The Best 365 days of my life!

Hello, Hello! :)

My week was SO. GOOD. Probably the best week on my mission thus far! 

No joke.  Let me just tell you about it :)

          {M O N D A Y} ... Was P-day! Sometimes P-days are the busiest days of the week, and suddenly a day for relaxation turns into a day of zero time to relax. But it's fine :)We were able do the important things and that's what matters :)

In the evening we had a lesson with Cory, an investigator who we have taught the restoration to and is truly seeking for truth. We taught the plan of salvation and he had some awesome questions! The best part was that we had answers :) I am so grateful to have this knowledge! He read from the Book of Mormon like we invited him to do a couple weeks ago, and he had questions about the people that wrote it. He is really seeking :) we talked a lot about repentance and baptism, and he totally understood! He feels that everything we have taught him so far makes sense (because it does) and he wants to learn more! We see him again tonight and we are so excited :)

After dinner we went to a less active's home and had a lesson on testimonies and conversion with her and her grandchildren. It went super well! They have a golden retriever, so when we first got there and they opened the door to let us in, the dog came right up to us with the biggest greeting I've ever received! Suddenly I felt finger nails digging into my shoulder and found Sister Donato trying to climb on me to get away :) hahah I discovered her fear of big dogs that night :) (She is also afraid of frogs, and sometimes we come across them in the night time! Her reaction is the same; to climb on any human nearby) It's super funny :)

And then we have { T U E S D A Y }... which was the coolest day of the week... Until Saturday and Sunday, but until this point, it was the coolest day of the week... because it started off in sweats. Not skirts, not jeans, but comfy sweats and a t-shirt so that we could help Philip with his bounce houses. We were in sweats all day! Heaven :) First we went to a meeting with our relief society president though, to talk about what we can do to help some sisters in the ward! It was very effective and we decided we need to do it a lot more often! When we were done with that, we went to Philip's :) Here's where it gets super cool.

When we were walking up to the house, his brother walked outside- almost as if he was walking outside specifically to talk to us - and we said hello. We got to talking and quickly he began asking questions, "What do you do? Do you have a job? Are you going to school?" We explained inside and out how missionary service for the church works, and then he completely downloaded his entire life to us! I kid you not. The entire thing. We were more than happy to listen! He's in his 30's and has found success all on his own; he believes in a higher power but not necessarily in God. He believes in positive thinking! He knows that if you tell yourself you can do anything, then you can do anything.

That's how I was raised, too so I could relate, but I also know that man only has so much strength/power. I know that when I give my all, coupled with heavenly father's help, things are so much easier/better and life is happy! He's searching for happiness. He's searching for purpose and direction, but won't do anything to see if maybe God is real and maybe God could really bring him lasting happiness. We were lovingly frank with our answers, and we definitely listened with love. It was the coolest conversation :) It's even more amazing because we have only said "hello" to him twice before this conversation. It lasted a good hour and a half on his porch before we went to help Philip clean some inflatable bounce houses :) That is laborious work, my friends! I thought it would be cake, but it was tiring!

He is neighbors with one of my favorite families in our ward, and the mom offered to feed us lunch when we were done! Homemade pizza :) We talked with her and her boys for a while about missions and they gave us a referral :)

Everyone was so surprised that we were helping Philip for free and I thought it was so weird. Philip and his brother thought it was incredibly strange and almost wrong that we were helping him without asking for anything in return. Does nobody around here do service?? We offered to help every week, because he needs it, and after some hesitant thought, he said he would let us know :) haha We are friends though! Which is big for them; they have acquaintances but not necessarily friends. We told them that they were our friends from day one, and to let us know when we were theirs, too ;)

That night we had a lesson with a recent convert and checked on a couple families before we went to correlation with our ward missionaries. We were EXHAUSTED by the end of the night! We slept so good :)

