happy that we wanted to get her LA husband
back into the church. Once we were done Sister Iwamoto said, " She most of
been speaking a read between the lines kind of English" hahaha I just love
her. We have become amazing runners. We ran a 3.3 mile run this morning.
I met another amazing family in the Temecula ward. It is the Berardini
family. They are about 23 years old with a one year old baby. I am always
needing to us the bathroom haha so one day we were making our visits around
and I really needed to go... I remember how nice sister Berardini was in RS
and stopped in to use her bathroom. We have seens that time gone over to
have dinner at their home. Brother Berardini has only been a member of the
church for about three years. He grow up having LDS friends. No one focused
him to take the missionary lessons they just were great examples to him and
explained gospel ideas to him when he would ask. One day the missionaries
knocked on his door and he was ready to hear the message of the gospel. It
is amazing what happens when you have good friends that keep their standers.
Teaching Colby has been going great. Lizzie leaves for college this week and
Colby said that we can keep teaching him about the gospel. He even went to
church on Sunday !!! We let him know why we are so willing to share with him
the gospel. We told him that we will let him know all about what we believe
and when he is ready and willing he can get baptized. At least he knows why
we are teaching him now. His testimony of Jesus Christ has grown so much. He
understands why we are here on Earth. So many people in the world don't have
that understanding. What do they think their purpose in life is???
We had a great ward activate in the park this week. Tessa's family came. We
were about to let Tessa know a little bet more why we are out on missions.
We haven't been able to sit down and talk with her this week. We did leave
her with a paper we make about pray. We hope she is moving forward. Her
family is pushing really hard against her. I know that Satan knows that this
church is true and that he is trying his hardest to stop the work from going
forward. This is the only true church. The only church that has the
priesthood of God and the only church that will help us get back to live
with our Heavenly Father again one day. It makes me so happy to know that I
know that and I can share that with others for 18 months.
We have two new people that we are teaching. One is Maricel Dorano Hiriz.
Yay for new investigators. She is 24 years old and is from Sister Iwamoto's
home town. Crazy huh. I know that is why Sister Iwamoto is serving here in
Temecula right now. Maricela is Filipine and was a referral from a member in
the Redhawk ward. Yay for referrals. Her friends name is Merlyn and knows
Sister Iwamoto's sister. What a small world. Yes if you were wondering I don
just listen to them talk because they don't talk in English when they are
all together. The spirit is still the same when the truth is being told in
different languages. The other new investigator is named Cindy. She was
being seen by other missionaries two years ago. We when by and she is ready
know to hear the gospel. I know this for a fact. First I couldn't stop
thinking about her street. Second sister Iwamoto and I were looking through
the dropped people and felt like we should stop by her house. Once we meet
with her two times and told her why we stopped by she said, "Well, I need to
go buy me a dress because the next Sunday I have off from work I am going to
church." wow huh... The Lord know each one of his children. He knows you and
me. And he knows Cindy and she is ready to learn his gospel. Both of these
investigators set return appointments. That is a good sign that they really
want what the Lord is letting me share with them.
I gave a talk on Sunday :) It went great. It was on Missionary Work. We are
pushing the Temecula Ward hard to do missionary work. It has been going
great. The ward is excited now lets hope I can do my part as the missionary.
Brittani wrote me and said that I might become an aunt in March. What I am
not old enough to be an aunt. People keep telling me that I look like I am
18 years old. hahaha I am way excited for her. She will make a wonderful
mother because she is already a wonderful wife. I got the best package in
the mail. My family is amazing. I love them so much. Wow I get everything I
need in the packages. "words are much too small and few... for all the
things I wish for [my family]. I love them very much. Thank you to everyone
who is writing me. I love all the pictures and letters. Thank you for all
the love and support. Sometimes missionary life gets hard, but when I get a
letter or package and it makes everything better. I know that I am loved.
Thank you.
