July 5, 2011

Well, sounds like things have been busy there at home. Crazy. How was Aidan's baptism? That's awesome that he bore his testimony during sacrament meeting. Tell him congratulations from me. I'm sorry about Grandma. I got the package with Mom's letter a few days ago. But I know Grandma's much happier since she's not suffering any more and that she is happy to be with Granddaddy and Pam again.
Well, life is interesting. In Dad's email, you said something about a mission being about learning to control yourself... or something like that... rather than doing lots of teaching. That's how it has been for me so far. No teaching really, a lot of learning how to deal and interact with people. Sometimes it can be hard, but I have realized that if we have patience and the pure love of Christ we will just be fine. The only teaching we've done since I've been here is to a less active teenage boy who actually doesn't live in our ward boundaries. His best friend does and he likes coming to our ward better. But we haven't been able to teach him for a week or so. It's hard to set up a time when 3 people are involved and not including us missionaries. Oh well. Besides that we have been tracking, where we get a lot of rejection, we've visited potentials and former investigators, and less actives. Last week we visited a less active who is legally blind and has ms. She's really funny. The 3 of us got along real well at the very beginning. So much so that I asked a really silly question in a moment of blondness. And now she likes to tease me every time I see her. :) I asked my companion, "Do they have cows in Utah?" I don't think I've ever seen any. But I've only been in southern Utah, but now that I think about it... across from Grandma's house were there some cows? Silly question, I know. Opps. But it slipped out of my mouth before I thought of it. That's okay though. Our less active friend enjoyed it a lot. And I am able to laugh at myself about it.
We got a new mission president last week. We met him and his family today at a zone conference. President and Sister Weston are from Murray, Utah. And they have 4 children ranging from 9-15. 3 girls (the 2 oldest are twins), and one boy who is is the middle. They all seem really great and awesome. My favorite one is the youngest girl. She is so cute and always smiling.
This past Saturday we went on exchanges. Sister Totau came to me. She is from Tonga, so I got to drive for the day. I was a little scared because I still don't know my way around - are area consists of houses, streets, grass, and more houses, streets, and grass. But it was fine! Didn't get lost once. I studied the map, wrote directions down and we were good. One person we visited that day was a less active. She was really nice. She showed us a little white wagon she had been painting earlier that day. I really want to activate her. I know she knows the church is true. I just think it's because she feels uncomfortable about coming back. She stopped going after her divorce 10 years ago. Maybe she was embarrassed by that?
A lot of the inactives I come across are inactive because their testimony was never built. I have come to realize that in order to know the gospel is true one must have the desire to know whether it is true or not. To study it and to pray about it. And to have faith that you will find an answer. The gospel is so important. It truly has brought peace to my life. I am so grateful for it. To know that we can live together with our families for eternity. To know that God loves us that he has given us this chance to come to Earth to learn greater things about life. I love you all so dearly. I miss you. I love your letters. Thank you for being so supportive and always there for me. I know that I am doing the Lord's work. I know that I am here for a purpose.
Love you all!!! Good luck with the busy next 3 weeks. I wish I could be there will you all, to help support, but this is where I am suppose to be. Know that you are always in my heart, no matter where I am. I love you.
Love you so much!
Yours truly,
Sister Kristi Walston