Kylie Jo

This weekend Christina and I were able to go to Temple Square in Salt Lake. It was so beautiful! I really love going to see the lights, and lets be honest I think the Spirit there is unreal. I love being able to feel the spirit just by walking around a building. It just goes to show "that" building (Salt Lake Temple) has something to it. If you haven't been or it has been a while go back. It is beautiful. And I loved spending time with Christina again. It is fun to have a friend from Arkansas here.

I don't know about you, but there are specific things that make me think of Christmas. One of those things is my grandma's Christmas scene. This year my mom and I are going to figure out a way to at least put some of it out. I never knew a Christmas without it until I went on my mission. Well that is the same year that the rest of my family started going without it as well. My grandma had to move out of her house just months after I left, and her new apartment is WAY TOO SMALL for her to live in and to put her scene up in. When she moved she gave it to me. For the last two years it has been in the storage unit and now we are going to put out part of it... Well if we can figure out how. This is what we have to work with. This picture was taken the last in December of 2007. The last year it was put up.

The four of us in costume. We were a hit!! the Potato Head family! It was really fun. And when we saw Jessy she was really excited to see some "friends from the toy box."


Tower of Terror my favorite ride!! Paul doesn't like it so much... He is really fun to sit by!


Ghost Galaxy (Space Mountain) The boys were trying to attack us. They are funny. Oh and best part Karri and I didn't know what they were doing... that is just how we look. FUNNY. That is an other of my favorite rides.


World of Color was AWESOME!! I really don't think there is any way of really explaining how fantastically awesome it really is. Something everyone who cares about Disney MUST see!!



Look I WON!! First time ever! I'm going to take those green gloves with me from now on. I think they must be special!

Clayton, Paul, Karri, and I had such a great time in Disneyland. I had never been to Disneyland during the holidays before. It was really fun to see the way they decorate the park for Halloween. Even the characters were in costume, and they looked really cute!

The first day in California we spent the afternoon getting our costumes ready for the trick or treat event that night. Everyone had talked about how great it was last year, so I couldn't wait to get there. We went as the Potato Head family. It was really cute. Clayton and Karri were Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and Paul and I were green aliens. I'm sorry to say I don't have pictures of our costumes right now, but I am working on getting those. We looked GREAT! If I do say so myself. There were tonz of kids that kept staring at us and telling there parents to look at Potato Heads. It was really cute. One of the cast members told us we were his favorite costume of the night. That made me happy. We had a lot of fun! I really want to do that every year.

On Saturday we did a scavenger hunt. That was really fun, and I thought it was way hard! Clayton, Paul, and Karri did it last year and they said last year was harder. I can't even imagine. We had a lot of fun and we came in 5th place. That rocks! They came in 11th last year. I'm sure we will do that again next year as well. I also told Clayton that the next time we go as a family we will have to break into teams and to a smaller hunt. That would be so fun.

Right after World of Color

Sunday we spent the day in California Adventure. That park has my favorite ride... TOWER OF TERROR! I totally love it!! We did have to go on it as many times as we could... Poor Paul, that isn't a favorite ride of his, but the rest of us love it. Sunday was the day that we went to World of Color. That was amazing!! I didn't really know what to expect other that Karri kept telling us it was awesome. And that really didn't even come close to describing the amazing show that was put on.

I think we all had a really great time. I mean how could we not, we were in Disneyland!! I love that place! I promise I will get more pictures for you to see. I just didn't take many. Karri and Paul take care of the pictures.

The drive home was a little scary... Right after we got out of Vegas we hit a HUGE rain storm that was really scary. Clayton was driving and he did a GREAT JOB! I was a little/lot freaked and I think he was too. We stopped for gas somewhere, and while we were in the store Clayton decided that the rain wasn't going to win. When we got in the car Clayton was still driving very safe, but he also wasn't willing to let the rain slow us down any more then he thought we had to. When the rain finally stopped we were all so happy, but I don't think any of us were as happy as Clayton. He told me my steering wheel might have indents that fit his hands. But we made it home safe and sound, and in good time.

I love the trips I get to have with Clayton. It is nice to have a best friend and brother all in the same person. Don't get me wrong I love Lady (Karri) and Paul to, but it is different with Clayton.