Love
Sister Amanda Christine Lusk
"I [Sister Amanda Christine Lusk] having been born of goodly parents [ken
and terri lusk], therefore i was taught somewhat in all the learning of my
father [to become a great missionary]... having been highly favored of the
Lord in all my days [because my amaszing wonderful family sends me great
packages that i love] yea; having had a great knowledge of the goodness and
mysteries of God, therefore i [have the best family in the whole wide world
and couldn't have asked for a better one]" 1 Nephi 1:1
I love being companions with Sister Iwamoto. I wish she lived in the US. We
talked with this lady who was not happy that we wanted to get her LA husband
back into the church. Once we were done Sister Iwamoto said, " She most of
been speaking a read between the lines kind of English" hahaha I just love
her. We have become amazing runners. We ran a 3.3 mile run this morning.
I met another amazing family in the Temecula ward. It is the Berardini
family. They are about 23 years old with a one year old baby. I am always
needing to us the bathroom haha so one day we were making our visits around
and I really needed to go... I remember how nice sister Berardini was in RS
and stopped in to use her bathroom. We have seens that time gone over to
have dinner at their home. Brother Berardini has only been a member of the
church for about three years. He grow up having LDS friends. No one focused
him to take the missionary lessons they just were great examples to him and
explained gospel ideas to him when he would ask. One day the missionaries
knocked on his door and he was ready to hear the message of the gospel. It
is amazing what happens when you have good friends that keep their standers.
Teaching Colby has been going great. Lizzie leaves for college this week and
Colby said that we can keep teaching him about the gospel. He even went to
church on Sunday !!! We let him know why we are so willing to share with him
the gospel. We told him that we will let him know all about what we believe
and when he is ready and willing he can get baptized. At least he knows why
we are teaching him now. His testimony of Jesus Christ has grown so much. He
understands why we are here on Earth. So many people in the world don't have
that understanding. What do they think their purpose in life is???
We had a great ward activate in the park this week. Tessa's family came. We
were about to let Tessa know a little bet more why we are out on missions.
We haven't been able to sit down and talk with her this week. We did leave
her with a paper we make about pray. We hope she is moving forward. Her
family is pushing really hard against her. I know that Satan knows that this
church is true and that he is trying his hardest to stop the work from going
forward. This is the only true church. The only church that has the
priesthood of God and the only church that will help us get back to live
with our Heavenly Father again one day. It makes me so happy to know that I
know that and I can share that with others for 18 months.
We have two new people that we are teaching. One is Maricel Dorano Hiriz.
Yay for new investigators. She is 24 years old and is from Sister Iwamoto's
home town. Crazy huh. I know that is why Sister Iwamoto is serving here in
Temecula right now. Maricela is Filipine and was a referral from a member in
the Redhawk ward. Yay for referrals. Her friends name is Merlyn and knows
Sister Iwamoto's sister. What a small world. Yes if you were wondering I don
just listen to them talk because they don't talk in English when they are
all together. The spirit is still the same when the truth is being told in
different languages. The other new investigator is named Cindy. She was
being seen by other missionaries two years ago. We when by and she is ready
know to hear the gospel. I know this for a fact. First I couldn't stop
thinking about her street. Second sister Iwamoto and I were looking through
the dropped people and felt like we should stop by her house. Once we meet
with her two times and told her why we stopped by she said, "Well, I need to
go buy me a dress because the next Sunday I have off from work I am going to
church." wow huh... The Lord know each one of his children. He knows you and
me. And he knows Cindy and she is ready to learn his gospel. Both of these
investigators set return appointments. That is a good sign that they really
want what the Lord is letting me share with them.
I gave a talk on Sunday :) It went great. It was on Missionary Work. We are
pushing the Temecula Ward hard to do missionary work. It has been going
great. The ward is excited now lets hope I can do my part as the missionary.
