Dear family and friends,
Merry Christmas y'all!!! May your day be merry and bright. I love this time of year to more fully think and ponder about Jesus Christ and all that He has done for me. How grateful we should be to God for the gift of His Son and to the Son for the gift of His life. I know that Jesus suffered and died for me personally. On my own I am weak and nothing but with the strength of the Lord I can do all things.
Saturday Michael was baptized and then he received the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. During his baptism I could not think of a better way to be spending Christmas then watching someone make those sacred covenants with God. There is no other place I would rather be right now. After Michael was baptized and while we waited for him to change, we gathered to sing Christmas carols. The Spirit filled me with such great joy as everyone sung. There is truly no great work we could be doing then bring others unto Christ.
I want to tell you of another lady named Shelly. Shelly was a media referral we received 2 weeks ago. Two Saturdays ago Sister Aston and I went to Shelly's house to meet her for the first time and give her a copy a of the Book of Mormon that she ordered. When we knocked on her door she let us come right in. Shelly has 3 children and is living with her mom Betty. Both Shelly and Betty sat down with us and we were able to teach them about the Restoration. The spirit was very strong in the lesson. At the end of the lesson they committed themselves to come to church the next day. They told us they were looking for a church and had not found on yet that they feel comfortable or at home in yet. The whole family did come to church the next day and her children just loved primary. This Saturday they all came to the ward Christmas party. And then yesterday they came to church again. Last night we went over and taught them the Plan of Salvation. Again the spirit was very strong. Shelly told us she feels at home in our church and every time she walks into church she can feel the Spirit there. She believes God lead her to get on Mormon.org to ask for a Book of Mormon. And when we knocked on her door something told her to let us in. She knows God sent us to her. We asked her if she would be baptized. Shelly said yes she believes this is where God wants her to be! She agreed on the date of Jan. 16!
Now we have two baptisms scheduled for Jan. 16. Patty and Shelly both will be baptized the same day. There are so many people prepared to receive the gospel and we just need to keep working hard and never give up. The Lord knows who is ready and if we are listening He will guide us to them.
Again Merry Christmas to y'all. I love y'all too!
Love,
Sister Keys
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Release Date
Jeanne has received her released date. She will be returning home on March 3rd, 2010! I know I am extremely excited to have her coming home. I have missed her very much. But I am very grateful for her example of sacrifice to leave behind her life in Utah to serve the Lord. She is absolutely amazing to me.
The countdown begins!
The countdown begins!
December 14, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Well Chritmas is fast approaching. What a great time of year it is to be able to reflect a little more upon our Savoir Jesus Christ. To think of His birth and life and all that He has done for us. Christmas is all about giving, Heavenly Father gave His Son, and Christ gave His life. I pray we each may think of what gift we can give to God in return this season. How we can more fully show our gratitude. And as we do so we will feel God's love in even more in our lives.
It has been another great week. I am just so grateful to be on a mission around this time of year. Lots of amazing things are going on.
We have a baptism coming up this Sat. with a man named Michael. Michael has been living in Colorado and I first met him back in Aug. when he was here visiting his father, but he went back to Colorado. So not much happended then. But a few weeks ago on a Sat. night Michael called us up out of the blue and said he was back. He called to ask us if we could find him a ride to church the next day. He wanted to come to church and meet with us so that he can get baptized. He had been meeting with missionaries in Colorado for a while now and was going to church there and now he is back with his father for a while a really wants to be baptized soon. So we set the date for Sat Dec. 19, and have been teaching him multiple times a week now. We are all looking forward to Sat.
We are still teaching Patty too and she has now been to church 3 times in a row since we started teaching her. On Friday we went over there and taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ. Taugth about having faith in Christ, repenting, baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. At the end of the lesson Patty was so excited and asked us so are we going to set a baptismal date. And of course we did. Her and her boyfriend will be getting married Jan. 9 and then the next Sat. she will be baptized. Patty will be baptized on Jan 16, and what better way to start out the new year than helping someone make sacred covenants with the Lord. It is a blessing to be able to teach someone so prepared and ready for the gospel as Patty is. She has such a pure heart and wants so much to serve God.
I know Jesus Chirst lives! He is my Savoir. He suffered for me and died for me. There is safety and comfort in His arms. He stands waiting with open arms to receive all of us. His love for us never ends. He is my strength, my rock, and my salvation. These things I know to be true through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Love y'all,
Sister Keys
Well Chritmas is fast approaching. What a great time of year it is to be able to reflect a little more upon our Savoir Jesus Christ. To think of His birth and life and all that He has done for us. Christmas is all about giving, Heavenly Father gave His Son, and Christ gave His life. I pray we each may think of what gift we can give to God in return this season. How we can more fully show our gratitude. And as we do so we will feel God's love in even more in our lives.
It has been another great week. I am just so grateful to be on a mission around this time of year. Lots of amazing things are going on.
We have a baptism coming up this Sat. with a man named Michael. Michael has been living in Colorado and I first met him back in Aug. when he was here visiting his father, but he went back to Colorado. So not much happended then. But a few weeks ago on a Sat. night Michael called us up out of the blue and said he was back. He called to ask us if we could find him a ride to church the next day. He wanted to come to church and meet with us so that he can get baptized. He had been meeting with missionaries in Colorado for a while now and was going to church there and now he is back with his father for a while a really wants to be baptized soon. So we set the date for Sat Dec. 19, and have been teaching him multiple times a week now. We are all looking forward to Sat.
We are still teaching Patty too and she has now been to church 3 times in a row since we started teaching her. On Friday we went over there and taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ. Taugth about having faith in Christ, repenting, baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. At the end of the lesson Patty was so excited and asked us so are we going to set a baptismal date. And of course we did. Her and her boyfriend will be getting married Jan. 9 and then the next Sat. she will be baptized. Patty will be baptized on Jan 16, and what better way to start out the new year than helping someone make sacred covenants with the Lord. It is a blessing to be able to teach someone so prepared and ready for the gospel as Patty is. She has such a pure heart and wants so much to serve God.
I know Jesus Chirst lives! He is my Savoir. He suffered for me and died for me. There is safety and comfort in His arms. He stands waiting with open arms to receive all of us. His love for us never ends. He is my strength, my rock, and my salvation. These things I know to be true through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Love y'all,
Sister Keys
Don't Give Up-December 7, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Hope y'all had a great first week of Dec.
We had a great week and the work conts. to pick up. There is so much work to be done here that keeps us very busy.
Two weeks ago Sister Aston and I were talking about how we needed to find new investigators and we were trying to decide on a goal to set for that week of how many new investigators we wanted to see. We decided to get down on our knees and pray to know what our goal should be. As we prayed we both felt very strongly to set the goal of 10 new investigators for that week. During that whole week we worked hard to reach this goal and prayed often to be able to reach this goal. But sadly everything we trying do not work. At the end of the week we only had 1 new investigator, but that one new investigator is very prepared and golden! Anyways so on Monday, Nov. 30, we were very sad we had not reached this goal of 10 new investigators and that we had not even come close to reaching it. We both felt like that was the right goal to set.
After preparation day Monday night we went out and went to go teach a referral we had received for the Elders. When we sat down both her and her husband here there and she had also invited her nephew and his wife over to listen too. We talked about families and how the gospel can bless there family and committed them to read the Book of Mormon and set up a time for us to come back. When Sister Aston and I got back into the car after the meeting we just looked at each other and were both like did we really just get 4 new investigators.
Next we felt prompted to go visit a less active that we had not be ablet to reach. He was finally home. His uncle is now living with him too and we were able to sit down with both of them. His uncle use to be a pastor for different churches but said he wants to learn more about his nephew's church and is not fully sure if what he knows is all of the truth. We started to teach him about the Restoration and he agreed to come to church on Sunday. Another new investigator.
So by the time Monday night ended and only in 2 hours the Lord blessed us with 5 new investigators!!! It is true that you recieve no witness until after the trail of your faith (see Ether 12:6). If you just keep working hard and never give up the blessings will come.
God is mindful of us and He knows all. He is watching over us and is always there. Sometimes us just need to hold on a little longer and the miracles will come. Don't ever give up, but endure faithfully to the end.
I love y'all. Have a very blessed week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Hope y'all had a great first week of Dec.
We had a great week and the work conts. to pick up. There is so much work to be done here that keeps us very busy.
Two weeks ago Sister Aston and I were talking about how we needed to find new investigators and we were trying to decide on a goal to set for that week of how many new investigators we wanted to see. We decided to get down on our knees and pray to know what our goal should be. As we prayed we both felt very strongly to set the goal of 10 new investigators for that week. During that whole week we worked hard to reach this goal and prayed often to be able to reach this goal. But sadly everything we trying do not work. At the end of the week we only had 1 new investigator, but that one new investigator is very prepared and golden! Anyways so on Monday, Nov. 30, we were very sad we had not reached this goal of 10 new investigators and that we had not even come close to reaching it. We both felt like that was the right goal to set.
After preparation day Monday night we went out and went to go teach a referral we had received for the Elders. When we sat down both her and her husband here there and she had also invited her nephew and his wife over to listen too. We talked about families and how the gospel can bless there family and committed them to read the Book of Mormon and set up a time for us to come back. When Sister Aston and I got back into the car after the meeting we just looked at each other and were both like did we really just get 4 new investigators.
Next we felt prompted to go visit a less active that we had not be ablet to reach. He was finally home. His uncle is now living with him too and we were able to sit down with both of them. His uncle use to be a pastor for different churches but said he wants to learn more about his nephew's church and is not fully sure if what he knows is all of the truth. We started to teach him about the Restoration and he agreed to come to church on Sunday. Another new investigator.
So by the time Monday night ended and only in 2 hours the Lord blessed us with 5 new investigators!!! It is true that you recieve no witness until after the trail of your faith (see Ether 12:6). If you just keep working hard and never give up the blessings will come.
God is mindful of us and He knows all. He is watching over us and is always there. Sometimes us just need to hold on a little longer and the miracles will come. Don't ever give up, but endure faithfully to the end.
I love y'all. Have a very blessed week.
Love,
Sister Keys
A Message-November 30,2009
Dear family and friends,
Well I hope y'all had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving. I can't believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone and Christmas is fast approaching. Sometimes I wish I could slow time down just a little but alas I can not. It makes me think how important it is to not waste time and enjoy every moment for we can't get it back once it has past.
This week I want to quickly tell y'all about a lady named Patty. Things were going a little slow this week and we did not have many teaching appts. because of the holiday week but we kept working hard and trying to know where and what the Lord wanted us to be doing. During this time of struggle, on Wed, we received a message from one of the members in our ward, who we happened to have dinner scheduled for Friday. In the message she said how she had a friend named Patty who wants us to teach her and baptize her, and so when we come to dinner on Friday we can talk to her. This was one of the best messages left on my phone my whole mission. I love it when members share the gospel with their friends!
On Friday we went to dinner and met Patty. As we talked to her we found out she has come to church a few times before and loved it. In the other church she was going to she told us she always felt a little empty inside but when she comes to our church she feels full. She told us she wants to get closer to Chirst and believes she can through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the past couple days she has been praying to know were the Lord wants her to be and feels her answer is in this church. She is so excited to learn and is like a sponge just soaking everything up that she can. We asked her if she would be baptized when she comes to find out the church is true and whole heartly she said yes. We went back over again on Sunday and taught her more about the Restoration. She is already reading a chapter from the Book of Mormon along with a chapter for the Bible ever single day! Patty is amazing and has a great desire to know the truth for herself. Miracles continue to happen every single day.
I know the Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today, it is the true church. And we can become closer to Jesus Chirst through living his gospel. Jesus Chirst is my Savior and King. I know he suffered and died for me. It is only through Him that we are saved in the kingdom of God.
I love y'all. Have a great first week of Dec.
Love,
Sister Keys
Well I hope y'all had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving. I can't believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone and Christmas is fast approaching. Sometimes I wish I could slow time down just a little but alas I can not. It makes me think how important it is to not waste time and enjoy every moment for we can't get it back once it has past.
This week I want to quickly tell y'all about a lady named Patty. Things were going a little slow this week and we did not have many teaching appts. because of the holiday week but we kept working hard and trying to know where and what the Lord wanted us to be doing. During this time of struggle, on Wed, we received a message from one of the members in our ward, who we happened to have dinner scheduled for Friday. In the message she said how she had a friend named Patty who wants us to teach her and baptize her, and so when we come to dinner on Friday we can talk to her. This was one of the best messages left on my phone my whole mission. I love it when members share the gospel with their friends!
On Friday we went to dinner and met Patty. As we talked to her we found out she has come to church a few times before and loved it. In the other church she was going to she told us she always felt a little empty inside but when she comes to our church she feels full. She told us she wants to get closer to Chirst and believes she can through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the past couple days she has been praying to know were the Lord wants her to be and feels her answer is in this church. She is so excited to learn and is like a sponge just soaking everything up that she can. We asked her if she would be baptized when she comes to find out the church is true and whole heartly she said yes. We went back over again on Sunday and taught her more about the Restoration. She is already reading a chapter from the Book of Mormon along with a chapter for the Bible ever single day! Patty is amazing and has a great desire to know the truth for herself. Miracles continue to happen every single day.
I know the Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today, it is the true church. And we can become closer to Jesus Chirst through living his gospel. Jesus Chirst is my Savior and King. I know he suffered and died for me. It is only through Him that we are saved in the kingdom of God.
I love y'all. Have a great first week of Dec.
Love,
Sister Keys
Not Just A Book-November 23, 2009
Dear family and friends,
First off - HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope y'all have a great thanksgiving and eat lots of turkey and other food. I sure know I will be eating a lot! of food that day. And I am very excited for the holidays. I just love this time of year and it is a great time to be a missionary.
I don't remember if I have told y'all yet that this transfer as a mission we are focusing on the Book of Mormon. It has been great having this as our transfer focus. I love the Book of Mormon and know that it truly does change peoples lives for the better.
We have this one investigator we are teaching that is going through a really bad situation right now. She is going through some things that no one should ever have to go through. I have spent a lot of time on my knees praying to know how to help her and what to do for her. Well earlier this week as we were visiting with her, she was telling us more of the situation and just needing someone to talk to. As we visited with her the conversation turned to the Book of Mormon and some of the chapters we had left her to read. She told us she didn't know what she would do without this book in her life. And she told us a story of the other day as she was reading. She just had so many things weighing her down and worrying her mind. But as she read from the Book of Mormon her mind became clear and she felt some of the burden lifted from her. She told us reading the Book of Mormon is the only thing that brings peace and comfort into her life at this time and she doesn't know how she would make it without this book. Hearing her talk strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon was written for our day. In it we find the answers to all of our questions of the heart and soul. It is the word of God. The Book of Mormon does change lives. We will get closer to God by studying and living the teaching found in the Book of Mormon than by any other book. The Book of Mormon is much more than just a book, it is holy scripture written for us, and written to us to help us in these days. The Book of Mormon has brought great peace and happiness into my life. And it has strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ for every page testifies of Chirst. Through the Book of Mormon I better understand all that Christ suffered for me and did for me. He is my Redeemer and Savoir and I know that it is only through Him that we are saved in the kingdom of God. I promise you as you study the Book of Mormon everyday you will find the answers to help you through whatever you are going through. And you will find greater peace and happiness than ever before for the Spirit will be more present in your life.
I love y'all. Have a great week. Happy Thanksgiving.
Love,
Sister Keys
First off - HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope y'all have a great thanksgiving and eat lots of turkey and other food. I sure know I will be eating a lot! of food that day. And I am very excited for the holidays. I just love this time of year and it is a great time to be a missionary.
I don't remember if I have told y'all yet that this transfer as a mission we are focusing on the Book of Mormon. It has been great having this as our transfer focus. I love the Book of Mormon and know that it truly does change peoples lives for the better.