Today Jetti (My twin sister) and I decided I needed to get my Halloween Costume, and we did. It rocks! Clayton, Paul, Karri, and myself wanted to go as something that all goes together. We decided on Toy Story. Well Since Clayton and Karri already are going to be Mr and Mrs Potato Head I had to think of something... What goes with them... Little Green Aliens!! Jett and I were trying really hard to figure out how we would be able to make the head, because we hadn't seen that costume before. So we bought googly eyes, spray paint, bandannas (to make the belt), and the pipe cleaners to make the antenna. When all of the crafty stores here closed we decided to go to Target to see if we could find some good stuff. I still needed the blue outfit. We wondered around for awhile. It was really fun to look at all of the decorations (Jetti wanted to buy all of it, but was very good). Just as we were about to leave the Halloween section Jetti turned around and there it was... A baby costume of the aliens. Now, DOES IT FIT??? You know I had to pull it out and see... AND SURE ENOUGH!! I have an alien head! It is so great! I can't wait to wear it. I'm so glad I have a couple of plans for October that will let me wear it. Then we had to find the outfit, blue not hard right... WRONG! We wondered around Targets clothes and couldn't find "IT" And again Jetti was my HERO. She found a GREAT pair of sweets for me. They are the perfect color and super comfy. I can't wait for October! One day You will Get pictures.

I can't wait to go on vacation. All the homework, classes, and work I am ready for a break. I am finally getting to where I can understand my teachers (most of the time), and that is really exciting for me. I love my classes and I have had a lot of fun getting to know the teachers. I only have one that I had pre-mission and it has been fun finding out how they sign. I love ASL. It is really fun. I'm just ready for a vacation. Man am I ready... Disneyland in a few weeks. I can hardly wait!

I can't believe I went to the MTC two years ago today! Time really went so fast. I still feel like I need to get ready to go and head to the MTC. I loved my mission, and I thought today would be a fun day to remember some of the GREAT times I had.


Me And Sister Maulpo on our first day in the MTC


Me and Ashley McKinzie


Larry and Louise West on the day of his baptism!


The Lokens. I loved going to there house every Tuesday while I was in Maumelle.


Me, Alerys, and Sister Wall. This is the little girl that I taught ASL. I hope she can communicate with her mom!


Sister Campbell and I. Welcome to Germantown, Tennessee


OUCH! This is when I landed on my head... it is a funny story.


Coffee Color Knee Highs... not quite the color she (Sister Harmon) thought they would be.


Sister Harmon, the Nays, and Myself


Me and Sister Miller


Timmy and Lieghann Quesenberry


Hi Mom and Dad!


Hi Jettilyn!!


HI ATLEE!!!


HI ELISE!!!

There are a ton of other GREAT things that I didn't put pictures of, but I thought this was probably enough. I can't tell you how amazing the time was that I had in Arkansas and Tennessee. I will forever be a different person because of the last two years. I miss the people in Maumelle, Germantown, and Hot Springs so much! I will never forget them.

Today was my first day back at school. It was strange to be there. I have three classes, and all three of them are ASL classes. Before my mission I would have loved that, but today was a little scary, because I haven't really used ASL for 2 years. My first class is ASL Lit. I'm thinking that would be a rough class no matter how well I remember the language. I'm nervous about that class. Also I have never had that teacher before, so I don't really know how he signs. My second class is ASL History, yep fun... No, really I do think it will be fun. I love the teacher. I have taken three classes from Will in the past and loved it every time. He is funny, and that will be really good in a history class! After history I get to talk! I have a D&C class. I'm so glad to have that. If I didn't I wouldn't be able to use my voice all day. The teacher in D&C seems good as well. And my last class is ASL Linguistics (I don't even know how to spell the name of the class). However, I love this teacher as well. She is great, and Linguistics is what she is getting her doctorate in. She and Will (my other teacher are married). They are great. This is going to be a great semester! I just need to stop being worried about being a little rusty. Wish me luck everybody!!

I had such a great night! I was able to see Sister Loken and Christina Loken and Araly Bown. They are some of the best people that I met on my mission. Man a live I sure do love them. I know I will never forget them! Christina has moved out to Utah to go to BYU. I am excited to be able to see her at least sometimes. I was able to go down to Provo tonight and help them get Christina all moved in. I really do love them! Thanks for letting me hang out with you!

