September 26, 2011

It's interesting how life works... this morning I'm just a-pondering different things and how little things or how people can affect the way you work yourself. Anyways... enough of that. Funny thing that happened this morning. I got in the car and looked out the window... but I was not allowed to because this HUGE moth was sitting there. Yuck! Apparently I made a weird sound because I made Sister Withers jump. haha... yeah. But I was able to get rid of the moth pretty quickly. So this week has been an interesting week. We were able to pick up a 95 year-old investigator and an 8 year-old investigator.... yep. I know the 8 year-old is old enough to be baptized. But he comes from a less active family and his mom wants to make sure he knows why he is getting baptized and he wants us to teach him the lessons. He is an 8 year-old who knows what he wants. He's a smart, funny kid. Yesterday we went over there and Sister Withers said to him, "You sure talk a lot." He said, "That's just how I roll." Funny kid. And he constantly is laughing at himself or something. He's just a cute, red-headed kid. We also went on exchanges last week. Sister Withers had a meeting and so Sister Barker, who is a greenie, came up here to be with me. So I got to lead my area. That was nice. I actually know what I'm doing... that was nice to find out. Umm.... I LOVE President Utchdorf's talk at the Relief Society Broadcast! It was really good. I really loved how he said that we are not perfect - that he, God, and you know that you are not perfect. He also mentioned how we should not stress out over the fact that we are not perfect, but that over time we can improve our weakness. Over time... I also loved that he said to remember to notice the small forget-me-not moments in life, to look at the little things in life and to find happiness in them. I think sometimes I forget that... and sometimes I like to think of the future or dwell on things that are stressful. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate on the little beauties of life. How can one do that? Is there a trick to do it? Or does that just take time to be able to do that too? Sorry, this is kind of a pile-ation of my thoughts right now. But the last thing President Utchdorf said was to remember that God loves you! It was a beautiful/awesome talk! Something cool that happened yesterday? 8 less actives came to church! That was way cool! Especially since one of them is the lady that I have been working with ever since I got here. She hasn't been to church in about 15 years...or so. She's an awesome person... really funny. She's the one that gave me red plates! And she finally, finally came to church! And I think she really enjoyed it too! But she only came to sacrament... she wants to slowly work into it. (And she has MS.) Yep. That was an exciting Sunday. People were talking about it. We also had an investigator drop us... he has been feeling peer pressure from friends. So...yep. But it happens. At least we planted a seed for him. Yeah... oh! I got some letters from the primary! And a box from the YW! With Mom's homemade bread in it :D The ward is awesome. Tell them thank you, in the mean time, I will work on writing them back. Yep. That's all the exciting stuff... Thanks so much for your love and support! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

Love always,
Sister Kristi Walston

September 26, 2011

It's interesting how life works... this morning I'm just a-pondering different things and how little things or how people can affect the way you work yourself. Anyways... enough of that. Funny thing that happened this morning. I got in the car and looked out the window... but I was not allowed to because this HUGE moth was sitting there. Yuck! Apparently I made a weird sound because I made Sister Withers jump. haha... yeah. But I was able to get rid of the moth pretty quickly. So this week has been an interesting week. We were able to pick up a 95 year-old investigator and an 8 year-old investigator.... yep. I know the 8 year-old is old enough to be baptized. But he comes from a less active family and his mom wants to make sure he knows why he is getting baptized and he wants us to teach him the lessons. He is an 8 year-old who knows what he wants. He's a smart, funny kid. Yesterday we went over there and Sister Withers said to him, "You sure talk a lot." He said, "That's just how I roll." Funny kid. And he constantly is laughing at himself or something. He's just a cute, red-headed kid. We also went on exchanges last week. Sister Withers had a meeting and so Sister Barker, who is a greenie, came up here to be with me. So I got to lead my area. That was nice. I actually know what I'm doing... that was nice to find out. Umm.... I LOVE President Utchdorf's talk at the Relief Society Broadcast! It was really good. I really loved how he said that we are not perfect - that he, God, and you know that you are not perfect. He also mentioned how we should not stress out over the fact that we are not perfect, but that over time we can improve our weakness. Over time... I also loved that he said to remember to notice the small forget-me-not moments in life, to look at the little things in life and to find happiness in them. I think sometimes I forget that... and sometimes I like to think of the future or dwell on things that are stressful. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate on the little beauties of life. How can one do that? Is there a trick to do it? Or does that just take time to be able to do that too? Sorry, this is kind of a pile-ation of my thoughts right now. But the last thing President Utchdorf said was to remember that God loves you! It was a beautiful/awesome talk! Something cool that happened yesterday? 8 less actives came to church! That was way cool! Especially since one of them is the lady that I have been working with ever since I got here. She hasn't been to church in about 15 years...or so. She's an awesome person... really funny. She's the one that gave me red plates! And she finally, finally came to church! And I think she really enjoyed it too! But she only came to sacrament... she wants to slowly work into it. (And she has MS.) Yep. That was an exciting Sunday. People were talking about it. We also had an investigator drop us... he has been feeling peer pressure from friends. So...yep. But it happens. At least we planted a seed for him. Yeah... oh! I got some letters from the primary! And a box from the YW! With Mom's homemade bread in it :D The ward is awesome. Tell them thank you, in the mean time, I will work on writing them back. Yep. That's all the exciting stuff...
Love always,
Sister Kristi Walston