{ W E D N E S D A Y } began with district meeting in the morning. We have a new district leader and a different district from last transfer, so I’m excited to see how it goes! :) Later in the day, we went to the women's shelter to help out for an hour or so before we had to go to dinner. I love the members in our ward so much! During district meeting we played a get-to-know-you game and one question that was asked was, "What has been your favorite area?” In all honesty I really love Gainesville! The members of the ward are so incredibly willing to work with us, our bishop is so missionary minded, our Relief Society president served a mission and it's like she never left :) etc. My companion is wonderful, the people we teach are progressing... I could really go on and on. I love where I am right now and the people I'm surrounded by :)

The lesson we had scheduled had to reschedule last minute, so we went to a recent convert/less active member's home and watched the restoration video :) It was so good. I love watching it thinking, "This actually happened" because I get goosebumps every time Joseph Smith goes into the woods. I know that the true church has been restored in its fullness here on the earth. I know that God called Joseph smith to be a prophet in the 1800's, and since that time we have had a living prophet on the earth. I am PUMPED for conference!! :) My heart is so... yep. You guessed it- full :) So full! I love this gospel so much.

Sister Donato and I have a transfer goal to be literally "FIT for the kingdom" so we got a super intense work-out routine that's 12 weeks long, and progressively gets harder, and we do it with the other sisters in the gym every morning :) We started on { T H U R S D A Y } and it kills! I'm still sore! But very excited to do it every day :)

The women's shelter needed help early that morning organizing some closets, so we spent a good chunk of time there doing that :) After lunch we went to Sister Jensen's home to help load her car full of pots for plants for her farm. She still has more on her plate that she can handle, but her attitude is the most chipper any attitude could ever be. Seriously. This woman does not have a negative bone in her body :) By this point it was almost dinner time, so we cleaned up from being covered in bug spray before we went to dinner. Tacos :) Yumm :)

We had a couple lessons that evening but my favorite one was with Kayla and her mom. Kayla is the one getting baptized in November :) We watched the 20 min. video on Joseph smith and the restoration and made sure she understood what that even was. It was such a good lesson! I love being able to bear testimony every day of the truths that I know, and help others come to understand that truth for themselves. It's the sweetest experience :) Thursday was my year mark, and it was sister Donato's "one more month left" mark; weird coincidence :) haha. So we took pictures :)

 

 {F R I D A Y} morning we went to a leadership meeting with the leadership in our zone and came up with some ideas for upcoming activities. Our zone leaders are stellar. I feel so blessed to work so closely with such awesome missionaries! Then we went straight to a lunch with the stake president's wife and our sister ward missionaries. We had borscht; a Russian soup. It was super good!! We then weekly planned until it was time to pick up a member and go check on people! :)

We ended up meeting with a less active family that neither Sister Donato nor I knew, and had a lesson with them. They are the spunkiest, animated, dramatic (in the positive way), loudest family I've ever met :) It was so fun! They have little girls around 10 and 11 who tell the best stories! We got the whole reenactment of every story they told, and it was great :)

The lesson we shared was on the atonement and once we started, it was so neat to see and feel the spirit calm a room that was filled with busy energy moments prior. We discussed repentance, and the blessing that it truly is. I am so thankful to be able to repent all the time. You know you're a missionary when you're super excited to say a prayer to repent ;) Change is so good! That's all repentance is; change. A change of heart :) I am grateful for the multiple second chances we are given because of Jesus Christ. I know that repentance is real because Jesus Christ is real, and that we are never ever too far gone :)

< Random > Oh my gosh! ...
Every week I keep meaning to tell this super funny story but I always forget!!

Remember our middle-eastern friend who escaped Isis, and we teach her English every week? Well every time we leave she yells from her front door, "Gratitude!" as if to say, "I'm grateful for you!" followed by a, "Keep touching!" meaning, "Keep in touch!" :) hahaha 

We think it's so funny every time that we just decide not to correct her :)

...Alright, back to my week :) 

We had our usual breakfast with the bishop on { S A T U R D A Y } morning while we discussed our week with him. He also said that he had a "wonderful opportunity" for us! Automatically assuming a referral to be the next sentence out of his mouth, he says, "Can you speak in sacrament meeting tomorrow??" :) Well... shoot. We had maybe a total of 2 hours to think of a topic, write a talk, and in my case memorize it (because I grew up memorizing my talks since primary; nobody really listens to people that read their talks, no offense to those of you who do read them!) :) But somehow we managed! Right after that we went to a baptism for members in our ward; we invited Kayla to come, so she did! :) She really liked it, and then she asked if we could move her baptismal date to October so that sister Donato can be there! If that's the case, it will be the 24th I believe, but it's not set and stone yet so we will see :) Please keep her family in your prayers.

