week 46 -Transfers, mission peak and Lisa's first birthday

Well I love my area and Sister Harvey is awesome! She has a great
sense of humor and is from Leander TX, near Austin.

Monday we hiked mission peak again. Went to Denny's with most of the
zone. Printed pictures after doing laundry and went to email and sign
transfer journals. Went to Jaque's. Did studies.

Tuesday was transfers. Said goodbye to Sister Palmer. Went to
Pleasanton and its Sister Harvey's birthday! Unpacked. Sister Palmer
heart attacked the wall in front of my desk and wrote/drew on the
mirror. :) Met a lot of people. Saw Sandra. Went to dinner. Met the
bishop of one of the wards and taught them the restoration.

Wednesday we did some service. Went to district meeting where I tried
to play #142 as the closing hymn. I knidof did? Ate pizza as a
district afterward. Went and met Brother Carlson and his wife. Very
sweet. Biked to meet other people. Bleh. Let the elders borrow some of
my music, as they had one cd. . . .

Thursday did ACS (yay!) ate lunch and correlated with the elders about
missionary work. Met with a lot of Ward council people. Also we are
teaching a lot of 7 turning 8 year olds in the wards and asking them
to invite their friends to their baptism. Went to dinner. Went to
Sister Buckholz who is hilariously awesome and a sweet grandma.

Friday we went to open heart service which is helping cook and
cleaning a kitchen in a care home. It was awesome, but I was asked to
cut onions so I cried and Sister Harvey laughed at me - but I was
cutting onions, lol, I didn't cry on purpose! xD went home, ate lunch
and did weekly planning. Visited some people. Saw an amazing French
family, the Havards, for dinner and we are teaching their 7 year old
daughter, of their three. All through dinner this is what I heard
"Sister Kelly?" They are sooo cute and just kept asking me questions.
"Did you know Sister Palmer could speak French?" :)

Saturday did studies and packed a lunch cause we wanted to see people.
Tried to see the people. Ate lunch. Saw Sandra. Tried to see more
people. Ate dinner - their little girl (7, we are teaching) played the
violin for us. Went to a Hindi event. Had correlation.

Sunday we went to a lot of church and I received many "wow your hair
is so long!". Went to the farewell of one of the RS presidents sons
going to I think the same mission as one of my friends, Sister Jones.
Went to dinner. Saw Sister Miao. Say like the place in Egypt.

Well there are flees here because a cat the member we live with owns
brought them in a couple weeks ago and they are still here. Horray!
Lol.

Love and miss you all! Hope everything is going well!

Sister Kelly

week 45 transfers

I am transferring to Pleasanton. I am going to be with sister Harvey.

Monday we did laundry and studies. Emailed. Sis Hughes took a nap. We
went to a members home for pday and played ping pong and trivial
pursuit and ate ice cream. We had a lot of fun, some of the elders
brought investigators. Went to dinner. Went to FHE and played
charades.

Tuesday we took the car in for an oil change and tire rotation. We
walked to the walnut building, contacting along the way, and then I
played piano while sis Hughes did language study. I am figuring out
that I know more notes and have been able to slowly, very slowly,
figure out how to play a lot more hymns. :) did studies after picking
up the car. Went finding and tried to see people. Went to Jaque's.
Went to institute, which was about the importance of the Book of
Mormon.

Wednesday we did studies and worked on the Ward lists. Went to help a
member whose daughter had her mission call to Salt Lake City and
needed some dress advice. They fed us lunch. Went to park central care
for service. Did language study. Ate dinner. Dropped by Jaque's. Went
to ASL class.

Thursday we did studies and went to ACS. Ate lunch. Set up for a Ward
talent show. Did language study. Tried to see people. Went to dinner.
Went to the Book of Mormon study class.

Friday we did studies then went to ACS. Went to a members for a
meeting and lunch. Saw Bill and Larue. Did language study. Went to
dinner. Went to the Ward talent show, which was awesome, and these
cute little children sang one of mom and dads songs so I cried.

Saturday we did studies and started weekly planning. Had ZTM. Finished
weekly planning and went to dinner. Received the call for transfers.

Sunday we went to church and said goodbyes. :) went to say goodbyes to
all of the amazing members. Went to dinner. Did studies.

