Oktoberfest in September

Good news! Sister Killian and I have survived another transfer cycle and we'll stay together for the next 6 weeks :) I'm absolutely thrilled - I love this area and I love Sister Killian! We have a lot of great things to look forward to!

󾓨 Miracle alert! A couple days ago we were praying for a chance to invite Karina's mom to take the lessons with Karina because we know how much it will BLESS their family! When we showed up to our next appointment, Karina's mom was sitting on the porch and said, "If you don't mind, I'm going to be joining you for your lesson today." We looked at each other in shock and said we didn't mind at all! She's really interested in learning more and has great faith in Christ! Sadly neither of them was able to make it to church on Sunday, and we're going to move Karina's baptism date back a bit just to make sure she's ready, but we're so excited to teach their whole family!

󾓨 We had the brilliant opportunity on Saturday to go to Appleton's Oktoberfest! The Neenah ward does a fundraiser every year at Oktoberfest selling "tiger paws" (fried bread dough with cinnamon and sugar - they're always a bestseller) to pay for youth camps and such. We were surprised when we showed up to help at how BIG of an operation it was; literally 600 pounds of oil in a hot-tub sized fryer! THAT big! And at least 20 people manning the booth at all times! I wish I could take a picture but I was up to my elbows in dough! But believe me, it was a BLAST! I love Mormons. 

󾓨 Women's conference on Saturday was unbelievably wonderful. I'm wondering if they've always been this good and I've just been too caught up in the world to notice??? Because on my mission it feels like General Conference might as well be a holiday! I LOVE it so much!!! President Uchtdorf's talk really touched me - he shared a story about missionaries who kept knocking a whole apartment complex until they hit the fourth (top) floor, last door... and THAT'S when a miracle happened. It motivated me to keep working and striving to NEVER GIVE UP!!!! 

󾓨 Another miracle alert! Through a series of incredibly small and seemingly insignificant events, we came in contact with a less active in the YSA named Mikaela. We met her at a Kwik Trip (best gas stations EVER) and she wants to come back to church! I don't have time to list all the things that brought us to that Kwik Trip, but it was a much-needed reminder to me of how TRULY involved the Lord is in the details of the work! I was blown away!

I think that's all for this week! Love you all!

xoxo

Sister K.

Happy Birthday to Sis Killian!

Today is my companion's 20th birthday! Woohoo!!!! They grow up so fast.

This week was Zone Conference! Our first with President Williams. That man. So incredibly inspired! He gave a powerful training on the Atonement. It always blows my mind thinking about how real and how expansive the power of the Atonement is... and yet, it can only influence us to the degree we allow it! I love that.

The reason we had a conference was because every single mission vehicle needed to be brought in so the Tiwi devices could be adjusted. (Tiwi is the little box that yells at us when we go too fast or drive aggressively. Our car commander has been known to say that for now, we need to abide by Tiwi's rules... but in the Millenium we'll use Tiwi for target practice!) Usually when Tiwi yells at me, I get all defensive and yell right back... but during conference I felt strongly that I should NOT do that anymore because it was driving the Spirit away! So Sister Killian and I made a new resolution. Whenever Tiwi yells, we clap and do this little chant : "Hey, Tiwi, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, hey Tiwi!!!" Haha. It's a silly little thing, but it totally WORKS! We've had the Spirit with us a lot more since this recent development!

That's probably the most exciting thing about the week. Haha.

󾓨 This week Karina kinda relapsed into some of her past behaviors and it's been really sad. Last time we saw her, we had a lesson planned, but we just pulled out the Book of Mormon and started reading. She left off on 1 Nephi 4 - when Nephi is commanded to kill Laban in order to get the plates. We read that chapter with her and it was SO COOL to see the impact it had! She LOVED the story and said that she felt so much happier with every verse we read. (And it was about a teenager cutting off some rich mean guy's head!!!!!) THAT'S the power of the Book of Mormon - no matter what or where we read, it can apply to us personally and we can feel the power of the Spirit the moment we open up to a page!

󾓨 The Vandenlangenbergs... well they're doing great and they still want to meet, but it seems that no matter HOW MANY times we teach the Restoration, they don't understand the concept of one true church. I guess because I was raised in it, it's so common sense to me, but for the dad especially it's SO hard to grasp. It all comes back to the Book of Mormon, which they know. It's just a matter of reading, applying, and praying about it! We've said that repeatedly but something always seems to get lost in translation.

󾓨 I got my "trunky papers" in the mail on Saturday. :( Made me want to THROW UP!!!!!!! Haha jk, it wasn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be. Kind of exciting but also a lot happens in 3 months on the mission so I'm trying not to think about it. 