Brittani wrote me and said that I might become an aunt in March. What I am
not old enough to be an aunt. People keep telling me that I look like I am
18 years old. hahaha I am way excited for her. She will make a wonderful
mother because she is already a wonderful wife. I got the best package in
the mail. My family is amazing. I love them so much. Wow I get everything I
need in the packages. "words are much too small and few... for all the
things I wish for [my family]. I love them very much. Thank you to everyone
who is writing me. I love all the pictures and letters. Thank you for all
the love and support. Sometimes missionary life gets hard, but when I get a
letter or package and it makes everything better. I know that I am loved.
Thank you.
Love
Sister Amanda Christine Lusk
Monday, August 16, 2010
August 16th, Shes doing great!!
Hi Guys :)
"Ye shall go forth in teh power of my spirit, preaching my gospel, two by
two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump,
declaring my word like unto angles of God." D&c 42:6
Thank you all for all the letters. I love reading them. It always makes my
day a little brighter. I love all the encouragement and support I get from
everyone. I have the best family :) I got a package from them this week. It
had amazing nuts, pictures, and notes in it. Thank you Thank you. I enjoyed
it all. Oh and it had my picture card. I will send home my picture new.
Thank you for all that you do :)
Last Monday Sister Iwamoto spent around two hours in Wal-mart and other
places looking for food and shopping around. I don't like shopping as much
as I use to love it. It is not the same when your on a mission. I hope to
one day find that love for shopping again. haha We started teaching a LA
named Jeff. Jeff is a family friend of the Lester family. His parents are in
the Temecula ward. He is about 20 years old. He doesn't see any purpose in
his life and lost his testimony of the gospel. I am excited to get him going
back to church. We are teaching him tonight at the Lester's home.
We invited Chelsea Smith over to the Smith Family's home for family night.
It was fun to feel the spirit of the family and be able to teach with
testimonies of everyone. We focused mostly on pray and the role of the Holy
Ghost in getting answers. Chelsea loved talking with girls her age and girls
that are doing some of the same things she is doing( hair school). We love
the spirit of members homes. Chelsea has been really having a hard time in
her life and needed that spirit.
We watched Faith in Christ with Tessa and Samy. Tessa understands the
Atonement. It was amazing. She didn't understand some other parts. She has
really opened up and feel like she can ask us questions. The Lord is really
straighting her family. We talked to Samy about bapitsum. She has thought
about it, but not lately. We are working on them being baptized :)
We taught Lizzie, Colby, Kenzie :) The spirit as we teach is so strong.
Colby opened up and was straight forward with his questions. He understands
a lot about the gospel, but does think he is getting answers to his prayers.
That is always hard to try to teach someone how God speaks to them
personally. The Holy Ghost is the only one that can really teach someone
that. We helped with some scritupers. Colby also does understand why God
would let his children suffer in 3rd world countries. A lot of people ask us
that question. We told him what we believe the Holy Ghost would have us say.
He understand it, however I have no idea what I said or what Sister Iwamoto
said. But whatever we said answered his question. I kind of wish I could
remember and understand what we said. That way next time that question comes
up I could have a better answer. I will just have to trust in the Lord on
that one.
On Wednesday we tracked into a football player looking black man who was
very smart and know his bibles. He talked with us for awhile. haha He
believes that aliens and UFOs are all among us and he was telling us where
to look in the bible to back him up. It was great. I loved listening to him.
We did have the change to let him know what we believe. He did invite us
back haha however we will just let the next set of missionaries track into
him.
Anna is wonderful. The more she learns about the gospel the more she
understands. It is amazing how the Lord has people ready for missionaries to
teach. Anna is one of these people that God has put in our path to share
with her the light of the gospel at this time. We taught her the Plan of
Salvation. She understands all of it. It was her first time hearing most of
the information, but she kept telling us that it all makes since. She asked
us some good questions and I am excited to get to go back.
We got to carve with Ron Arrington again this week. He hates the world for
the most part. He is LA and his wife Carol is one day going to get baptized.