I have loved serving in Fremont! As the stake president says, Fremont
is Zion and I will miss it. But I am as always excited for what the
new transfer will bring.

My love to all of you!

Sister Kelly

Freemont Zone-my new companion Sister Harvey is on the far right

Freemont zone on mission peak

Reina learned how to fold her arms

me and Reina

week 44 - 20 years and Mother's Day!

Monday we did laundry and studies. Emailed. Went shopping. I sent a
Mother's Day package. . . :) went home and slept because we could.
Went to visit Jaque and she gave me a coloring book for my birthday.
Met with the Cuturrufos.

Tuesday we went to Shinn park. We were weeding the Japanese garden.
Ate lunch and did language study. Visited Sister Paul. Visited Sister
Derting. Ate dinner. Met with one of our bishops.

Wednesday I made cake (which my Aunt Tresa and cousins sent me) during
studies. Opened my package from my family. :) went to district meeting
and after the zone sang me happy birthday while we ate the cake. Ate
lunch. Went to a new service, Park Central Care, a care home where we
pay attention to the residents and help them do things like color and
do word searches and play bingo. :) it was awesome. We tried to see
people and did language study. Went to dinner at our other bishops
house and had a lesson there with Dani. I turned 20 which is crazy!!
Happy may the fourth be with you day!! xD

Thursday we went to TriCity. I bought six books for 60 cents which my
sister will appreciate . . :) ate lunch and did language study.
Planned for the finding idea of teaching a Book of Mormon class. Saw
Natalie Cicairos. Went to dinner. At the Book of Mormon class (two
members came. . But are inviting for next time!) we talked about
Jacobs allegory of the olive trees in Jacob 5 because the recent
convert who came loved that chapter. Showed the seminary helps for it.

Friday we went to ACS. Ate lunch and started weekly planning. Helped
Sister Rhine set up for her daughters party. Tried to see people. Met
with Skylare!

Saturday we went to morning sports. Did studies. We ate lunch. Went to
Makayla's birthday party for finding. Drove up to Pleasonton for
exchanges. I was with Sister Palmer, my trainer! We tried to see
people, and went contacting when they didn't answer. Their zone was
asked to sing a song at an event and so we practiced for that and then
went to the event. Sister Palmer and I had to leave early so we could
go to dinner and half an hour after we left they sang Come Thou Fount.
But dinner was awesome, we ate quiche, and the member went on a
mission to France (which made Sis Palmer happy) and they used to live
in sugar land tx!!! It was awesome. Sister Hughes and I decided to
stay the night because I didn't want us to try and drive back as it
was 9:45.

Sunday we drove home after eating a lite breakfast. Got ready for
church, went to church. Cried a lot because everything was about
mothers. Got ready to skype and then skyped. :) it was awesome to see
everyone and how much they've all grown!!! (Can I have pictures???
Also can I have how tall everyone is? Are Lyd and Ben taller than me?)
we then ate dinner where we skyped. :) it was an awesome day. Happy
Mother's Day!!!!

I hope everyone had a great week and I hope this next one is just as
good for you! Love and miss you all!

Love,

Sister Kelly

Happy Birthday to me!

Skylare

Makayla's birthday

Sister Palmer!

This is how long my hair is getting!

week 43

Monday we did laundry and studies. Went shopping., folded laundry and
ate lunch. Our housing coordinator came to put alarms in our walls.
Emailed. Played sports and an awesome FHE game which my family will
play when I come home. xD had FHE with our recent convert Jaque.

Tuesday did studies. Went to Shinn park. Ate lunch, did language
study. Created fliers for a finding idea and did Ward list.

Wednesday we did studies. Went to district meeting. Set up a service.
Planned for the finding idea, which is teaching the Book of Mormon in
a class. Met with Jaque. Ate dinner. Went to ASL.

Thursday went to TriCity. Ate lunch. Did language study. Planned for
the finding thing. Went to Jaque's. Went to dinner. Saw Natalie
Cicairos (whose granddaughter is on the voice!).