I love Wisconsin! I can't wait for the Fall to hit full-blast! I can't wait to bring my family back here next summer! 

LOVE YOU! Have a great week!

xoxo

Sister K.

12 Sep 2016

Family and Friends!

Can I just say that I LOVE FALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A couple leaves are starting to turn and there's a bit of briskness in the air every now and then....... I LOVE IT SO STINKIN' MUCH!!!!!!! As much as I'm sad that this year is beginning to wane.... I just LOVE this season and all the beautiful tender mercies that come with it!!!

Life is SO great here in Menasha for several reasons!

󾓨 ALL SIX OF THE VANDENLANGENBERGS CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mission MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! They only stayed for Sacrament meeting, but we were able to teach them the Plan of Salvation on Saturday and they had GREAT questions. I don't think it's really clicked for them all the things that our church claims to be - they did like the service, though, and there were some stellar talks given by ward members about scripture study and prayer. Their 17 year old daughter is probably the most interested out of all of them; she even went to the Bishop's Youth Discussion last night, and wants to meet with us extra times instead of just with her family. (she requested that we meet in a "cool" place, like a cafe or something. Haha, she's the cutest!) We are SO excited about this family, and so grateful to the Milwaukee sisters for finding them! 

󾓨 Karina also came to church! She seems to be making great friends, and the Young Women leaders have taken her under their wings to help her come to mutual activities. She's a whole different person than the first time we met her, and her mom is still supporting her baptism on October 8th. YAY!!!!!

󾓨 We had a SWEET lesson with Sadock, a YSA from the Congo who speaks French and very little English. After our Ward Misson Leader asked around a bit, he found out that the Bishop of the Appleton 2nd ward speaks French! So we brought him to the lesson with us, and it was SUPER powerful. Sister Killian and I were both blown away by the pure understanding on Sadock's face as he heard the message of the Restoration in his OWN language - a message we've tried to teach him in English 3 times now! Reminds me of the scripture 2 Nephi 31:3: "For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding." The Lord knows us and speaks to OUR understanding - sometimes He even provides a French translator!!!!!

I have SUCH a testimony of the power of daily scripture study and prayer. THOSE ARE THE CONVERTING HABITS OF THE GOSPEL. Scripture study leads us to know Christ and to repent - I KNOW that there is power in the words of Christ!

Love you all! Sorry I'm the worst, I forgot to take pictures! Hope your week is GREAT!!!!!!

xoxo

Sister K.

September

Fam Family!

The work is really picking up here in Winnebago! We have done a TON of finding lately. Something our mission has been emphasizing - I'm not sure if I've told you about it yet - is called "First Vision Lessons"; basically, every companionship is to strive to teach Joseph Smith's First Vision at least TWO times every day. We've been promised that as we do so, the individuals who are prepared to receive the gospel will be touched in their hearts by the message, and it will ring true to them. I've TOTALLY seen that to be the case as we go out and testify of Joseph's experience; every time I recite the First Vision, my own testimony of it grows, and I've been able to see people's hearts soften and interest pique as they consider something they've NEVER considered before; that God has reached out to His children in LOVE and called a Prophet once again! It's incredible. (Both the knowledge, and sharing that knowledge. Absolutely incredible!)

Friday was MLC! I LOVE PRESIDENT WILLIAMS. What a man. He's friendly and loves to have fun, but also knows how to get to work and make results happen. The perfect balance! Something I LOVE that he said was, "If missionary work isn't fun, then you're doing it wrong." Over and over again on my mission I've needed that reminder - yes, we are here to work... but we are here to find JOY! And if we're truly obedient and working our hardest, that joy will automatically come, regardless of results! That's something else I've really found this week - even if people reject us, when I've worked my hardest I go to sleep at night feeling WONDERFUL. I'm SO GRATEFUL for this mission thing. Every day, in every prayer... SO grateful. I love this place so much I can't even describe it - I will ALWAYS be eternally grateful that I was called to serve a mission!

 Karina is progressing really well! Her baptism date is set for October 8th, enough time to get the ward members more involved. If the Young Women leaders and girls support her, I'm not worried at all for her future activity in the church. If she falls through the cracks somehow... not so much! I feel like I'm shepherding ducklings sometimes - trying to get all the ducks in a row so NOTHING can go wrong! But I know if we do our best, follow the Spirit, and teach Karina how to live the gospel, her testimony and activity in the Church will be fine. And she'll be so SO blessed for it! She's just the sweetest. 