We have this one investigator we are teaching that is going through a really bad situation right now. She is going through some things that no one should ever have to go through. I have spent a lot of time on my knees praying to know how to help her and what to do for her. Well earlier this week as we were visiting with her, she was telling us more of the situation and just needing someone to talk to. As we visited with her the conversation turned to the Book of Mormon and some of the chapters we had left her to read. She told us she didn't know what she would do without this book in her life. And she told us a story of the other day as she was reading. She just had so many things weighing her down and worrying her mind. But as she read from the Book of Mormon her mind became clear and she felt some of the burden lifted from her. She told us reading the Book of Mormon is the only thing that brings peace and comfort into her life at this time and she doesn't know how she would make it without this book. Hearing her talk strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon was written for our day. In it we find the answers to all of our questions of the heart and soul. It is the word of God. The Book of Mormon does change lives. We will get closer to God by studying and living the teaching found in the Book of Mormon than by any other book. The Book of Mormon is much more than just a book, it is holy scripture written for us, and written to us to help us in these days. The Book of Mormon has brought great peace and happiness into my life. And it has strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ for every page testifies of Chirst. Through the Book of Mormon I better understand all that Christ suffered for me and did for me. He is my Redeemer and Savoir and I know that it is only through Him that we are saved in the kingdom of God. I promise you as you study the Book of Mormon everyday you will find the answers to help you through whatever you are going through. And you will find greater peace and happiness than ever before for the Spirit will be more present in your life.
I love y'all. Have a great week. Happy Thanksgiving.
Love,
Sister Keys
How Great Shall Be Your Joy- November 16, 2009
Dear family and friends,
My joy is very full this week. Sat. Sister Ginny was baptized, and then on Sun she received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was confirmed a member of the church. It was so amazing to she her baptized. The Lord blessed me to be able to watch her whole conversion process. I love being an instrument in the Lord's hands. The Holy Ghost was the one that converted Sister Ginny and I was just lucky enough to be a witness to it all happening. Every time it still amazes me how fast people change when they gain their own testimony of this gospel.
I love hearing Sister Ginny pray and thanking Heavenly Father for sending us to her. And telling Him how she has been waiting for this her whole life. I know she is going to make a great member of this church for the Lord was preparing her for a long time.
Her baptism went well once it finally got started. We has a little scare when the person who was baptizing her was not there when we were scheduled to start and he ended up being over 15 mins. later. But he finally got there and the baptism went really well after that. Bro. Bruce Epple started his chemo on Friday and was to sick to get baptized. But hopefully we are planning on baptizing him this week before he has chemo again on Friday. So please keep him in your prayers that everything goes well for him.
I know this is Christ's church back on the earth again today. Jesus is the head of this church and He speaks through prophets today just like He always has in the past.
I love y'all. Have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
My joy is very full this week. Sat. Sister Ginny was baptized, and then on Sun she received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was confirmed a member of the church. It was so amazing to she her baptized. The Lord blessed me to be able to watch her whole conversion process. I love being an instrument in the Lord's hands. The Holy Ghost was the one that converted Sister Ginny and I was just lucky enough to be a witness to it all happening. Every time it still amazes me how fast people change when they gain their own testimony of this gospel.
I love hearing Sister Ginny pray and thanking Heavenly Father for sending us to her. And telling Him how she has been waiting for this her whole life. I know she is going to make a great member of this church for the Lord was preparing her for a long time.
Her baptism went well once it finally got started. We has a little scare when the person who was baptizing her was not there when we were scheduled to start and he ended up being over 15 mins. later. But he finally got there and the baptism went really well after that. Bro. Bruce Epple started his chemo on Friday and was to sick to get baptized. But hopefully we are planning on baptizing him this week before he has chemo again on Friday. So please keep him in your prayers that everything goes well for him.
I know this is Christ's church back on the earth again today. Jesus is the head of this church and He speaks through prophets today just like He always has in the past.
I love y'all. Have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Monday, November 16, 2009
November 9, 2009
Dear family and friends,
I hope y'all had a great week and that you were able to see many miracles. We had a very busy and full week this last week and the Lord blessed us greatly.
On Sunday we had 6 investigators come to church!!! I was so happy to see so many people at church and feeling of the Spirit there. It was all the hand of the Lord that they all came. Seeing this many people at church was a testimony builder for me for more than half of them are struggling with huge health problems and did not feel the greatest but they still came to church and showed us that they are willing to put the Lord first above everything else.
I want to tell you about 2 of the people that came to church, their names are Gloria Jean and Sharon. We tracted into Gloria Jean a little over a week ago and left her a Restoration pamphlet to read, this was on a Friday. The Sunday following that, Nov. 1, we went back to teach her and she had read the pamphlet starting at the beginning through Joseph Smith. When we sat down she taught us the lesson of what she learned from the thing she read. Her understanding was just amazing. But when we started to talk about the Book of Mormon she kind of closed off and said she doesn't want to read that book. We found out she had met with missionaries before and even went to church with them once but did not have a great experience. We talked more about Joseph Smith and if he really was a prophet of God what would that mean to her. And she agreed to give us one more chance and hear us out. So we set up a time to come back. We went back on Wed. and the first thing she said to us was, "Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and he got the authority from God."!!! We told her she was right he is a prophet of God. And how prophets write scripture. We talked about the Book of Mormon and how it is another testament of Jesus Christ. Gloria commited to read just one chapter from the Book of Mormon and then she even committed herself to come to church on Sunday. She said if we found her a ride to church she would be there, and we of course agreed to find her a ride.
Then on Saturday we went back with a member that had agreed to pick them up for church. As we were waiting outside for the member to show up, Gloria told us her daughter, Sharon, agreed to come to church with her. Sharon was there and sat in on the lessons with us. To start off the lesson we asked how her reading went. Gloria said, " Them were some powerful scriptures. I read the whole chapter and I never read a whole chapter. As I was reading I felt it and the more I read the stronger I felt." Then we talked about what to expect at church tomorrow. They are both amazing and in the lessons they overcome their own concers for themselves.
And as I said they both came to church on Sunday and stayed for all 3 hours. They really loved it and Sharon told us she is very interested now in learning more.
Our focus as a mission this transfer is the Book of Mormon. And I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. People become converted as they read it. As we study and read from the Book of Mormon we come closer and closer to the Lord. Study from the Book of Mormon every day and your day will go better.
I love y'all and pray y'all have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
I hope y'all had a great week and that you were able to see many miracles. We had a very busy and full week this last week and the Lord blessed us greatly.
On Sunday we had 6 investigators come to church!!! I was so happy to see so many people at church and feeling of the Spirit there. It was all the hand of the Lord that they all came. Seeing this many people at church was a testimony builder for me for more than half of them are struggling with huge health problems and did not feel the greatest but they still came to church and showed us that they are willing to put the Lord first above everything else.
I want to tell you about 2 of the people that came to church, their names are Gloria Jean and Sharon. We tracted into Gloria Jean a little over a week ago and left her a Restoration pamphlet to read, this was on a Friday. The Sunday following that, Nov. 1, we went back to teach her and she had read the pamphlet starting at the beginning through Joseph Smith. When we sat down she taught us the lesson of what she learned from the thing she read. Her understanding was just amazing. But when we started to talk about the Book of Mormon she kind of closed off and said she doesn't want to read that book. We found out she had met with missionaries before and even went to church with them once but did not have a great experience. We talked more about Joseph Smith and if he really was a prophet of God what would that mean to her. And she agreed to give us one more chance and hear us out. So we set up a time to come back. We went back on Wed. and the first thing she said to us was, "Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and he got the authority from God."!!! We told her she was right he is a prophet of God. And how prophets write scripture. We talked about the Book of Mormon and how it is another testament of Jesus Christ. Gloria commited to read just one chapter from the Book of Mormon and then she even committed herself to come to church on Sunday. She said if we found her a ride to church she would be there, and we of course agreed to find her a ride.
Then on Saturday we went back with a member that had agreed to pick them up for church. As we were waiting outside for the member to show up, Gloria told us her daughter, Sharon, agreed to come to church with her. Sharon was there and sat in on the lessons with us. To start off the lesson we asked how her reading went. Gloria said, " Them were some powerful scriptures. I read the whole chapter and I never read a whole chapter. As I was reading I felt it and the more I read the stronger I felt." Then we talked about what to expect at church tomorrow. They are both amazing and in the lessons they overcome their own concers for themselves.
And as I said they both came to church on Sunday and stayed for all 3 hours. They really loved it and Sharon told us she is very interested now in learning more.
Our focus as a mission this transfer is the Book of Mormon. And I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. People become converted as they read it. As we study and read from the Book of Mormon we come closer and closer to the Lord. Study from the Book of Mormon every day and your day will go better.
I love y'all and pray y'all have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
New Investigator-November 2, 2009
Howdy family and friends,
I hope y'all had a great and happy Halloween!
Lots of great things are happening here in the Texas Dallas Mission. This week we started a new transfer and so to start the transfer we met as a zone to set goals of what we want to happen this month of Nov. As a zone we set a goal to see 20 people baptized in Nov. and by the end of the week we have 19 people with baptismal dates. The Lord is blessing us so much!
Ginny and Bruce are still set for baptism on Nov. 14 and are progressing well. It is so neat to see their testimony of the gospel grow and to see them becoming truly converted! Ginny even picks up a recent convert that lives by her who doens't have a car and brings him to church with her. Bruce takes notes throughout all of church and is just soaking everything up. I pray I can be more like this two and feel like I am learning more from them then they are learning from me.
We found a new investigator this week while knocking doors. His name is Cory and is 17 years old. As we taught him the first lesson he told us how he has family members that are members and he even has looked into going to BYU when he graduates. He is very prepare to hear the gospel. It is very true that there are so many people that are being prepare right now to receive the gospel.
I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Through him the Lord restored His church upon the earth again. We have a living prophet of God today, even Thomas S. Monson, and 12 Apostles. Jesus Christ lives today and stands at the head of this church. Jesus Christ is my Savior. He suffered personally for me. He took upon Him all of my pains, my sorrows, sicknesses, trials, and sins. Because He already suffered and paid the price for me I don't have to walk this road alone. Just turn to Him and He will help us overcome anything for He has overcome the world.
I love ya'll. Have a blesses week.
Love,
Sister Keys
I hope y'all had a great and happy Halloween!
Lots of great things are happening here in the Texas Dallas Mission. This week we started a new transfer and so to start the transfer we met as a zone to set goals of what we want to happen this month of Nov. As a zone we set a goal to see 20 people baptized in Nov. and by the end of the week we have 19 people with baptismal dates. The Lord is blessing us so much!
Ginny and Bruce are still set for baptism on Nov. 14 and are progressing well. It is so neat to see their testimony of the gospel grow and to see them becoming truly converted! Ginny even picks up a recent convert that lives by her who doens't have a car and brings him to church with her. Bruce takes notes throughout all of church and is just soaking everything up. I pray I can be more like this two and feel like I am learning more from them then they are learning from me.
We found a new investigator this week while knocking doors. His name is Cory and is 17 years old. As we taught him the first lesson he told us how he has family members that are members and he even has looked into going to BYU when he graduates. He is very prepare to hear the gospel. It is very true that there are so many people that are being prepare right now to receive the gospel.
I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Through him the Lord restored His church upon the earth again. We have a living prophet of God today, even Thomas S. Monson, and 12 Apostles. Jesus Christ lives today and stands at the head of this church. Jesus Christ is my Savior. He suffered personally for me. He took upon Him all of my pains, my sorrows, sicknesses, trials, and sins. Because He already suffered and paid the price for me I don't have to walk this road alone. Just turn to Him and He will help us overcome anything for He has overcome the world.
I love ya'll. Have a blesses week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Baptismal Dates-September 26, 2009
Dear family and friends,
What a week it has been! Lots of great things are happening here and I am just so happy and humbled that the Lord is allowing me to be a witness to all.
Thursday our stake had a recent convert temple trip. We took a lot of the recent converts down to the temple and did baptisms for the dead. We got permission to go the temple with them. Asheley drove us down, she was baptized in June. At the temple on of the stake pres. members told us there where about 41 people from our stake to do baptisms and most of them were recent converts. A lot of them it was their first or second time going to the temple. It was just so amazing to be a part of this and see them all dressed in white. And to be helping so many people on the other side who can't do this work for themselves. This is want missionary work is all about, helping people make it to the temple so that families can be together forever.
Sunday we taught Bruce Epple and Sister Jones the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the beginning of the lesson I asked Bruce what he thought of Joseph Smith and he replied that he finds it hard not to believe and bore his testimony of how great it is to have a prophet on the earth today to guide us in our time. We taught them about faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and hte importance of enduring to the end. The Spirit was very strong there testifying of the truthfulness of these things. At the end of the lesson we asked Bruce if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. Without even pausing Bruce said yes he would like that. We set a date of Nov. 14 with him. As we were leaving I told Bruce that know I was going to start calling him Bro. Epple and he just smiled and agreed.
We now have 3 people getting baptized on Nov. 14. Ginny, who is doing great and has come to church now 3 times in a row these past three weeks. George is also scheduled to be baptized on that date too. And now Bruce will be joining them.
The Lord is blessing us so much. I know it is the Holy Ghost that converts people and I am just the instrument. The Lord did it all and I just an honored to be as a witness to all these miracles here!
I know that Jesus Christ lives! He suffered and died for my sins. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church on the earth today.
I love y'all. And pray y'all have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
What a week it has been! Lots of great things are happening here and I am just so happy and humbled that the Lord is allowing me to be a witness to all.
Thursday our stake had a recent convert temple trip. We took a lot of the recent converts down to the temple and did baptisms for the dead. We got permission to go the temple with them. Asheley drove us down, she was baptized in June. At the temple on of the stake pres. members told us there where about 41 people from our stake to do baptisms and most of them were recent converts. A lot of them it was their first or second time going to the temple. It was just so amazing to be a part of this and see them all dressed in white. And to be helping so many people on the other side who can't do this work for themselves. This is want missionary work is all about, helping people make it to the temple so that families can be together forever.
Sunday we taught Bruce Epple and Sister Jones the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the beginning of the lesson I asked Bruce what he thought of Joseph Smith and he replied that he finds it hard not to believe and bore his testimony of how great it is to have a prophet on the earth today to guide us in our time. We taught them about faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and hte importance of enduring to the end. The Spirit was very strong there testifying of the truthfulness of these things. At the end of the lesson we asked Bruce if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. Without even pausing Bruce said yes he would like that. We set a date of Nov. 14 with him. As we were leaving I told Bruce that know I was going to start calling him Bro. Epple and he just smiled and agreed.
We now have 3 people getting baptized on Nov. 14. Ginny, who is doing great and has come to church now 3 times in a row these past three weeks. George is also scheduled to be baptized on that date too. And now Bruce will be joining them.
The Lord is blessing us so much. I know it is the Holy Ghost that converts people and I am just the instrument. The Lord did it all and I just an honored to be as a witness to all these miracles here!
I know that Jesus Christ lives! He suffered and died for my sins. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church on the earth today.
I love y'all. And pray y'all have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Monday, October 26, 2009
October 19, 2009
Dear family and friends,
It has been an interesting week. I really don't like the flu season, a lot of people cancelled on us because they were sick. But the Lord helped us know what to do to still be effective and gained a stronger testimony of having good back up plans.
This week we taught Bruce the plan of salvation and he came to church again. He keeps asking us why he had to wait so long in his life to learn about these things. Every time we teach him too he has a notebook out and takes notes through the whole lesson. He has a huge hunger to learn all that he can and his testimony of the gospel is growing. He told us he loves coming to church and feels comfortable there and at peace. The Spirit is always very strong around him and at Sister Jone's home and I know it is the Spirit that is really teaching him and helping him understand. The Holy Ghost is the one that converts people.