I have had a great few weeks. The best thing is that I bought a new car! I'm so happy with it. I think my favorite part of it is that it stays on the entire time I'm driving it. It is really fun, now where to go on the first road trip... I'M THINKING DISNEYLAND... I just need to figure out how to pay for it. That might take a while to do. There are a couple of things that need to be added... like a cruse control and a radio. The first thing is the cruse. I really don't want to commute to school with out it. And one day I will have the money to get a radio. As for now my great phone works for music, and I have a "nice" set-up to listen to my ipod. I will work on getting pictures of my car for you to see. I love it so much.

I was so blessed with the chance to go to Las Vegas and see two of the most amazing people sealed on May first. I first met the Wests in September of 2008. In fact I met them on my first day in the mission field. That night Sister Dyer and I knew Larry was going to get baptized. Well that didn't happen for a few more months. Larry was baptized in December of 2008. Louise had been baptized in July of 2008, and had been praying that Larry would gain the answers that he was looking for. I was blessed to serve in Maumelle, AR for the first six months of my mission, and I was very blessed to see the Wests almost every day. That was fantastic. When I was transferred to Germantown, TN I was really sad to leave them, and many other WONDERFUL people in Maumelle. To my surprise and the surprise of many others I was blessed to serve in Maumelle again just six months later. However, not all of the same WONDERFUL people I had taught were there... The Wests had moved to Henderson, NV. I was really sad that I didn't get to see them, but I was thankful that they now lived closer to my home. That meant I would be able to see them again. I hoped I would be able to see them sealed, but I didn't know if I would be able to, because they could have been sealed in December of 2009 and I would still be on my mission. However, my dream came true and I was blessed to see this amazing blessing happen. This was a missionary pay day!

Three of the Sisters that were able to teach the Wests

I do have to say thanks to Clayton for coming with me. We had a lot of fun, and I never would have been able to really go alone. That would be scary. So thanks a ton Clayt! You are one of the best friends/brothers I could ask for. (Don't worry I love you too Ryan and Erik!!)

I'm officially working now. I have gone back to Zurchers. I'm really glad that I was able to get a job there again. I have been working for a week now, and it has really helped me feel like I'm really back from my mission and I have something to do. I still miss my mission a ton. I keep being reminded of people from my mission. People look a lot like the ones I love so much in Arkansas and Tennessee. It is kinda strange to look up from the cash register and thinking I see the bishop's wife from Germantown. I also think I see people from all over my mission. I'm sure my "new job" will keep helping me adjust to real life. I'm thankful for that.

Today was a great day. It is Thursday and that ment Asain Star came to my mom's work, so I had to join in on that yumminess. While we were eating Mom asked if I had plans for this afternoon. Well of corse I didn't. She had work for me to do! It was great. I filed and did some other stuff... mostly files. It really was so nice to have something to do. I really need a job! I loved spending the day with my mom. Really fun.

I have decided that being an aunt is really one of the best things ever. I loved being a missionary and I would still love to be a missionary. However, being an aunt is so much fun. I have had so much fun the last two weekends.
I was very blessed to be able to go to Arizona last week and meet Atlee. She is so CUTE! She is really funny. She says "Hi" all the time. My mom says that Atlee says hi when she doesn't know what to do. I would believe that. She says hi a lot when we ask her what an animal says. Too cute! And my lucky sister only lives about 15 min away from that little doll, however I am that gave her her favorite cuddle toy... Minnie Mouse what else?
Then this weekend I was able to go to California and meet Elise. She is only 4 months, but she is so CUTE. She likes to try and make noises with her lips. It is really cute! and when she eats she makes the cutest noise. It was really fun to hold a baby. When Elise wakes up she is so happy. Even when it is 5 something in the morning. It is really cute... at least for me (I'm not mommy). Elise was so sweet. She also plays with Minnie Mouse... what else would you expect me to give them.
As of this weekend I have now seen all of my family. Ryan and his family were the last ones. I'm so thankful my parents were willing to take me to Arizona and California. My family rocks!! I love you all!

