Hello Hello! How are you all doing? Sounds like you are all keeping busy busy. So this last week... all of our investigators canceled on us. Kind of lame. But...yeah. Such is life. And then none of them showed up at church. But Denise (who was suppose to get baptized this coming weekend but is not) came to Sunday School. That was kind of a nice surprise... But yeah, she still is not going to convert, yet. But besides that. We have been doing lots of tracting. We have a new tracting approach. We are to invitethe family to say a prayer with us; to give them extra strength and support. But we haven't had much success with that yet. But such are the people of Paradise in our area. Anyway. We also went on exchanges this last week. I was with a sister from Temple square who is from New Zealand. That was kind of fun/funny since you (Mom, Dad, and Trevor) just came from there. Anyways. We had zone conference this last week!!! It was amazing!!! Lots of good things learned there. My favorite part what I learned was how, if we are to truly follow the example of Jesus Christ, we'll keep going even when we are exhausted; will put others in front of ourselves (Matthew 14); we'll pray and bless others as he did (hence the new tracting approach). I loved that! I really love being here on my mission. I feel as though I am learning more of what it means to be Christ-like and to follow His example. If we are truly converted to the gospel, we'll try to follow in His footsteps: We'll be even more loving as we put others in front of ourselves. And as we do that we will bless the lives of others and even our own - for we will be building ourselves. Making ourselves stronger and better. For the purpose of life is to make bad men good and good men better, to change the human nature and to become saints through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Anyways. It was all really good stuff. Love it! Have a wonderful week!!!

May 21, 2012

How are all of you doing? So on Thursday we got our cd's "stolen". :( the next day the elder's texted us and told us that we had good taste in music. I always lock the car. The one time I forgot to relock (I had originally locked it, but Sister Garfield needed to get something out again) the Elder's were nosey and took some of our stuff to "teach us a lesson." Boys. Ridunkulous. Oh well. Such is life. We got them back eventually. So we picked up 2 new investigators! We had been doing service for them - yard sale help and other stuff and then they met with us. Their beliefs are practically the same as ours. Hopefully, we can help them come to have their own testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our other investigators, well some of them are taking baby steps... and others we are working on meeting with them every week. And we dropped the Bahi investigator. He was just meeting with us because he was curious in what we believed, but none of his beliefs were changing. He was really set in his beliefs. We did a lot more service this last week. Mowing lawns with a push mower! That was crazy! I realized it has been like 8 years since I've done that! Washed a couple of cars. Did lots of tracting this week. Like usual. Yep. So great story. We have a less active man we are teaching. He is wheel chair bound. And we are teaching him the lessons. His caretaker, who is Catholic, also sits in during the lessons. He said the other day he is learning more about what we believe and that it is very helpful. And another caretaker he has is another less active of the church. And she is having questions answered and learning things she didn't realize before. It's great missionary work going on in that home. I just love it! I realized the other day how much more I understand the gospel now. Before I knew it was true, but I didn't understand anything to its full capacity. I am so grateful for my mission. So grateful. With it, I understand the gospel. I understand our purpose of life. I understand the basics of the gospel ever so more right now. I love it. I am so grateful. I have been able to gain so much knowledge from being here on my mission. Spiritual knowledge of how to be more Christ-like. Informational knowledge of the gospel. I love it. I would recommend going on a mission to everyone. I feel so much more equipped so much more knowledgeable than before. I love my mission and what it is teaching me. It's great. Lately I've been reading from the Conference Ensign. I just love the talks! They are so great! So missionary minded and testimony central. I love the gospel. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and what they have done for us. I am so grateful that Jesus Christ reorganized His church on the earth again and that I am a member of His church. I am so grateful for prophets, apostles, inspired leaders of God. I am so grateful for the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for conferences that we are able to hear from our inspired leaders - leaders chosen of God. I am grateful for the Savior's example and what I am able to learn from Him. For in following His example is true happiness found. I just love it. Well, I just love all of you too! You are all wonderful, great supporters! Remember the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to true happiness!!!

May 14, 2012

How are all of you doing? So first thing, you should look on youtube.com/mormonhelpinghands from April 28th(?) Chico Stake. I might be on it? Mom, if you cannot find it, you could ask Brother Harrington. But that's just a thought... Anyway, this week -- our investigators are kind of lame. The Baha’i investigator just wants to know what we believe in. So he's not progressing. Two of our investigators are taking baby steps to progression of baptism. Maybe in a year or so they'll be ready for baptism. One of our newer investigators has ADD really bad. The other day we ran into her in the bathroom of a restaurant. She said, "Are you following me?" Sister Garfield sarcastically said yes. Then investigator said, "No really are you?" After we said no, she said, "I got engaged!" She was excited. But yes, the lessons are practically all over the place. Our other investigator who was getting baptized in June, is not anymore. She pretty much dropped us. She told us how she doesn't believe that there is one true church, that each church has pieces of truth. She also doesn't believe that there is one right path for everybody, but that there are multiple paths depending on the person themselves, because everyone is different. She likes our church, but doesn't believe exactly the way we do. So our lesson ended up with Denise being dropped as an investigator. It was really sad. Still is, but that's the way things are right now. But we might be doing service for her this week. Our other newer investigator texted us and told us that she read the restoration pamphlet and prayed about it and felt that the church she is attending in Chico is right for her. Sad. Satan is working really hard against the work of the Lord. It is so sad. But it just means we need to work even harder to bring souls unto Christ. For I know that this is God's true church! I know that this is the path to true happiness, to being able to be with our family forever. I love this work. I love the gospel. I know it brings true happiness and peace. For I know that if we follow the example of Jesus Christ we will be blessed. So earlier today I was studying sanctify. I really like Joshua 3:5 about that. And I was also studying patience. It's so important to have Christ-like attributes. I have really seen a difference in my life as I strive to come to obtain them. Anyway, I love you all so much. Have a happy week! Good luck as you travel home safely. Love you all tons and tons. Love, Sister Kristi Walston

