Bring Others To Christ. Find the One

Hello :) 

**Sorry if this is a little jumbled; I wrote it throughout the week***

I wish I had exciting news to share with you for Monday, but it was pretty normal. Although, we did meet a sweet lady while checking on potentials with a member! We started talking to her and she asked, "What sets you apart from other denominations?" As we told her our belief about a modern day prophet, she seemed so genuinely interested and asked if we had a card that she could take. She is married with a baby and one on the way, so we would have to pass her, but we felt blessed to be able to introduce her to the truth :) 

Tuesday was my first ever sisters conference!! :) we had lunch and then listened to some sisters speak, as well as sister and president Riggs. The theme seemed to be, "don't be so hard on yourself, you're doing a great job, perfection is good to strive for but don't be a nazi and over do it to the point where you're feeling like a failure..." Etc. it was great :) I saw sister Lewis :) always a good time :) I also got like 7 compliments on my hair! I just curled it. No big deal, but it made me feel good :) sisters are the best when it comes to building each other up :) 

We passed our Spanish friend later that evening. We had the Spanish speaking elders teach and it was SO COOL to see him be fully engaged in the lesson because he understood it! He had so many questions, and just by observing, he seemed happy and intrigued! I love this gospel!! Being a missionary is the coolest :) 

During my studies this week I was reading over the notes I took from the Sisters Conference. One thing that really stood out to me was the phrase, 

"Our purpose, even after a mission, is to bring others closer to Christ". 

Even if you didn't serve a mission, or haven't yet, this is your purpose; especially as a Latter-Day Saint. 

Do your words, actions, thoughts, and desires bring others closer to Christ? Do they bring you closer to Christ? 

After hearing that phrase, I pondered on the things I did before my mission, and decided that I did a decent job! I feel that I tried in all I did to be christ-like, although I am mortal, so there are definitely areas I could have improved ;) Even now, as a full time servant of the Lord, I still have moments where my words or deeds or thoughts don't bring myself or others closer to Christ.

Secrets out. I'm human.

But repentance is REAL and we can always try a little harder to be a little better on a daily basis :)
Another thing I've learned recently is that God GAVE me weaknesses. Sometimes I forget that, and wonder why I'm not perfect yet ;) just kidding. But not, at the same time :) I think we can be so hard on ourselves and try to do everything the best we know how, even when sometimes the expectation for the best we know how isn't always within reach. This goes back to the theme of the sisters conference; don't be so hard on yourself, perfection isn't attainable in this life but patience in trying is. We have weaknesses so that they can become strengths as we seek help from our father in heaven. It's okay to fall short :) we are supposed to :) That's the whole purpose of the Atonement/Plan of Happiness! 

Wednesday was pretty good! We had district meeting in the morning and after that we went to AFAC with the sisters we live with for a couple hours to help out over there. Then we had dinner with a member and checked on a few people. It was a good night! 

 
Thursday wasn't too exciting, although at dinner we had cutie oranges, and later I saw this tiny, skinny, green stem looking thing moving around on my plate. Um. Worm?? Yep! That would happen to me. It's fine :) we threw him away :) 

Friday was weekly planning which went so great! I am full of gratitude and charity towards my companion. It's been a good couple months :) We had a lesson scheduled in the afternoon but it fell through, so we just planned, and then in the evening we checked on a couple people before we had a member lesson. 

Side Note:: Can you believe it's MAY already?!? What?! I'm pretty sure sister Lewis and I just got done celebrating New Years like... Yesterday! Time is cruising, I swear. In 2 months I'll be half way done with my mission, and that's going to FLY!! I love my mission though, and I'm SO grateful for the experience that it is :) I almost don't even want to ever leave :)

Saturday Sister Morris was able to go do Baptisms for the dead with her recent convert and the companion she taught him with! 

So I was with Sister Rossi for the afternoon which was SO FUN! :) We have a TON in common, and got a lot done :) She's also a dancer, and told me that their apartment complex has a studio with a ballet bar and everything!? Pretty much I died and remembered how much I love to dance :( oh well. The things we do for the God we love ;) 

We swapped back around 4pm and went to stake conference that night. The theme was on how ward council can help with retaining new members, reactivating less actives, and fellowshipping. They had multiple sets of "new member and ward council member" as well as "returning member and ward council member" sharing their stories of how the two roles worked together. It was neat to hear conversion stories, and how the ward council did their part. I love that as Latter Day Saints, we truly strive to live what we believe.

There was a video clip shared of Elder Bednar talking about an experiment he did while he was President at BYU-Idaho. About 250 students came to a devotional one day out of 1,200. President Eyring was going to be speaking the next week, and Elder Bednar knew that if the students prepared themselves spiritually and showed up in their best Sunday best, President Eyring would speak by the power of the Holy Ghost those things that they needed to hear. But he knew most of the student body would be there, and only 250 heard the promises. So he challenged the students to tell 5 people, who would then tell 4, who would then tell 3, and so on. That way the word would get out. By the time the next devotional came around, he said there were about 6 students who didn't know what was going on and went home to change because everyone else was dressed so nice for devotional :) President Eyring asked, "What is this??" Elder Bednar told him, "This is for you! We are ready to receive revelation". 

Elder Bednar continued to talk about "the one". Go and get the one, who will get the one, who will get the one, etc. 

Doctrine and Covenants 18:15 tells us, 

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" 

As Latter Day Saints it is our duty to reach out to the one. We promised we would when we were baptized, and how great are the blessings from doing so :) 

Sunday was really good. We had stake conference and I am just so spiritually filled! Heavenly Father is so good to me. We fasted as a mission on Sunday for strength and consecration for something big coming up on Tuesday, and it was the easiest, most peaceful fast I've ever had. My heart is full! I am so grateful for this gospel in my life and for the happiness that it brings me. Not a lot of teaching happened this week; a lot of lessons canceled, but we did all we could, and my personal prayers were answered every day. I see the lords hand in my every day life, especially the tender mercies, and my love for my father in heaven is gigantic :) everyone needs this gospel!! And that is why I am here :) Thanks for everything :)

Love you!!
Sister Kailey 

I literally made a paper chain to count down to Mother's Day :) I'm SO excited!! :)

My awkward, "I can't believe it's already May, is this real life??" Picture :)