I had the best year and a half of my life in the south. I miss it so much! There are people and places I will never forget. My life has chnged so much and I hope I have made some impact in the lives of those that changed mine so much.

The last week of my mission was fantastic! We went through a lot of ups and downs, but it was one of the best weeks of my mission. We were teaching Leighann, and she had committed to be baptized on February 6th. That was the last Saturday of my mission. Leighann was ready and she was baptized on the 6th. It was so great to see her baptized and to see the changes in her life. I love Leighann and her husband Timmy. They live with Timmy's parents right now and I have really loved getting to know Annette and Tom. They are all so GREAT!



I will miss Hot Springs as much as I miss Maumelle and Germantown.

I have been having so much fun with my Jetti, Scott, Erik, Terese, and ATLEE!! We have been having fun just hanging out. I love being able to see Erik and Teresa be Mommy and Daddy. While I was on my mission the babies became real when I heard them cry or talk on the phone. It is interesting that I never thought of Erik and T as Mom and Dad. It has been funto see that change. My family rocks! I just wish we didn't have to drive eleven hours to see them. I'll post more about the trip when I am on a computer instead of my phone.

Wow I really can't believe this is the last email that you all will be getting from me while I'm on my mission. My missionary time will end on the 9th, and my awesome parents will be here to tour my mission with me until the 17th. I really can't believe that time has already come!! I want to make sure you all know when and where my "home coming" talk will be. I will be speaking on Sunday the 21st at 9 am. The ward building is the same as when I left... I think...I found the address it is 1020 E Sunburn Ln SANDY, UT 84094. Anyway enough about all that.

This week was really good. We had mission tour this week. That is when a General Authority comes and talkes to us. This year we were able to hear from Elder Packer (President Packer's son) and his wife. That was really cool. They are so great and they had a lot of helpful things to say. It was really great. They talked a lot about our teaching and how we need to focus on teaching with the Spirit. That was really good.
President and Sister Drewes also spoke. They were also GREAT of course. I love them. Sister Drewes always makes us feel so loved and President is a spirit power house! I Love them!
We are still planning on Leighann (I found out how to spell her name!) getting baptized on Saturday. We still have some things we need to teach her. We are going to do our best to make sure she is ready and if she isn't we wont have a baptism this week. Please pray for us! I would love to be able to see her get baptized, but I don't want her to get baptized before she is ready.
We are going to see Leighann today and we will make sure she is ready or we will do everything we can to help her. She is great and really wants to be sealed we just need to make sure she is ready to be baptized and has the testimony that she needs.
We also met with Ashley and Scott again. It was really good! While we were teaching them the plan of salvation somehow the word of wisdom was brought up, and Scott said, "I didn't know using tobacco was a sin." That was cool because we hadn't said that it was a sin... Well not in those words. We said that the word of wisdom was a commandment and that is said we don't us tobacco or coffee or tea. It was really cool to see the Spirit work in Scott.
We taught Jim and Patsy at the Bishop's home this week. That was so GREAT!! We also taught them the Plan of Salvation. It was great to have Bishop and Sister DeVaux share their testimonies of this GREAT plan.

I love you all and I can't believe that this is my last email and that it is so short... SORRY!! I'm excited to see you. Please keep us in your prayers this week.

This week was both good and sad. I think it is best if we start out with the sad stuff.While we were at church yesterday Ember's grandpa called us. He is the one that called the mission office to get us to go out to Glenwood and teach her. Well he had to leave us a message, because we were in church, and after Sunday school I asked Sister Pabst to check the phone... not a normal thing. Well Brother Griffith called and said that Ember didn't want to meet with us anymore and she doesn't want to get baptized and she doesn't want to go to church... SAD!! I'm really sad about that! I love that girl, but I would imagine it would be hard to get baptized at ten years old and not have any family support. Maybe one day she will be ready.Then the other sad thing is that we weren't able to meet with Timmy and Leanne Quesenberry this week. They were really busy with work. However, good news, they were both at church yesterday and we are going to meet with them tonight. I'm really excited we are going to commit her to baptism for the sixth of February. I'm really excited about them. GOOD NEWS!!We have been meeting with a lady named Ashley and last week Sister Pabst asked her if her husband would be interested in learning, and she said yes. SO, we taught them this week. The lesson was great, and we are going to see them again on Tuesday. We are planning to challenge them to be baptized. We are in need of prayers on this one. But I think they are ready. When we were teaching Scott Ashley was answering some of his questions. That was exciting for us. I like them a lot!Also last week we had the Freemans (less-active family) come to stake conference, and then we taught them the Plan of Salvation during this week. Tiny (Sister Freeman) was telling us that she was trying to tell her Sister-in-law about the plan, and that she was really glad she would be able to now. Those kind of days are paydays for missionaries. My mom always says that there are paydays for parents (High School graduation). Now I think I understand that just a little. We had some paydays this week.

