September letters

September 3, 2012 Dear Family, How are all of you doing this fine day? So yesterday was labor day and the library was closed...hence why I am writing a day late. So how was everyone's labor day weekend? Good I hope? Well, my week was interesting. Tuesday we went on exchanges. I went to Loomis and was with Sister Fonua who is from Austrailia. That was really fun. She's a good sister to work with. And we really worked in unity. We had 2 lessons with their investigators. One was a part member family. That was one good lesson. I really enjoyed working with her and being in Loomis. It's a beautiful place. Even though I live in Loomis, I still miss seeing a lot of the beautiful sights there. So exchanges were fun. Wednesday we had district meeting. And yep. I still play the piano there. I think it's helping out my piano skills. Which is good. And I have a district leader that either lets me pick the song, or he tells me in advance so I can practice the song. Which is very helpful, that way I can I always be practicing and learning songs from the hymn book. President came and interviewed some of us afterwards. It was good to see him and Sister Weston again. They are good people that really care about their missionaries. I realized that day how much they really are our mission parents, our mom and dad on the mission. We picked up a new investigator latter that day. Another part member family. The wife left the church right after high school. There are some things she doesn't agree with...it's probably just because she doesn't understand. We also had a lesson with our 18 year investigator (the bishop's neighbor). I don't think he's really interested. He was nice and told us that if would be interested in learning more if his brother were there with him. It will be difficult to set up since we've tried contacting his brother and his brother has never responded to us. And their schedules are a little different. Thursday. Well, let's just say I love the Brockbanks, (the one that just got baptized and her husband.) They fed us lunch. And before we left, Brother Brockbank gave me a packet of Oreos. Just so you know, they are his absolute favorite. But he knows I like cookies to and is willing to share. One day he said he might adopt me because of our love for cookies. :) I love the members of my ward. I can really see how they care and love me. I appreciate them a lot. Anyway. So we also met with a less active family. The husband mentioned that his wife never says "I love you." I think it embarrassed the wife. But they don't have any plans to go to the temple soon. The husband wants to (he's a recent convert, a little over a year). But he doesn't want to go without his wife and she won't say "I love you." Haha, it was kind of funny, but not really. So we committed them to start praying together each day; to start reading their scriptures each day together; to continue to come to church together each week. It was a good lesson. Then that night we had a lesson with our 14 year old investigator. We taught the plan of salvation. Set a baptismal date for September 22. Which will be exciting, but we have to figure out some issues...but it'll be good. But you know what else is exciting about setting up that day with her? Well, earlier in the month I prayed and fasted that we would set a date with someone by the end of the month. August 30, we set up the date with our 14 year old investigator. Cool, huh? I truly know that the Lords does answer our humble petitions. I know there is a great power to prayer and fasting. I have seen it over and over again in my mission. All of my prayerful fasts have been answered. Or will be answered. I love having faith in the Lord. Miracles truly do happen because of it. We just have to put in our effort in behind it. Put in our action, our willingness. Friday we did some service here in Loomis with the other sisters and zone leaders. We took Sister Simons to the doctor. She has a bunion which has been causing her some pain. We did our weekly planning. Saturday we did more service, helping people move and such. We tried visiting some people. Sunday was church, which was much appreciated and needed. We had a lesson with a less active...well excommunicated member and his parents. Yep... Yesterday was a good p-day. At zone activity I spent a majority of it writing letters and talking to Sister Barfuss. This is her last week. Crazy! And I played a little volleyball too. Yep. That was my week. Um...spiritual thoughts of the day...I've been reading some conference talks from last (2011) April again. I read one today called "Waiting Upon the Lord." Sometimes life may be hard. It may be challenging. But in the end we come out better stronger people, if we keep up the faith and endure patiently. Continue to be like the little engine that could. Keep your chin up. Love the Lord. And strive to love those around you. Welps. That's my thought for the day. I love you all tons and tons. Have a good wonderful week. Love always, Sister Kristi Walston September 10, 2012 Dearest Family, How are all of you? I'm doing just dandy finery. So...you might have noticed the subject title of this email....well, another transfer has past and another one is about to begin. We found last night that Sister Simons is being transferred to Rocklin. (We were together only for 1 transfer. And I've only been here for 2 with 3 companions already...) and we found out that I'm going to be training! CRAZY!!!! Never done that before! I hope I will be a good trainer. I am kind of nervous a bit much. That probably means she will be my last companion; that this is my last area. Cause training takes 2 transfers. Anyway. Crazy stuff in the mission field. I won't know who she is until Wednesday. That's when I pick her up and all that jazz. So yeppers. That's what's happening to me. Crazy, huh? So we'll see how that goes. So updates on the week.............hmm.....what happened.....so our 14 year old investigator had some family problems that we almost got in the middle of...but that's done with. Otherwise, she's just soaking everything in! Our part member family that we are working with...well, the wife has some deep concerns, but with time, prayer, and her husband learning and understanding for himself, I think miracles will happen in that family. Otherwise...we've struggled meeting with our