Ginny is also doing well. She came to church again this week, that makes 2 times in a row. And still is excited to be baptized on Nov. 14. On of our lessons this week we taught about following the prophet and watched Pres. Monson's April 2009 gen. conf. talk. After we asked how she felt and she told us it felt like he was talking just to her. And that she never has heard someone speak before with such power and love and confiction. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. He is God's mouth piece on the earth today. If we follow his guidance and counsel we will have peace and happiness in this life. Each and every one of us can find out for ourselves if Pres. Monson is a prophet of God through sincere pray to our Heavenly Father. I know God does hear and answer our prayers.
So really fast I have a funny story for y'all. Yesterday while we were tracting I knock on this woman's door. She called out for us to come in but I was not about to walk into that house for we had no idea what was on the other side of the door. Finally she came to the door and walked right out. I was the closest to the door. And as she walked out she said, "I just need some hug n' love n' and church right now." Then she threw herself around me and gave me this BIG LONG HUG. And she even kissed me on the cheek. I am pretty sure she was a little drunk too. My companions and I just walked away for her door laughing. That is a first for me while tracting. You just never know what you are going to find when knocking doors.
I love y'all. Have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
It has been an interesting week. I really don't like the flu season, a lot of people cancelled on us because they were sick. But the Lord helped us know what to do to still be effective and gained a stronger testimony of having good back up plans.
This week we taught Bruce the plan of salvation and he came to church again. He keeps asking us why he had to wait so long in his life to learn about these things. Every time we teach him too he has a notebook out and takes notes through the whole lesson. He has a huge hunger to learn all that he can and his testimony of the gospel is growing. He told us he loves coming to church and feels comfortable there and at peace. The Spirit is always very strong around him and at Sister Jone's home and I know it is the Spirit that is really teaching him and helping him understand. The Holy Ghost is the one that converts people.
Ginny is also doing well. She came to church again this week, that makes 2 times in a row. And still is excited to be baptized on Nov. 14. On of our lessons this week we taught about following the prophet and watched Pres. Monson's April 2009 gen. conf. talk. After we asked how she felt and she told us it felt like he was talking just to her. And that she never has heard someone speak before with such power and love and confiction. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. He is God's mouth piece on the earth today. If we follow his guidance and counsel we will have peace and happiness in this life. Each and every one of us can find out for ourselves if Pres. Monson is a prophet of God through sincere pray to our Heavenly Father. I know God does hear and answer our prayers.
So really fast I have a funny story for y'all. Yesterday while we were tracting I knock on this woman's door. She called out for us to come in but I was not about to walk into that house for we had no idea what was on the other side of the door. Finally she came to the door and walked right out. I was the closest to the door. And as she walked out she said, "I just need some hug n' love n' and church right now." Then she threw herself around me and gave me this BIG LONG HUG. And she even kissed me on the cheek. I am pretty sure she was a little drunk too. My companions and I just walked away for her door laughing. That is a first for me while tracting. You just never know what you are going to find when knocking doors.
I love y'all. Have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
A Full Heart-October 12, 2009
Dear family and friends,
My heart is very full this week. So many miracles and amazing things happened this past week.
Wed. we went to Zone Conf. and during lunch Pres. and Sister Smith informed Sister Blickfeldt and I that we were getting a new sister joining us today. We are a 3-some again. This is now my 4th three-some on my mission, and that is great for I love them. Sister Aston is our new companion. She was been serving in the Nauvoo mission for the past 6-7 months and will be in Texas for 6 months. She is a great missionary and a huge blessing to us. So after Zone Conf we had to go to the mission office and pick her up.
Friday we had one of the best lessons with an investigator of my mission. We taught Genny the 3rd lesson, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we were teaching the Spirit was very strong. She told us she knows Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and this gospel is what she was been looking for her whole life. She is a very prepared and chosen daughter do God. Anyways after my companion taught about repentance, I felt prompted to pause in our lesson for a min. and asked Genny how she felt right then. She said she felt very peaceful and comfotable. I pointed out that was the Holy Ghost testifing to her that this things are true. And then I bore my testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel and of Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. And then I committed her to be baptized. She said she still was a little scared and was not sure because she felt she doesn't know enough yet. The members we had jumped in and talked to her about being scared and helpped her overcome some of her fears. I told her that I had been praying for a long time about a baptismal date and felt that she should be baptized on Nov. 14. She replied that Nov 14 sounded perfect and committed to be baptized on that date!!! Genny came to church for the first time on Sunday and told the Elders that this whole experience has been a life changing experience for the better. After leaving her house that night I knew that this in one of the reasons why I came on a mission. Lessons like that and people like Genny make all the hard times and trails worth it all. And I would give anything to be able to stay here for other 18 months at least.
On Sunday we were able to see 3 people come to church too. It fills me with joy to see people come to church and feel the Spirit .
I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church . Jesus Christ is my Savior. He personally suffered for my sins and my weaknesses and my pains. And through Him I can be forgiven and return to live with my Heavenly Father again. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and he restored Christ's church back onto the earth again. God hears and answers my prayers. I know that my Redeemer lives!
I love y'all and pray you too may see many miracles this week. God bless you.
Love,
Sister Keys
My heart is very full this week. So many miracles and amazing things happened this past week.
Wed. we went to Zone Conf. and during lunch Pres. and Sister Smith informed Sister Blickfeldt and I that we were getting a new sister joining us today. We are a 3-some again. This is now my 4th three-some on my mission, and that is great for I love them. Sister Aston is our new companion. She was been serving in the Nauvoo mission for the past 6-7 months and will be in Texas for 6 months. She is a great missionary and a huge blessing to us. So after Zone Conf we had to go to the mission office and pick her up.
Friday we had one of the best lessons with an investigator of my mission. We taught Genny the 3rd lesson, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we were teaching the Spirit was very strong. She told us she knows Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and this gospel is what she was been looking for her whole life. She is a very prepared and chosen daughter do God. Anyways after my companion taught about repentance, I felt prompted to pause in our lesson for a min. and asked Genny how she felt right then. She said she felt very peaceful and comfotable. I pointed out that was the Holy Ghost testifing to her that this things are true. And then I bore my testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel and of Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. And then I committed her to be baptized. She said she still was a little scared and was not sure because she felt she doesn't know enough yet. The members we had jumped in and talked to her about being scared and helpped her overcome some of her fears. I told her that I had been praying for a long time about a baptismal date and felt that she should be baptized on Nov. 14. She replied that Nov 14 sounded perfect and committed to be baptized on that date!!! Genny came to church for the first time on Sunday and told the Elders that this whole experience has been a life changing experience for the better. After leaving her house that night I knew that this in one of the reasons why I came on a mission. Lessons like that and people like Genny make all the hard times and trails worth it all. And I would give anything to be able to stay here for other 18 months at least.
On Sunday we were able to see 3 people come to church too. It fills me with joy to see people come to church and feel the Spirit .
I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church . Jesus Christ is my Savior. He personally suffered for my sins and my weaknesses and my pains. And through Him I can be forgiven and return to live with my Heavenly Father again. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and he restored Christ's church back onto the earth again. God hears and answers my prayers. I know that my Redeemer lives!
I love y'all and pray you too may see many miracles this week. God bless you.
Love,
Sister Keys
General Conference-October 5, 2009
Dear family and friends,
How has every ones week gone? I hope you were able to watch some of general conference. I loved it. All of conference was just amazing. I know we have a living prophet on the earth today.
We had 3 people come and watch conference. Craig went to the priesthood session Sat. night and then came again Sunday and stayed for both sessions. He enjoyed it a lot and just soaked everything up. We asked him how he felt between sessions and he said he felt very comfortable.
Bruce also came. He is a member referral that we just started to teach. And he also stayed for both sessions on Sunday.
George and Angel watched some of conference. They are getting married on Tues. and are still working on quiting smoking for George to get baptized in a few weeks.
There were so many good talks from conference it is hard to choose a favorite. I really liked Elder Holland's and thought is was very powerful. I wanted to stand up too and tell the whole world that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I bear testimony for heaven and earth to know that I know the Book of Mormon is true. In it we find the gospel of Jesus Christ pure and simple in its fullness.
I think that the overall theme that I got out of conf. was love. Love God with all our heart and love His children. That if we truly love God we will keep His commandments. And if we love God we will love His children. When we love others we desire to serve them. Love should be what motivates us to do all things. Out of love we will seek to serve others everyday. Go out each day and find ways to serve someone in need.
The theme that I got out of conf. was love. Love God with all our heart and love His children. That if we truly love God we will keep His commandments. And if we love God we will love His children. When we love others we desire to serve them. Love should be what motivates us to do all things. Out of love we will seek to serve others everyday. Go out each day and find ways to serve someone in need.
If you did not have the opportunity to watch conf. I strongly advise you to read it or listen to it online. I promise that as we study and apply the teachings from the prophets and apostles that more peace and direction will come into our lives.
I love this work. I know Pres. Monson is God's living prophet on the earth today. Joseph Smith did restore Christ's church on the earth today. Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.
I love y'all and hope you have a wonderful week.
Love,
Sister Keys
How has every ones week gone? I hope you were able to watch some of general conference. I loved it. All of conference was just amazing. I know we have a living prophet on the earth today.
We had 3 people come and watch conference. Craig went to the priesthood session Sat. night and then came again Sunday and stayed for both sessions. He enjoyed it a lot and just soaked everything up. We asked him how he felt between sessions and he said he felt very comfortable.
Bruce also came. He is a member referral that we just started to teach. And he also stayed for both sessions on Sunday.
George and Angel watched some of conference. They are getting married on Tues. and are still working on quiting smoking for George to get baptized in a few weeks.
There were so many good talks from conference it is hard to choose a favorite. I really liked Elder Holland's and thought is was very powerful. I wanted to stand up too and tell the whole world that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I bear testimony for heaven and earth to know that I know the Book of Mormon is true. In it we find the gospel of Jesus Christ pure and simple in its fullness.
I think that the overall theme that I got out of conf. was love. Love God with all our heart and love His children. That if we truly love God we will keep His commandments. And if we love God we will love His children. When we love others we desire to serve them. Love should be what motivates us to do all things. Out of love we will seek to serve others everyday. Go out each day and find ways to serve someone in need.
The theme that I got out of conf. was love. Love God with all our heart and love His children. That if we truly love God we will keep His commandments. And if we love God we will love His children. When we love others we desire to serve them. Love should be what motivates us to do all things. Out of love we will seek to serve others everyday. Go out each day and find ways to serve someone in need.
If you did not have the opportunity to watch conf. I strongly advise you to read it or listen to it online. I promise that as we study and apply the teachings from the prophets and apostles that more peace and direction will come into our lives.
I love this work. I know Pres. Monson is God's living prophet on the earth today. Joseph Smith did restore Christ's church on the earth today. Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.
I love y'all and hope you have a wonderful week.
Love,
Sister Keys
A Phone Call-September 28, 2009
Hello family and friends,
I hope all y'all had a great week last week. My week went very well. The Lord cont. to bless us and help us every step of the way.
Thursday morning Sister Blickfeldt and I had the opportunity to get up early and go teach seminary in the morning. That was a great experience. We shared with them what we had learned from Elder Ballard and Pres. Uchtdorf.
Also that day we received an amazing phone call. Bro. Roberts, in the ward, called us and told us he talked to his less-active daughter and her boyfriend and they both agreed to take the missionary lessons! We were so excited to teach them for we had asked them once before if they would take the lessons but Taunya, his daughter, was not ready. So Sunday we went over to Bro. and Sis. Roberts home and taught Taunya and Rusty about the Restoration. The Spirit was very strong and Rusty was very interested. He can feel the difference in the Roberts home and wants to know what makes it so different.
I love seeing the change that happens in people as they start to do the things that will bring them closer to the Lord. Wed. night we were teaching Craig and Pattie and at the end we asked if there was anything we could do for them. Pattie broke her ankle and she can't put any weight on it for a few weeks, so she is stuck in bed. Craig told us he needed to wash Pattie's hair but he is very busy with homework and did not know how he was going to do it. We told him we would do it, and we got a bucket and washed her hair right there and then. It was actually very fun. Well a few days later Craig called us up and told us how much that meant to him and Pattie. And it made him realize he needed to get out of himself and go do some service for someone else. And Saturday morning he went over to this ladies home with a member and helped her with her yardwork and fixing her bathroom. It was very touching to see him going out and trying to serve others.
Hope y'all are getting ready for General Conference this weekend. I know I am very excited to hear from living prophets today!!! I love general conference. What a blessing to have prophets and apostles on the earth today. I am looking forward to hearing what the Lord has to tell us through His prophets.
I love y'all. And have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
I hope all y'all had a great week last week. My week went very well. The Lord cont. to bless us and help us every step of the way.
Thursday morning Sister Blickfeldt and I had the opportunity to get up early and go teach seminary in the morning. That was a great experience. We shared with them what we had learned from Elder Ballard and Pres. Uchtdorf.
Also that day we received an amazing phone call. Bro. Roberts, in the ward, called us and told us he talked to his less-active daughter and her boyfriend and they both agreed to take the missionary lessons! We were so excited to teach them for we had asked them once before if they would take the lessons but Taunya, his daughter, was not ready. So Sunday we went over to Bro. and Sis. Roberts home and taught Taunya and Rusty about the Restoration. The Spirit was very strong and Rusty was very interested. He can feel the difference in the Roberts home and wants to know what makes it so different.
I love seeing the change that happens in people as they start to do the things that will bring them closer to the Lord. Wed. night we were teaching Craig and Pattie and at the end we asked if there was anything we could do for them. Pattie broke her ankle and she can't put any weight on it for a few weeks, so she is stuck in bed. Craig told us he needed to wash Pattie's hair but he is very busy with homework and did not know how he was going to do it. We told him we would do it, and we got a bucket and washed her hair right there and then. It was actually very fun. Well a few days later Craig called us up and told us how much that meant to him and Pattie. And it made him realize he needed to get out of himself and go do some service for someone else. And Saturday morning he went over to this ladies home with a member and helped her with her yardwork and fixing her bathroom. It was very touching to see him going out and trying to serve others.
Hope y'all are getting ready for General Conference this weekend. I know I am very excited to hear from living prophets today!!! I love general conference. What a blessing to have prophets and apostles on the earth today. I am looking forward to hearing what the Lord has to tell us through His prophets.
I love y'all. And have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
A Hand Shake and a Hug-September 21, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Well I hope y'all had a great week. This week has been so wonderful.
In my last email I told y'all how we had the opportunity of hearing from Elder Ballard. We started out our week from hearing from an Apostle of the Lord and we also ending our week from hearing from an Apostle of the Lord.
Sunday Pres. Uchtdorf and Sis. Uchtdorf came and spoke to our mission and the Fort Worth mission. How amazing to sit at the feet of a member of the First Presidency! Before they spoke to us Pres. Uchtdorf said he wanted to shake the hands of every single one of us. So one by one we each got to walk up front and shake their hands. I shoke the hand of Pres. Uchtdorf and huged Sister Uchtdorf. It was such a powerful experience.
Then Sister Uchtdorf spoke to us first. And she shared her families conversion story with us. She told us that we will forever be someones missionary!
Pres. Uchtdorf then addressed us. He is such a powerful speaker and very filled with the spirit of the Lord. I know he is a prophet of God. He told us that our mission is not about us, it is about the Lord and his gospel. We need to endure joyfully to the end and smile as we go about doing the Lord's work. And our motivation for doing things should be our love for the Lord and our love for other people.