Quickly after the baptism we went home to write our talks. After lunch we headed over to the church to help with something called "A Day To Serve". People all over northern Virginia find some big service projects to participate in that day, and we were in charge of collecting, boxing, and organizing thanksgiving dinner kits for the needy :) We spent about 3 1/2 hours there before we went home for a bite to eat.

You probably won't believe me when I say what we did next, but it's the truth! We went to.... a concert :) Our investigator, Craig, invited us to a conference that his church held. It was a total concert with a band, lights, stage smoke, clapping and singing along, etc. it was a blast :) There were a couple preachers that spoke for about 15-20 minutes each, one of them even threw out a Mormon polygamy joke :P but the majority of the conference was the band :) In all honesty, after about 45 minutes I was super bored. I had an open mind and heart, and I was happy to be there for Craig! But I noticed something lacking and I couldn't figure out exactly what that was until sister Donato and I were talking about it later. We both realized that we had left the conference still starving for spirituality! We hadn't gotten a spiritual fill. At all. Right after his conference we went to the General Women's Broadcast with women of our stake. As soon as the choir started singing I felt like my almost empty spiritual cup was being filled immediately. I loved that conference! I learned so much, and walked away feeling complete :) I know this church is true :) I'm so grateful for the restored gospel on the earth and the many, many blessings that come with it :) Needless to say we were once again, EXHAUSTED. It was such a good day :) 

{ S U N D A Y } was amazing. I repeat, uh-may-zing. Sister Donato and I spoke in sacrament meeting and later found out we had answered a lot of people's prayers. We know that we were only instruments in the Lords hands, and were filled with gratitude that we were able to help :) The rest of church was wonderful!! It was incredibly spiritually filling and I was on cloud 9 spiritually J

Immediately after church we went home to eat a quick dinner before we went to choir practice for the fireside that would follow. This fireside is called, "Why I Believe" and the author of "A God Who Weeps" spoke with his wife on why they believe in the LDS faith. They're very religiously educated individuals, and Craig came! They addressed a lot of concerns and questions Craig has had, as did the stake president during his closing remarks. We are still waiting for his heart to soften, but this fireside was perfect for him :) I was able to see a good handful of families from my very first ward as a missionary because I'm back in that same stake, so that was a tender mercy :)

 

Our ward makes super cute baptismal program handouts!

My week was stellar. I truly mean it when I say I haven't had a better week on my mission! Heavenly Father is taking such wonderful care of us and the people we work with.

I know with all my heart that God is there, and that He loves us.

We are His children. He wants nothing but happiness for us :) I love this work!! Being a missionary is the best decision I've ever made! :)

I am truly, honestly, genuinely happy :)

Sister Chandler 

Pure Bliss

Happy Monday! :)

I had such a wonderful birthday last week :) Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and made me feel loved :) We went out to dinner with some members and our relief society president brought her family along to celebrate with us :) It was so sweet and special! I love my ward :) We had a lesson with a recent convert later in the evening on testimonies! She wasn't sure how to go about strengthening hers, so we talked a lot about that. She asked if we could send her scriptures every day and remind her to say nightly prayers, so we are on it! :) Also. Side note. My year mark is this Thursday...

Who's excited??? IM EXCITED!!! :) That's all :)

Tuesday was so much fun because we went on exchanges and Sister Alcantara from Peru came to Gainesville with me! :) She is currently being trained, she is 23 years old and didn't know ANY English before she came on a mission. She's only been here for a month and a half and she is living proof that the gift of tongues is a real thing! She learned English for 2 weeks in the MTC. Two. Weeks. But you'd never know! Her testimony is massive. I learned SO much from this sister! She just wants to be exactly obedient and bear testimony everywhere she goes :) I love new missionaries :) I love being a sister training leader!

