Week 25: Another Week in Alexandria

Friends and family,

Sharing the gospel without saying a thing to anyone by putting a Book of Mormon (or 5) in our apartment complex library :) 

P-Day was busy! 

We went grocery shopping with the sisters we live with because we were still without a car, and then after emailing we went bowling with our zone. Let's just say I'm basically a pro at holding a consistent score ;) 

Right after we got home, sister Morris and I grabbed our jackets and walked to dinner with a member! Then we walked to another member lesson. By the time that was over we needed to head home so we street contacted on the way.

Tuesday morning after studies I wasn't feeling good at all, so I slept for an hour and a half before we went to pick up our car! It looks so good! :) 

Then we made brownies to take to our members because the sisters in our apartment helped eat the cookies... haha :) Thank-you-goodies are a hit! Who doesn't love brownies?! Crazy people. That's who. And even though we had our car back, we walked because we like it that much :) 

After dinner we had a lesson with a recent convert, and then checked on potentials! 'Twas a decent day :) 

On Wednesday we had a lesson on prayer during district meeting. It was cool to see how prayer works with every aspect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For example, we discussed how prayer works with faith, how prayer and repentance work together, prayer and baptism, prayer and the Holy Ghost, as well as prayer and enduring to the end. We also got the new Easter video, "Because He Lives" so we were showing people during lessons before it officially came out on Saturday :) 

We did a lot of phone calls to formers and potentials and even set up a couple lessons! Our evening was busy. 

We had dinner with a member, then taught 8-11 yr. old girls all about missionary life :) it was fun. They wrote us letters at the end, and during the lesson we asked why they thought we taught about temples. One girl said, "Because missionaries get married sometimes!" :) haha 

Afterward we got a text from a member saying she was free to come out with us if we needed her, and we did! So we picked her up and went to a lesson with K from Ghana :) he is a former, and was really glad we came, so that lesson went swell :) 

Thursday morning I ran 3 miles and it felt sooo good! I'm determined to be skinny again by Mother's Day ;) For lunch we went to Chipotle with a member and shared the new video, then went to a lesson with a recent convert. We talked about temples because he hasn't been to do baptisms for the dead yet! 

**For those of you who don't know what, "Baptisms for the dead" are, I'm happy to explain :) 

Some people think we baptize dead human beings. This is false. And disgusting. We believe that baptism by immersion, by someone holding the proper authority from God, is an essential act in returning to live with our Father in Heaven again. Some people, however, have passed on without being baptized by this authority (the priesthood) so we perform the baptism in proxy for that person. We believe they have the agency (choice) to accept or decline the ordinance in their behalf. But this way they at least have the opportunity.** 

 So K wants to go! :) 

After dinner we decided to go street contacting because it was in the 70's, and people were everywhere outside! It was fun :) and humid. But it's supposed to be cold and rainy for the rest of the month :/ where is spring?!? 

On Friday after studies we began planning for the week! We had such a good weekly planning session! It was super productive, and we are so sad the transfer is coming to an end :( we have a week and a half left together, and are going to work extra hard to top off the successes we've had all transfer :) Sister Morris is my tender mercy transfer. It has been so easy, and so fun working with her. She has taught me so many things! Our companionship inventory was loaded with compliments and goals :) 

Our evening was so much fun! We had an appointment with an investigator and even brought a member, but when we got there we found an alcohol party instead... So we decided not to attend ;) we street contacted and checked on potentials the rest of the night with that member we brought. It was a blast :) 

On Saturday sister Morris and I helped our new neighbors across the hall move in!! That was unplanned but super fun :) then we did a survey that takes forever but is required. And spiritually uplifting :) In the afternoon we had a lesson with a recent convert, and this coming conference will be his first!!! We are so excited :) 

In the evening we went to the stake center for a light dinner and such a wonderful broadcast of the General Woman's Conference! I received so much revelation I don't even know what to do with myself! God is so good :) 

Church on Sunday was super great! We had a combined third hour and we talked about some of our favorite conference talks and why. It was really good! I love the ward I'm in :) we finished the night with member lessons. 