The thing I thought was a great too is both Pres. Uchtdorf and Elder Ballard talked to us about really studying Chapter 3 of Preach my Gospel, that is were you find the lessons we teach people. We need to study the lessons everyday and to internalize them. Make the doctrines are part of who we are. If we internalize and truly understand the lessons then we can overcome any challenge we are faced with and better apply the principles in our lives and the lives of those we teach.
It has been a great experience to hear from these two great men and Apostles of the Lord.
Also this week we got a soft baptismal commitment with both Mike and Craig. Craig came to church yesterday too and he really loved it. I just love this work and the people here.
There is so much more that happened this week and so many miracles that Sister Blickfeldt and I have witnessed but sadly I don't have time to write them all in this email right now.
I know this church is true. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the key to peace and joy and happiness in this life and in the life to come. Jesue Christ is my Savior and King. He suffered for my sins and died for me. And I know he lives! God hears and answers my prayers. I am a daughter of God and He loves me. We have a prophet of God on the earth today even Pres. Thomas S. Monson. Jesus Christ is the head of this church.
I love ya'll. May God bless your week to be better than the last.
Love,
Sister Keys
Well I hope y'all had a great week. This week has been so wonderful.
In my last email I told y'all how we had the opportunity of hearing from Elder Ballard. We started out our week from hearing from an Apostle of the Lord and we also ending our week from hearing from an Apostle of the Lord.
Sunday Pres. Uchtdorf and Sis. Uchtdorf came and spoke to our mission and the Fort Worth mission. How amazing to sit at the feet of a member of the First Presidency! Before they spoke to us Pres. Uchtdorf said he wanted to shake the hands of every single one of us. So one by one we each got to walk up front and shake their hands. I shoke the hand of Pres. Uchtdorf and huged Sister Uchtdorf. It was such a powerful experience.
Then Sister Uchtdorf spoke to us first. And she shared her families conversion story with us. She told us that we will forever be someones missionary!
Pres. Uchtdorf then addressed us. He is such a powerful speaker and very filled with the spirit of the Lord. I know he is a prophet of God. He told us that our mission is not about us, it is about the Lord and his gospel. We need to endure joyfully to the end and smile as we go about doing the Lord's work. And our motivation for doing things should be our love for the Lord and our love for other people.
The thing I thought was a great too is both Pres. Uchtdorf and Elder Ballard talked to us about really studying Chapter 3 of Preach my Gospel, that is were you find the lessons we teach people. We need to study the lessons everyday and to internalize them. Make the doctrines are part of who we are. If we internalize and truly understand the lessons then we can overcome any challenge we are faced with and better apply the principles in our lives and the lives of those we teach.
It has been a great experience to hear from these two great men and Apostles of the Lord.
Also this week we got a soft baptismal commitment with both Mike and Craig. Craig came to church yesterday too and he really loved it. I just love this work and the people here.
There is so much more that happened this week and so many miracles that Sister Blickfeldt and I have witnessed but sadly I don't have time to write them all in this email right now.
I know this church is true. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the key to peace and joy and happiness in this life and in the life to come. Jesue Christ is my Savior and King. He suffered for my sins and died for me. And I know he lives! God hears and answers my prayers. I am a daughter of God and He loves me. We have a prophet of God on the earth today even Pres. Thomas S. Monson. Jesus Christ is the head of this church.
I love ya'll. May God bless your week to be better than the last.
Love,
Sister Keys
Friday, September 18, 2009
An Apostle-September 14, 2009
Dear family and friends,
What a day it has been! This morning we had the privilege and opportunity to hear from an Apostle of the Lord. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the 12 and Elder Costa of the Seventy came this morning and spoke to our mission and to the Fort Worth mission. There is nothing like hearing personally from an Apostle of Jesus Christ. I know Elder Ballard is a special witness of Jesus Christ. He is just like Peter, James, and John in the New Testament, Elder Ballard hold the same office and authority that these men held. I am truly grateful to have a Prophet and 12 Apostles on the earth today. And to know that the priesthood authority is back on the earth today! The Spirit was so strong in that meeting and just to be able to stand in Elder Ballard's presence was awe-inspiring. I wish I could find better words to describe it to y'all but I can't.
Elder Ballard talked about the great power that prayer can have in our lives. Never get so busy that you don't have time to pray. Pray gives us power and strength to be able to face anything that comes our way. So make time to pray every morning and every night to your Father in Heaven. Heavenly Father wants to hear from you and to help you but we have to take the time to humbly go to Him and turn to Him in prayer.
Elder Ballard also talked about daily scripture study. We need to read and study our scriptures everyday. We can't afford not to. "And I said unto them that is was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." 1 Nephi 15:24 Scripture study gives us the power to overcome the powers of Satan. So please always remember to do this two things everyday and I promise you will be able to handle anything Satan will throw at you, your soul will never perish.
Also this week the Lord blessed us and helped us set another baptismal date. Sunday we started to teach Angel and George. They have been taught by missionaries before but needed to get married. They just had to wait for Angel's divorce to finally go all the way through. Well last Sunday they showed up to church for the first time in a while. This was my first time meeting them. They told us they are finally able to get married and George wants to start taking the missionary lessons again so he can get baptized. So yesterday we started teaching them. They are going to get married on Oct 5. Yesterday I felt prompted to bear testimony of eternal families and how do we get that. We talked about 3 things we can do to strenghten our families and that is family pray, family scripture study, and going to church. They want to be sealed in the temple and willing to take the steps to get there. George is going to be baptized on Oct 17. They both still struggle with smoking and so we have to help them overcome that too, but I know they will and one day they will make it to the temple and be sealed as a family for all time and eternity.
I love this work. And I love y'all. Hope you have a wonderful week.
Love,
Sister Keys
What a day it has been! This morning we had the privilege and opportunity to hear from an Apostle of the Lord. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the 12 and Elder Costa of the Seventy came this morning and spoke to our mission and to the Fort Worth mission. There is nothing like hearing personally from an Apostle of Jesus Christ. I know Elder Ballard is a special witness of Jesus Christ. He is just like Peter, James, and John in the New Testament, Elder Ballard hold the same office and authority that these men held. I am truly grateful to have a Prophet and 12 Apostles on the earth today. And to know that the priesthood authority is back on the earth today! The Spirit was so strong in that meeting and just to be able to stand in Elder Ballard's presence was awe-inspiring. I wish I could find better words to describe it to y'all but I can't.
Elder Ballard talked about the great power that prayer can have in our lives. Never get so busy that you don't have time to pray. Pray gives us power and strength to be able to face anything that comes our way. So make time to pray every morning and every night to your Father in Heaven. Heavenly Father wants to hear from you and to help you but we have to take the time to humbly go to Him and turn to Him in prayer.
Elder Ballard also talked about daily scripture study. We need to read and study our scriptures everyday. We can't afford not to. "And I said unto them that is was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." 1 Nephi 15:24 Scripture study gives us the power to overcome the powers of Satan. So please always remember to do this two things everyday and I promise you will be able to handle anything Satan will throw at you, your soul will never perish.
Also this week the Lord blessed us and helped us set another baptismal date. Sunday we started to teach Angel and George. They have been taught by missionaries before but needed to get married. They just had to wait for Angel's divorce to finally go all the way through. Well last Sunday they showed up to church for the first time in a while. This was my first time meeting them. They told us they are finally able to get married and George wants to start taking the missionary lessons again so he can get baptized. So yesterday we started teaching them. They are going to get married on Oct 5. Yesterday I felt prompted to bear testimony of eternal families and how do we get that. We talked about 3 things we can do to strenghten our families and that is family pray, family scripture study, and going to church. They want to be sealed in the temple and willing to take the steps to get there. George is going to be baptized on Oct 17. They both still struggle with smoking and so we have to help them overcome that too, but I know they will and one day they will make it to the temple and be sealed as a family for all time and eternity.
I love this work. And I love y'all. Hope you have a wonderful week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Families are Forever-September 7, 2009
Dear family and friends,
I pray everything finds you well. My week has been great and full of many spiritual experiences.
We are teaching this new lady named Genny. She is amazing. Our first time teaching her we felt prompted to teach her the Plan of Salvation. She told us she was always wondered where we came from? why are we here? and where we are going? And growing up she has felt that there should be more, that the story can't just end there with the Bible but there has to be more. Genny is so prepared and ready to receive the fullness of the gospel. So Saturday we taught her the first half of the Plan of Salvation and through the whole lesson she told us everything we were teaching her just made perfect sense. At the end of the lesson Sis. Blickfeldt asked her, "As you come to know these things are true, will you be baptized?" Genny replied, "Yes, when I know these things are true I will be baptized." What a miracle. I am so grateful for my knowledge of the plan of salvation. That to know that through Jesus Christ and His Atonement we have a way to return back to live with our Heavenly Father again.
Sunday Mike came to church for the first time! That was a huge miracle. After sacrament meeting he told us that it was more reverent than he was use too and that he was very touched. Also we had a part member family that decide to come to church and we are going to start teaching them this week.
I love this gospel. I know that our families can be together forever. This life is not the end but there is much more to come. Through the power of the priesthood we can be sealed to our families forever.
Love y'all. May the Lord bless you with peace and joy this week.
Love,
Sister Keys
I pray everything finds you well. My week has been great and full of many spiritual experiences.
We are teaching this new lady named Genny. She is amazing. Our first time teaching her we felt prompted to teach her the Plan of Salvation. She told us she was always wondered where we came from? why are we here? and where we are going? And growing up she has felt that there should be more, that the story can't just end there with the Bible but there has to be more. Genny is so prepared and ready to receive the fullness of the gospel. So Saturday we taught her the first half of the Plan of Salvation and through the whole lesson she told us everything we were teaching her just made perfect sense. At the end of the lesson Sis. Blickfeldt asked her, "As you come to know these things are true, will you be baptized?" Genny replied, "Yes, when I know these things are true I will be baptized." What a miracle. I am so grateful for my knowledge of the plan of salvation. That to know that through Jesus Christ and His Atonement we have a way to return back to live with our Heavenly Father again.
Sunday Mike came to church for the first time! That was a huge miracle. After sacrament meeting he told us that it was more reverent than he was use too and that he was very touched. Also we had a part member family that decide to come to church and we are going to start teaching them this week.
I love this gospel. I know that our families can be together forever. This life is not the end but there is much more to come. Through the power of the priesthood we can be sealed to our families forever.
Love y'all. May the Lord bless you with peace and joy this week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Expect Miracles-August 31, 2009
Dear family and friends,
The Lord is very merciful. It has been a great week. We have witnessed so many miracles this week it is amazing. Expect miracles for they really do happen everyday. God is a God of miracles. Look for miracles everyday and then give thanks to God for them. As you look for them and I promise you that you will see them.
Tuesday we did an exchange. I spent the day down in McKinney with Sister Hokanson. I was fun to go back to an old area and see a few of the people I meet there. And I learned a lot from Sister Hokanson.
Wed. we had Zone Conference, which is always amazing and very uplifting. Pres. Smith talked about doing the difficult and hard things. We grow the most when we look for and do the difficult things. That is so true, I have never learned some much or grown so much my whole life then I am now on my mission. He told us to everyday find our wall of fire and then to walk through it. The Lord will strengthen us and help us every step of the way. The Lord is walking with us everyday.
Thur. we taught David. He has the strongest testimony of the gospel of anyone else I have ever taught. We asked him if he believed the Book of Mormon is true and without pausing he said "I know it is true." He wants to read all of the Book of Mormon before he is baptized and is in Alma right now. So we challenged him to read 8 pages a day and he could have it finished by Sept. 26 and be baptized that day. We made a reading calender with him and he agreed to be baptized Sept. 26! I am so excited for him. I realized that most miracles are people. We are the miracles and how God changes us and polishes us to something better.
Friday we had Interviews with Pres. Smith. This is always a great treat to sit down with the mission pres. and learn from him. He is called of God and very inspired.
I love this work. There is nothing I would rather be doing than be out serving the Lord. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. And I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet today. Jesus Christ is my Savior and through Him we can be cleased from all sin. Be of good cheer for Christ has overcome all. And some day we can return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again, along with our families! How grateful I am for the knowledge of eternal families. God has a plan for us and He is always there for us. He will never turn His back on us.
I love y'all. And pray that God will bless you this week with many miracles.
Love,
Sister Keys
The Lord is very merciful. It has been a great week. We have witnessed so many miracles this week it is amazing. Expect miracles for they really do happen everyday. God is a God of miracles. Look for miracles everyday and then give thanks to God for them. As you look for them and I promise you that you will see them.
Tuesday we did an exchange. I spent the day down in McKinney with Sister Hokanson. I was fun to go back to an old area and see a few of the people I meet there. And I learned a lot from Sister Hokanson.
Wed. we had Zone Conference, which is always amazing and very uplifting. Pres. Smith talked about doing the difficult and hard things. We grow the most when we look for and do the difficult things. That is so true, I have never learned some much or grown so much my whole life then I am now on my mission. He told us to everyday find our wall of fire and then to walk through it. The Lord will strengthen us and help us every step of the way. The Lord is walking with us everyday.
Thur. we taught David. He has the strongest testimony of the gospel of anyone else I have ever taught. We asked him if he believed the Book of Mormon is true and without pausing he said "I know it is true." He wants to read all of the Book of Mormon before he is baptized and is in Alma right now. So we challenged him to read 8 pages a day and he could have it finished by Sept. 26 and be baptized that day. We made a reading calender with him and he agreed to be baptized Sept. 26! I am so excited for him. I realized that most miracles are people. We are the miracles and how God changes us and polishes us to something better.
Friday we had Interviews with Pres. Smith. This is always a great treat to sit down with the mission pres. and learn from him. He is called of God and very inspired.
I love this work. There is nothing I would rather be doing than be out serving the Lord. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. And I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet today. Jesus Christ is my Savior and through Him we can be cleased from all sin. Be of good cheer for Christ has overcome all. And some day we can return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again, along with our families! How grateful I am for the knowledge of eternal families. God has a plan for us and He is always there for us. He will never turn His back on us.
I love y'all. And pray that God will bless you this week with many miracles.
Love,
Sister Keys
After the Trial of our Faith-August 24, 2009
Dear family and friends,
It has been a little rough this week. Most of our appointments cancelled on us and a few people dropped us too. But that is missionary life. I have a feeling this week is going to be a lot better and we are going to see many miracles, for you "receive no witness until after the trial of your faith," Ether 12:4. And I feel like this week has been a little trial of my faith. But we just keep pressing on and working hard.
This moring we had the opportunity to teach a new lady. Her husband ordered a Book of Mormon. We took it by a few days ago and he told us to come back this morning. Well we showed up and he was not there but his wife Michelle was. She was very sweet and let us right in. I had a really good feeling about her as soon as I sat down. We taught her the Restoration and she was very attentive to the whole thing. She agreed to read the Book of Mormon and we set up another time to come back later this week. What a perfect way to start out the new week then by teaching some one about the Restoration. I love sharing this gospel with people. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. There is so much peace and happiness that comes from the gospel. Even durning the hard times we can find peace and hope in the great message of the Restoration and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know God hears and answers our prayers. He gaves about us so much because He is our loving Father in Heaven.
I love y'all. God bless you.
Love,
Sister Keys
It has been a little rough this week. Most of our appointments cancelled on us and a few people dropped us too. But that is missionary life. I have a feeling this week is going to be a lot better and we are going to see many miracles, for you "receive no witness until after the trial of your faith," Ether 12:4. And I feel like this week has been a little trial of my faith. But we just keep pressing on and working hard.
This moring we had the opportunity to teach a new lady. Her husband ordered a Book of Mormon. We took it by a few days ago and he told us to come back this morning. Well we showed up and he was not there but his wife Michelle was. She was very sweet and let us right in. I had a really good feeling about her as soon as I sat down. We taught her the Restoration and she was very attentive to the whole thing. She agreed to read the Book of Mormon and we set up another time to come back later this week. What a perfect way to start out the new week then by teaching some one about the Restoration. I love sharing this gospel with people. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. There is so much peace and happiness that comes from the gospel. Even durning the hard times we can find peace and hope in the great message of the Restoration and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know God hears and answers our prayers. He gaves about us so much because He is our loving Father in Heaven.