Our evening was super cool because after training and dinner with my ward mission leader, we went to see the family that we took to the Temple Visitors Center in my last email. Guess what?! They are from the same city in Peru that Sister Alcantara is from! I didn't even know they were from Peru! haha :) So they had a beautiful gospel conversation in Spanish and I just sat there soaking up the spirit as I caught some words here and there, guessing what they were discussing every now and again :) It was a tender mercy for everyone involved :) We read some of the Book of Mormon with Nicole and explained why it's so important to read from it every day. Then we had correlation with the ward missionaries before we went home :)I am bursting with love and gratitude for this assignment; to be an STL. My heart is so full!! Missionary work is the best. I'm so grateful that I am here :)

We had a really powerful district meeting on Wednesday after we exchanged back. I love my district! We talked about the atonement and read, "The Room". I've read it multiple times but it's been a while, and my appreciation for Jesus Christ overwhelmed my whole being as I listened to that story again. I am incredibly thankful for such a loving brother who made it possible for me to repent. Over, and over, and over again. Repentance is a big deal! If we couldn't repent, we wouldn't be able to live with Heavenly Father again. We would be stuck in guilt, sorrow, and pure unhappiness forever. It sounds so simple, but it's so important. I love my savior :)

After district meeting we went and had a BBQ! It was super fun! :) Then Sister Donato and I did studies before we went to dinner with a recent convert. We had an intense lesson on the Book of Mormon; she, (the investigator) has a really hard time seeing the importance of it, and she gets bored when she hears something she already knows. For example, she has learned all there is to learn about Christ from the bible, so when she reads about it in the Book of Mormon, she gets irritated and doesn't see how it helps her learn more. Her heart isn't super open for some reason, and I was quite frank with her during the lesson. We taught with love! But we were bold. It ended on a good note, no worries :) I have such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon! I will testify of the truthfulness of that book until the day I die. When searching for answers I KNOW that they can be found there, along with sincere prayer. I love the Book of Mormon:)

If you're having a hard time today, this week, this month, this year even! Read the Book of Mormon!! I can't say it enough! Not once, not every once in a while, but every day. EVERY DAY!! :)

That, my friends, brings lasting happiness and peace :) I know this because I've experienced it.

Our lesson that was scheduled for the evening canceled, so we knelt down and asked Heavenly Father where he needed us instead. We were lead to a few different houses! All opened up and were very receptive; it was just bad timing, so we scheduled return appointments for later this week :) It was a super productive evening! We talked to a lot of people and got a lot done :) I'm thankful for the guidance of the spirit, and for my sweet, sweet companion who doesn't do anything without it :)

Transfers were on Thursday and guess what?! I get to keep my Philipino for 6 more weeks and then send her home to Qatar right before Halloween :) I am SO grateful!! I love Sister Donato so much! We work so well together :) She really helps me become the person I'm striving to be :) I also loved that whole day! It was so busy! Transfers are completely different from what they used to be with President Riggs.

THE OLD WAY---> everyone who was being transferred and their companion would go to the stake center in a central location of mission and we would learn at that meeting who our new companion was, along with where we would be traveling to. Then a 4 hour meeting would follow.

THE NEW WAY---> everyone gets an email a couple days before transfers with their new companion and location information. Then on transfer day, everyone who is being transferred and their companion go to that same stake center, but only in the parking lot which is organized by zone. Go to your new zone, find your new companion, move luggage accordingly, travel to the stake center located in your zone boundaries and have a brief spiritual meeting. In total, that's about 2 hours.