󾓨 The Vandenlangenbergs are LEGIT. They have good questions about our church specifically and religion in general; one of those questions is HOW could there be ONE TRUE CHURCH if there are so many people and denominations who think that THEIR OWN CHURCHES are right? And the only answer I really have is my testimony of the First Vision. I KNOW it happened. Everything in the history of the world points to Christ Himself atoning for us, and to the glorious restoration of the fullness of His gospel here in these latter days so that WE, as children of God, can ACCESS that miraculous Atonement. It's true. I don't know how else to say it - all of this is TRUE.

I love you all. Fall is in the air - my favorite of all favorite seasons - Hope you enjoy it!

xoxo

Sister K.

The Worth of a Soul.....

Wow, what a week of miracles! Seriously. The tender mercies of the Lord are ALL OVER the place in this little corner of Wisconsin!

󾓨We found a the sweetest girl EVER named Karina! She was being taught by the Neenah Elders a couple months ago, but her mom asked them not to come back. Well, the Neenah Elders got doubled out this transfer, so they gave us their area book, and we decided to try Karina again, hoping that her mom is more okay with Sisters stopping by than Elders, because Karina is a 12 year old girl. We stopped by, and it turns out that Karina has been struggling a lot with depression and anxiety and darkness from a crazy childhood, and her mother was more than willing to let us teach her and see how we could help. We met with Karina four times this week, and each time we saw her, her countenance had more and more light!!! In our latest lesson, she told us that she hasn't had ANY depressed or suicidal thoughts since she started meeting with us, reading the Book of Mormon, and praying. It's totally incredible to see the reality of the POWER of the gospel firsthand! Karina also was able to come to church yesterday. She's a sweetheart and we're SO excited to keep teaching her and seeing her life change!!!

󾓨 The Milwaukee YSA Sisters (that used to be me... THAT'S weird!) Met an AWESOME family in Milwaukee this week that lives in Neenah, and gave us their address! We stopped by yesterday and they are LEGIT. Their intent is so real and their hearts are open to learning truth! Families are THE BOMB!!!!!

󾓨 We were able to contact another referral from MYSELF in Kettle Moraine 8 months ago!! Long story short... I found a slip of paper in my suitcase with the address of a man Sister Tidwell and I gave a Book of Mormon to when we were tracting - he was visiting his mom in Monteray but actually lives in Neenah, and I wrote down his address but forgot all about it. SEEING THAT SLIP OF PAPER BLEW MY MIND!!!!!! I'm putting all my doubts behind me... THIS is where I need to be!!!!!

󾓨 Yes, I'm using the German flag as a bullet point. #fatherland

󾓨 This week was also MISSION TOUR!!!!!!!!!!! Elder Ringwood and Elder Cordon of the Seventy came to tour our mission together and train the missionaries. They are both INCREDIBLY inspired men - the spirit was SO strong throughout the meeting, and my mind and heart were FILLED to the BRIM with revelation and ALL the answers I'd been seeking. One of the favorite things I'd learned was taught by Elder Cordon; he asked us, "What is the worth of a soul?" We all answered different things:"exceedingly great," "immeasurable," "priceless," and so on. One of the missionaries said, "The worth of a soul is the worth of the Savior." That just took my breath away! It is SO true - God loved us SO MUCH that He gave us His Son as our Savior. It must have been SO HARD for Him to watch Jesus Christ suffer and feel forsaken... but that's the price that had to be payed for our sins to be redeemed, so we could return to live with our Father. I'm SO grateful for that!!!!!!!

There are so many other things I want to say... but I don't have time! Just know that this work is AMAZING!!!!! Wisconsin is MY FAVORITE!!!!!!!! I love it here!!!!!!

Love you all :) Have a great week!!!!!

xoxo

Sister K.

Hello from Winnebago!!!!

Well, "Winnebago" is actually the name of the lake, not a city... and seeing as I am NOT emailing you from a lake... Hello from Menasha! ;) Haha it is truly BEAUTIFUL up in these here parts! So green and lovely and a small-town feel but lots of new faces to see. It's like if Kettle Moraine ward and the Milwaukee YSA ward had a baby... it would also be Winnebago YSA's baby. (To steal a phrase from Sis. Gifford.) My new companion is Sister Killian and she is WONDERFUL. So sweet and kind and a hard worker and a stellar missionary and example... everything I was hoping/praying for! I feel so lucky to spend the next 6 weeks with her... hopefully more! :)

Well, I don't even know how to describe the transition to this area. After being in the Milwaukee zones my whole mission, the Appleton zone seems like a different PLANET. There are so many areas, cities, members, and missionaries I don't know! Luckily, though, there are several missionaries here that I DO know - namely, Sister Wise (serving in Appleton) and Sister Decker (serving in Sheboygan). I'm a lucky duck! And I'll get to go on exchanges with both of them in the next couple months - tender mercies up the wazoo!