I love y'all. God bless you.
Love,
Sister Keys
Read Alma-August 17, 2009
Dear family and friends,
I hope y'all had a great week. Things here are going really well.
Tuesday we had dinner with one of our investigators named Elena. We had only taught her once before about the Restoration. And a few days later we stopped by to see how she was doing and she invited us over for dinner. After dinner she asked us what the deal with no smoking and no coffee was, so we taught her the word of wisdom. The spirit was very strong there and I could she her softing as we taught. By the end of the lesson she said it all made perfect sense and she told us she wants to stop smoking. She has tried many times before to quit. We talked about praying and other ways to help her stop smoking. She is a great lady. How grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father that is always there for us. He is always watching over us and He will help us over come anything if we just turn to Him put our trust in Him.
This week we also taught Mike, Dorothy, and Craig the beginning of the Plan of Salvation. We focused most of the lesson one the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Craig has a lot of things he needs to over come right now and he told us he does not feel worthy. He just doesn't see how much worth he is in the sight of God. Christ came and He suffered for all of our sins. His Atonement covers everything. He provide a way for us to be clean and to return to live with Heavenly Father again. And He did it all because He loves us, that is how precious we are to Him. > > I love being able to share these glad tidings with people. There is no great joy then seeing someone let the Atonement take affect in their lives.
Oh and here is a funny, but true, quote from one of our investigators, "If you've got problems read Alma. Everything is in Alma." So if you have problems go read the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon for you will find an answer there.
I love y'all .
Love,
Sister Keys
I hope y'all had a great week. Things here are going really well.
Tuesday we had dinner with one of our investigators named Elena. We had only taught her once before about the Restoration. And a few days later we stopped by to see how she was doing and she invited us over for dinner. After dinner she asked us what the deal with no smoking and no coffee was, so we taught her the word of wisdom. The spirit was very strong there and I could she her softing as we taught. By the end of the lesson she said it all made perfect sense and she told us she wants to stop smoking. She has tried many times before to quit. We talked about praying and other ways to help her stop smoking. She is a great lady. How grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father that is always there for us. He is always watching over us and He will help us over come anything if we just turn to Him put our trust in Him.
This week we also taught Mike, Dorothy, and Craig the beginning of the Plan of Salvation. We focused most of the lesson one the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Craig has a lot of things he needs to over come right now and he told us he does not feel worthy. He just doesn't see how much worth he is in the sight of God. Christ came and He suffered for all of our sins. His Atonement covers everything. He provide a way for us to be clean and to return to live with Heavenly Father again. And He did it all because He loves us, that is how precious we are to Him. > > I love being able to share these glad tidings with people. There is no great joy then seeing someone let the Atonement take affect in their lives.
Oh and here is a funny, but true, quote from one of our investigators, "If you've got problems read Alma. Everything is in Alma." So if you have problems go read the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon for you will find an answer there.
I love y'all .
Love,
Sister Keys
I love this Gospel-August 10, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Things have been a little crazy this week. Sister Holmes finished her mission and went home this week. So now it is just Sister Blickfeldt and I, which means we had to ajust not being in a three some any more. I am grateful that Sister Blickfeldt and I did not get transfered so we get to stay together in this area and cont. to see it progress.
The Lord has blessed us with many people to teach. And many great things are happening here.
We are teaching two teenage boys Dakota, who is 16, and Montana, who is 15. They are grandchildren of a couple in the ward and they just moved in with there grandparents. We taught them the Restoration and they already have such strong testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is amazing to see so much simple faith and trust in the Lord in this young men. They are very prepared for the gospel and it is refreshing to teach people who are so prepared. I am grateful the Lord has intrusted them into our care and is letting us teach them.
Friday I was able to see Jose get baptized. What a miracle. He looked so happy. And now him and Sarahi are one step closer to being sealed in the temple!
I am so grateful to be able to tell people that we have a prophet on the earth today. That God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He does not change. He loves us so much and has provide a way for us to be able to live with him again. Jesus Christ is the only way that we can have eternal life. God cares about each and everyone of us individual because we have His children and He will be in the details of our life if we will let Him.
I love y'all. Go and find someone to share your testimony with this week. So much joy and happiness comes into our lives when we try to share this gospel with others.
Love,
Sister Keys
Things have been a little crazy this week. Sister Holmes finished her mission and went home this week. So now it is just Sister Blickfeldt and I, which means we had to ajust not being in a three some any more. I am grateful that Sister Blickfeldt and I did not get transfered so we get to stay together in this area and cont. to see it progress.
The Lord has blessed us with many people to teach. And many great things are happening here.
We are teaching two teenage boys Dakota, who is 16, and Montana, who is 15. They are grandchildren of a couple in the ward and they just moved in with there grandparents. We taught them the Restoration and they already have such strong testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is amazing to see so much simple faith and trust in the Lord in this young men. They are very prepared for the gospel and it is refreshing to teach people who are so prepared. I am grateful the Lord has intrusted them into our care and is letting us teach them.
Friday I was able to see Jose get baptized. What a miracle. He looked so happy. And now him and Sarahi are one step closer to being sealed in the temple!
I am so grateful to be able to tell people that we have a prophet on the earth today. That God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He does not change. He loves us so much and has provide a way for us to be able to live with him again. Jesus Christ is the only way that we can have eternal life. God cares about each and everyone of us individual because we have His children and He will be in the details of our life if we will let Him.
I love y'all. Go and find someone to share your testimony with this week. So much joy and happiness comes into our lives when we try to share this gospel with others.
Love,
Sister Keys
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Miracle Street-August 3, 2009
Dear family and friends,
I don't have a lot of time today to write but I had an amazing week. The Lord has been very good to us lately.
This week the Lord blessed us with 7 new investigators. And 4 of them are on the same street. They are neighbors and know each other very well. We taught them all on Saturday and all of them are searching for something they feel is missing in all the other churches they have gone too. One man named Craig after we taught him the Restoration told us he has felt lost but feels like the Mormon church has what he is looking for. He came to church yesterday and said he felt very comfortable there.
These people have been so prepared for the gospel. The Lord is very merciful.
Well, I love y'all. And have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
I don't have a lot of time today to write but I had an amazing week. The Lord has been very good to us lately.
This week the Lord blessed us with 7 new investigators. And 4 of them are on the same street. They are neighbors and know each other very well. We taught them all on Saturday and all of them are searching for something they feel is missing in all the other churches they have gone too. One man named Craig after we taught him the Restoration told us he has felt lost but feels like the Mormon church has what he is looking for. He came to church yesterday and said he felt very comfortable there.
These people have been so prepared for the gospel. The Lord is very merciful.
Well, I love y'all. And have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Monday, August 3, 2009
Exciting News and a Prophet!-July 27, 2009
Dear family and friends,
I received some very exciting news this week. Jose, from my last area, is getting baptized on Aug. 7. I was so excited to hear this. It is always a joy to hear about people in your old areas finally deciding to take the next step and be baptized. I am so excited for him and his wife Sarahi. They are a great family and will be so blessed for his choose. I know it will bring them so much more happiness and peace into their family.
This week we started to teach Julie, one of Bro. Cooper's nurses. We taught her the Restoration and it went well. I love telling people about Joseph Smith and that we have a prophet on the earth today. How blessed we are to know that we have a prophet on the earth today! God loves us today and He has not forgotten us. He gaves for us just as much as the people in the Bible. He is merciful and has blessed us with a prophet too. And it is great to know that God does not change, that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
I love all y'all. And have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Extra:
The weather has been nice up here too this week. Today it is raining which I am always grateful for, I love the rain.
It has been an ok week. Still not many investigators coming to church yet but we will get there.
Yes, you need to be careful of the chiggers too. And never walk bare foot in the grass of lay in it, which i sometimes missing being able to do.
I received some very exciting news this week. Jose, from my last area, is getting baptized on Aug. 7. I was so excited to hear this. It is always a joy to hear about people in your old areas finally deciding to take the next step and be baptized. I am so excited for him and his wife Sarahi. They are a great family and will be so blessed for his choose. I know it will bring them so much more happiness and peace into their family.
This week we started to teach Julie, one of Bro. Cooper's nurses. We taught her the Restoration and it went well. I love telling people about Joseph Smith and that we have a prophet on the earth today. How blessed we are to know that we have a prophet on the earth today! God loves us today and He has not forgotten us. He gaves for us just as much as the people in the Bible. He is merciful and has blessed us with a prophet too. And it is great to know that God does not change, that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
I love all y'all. And have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Extra:
The weather has been nice up here too this week. Today it is raining which I am always grateful for, I love the rain.
It has been an ok week. Still not many investigators coming to church yet but we will get there.
Yes, you need to be careful of the chiggers too. And never walk bare foot in the grass of lay in it, which i sometimes missing being able to do.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Meetings and Members-June 20, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Another great week in the mission field has come and gone. Time flies by way to fast!
This week we had zone conference and interviews with the mission pres. I do love these meetings but they take so much. I found myself for the first time wishing that they would hurry and end so I could get back to work. I wanted to go knock some doors and share the gospel with people and not just sit there talking about how to do it. I do love going to these meetings to because you learn so much on how to be a better missionary.
We received a referral from the member we live with. He is a doctor and he told us to go visit one of his nurses. He even gave us a Book of Mormon with passages he had marked for her and a 4 page letter with his testimony on it to give to her. Sunday night we went over and met her, her name is Julie. She was very touched by his gift and agreed to take the missionary lessons. It felt so good to tell him last night how our meeting with Julie went. And to just see the joy he felt and how excited he was is price less. I love seeing members excited about missionary work. We can not do this work with out the help of members. I am learning more and more how important they are in this work. It is so important that people have friends in the gospel.
We were also blessed this week to be able to see 4 less-active people come back to church for the first time in awhile. It is so amazing seeing people come back.
I love this work. There is no greater joy that comes then when we are about the Lord's work. No one is lost to the Lord.
I love y'all.
Love,
Sister Keys
Another great week in the mission field has come and gone. Time flies by way to fast!
This week we had zone conference and interviews with the mission pres. I do love these meetings but they take so much. I found myself for the first time wishing that they would hurry and end so I could get back to work. I wanted to go knock some doors and share the gospel with people and not just sit there talking about how to do it. I do love going to these meetings to because you learn so much on how to be a better missionary.
We received a referral from the member we live with. He is a doctor and he told us to go visit one of his nurses. He even gave us a Book of Mormon with passages he had marked for her and a 4 page letter with his testimony on it to give to her. Sunday night we went over and met her, her name is Julie. She was very touched by his gift and agreed to take the missionary lessons. It felt so good to tell him last night how our meeting with Julie went. And to just see the joy he felt and how excited he was is price less. I love seeing members excited about missionary work. We can not do this work with out the help of members. I am learning more and more how important they are in this work. It is so important that people have friends in the gospel.
We were also blessed this week to be able to see 4 less-active people come back to church for the first time in awhile. It is so amazing seeing people come back.
I love this work. There is no greater joy that comes then when we are about the Lord's work. No one is lost to the Lord.
I love y'all.
Love,
Sister Keys
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Emergency Transfer-July 6, 2009
Mom,
I just got off the phone with the assistants to the pres. I am being emergency transferred out. They are moving me up north. I am going to Sherman and will be in another three-some. They are transferring up there tomorrow morning. They said we are not getting transferred because of anything we did wrong or any of the normal reasons people get emergency transferred out of an area. They said they are just trying to figure what is best for the mission since we have so few sister missionaries in the mission right now.
I am really shocked and sad right now. This has been my favorite. Area of my whole mission so far. And the past 2 weeks have been some of the most enjoyable too. These past 2 weeks with Sister Biddle have been the best of 2 weeks of my mission almost.
This area has started to really pick up and we were starting to see a lot of progress from our investigators and I was seeing a lot of the fruits of my labors.
I am really sad to be leaving Kaufman and Forney and to be leaving Sister Biddle. But the Lord knows what He is doing; things will work out according to His will. I am really going to miss the people here.
So anyways I thought I would just let you know. Please tell everyone to send my mail to the mission office until I get my new address next week.
I love you mom.
Love,
Sister Keys
I just got off the phone with the assistants to the pres. I am being emergency transferred out. They are moving me up north. I am going to Sherman and will be in another three-some. They are transferring up there tomorrow morning. They said we are not getting transferred because of anything we did wrong or any of the normal reasons people get emergency transferred out of an area. They said they are just trying to figure what is best for the mission since we have so few sister missionaries in the mission right now.
I am really shocked and sad right now. This has been my favorite. Area of my whole mission so far. And the past 2 weeks have been some of the most enjoyable too. These past 2 weeks with Sister Biddle have been the best of 2 weeks of my mission almost.
This area has started to really pick up and we were starting to see a lot of progress from our investigators and I was seeing a lot of the fruits of my labors.
I am really sad to be leaving Kaufman and Forney and to be leaving Sister Biddle. But the Lord knows what He is doing; things will work out according to His will. I am really going to miss the people here.
So anyways I thought I would just let you know. Please tell everyone to send my mail to the mission office until I get my new address next week.
I love you mom.
Love,
Sister Keys
Dinner and a Water Fight-July 6, 2009
Howdy family and friends,
Hope y'all had a great 4th of July and that you enjoyed all the fireworks. This week has been one of the funniest weeks of my whole mission. A lot has happened in the past few days.
Last Monday we went to have dinner at a member's home and they invited a friend to come over and eat too. His name is Juan and he plays basketball with them at the church. After dinner we talked and we were able to teach him about the Restoration. The members bore their testimony at the end of the lesson too and it was very spiritual. It strengthened my testimony of the importance of members and how we can not do this work without their help. We are going back over tonight to teach him again. And I am really excited about at.
Wed. we had a really good lesson with Jose. That morning we took forever preparing a lesson plan for him. But when we got in the lesson the Spirit guided us to say things in a very different way. We followed the Spirit and the Holy Ghost gave us the words Jose needed to hear not the words we wanted to say. Jose really opened up to us too. And he thanked us for being so patient with him. He told us he is getting closer to being baptized but is not quite there yet he just needs a little more time. It is amazing how when we are prepared the Spirit guides us more on what to say and teach. When we follow the Spirit it always turns out better then what we had planned.
The 4th of July was so much fun. We taught Julian again for the first time in over a month. And it went really well. We also taught Juan again, he has lots of questions and we just sat there and answered all of them. That night we had dinner with some members and we ended up having a huge water balloon fight, it was so much fun. Then we went to the park and watched the fireworks.
The work here in Kaufman and Forney is really starting to pick up. We are so excited to see what is in store the next few weeks. I love serving and mission. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. His hand is over this work. We are never alone, for the Lord is always watching over us. He will always be there for us. God will never turn His back one you, it is always us that turn our backs on Him. But His is loving and merciful and is always there standing with open arms waiting to us to turn to Him again. He hears and answers our prayers.
I love ya'll. May this week be better than the last. God be with you.
Love,
Sister Keys
Hope y'all had a great 4th of July and that you enjoyed all the fireworks. This week has been one of the funniest weeks of my whole mission. A lot has happened in the past few days.
Last Monday we went to have dinner at a member's home and they invited a friend to come over and eat too. His name is Juan and he plays basketball with them at the church. After dinner we talked and we were able to teach him about the Restoration. The members bore their testimony at the end of the lesson too and it was very spiritual. It strengthened my testimony of the importance of members and how we can not do this work without their help. We are going back over tonight to teach him again. And I am really excited about at.
Wed. we had a really good lesson with Jose. That morning we took forever preparing a lesson plan for him. But when we got in the lesson the Spirit guided us to say things in a very different way. We followed the Spirit and the Holy Ghost gave us the words Jose needed to hear not the words we wanted to say. Jose really opened up to us too. And he thanked us for being so patient with him. He told us he is getting closer to being baptized but is not quite there yet he just needs a little more time. It is amazing how when we are prepared the Spirit guides us more on what to say and teach. When we follow the Spirit it always turns out better then what we had planned.
The 4th of July was so much fun. We taught Julian again for the first time in over a month. And it went really well. We also taught Juan again, he has lots of questions and we just sat there and answered all of them. That night we had dinner with some members and we ended up having a huge water balloon fight, it was so much fun. Then we went to the park and watched the fireworks.
The work here in Kaufman and Forney is really starting to pick up. We are so excited to see what is in store the next few weeks. I love serving and mission. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. His hand is over this work. We are never alone, for the Lord is always watching over us. He will always be there for us. God will never turn His back one you, it is always us that turn our backs on Him. But His is loving and merciful and is always there standing with open arms waiting to us to turn to Him again. He hears and answers our prayers.
I love ya'll. May this week be better than the last. God be with you.
Love,
Sister Keys
It Is Hot-July 1, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Well it is offically HOT! This week we have done a lot of walking. For the past few days it has been over 100 degrees. We are just covered in sweat. Saturday we walked around 12 miles, we were outside all day long too. We left are apt. around 10 that morning and walk to different people but no one was home. Walked home to have lunch and then went back out there. We got into only one home after that. But we were blessed with 2 new investigators from it! Then we walked some more trying to find new investigators to teach.
I think we got very close to having a heat stroke, we were definitly very dehydrated. By about 4:00 we started to get very tired, short of breath, I felt sick to my stomach, and we could not drink enough water to stop our thurst, and we were a little light headed. We finally found some shade, for no one was home!, and sat down to rest. Then we had a ward party to go to that was at the park so we were outside all night too. The ward members took great care of us though, and we realized now that walking around all day was not the best idea we ever had especially in this weather.
Oh, and a little miracle and blessing about walking around in the sun is I only got a little sunburned on my neck and that was it, with my fair skin it could have been really bad.
Anyways on a good note we had a really good lesson this week with the Shadwick family. They are less-active but want to start coming back to church. They are just so hungry to get their lives back together and learn. We are going to start meeting with them everyweek now to teach their family. They have 4 children, 3 boys and I girl. And one of their sons is not baptized. I am excited to continue to teach this family.
God is watching over us all. He never forgets us or forsakes us. He knows each one of us personally for we are His children. Christ suffered and died for us and through Him and only through Him can we return to live with Heavenly Father again.
I love ya'll. Have a great 4th of July!
Love,
Sister Keys
Well it is offically HOT! This week we have done a lot of walking. For the past few days it has been over 100 degrees. We are just covered in sweat. Saturday we walked around 12 miles, we were outside all day long too. We left are apt. around 10 that morning and walk to different people but no one was home. Walked home to have lunch and then went back out there. We got into only one home after that. But we were blessed with 2 new investigators from it! Then we walked some more trying to find new investigators to teach.
I think we got very close to having a heat stroke, we were definitly very dehydrated. By about 4:00 we started to get very tired, short of breath, I felt sick to my stomach, and we could not drink enough water to stop our thurst, and we were a little light headed. We finally found some shade, for no one was home!, and sat down to rest. Then we had a ward party to go to that was at the park so we were outside all night too. The ward members took great care of us though, and we realized now that walking around all day was not the best idea we ever had especially in this weather.
Oh, and a little miracle and blessing about walking around in the sun is I only got a little sunburned on my neck and that was it, with my fair skin it could have been really bad.
Anyways on a good note we had a really good lesson this week with the Shadwick family. They are less-active but want to start coming back to church. They are just so hungry to get their lives back together and learn. We are going to start meeting with them everyweek now to teach their family. They have 4 children, 3 boys and I girl. And one of their sons is not baptized. I am excited to continue to teach this family.
God is watching over us all. He never forgets us or forsakes us. He knows each one of us personally for we are His children. Christ suffered and died for us and through Him and only through Him can we return to live with Heavenly Father again.
I love ya'll. Have a great 4th of July!
Love,
Sister Keys
A Miracle Baptism-June 22, 2009
Dear family and friends,
I hope ya'll had a great week. I know I sure did. And one of the great things is I get to stay in this area with Sister Biddle for one more transfer. I am so excited to stay here, I love this area.
Oh, and hope all you father's had a great father's day.
Yesterday we went over to the Edwards. We went to help Sister Edwards put together some chairs for Andy for father's day. After that we had a really good conversation with Sister Edwards, while Andy and his father continued watching TV. She told us how Andy is starting to ask her lots of questions. He asked her about the temple and she told us she did not know how to explain it to him. We started to talk about the temple and as we were testifying of how families could be together forever, Andy muted the TV so he could hear what we were saying. It was really good and Sister Edwards wants to start preparing to go to the temple and Andy is really looking into the church now. They both came to church yesterday. Sister Edwards had not been to church in years it was really good to see them there together. I know I am in this area for the Edwards!
We had one of my best tracting days this week too. The Lord helped us give out 4 copies of the Book of Mormon in one day! That hardly ever happens here for us.
Saturday we witnessed a HUGE MIRACLE, Brenda got baptized. She is someone both Sister Biddle and I taught back in McKinney. Her son Mervin was baptized back in Feb. while I was in that area. She has been meeting with the sister missionaries for almost 2 years now and on Sat. she was finally baptized. It was a blessing to be able to go back up there and see that. Mervin also gave the talk on the Holy Ghost at the baptism. He has grown so much in his testimony since the time he was baptized. In his testimony he talked about the importance of sharing the gospel and he has a fire inside him to share the gospel with his friends and extended family now too. He is a great kid.
I love ya'll.
Love,
Sister Keys
I hope ya'll had a great week. I know I sure did. And one of the great things is I get to stay in this area with Sister Biddle for one more transfer. I am so excited to stay here, I love this area.
Oh, and hope all you father's had a great father's day.
Yesterday we went over to the Edwards. We went to help Sister Edwards put together some chairs for Andy for father's day. After that we had a really good conversation with Sister Edwards, while Andy and his father continued watching TV. She told us how Andy is starting to ask her lots of questions. He asked her about the temple and she told us she did not know how to explain it to him. We started to talk about the temple and as we were testifying of how families could be together forever, Andy muted the TV so he could hear what we were saying. It was really good and Sister Edwards wants to start preparing to go to the temple and Andy is really looking into the church now. They both came to church yesterday. Sister Edwards had not been to church in years it was really good to see them there together. I know I am in this area for the Edwards!
We had one of my best tracting days this week too. The Lord helped us give out 4 copies of the Book of Mormon in one day! That hardly ever happens here for us.
Saturday we witnessed a HUGE MIRACLE, Brenda got baptized. She is someone both Sister Biddle and I taught back in McKinney. Her son Mervin was baptized back in Feb. while I was in that area. She has been meeting with the sister missionaries for almost 2 years now and on Sat. she was finally baptized. It was a blessing to be able to go back up there and see that. Mervin also gave the talk on the Holy Ghost at the baptism. He has grown so much in his testimony since the time he was baptized. In his testimony he talked about the importance of sharing the gospel and he has a fire inside him to share the gospel with his friends and extended family now too. He is a great kid.
I love ya'll.
Love,
Sister Keys
Monday, June 22, 2009
Exchange and Rain-June 16, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Another week had past. The time sure goes by fast sometimes. I can't believe how fast it is going. And I am so humbled and grateful for all the blessings the Lord has given me so far on my mission. He has given me so much and blessed me with more then I deserve.
Jessica was confirmed yesterday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am excited to be able to see her continue to grow now as a member of Christ's church.
We had so crazy weather this week. Wed night on our way to some appts. with a member we received a phone call from our district leader telling us that we needed to get inside because there was a tornado warning going on. We had to cancel our appts. and turn around and spent most of the night at the members home until the storm passed enough for us to drive home. I have never seen a thunder and lighting storm last so long before. The storm lasted all Wed night and did not stop until Thursday afternoon around 2.
Friday we did an exchange with the Mesquite sisters. Sister Biddle went to Mesquite with Sister Walch and I spent the day here in Kaufman and Forney with Sister Gross. It was neat to be companions with Sister Gross again and to see how much she was grown and changed since we were last together in Allen.
I think that is all for now, until next week. Hope ya'll have a great week, enjoy the summer weather.
Remember to make time for the Lord. He is always there for us. And we can serve Him by serving others. Look for the small acts of kindness and service that we can do for each other all around us.
Love ya'll,
Sister Keys
Another week had past. The time sure goes by fast sometimes. I can't believe how fast it is going. And I am so humbled and grateful for all the blessings the Lord has given me so far on my mission. He has given me so much and blessed me with more then I deserve.
Jessica was confirmed yesterday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am excited to be able to see her continue to grow now as a member of Christ's church.
We had so crazy weather this week. Wed night on our way to some appts. with a member we received a phone call from our district leader telling us that we needed to get inside because there was a tornado warning going on. We had to cancel our appts. and turn around and spent most of the night at the members home until the storm passed enough for us to drive home. I have never seen a thunder and lighting storm last so long before. The storm lasted all Wed night and did not stop until Thursday afternoon around 2.
Friday we did an exchange with the Mesquite sisters. Sister Biddle went to Mesquite with Sister Walch and I spent the day here in Kaufman and Forney with Sister Gross. It was neat to be companions with Sister Gross again and to see how much she was grown and changed since we were last together in Allen.
I think that is all for now, until next week. Hope ya'll have a great week, enjoy the summer weather.
Remember to make time for the Lord. He is always there for us. And we can serve Him by serving others. Look for the small acts of kindness and service that we can do for each other all around us.
Love ya'll,
Sister Keys
Pictures
Jeanne and her companion, Sister Biddle, helped with an eagle project. Not sure what the project was, but here are some pictures from it.
Baptism and Zoo-June 1, 2009
Dear family and friends,
How is everyone this week?
First off thank you so much everyone that wrote to me this week, it is always nice to receive mail from home and it truly do help!
Jessica had her baptismal interview earlier this week and everthing is ready to go for Friday. I am so excited for her.
Last night Toroy got baptized. He is a man I taught in Mesquite for the short 3 weeks I was there. We were able to go to it. Jose and Sarahi drove us to the baptism too. It was really good for Jose to be able to see a baptism and to learn and see what it is like. I feel he is getting closer to being baptized himself. But I still have to remind myself to be patient and lets things happen according to the Lord's time and not mine. Toroy looked so happy too.
Today we went to the Dallas Zoo. I was able to see an elephant! That was really fun. I think we took like a 100 pictures while we were there too.
Anyways I have to go. But I am really excited for this week and to see all that the Lord has in store for us here.
Hope y'all have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
How is everyone this week?
First off thank you so much everyone that wrote to me this week, it is always nice to receive mail from home and it truly do help!
Jessica had her baptismal interview earlier this week and everthing is ready to go for Friday. I am so excited for her.
Last night Toroy got baptized. He is a man I taught in Mesquite for the short 3 weeks I was there. We were able to go to it. Jose and Sarahi drove us to the baptism too. It was really good for Jose to be able to see a baptism and to learn and see what it is like. I feel he is getting closer to being baptized himself. But I still have to remind myself to be patient and lets things happen according to the Lord's time and not mine. Toroy looked so happy too.
Today we went to the Dallas Zoo. I was able to see an elephant! That was really fun. I think we took like a 100 pictures while we were there too.
Anyways I have to go. But I am really excited for this week and to see all that the Lord has in store for us here.
Hope y'all have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Baptismal Date, Temple, and Wedding-May 25, 2009
Dear family and friends,
What a week it has been!!! Jessica set a baptismal date. She is getting baptized June 5. And both wards of so excited and supportive of her. Also she was offered a job were she no longer has to work weekends. She will now have Sundays off. The Lord is blessing her for her faith and trying to do what the Lord wants for her.
Wed we had the opportunity to take Jose and Sarahi on a temple tour. We walked around the outside of the temple and explained more about the temple. Shared how families can be sealed together forever inside the temple. At the end we went inside and sat in the foyer to let them pray and read their scriptures and just feel the Spirit that comes from the temple. I sat down and read a few scriptures in Alma 26 and it talked about the friuts of Aaron and his brothers labors. After I read a few versus I looked up and saw Jose and Sarahi praying and reading the book of mormon together. Seeing them there I though that is some of the fruits of my labors. Helping families be sealed in temple for time and all eternity is our real goal in missionary work, and baptism is just a step to get there. Someday Jose and Sarahi will be sealed in the temple.
This weekend I went to the wedding of Toroy and Sister Turnbull. Toroy is getting baptized on May 31. I am so excited for them and happy for them too. It was great to see them again and they too are on their way to the temple.
On more miracle that happened this week was on thursday. We had set a goal to get 3 new investigators that day. We had an appt to meet with a less-active and part member family but they ended up chancelling on us. We still wanted to reach our goal but did not know how we were going to do that now. A name of other family kept coming to my mind so we decided to go stop by and see them. This to is a part member family. We visited with them for a few mins. and before we left the whole family agreed to let us teach them. We will be teaching the family and 3 of them are not members. The Lord helps us reach our goal that day. The Lord knows best and will help us when we work hard and try to do His will.
I love y'all. May God bless you with great week this week.
Love,
Sister Keys
What a week it has been!!! Jessica set a baptismal date. She is getting baptized June 5. And both wards of so excited and supportive of her. Also she was offered a job were she no longer has to work weekends. She will now have Sundays off. The Lord is blessing her for her faith and trying to do what the Lord wants for her.
Wed we had the opportunity to take Jose and Sarahi on a temple tour. We walked around the outside of the temple and explained more about the temple. Shared how families can be sealed together forever inside the temple. At the end we went inside and sat in the foyer to let them pray and read their scriptures and just feel the Spirit that comes from the temple. I sat down and read a few scriptures in Alma 26 and it talked about the friuts of Aaron and his brothers labors. After I read a few versus I looked up and saw Jose and Sarahi praying and reading the book of mormon together. Seeing them there I though that is some of the fruits of my labors. Helping families be sealed in temple for time and all eternity is our real goal in missionary work, and baptism is just a step to get there. Someday Jose and Sarahi will be sealed in the temple.
This weekend I went to the wedding of Toroy and Sister Turnbull. Toroy is getting baptized on May 31. I am so excited for them and happy for them too. It was great to see them again and they too are on their way to the temple.
On more miracle that happened this week was on thursday. We had set a goal to get 3 new investigators that day. We had an appt to meet with a less-active and part member family but they ended up chancelling on us. We still wanted to reach our goal but did not know how we were going to do that now. A name of other family kept coming to my mind so we decided to go stop by and see them. This to is a part member family. We visited with them for a few mins. and before we left the whole family agreed to let us teach them. We will be teaching the family and 3 of them are not members. The Lord helps us reach our goal that day. The Lord knows best and will help us when we work hard and try to do His will.
I love y'all. May God bless you with great week this week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Keep writing!!!!
Keep writing Jeanne. I know she loves getting letters. Also, send her any pictures of fun things that are going on with you.
Tranfer news, Miracles, and Mission Council-May 18, 2009
Dear family and friends
So many exciting things have happened this week that I want to tell y'all. Hopefully I can remember everything that I wanted to write.
Lets see, first, we had transfers Tuesday. My new companion is Sister Biddle. We served together in the same district when I first came out here. She is a great missionary. She is from Billings, Montana and has been out on her mission for 15 months now. I am so excited to work with her and we have already seen miracles together.