It's fast, new, and efficient :) We liked it! Our zone is super fun! Our zone leaders stayed the same, so it will be great to work with them for another transfer! We played a fun "get to know you" game with everyone, and then discussed the transfer focus/goal for our zone. Last transfer we really focused on applying the atonement in our daily lives, and using it with the people we teach. This transfer we want to keep that same focus while adding.... fears. Overcoming our fears :) I am super excited! It was a great spiritual thought and I'm looking forward to strengthening some of my weaknesses this transfer :)

Afterwards we headed straight for a members home to do service! She had surgery 3 years ago on her back, but she's only gotten worse. The poor sister is exhausted all the time; simply talking to her you could see and feel her exhaustion; :/ so we cleaned her house :) It needed help, and we were more than happy to do it! :) I haven't really had a home to clean in a long time; apartments don't count, and we aren't home a ton so it's never really messy, so it brought back memories of deep cleaning my house growing up :)

Then we went to speak English with our friend from the Middle East before we headed to dinner which mostly consisted of homemade rolls because the soup our member made didn't turn out. But we didn't complain! I love rolls! :)

In the evening we had a lesson with Kayla, the girl who is on date to be baptized in November, and her mother who is reactivating :) it was on the gospel of Jesus Christ and went super well! :)There was a little time after that lesson to check on some part member families, so we did that before we went to a lesson with a recent convert and her brother, Christian, who is investigating. We taught the plan of salvation and it was good, too :) Another great day this week! And it only got better :)

Friday morning before I ran, I danced :) I can't even describe the longing I have to be in that zone every day; socks folded half way on my feet, sweats, hair on top of my head, music to match my mood, wood floors and mirrors surrounding the room, and just dancing. I miss it. The things we sacrifice for the God we love ;) I'm grateful to have a mini studio in my apartment :) It was really nice :) I'm so grateful for the talents I've been blessed with, and for a body that functions properly. It's so easy to take it for granted!

Anyway, after being nostalgic, I ran a couple miles and then we had studies before we went to the first zone leadership meeting this transfer! We set some dates for upcoming events and activities and such. It was good, then we went to a sister's home to bake cookies because whenever I bake cookies over here on the east coast, they turn out awful! We experimented with my recipe and mastered it :) but, I can't eat them, so we gave them away :)

{An Unexpected Opportunity to Serve}

When we got home as we were walking inside, we asked an older woman if she needed help with her groceries! Sister Donato could hear her wheezing and struggling as she transferred them from her car to a cart to take them inside. We made sure she was okay and helped her put them away in her kitchen. She was so grateful, and so sweet :) I guess the humidity makes her asthma act up, and I thought she was going to pass out, so we gave her our number in case she needed anything else... ever... and went home :) My heart was and still is so full! I love being a tool in the Lord’s hands :)

The rest of the afternoon was weekly planning! By the time we actually sat down to get started, we only had a couple hours, so we set some transfer goals! I am so excited for this transfer! Sister Donato will be going home at the end of it, and she wants to stay focused until the very last day, so we are going to work our tails off :) We set some awesome goals that we know will bring miracles! We won't make a single decision without the Lord's input, and we are working on really following the spirit. It will be an awesome 6 weeks :)

In the evening we had dinner planned with Philip, the guy who was super stand-off-ish at first, but we brought him cookies and now we are friends :) He ended up being really busy that day so he didn't make dinner, but that was okay! We talked about missions, tithing, family, and life :)It was good! We also offered to help him clean his bounce houses on Tuesday (he owns a business where he rents out those inflatable bounce house things for parties) because he needs help. We told him it was our job to lift people's burdens, and that we would love to help! So he didn't turn down the offer :) We were sorta hungry after our visit with Philip because we hadn't eaten dinner, and it was the awkward hour of the night where nobody answers the door anymore, so we went to Panera for a bite and contacted some people while we planned for the next day.

Saturday was awesome! We finished a very successful weekly planning, had a meeting with the bishop, dinner at Chipotle, and a lesson with an investigator family from the Caribbean :) We LOVE this family! They are incredibly prepared for the gospel and they love having us :) We talked a lot about prayer, and we see them again on Friday :) I could give you the pointless details of the day, but this email is already insanely long! Just know that it was a really good, spiritually guided day :)

Sunday on the other hand, I'll give you the pointless details of :) It was such a good day! Church was stellar. The spirit was so strong, we had 3 of our 4 progressing investigators there, and 9 recent converts/less active's :) Our hearts were and still are so full. Afterward we had dinner at the stake president's home with one of our recent converts, the one who sort of has a hard heart towards the Book of Mormon, and it was wonderful!

