I REALLY REALLY LOVE LIFE

I really really love life. My heart just feels so light and happy.

I know Heavenly Father is so aware of us. 

It is so necessary that we all endure a tiny tiny slice of Gethsemane. How else would we be able to understand or appreciate the Atonement? To know of the price He paid, we must pay a token ourselves. As Elder Holland has said, Salvation is not a cheap experience. 

This week I was privileged to go on exchanges with Sister H. from New Zealand. In the Missionary Training Center she got a call from her mother letting her know that her dad had passed away from a heart attack. She went home for the funeral and the next day came to Melbourne to start her mission. She is a rock. We were able to teach the Plan of Salvation to a family...what a sacred experience. We experienced miracle after miracle and both of us we are able to have our faith strengthened. My dear family,please know that I KNOW with everything in me that the Plan of Salvation that I get to teach people weekly, is not just cute colorful cutouts, or a nice fantasy. It is real. It is the ultimate reality and evidence of God's love and mercy. 

Funny thing of the week: Al. asked if it was okay to get a tattoo of Jesus Christ so that when he looks in the mirror, he can see Him. Such a righteous intent, but we had to decline.

Bh., our Nepalese friend is getting baptised next month! Life is so beautiful! I'm sorry this is so short but know that I love you!!!!!

Sister Stevenson

PS.   I can't wait for the Woman's Broadcast!!! We will be watching it next weekend! Have taught half the branch the word Pristine :) All the Chinese missionaries always say it now haha

Tell Fox I love her.

These pictures were both sent from friends in Australia 

It was POURING rain and frigid, we were all drenched.

Hello!!!

Oh sweet Mas...his baptism was beyond happy. Angeal gave a ten minute talk in JAPANESE...this is incredibly incredible as he speaks Vietnamese and has only been speaking English for a couple years. He said he watches a lot of Anime..haha. After the baptism Mas. said "My heart feel so clean...I'm so glad. It's great." He later told Sister Gold. that he feels happier today than the happy he felt yesterday :) What a glorious thing to witness him making that covenant with God. He gets it. He loves the Lord and wants to follow Him. 

On Sunday there were FOUR confirmations in the branch...and three in the Chinese branch. The work is Hastening!! Angeal confirmed Mas, once again in Japanese so he could understand!!! The gift of tongues is real.

Our Persian friends have been reading the Book of Mormon! They came to church and were able to stay for potluck afterwards...imagine potluck in the branch, the most interesting assortment of foods!

On the way home from zone meeting we got a flat tire...our car has been quite problematic, luckily we rarely use it! Anyway, a set of Elders saw us pull over and pulled over with us and changed the tire. It was POURING rain and frigid, we were all drenched. Gotta enjoy it!! Love love love those moments! Life is so good!

I LOVE being a missionary so much. Everyday my heart could explode at the amount of sheer joy I feel. The Book of Mormon is a fountain of endless, inexhaustible wisdom. I declare that no matter the question or concern, the Book of Mormon can answer it fully and clearly.

I love you so so so so so soooo very very much. 

Sister Stevenson  

P.S.  Oh life is so beautiful! Today is our sisters pday for the east side...we've planned a scavenger hunt in the CITY.   AMAZING RACE: MELBOURNE

Our church building in downtown Melbourne  Can you guess what level we meet on?

Xin Chào Family! (Hailey is learning some Vietnamese)

Xin chao family!!

This week we were making lunch in the kitchen and the church, when a man from the hallway came up to us and  proceeded to tell Sister Larsen and me that he and his two friends wanted to learn about God, and asked if we would be willing to teach them. YES, we definitely would :) It was such a miracle. The men  are  from Iran. They speak Persian and their English is pretty broken, but as we taught them who their Father in Heaven is, they felt the spirit. They were sitting on the edge of their seats and using google translate to translate words like "peace" "prophet" and "joy". O. said that "We want to follow commandments, but we don't know them..please. teach commandment?"

When we taught about Jesus Christ and showed pictures of Him being baptised, they were so excited. A. kept saying "a new life, we want, a new life". These Persian pals of ours are refugees. They are incredible and strong, and they are searching for truth. We taught them again on Saturday about Jesus Christ and the miracles He performed on Earth....they love their lessons.