The missionaries have been working with this family for over 10 years. One
day they will come around. Carol has all kinds of questions about the
priesthood, polygamy, wards, and other little things that don't matter. Well
they do matter, but you don't need to know that before you get baptized.
Both of them believe that we are the only true church and want to go to the
temple together one day. Faith without works is die.... :)
Sister Escodro came to church on Sunday :) One more LA that is coming to
church. On Saturday night we went over to her house and watched the
Restoration DVD in Tagalog. You guessed it... I had no idea what was going
on. Good thing I have already seen that DVD. The spirit was so strong was we
watch it and as they talked. I just listen(because I don't know Tagalog).
She made up her mind that she was going to go to church and she did. It was
amazing.
Love,
Sister Amanda Christine Lusk
"Ye shall go forth in teh power of my spirit, preaching my gospel, two by
two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump,
declaring my word like unto angles of God." D&c 42:6
Thank you all for all the letters. I love reading them. It always makes my
day a little brighter. I love all the encouragement and support I get from
everyone. I have the best family :) I got a package from them this week. It
had amazing nuts, pictures, and notes in it. Thank you Thank you. I enjoyed
it all. Oh and it had my picture card. I will send home my picture new.
Thank you for all that you do :)
Last Monday Sister Iwamoto spent around two hours in Wal-mart and other
places looking for food and shopping around. I don't like shopping as much
as I use to love it. It is not the same when your on a mission. I hope to
one day find that love for shopping again. haha We started teaching a LA
named Jeff. Jeff is a family friend of the Lester family. His parents are in
the Temecula ward. He is about 20 years old. He doesn't see any purpose in
his life and lost his testimony of the gospel. I am excited to get him going
back to church. We are teaching him tonight at the Lester's home.
We invited Chelsea Smith over to the Smith Family's home for family night.
It was fun to feel the spirit of the family and be able to teach with
testimonies of everyone. We focused mostly on pray and the role of the Holy
Ghost in getting answers. Chelsea loved talking with girls her age and girls
that are doing some of the same things she is doing( hair school). We love
the spirit of members homes. Chelsea has been really having a hard time in
her life and needed that spirit.
We watched Faith in Christ with Tessa and Samy. Tessa understands the
Atonement. It was amazing. She didn't understand some other parts. She has
really opened up and feel like she can ask us questions. The Lord is really
straighting her family. We talked to Samy about bapitsum. She has thought
about it, but not lately. We are working on them being baptized :)
We taught Lizzie, Colby, Kenzie :) The spirit as we teach is so strong.
Colby opened up and was straight forward with his questions. He understands
a lot about the gospel, but does think he is getting answers to his prayers.
That is always hard to try to teach someone how God speaks to them
personally. The Holy Ghost is the only one that can really teach someone
that. We helped with some scritupers. Colby also does understand why God
would let his children suffer in 3rd world countries. A lot of people ask us
that question. We told him what we believe the Holy Ghost would have us say.
He understand it, however I have no idea what I said or what Sister Iwamoto
said. But whatever we said answered his question. I kind of wish I could
remember and understand what we said. That way next time that question comes
up I could have a better answer. I will just have to trust in the Lord on
that one.
On Wednesday we tracked into a football player looking black man who was
very smart and know his bibles. He talked with us for awhile. haha He
believes that aliens and UFOs are all among us and he was telling us where
to look in the bible to back him up. It was great. I loved listening to him.
We did have the change to let him know what we believe. He did invite us
back haha however we will just let the next set of missionaries track into
him.
Anna is wonderful. The more she learns about the gospel the more she
understands. It is amazing how the Lord has people ready for missionaries to
teach. Anna is one of these people that God has put in our path to share
with her the light of the gospel at this time. We taught her the Plan of
Salvation. She understands all of it. It was her first time hearing most of
the information, but she kept telling us that it all makes since. She asked
us some good questions and I am excited to get to go back.