We shared a message on testimony and conversion and the conversation was so enlightening for everyone in the room :) Then we went to choir practice for the fireside that we'll be singing in on Sunday; it went well! By the time we got home it was 8:40 and we hadn't heard back from a less active that we had planned to see at 8. We parked the car in our apartment parking lot and received a text from that sister saying she had just seen our text and was planning on having us over. So we went to see her! We almost canceled because we were already home and would have 10 minutes to teach her by the time we got there, but the spirit was pressing, so we went, and we were glad we did :)

I am SO happy! This past transfer I have been the happiest that I've ever been in my life. It's an honest, pure, genuine happiness that I KNOW I feel because of the way I'm living my life; in accordance to the teachings of Jesus Christ. In addition to the simple things like regular church attendance, daily scripture study and prayer:

• ·        I don't listen to music that has a super good beat but slightly bad lyrics,
• ·         I don't have anything to do with social media; we are hardly ever on Facebook,
• ·         I have improved my language (even saying, "freaking" is super rare for me now),
• ·         I seek for ways to draw closer to my father in heaven,
• ·         I am exactly obedient to the commandments and mission rules...

I'm just living differently from how I did before my mission, and realizing the source of true happiness. It comes from following Jesus Christ and submitting our will to His. That was my ultimate focus/goal last transfer; to be submissive to all that Heavenly Father wanted me to do, and I have never been happier :)

Do I still struggle and face trials? Absolutely! But I do it cheerfully because I know it will pass, and I know I don't have to carry the burden alone. I know I have the savior pushing along right next to me, partnering with me to endure the hard times :) Life is SO good when we humble ourselves, try our hardest to put off the natural man, and follow the savior and his teachings :) Where are your priorities?

Have a fantastic week :) See you in approximately 6 months and 2 weeks :)  Sister Kailey 

We had a cold stone gift card and I couldn't resist. It was my birthday!! 

I suffered the consequences later, but it was so worth it!

Families and the big TWO ZERO

{ H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y T O M E } 

I am officially no longer a teenager. I never thought this day would come! ;) we are celebrating with an elderly couple in our ward tonight; they're taking us out to a really nice dinner :) Last year, on this day, I gave my farewell talk in church! Oh how time just goes :)

Preparation Day last Monday was SO. GOOD. We did absolutely nothing :)

besides grocery shopping and emailing, we sat in our sweats and wrote letters, took a nap, ate dinner at home, and then we went to work :) 

Remember the finding fury we had with our zone? There was a guy, Cory, whom the sisters met and made a return appointment with, which was for last Monday night. We talked to him and taught the restoration on his doorstep! It was so nice outside :) anyway, he really liked the message we had to share and truly has real intent! He does want to know if this is God's true church, so he is going to read the Book of Mormon and we see him again tonight :) The lesson we had scheduled after that had canceled last minute, which was a bummer but such a huge blessing!!

Our days had been so packed the week before that we didn't have time to prepare a 20 minute presentation for zone training which happened to be the next morning (Tuesday). We were going to be up all night preparing, but Heavenly Father truly is on our side, and we were able to go home to prepare. It was such a spiritual experience simply planning that presentation. The topic was on the roll of the Holy Ghost in conversion :) we planned by the spirit, practiced by the spirit, and prayed to present by the spirit. 