Wow I really can't believe it has been over a week since I emailed last week. There is a saying that is going around the mission and mission time is like a roll of toilet paper it goes by slow at the beginning, but by the end it goes really fast. Then before you know it, it is gone! That is exactly how I feel right now. I thought my mission started fast, and now it is going at the speed of light. IT IS NUTS!! Ok I think I'm done wigging out for now...This week was GREAT!! On Monday we were able to teach Leanne Quesenberry. She married into this less-active family on Christmas Eve, and a couple weeks ago she asked us how she and Timmy could be sealed. PERFECT!! When the temple is their goal they will take the steps they need to to get there. I'm really excited. We were going to teach her the Plan of Salvation on this past Monday, but she and Timmy both had to work. So, we should be teaching her tonight, and we are planning to set a day for her baptism. I'm really excited for her! We also met with Jim and Patsy last week. They are GREAT. Patsy is really opening up to the idea that Joseph Smith really could have been a prophet. When we were there last week she said there really is no way he (Joseph Smith) could have written the Book of Mormon. EXACTLY!! We are excited to meet with them again next week. The Bishop and his wife want to have them into their home for a lesson. EVEN BETTER!! I'm really excited about them!We did get some sad news. Ember said she doesn't want to get baptized anymore. She said she wanted to once but that desire slipped away. We are going to meet with her again on Sunday, and the APs are coming. I'm excited that the APs will be there. They are great missionaries and I really believe that Ember will feel the Spirit again and she will be ready for baptism.That is our news for this week. I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Well I only have one companion now. Sister Miller is in Millington, TN and she is loving it. We haven't heard to much, but from what I hear things are great there. Things are also Great here. Sister Pabst and I had a GREAT week. WE were able to teach a lot of people and we found seven new investigators. That ROCKS! I'm really excited about them. One of them in Leanne Quesenberry. She is married to a less-active, and we eat dinner with the parents every Monday. Timmy and Leanne just moved in with the parents and when we were teaching them last week Leanne asked what they (Timmy and Leanne) needed to do to get sealed. I'm excited to teach her, because she already has the temple as her goal. That reminds me of Annette Duncan. LOVE IT!!We were able to teach the Welch family again. They are doing well. We talked to them about studying the Book of Mormon as a family. They said they would do that, so I'm excited to see what they say when we see them this week. They didn't make is to church, and they said they would...bummer. SO we will find out what happened on Wednesday.We saw Ember yesterday and that went really well. I love her. Her cousin sits in with us on all the lessons. That is GREAT!! Her cousin in also 10 so I think that helps Ember. We taught her the Word of Wisdom this week, and I just knew we wouldn't have a problem with that. However, I must have forgotten that I'm in the south and EVERYONE drinks TEA. I really do mean EVERYONE. I saw a lady order tea for her BABY (15months). So that is something she said she would work on. I'm sure she will be fine. She also said she was worried what her mom would think if she went back to live with her. We have a couple of things to work out, but she is still planing to be baptized on the 23rd.This really was a good week. I can't believe how fast time has gone!