I know that this work is hastening, and I'm honored to be apart of it. 

I know I have a loving Father in Heaven who wants the best for me, so He sent His son. 

I know that families can be sealed together forever!! I love my family! 

Gods plan truly IS happiness :) I know that we have the gift of agency and repentance is real! We bring condemnation upon ourselves; we are given the opportunity to repent an endless amount of times because of Jesus Christ, and as we read the scriptures we can see how often we truly are warned. 

The church is true folks! I will stand as a witness of that forever. 

Have a fantastically stupendous week! Enjoy the weather over there; its crummy where I am :( 

Love,
Sister Kailey :)

Week Six: Frozen

Hello! :)

Sister Lewis and I were waiting for the elders because we went on another blitz, but while we waited, 

we sang along to the music in the car and made a video. So here are some screen shots of that video :) 

How is everyone?

I can't believe it SNOWED over there!!? What?!? It's still fall over here. Cold, but not snowing. I can picture my mother sitting by the heater in socks, a hoodie, and still eating her crushed ice :) hahah that's my mama!! :) 

My week was pretty good! We haven't been allowed to do any activities with the elders for a few months, but they okayed it again so on Monday sister Lewis and I played ultimate frisbe with our zone! That was so fun!! Much needed :) 

That same night we watched the restoration video with C! She made my favorite brownies with ice cream so it was a good night :) after watching that video, my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for Joseph Smith. He went through so much torture and persecution for the sake of the gospel. Did you know Joseph Smith only had the education of a 3rd grader? Often people here think he wrote the Book of Mormon, but there is no way on earth he could have done so! The Book of Mormon is a record of ancient writings from prophets in the Americas. The language on those plates was ancient Egyptian! Joseph Smith didn't write the Book of Mormon. He translated it by the power of God :) If you haven't watched that video in some time, I recommend doing so! 

The next day we got with some elders in our district and chalked the plan of salvation!! While doing so, a man pulled up to me and asked what we were doing. I told him we were simply, "chalking the plan of salvation!" :) he was like, "why are you doing this? We have kids that walk here after school to get home, and this will just cause questions. Can't you just go to houses instead of this? People live around here and you don't need to do this". I was at a loss for words and felt alone. I hate contention and forgot that there were 3 other missionaries standing along the side walk with me. Thankfully Elder McDonald had my back and helped me out. We weren't doing anything wrong. The man didn't even know what it is that we were drawing! Nor did he have an interest in learning. Sometimes I think if people would just listen, then they wouldn't be offended. He left and we kept on chalkin :) the truthfulness of the gospel WILL be spread throughout the world somehow, if not on the sidewalk of a neighborhood :) 

This week in the mail I received letters from the activity day girls in my home Ward!! Here were a couple of my favorites:
"I hope you're making friends over there"
"Have a fun time on your trip!"
"I hope you don't get too cold. Good thing your spirit is so warm." Hahah that was my personal favorite ;) 

Our house was FREEZING on Friday! It was cold outside and couldn't figure out why it was so cold in our apartment. So for studies we just put long fuzzy socks on with a long sleeve shirt and our skirts and wrapped up in blankets. Then I got cookies in a package from my grandma!! Woohoo!! :) anyway, I went to see if the heat was on and turns out the AC was on.... Nice. No wonder we were freezing! hahaha whoops :) 

We went tracting Saturday night. One guy opened the door and said, "elders!" Hahah nope :) try again ;) it was so cold. My toes were frozen and my lips became numb, so forming words quickly became difficult, but we kept going! and we were happy :) 

Sister Lewis sang at a fireside last night where new members tell their stories and share their testimonies. That was so wonderful!! I was grateful to be able to hear those :)

I ate a hen for dinner at a member's home, and it looked like they do on tv! It was good :)

I am thankful for all of my many many blessings! Thanks for keeping me in the loop :) 