So when Tuesday rolled around, we went to zone training :)
It was SO GOOD!! :) I love our zone so much. Later in the day we did more visa stuff for sister Donato, and had a super yummy dinner with a member :) 

Afterwards we headed to a lesson with Ju and Ka. Ju is a returning member and her daughter, Ka is an investigator. Ka had a friend over, Da, who was interested and wants to learn more :) we taught the word of wisdom and because of questions asked, we ended up covering baptism, priesthood, and parts of the restoration as well! We put Ka on date to be baptized on November 7th and have it set up to see her twice a week starting this week! :) we are so excited. We love her so much! We also told D that we would absolutely love to teach her, but she needs to make sure her parents are okay with it first. Pray that they say it's okay! She is golden! :) We ended the evening with correlation with our ward mission leader :) 'Twas as great day :)

Wednesday morning was spent organizing a recent converts craft room! She was getting ready for a yard sale this past weekend and needed help organizing her things. The sister owns Michaels craft store in her basement, I'm pretty sure! It was fun though and we were more than happy to help :) We spent 3 hours there and went home for lunch :) 

We had a little bit of time to try to download some music onto my iPad from sister Donato's, but we couldn't figure it out :/ maybe next time. Dinner was with a super old couple from Cambodia! :) they hardly speak English; their daughter stopped by to grab some food and they were all gibbering away in Cambodian :) I thoroughly enjoyed it :) dinner and the language :) 

After sharing a small message with them, we headed to an appointment... but she canceled. After we got there.

No worries though! We had a super good lesson planned with another investigator later in the evening! 

But, that canceled, too.

Ah, I hate when that happens. We go from a super packed, eventful, productive evening to... squat. Good thing we plan back-ups :) nobody was home though, except for a less active family whom we adore!! One of the daughters actually made it pretty far on American Idol a couple years ago! She sang for us :) we spent that time really bonding and getting to know them better; it was super good! We see them again this week :) 

Sister Donato and I have set a goal to seek the spirits guidance in literally every decision we make, big or small, and it's the coolest thing to see how we are directed :) The Holy Ghost is a real thing! I am so grateful to know I can have it with me all the time :)

The next day we did some service for an elderly woman in our ward; she needed help cleaning her house because her grandchildren destroyed it with toys :) 

then we had choir practice because we (the missionaries in my zone) are singing with the youth at a massive fireside this month. The author of, "A God who Weeps" or something like that, is coming to speak at a fireside called, "Why I believe". Its annual, and always super big! 

So when we were done with that we went to Sister Jensen's home to help organize things for our zone service project. Sister Jensen is the sister with 130 something acres of farm land that we always feed chickens at :) she needs help with a big project, so our zone helped out on Friday. This poor woman had too much on her plate though. She was trying to make it an organized, fun opportunity and she went so far as to provide a big lunch for us; grilled chicken, potato salad, macaroni salad, veggies and dip, etc. when we went to her home on Thursday we asked when she was going to have time to make it all (her husband had a heart attack the day before, so she had literally zero time to do anything because she was having to go to the hospital often) and she said, "oh! I didn't even think about that... I guess I don't have time...". This sweet sister was going to do it anyway, with time that she literally did not have. So of course we told her not to worry and we would take over! We only had time to peel, cut, and boil potatoes but we went back Friday morning. 

Our evening ended with dinner and a wonderful lesson with some solid recent converts :) they're in their early 60's and MADLY in love still :) it's the sweetest thing ever :) they cherish eternal marriage and can't wait to go through the temple :)

Okay, so Friday rolled around and we spent the whole morning making lunch for the zone, meanwhile, the rest of the zone was on the farm doing a handful of different tasks! It was a beautiful day :) after lunch we went back to work and then came home to shower and nap because we were beat! 

The whole zone

For the first time in FOREVER, we didn't have a dinner :) it was wonderful :) We stopped by a sweet old woman's home to visit with her and share a message on the plan of salvation because her husband passed within the past couple years. Wanna hear how he died? It's the sweetest story! Grab some tissues: 

He was sick and always in a bed in the living room next to the kitchen so he could be near his wife, and one morning she and their daughter were making breakfast. He was cracking jokes and his wife said, "You must be feeling better today :)". He puckered up, non-verbally asking for a kiss, so she kissed him. Then he did it again, so she kissed him again, and then he was gone :( SO SAD! right?!? Ah, I tear up every time. 