On Sunday A. came to church and brought another friend, P. Another Persian that lives with them in their share- house. They ended up staying all 3 hours and then coming with a group of us to a baptism that evening for another Persian man!!! Another Persian guy got baptised last month. They are gathering!! For baptisms we walk 10 minutes to the train station, take the 40 minute train to Dennis, and then walk and additional 15 minutes to the Fairfiled chapel. It was so fun traveling with this group of people.

Only in the Melbourne 2nd Branch does someone who has been baptised 3 months conduct the baptism (And he's done it at 2 other baptisms already!) People are from all over the world in our branch and it is common for new members to speak at church and at the baptisms. It is great!!!

Mas. cannot wait to be baptised!!!! This Saturday at 1:30pm at the Footscray chapel.

This week I got to go on an exchange with Sister Gr. in Cranbourne!!!! Oh the joy! She is doing so well....my heart soars seeing her and Sister St. do so well...they are obedient and DILIGENT. We were able to see Sue Baker and I told her about Mas. and she showed up at the branch this weekend! It was such a blessing to finally have a Japanese translator.

When teaching, we always have him teach us afterwards to clarify that he understands, this weekend when teaching the ten commandments, we asked "what is number four" he then proceeded to say "...04831...." His phone number.....haha.

Sister Larsen and I started teaching 10 new people this week...we are truly being led to those who are prepared to hear our joyful message. I love the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know He is real. I know He delights when we make good choices. I love how the gospel changes lives. Anyone can change...we all need to change! I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that allows me to stretch, and change, and be better everyday. I want to align my will completely with the Lord's. I want to lay everything on the altar of sacrifice and I willing to do so...I love the Lord. I love serving Him.

I love you so much!!!!

Sister Stevenson

MY HEART COULD EXPLODE.... MY BROTHER IS GOING TO CHILE!

My brother is going to CHILE!!!!!!
 Oh my goodness me, my heart could explode!!! Kendrick, there has been no greater joy than representing Jesus Christ as a full-time missionary. I have come to know in such a real sense that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer, and with and through Him, all things that are unfair about life can be made right. I am nothing without Him. This knowledge has given me more peace than I could ever describe, true HOPE and PURPOSE. I know that the Book of Mormon is TRUE---I cling to that book!! I am learning to love more than I ever thought I could...the Holy Ghost is such a blessing!! What a privilege to have a member of the Godhead with me at all times. I don't know what I would do without that comfort, direction and guidance. The people here....oh my. I know I had to meet them. You will feel the same with the beautiful Chileans, I know it!  Decide now that you are going to be exactly obedient and that you will consecrate your whole self to the Lord....serving the Lord with my heart, might, mind and strength brings blessings beyond your wildest dreams :) (your Napoleon  announcement is on our fridge) 

Oh how I love our family!!!!

The Atonement of Jesus Christ changes hearts and nature, and I yearn for God to reconstruct me...I see His hand in my life DAILY. He loves and is so aware of us. All experiences are for our good!

The Saviour's love in my driving force...I know He loves me. I want other's to feel His love so so so badly. Oh how I love Him!!! I will forever glorify His name!

This week we exchanged with Lynbrook and Croyden. I went back to Lynbrook with Sis Ioane....it was exciting to knock doors again! We BIKED all day...hours worth...I loved it. We knocked on a boy called Aaron's door...he was about 20, dressed in all black, covered in tattoos and his eyes were so dark and his eye lids purple. Aaron was immersed in spiritual darkness and was hungering for light. He opened up to us about how alone he feels and how he wants to change. we were able to testify of God's love for him and the power of the Atonement...we taught about baptism and his whole countenance changed. We extended an invitation to be baptised and He eagerly accepted. It was such a beautiful miracle.

So many miracles this week! 

Mas. is a lover of the scriptures! We often walk into the branch and he will have a table with Japanese and English scriptures and pamphlets...he went to our Mission Presidents Fireside (meeting) last night and was able to talk to a Japanese Elder!! Soooo happy! During the fireseide, he was staring at the floor smiling so big, i asked him if something was funny and he started shaking because he was laughing so hard (trying not to make any noise) it honestly was the funniest site....for 30 minutes he tried to contain his smiling...on a piece of paper I wrote

"why are you laughing?"

his response "body feel warm."

May we all be filled with the warmth, love and joy of Jesus Christ!

I love you!!!!!!!

Sister Stevenson

DREAMS COME TRUE

Hello!!!

Dreams come true. Tuesday I was transferred to the International Branch in the City. 