We got to carve with Ron Arrington again this week. He hates the world for
the most part. He is LA and his wife Carol is one day going to get baptized.
The missionaries have been working with this family for over 10 years. One
day they will come around. Carol has all kinds of questions about the
priesthood, polygamy, wards, and other little things that don't matter. Well
they do matter, but you don't need to know that before you get baptized.
Both of them believe that we are the only true church and want to go to the
temple together one day. Faith without works is die.... :)
Sister Escodro came to church on Sunday :) One more LA that is coming to
church. On Saturday night we went over to her house and watched the
Restoration DVD in Tagalog. You guessed it... I had no idea what was going
on. Good thing I have already seen that DVD. The spirit was so strong was we
watch it and as they talked. I just listen(because I don't know Tagalog).
She made up her mind that she was going to go to church and she did. It was
amazing.
Love,
Sister Amanda Christine Lusk
Saturday, August 14, 2010
August 9th
Hello Friends and Family :)
"Father, behold over God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should
fall; then let us go forth, we would [teach teh word of God]" Alma 56:46
I took Sister Newman to the mission home Tuesday night and get a new
companion. My new companion is Sister Iwamoto. She is from the Philippines.
I love having her as a companion. She is slowly becoming a runner. It is
great. We have had amazing busy days. We get home at night and out bodies
as so tired. It is wonderful. I have been showing Sister Iwamoto the area. I
have not gotten to lost yet. Knock on wood!! The Lord has helped me remember
where places are and who people are and what they need to be taught. We got
a call Wednesday morning from a girl named Chelsea. Sister Newman and I gave
her a pass-a-long card one day when we were tracking. She was calling
because she wanted to talk more about the gospel :) Chelsea is 23 years old
and wanting peace in her live. She was taking lesson and understand that the
church can bring that peace she needs into her live. We met with her at the
church building and when went out to lunch with her. She feels just like we
have always been friends. I love spending time with her. She is the perfect
investigator. She goes out to lunch and dinner with us and writes down
questions that she has when she is reading. She always calls us when she
says she will. She wants to be baptized if she learns more and believes that
this is the true church. I know that she will find out that this gospel is
what has been missing in her life and she will be baptized.
Sister Donaldson went over with us to visit Sister Blake aka Madoline. We
had the spirit with us so strong. Sister Donaldson and Sister Blake had so
much in common with each other. The Lord was the only one that could have
known that it would work out so well if Sister Donaldson went with us.
Sister Blake didn't come to church on Sunday, but I know she feels welcome
in the ward and will come active in the church again when she is ready.
Sister Melinda Escoribo and my new wonderful companion had a fun talk in
Tagalog. It was amazing how the Lord works. I couldn't understand what they
were saying, but I could still follow the spirit and know the topic of what
they were talking about. Sister Escoribo wants another priesthood blessing.
The last one she got made it so she could sleep that night with out any
pain. She was crying as she told us the story. I am always amazed with the
power of God. We told her she can have another priesthood blessing after she
came to church. She thought that was a good idea. We are going to watch the
Restoration video with her next Saturday in Tagalog. I am excited. Listening
to the video will be fun :) She told us that she will come to church next
sunday. I believe she will.
Friday we tracked into a ton of ward members haha I am still new in the area
and don't know the members house yet. It worked out great. We got Sister
Black who just moved back into the ward to come to church on Sunday because
we tracked into her house. We also found a golden investigator named Anna.
She was so willing to talk with us. We shared with her the Restoration,
Joesph Smith's story and why it is so important that we have the Book of
Mormon. She was so open and believed everything we told her. Her two kids
loved having us over. I know she will keep reading and asking questions. I
know that Lord puts people in missionaries path that are ready to hear the
gophel of Jesus Christ.
Tessa and her family came to church on Sunday. We were able to teach Tessa
the Plan of Salvation this week. We sat on her floor and I let her daughter
play with my hair. I could feel God's love for her. As we laid out the plan
the Lord has for us she could find new understanding. She told us that it
made sence and it was like she had known it or that it was always the plan.