At transfers I found out so great news. Some missionaries, I don't remember who, found Donnie Hill in the hospital and she still wants to be baptized. She has another baptismal date too. Also Kim Cooper and her husband Art are getting baptized this month!!! I love being able to hear about people I taught and how they are progressing, it brings such joy that I can't explain it.
Now that I am thinking about all this Tuesdays was a very good day, no it was a great day. That same night we taught Jessice again. This was Sis. Biddle’s first time meeting her. We talked about recognizing the Spirit with her again for she still had questions about that. At the end of the lesson we asked if she had any more questions. She said no she had no more questions, we had answered all of them. Miracle! That was the first time she did not have a million questions to fire at us. We asked if she had any more comments or anything she wanted to say and her response was, "No, I am done." That kind of scared me for a few seconds, I was worried about what she meant by done. Did she mean she as done with meeting with us or was it something else. Then Sister Biddle asked what the next step for her was. She said, "The next step for me is to get baptized. There is only one thing I disagree with about in the church, and that is coffee. But that is a small thing and I am willing to sacrifice it. So the next step is for me to get baptized." What a dream and miracle. She was to check her work schedule for a date but she is thinking about getting baptized the first week of June. She has changed so much since last week. I love seeing the change that comes over people when they are truly converted to the Lord. It is the Holy Ghost that converts people.
Friday Sister Biddle and I had the opportunity to go to mission council. This is were all the zone leaders, assistants, and mission pres. get together and talk about how to improve the mission and what things they need to focus on this transfer to farther the work along here. This was my second time being able to go to this. I love being able to see the leadership in this mission in action. I know they are inspired of God. The Lord's hand is over this work and He guides it according to His will.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. He is the head of this church. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. God hears and answers our prayers. He knows each one of us personally.
I love y'all and have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
So many exciting things have happened this week that I want to tell y'all. Hopefully I can remember everything that I wanted to write.
Lets see, first, we had transfers Tuesday. My new companion is Sister Biddle. We served together in the same district when I first came out here. She is a great missionary. She is from Billings, Montana and has been out on her mission for 15 months now. I am so excited to work with her and we have already seen miracles together.
At transfers I found out so great news. Some missionaries, I don't remember who, found Donnie Hill in the hospital and she still wants to be baptized. She has another baptismal date too. Also Kim Cooper and her husband Art are getting baptized this month!!! I love being able to hear about people I taught and how they are progressing, it brings such joy that I can't explain it.
Now that I am thinking about all this Tuesdays was a very good day, no it was a great day. That same night we taught Jessice again. This was Sis. Biddle’s first time meeting her. We talked about recognizing the Spirit with her again for she still had questions about that. At the end of the lesson we asked if she had any more questions. She said no she had no more questions, we had answered all of them. Miracle! That was the first time she did not have a million questions to fire at us. We asked if she had any more comments or anything she wanted to say and her response was, "No, I am done." That kind of scared me for a few seconds, I was worried about what she meant by done. Did she mean she as done with meeting with us or was it something else. Then Sister Biddle asked what the next step for her was. She said, "The next step for me is to get baptized. There is only one thing I disagree with about in the church, and that is coffee. But that is a small thing and I am willing to sacrifice it. So the next step is for me to get baptized." What a dream and miracle. She was to check her work schedule for a date but she is thinking about getting baptized the first week of June. She has changed so much since last week. I love seeing the change that comes over people when they are truly converted to the Lord. It is the Holy Ghost that converts people.
Friday Sister Biddle and I had the opportunity to go to mission council. This is were all the zone leaders, assistants, and mission pres. get together and talk about how to improve the mission and what things they need to focus on this transfer to farther the work along here. This was my second time being able to go to this. I love being able to see the leadership in this mission in action. I know they are inspired of God. The Lord's hand is over this work and He guides it according to His will.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. He is the head of this church. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. God hears and answers our prayers. He knows each one of us personally.
I love y'all and have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Drop and Flash Flood-May 4, 2009
Hello family and friends,
This week was a little hard. Earlier this week we had to drop a lot of our investigators. You can't teach people desire or to have real intent. It is always hard to have to stop teaching these people that you care so much about but when they are not willing to change and have no desire to change there is nothing you can do. The Lord is merciful and will continue to give them second chances though and one day they too will know.
We had some crazy weather this week too. Sat night we had a huge lighting and thunder- storm. As we were driving back to Mesquite from Forney on the freeway we could not see anything in front of us it was raining so hard. A lot of the roads flooded too. We pulled off to the side of the road after we were able to finally get off the freeway, and we watched some cars be stupid and drive through the flooded under pass. We went to the bishop's house for he was the closest and stayed there until the roads cleared up a little bit.
Well I hope all you mothers have a great Mother's Day.
Do something extra nice for your moms this week.
And here is a part of what she wrote her mom...
Dear Mom, This week went ok. We did not get to teach Julian or Jose this week. But Julian did come to church for the first time and it went well. I am really excited for him, I think he is very prepared. I am worried about Jose though for he was not at church and he is always there. Hopefully he did not get anti'ed for anything. We had another really good lesson with Paul and he prayed at the end of it again. He will get there someday for I feel he knows it is true he just has to be willing to sacrifice a lot for it. And Jessica is still coming to church but she does not want to give up her coffee.
Transfers are May 12 so I will know next Sat. night if I am getting a new companion or being transferred or anything like that. But there are no English sisters coming into the mission anytime soon so there will have to be a three-some somewhere.
Love you, Sister Keys
This week was a little hard. Earlier this week we had to drop a lot of our investigators. You can't teach people desire or to have real intent. It is always hard to have to stop teaching these people that you care so much about but when they are not willing to change and have no desire to change there is nothing you can do. The Lord is merciful and will continue to give them second chances though and one day they too will know.
We had some crazy weather this week too. Sat night we had a huge lighting and thunder- storm. As we were driving back to Mesquite from Forney on the freeway we could not see anything in front of us it was raining so hard. A lot of the roads flooded too. We pulled off to the side of the road after we were able to finally get off the freeway, and we watched some cars be stupid and drive through the flooded under pass. We went to the bishop's house for he was the closest and stayed there until the roads cleared up a little bit.
Well I hope all you mothers have a great Mother's Day.
Do something extra nice for your moms this week.
And here is a part of what she wrote her mom...
Dear Mom, This week went ok. We did not get to teach Julian or Jose this week. But Julian did come to church for the first time and it went well. I am really excited for him, I think he is very prepared. I am worried about Jose though for he was not at church and he is always there. Hopefully he did not get anti'ed for anything. We had another really good lesson with Paul and he prayed at the end of it again. He will get there someday for I feel he knows it is true he just has to be willing to sacrifice a lot for it. And Jessica is still coming to church but she does not want to give up her coffee.
Transfers are May 12 so I will know next Sat. night if I am getting a new companion or being transferred or anything like that. But there are no English sisters coming into the mission anytime soon so there will have to be a three-some somewhere.
Love you, Sister Keys
Friday, May 15, 2009
Pictures that were included in the May 11th email
Jeanne.
Jeanne birthday.
Jeanne and Sister Gross. 
Jeanne as a book of mormon.
Jeanne as the Bible.
Story of Nephi.
Story of Nephi take 2.
Jeanne and Sister Biddle.
Jeanne and cereal.
Jeanne and ?.
Yahaida and Oscar.
Back to K and F only, Baptismal Date-May 12, 2009
Howdy family and friends,
It was been another eventful week here in Texas. I found out a few days ago that Yahaida and Oscar got baptized!!! I am so happy for them.
Wed. we meet with Toroy and Sis. Turnbull. They are living with each other. Sister Turnbull use to be less-active. Toroy has been taking the lessons since Feb. They live in Mesquite. Anyways on wed. we talk them and it went really well. We talked about the law of chastity with them. They are now getting married May 23!!! And then Toroy wants to be baptized and he set a date for May 31!!! I am so excited for them. Sister Turnbull has 4 daughters and Toroy is perfect with her children. Sister Turnbull wants so badly to be married in the temple and now they are both on the road to being sealed as a family in the temple.
Transfers are this week and I am going back to just having the Kaufman and Forney wards. I will not be teaching Toroy anymore since they are in the Mesquite ward. But thankfully I am still in the same district so I can still go to the baptism! I am getting a new companion this week too. I will miss Sister Walch and Sister Joseph. It was a great three weeks with them.
We also had a really good lesson with Jose the other night. He made a list of all the pros and cons of getting baptized. It really helped us to better understand the things that are holding him back so that we can better help him. I know one day he will get there, we just need to be patient with him.
I love y'all and may God bless you this week. I know that this is Christ's church upon the earth. He leads and guides us through revelation to prophets. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. Heavenly Father does hear and answers all of our prayers.
Love,
Sister Keys
It was been another eventful week here in Texas. I found out a few days ago that Yahaida and Oscar got baptized!!! I am so happy for them.
Wed. we meet with Toroy and Sis. Turnbull. They are living with each other. Sister Turnbull use to be less-active. Toroy has been taking the lessons since Feb. They live in Mesquite. Anyways on wed. we talk them and it went really well. We talked about the law of chastity with them. They are now getting married May 23!!! And then Toroy wants to be baptized and he set a date for May 31!!! I am so excited for them. Sister Turnbull has 4 daughters and Toroy is perfect with her children. Sister Turnbull wants so badly to be married in the temple and now they are both on the road to being sealed as a family in the temple.
Transfers are this week and I am going back to just having the Kaufman and Forney wards. I will not be teaching Toroy anymore since they are in the Mesquite ward. But thankfully I am still in the same district so I can still go to the baptism! I am getting a new companion this week too. I will miss Sister Walch and Sister Joseph. It was a great three weeks with them.
We also had a really good lesson with Jose the other night. He made a list of all the pros and cons of getting baptized. It really helped us to better understand the things that are holding him back so that we can better help him. I know one day he will get there, we just need to be patient with him.
I love y'all and may God bless you this week. I know that this is Christ's church upon the earth. He leads and guides us through revelation to prophets. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. Heavenly Father does hear and answers all of our prayers.
Love,
Sister Keys
A sweet referral-April 27, 2009
Howdy family and friends,
Things are crazy here but fun and great. This week we had so many spiritual highlights, it has been amazing. We have so many people we are teaching in these two areas. The Lord is blessing us with lots of work to do. Anyways I will tell you of just some of my highlights from this week.
We had zone conference and pres. interviews both this week. Those are always so uplifting and a spiritual boast for the week.
Saturday was the best day of the week. Earlier this week we received a referral from a member and he set up an appt. for us with a co-worker for Sat. Bro. Brown does not live in our area but his friend Julian Martinez lives in Terrell. That morning we met both of them at a park in Terrell. Brother Brown had brought a Book of Mormon that he had marked and written his testimony in the front of to give to Julian. When Julian showed up he was so excited to listen to what we had to teach him. He was very hungry to learn and very open. The Lord has been preparing him so much. He told us a little about his life and he has lived a hard life. He is looking and seeking for forgiveness from the Lord for past wrongs. And just kept asking us if God is merciful. I could just feel the love our Heavenly Father has for him and that he is a chosen son of God. The Lord has been preparing Julian and I know he is prepared to receive the fullness of the gospel. Julian also asked us if he would have to give up some of the kinds of movies and music he listens too, he has a great desire to want to please the Lord. As we taught him, he was like a sponge just soaking up all that we told him. I don't think I have taught anyone this prepared and ready before on my whole mission. It just a even great testimony to me of the power of member missionary work. If Brother Brown had not invited Julian to listen to the missionaries who knows what would have happened. Members truly do make the best finders!!!
My love for the people here continues to grow with ever min. I have only met some of the people the sisters were teaching here in Mesquite only once so far, but I already love them. I want to help them in anyway that I can. And I can see them as the sons and daughters of God that they are.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. Through the Atonement our hearts and very natures can change. With the Lord's help we can do anything. Christ is always there for us and is waiting for us to turn to Him. He never gives up on us or forsakes us. It is us that give up on ourselves. Always remember He is there and that He loves you so much that He even died for you.
I love y'all. May God bless you.
Love,
Sister Keys
Jeanne included the following in a letter to her mom.
Mom,
This week has been crazy busy covering both areas. We have so much to do and we are teaching so many people. I don't deserve all that the Lord is blessing me with.
Sister Walch and Sister Joseph are amazing. I am go grateful to be serving with them.
Jose, Jessica, and Paul are doing great. Jose is praying about a baptismal date. Jessica fasted and prayed this week to find out if Joseph Smith is a prophet. I am excited to teach them this week and see how it went.
We put about 60-70 miles on our car everyday. But thinks should get better this week now that we had a chance to plan things out and figure out with area we will be in each day.
I moved in with Sisters Walch and Joseph since it was easier to move one person's things and not two. We live with a member. We live in their upstairs. We live with Elder and Sister Fluckiger, Elder Fluckiger is an area seventy. I love them so much. Sister Fluckiger is like a mom away from home to us and takes great care of us and is always looking out for us. I love living with them. You would love them too. There is no bed for me so I spent this week sleeping on a cot that the Fluckigers let me borrow. Today we found an air mattress so hopefully that will help me sleep better.
Our address here is
579 N. Collins Rd
Sunnyvale, TX 75182
But I still have the apt. address in Terrell for half my stuff is still there. And I check the mail there still too so either address is fine.
201 Timbers Court #308
Terrell, TX 75160
Things are crazy here but fun and great. This week we had so many spiritual highlights, it has been amazing. We have so many people we are teaching in these two areas. The Lord is blessing us with lots of work to do. Anyways I will tell you of just some of my highlights from this week.
We had zone conference and pres. interviews both this week. Those are always so uplifting and a spiritual boast for the week.
Saturday was the best day of the week. Earlier this week we received a referral from a member and he set up an appt. for us with a co-worker for Sat. Bro. Brown does not live in our area but his friend Julian Martinez lives in Terrell. That morning we met both of them at a park in Terrell. Brother Brown had brought a Book of Mormon that he had marked and written his testimony in the front of to give to Julian. When Julian showed up he was so excited to listen to what we had to teach him. He was very hungry to learn and very open. The Lord has been preparing him so much. He told us a little about his life and he has lived a hard life. He is looking and seeking for forgiveness from the Lord for past wrongs. And just kept asking us if God is merciful. I could just feel the love our Heavenly Father has for him and that he is a chosen son of God. The Lord has been preparing Julian and I know he is prepared to receive the fullness of the gospel. Julian also asked us if he would have to give up some of the kinds of movies and music he listens too, he has a great desire to want to please the Lord. As we taught him, he was like a sponge just soaking up all that we told him. I don't think I have taught anyone this prepared and ready before on my whole mission. It just a even great testimony to me of the power of member missionary work. If Brother Brown had not invited Julian to listen to the missionaries who knows what would have happened. Members truly do make the best finders!!!
My love for the people here continues to grow with ever min. I have only met some of the people the sisters were teaching here in Mesquite only once so far, but I already love them. I want to help them in anyway that I can. And I can see them as the sons and daughters of God that they are.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. Through the Atonement our hearts and very natures can change. With the Lord's help we can do anything. Christ is always there for us and is waiting for us to turn to Him. He never gives up on us or forsakes us. It is us that give up on ourselves. Always remember He is there and that He loves you so much that He even died for you.
I love y'all. May God bless you.
Love,
Sister Keys
Jeanne included the following in a letter to her mom.
Mom,
This week has been crazy busy covering both areas. We have so much to do and we are teaching so many people. I don't deserve all that the Lord is blessing me with.
Sister Walch and Sister Joseph are amazing. I am go grateful to be serving with them.
Jose, Jessica, and Paul are doing great. Jose is praying about a baptismal date. Jessica fasted and prayed this week to find out if Joseph Smith is a prophet. I am excited to teach them this week and see how it went.