other investigators. But! We have some awesome potentials! One of them I tracted into a while back. He wasn't very excited to see us at the door and told us he wasn't interested. Then...a day or two later we got a phone call from the sisters in Folsom (my old stomping grounds). The man's dad is a member in the Folsom ward. The sisters said that the dad told them that his son had called us and told his dad that he regretted not talking to us. Ever since then we have been trying to get a hold of him. And finally last week we did! So, he said that he and his wife would be willing to listen to us and to stop by on Wednesday. So I'm excited for Wednesday. It'll be a real good day. Yeppers. Otherwise...what else have we done? We did yard work on Friday and Saturday morning. That was fun. I actually like yard work...it's nice to have a change once in a whiles. I love my ward members. They are just wonderful. Always there, willing to help. Just have to remember ways to love, lift, and inspire them to become better member missionaries. Otherwise, that's my life... just chugging along. You know. Oh! Guess what! We just had members move into our ward from Mustang, OK. And they are real good friends with the Rassmussen's. Tawni's parents. Cool, huh? Their names are the Hawley's. What else is exciting..........I guess that's it. So....happy days to you all! Especially Happy Day to Milon! I can't believe he's 4! So old and so cute! I love you all bunches and bunches! Remember, there's power to prayer and fasting! I just had a really cool experience with it...maybe one day I'll share it, but for now, know that I strongly believe in the power of fasting and praying - especially when your faith is strong! Miracles and blessings can come of faith, prayer, and fasting. Anyway. Love you tons and bunches! Have a wonderful week of September! Love always and forever, Sister Walston September 17, 2012 Dear Family So this week...I love my new companion. Sister Slaugh from Colorado Springs. She's a great on fire greenie, trying to do everything right and learn everything at once, which causes her to stress, but we talk it out and it works out. It's great. I feel like we are able to communicate very well. Which is a blessing. She is a blessing. Anyways. Wednesday we were in a meeting all day learning how to train and how to be trained. I was able to spend the night before and day with dear Sister Garfield. I love being with her. She is always happy in whatever she does. What else is exciting... we struggled meeting with most of our investigators. Sister Slaugh has been here since Wednesday evening and has only meet one of our investigators...sad day...but we have appointments set up for this week, so it will be a good week. Indeed. What else... I love the ward and so does Sister Slaugh. I'm so happy to be with them still. One in particular, our young high priest group leader, told me he was glad to still see me. He thought I was going to get booted. Thanks goodness for no. I'm still cotinuing learning how to be a better missionary. I think I have my ups and downs of good times...and not so good times. Good times are a head. That is for sure. Well, what else is exciting... We were tracting last night and were able to tell an old man that Jesus Christ's orginal church exists on the earth agagain today... he just had a stroke recently, so his speech wasn't well, but he said, "I feel strongly..." so precious. He felt strong about what we said, it touched him and he was crying. he wouldn't let us set a return appointment, but we gave him the gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet and said we'd stop by again. Good things happen in missionary work. I love it. Life is good. Wells, I love you all bunches and bunches. Remember the Lord loves you. And to be your best self. Tell Cara I am happy for her!!! :-D Love you all!!! Sister Walston September 24, 2012 Dear family, How are all of you? This last week...we've been struggling to meet with our investigators...sillies. Either they've been sick or had other excuses. But there is always hope. So, yes. Sister Slaugh is still amazing. Doing well. She's a good little greenie. We've had good lessons with less actives. We sang for one of our less actives the other day. That was really fun. Sister Slaugh has a good voice. And she tells me that I have a good voice. So I guess together we do well. I like singing. It was fun. So....last week...actually 2 weeks ago my glasses fell apart. Well, one of the legs fell off. Crazy! So I've super glued it, but I have an eye glasses appointment tomorrow. I am going to get new frames...I want some and it'll be cheaper getting it here because people are nice to missionaries...ha, so if sometime soon I have money missing that's why...I'll pay for them since I want them...if I have the money....hopefully...but the nurse lady said that this one particular eye doctor never charges the missionaries - that he asked to see missionaries so he could help them out...so we'll see what the price is. Um...yesterday was a really good day! We had our church meetings. We went tracting. Meet a lady. She told us she wasn't interested at all. But then we offered her a Book of Mormon and she took it quickly. We committed her to read from it and asked if we could come back. She said that was fine. Hope! Right there. And then we had members left and right volunteering to commit themselves to do certain things for us. Loved it! And we were able to set up a lesson with a potential investigator at a member’s home. And we got a referral tracting. And we were able to talk and sing to a less active member whose husband just passed away. And we were able to get a right number for another potential. And we were able to talk to another less active member - a starting relationship of friendship, which might be how she softens. It was a good day yesterday. I also went to a meeting the other day - for zone leaders, district leaders, exchange sisters, and trainers. It was interesting. Good. Yep. Well, that's all I can think for now... well one more random fact. Sister Slaugh and I like to speak in English accents. It's quite fun. I love my ward. I love the gospel. I am grateful for my knowledge. And I love you all bunches and bunches! Yep. That's life. Have a wonderful day, week, weekend, until next time. Talk to you all later! Lots of love, Sister Walston