november

Monday we did laundry and studies. We went to Zumba. Ate a brunch at
Lena's again. Went to my eye appointment. :) we went shopping. Played
games, emailed, had to do more college stuff. Went to our dinner.
Taught the restoration to the bishops family. And yay for ZTM week,
sister Hertig and sister grant had to do some planning.

Tuesday we did studies. Sister Bocanegra and I went to open heart
because the sisters had more planning. We ate lunch. saw Brother Smyth
after more planning. Went to dinner. Helped Citlali. Went to see
Sister Blair.

Sister Hertig and I have been out 16 months!! It is sooo crazy!

Wednesday we did studies and went to Zumba. The other sisters had ZTM
in Fremont so Sister Bocanegra and I went to the gardens. Ate lunch,
got ready. Saw Sister Osborne. Dropped by Sister Caraway. Ate dinner.
Finished our restoration jeopardy game. :)

Happy 17th Birthday Ray! :)

Thursday we did studies. This time we had ZTM. It was good. We ate
lunch quickly then went to a STL meeting. It was fun to see President
and Sister Mella. We went to dinner. Saw the Girardellis.

On Friday Sister Bocanegra and I went to Zumba after studies. The
sisters had ZTM in Pleasanton. Went to Quail service. Ate lunch. Got
ready. Did weekly planning. Helped Citlali again. Went to dinner - I
don't think I've biked that fast for a while. . . But they have a
Steinway and let me play it! Did a little more weekly planning but we
are still not done.

Saturday we were all involved in a service called Race to the
Flagpole, which is to help raise money for school scholarships. Sister
Hertig and I went to one of the farthest points via bike and handed
out water. It was really inspiring when one of the 1/2 marathoners
finished the race walking in, while we (already putting things away
and taking down) cheered her on. Sister Hertig and I had handed her
water, she was the last person we saw before heading back to the start
and at that point she was already walking. It was awesome that she
finished the race and didn't give up! The enduring to the end
principle. We all went to Lena's for lunch. Got ready quickly. Made up
studies. Saw Sister Stearns. Ate dinner. Went to the Harwoods to start
the lessons. Brother Harwood is a convert of 22 years and he started
using all of the questions he had had. That was fun, we kindof taught
half of each of the first two lessons. xD they are a great family!

Sunday we went to Ward council. I had to go with Sister Bocanegra to
their primary program because the sisters had another meeting (I
didn't complain, I mean, children singing. Yes.) tried to see some
people, tried to contact a referral. went to dinner. Finished weekly
planning.

It was a good week. :) bonus, I have a great companion. xD whom I am
grateful for. I am also grateful that I have friends on the mission
who I know will be amazing friends when I get home.

I love and miss you all!

Love,

Sister Kelly

service

On Monday, which was Halloween, we did laundry and studies. There was
no Zumba because of what day it was - turn out being bad. Went
shopping. Went to my eye appointment. Emailed and worked on school
stuff (blech). Went to dinner, where we helped them hand out amazing
homemade donuts and toys to trick or treaters. As we were supposed to
be inside somewhere safe (yay Halloween) the zone leaders decided we
would do some zone sports to end the day.

Tuesday we did studies. We went to open heart - the Hermanas were the
only other missionaries there, all of the elders somehow being
affected by the transfer. Ate lunch. Worked on a restoration jeopardy
game (to help keep youth and children involved when we teach member
families). Saw Brother Smyth. Went contacting. Ate dinner. Saw the
Silvas and the Girardellis.

Wednesday we did studies and went to Zumba (yay!). Our solo zone
leader, Elder Caceres, wanted to meet with all the companionships
individually and talk to us about our areas and goals we have for the
transfer. Went to open heart gardens. Ate lunch. Got ready. Tried to
see sister Carter - but she wasn't feeling well, so we said we would
try another day. Went to dinner at our new bishops house, we invited
them to take the lessons. Went to young women's and painted pumpkins
with them.