May 7, 2012

How art all of you? This week yes... we did a lot of service. Moving help, yard sale help, yard work/house work help, attic arranging help, lots of service. So Tuesday was mostly service. Wednesday we mostly did tracking all day. Our lesson with our investigator canceled, but miracles were just waiting for us!!! As we tracked a lady invited us in, "Anyone that believes in Jesus Christ is welcomed in my home," she said. We taught her most of the first lesson and she said that we might as well plan on every Wednesday to meet with her. Yeah!!! And then we tracked more after that. We came across a girl in her 20s who was willing to listen to us right then and there at the door step. We taught her all of the first lesson and set up a return appointment for a few weeks later... it's about to be finals for her. It was so exciting! 2 new investigators in one day!!! It was meant to be! Anyway, that was really awesome. Really that was about all our week in a nutshell, service, 2 new investigators, so we now have 6. And we got transfer calls last night, we are staying the same. That'll be good. Anyway, this will be my longest time in an area, 4 transfers. It'll be good. Yeppers. I love you bunches and bunches!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful birthday this last week! Have a great week!!!

May 1, 2012

What a good week! 4 birthdays in our family! Mom's, Aidan's, Loralee's, and Jason's. I hope they all have a wonderful, happy birthday. So... this last week. What happened. Well, we had some intense, some good, some okay lessons. We had a whole range full! Our lesson with our Bahi investigator, well, let's just say, the member that came with us was pretty hard on him. We left him with an assignment and told him when he was done with it we could set up another lesson. I thought it might take him a few weeks, but when we called on Saturday he said he had gotten most of it done and wanted to meet with us on Tuesday. So we'll see what he says tomorrow... Actually Saturday he was going to go to a service activity with us, but didn't because he hadn't gotten to sleep until 6 in the morning... we're hoping it's because he had a lightning bolt and found out that the church is true! Haha, who knows! Maybe he really did. :-) Our investigator who's getting baptized in June... lately it seems that she is being a bit lackadaisical about everything. It's kind of frustrating. We watched the Joseph Smith movie with her last week. Bu tshe didn't come to church yesterday. :-( Also, the week before we had asked her to pray about the law of chastity and her response when we asked her if she had prayed about it was, "well it was just a concern I had at the time, but I think I'll live it." Hmm... Saturday was a really really really good day. We started off by doing service with our stake. We went to Butte College and helped clean up the campus. Sister Garfield and our relief society president and I painted lines and "stop" next to parking lots. It was really fun to be able to do that. And we got to ride a 4 wheeler for a moment with a sister in our ward! On Sunday, another sister came up to us and said, "I saw you sisters riding on that 4 wheeler and with a man!?!" Haha, when we told her that it was Sister Chatfield, she was really embrassed. It was funny. Saturday was just a good day. After that we had a really good member present lesson with one of our investigators. And then we met with a less active man who has health problems and his less active female caretaker. They are a hoot. And the man is really excited to take the lessons. And we did service for a part member family - helped them move out of our ward into the 1st ward. The elders up here helped us as well. It was great. And we provided all 9 of us dinner with the papa murphy's gift card you sent me for my birthday! So thanks! It came it real handy. Otherwise, everything else is going well. So yep. Love you all bunches and bunches!!! Have a great wonderful week!!!

April 24, 2012

How art all of you doing? Having fun in New Zealand? Anyways, things are going fine. We've definitely had a few warm days this last week. For weekly planning we did it outside. So this last week we had 3 member present lessons this week! Which was good. We struggle getting those, but at least we had 3! Anyways, our investigator who is getting baptized in June, she is still doing well. We read the baptismal questions to her the other day and the 2 concerns she has right now is - Joseph Smith and that he received the priesthood authority and that he was the only one who had the authority and that we are the only church that has the priesthood authority. And her other concern is the law of chastity. She would like to think that she will live it, but is uncertain she really would - well, the part about living with someone before she got married, she says she would want to know what they are truly like. Our other investigators, well, they are still doing about the same. Tomorrow we might pick up another investigator!!! I'm so excited! We've been trying to set up a meeting to meet with her and something has always prevented us from meeting. The other day we actually heart-attacked them and she said that really meant a lot to her and her daughter. So, we have an appointment for tomorrow!!! Yes, if you cannot tell, I am excited. And yesterday was stake conference. It was good. Before the stake conference meeting, we had a recent convert meeting. It was really good. (Side note: I was asked to conduct the music - ah! but good practice for me. I think I did pretty well.) Throughout the day there were conversion stories given. It was so good to hear their stories and how those newer members finally joined the church. Our stake presidency also talked about not judging others, loving others, and being positive. It was good. Yesterday was also the Webb's 35th Anniversary. They got married the same year as you dear parents, I believe, so does that mean that you will have been married 35 years in August? We've done a lot of tracting this week. Yep. And visited less actives. And learn lots of good things. One thing that was said yesterday was, "Lift, Encourage, and Inspire." I love those 3 words. If we truly love others, we can help "lift, encourage, and inspire." Well, I love you dear family. I can't think of anything else...besides I'm still enjoying yummy honey and jam from home! Love you bunches and bunches!!!