The Melbourne 2nd branch consists of us, a set of English speaking Elders and 4 sets of Vietnamese speaking Elders. The Melbourne 1st branch is Chinese! Oh how I love every second. At church, those passing the sacrament were from Mexico, Iran, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam. It is TRULY International.

I am with my dear Sister L.! She is darling, has so much faith and intelligence, and is such a blessing to me. Life is beautiful!!! 

The majority of the people we teach are students from overseas and speak broken English. I am learning to teach more simply, purely and more powerfully than ever before...we generally teach people who God is, and how they can have a relationship with Him.

"Talk to everyone" has never had such a profound and literal meaning. As soon as we step out the door, we open our mouths to any and everyone. We have a car for exchange purposes, but our transportation in the city includes foot and tram (occasionally train or bus). There are HEAPS of people, predominately Asian. We talk as we walk, we talk to those on benches, we talk to people on the tram, we talk to everyone. I love it.

We start exchanges up this week...most missionaries never get a chance to visit the city. I feel that it will be so beneficial for our sisters to get to experience the pace of missionary work here and feel the spirit in the branch. 

This week Sister L. and I have raised our vision regarding key indicators, we are building our faith and are fully relying on our Heavenly Father. Miracles are happening. 

As I mentioned before, the branch is mostly students. It is hard because most are not here for long. The sweetest girl  did not pass an exam and is having to leave Australia and go back to Vietnam next week. It is devastating :(

The students are so loving. No matter who you are, they accept, love and fellowship you. Most of the branch is here by themselves and they make the branch in the city (!23 Lonsdale Street) their home. It is a FAMILY and is so special.

Sunday was perhaps one of the most powerful Sacrament Meetings I've ever been apart of. A boy from Vietnam who is not a member played the piano so beautifully...he will go to Berkley soon to be a composer! The spirit is so strong in the Branch.

Remember me telling you about M?!!! Well he is so wonderful! I'm not sure how to send pictures from this computer , but imagine a Japanese anime teen boy with shaggy black hair ;)  We have been teaching him every other day and he cannot wait to be baptised on the 20th. He is a branch ENTHUSIAST and  is there more than we are! Although so quiet, he has fellow shipped every investigator in the branch, haha.  He went to a baptism Friday and asked the Elders 3 times if he can have some white clothes to get baptised. Last night we taught a boy called Tom. from Japan as well, M. came too and in his very broken English taught Tom. how to pray...it was so incredible.

Our apartment is itty bitty! In the bathroom you can easily touch the shower, toilet, sink and washing machine without stretching your arms too much :)

I have had so many interesting foods while being here!! Dried jack fruit, proper Japanese ramen, bamboo shoots, Japanese black fungus, taro roll, seaweed and tofu soup, herbal jelly soy drink etc.

It has been quite the week. I love how I fall asleep within 30 seconds every night,. I love working. I love testifying to everyone I meet that God loves them, and that Jesus Christ's church is on the earth today.

This week so many great missionaries left, it was heavy on my heart saying goodbye to 5 in particular that changed my life. I am so blessed to be here. I am getting back so much more than I give. I love my mission. I love serving Jesus Christ. I deeply believe that it is only though Him that we can feel true peace, and true joy. It is only through Him that we can live with our families for ETERNITY. I know it.

I love you!!!! :)

xoxoxoxo Sister Hailey Stevenson

When I Asked Him if He Ever Prays, he said, "Oh yes, I pray tennis, I pray flute, I pray..."

Hi!

What an incredible week.

I exchanged into the city with Sister L.. We had a day of MIRACLES...my favorite days are when you are going, going, going and so busy that you don't even have time for lunch. 

We taught a Japanese student named M...his English isn't too great and he doesn't have much of a religious background. We began by praying and talking about the nature of God. We focused a lot on how we can communicate with our father and feel peace though prayer. When I asked him if he ever prays, he responded "Oh...yes. Everyday. I pray tennis....I pray flute...I pray..." Oh my goodness, I almost got the giggles.

Later I met a recent convert named Ang. He is a student here from Vietnam, he looks 15 but is in his mid 20s. He is such a delight he is to the branch. He LOVES American pop music and performed many a song for me, with 90% of the lyrics altered hahaha.

 Ang. loves the hymn  "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today" because according to him, he can add in anything. He then sang for  me "there is bacon in my mouth today!"