That story brings my heart so much gratitude for the knowledge that families can be sealed together forever. I am immensely grateful for the power of the priesthood and to know that I can be sealed to my best friend for time and eternity one day :) Heavenly Father's plan truly is a plan of HAPPINESS :) He love us. Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy :) { 2 Nephi 2:25} I have a strong testimony of that :)

The theme of my week has definitely been eternal families because on Saturday we went to the temple visitors center with a recent convert, her less active mother, and her nonmember grandmother :) The mother loves the idea of being sealed to her family, so we called the sisters in the visitors center ahead of time so that they could prepare a shpeel on that topic :) it was so precious!! Ni, the recent convert, is 9 yrs. old and started to cry because she felt the spirit. She said, "mom why am I crying?? I feel so good!" We hugged her and said, "That's the spirit, Nicole! :) that's Heavenly Father telling you that what you learned today is true :)".

Basically.
I love being a missionary :)
I'm never leaving ;)

To make the week even better, church was stellar! We had 7 recent converts/less active's at church and 2 investigators. Our focus has been less actives, so it was super good! The spirit was present in each meeting and I definitely received my fill :) 

In the evening we went to a New and Returning Member fireside where new and returning members bear their testimonies :) remember the sweet couple that is so in love?? The husband was speaking, so we got to go :) on the way there, the wife told me a story that made my heart burst with love for the spirit and the opportunity that I have to be a tool in the lords hands. In order to tell you the story she shared with me, I'll need to explain my story.

The other day, when we had dinner with them, I shared an experience where right before my mission I felt like I was hit with the biggest trial ever. For me, it was miserable. I was seeking to grow closer to God because I knew I'd be teaching people about Him soon, but the harder I prayed the less I felt Him. Quickly I felt abandoned by my so called, "father" in heaven, and basically came to the conclusion that was a surprise to me- He wasn't there. I didn't feel Him, and on top of that I was in the middle of this miserable trial that I was experiencing. I wasn't receiving any relief that I was sure He would give me. I can truly say that for the first time in my life, I felt like I was praying to a literal wall. One day I just broke and cried and cried out of frustration and confusion. My mom walked in my room, finding me a mess, and sat me down to figure out what was happening. She listened, not only to me but also to the spirit, because after I downloaded all of my thoughts and feelings, she turned to the scriptures. She pulled out Doctrine and Covenants 121 where Joseph smith also had the thought, "where are you??". She then asked me, "who knows you like the back of His hand??"

"Heavenly Father, I know!" Was my quick response, but then she said, "yes, but who else?". I don't know? "Satan. Satan knows you like the back of his hand". She went on to explain the good work I was about to do and the lives I was going to touch out here on a mission, and that satan doesn't want me to go! It makes total sense! Why Heavenly Father was silent, I don't have a darn clue. I know that he was there watching, though, and soon enough I felt Him again. I felt the spirit and knew that He was there :) 

So I told this sister that story, and in the car she shared that on Sunday morning she had anxiety that made her want to change out of her church clothes and stay home. As she was about to do so, the words, "Satan knows you like the back of his hand" came into her mind. She wasn't going to let him win, so she came to church, and she was glad she came :) How cool is that?! 

Always bear testimony. You never know what personal experiences you have that could help others in their journey to endure to the end :) I am SO grateful to be here!! 

Also, at the fireside, I saw so many people that I love dearly :) sisters Jones, Kennedy, Lewis, Williams, and people from the singles ward that I served in! What a pre-birthday delight!! :) sweet sister Lewis even had a present for me in her car :) 

I have the BEST trainer. You really do make life long best friends on the mission :) 

So today is my birthday :) All I really want to do is.... Nothing :) 

maybe we'll party missionary style, we'll see ;) 

my heart is incredibly full. I love the gospel so much. I know that families can be sealed together for eternity by the power and authority of God inside His Holy Temples, and I couldn't be more grateful. I LOVE my family :) I LOVE the temple :) 

Have such a good week :) Live in the moment. Laugh often. Love every day :) 

Love you all a great deal, 

Sister Kailey (who is officially 20 years old. Still can't believe this is real life)