She is wonderful I love her family. Her daugher Samy reminds me of what
Trisha Green would have been like when she was in high school.
I am doing wonderful. I have a great area, companion, and ward. I could not
ask for anything better. Well... Selina... We have not been able to get a
hold of her. She is not their when we stop by and doesn't ask our phone
calls. She will come around.
Love your daughter Sister Amanda Lusk
"Father, behold over God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should
fall; then let us go forth, we would [teach teh word of God]" Alma 56:46
I took Sister Newman to the mission home Tuesday night and get a new
companion. My new companion is Sister Iwamoto. She is from the Philippines.
I love having her as a companion. She is slowly becoming a runner. It is
great. We have had amazing busy days. We get home at night and out bodies
as so tired. It is wonderful. I have been showing Sister Iwamoto the area. I
have not gotten to lost yet. Knock on wood!! The Lord has helped me remember
where places are and who people are and what they need to be taught. We got
a call Wednesday morning from a girl named Chelsea. Sister Newman and I gave
her a pass-a-long card one day when we were tracking. She was calling
because she wanted to talk more about the gospel :) Chelsea is 23 years old
and wanting peace in her live. She was taking lesson and understand that the
church can bring that peace she needs into her live. We met with her at the
church building and when went out to lunch with her. She feels just like we
have always been friends. I love spending time with her. She is the perfect
investigator. She goes out to lunch and dinner with us and writes down
questions that she has when she is reading. She always calls us when she
says she will. She wants to be baptized if she learns more and believes that
this is the true church. I know that she will find out that this gospel is
what has been missing in her life and she will be baptized.
Sister Donaldson went over with us to visit Sister Blake aka Madoline. We
had the spirit with us so strong. Sister Donaldson and Sister Blake had so
much in common with each other. The Lord was the only one that could have
known that it would work out so well if Sister Donaldson went with us.
Sister Blake didn't come to church on Sunday, but I know she feels welcome
in the ward and will come active in the church again when she is ready.
Sister Melinda Escoribo and my new wonderful companion had a fun talk in
Tagalog. It was amazing how the Lord works. I couldn't understand what they
were saying, but I could still follow the spirit and know the topic of what
they were talking about. Sister Escoribo wants another priesthood blessing.
The last one she got made it so she could sleep that night with out any
pain. She was crying as she told us the story. I am always amazed with the
power of God. We told her she can have another priesthood blessing after she
came to church. She thought that was a good idea. We are going to watch the
Restoration video with her next Saturday in Tagalog. I am excited. Listening
to the video will be fun :) She told us that she will come to church next
sunday. I believe she will.
Friday we tracked into a ton of ward members haha I am still new in the area
and don't know the members house yet. It worked out great. We got Sister
Black who just moved back into the ward to come to church on Sunday because
we tracked into her house. We also found a golden investigator named Anna.
She was so willing to talk with us. We shared with her the Restoration,
Joesph Smith's story and why it is so important that we have the Book of
Mormon. She was so open and believed everything we told her. Her two kids
loved having us over. I know she will keep reading and asking questions. I
know that Lord puts people in missionaries path that are ready to hear the
gophel of Jesus Christ.
Tessa and her family came to church on Sunday. We were able to teach Tessa
the Plan of Salvation this week. We sat on her floor and I let her daughter
play with my hair. I could feel God's love for her. As we laid out the plan
the Lord has for us she could find new understanding. She told us that it
made sence and it was like she had known it or that it was always the plan.
She is wonderful I love her family. Her daugher Samy reminds me of what
Trisha Green would have been like when she was in high school.
I am doing wonderful. I have a great area, companion, and ward. I could not
ask for anything better. Well... Selina... We have not been able to get a
hold of her. She is not their when we stop by and doesn't ask our phone
calls. She will come around.
Love your daughter Sister Amanda Lusk
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