My new companions name is Sister Pabst. She is from Layton, UT. She is really nice. She is FULL of the Spirit!! I love it. The first time she knocked on a door she totally rocked! Man I'm excited to teach with her. This week has been really interesting. Sister Miller was going to be going to Germantown for at least a week, and she was going to be in a three some over there. However, President Drewes called on Tuesday night (the night before she was leaving) and asked if she would just stay here for the week. Well she was totally fine with that. I was excited until I realized that I was training two people, and that they were going to be two totally different people. That is nuts. Sister Miller is a good missionary, but her training isn't done yet. It has been hard to try and train a new missionary that is quiet and a kind of new missionary that is NOT quiet. I'm really excited to have Sister Miller go to Tennessee and for me and Sister Pabst to be in a two some. That will be nice. I love Sister Miller, but it has been really hard. I think it would be extremely hard to be Sister Pabst. It will be good. We were able to teach the Welch family the Plan of Salvation this week. It was really good. They seem to be getting it really well. We are really excited about them. We were also able to talk to them about getting baptized and why they would need to do that. It was really good. I love that family.We taught Ember again yesterday, and she is doing GREAT!! She is set to be baptized on January 23rd. Her dad is a little hesitant about her getting baptized, because he doesn't know if she is ready. So, during our lesson with her yesterday we were able to explain what baptism is and the promises we make when we are baptized. That was GREAT! And during the lesson we had planned Ember brought things up from the lessons we have taught her in the past. It was GREAT!! I think she is ready! The only down side about our lesson yesterday is that her dad didn't sit in on the lesson. Only Sister Griffith (Ember's Grandma) sat in. I hope that she talks to Ember's dad about it.That was our FANTASTIC week. I love being a missionary! It rocks my socks every day! LOVE IT!!

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas!! I know mine was Fantabulous! But that was the end of the week, so I will tell you about my week first. Tuesday at District Meeting we watched "The Mountain of the Lord"... at least that is what I think it was called. It was really good! It was all about building the Salt Lake Temple. I really enjoyed it. After our meeting we went to Malvern, and taught a lady named Mary. She is really cool. She has three little kids and they are SO CUTE!! We are really excited to teach her again. She seemed really interested, and I think she likes the idea of primary and nursery for her kids. Wednesday, I don't really remember what we did... Oh well. It was a great day! I really loved all of last week so I'm sure it was a great day. Thursday, Christmas Eve, was a REALLY fun day! We went to the Jackson's house for dinner at 2:30... Yep early dinner, because after dinner we went caroling. That was really fun! There were about eleven of us. We had a lot of fun. We were in Hot Springs Village and went to eleven houses so it took us Three hours. We had to drive to all the different houses, because we went to their friends and some members. It was really fun. FRIDAY!! CHRISTMAS!! We got up and opened our gifts at 6:30... We just couldn't wait any longer. It was really fun. Then we well we should have studied, but we couldn't focus, so I played with some of my new stuff while Sister Miller got ready. Then Sister Miller called her family and had them open the gifts that she sent, and I got ready. For companion study we read Luke 1 and 2. SO GREAT! Then I got to call my fam for about two minutes. That was GREAT!! Then we were off to visit some less-actives. We had a lot of fun doing that. At 11:50 we headed over to the Quesenberry's so Sister Miller could really call her family. When we got there they were still opening gifts, so I was able to watch that. I really enjoyed that. Then we went and visited some more people and at 6:00 we were back at the Quesenberry's for dinner. Dinner wasn't ready, so we helped with whatever they needed. We ended up eating at 7ish. That was GOOD. I was able to call home at 8:00 (THE BEST TIME OF THE DAY)! I even was able to hear both of my nieces being REALLY CUTE!! I love CHRISTMAS!! Saturday was a normal day. We had some appointments with people. The best one was with the Welch's. We taught them the Restoration using the cup demo (if you don't know what that is I will teach you when I get home). The spirit was strong and at the end of the lesson we sang I am a Child of God, and even the two little boys (2 yrs) were quiet and LISTENING. That was AWESOME!! We see great things happening with them! We were able to teach a little girl how to play soccer that night. It was really fun. We are teaching a part-member family and the little girl wanted to learn how to play soccer. Sister Miller played in High School, so she was able to teach her. Sunday we went to Glenwood and taught two FANTASTIC lessons. The first was the restoration for Jack. That was great. We taught him last week with his son and a friend. I'm really excited about that. Then we were able to teach Ember. That lesson was really good because there weren't so many little kids running around. We were able to focus on Ember, and I think that is really what she needed. Now we are just hoping that she will come to church on Sunday. We got some bad news on Sunday, Sister Miller is getting transferred. She is going to be going to G-town for at least a week. While she is there she will be in a threesome. We are waiting for a Temple Square Sister to come out. Then the threesome will be split and Sister Harmon will train the Temple Square Sister, and Sister Laulu and Sister Miller will be comps. We just don't know where each companionship will be. And I will be training the greenie. I'm really nervous about that, but I know that is what the Lord wants so okay I'll do it, I'm just nervous! Well that is our week. IT was fantastic until the phone call Sunday night. Now we are both nervous about our new companions. I love you ALL! And I miss you!