The majority of time spent in the city (when you are not teaching) is GQ'ing (golden questioning, where you talk to any and everyone)  I LOVE it. My favourite spot is in Bourke Street. At one point in the day I was talking to a man on a bench in front of the state library. He is a student here from India.  At first he had no interest in what I was saying, but as I proceeded to testify to him about Christ's church established on the earth again, and how we have a prophet HERE to guide and lead us, his heart started softening. Not because of anything that I said, but because of the spirit he felt. There was SO much going on around us, people bustling everywhere, and trams and buses and bikers, but as I told him about Joseph Smith and his account seeing Heavenly Father and His son, it was as if everything was on silence. It was such a profound moment on my mission.  After I finished, his whole countenance changed....he said, "Amazing....is it true?" I asked him what he thought and he nodded his head in response. "It is true." The most powerful thing I can do as a missionary is to testify. I could have all the skill in the world, but if whom I speak to cannot feel the spirit, their heart will never change.

Saturday we were able to go to the Temple... Sis V and Sis W both taught a darling lady named K. A few years ago K. got sick and lost 30 years of her memory (her whole life). Sis W retaught the lessons to her and this was her first time back at the temple. It was so special.

Both Sister V. and I are getting transferred Tuesday. I'm so sad to leave Narre Warren, but I will go wherever the Lord wants me to serve. Sis V and I were called up to bear our testimonies during Sacrament  meeting...after, a young w who wants to serve a mission spoke, as well as a boy who will be leaving for his mission this week in the Philippines, and an elder who just returned home from his mission in the West Indies. The work is HASTENING! I love being a missionary for Jesus Christ. I love you all so much! 

xoxoxoxo Sister Hailey Stevenson

Hello!!

Oh I love life! Life is beautiful! The gospel of Jesus Christ brings light and love to my soul.

Exchanges in Elthem

Sister Ver. has joined our companionship and is such a blessing to me. It has been further verification that Heavenly Father is aware of me, and knows exactly what I need. This week we had an Family Home Evening with the Per/ family and Ana was there!!! She shared her conversation story and talked about gaining a testimony of the book of Mormon, they key was prayer. she would pray before she opened the book, during and after. Through prayer she received revelation that the words that made her heart feel peace were TRUE. She was able to attend the temple and said she never wanted to leave. It was such a happy night :)

later in the week we were on exchanges and i was in Churchill Park with sister going....we had a dinner with the C's and Dan. was there! He is about to build a house and things are well in his life...his family now knows that he's a member! He said that he has had the brief thought of going on a mission....I could cry just thinking about it. 

I had the privilege later of going on exchanges with Sister K. in Elthem. What a unique, lovely place! Sister K. and I clicked instantly and  we saw miracle after miracle. We were able to teach that lady A. that I sent you the pic of. She arrives at that cafe early every morning and stays there till night. Everyday! We now know where to find her! 

 We taught a Saudi Arabian man named Moham. about Jesus Christ and His life. He asked such sincere questions and the spirit was so strong. He mostly reads Arabic and soaks in all the pamphlets that the missionaries have given him and keeps a study journal of questions to ask. He was enthralled as we told him that like Jesus Christ, we too will be resurrected someday and have perfected, gloried bodies. Such a beautiful truth!

We were able to have a dinner with the St. family and S. D.  and her brothers who aren't members came..after dinner, Brother St. played hymns on his guitar and we all sat around with hymn books and sang, it was such a great experience for everyone and the D. kids all came to the stake dance performance the next night....members make all the difference! Have you had the missionaries investigators over recently? :)

Yesterday we visited a lady in the hospital...she was very ill and drained emotionally. We sang primary songs to her and spirit was so strong and she had tears in her eyes. Heavenly Father loves His children so much....He often uses us as instruments to help them feel love. YOU, my lovely family, are instruments for Him. Keep showing love and kindness to all you meet. 

We organised a P-Day for today with all the sisters in the mission. We're tie dying shirts and are all bringing foods from our country/culture. I have American hot dogs and ketchup...haha 

I get to do an exchange in the city this week! Aiden is getting baptised on Saturday and we are also going to the Temple! One of Sis W. and Sis v's friends that they helped bring back to church is going through the Temple! Transfer news is that day too.

I am so grateful for what my mission is teaching me about love. Charity NEVER faileth! 

D&C 88:125

And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.

I love you so much and am so thankful for your prayers. Families are FOREVER! 

Love you so much!

XOX

Sister Stevenson