September 20, 2011

Hi! Sorry I didn't write yesterday. We came and the internet was down, so here we are today writing our emails. Last week was a slower weeks... interesting week. Oh! And yes I did get your package Mom. Thanks for sending it and for everything in it. It made my day along with the letters I got! Thanks everyone who sent me letters :D Last week... we had 21 lessons and were were suppose to have more but they got canceled... because people weren't home when they said they would be. Oh well, it happens. Tuesday Elder Kearon of the seventy came and spoke to us at half mission conference. It was really cool. He's from England! But he talked about a lot of good things and so did the President and both of their wives. It was about faith, finding, using members, how life/mission life can be hard but it's all for our learning and benefit, and other really good stuff. My favorite thing said was, "Being yourself is absolutely good enough." Makes me feel better about myself... yet I know there are still things I can improve with myself, compared to things I know that are within my own potential. So that was a good day! Also... funny fact. We had driven up to Rocklin with the Sisters who are serving in Roseville. We were dropping them off at the Roseville stake center, but they couldn't get the key to work, so they were all locked out. All 3 (the 2 Roseville sisters and my companion) tried to open it, but no luck. Then I came up (I had been waiting in the car) and tried. Opened it on my first try! They were impressed. I guess I'm just good with keys...haha, yeah... something like that. Oh some reason that reminds me. Yes, my glasses are doing just fine. I think I fixed them up pretty well, but I found out afterwards that one of the elders worked at an eye place and can fix glasses, so if I need any adjustment I sure he could help out. My actual eyes, eh, they're just messed up.... they've been hurting more the last week than they've hurt for a long time. I've been trying to use my eye drops, but they aren't really helping. Oh wells. I guess I'll just suffer-and-suck-a-tash until I come home... ha, yep. What else exciting happened? Hm.... Oh! So our investigator that we've been working with for the last month and a half, she scared us the other day. She said, "I can't become a member." Turns out that she's scared to death of paying tithing because if she does then she'll have no money for food. She's having a hard time with having faith that things can work out. Yeah. So Sunday she met with the bishop. I'm not sure really what to do. We met with her today. She's suppose to be getting baptized this Saturday, but who knows. We'll see what happens. Saturday we were on exchanges again. I went to the Dry Creek ward in Rio Linda/Elverta. Yeah... not the bestest day.... I've really disliked going there this transfer...maybe because those missionaries don't work as hard as my companion and I do...maybe because they've allowed themselves to be distracted by other missionaries...elders...yeah... but you don't want to hear about that, now do you? Sunday was a really good day! Very spiritual and enlightning Sabbath. I loved church and the talks that were given. And we had some lessons and visits that made me feel good. Yep. Yesterday, p-day we played football and volleyball. Playing football actually wasn't that bad. Maybe because of the people I was playing? The elders are fun guys... and then we had a lesson with our recent convert. Yep. And today was district meeting. It was really good. Talked about finding people through various ways. Sister Wither's and I are trying to do better through getting referrals through members... do you have any referrals? Haha, jk... you're a little far to be giving me referrals. Oh! I actually remembered say this part. So do you remember the Wouden's in Zionsville, their daughter, Karen?, was a year or so older than me? But they are related to some people in my ward! Cool, huh? Anyways, that's all I can think to say at this moment. I love you all soooooo much!!!!! Thanks for all your support and love!!! And no worries I am being taken care of here: my companion, the ward members (when we were on exchanges we had a ward activity...many members told me how I was missed :), the elders, and president and his family. Well, LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!