I can't believe it is Christmas already! This year has FLOWN by! I really do think that this last year has been the fastest of my entire life. WOW!! Okay, anyway, we had a GREAT week!! We found EIGHT new investigators this week. That is fantastic, and more that I have ever had my entire mission.The first four are a family. They had met with missionaries about ten years ago, and then moved and didn't know there were missionaries here. SO lucky us we get to start teaching them again. We taught them twice this week. The first time we talked about the Book of Mormon and what that was and where it came from. We did a review. They didn't really remember much so the next time we taught them the restoration and that was GREAT!! Their son was there and he was really interested. He has a two and a half year old that he and his fiance want to get into church. GREAT!! He was really interested in the restoration, and he was talking to his fiance when she came in. She even seemed interested. We are going to go back and teach them again on Wednesday. I'm so excited! The other four investigators were found yesterday. We went out to Glenwood again to teach the SIX investigators that we got last week. Then Brother Griffith had another appointment for us!! GREAT!! There is a lady that has brought her neighbor to church twice and he wanted to learn more. SO we taught him and his dad and one of his friends. ALSO this ladies husband isn't a member so we get to teach him as well. PERFECT!! I'm so excited about Glenwood. I don't think it will be too long until they get their own missionaries so we wont get to go out there. BUMMERWell I think that is all the big news from this week. Oh also Carey was evicted from her trailer on Sunday, so we don't know where she is. She didn't have any plans when we saw her on Friday, and we haven't heard from her since then. We are going to find her and help her in anyway that we can. We had a GREAT!! week! I love being so busy!! However, that makes time fly and I don't really want time to go fast! I'm excited to call my family on Christmas, but the next transfer really needs to slow down!! YIKES!!LOVE YOU!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Sister Miller and I had a fantastic week! It started when we went to the Christmas parade in downtown Hot Springs. That was really fun! It was at night so it was cold, but it was really fun! I loved it. We went with the Quezenberrys. They are a great family that we eat with every Monday night. They rock!! And they are having us over for Christmas. I'm excited about that.
Tuesday we went to Malvern. That is our normal Tuesday activity. We work with some part member families there and some less active families. It is great. Tuesday night Sister Costley and Eckardt came for exchanges. That was fun. They were on their way to Camden, AR to open that area, and President Drewes said we could to exchanges. That was really fun. Sister Eckardt has only been out for four weeks so it made me not so nervous to train. I hope I don't have to train. I would like to stay with Sister Miller until the end, but we will see what the Lord wants in a couple of weeks.
Wednesday was my day with Sister Eckardt. She is SO GREAT!! She is really quiet... I think like I was when I first came out. That wont last long. We did a lot that day.
Thursday I went with Sister Costley. That was so fun! We are going home together, so it was fun to get to know her. She is a FANTASTIC missionary! I love her.Friday the Sisters left, and Sister Miller and I were together again. LOVE HER!!Saturday was our ward Christmas party. That was fun. NOW THE BIG DAY!!! SUNDAY!! So on Tuesday we got a phone call from the mission office with a referral for us. That is always GREAT!! So Sister Anderson told us that there was a man that wanted us to teach his Granddaughter that wanted to get baptized! SO I called him right after I got off the phone with Sister Anderson and Brother Griffith said that his granddaughter was going to be there and a family of four!! That was EXCITING!!! So we went out and taught them yesterday. There ended up being SIX INVESTIGATORS there. The only down side to this is that they live 48 miles away from us. They go to the Glenwood Branch. SO we will be driving over 100 miles every Sunday until they get baptized. But I don't really care about that, and I don't think President Drewes does either. I'm just really excited to teach them! I love member referrals! That is the best way to do missionary work!!