I've met several AWESOME people here already - including lots and lots of recent converts! I LOVE meeting them and listening to their testimonies and their experiences with the missionaries and the Church. Every now and then I try to look at the restored gospel through a recent convert's eyes... pretty incredible, the things we do as a Church that are so NORMAL to us but NEW and DIFFERENT to everyone else. It reminds me of Bishop Gerald Causse's talk in General Conference a couple years back called "Is it Still Wonderful to You?" I hope we all take a little bit of time every day to reflect on our gratitude for the fullness of the gospel and ALLOW it to be WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!! Because it really, REALLY is!!!!

Cool experience: the night before I left Milwaukee, Sister Gifford and I had a lesson with the Petersens. The Stake President (President Elbert) came with us and bore such powerful testimony about the role of the Spirit in his life and in his conversion. The Petersens opened up and shared how there is always a TANGIBLE difference in their home when us missionaries enter it, and they want to have that feeling all the time. Arron Petersen said that after meeting with us for this past month, he can honestly say for the first time in his life that he believes Christ is the Son of God and our Savior!!! I couldn't stop myself from BEAMING ear to ear when he said that... because THAT is why we missionary work!!!! Hearing him say his testimony of Christ has grown makes EVERYTHING worth it!!! I'm so sad to leave the Petersens behind, but I know they're in good hands :) (God's hands!) (Plus the missionaries' too. Haha.) 

Anyways, it was an incredible experience! It's been a LOOOONG week... but a good one! I can't wait to report on how this next week goes!

Love you!

xoxo

Sister K.

P.S. I left my camera at the apartment... so sorry... next week for sure!! :)

Breaking News!!!

Hey Folks!

Transfers are happening on Wednesday, and our predictions were correct.... I'm leaving the Milwaukee YSA ward!!! I am sad to go - it has been WONDERFUL here, and I've met so many great eternal friends - but I'm also excited for the future :) BECAUSE!!!! I'm transferring to the WINNEBAGO YSA area!!!!!! All I wanted was to go "up north"... and technically I am! Woot woot! It covers the Neenah family ward as well, if you want to find that on a map. Kind of in the Oshkosh/Appleton area. Mixed emotions but it will be great!!!! :)

MY NEW ADDRESS IS: 1340 Geneva Rd. #2 Menasha, WI 54952

As a tribute to Milwaukee, here are a couple things I've learned from the city/ward/people/area!

1) Prayers WORK. If you want tangible evidence of this, try writing down the things you pray for every night. Weeks later you'll see that God granted you strength, patience, charity, determination, desires, etc. etc. EXACTLY when you needed it - you probably just forgot you prayed for those things in the first place! (shoutout to Sister Wise for the prayer journaling idea.)

2) "Too much kindness" is not actually a thing. We can NEVER be too kind or show too much love!!!

3) When in doubt as to what the Lord wants you to do for His people... WORK. It's easier to direct a moving object than one that is standing still.

4) Promptings are usually unidentifiable until hours, days, or weeks later. We don't need to know that the Spirit is PROMPTING us before we ACT.
5) Some of the COOLEST PEOPLE I've EVER met are 27+ years old and still single. It doesn't mean they did anything wrong - God has a plan for ALL of us and as Spencer W. Kimball (I think) said, "None of us is predestined to receive less than ALL the blessings Father has in store for us." (Or something along those lines.) (This snippet probably seems super random, but that's like the BIGGEST thing I learned from the active members of the YSA ward!)

6) I LOVE MILWAUKEE. I LOVE WISCONSIN. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!

This week. This week was a blur. We had a zone training meeting, which was good, and a miraculous amount of dinner appointments, which was lucky. There are so many solid families here - I love them!!!! We got to take out Sherry Huang, who just returned from her Mandarin-speaking mission in Arcadia, California, and that was a BLAST! So cool to talk about missions and how they change us and the lessons we learn from our mission presidents that we can only learn from THOSE SPECIFIC MEN and their wives.

We taught the Petersens on Friday - they have gotten into anti-material pretty heavily and said they almost asked us not to come back, but something always keeps them from shutting us out. WE know that's the Spirit - that they have felt something as they learn more about the gospel and eternal families - but THEY don't know that. It's hard to feel them slipping away - they are potentially the most PREPARED people I have ever met. From the Petersens I have learned how incredibly IMPORTANT it is to safeguard our testimonies - to build them CONSTANTLY and NEVER allow any room for doubt. It's not because we're brainwashed or indoctrinated - it's because we literally NEED every ounce of faith we can get!!!! EVERY chink of spiritual armor MATTERS!!!!!!!

Love you all. Hope your week is great!

With Love,

Sister K.

P.S. For anyone worried about the Milwaukee violence, we were told to let you know that all the missionaries are safe and well :)