September 12, 2011

Hello dear family. This last week.... well it started off with Monday: P-Day. It was fun... so during scatterball an elder threw a ball at me, missed, it hit the wall, bounced off and hit me in the head, right on the corner of my glasses, bending them. Opps! Well, so I left the room and started fixing them. The elder who had thrown the ball came out. He felt soooo bad. I told him not to worry. That it had happen many a times to me. But he felt bad nevertheless. Anyways, I was able to fix them so they look decent. I think. That night he and his companion brought me blueberry muffins and a card that said he was sorry. I was surprised at his kindness and how sorry he REALLY was. It was sweet of him. We had also taught one of the new member lessons to our recent convert that night. He is doing really well. He and his wife have been called as ward missionaries. Tuesday was a good lesson day. We taught a less active lady (the one who gave me plates). Lately we had been feeling that there was no progress with her. We asked and she said that we were helping her. That she is constantly thinking of coming back to church. She said she would come, but it would have to be in 2 weeks since the next few sundays she will be gone. And then at the end of the lesson she actually said the prayer! Every time before she would refuse to say it. She was uncomfortable saying it out loud. I was so excited and loved that lesson. I really love her, and I really have been wanting to help her. I am glad to know that progress is being made, even with how slowly it is going. We also visited another less active lady that night. She claims she's active, but she doesn't come to church. We talked a lot about church attendance and how it can bless our lives. She said she would come and she did! We also had another less active man come to church. We had tried getting him to come to our ward the week before and he said that it was kind of useless trying to get him to come - he likes to attend another ward because of the time. Our church starts at 9. We had exchanges twice this week. Umm.... made me really grateful to have Sister Withers as a companion and that she has a desire to work and be obedient. We picked up a new investigator last night from tracking. He almost reminds me of Scott in a way... Oh also my district leader wanted to go out to lunch with us on Friday. And we did, with the zone leaders. The reason he wanted to have lunch with us is because when we play scatterball he just throws the ball at me - hard or whatever happens - treats me like my brothers treat me - but after monday he felt bad because I kind of stated out loud that he was mean to me.... yeah, not that I minded it, I was really kind of joking myself. He reminds me of my brothers, truth. But yeah, he felt bad and wanted to have lunch with us so he could apologize and tell me the reason why he treats me so. I remind him of his little sister. So he treats me like how he would treat her. Yep. That's why. So, him doing that reminds him of his sister and reminds me of my brothers. Kind of nice. It's really like a family out here to me. Actually all the elders are like my brothers. It's nice having them around. They are good guys... elders.... brothers... yep. It's fun. They keep me on my toes and keep me feeling like I still have a family away from my real family. Well, I can't think of anything else exciting. So, I love you all dearly. I'm glad you all had a fun labor day weekend from the sounds of it from what Dad said. I'm glad the little ones have fun doing stuff outside and have fun with their grandparents and Scotty-boy. Love you all much!!!! Miss you!!!

September 5, 2011

Dear family,
What a week. First I'll start with the crazy stuff. Last week as we were doing our personal study we got a text message saying, "Sisters, thank you for everything you've done for me. About to kill myself. Sorry." AGUH!!! I kind of threw the phone over to Sister Withers told her to read it and leaned my face into my hands. Sister Withers right away called the lady that sent us that text. It was our recent convert lady that had just moved away. She really wasn't going to kill herself, but she did think about it. She was very stressed because her money balance was negative 200 something. Opps. She doesn't earn any money. She gets social security. She's old and has a walking problem... or something something. Yeah... and she apparently isn't that good with budgeting her money. We met with her after the text. We had the zone leaders that have worked with her meet us as well. And we were able to help her through. She felt very low that day. But we gave her encouragement and she left with a plan to budget her money better. That was crazy. Kind threw me off. But yeah, that happened.
More real exciting news. We picked up a new investigator! She is such a sweet girl! 19, her friends who are members got her interested through just their happy countenance. She said originally she was unsure about our religion, but then she decided to give it a try by reading The Book of Mormon. By the time she finished it she knew it was true. So (since her friend lives in a different stake/mission) she (the investigator) went on mormon.org and referred herself to be taught. So about a week before we met her we had gotten a text message about this referral. And she is golden. The only thing that is in way in a matter of speaking is that her family is against the church. Her brothers said they would disown her. Sad... We've had 2 lessons with her and on Sunday she went to church with us. She loved it. But since she singles ward age, she also tried out the singles ward, so she went to 4 hours of church. All 3 hours of the family ward and 1 of the singles ward, which is the ward she has decided to go to, which is fine with us. She will be better fellowshipped this way. But it was so cool! During the family ward fast and testimony meeting, she loved it. Afterwards she said that one day she wanted to be able to go up there and do it. During the singles ward fast and testimony meeting, Sister Withers jokingly encouraged her to go up there. And then as people were bearing their testimony she was getting all shaking as if she really wanted to go up there. Sister Withers encouraged her to do it. And she did! She went up there and beared her testimony like she was already a member! Except for the fact that right away she said, "I'm not a member." I think everyone was shocked! But very touched! She said that she knew The Book of Mormon was true. And she knew prayers could be answered. Earlier in the week we had told her to pray that her family's hearts would be softened. Her prayers are being heard. She didn't tell her parents until right before church that she was going. And their response was totally different than she excepted. They said, "Okay," with no fuss. She was surprised and realized that her prayers are being answered. She ended her testimony that she knew that the church is true. It was so powerful so sweet. Everyone came up to her afterwards and greeted her whole heartily and told her that they loved her testimony. I know that she will be well taken care of in the singles ward. Plus, many of the people there are converts themselves so they know what she is going through. Yep. That was cool.
Well, that was the most exciting thing that has happened. I love and miss all of you. A lot. I am learning lots here. Struggling to find out what I am to learn. Slowly but surely I am learning those things.
Love you!
Sister Kristi Walston