Thursday we did studies and then went to a members house to pick up
pomegranates because, in her words "we have to many to be able to eat
them all before they go bad". Worked on restoration jeopardy before
picking up the Hermanas for lunch. (National sandwich day meant a deal
at subway so we went). Printed some flyers to put up in the church
building. We were going to finally meet a referral some of the elders
were giving us but she canceled last minute because of a scheduling
conflict. Went to dinner and then some members took us to a Sheri Dew
fireside we got permission to go to. It was amazing! She talked about
keeping questions and our testimony separate (QUESTIONS ARE GOOD) and
how we need to prioritize conversion. I loved it. :)

Friday we did studies. Hermana Bocanegra and I went to Zumba and
Quail, because Sisters Hertig and Grant had leadership training. Ate
lunch and got ready. Went to walk with the Hermanas recent convert to
the church so he could get the priesthood (yay) and I played piano
while we waited for the other sisters to pick us up. Went to dinner.
Saw the Gundersens (a non-member family kindof referred to us by a
member family whom we had started teaching the lessons when they
thought of this family to ask if we could practice lessons with). They
later asked for a chapel tour, so hopefully we will do that soon. Went
and saw Sister Oxley.

Saturday we did studies. One of the youth came to our service,
sunflower gardens, because he needed credits for a class. Ate lunch.
Took a member with us to see Sue, a referral we received from some
elders in Pleasanton. Saw Sister Stearns. Dropped off some containers
and things we had gotten from members. Did a little weekly planning.
Ate dinner and used my plan of salvation matching game I drew to keep
children interested in the lesson. When you make a match you have to
explain what it is. Did more weekly planning.

Sunday we went to Ward council. Did comp study. Went to church. Went
to dinner and used the matching game again (mom you can expect me to
use these as lesson tools for FHE when I get home. Just btw. . . :D ).
Tried to see some people. Finished weekly planning.

Hope everyone had an awesome week! Look for the little everyday
miracles! Especially since it is Thankful month. xD

What are you grateful for this week? I am grateful that I am able to
read the scriptures and draw closer to my Heavenly Father - and see
stars that remind me of the light of Christ. :)

Speaking off, I am very excited about the Christmas initiative that
will come out November 25th

halloween week

Monday we did laundry and studies. Went to Zumba. Did studies. A member fed the entire zone lunch. Went shopping. Emailed. Played card games with the zone - mostly uno, lol. Went to Panda with the Hermanas. Tried to see people and did BRT with a less active.

Tuesday we did studies and went to open heart. Got our flu shots as required by the mission nurse. Ate lunch. Saw Brother Smyth. Went to help Citlali with her math homework (she is a member of the Hermanas branch). Went to dinner. Tried to see people.

Wednesday we did studies. Went to the Zumba Halloween dance party. Went to the open heart gardens - apparently the real name is Garden of Grace. ? Ate lunch and got ready. Tried to see people. Went on blitz' - kindof - with some of the elders, they just went around and contacted in our area. Our dinner cancelled, so they called their dinner and asked if we could come. I also found out that Vanessa (my recent convert) has to go back to the very bad conditions in Venezuela. She will be trying to get a student visa and come back here, but everything there right now will make that very hard. I'm already praying for her.

Thursday we did studies. Went to district meeting, where the district leaders took us on a scavenger hunt with study activities which led to us role playing. It was awesome. Ate lunch. Saw a referral from the Pleasanton elders named Sue. Met with Sister Bohn. Went to help Citlali again. Gave the Hermanas the car.  Went to dinner. They drove us to our lesson with the Girardellis. We then went to the church because we forgot to get the keys from the Hermanas. Oops.

Friday we did studies. Went to quail service. Ate lunch. Did weekly planning. Saw Sister Clark. Went to help set up for the Harvest festival, which ended up being amazing. We went home and did more weekly planning.

Saturday we did studies. Dropped the Hermanas off at the church for their baptism. Tried to see some referrals. Helped Citlali again. Ate lunch. Finished weekly planning. Saw Sister Stearns. Saw the Lathams. Gave the Hermanas the car - again forgetting to grab the other keys - and went contacting. We called them but they didn't answer so we called the elders to ask the Hermanas for the keys. They came and took us to their Ward party because we didn't have a dinner. Saw members I knew. Oh something I forgot because nothing happened to our apartment, only one person is transferring in the zone, Elder Jackman, and Elder Pongyan is going home.

Sunday we did studies. Went to church, where we had a change in bishopric. Tried to see someone. Tried to see a less active and instead saw someone we had done service with one time. Went to dinner. Tried to see people. The Bohns took us to correlation.

All in all it was a good week.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Love and miss you all!

Love,

Sister Kelly