Friday did studies. Showed the Joseph Smith movie to Heather. Saw
Jaque. Went to dinner. Got package which I can't open till Wednesday.
xD

Saturday we went to zone sports and had a zone breakfast after. Did
studies. Weekly planned. Went to ACS. Ate dinner at this awesome salad
bar restaurant called sweet tomatoes. Went to Jaque's.

Sunday we went to church. Did studies. Ate dinner. Met with Dani.

That was my week.

STEPP talk: The Gift of the Holy and It's Role In Conversion

"In D&C 39:6 it says "And this is my gospel--repentance and baptism by
water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even
the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable
things of the kingdom." We have been going in this order for STEPP
talks, and now we are talking about the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
how important it is in our conversion.

Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the most important
parts of becoming a member. Because in receiving this gift, we are
able to be sanctified and cleansed more fully. Elder Boyd K Packer
said in his talk "Guided by the Holy Spirit" that "Every one of us can
be guided by the spirit of revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Our Heavenly Father gave us the Holy Ghost as a gift to guide us in
our lives. In his talk "To Aquire Spiritual Guidance", Richard G Scott
said "Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be
required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability
to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision
for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your
mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost
as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that
a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace
and happiness." Before we are baptized, we don't always have the Holy
Ghost to be with us. He can be with us sometimes, but we can only have
him with us always after we are baptized and as we stay worthy of his
guidance.

Another reason our Heavenly Father has given us the Holy Ghost is to
bring us comfort. Some of my favorite scriptures in John 14:18, 26-27,
talk about when the gift of the Holy Ghost was first given to stay
with someone. "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come unto you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

In my life, when I received a testimony that the Holy Ghost would
speak to me, and that the Book of Mormon was true I was thirteen. I
was at girls camp and I would go off with some older girls during
study time and read scriptures with them. Near the end of the week
they directed me to Alma 32:21, and as I read this scripture and on in
the chapter something took me to the Joseph Smith story and as I read
I felt a warmth and peace in my heart and heard in my mind "you know
this is true." As I acted on this and continued doing what my Heavenly
Father asked, I was able to better hear the promptings of the Holy
Ghost. President Henry B Eyring promised "As you obey, the impressions
from the Spirit will come more frequently, becoming closer and closer
to constant companionship. Your power to choose the right will
increase. You can know when these impressions to act for Him are from
the Spirit rather than from your own desires. When the impressions
square with what the Savior and His living prophets and apostles have
said, you can choose to obey with confidence. Then the Lord will send
His Spirit to attend you." ("The Holy Ghost as Your Companion").

In 2 Nephi 32:5 it says "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye
will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show
unto you all things what ye should do." We as missionaries are
striving to help people understand the Holy Ghost's guidance in their
lives, and that once they are baptized they can have the Holy Ghost
with them always, as they remain worthy of the gift. In the Preach my
Gospel it says "Those who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and
remain worthy can enjoy His companionship throughout their lives. . .
The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ and helps us recognize the truth.
He provides spiritual strength and helps us do what is right. He
comforts us during times of trial or sorrow. He warns us of spiritual
or physical danger. . . The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of our
Heavenly Father’s most precious gifts. Through the power of the Holy
Ghost we can feel God’s love and direction for us."

When I was younger, around the time of my baptism, my family watched
the Joseph Smith movie. After watching it, I felt really warm and I
was beaming. I also heard a voice in my mind saying, "you know he's a
prophet". My dad told me that I was feeling the Holy Ghost, and that
as long as I stayed worthy I would have that feeling and guidance
throughout my life because I had received the gift of the Holy Ghost
after my baptism. Elder Richard G Scott said "What may appear
initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over
time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings
prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive
from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger" (Oct 2009, "To Aquire
Spiritual Guidance"). Though it is sometimes hard to understand the
promptings we receive from the Holy Ghost, we are promised that as we
try to follow those promptings, we will be better able to understand
what those promptings are.

I know that the gift of the Holy Ghost was given to us for a reason,
and that as long as I remain worthy I may have the Holy Ghost with me
to guide me in all I do. I promise that as you do your best to keep
covenants you make with our Heavenly Father, you will have His gift,
the gift of the Holy Ghost, with you always, and you will be blessed.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."


Love and miss you all!

Love,
Sister Kelly