Love,
Sister Chandler

Week Two: Promptings, Ordinances, Spiders, & the Amish

Dearest Family and Friends,

My week has been pretty good! I have a bunch of notes written down so I wouldn't forget what I wanted to write, so if this seems somewhat out of order and scatter brained... I appologize in advance :)

B! B is an old lady who lives in the same apartment complex as the elders, and she is SO grumpy. People aren't nice here, remember? Well, we decided to heart attack her door! We spent so much time cutting out and writing on hearts that were loaded with compliments. A couple days later, she ran into my companion and I and asked with a smile, "Was it you and your friends who put those sweet messages on my NEIGHBOR'S door?" :) hahahah whoops. Embarrassing. It's fine. She said it was sweet and she likes us now :) 

J is an investigator of ours; super faithful but just doesn't understand that when we teach her, we are telling her that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the ONLY true church on earth who has the fullness of the gospel. Its a struggle in progress. We taught her the restoration and she is SO ready for the gospel! She is reading the book of mormon and loves it! She is without a job though, and has been for 5 weeks now so prayers on her behalf would be lovely! She needs all the helpl she can get. 

Last P-day we ate at Five Guys and the french fries were from Rexburg. That made me happy :) OH. MY. GOSH. Also, last P-day my companion was getting ready for the day and asked me, "Do I look Amish?" after studying her outfit for a minute, I was like, "Ummm... yeah. You do". She didn't really care though, so we went out to walmart and did some shopping. We both had our hair braided that day and we ran into a lady whom we didn't know in a random isle in the store. She complimented our braids, asking if we did them to each other but we did them ourselves, and then she said, "Oh :) Are you Amish?".... busted up laughing haha maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious :) 

Fun fact: you know my fear of spiders? Well, did you know that spiders love humidity and there are spiders um.. EVERYWHERE!? Ya. Nobody told me that. It's fine. 

There must be an airport close to where we live because there are ALWAYS airplanes flying day and night. They are super low and super loud! It's really cool, until you're trying to sleep at night. Im used to it though :) 

Cool story. Elder Holland was in the same building as me all day on Sunday! A section of the church was closed off because he was having a meeting somewhere in there. We felt cool :) 

C is another investigator! She is the lady who called us saying she wanted to learn more about our religion. She is golden. We absolutely love her! She is progressing quickly and understanding almost everything we teach her. When she has questions she asks so we are able to help her understand, and she felt the Holy Ghost the other night!! So cool! She's reading the BOM and says she is almost like... enticed to read more. The spirit is good stuff :) In the middle of the lesson on Monday, she was like, "Sister Chandler... are your eyelashes real??" hahah yes ma'am! Thanks dad ;) 

Another cool story real quick. The other day sister Lewis and I were driving around to go teach some people, but everywhere we went felt so wrong. We ended up turning around so many times because we just felt like.. "nope. Not tonight". As we were driving, sister Lewis suddenly turned down a road and parked in front of a few houses. This felt right. Not necessarily like a prompting to go anywhere specific, but it didn't feel wrong. We knocked on a door to a lady from Columbia who does hair! Long story short, she was so open to reading the Book of Mormon and her husband even had one from a loonnngg time ago when they first got married! It was so great! I love when the spirit directs us. It never ends in regret :) 

Friday is my 1 month mark! That was fast.. but super slow at the same time! 

That's all I have time for today. This week wasn't full of cool things like last week, but it was good :) I am constantly counting my blessings and I am happy as ever! Serving a mission has been the best decision I've ever made! I am becoming truly converted and really understanding the gospel in-depth! I absolutely LOVE being a missionary! The gospel changes lives, as it should, and everyone needs it!

Today we went to the temple! It's MASSIVE and so gorgeous!! Dear goodness I was in love with the inside of that place. I love going to the temple :) 

**side note: please excuse any misspelled words. Spell check on my phone was a blessing but now its a curse because I don't have it on this computer. Pathetic I know. I'm buying a dictionary.

I hope all is well with everyone! Have a fabulous week! :)

P.S.- P-day will now be on Mondays unless I say otherwise :)

Love,
Sister Chandler

Pictures: I just love sunsets a lot :)