Another Great week! This week went the way mission life does. One of our investigators that was sent to be baptized on the 26th dropped us. SAD, but that is ok, because she is still reading the Book of Mormon. As she reads she will understand more of it, and will one day be ready for this GREAT message. Our other investigator that was going to be baptized on the 26th didn't make it to church yesterday, so she can't get baptized then. However, she really wants to get baptized, and just has a few things to work out. Carey is on her way to be baptized! I'm really excited for her. It will happen soon. Ruth had some stuff she had to take care of in Little Rock, so we weren't able to meet with her this week, but she is still solid and is set for baptism on the 30th of January.
Sister Miller and I had a fun week. We spent a lot of time teaching. I love that we get to teach so much here in Hot Springs. We also had our Christmas Zone Conference!! We didn't get to watch a movie this year, but that is totally fine, because it was better than a movie. AND that is saying something coming from me! President Drewes had each of the Zone Leaders talk about one of the main topics of all of our other Zone Conferences during 2009. It was so great! I loved getting a review of everything we learned this year. President also told us it was a time to truly celebrate, because we had such a GREAT YEAR! We reached the goal of 409 baptisms in October, and the mission is still going so STRONG!! I love it! We had a really fun time!
I had my President's interview on Tuesday, and it sounds like I will be training next transfer. I thought I was going to make it my entire mission without training, but I guess not. Well I still might. You really never know with President Drewes. He is such an amazing man! This mission is so blessed to have President and Sister Drewes here to lead us. I LOVE THEM!!I love you all and I hope you have a fantastic week!

Wow I have never been so busy on my mission! It has been a great week! We have three baptismal dates coming up. The first ones are on the 26th of December. Lisa is one of the ladies getting baptized then. She is great! She has been through so much yuckyness lately, and she is ready for the gospel. I'm excited for her and I hope we will be able to help her get out of some of the stuff she is in. The other lady is Carey. She is also great, and is ready for the gospel, however, she has really bad anxiety and can't get in a car. She is going to get a priesthood blessing on Friday. I'm sure that will help her. The last date that we have is on the 30th of January. Ruth has some issues that she is working out, and if all goes well she will be getting baptized sooner than January. She is going to try and get it all figured out tomorrow. Please keep her in your prayers tomorrow. Sister Miller is so Great! She has the Greeny fire that President Drewes wants all of us to have, so I'm hoping some of hers will rub off on me. We have been getting so much done this week. I love this work! We had a great Thanksgiving! We went with Sister Enriquez to the Tondroses, and then followed them to the Keese house for dinner. We had a lot of fun. There was even a family there from my old ward. Brother and Sister Keese's daughter lives in Little Rock, so they came down for dinner. That was fun. President asked us to visit ten people that day so we were so busy running from one house to the next. It was crazy. We don't usually see ten people on a normal day, but we did our best. I think we ended up seeing nine families. Thanksgiving was fun.I do miss shopping on Black Friday. Mom and Dad get ready for next year!Well I think that is everything for this week. I love you all! I miss you! Don't forget the reason for this season. The Lord loves you and the church is TRUE!

Well I'm in Hot Springs Ar. I'm excited to be here. I miss Maumelle and Sister Harmon, but I'm really excited about my new comp and my new area. My companions name is Sister Miller. She is from Logan, Ut, and she has only been out for six weeks. She is really fun, and is already a fantastic missionary. My new address is 200 Lakeland Dr E-6 Hot Springs, Ar 71913 We had a good week. We taught a lady named Ruth that is set for baptism January 30th. I'm really excited about her! She is such an awesome lady! She came to church yesterday a little late (after the sacrament) and walked in like any member would. It was cool to see that. The is GREAT!!We are teaching another lady named Carey. She is cool too. She has been taught a couple of times and has a lot of questions about the spirit world and spirits. She is cool. We gave her Elder Hollands talk called the Ministry of Angels from last October. She loved it. She is planning to get baptized December 19th. However, she has really bad anxiety and can't even get in a car right now. Sisters Miller and Costley talked to her about priesthood blessings, and she is going to get one sometime after Thanksgiving. I'm really excited for the work that is going on here! I love being a missionary!Love Y'all!Sister

I am home from Arkansas. I can't believe that a year and a half has already passed! I'm excited to get my blog caught up. I love Arkansas and I can't wait to go back. I will get all updated soon.