We put about 60-70 miles on our car everyday. But thinks should get better this week now that we had a chance to plan things out and figure out with area we will be in each day.
I moved in with Sisters Walch and Joseph since it was easier to move one person's things and not two. We live with a member. We live in their upstairs. We live with Elder and Sister Fluckiger, Elder Fluckiger is an area seventy. I love them so much. Sister Fluckiger is like a mom away from home to us and takes great care of us and is always looking out for us. I love living with them. You would love them too. There is no bed for me so I spent this week sleeping on a cot that the Fluckigers let me borrow. Today we found an air mattress so hopefully that will help me sleep better.
Our address here is
579 N. Collins Rd
Sunnyvale, TX 75182
But I still have the apt. address in Terrell for half my stuff is still there. And I check the mail there still too so either address is fine.
201 Timbers Court #308
Terrell, TX 75160
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Prayer, Temple, and Talks-April 20, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Well Sister Avila left last night to go home so I have two new companions now. I am now serving with Sisters Joseph and Walch. They are serving in Mesquite and so for the next 3 weeks we will be covering both their area and my area in Kaufman and Forney. It is going to be very busy and crazy trying to cover all three wards. But I am excited to be serving with Sisters Joseph and Walch.
Sister Avila and I were teaching this young man named Paul this week. He is 19 years old and this was our 3rd time teaching him. At the beginning of the lesson it was very rocky and hard to get them to settle down and listen. When he told us that he did not do his reading I was starting to get frustrated and thought what are we doing teaching this young man, I felt like that he did not really care about anything we were trying to tell him. But we finally got them to all set down and we decided to read with him the scripture that we had left him with. We read Alma 32:28 with him about faith being like a seed and having to plant it. Sister Avila asked Paul what stood out to him in that scripture and he said the part about not casting it out by our unbelief! Slowly I started to think ok maybe this kid does care and I just have to keep reminding myself that he is only 19. Well we read some other scriptures and talked about them. The lesson just kept getting better and better. I don't have time to write all that happened in the lesson but it went very well and the Spirit was strong. At the end of the lesson Sister Avila commited Paul to come to church this week for her last Sunday on the mission. Paul finally agreed to come. Brandon, Paul's member friend, then asked Paul if he would say the closing prayer. Paul gave the best prayer that I have heard an investigator give on my whole mission. In his prayer he asked to know God's truth through His word, the Book of Mormon and the Bible. And that he would not cast it out by his unbelief. Then he prayed to be able to feel the Spirit this Sunday as he went to church with the Latter day Saints. He even prayed for Sister Avila and I by named and thanks God for us being in his life. His prayer was long and very sincere. In the car I told Sister Avila how I felt at the start of the lesson but now I know that Paul really does care and that he has a desire to learn and know the truth. It was a great experience.
Sat. we were able to go to the temple again. Sister Avila wanted to go one last time before going home so we were able to go and do a session. I love going to the temple and the peace that you always feel inside it.
Yesterday Sister Avila and I had to speak in both the Kaufman ward and the Forney ward. I made this whole time without giving a talk in church on my mission so I guess the Lord felt I was over due and gave me the chance to speak twice in one day! It was good though and I did not mind. In the Forney ward I was asked to speak about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then in the Kaufman ward I was able to speak on anything I want to so I spoke about the Book of Mormon, after Sister Avila spoke about the restoration of the gospel. I love speaking about the Restoration and The Book of Mormon. We are truly blessed to know that we have a living prophet on the earth today. That God still speaks today and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God does still inspire men today and call them to His work. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is proof of the Restoration and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.
I love y'all. Thanks for your prayers and support. Have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Well Sister Avila left last night to go home so I have two new companions now. I am now serving with Sisters Joseph and Walch. They are serving in Mesquite and so for the next 3 weeks we will be covering both their area and my area in Kaufman and Forney. It is going to be very busy and crazy trying to cover all three wards. But I am excited to be serving with Sisters Joseph and Walch.
Sister Avila and I were teaching this young man named Paul this week. He is 19 years old and this was our 3rd time teaching him. At the beginning of the lesson it was very rocky and hard to get them to settle down and listen. When he told us that he did not do his reading I was starting to get frustrated and thought what are we doing teaching this young man, I felt like that he did not really care about anything we were trying to tell him. But we finally got them to all set down and we decided to read with him the scripture that we had left him with. We read Alma 32:28 with him about faith being like a seed and having to plant it. Sister Avila asked Paul what stood out to him in that scripture and he said the part about not casting it out by our unbelief! Slowly I started to think ok maybe this kid does care and I just have to keep reminding myself that he is only 19. Well we read some other scriptures and talked about them. The lesson just kept getting better and better. I don't have time to write all that happened in the lesson but it went very well and the Spirit was strong. At the end of the lesson Sister Avila commited Paul to come to church this week for her last Sunday on the mission. Paul finally agreed to come. Brandon, Paul's member friend, then asked Paul if he would say the closing prayer. Paul gave the best prayer that I have heard an investigator give on my whole mission. In his prayer he asked to know God's truth through His word, the Book of Mormon and the Bible. And that he would not cast it out by his unbelief. Then he prayed to be able to feel the Spirit this Sunday as he went to church with the Latter day Saints. He even prayed for Sister Avila and I by named and thanks God for us being in his life. His prayer was long and very sincere. In the car I told Sister Avila how I felt at the start of the lesson but now I know that Paul really does care and that he has a desire to learn and know the truth. It was a great experience.
Sat. we were able to go to the temple again. Sister Avila wanted to go one last time before going home so we were able to go and do a session. I love going to the temple and the peace that you always feel inside it.
Yesterday Sister Avila and I had to speak in both the Kaufman ward and the Forney ward. I made this whole time without giving a talk in church on my mission so I guess the Lord felt I was over due and gave me the chance to speak twice in one day! It was good though and I did not mind. In the Forney ward I was asked to speak about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then in the Kaufman ward I was able to speak on anything I want to so I spoke about the Book of Mormon, after Sister Avila spoke about the restoration of the gospel. I love speaking about the Restoration and The Book of Mormon. We are truly blessed to know that we have a living prophet on the earth today. That God still speaks today and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God does still inspire men today and call them to His work. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is proof of the Restoration and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.
I love y'all. Thanks for your prayers and support. Have a great week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Work, work, work-April 13, 2009
Dear family and friends,
It has been another great week in the mission field. I love my new area and Sister Avila is wonderful. We get along so well and are already great friends. I don't want her to go home next Monday. Oh and about her going home next week I still don't know what will be happening to me when she leaves if, where I will be going or who I will be with but things will work out for the best.
There is so much work to be done here in these wards what with us white-washing the area. That means that both Sister Avila and I were double transferred into the area. Slowly we are meeting everyone in the wards.
We have so much work to do here. And are teaching a few people. Two people we are teaching are close to baptism. One man named Jose is married to a member and he has been coming to church. We teach him on Wed and are going to see if we can maybe set a baptismal date with him. So keep him in your prayers please. And we are also teaching a single mom named Jessica. At our last appt. She said she would like to be baptized but does not want to set a date yet. She came to church for the second time this week too. We will be teaching her again on Tues and to hopefully help her set a date. So please keep this two in your prayers.
Well I don't have much time. I love y'all and miss you.
Love,
Sister Keys
It has been another great week in the mission field. I love my new area and Sister Avila is wonderful. We get along so well and are already great friends. I don't want her to go home next Monday. Oh and about her going home next week I still don't know what will be happening to me when she leaves if, where I will be going or who I will be with but things will work out for the best.
There is so much work to be done here in these wards what with us white-washing the area. That means that both Sister Avila and I were double transferred into the area. Slowly we are meeting everyone in the wards.
We have so much work to do here. And are teaching a few people. Two people we are teaching are close to baptism. One man named Jose is married to a member and he has been coming to church. We teach him on Wed and are going to see if we can maybe set a baptismal date with him. So keep him in your prayers please. And we are also teaching a single mom named Jessica. At our last appt. She said she would like to be baptized but does not want to set a date yet. She came to church for the second time this week too. We will be teaching her again on Tues and to hopefully help her set a date. So please keep this two in your prayers.
Well I don't have much time. I love y'all and miss you.
Love,
Sister Keys
Monday, April 6, 2009
New area and Conference-April 6, 2009
Dear family and friends,
Can I just say I LOVE being a missionary and I love this work. This week I was transfered to a new area and I am now serving in Kaufman and Forney. We are about 20-30 min. east of Dallas. My new area is huge compared to my last area. The area is a whole county so very spreed out. There is so much work going on here and so much work to be done that we will be very busy trying to keep up with it all.
I also have a new companion. Her name is Sister Avila and she is great. I already love her so much and I am learning a lot from her. She is a great missionary but sadly for me I will only get to serve with her for about 3 weeks for she goes home April 20 to start school. I am grateful that the Lord is allowing me to serve with her even though it will be short. I know that this is were the Lord needs me and wants me to be at this time.
We are working with a lot of less-active and part member families here. I love doing this kind of work and helping families reach the ultimate goal of going to the temple and being sealed together as a family to time and all eternity.
General Conference was amazing. I loved every minute of it and did not want it to end. The time went by way to fast. I could have listened to the prophet and apostles speak for many more hours. And I can't wait for the talks to come out in next months Ensign so I can read them again and again. How grateful I am for a modern day prophet to know that the heavens are not closed. And that God does speak today in the same way He has always spoken through out all of history and that is through a prophet. God does not change, He is the same yesturday, today and forever. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Christ truly did suffer for all that we go through and because of that we are never alone. Turn to the Lord for He knows how to help us get through anything we might have to go through. We are never alone for the Lord is always there for us.
On Sunday between sessions Sister Avila and I were able to teach a young man for the first time. What a way to spend the time between sessions then teaching someone about the Restoration. We were able to teach only because his friend invited him to sit down with us and learn about the gospel. Members are truly the best finders!
I love ya'll!
Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Keys
Can I just say I LOVE being a missionary and I love this work. This week I was transfered to a new area and I am now serving in Kaufman and Forney. We are about 20-30 min. east of Dallas. My new area is huge compared to my last area. The area is a whole county so very spreed out. There is so much work going on here and so much work to be done that we will be very busy trying to keep up with it all.
I also have a new companion. Her name is Sister Avila and she is great. I already love her so much and I am learning a lot from her. She is a great missionary but sadly for me I will only get to serve with her for about 3 weeks for she goes home April 20 to start school. I am grateful that the Lord is allowing me to serve with her even though it will be short. I know that this is were the Lord needs me and wants me to be at this time.
We are working with a lot of less-active and part member families here. I love doing this kind of work and helping families reach the ultimate goal of going to the temple and being sealed together as a family to time and all eternity.
General Conference was amazing. I loved every minute of it and did not want it to end. The time went by way to fast. I could have listened to the prophet and apostles speak for many more hours. And I can't wait for the talks to come out in next months Ensign so I can read them again and again. How grateful I am for a modern day prophet to know that the heavens are not closed. And that God does speak today in the same way He has always spoken through out all of history and that is through a prophet. God does not change, He is the same yesturday, today and forever. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Christ truly did suffer for all that we go through and because of that we are never alone. Turn to the Lord for He knows how to help us get through anything we might have to go through. We are never alone for the Lord is always there for us.
On Sunday between sessions Sister Avila and I were able to teach a young man for the first time. What a way to spend the time between sessions then teaching someone about the Restoration. We were able to teach only because his friend invited him to sit down with us and learn about the gospel. Members are truly the best finders!
I love ya'll!
Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Keys
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
NOTICE
Jeanne has a new address....I have updated it on the panel to the right. Keep writing her. I know she loves to hear from everyone.
Temple, Exhange, and Leaving-March 30, 2009
Dear family and friends,
This past week was great and went by very fast. In fact this whole transfer went by fast. I can't believe I have already been out on my mission for over 6 months now. Where did the time go.
On Wed. Sister Gross and I were able to go to the Dallas Temple. As we were about to go into the session we ran into Sister Borg (my trainer). She was there with her companion too. It was so good to see her again especially inside the temple. I love going to the temple. It always feels me with such peace. You can not leave the temple in a bad mood, it always lifts your spirits. Then right after we got back into our area after the temple the Lord blessed us with a new investigator. We found a lady named Tina. Her and her family use to have sister missionaries come over to her house when she was back in elementry school. We taught her the Restoraton and she was greatly impressed with the Joseph Smith firts vision.
Friday we did an exchange with the Hermanas in Carrollton. I had the opportunity to spend the day with Hermana Schulte in Carrollton and Sister Gross and Hermana Brundage spent the day in Allen. It was great to be able to go to Carrollton and work along side Hermana Schulte. I learned so much from her. We were able to teach a few lessons that day and it was over all just a very spiritual day.
It is the end of another transfer and Sister Gross and I both being taken out of Allen. We got a call Sat. night to pack our bags and go to Transfers Tuesday morning. They are taking us Sisters out of the area and bring Elders back in. I can't believe Sisters are leaving the area already for Allen has only had Sisters since I got here. Sister Gross and I find it kind of funny because all of our investigators are women except for Steve. So we don't know how that is going to work for the Elders.
Looking back on my 6 months in Allen the Lord has blesses me so much. When Sister Borg and I got to Allen we only had 2 people we were teach and that was it. And now leaving we have about 5 people in 2nd ward and 8 people in 4th ward that we are teaching at this time. The Lord has been very merciful to us. I just pray these people will continue to come unto the Lord and make and keep commitments. It is hard to say good-bye to all the people in Allen, I am going to miss them. But at the same time I am kind of excited to go to a new area.
Well I love ya'll. And I hope everyone has a blessed week.
Love,
Sister Keys
This past week was great and went by very fast. In fact this whole transfer went by fast. I can't believe I have already been out on my mission for over 6 months now. Where did the time go.
On Wed. Sister Gross and I were able to go to the Dallas Temple. As we were about to go into the session we ran into Sister Borg (my trainer). She was there with her companion too. It was so good to see her again especially inside the temple. I love going to the temple. It always feels me with such peace. You can not leave the temple in a bad mood, it always lifts your spirits. Then right after we got back into our area after the temple the Lord blessed us with a new investigator. We found a lady named Tina. Her and her family use to have sister missionaries come over to her house when she was back in elementry school. We taught her the Restoraton and she was greatly impressed with the Joseph Smith firts vision.
Friday we did an exchange with the Hermanas in Carrollton. I had the opportunity to spend the day with Hermana Schulte in Carrollton and Sister Gross and Hermana Brundage spent the day in Allen. It was great to be able to go to Carrollton and work along side Hermana Schulte. I learned so much from her. We were able to teach a few lessons that day and it was over all just a very spiritual day.
It is the end of another transfer and Sister Gross and I both being taken out of Allen. We got a call Sat. night to pack our bags and go to Transfers Tuesday morning. They are taking us Sisters out of the area and bring Elders back in. I can't believe Sisters are leaving the area already for Allen has only had Sisters since I got here. Sister Gross and I find it kind of funny because all of our investigators are women except for Steve. So we don't know how that is going to work for the Elders.
Looking back on my 6 months in Allen the Lord has blesses me so much. When Sister Borg and I got to Allen we only had 2 people we were teach and that was it. And now leaving we have about 5 people in 2nd ward and 8 people in 4th ward that we are teaching at this time. The Lord has been very merciful to us. I just pray these people will continue to come unto the Lord and make and keep commitments. It is hard to say good-bye to all the people in Allen, I am going to miss them. But at the same time I am kind of excited to go to a new area.
Well I love ya'll. And I hope everyone has a blessed week.
Love,
Sister Keys
Friday, March 27, 2009
Pictures!
I don't know about you, but in the following pictures Jeanne looks so incredibly happy. I love seeing pictures of what she is upto. I can't wait to hear stories behind all of these.
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