Hermana Kelsey 12:1 -email-HAPPY 11 MONTHS
IN THE MISSION!!!!
(exactly 11 months ago today, I was leaving to go to the MTC. Do you remember that day?…cause I sure do! Time has really flown by though)
Dearest family,
This week was pretty good. I feel like we have been working harder than I have in a really long time. I feel like our numbers don’t show the work we do. I feel like that’s hard for me, because I don’t like numbers, but I see how well I am doing by them and if they are bad, then I feel bad. But things are good. I have been really stressed lately, and I’m not sure why, but I am kind of starting to get that gum thing again, that I had in the MTC. But other than that I am doing great.
Mom: That is way cool you are staying busy with the kids. I’ve been kind of sad lately thinking about how big my Tashers is going to be when I get home. 🙁 She won’t be my little squisher anymore. She’ll be a big girl in school. Could you please send my some pictures of her? Also, while you are at it, I wanted to see if you could send me a couple of pictures of me when I was a baby, and also a picture of our house, so I have one. 🙂 That would be great.
Okay on to the questions:
1-Are the people you are teaching, progressing? What are their issues, if not? 1. Most of our people aren’t progressing. We are trying really hard with some people, but there are always obstacles in the way. Most of the problems with have with the hispanic people is the Law of Chastity. People are either not married to each other, of they are married to two people. It’s really a hard thing, because most of the time, their circumstances make it very difficult to overcome things, especially when people are poor and struggling with money, so they can’t afford to get a divorce or to get married. But we have seen a lot of people who have made great sacrifices to progress closer to baptism. There is one lady, I., and she has quit drinking coffee to live the Word of Wisdom, she moved out of her boyfriend’s house so she could live the Law of Chastity, and now she lost her job (which isn’t a good thing, but…), so she can go to church on Sundays. So she is doing really great, and her sons want to get baptized too. 🙂
2-What is your favorite thing to teach? 2. My favorite thing to teach is the Plan of Salvation. I have these pictures that we use when we teach it, and people just seem to get it more than any other part. Plus, a lot of the time people have worries or fears about what happens after death, but when we let them know, they feel comfort and peace. Especially if they have had a loved one die recently.
3-What is your favorite thing about your current area? 3. My favorite thing about H-town is the ward. The members are so cool! They actually get mad at you if you don’t call them to come out on exchange with you, or if you don’t ask them to do favors for you. And the bishop, and ex-bishop are way cool, and basically willing to do whatever you need, so that is super helpful.
4-What is your least favorite thing about your current area? 4. I can’t really say I have a least favorite thing about this area, but one thing I have trouble with is the drama. There is a lot of drama in the ward, but I guess that is what happens when there are a lot of people all together. I think I was just oblivious to drama mostly before the mission, and now I’ve been thrown right into the middle of it.
Special Question:
6-How can someone gain a personal testimony of the Savior? 6. The only way to gain a personal testimony is to go to the source of all truth, God, and receive an answer from Him. We always tell people as missionaries, that we aren’t here to convince them. We are just here to bring the truth, and to invite them to act and gain a testimony for themselves. And they can only do that through reading the scriptures, praying to Heavenly Father, and coming to church.
Dad:
That is so cool you had a fun camp out. We will definitely need to go camping after I get home. I miss it a lot. 🙁 But we’ll have some good times when I get back. Also that is too bad the 49ers lost, but that is way cool the Saints are going to the Superbowl. I really love the Saints. I really want to watch it this year, but I guess you’ll just have to record it or something for me. 🙂 But anyway, that’s way cool. Well, be good.
Wow, Emmysaurus, you are doing CNA?! What are you going to do with that? Do you want to be a nurse? Cool cool! That’s way awesome. That will help you a lot, as long as you can stand seeing gross bloody stuff, and nasty wounds, and stuff. But I think you’ll be good. Anyway, you should write me a letter soon.
Love you all! Be good! Sorry this is short.
Love, Kelsey XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX