what a week.

Hello hello!

This week has been a whole lot to handle, but I have LOVED it! My dear, sweet companion is going home today for medical reasons, which has been really hard. I am going to miss her so much, but am so excited for her to get feeling better. She is such an incredible missionary and so full of love for all of the people we work with. We had a good, fun, productive, last week together though!

Best parts of this week would be:

1// going to the visitor's center with a girl we are working with, Emily! She is the funniest thing ever and of course, it was a wonderful night. The visitor center sisters did a special Christmas Devotional and the temple grounds were decorated for Christmas! The spirit is always so strong there. Including a huge, marble nativity that was in the reflecting pool. It was so gorgeous and really kicked off Christmas! Emily loved it and come to find out, invited a friend and went again later that week! She is so incredible.

2// Aloha 2nd Ward knows how to throw a party! Sister Dittmar and I helped decorate for the most intense ward Christmas Party that I have ever been to. The theme was The Polar Express, complete with a life-size train, pulled by primary-children dressed up as Rudolph. It was such a fun time. The ward members were great and got a lot of people to the party. We were able to spend the night with Heidi and Noah and the Levenseller's - which just equals out to a fun time! Oh ya, Sister Dittmar, Elder Pugmire, Elder Freshour, Brother Jenson and I all sang too and I did not laugh during it! 

3// BEST THING EVER. Miriam from Oregon City was baptized on Saturday in Molalla into the Spanish Branch and I was able to go! We sang hymns in spanish, I was once again "Sister Keeer", I got to see all of the Chavez's and Sister Stone and some of the members from OC. It was just a beautiful day. Molalla is in the boonies of our mission, so we got a lovely, long drive out there. It was so so so GREAT. I love them and that place. I got butterflies when we started to get close, that drive really felt like I was going home. I love Oregon City!

This has been a good week. I am sad to be leaving Aloha after a short time and I don't know where I will be going! Hopefully somewere in the Beaverton West Stake so I can keep close with all of the wonderful people here, especially so close to Christmas! And I should be back in Aloha 2 next transfer! 

Any mail you feel inclined to send should be sent to the mission office now!

Sister Kensey Kerr

1400 NW Compton Dr. Ste. 250

Beaverton, OR

97006

xxxxxxxoooooooo, 

Sister Kerr

there goes the third.

Goodbye Transfer 3 and HELLO to Transfer 4! Sister Dittmar and I get to spend another transfer together in Aloha 2nd Ward and we are quite happy about that. This week was just lovely, between Thanksgiving and a BAPTISM, I would not have expected anything less than lovely! It was hard as usual, but everything ends up being good when you are on a mission.

One of my favorite things this week happened back on Monday. We had dinner with a family in the ward and had an amazing discussion on missionary work afterwards. I love seeing the vision of missionary work click for members. This work is seriously so exciting and so satisfying to everyone who becomes involved, and when a member catches that spirit and is ready to go and help others catch that spirit, good things are coming! They boosted our spirits a lot too by thanking us - members, do that to your missionaries. It helps more than you think! P.S. unity in the ward is key, so go be united! 

 Another highlight of this week was on Tuesday. We had a training meeting, which was so helpful and so fun. So much of the mission is young, and the majority of the missionaries are either being trained or training, President thought it would be beneficial to do a big training thing and it sure was! I learned so much about teaching and got to see a lot of missionaries that I love and miss. You really do become like a family out here! Afterwards, we got to go to President and Sister Morby's for a bit to visit. President and I looked at pictures of Oswego and ate chocolate covered blueberries, it was quite enjoyable! I showed him pictures of harborfest and the river and bridges and barge - it was just a good old time! I love the Morby's.

Thanksgiving was wonderful! We spent it with the Brennan's and the Kavanaugh's. Sister Brennan is the one with the food blog and she is the one who sent the thanksgiving pictures. Which is great, since my camera will not let me send pictures! I sat at the kid table (by choice) for part of it and enjoyed a nice discussion on Hello Kitty, kites and tiaras. They were adorable! 

Saturday was Claudia's baptism. It was splendid and the spirit was so strong. Claudia is 18, so the young women were in good representation and they sang "I Know That my Redeemer Lives." It was beautiful and I love this church! Her mother spoke on baptism and it was the most genuine and heartfelt talk on baptism that I have ever heard. They are just a great family!

Also this week, we dressed up like jail-mates and cleaned litter from the side of the road! It was so fun and disgusting. I never knew regular people did that, I just always assumed they were convicts doing community service time. The Reel Family adopted a street, so we got  to help out, then go back home for pie and whipped cream. Such a fun time!

We moved into the ward boundaries this week. We are now living with the sweetest members eva!!!!!

new address is: 

The Prettiest Sister Missionary in the World

4668 SW 191 Ave.

Aloha, OR

97007

I'd like to end this week on a spiritual note, imagine that! In my studies this morning I was reading in 1 Nephi 8. Everybody should read that chapter this week, try and do it at some point! It is talking about the vision of the tree of life, which represents the gospel. In this story there is the tree (of God) and then there is a great and spacious building (not of God). I have read this story probably 55 times, but today something so different stood out to me. In this vision, there is an iron rod that leads, directs and supports people to the tree of life. But, it then talks about the journey to the building, how it is dark, strange, and many are lost and drown. I noticed so clearly today the distinction between the two options that we have in life. I think it was last week that I talked about our ability to choose between these same two choices, returning to live with God, or not. And with these two choices, God gives us incredible resources and support and lovingly reaches out to us. He gives us an iron rod; not a twig, or a path marked with chalk hoping it won't wash away, but an IRON rod. The other choice that leads us to worldliness and sorrow is not marked by a path, there is only darkness and strange ways and some people become so lost and drown on their journey there. Why do we even choose that path? Why do we want to go somewhere, when the person inviting us provides us with no directions, no help, no map, and doesn't even care if we get lost on the way? While the other option is to follow a clear, direct, happy path given as an invitation by someone who has provided a way and does care that we make it. Consider this choice that we have, it seems so clear! Please turn to our Heavenly Father and the support that He has for each of us. 

I love you all a whole ton. Please be safe and have a fun week. Happy Christmas Season! Talk to you soon.

xoxoxo, Sister Kerr 

count those blessings!

Well aloha family! HAPPY THANKSGIVING from the wild, wild west!

This morning was wicked interesting in the worst way (I may be a little dramatic). Sister Dittmar and I left to come to the Family History Center to email. We are the only ones in the zone with a key, so we tend to go right at ten so anyone else who wants to come can get in. We unlock the door, come in, turn all of the computers on, take our coats off, and lay everything we possess, EVERYTHING down. Then I decide to use the restroom while everything is loading, so we head to the bathroom. We come back from the bathroom and we are locked out. I am going to cry even thinking back on it, it is not quite funny yet! All of everything is in there, our phone, the keys - to both the FHC and our car - and we are alone, with no phone numbers. Worst morning of my mission so far! So we sit down, having not a stinkin' clue what to do. A few minutes later the elders in our ward showed up, hallelujah! We used their phone and tried calling people. No one answered except some other missionaries who then called around to find a key in the stake. An hour later, after being stranded by our own stupidity, we were saved by a saint, a sweet old lady with a key showed up. I am never letting go of our keys again. EVER.

mom- i about died reading the story of you and the drill at the elementary school. that is the funniest/sweetest/most heroic/julie-est thing ever. i just LOVE you.

dad- i love your email, please don't leave me hanging for so long this week! keep me busy with your news from home! i keep seeing piles of wood and thinking, "that sure is some nice firewood. we should hurry and stack that up!"

whitney- i am alive and got your letter! thank you pretty girl. i love the pictures!

grandma- i am definitely more motivated to plant those seeds. THANK YOU!

Like I previously mentioned, we were over an hour late to email. So now there are several missionaries waiting for a computer and since this is all kind of my fault (embarassing), this will probably be short. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'll just list my blessings this week!

1// Sister Acosta (my mission version of Whitney) took us shopping and I found a great deal on a winter coat. It is so cold here now <---- that is a blessing now though, because i have a cute coat!

2// Our dinner appointment sent us home with a container full of cream puffs.

3// Alex read from the scriptures for us and totally remembered what faith and repentance mean and how they can help us. 

4// Olivia leaned over right after and asked me if she could read one! We did the cute little primary program version where I whisper to her and she says it out loud. Then she told us about her prayers. She is too cute.

5// exchanges!! my first experience with exchanges and I loved it so much. Sister Pauga came to Aloha with me for the night. This was really, incredibly helpful and came at a time that I really needed it. Sister Pauga is from Australia and only has one week left on her mission, so obviously she knows a lot about being a missionary and her perspective was exactly what I needed! She helped me to realize the blessing that my mission is being to my family and friends at home. Even if I don't see a lot of fruits from my labor here, I know it is effecting you all at home. I know that now, thanks to my sister training leader. I am excited for another exchange.

6// We helped the youth make angel dolls for a children's hospital!

7// Heidi had a really rough day, and we followed a prompting and showed up when she needed us to! Two days after being baptized, she realized all on her own that she could call a priesthood holder and ask for a blessing. This lady blows my mind, I am so happy for her!

8// Mandy made us cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa and we had a premature Christmas party! Set up the tree and all and we each have our own stocking :)

9// Joined the enrichment dinner and three people we are working with came! woooohooooooo.

10// we did family history work with Heidi and are finding names for her to take to the temple! I also got to do some of my own and found a name that needs work at the temple, so super exciting! Go do it dad!

11// We contacted a referral from one of our members and she let us in and let us teach the restoration! i love teaching. we just need more people to teach!

12// We visited on the phone with Janelle again and I was so nervous, but it went so well. She accepted to read the Book of Mormon, if we would answer any questions she has. DONE! I am excited for her, she really is a very sweet girl!

13// got a letter from my dear, sweet grandmother on the very day that it was needed. Thanks for following that prompting Grandma!

14// Claudia was interviewed for baptism and is all ready to go on Saturday the 30th at 11am! Or 2pm for you eastcoasters :)

15// Fulfilled our goal to go the visitor's center again this week! With the Kavanaugh Family. They are great!

16// I impressed a 4 year old with my skills of remembering the powder puff girls. We both like Bubbles!

17// THE FAMILY HISTORY CENTER WAS UNLOCKED FOR US THIS MORNING! My favorite blessing, today.

It was a great week! The holidays are hard, but it is a darn good thing I love being a missionary so much, because it is worth it! Please keep Sister Dittmar and I in your prayers this week. I love you all! I think you said the elders in Pulaski are coming for Thanksgiving, super jealous! Tell them to enjoy it, Thanksgiving is my favorite! Love, love, love you.

xoxoxo, Sister Kerr

happy 4 months!

Hello world. How are you all doing? This week was just phenomenal. phe. nom. enal. PHENOMENAL. I loved it a whole lot and it helped me to realize why I am a missionary and why I LOVE being a missionary.

TUESDAY

Tuesday started us off on an adrenaline rush that kind of lasted the rest of the week, I think! We were finishing up our training/companion study and about to head out to a lesson. When we were about to leave, we both noticed a very smoky smell, which is never exciting! We checked our vents and it smelled like it was coming from there, rats! So we began brainstorming as to what we should do. We both came to the conclusion that we should call the fire department...but we were both too chicken to do it. Hahah, so we started very quickly walking/sprinting to the main office to let them know that we smell a lot of smoke and would like them to come check it so that our apartment doesn't burn and we lose everything. They came and told us that it was just the resident below us, and that he had started a fire in the fireplace that morning and our apartment kind of became the chimney. Oh, THANK HEAVENS WE HADN'T CALLED 911. This is one of those moments that being a scaredy-cat comes in handy and is a complete blessing! Sister Dittmar and I laughed for hours, imagining how awful it would have been if the fire department had come.

Also on Tuesday, we met with one of my very favorite people in Aloha. Her name is Emily, she is a less-active, originally from Colorado and she is just about the funniest person I have ever met. I love her to death. We talked about the plan of salvation. In every lesson that I teach, something always, very prominently stands out to me, like it never has in the past. My testimony has been strengthened so much, and it continues to be every single day. In this lesson, agency hit me like a brick, I finally understood it so much more than ever before! We literally, like REALLY have the choice to choose eternal life with our Heavenly Father or not. Everything in this life boils down to that choice and we, completely individually, get to choose! It is just so incredible to me because what a simple choice that truly is.

 I think about where I am at right now, and the people who matter the most to me - right now - and I wouldn't know even one of them if I wasn't on my mission now, in Oregon. I would never have met these people who have become some of my closest friends! That has been my favorite thing of a mission, getting to meet and LOVE people that I never would have had the opportunity to even know.  

WEDNESDAY

I guess you could say Wednesday started off with an adrenaline rush as well! We had zone meeting and did lots of role-playing (so the adrenaline thing was sarcasm). Role plays are so incredibly helpful, but I do hate them because they are about the most awkward thing ever! I do love meetings with other missionaries though. It truly is so uplifting to be around them and to hear of their experiences. And it is so comforting to realize that you are definitely not the only one out there trying to find, teach and baptize. Missionary work is hard, so it is nice to have this wonderful camaraderie between our zone!

The majority of the rest of Wednesday we filled with tracting! It was super interesting. We met an actor (who is too busy for us) with a vicious little Chihuahua. We met a woman who invited us to join her Christmas bell choir (yes, we are going to do it!). We stood on a doorstep where the side garden was decorated with probably 15 plastic horses, like the ones I used to play with for Barbies. Actually, one of the horses was the one that I had from Mulan, with the purple saddle and the tail that clicked back and forth when it walked! Hahah, I almost reached down and grabbed it because it reminded me of home. We knocked on one door, waited, nothing, so we went to the next door (x12). 

 We did have an appointment with Alex (9) and Olivia (5) tonight! We taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and made it into a game. They had to try and jump from the start line to the end (returning to our heavenly father), in one leap. They couldn't do it, so then we had to give them the steps of faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end. That was the ONLY way they could reach the end. They had SO much fun. We could not believe how well it went! They repeated the entire lesson back to us, with all the steps and what they each mean. It was so fun. We then played jenga and then created an indoor, home bowling alley with the jenga pieces. I became the champion of the house after winning both! These kids are the best, I love them to death!

THURSDAY

 Juana, Alex and Olivia's mom, invited us back over to join her for lunch. She had a stroke a few years ago and is mostly paralyzed on her left side, so she asked us to help her fold laundry. This was such a major pivotal moment for us! When someone asks you to come help with something, it means they trust you! We were ecstatic to go fold laundry. As missionaries, we are constantly asking for opportunities to serve, so for her to accept and request it was just amazing! Nothing makes you love someone like serving them - write that down and don't forget it!

We then met with a less-active family, the Reel's, Mandy is the mom. They are definitely not your typical mormon family and I think that is why I love them so much. They have been through so, so much in their lives and are such a close family. They may not appear it from the outside, but once you spend some time with them, you see the deep love that they have for each other! They have the most beautiful faith too. I have never met people who look at their trials more perfectly. They see them for what they are and they so easily connect the struggles that they have been through to the people they are today. Oh, I learn so much from them! We invited them to go to the visitor's center with us on Friday and they accepted! They have never been to Portland Temple grounds, so we are all SO excited. We have set a goal to go to the visitor's center at least once a week, and now this opportunity presented itself! 

Dinner tonight was with the Levenseller's, which have kind of become my Aloha 2nd ward family! They are amazing and just a blast. They invited Heidi and her son Noah and the elders to dinner as well. It was a big dinner, with tons of people and just such a good time. I could feel the love radiating from everyone there, and I could see Heidi just soaking it up. She is so ready for her baptism. I love her so much! 

Something that I have also been thinking a lot about this week is how I have been able to bond SO well with people, regardless of the age gap. Haha, I really feel like Heidi is one of my closest friends, and she is like 35 years older than me! I can't wait until we are all in heaven together, and are all in our prime and age really won't matter. And I will get to be best friends with my Grandparents and parents and all the adults I have met here!

So flashback to my Best Two Years moment last week when the girl, Janelle, texted us back and wanted to set something up - so we set up a time to talk on the phone with her and that was tonight. It was so strange to talk on the phone with an investigator for like 45 minutes. It was very difficult! She had so many questions and any answer we gave she battled us, in a friendly way. It was good to try answer her questions, but we don't feel like she is very open to our answers. She just wants to give us a difficult time. We will see where it leads. I guess in all reality it wasn't quite like the Best Two Years, at least not yet!

Mandy called us tonight to let us know that she had gotten the flu shot right after we left and was now running a fever and didn't think thattomorrow would work out for the visitor's center...meh, we were so upset! There went our goal! 

FRIDAY

This morning we had a lesson with Claudia again. We went over some more of the commandments and started setting things up for her baptism which will be on the 30th. She is so excited! She is 18, as of yesterday, and just the sweetest thing.

We then headed over to the church to use the computers to look some things up for our investigators, when I randomly thought, "Let's text Mandy and see how she is feeling and let her know we are thinking of her!" Less than a minute after I sent it, she texted back saying, "Heck yeah we are ready to go! We will pick you up in 5 minutes!" Hahahah, it was the most wonderful, miracle and tender mercy in the world. I had been feeling incredibly discouraged the night before because I didn't like how things went with the Janelle and then Mandy had cancelled, and I was super homesick and know we had zero solid plans for the day. So in my prayers I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would bless Mandy and help her to feel better so that we could go to the visitor's center still, I really needed it. When she texted back that she was ready it really answered my prayers, it sounds like such a simple little thing, but I KNOW that Heavenly Father did hear my prayer and regardless of how simple that prayer was, He knew i really needed it. And more than needing to go to the visitor's center, I think I needed to easily see my prayer be answered. I know He is watching out for me :) And the visitor's center was perfect for them! They learned so much about temples, and want to go inside so badly. We now have a perfect thing to work with them towards! I love this!!!!!

Dinner tonight was with the Wheeler's. They joined the church about a year ago and just went to the temple and were sealed a month ago! We did a pizza and game night with them, which was just a blast. 

We then headed over to Heidi's to spend her baptism eve together! We talked about the big day and any worries she had and how excited we all were. It was so fun and special to spend some time over there with her right before her baptism!

SATURDAY

We went and cleaned and did dishes at Heidi's this morning. She tore her ACL right when we started teaching her, so we wanted her knee good and rested before the baptism. We always have so much fun over there. I seriously love service, nothing makes you happier faster than service. If you don't believe me, try it out!

We then got to go spend some good quality time with Claudia. It was the day of her birthday party, so we decorated the whole house with her. Her mother is a member, but less-active, so we got to spend time with all of them, which truly was a lot of fun and much needed! They invited us over for Thanksgiving, which is the most loving gesture ever. 

For dinner today, I had a corndog from DQ, which was probably my favorite dinner this whole week! Then we hurried along to the church to prep for the baptism. The service was wonderful and just absolutely perfect. It was so personable and direct to Heidi. She kept responding to people during their talks and thanking them and bearing her testimony. Oh, I just love baptisms! The spirit was so strong there too. She was so incredibly happy, just glowing! After the baptism, we went over to Heidi's and did a gamenight with her and Noah (11). We played scrabble (I won. I'd like to thank my mom, dad, Grandpa Tom, and Grandma Joyce for showing me how it's done), and then played spot-it. The change in the spirit of Heidi and the home was SO evident. It really felt different around her, which I wasn't expecting! It was a PERFECT day. 

SUNDAY

We were asked to sing at the ward Christmas party with elders and our ward mission leader. Oh my goodness, it is going to be so interesting. And SO difficult to keep myself from laughing while singing. It is like at Addey's baptism when Macey, Addey and I lost it. It is exactly like that during every meeting we try and practice. It is just horrible!

There was a linger longer after church today. Heidi went to Noah and said, "Do you wanna stay for the linger longer today?" He goes, "are you speaking english?" Haha, I have no idea if that is funny to any of you, but it was hilarious! Noah is like the most mellow kid ever and he just looked so confused by the mormon lingo. He is so funny!

We had dinner with the funniest kid and his family. The Bill's, they are from Sugar City, Idaho! We talked about Big Judd's and the place she stored her stuff in Ashton...in a barn! Hahah, I loved it. Their son, was 5 and seriously the funniest thing ever. He did not stop talking the entire time and kept trying to feed us dessert, which was fine by me! I love dinner appointments and getting to meet all the members in the ward. Aloha 2nd is FULL of great people.

Well to wrap up, this week truly was incredible. Looking back on it now, I see how it really is the little tender mercies that make life good. This week showed me that God really does know me, Kensey, individually and that He knows exactly what I need in my life, no matter how small of a detail it may be. If this is true for me, I know it is true for all of God's children. He loves us and knows us and will help us in everything we ask Him to. 

Favorite scripture this week: "I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me." 3Nephi 18:25

Act on this invitation and come unto Christ. He is always inviting us to Him and never pushing us away! This verse is from the Book of Mormon when Christ comes to the people on the American continent, after His resurrection. The people begin to weep as He prepares to leave. I know that Christ is our Savior and that He loves us unconditionally, why else would He have atoned for our sins? It is only through Him that we can find salvation. Make that choice and come unto Him.

I love you allllllll the way to the moon and back! 

xoxoxoxo, Sister Kerr

gettin chilllllllay in aloha!

well hello my family and friends! this week was very, incredibly good. i didn't realize it until we looked back last night over the whole week and counted up our stats and then saw how flippin' great it had been!

also, i only got one acceptance response on my book of mormon challenge! and that was from my mom (youda best ma!). so, challenge going out once again: I would really like to challenge each of you reading this email to read the Book of Mormon along with me on my mission. Please read for just 10 minutes a day and I PROMISE YOU, blessings and answers will come to you, and most of all, you will be able to feel the love that God and our Savior, Jesus Christ have for you. PLEASE take me up on this and just send me a quick email, letting me know that you are going to do it! Ten minutes a day isn't too much. I love you all a whole ton, a WHOLE TON - that is why i want you to do this! because i love you and i KNOW this book is true.

so onto recounting this week!

MONDAY (the beloved prep-day)

real brief. we got fresh french bread from the grocery store, which was heaven for me! ah, just absolute heaven.

TUESDAY 

the highlight of today was just disappointing in the long run. so, sister dittmar and i are trying to get better at tracting. we spent the entirety of our study time this morning trying to figure out how to improve our door approach and to focus more on the restoration. so, by the end of study time, we were so ready to go! we head out, pick a street that was on our map and start driving in that direction. we get to the street we picked and there was no where to park, so we just wrap around the corner and park down there and begin on a wonderful adventure of tracting!  and guess what! we found 2 people who said we could come back - that is incredible success for tracting, especially for us! i am doing everything that i can to keep myself from just jumping up and down on the way back to the car. once in the car, we check the map one more time and discover that the past HOUR we had tracted the elders in the reedville ward's area. i wanted to cry! at least we found them though...bleh!

WEDNESDAY (the movie worthy edition of a missionary day)

so, today was raining, allllllllllllll day long.  as we left our apartment we were thinking to ourselves, "oh how lucky that our day is completely booked with appointments on this dreadful, blustery day!" so we set off and i am not kidding when i say, every single appointment was cancelled! oh my, my, my it was so frustrating! the funny part was that we ran into the elders literally everytime an appointment cancelled. so they witnessed everyone of our appointments falling through. everything just seemed to go wrong that day! 

but, the day did end well at the temple! i got to go and see ken be sealed to his wife for time and all eternity! it was so special. he was so nervous, he looked like it was his wedding day all over again! i was so happy to be there, just wish i could have given him a hug. it was oregon city 4th ward's temple night though, so i was able to see so many people from OC. i was in heaven and just so happy to be in the temple with all of those wonderful people :)

THURSDAY (the day that made everything worth it)

so this morning i would say i was having a mini heart attack, but it was actually pretty major. i get so anxious and worked up about things! the topic of today was Heidi's baptism. I wasn't sure if she was going to be ready for her date on the 16th. we still had some big, important things to go over and didn't want her to feel overwhelmed (it was just me being overwhelmed). we went and taught her about the word of wisdom and tithing, which are a really big deal. as soon as we finished, she whole-heartedly accepted them. like completely, no doubt or question. well she did have a question - she asked us to help her go through her kitchen and throw away everything that went against the word of wisdom. and she wouldn't sell or donate anything either because she didn't want to support anyone else in it. my jaw literally dropped several times that morning and i now have no doubt that this woman is ready! the crazies thing ever was after we taught the lesson, she laughed and said, "i wish you would have taught me this tomorrow so i could've had one more cup of coffee. but, now that you've said it, i KNOW that i can't do it. i know it now and can't go against it." i jumped up and hugged that woman, because she deserved that. i have never heard of something quite like Heidi!

we also were able to go to the visitor's center today with Juana. I don't remember if I have talked about Juana. we were given Juana because she moved into our ward boundaries and she has a date set for the 17th, which is incredible, but so overwhelming because we don't know anything, but need to finish her up and get her ready for that date, and plan the baptism. holy cow! she LOVED the temple grounds and being in the visitor's center. it was incredible. the portland temple has a room that nonmembers can go in, called the atrium. the spirit is so strong and it is just wonderful to bring investigators in there, they really can feel God's love for them. 

FRIDAY (no wonder this week was great!)

third day at the temple grounds and visitor's center, that's why this week was so good. today Heidi got to go to the visitor's center with us! it was splendid. i have another CHALLENGE for you: INVITE a friend to the temple grounds and visitor's center. people are always fascinated by those big, beautiful buildings and have lots of questions that the missionaries can answer. regardless of how interested they are, they will enjoy it and learn things! :)

at dinner tonight, bishop brown asked us to start visiting all of the members in their homes and getting to know them so that they can begin to trust us. this seemed a bit daunting to me and slightly intimidating, but we are going to give it a whirl!

SATURDAY 

today we tried out what bishop said and went and saw 2 member's families and it totally built my faith in this task. it was great and i feel a lot more connected to the ward already. great advice from a wonderful bishop! 

funny story. so we were tracting again (in the right area) and met a woman, Janelle. She was pretty hesitant at the door, but informed us that she had friends when she was in high school who had given her a book of mormon. we gave her our contact info and told us to please call if she had anymore questions or if there was a time we could come. that's never a very hopeful thing to just give our number! so on the way back to the car and start quoting the movie "the best two years" because that always lifts my spirits. the part when elder callhoun gives out a book of mormon with his number inside and says, "please bless that young man that he may call." we both laugh and shrug it off, get in the car and start heading to our dinner appointment. we park for dinner, check the phone and guess what! Janelle had texted us to set an appointment up. holy cow!!!!!!! the best two years is right on the dot, glad i have it memorized!

at the same time that we got that text, we got a voicemail from a bishopric member asking us to speak in sacrament meeting. are you kidding! very short notice, but less time to worry!

SUNDAY

both juana and heidi had their interviews for baptism today after church and both are ready for baptism! two baptisms next week!!!! so crazy, we are being so blessed :) all four of our investigators were at church today AND some of the less-actives we are working with. it was insanely good. i love sundays!

it is a beautiful life out here in the mission field and i am loving serving. the people here are incredible and i find myself loving them more and more each day. the other morning we finished up studies and were taking our lunch. i wrapped up my book of mormon reading and made a sandwhich and went to sit down and eat. my mind could not stop thinking about the book of mormon and what i had read, it was just racing! i was just about dying because i wanted to pick it up and keep reading. hahaha, i have NEVER experienced that feeling before for the book of mormon. everyone knows i am a pretty avid reader and will stay up all night to finish a book, and i am so in love with this book now. it is incredible and i am learning SO much from it. so please do read it and if you dont have a copy, go tomormon.org and order a free one. it will be delivered and all for free and just READ it. 

i know that this church is true, now more than i ever have before. but, i can't convey it's truthfulness to you. so luckily, we have the book of mormon as evidence of it. and STILL dont just take my word for that either. read it, ponder it, heck just even hold it and then pray and ASK God if it is true. if you want to know, you WILL know. 

i love you and you are always in my thoughts and prayers! please keep me in yours.

xoxoxxo, Sister Kerr

highlight of this week : MY FIRST LETTER FROM MY BIG BROTHER. you made me bawl my eyes out, nothing quite like your brother telling you he is proud of you. i love you sky! and it helped that there were pics of rosie in there, that sure did soften me up :)

book of mormon challenge.

Hello family and friends! It has been just a great week, GREAT. Everything is feeling a whole lot more adjusted and I am feeling a lot more prepared to get to work here! 

This week I did a lot of personal inventory and tried to figure out what I need to improve on, spiritually to become a better servant of the Lord. Not that I was bad before, but I do have a lot to work on to become the best that I can. There were a few things that I studied this week that really stood out to me. I was reading the talk "Trust in the Lord", by Elder Ballard. He says, "Trust the Lord. He is the good shepherd. He knows His sheep, and His sheep know His voice; and today the voice of the Good Shepherd is your voice and my voice." This was such an exciting thing to read and so uplifting to know that God trusts us to be His voice! Each of us, not just His missionaries out here, but each and everyone of His members. I can testify that God does know us and He will help us to know what to do and say to bring souls unto Him. I can testify of this because He is doing it through me everyday! Every night before I go to bed I think back and reflect on the day and am so impressed and fascinated by the things we did that day. God is helping us in our work here in Aloha. 

I also was reading in Alma 26 this week. Holy cow, I love the book of Alma and the Book of Mormon. It helps me so incredibly much! In Alma 26 it says, "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions and I will give unto you success." Not going to lie, the beginning of this week was incredibly difficult. Nothing seemed to be working out, we had hardly anyone to teach and I was beyond frustrated! Then I read this verse, and at this point, my heart was most definitely depressed, I was wishing I could turn back, and then the Lord comforted me through the Book of Mormon. All He says to these missionaries, is, "Go and serve. Forget about your problems right now and GO AND SERVE. Then will you have success." How true it is. This week just ended wonderfully after I applied these principles to my experience in Aloha!

(sorry this is not written very well! i am in the family history center and there are two men going around talking about remodeling and i CANNOT focus. this is probably scattered!)

HIGHLIGHTS!

There are 2 elders waiting to email and they just biked here in the rain. I am going to be fast so they can have a turn!

1// We found a less-active member who WANTS to meet with us. She WANTS to meet with us!!!!

2// Had dinner with a blogging chef. Her website is laurenslatest.blogspot.com. She is great!

3// Contacted a referral, found out she is already taking the lessons from the spanish elders. BUT, she asked us to teach her 9 year old son, Alex, so he can be baptized!

4// I got a package from my mom and dad full of candy and a toothbrush. My teeth better not rot out.

5// Taught Alex his first lesson and he offered the sweetest prayer that just about made me cry.

6// Did Frankystein's makeup for Halloween! 

7// Ate two entire meals within the time period of about 2 and a half hours. PAINFUL.

8// Set a baptism date for Heidi. She is going to be baptized on November 16th! 

9// Heidi's daughter, Chelsea accepted our offer to begin teaching her the lessons. (Which is just as exciting as Heidi's baptism date.)

10// Heidi bore her testimony in church.

11// We found a second less-active who wants to meet with us. MIRACLE.

12// Got news that Ken from Oregon City is going to the temple on Wednesday to be sealed!

13// Got an email from my Grandma Joyce, telling me how proud her and Grandpa are of me. (That made my day!)

The work is progressing and beginning to present itself to us. I am SO excited to be serving here. God definitely pushed me close to my limit this week, but now that i get to look back, I also see how much He has blessed Sister Dittmar and myself. We are beginning to find those who have been prepared to teach!

Please keep praying for me, I  most definitely have need those prayers. I can promise you that God does answer our prayers, it may not be how we expect, but He does! Please, don't just believe me though. Ask for yourself and test Him. 

I would really like to challenge each of you reading this email to read the Book of Mormon along with me on my mission. Please read for just 10 minutes a day and I PROMISE YOU, blessings and answers will come to you, and most of all, you will be able to feel the love that God and our Savior, Jesus Christ have for you. PLEASE take me up on this and just send me a quick email, letting me know that you are going to do it! Ten minutes a day isn't too much. I love you all a whole ton, a WHOLE TON! 

xoxoxox, Sister Kerr

i feel like ammon!

What a crazy and good week. This is so hard, by this I mean being in a new area, with a new companion and starting from the BEGINNING! Hard of course is good. I swear, leaving Oregon City was as bad as leaving home all over again though. I have been homesick for that ward and area! I had no idea that would happen.

As I was kind of feeling bad for myself, this morning I was reading in Alma 17 for my personal study. In this part of the Book of Mormon Ammon, Alma and the sons of Mosiah are reunited for a brief amount of time. While together they express the joy they have found in missionary work and in serving others. I was sitting there, relating to them and thinking back to last week in Oregon City and the joy that I felt there, with Sister Stone and with the ward members and with the people we had taught and I could completely relate to their experience. With the baptisms of Yahir and Jennifer last week - I have never felt SO happy as I did then. I was feeling a little frustrated that I wasn't feeling that way about here yet, that I wasn't as excited and motivated as I had been in Oregon City. I wanted to feel the way I did before! I continued reading and it then began to tell about how each of them then went their separate ways, all alone to continue on in the work. Ammon went, all on his own to the people of King Lamoni to begin preaching to them. He didn't know a soul (neither do I), he had no idea where he was (me neither!), and he knew where to start (now I do as well). He started by LOVING THE PEOPLE. He went to the king and asked him how he could serve him. He went out and defended the people he had just barely met and put his life on the line for them. Something that REALLY stood out to me, not sure why, but Ammon referred to these people as his brethren, after he had only known them for a few days. It really put it into perspective for me. These people in Aloha are my brothers and sisters, regardless of how long I have known them. They are God's children and I am here to love and serve them. NO MORE SELF PITY, SISTER KERR. And what an answer to a pray this was! I have been praying and pleading that I will quickly adjust to this transfer and this chapter this morning was a total wake-up call.

MONDAY

So last monday was our first day in Aloha. I already talked about it last week I think, but I wanted to add in one thing. My first dinner was clam chowder, if that is not a good omen, I don't know what is! 

Also, we are the second set of missionaries in Aloha 2nd ward. We met the elders, they are E. Allred (been out 9 months, in Aloha 4.5 months) and E. Freshour (got here today!).

TUESDAY

So today we took our pday and some exciting, mission drama happened! So, we did all of our regular pday stuff - nap, email, shop, write. We ended the day by meeting with our ward mission leader. His name is Brother Jenson! He is super awesome and was just called on Sunday. Woohoo, exciting stuff. He is very sweet and willing to help. We show up to this meeting and the elders were meeting us there. Elder Allred comes in on crutches. As you all are pretty well aware, elders love to go play basketball on their pdays. So, our elders were out playing and E. Allred broke his ankle. And now he has to go home for surgery...He was the only one who knew a thing about Aloha 2nd ward and the things going on here! Now there are four completely oblivious missionaries and a brand new mission leader in this ward. This is going to be incredibly interesting and a whole lot of fun!

WEDNESDAY

We had our first district meeting today. We are in the Beaverton West Zone and there are a lot more sister missionaries in this zone than Oregon City! We have a good zone and I am sure they are going to be a lot of fun with time. 

Later that night we had dinner with the Levenseller's, she is the Young Women's president and I have kind of volunteered them to be my Aloha parents now that the Spravzoff's are gone! They are wonderful and a whole ton of fun. 

THURSDAY

We had training with all of the new missionaries and trainers in Portland, with President and Sister Morby. It was so fun and I got to spend quite a bit of time with Sister Bloxham (MTC companion) and Sister Stone. I also got to spend some good quality time with President and Sister Morby. I feel so stinkin' lucky that I have had so many opportunities to spend time with them and get to know them more personally than a lot of missionaries do. They just make me so, so happy!

We received a referral from mormon.org this week and we had scheduled to go and contact her tonight. I was freaking out excited! We were so blessed to receive this referral! She has been prepared and it almost seems too good to be true! Her name is Heidi and she is just soaking up the things we were able to talk about. She has an 18yr old daughter, who has 2 daughters, and an 11yr old son. She was basically begging to come to church on Sunday, which has never happened! And she said, "I've been going to other churches, but an hour just doesn't do it for me. I need more!" Holy hannah, someone who will truly appreciate the 3 hr meetings :) 

FRIDAY

Today we got to meet with our zone leaders and new elder. Now in our ward is Elder Pugmire, who will train Elder Freshour. We were able to coordinate together and decide how we wanted to all work in the ward together. It was extremely helpful and a bit overwhelming. 

The elders gave us one of the investigators from the area. Her name is Claudia and she is 17! She is waiting until she is 18 to be baptized because of her dad. She reminds me of miss Morgan, SO much. She LOVES learning about the church and asks so many wonderful questions. She keeps a little notebook of questions that she finds while reading the Book of Mormon and then asks them at the beginning of our lesson. She is so sweet and very excited to be baptized, besides that she will have to stand up in front of everyone at church after she is baptized to be confirmed! She doesn't want attention from everybody. I am really excited for her. 

SATURDAY

We had another lesson with Heidi today and taught the restoration. She loved it and it just really stuck with her. It was a wonderful experience! We had a member there with us as well. It has been incredibly difficult to find people to go out with us, since we don't know anybody. I had a really strong feeling that we should try and bring Sister Brown with us, the bishop's wife. We called and she said she would come and they ended up connecting perfectly. Sister Brown shared her testimony in the EXACT way that Heidi needed to hear it. It was really humbling to see again that this truly is HIS work. 

SUNDAY

The best thing about sunday was getting to put a face to the names I had heard all week! So many people came up and said, "Oh hey, we talked on the phone on this day." I completely forgot how many people I had called and talked to! This week was very strange feeling to say the least.

Favorite quote today was from Sister Levenseller : Mi bano es su bano. 

Our apartment is like legitimately 20 mins away! We don't have enough time or miles to go back during the day. So I called her and asked if I could please come use her restroom! Hahah, oh the joys of mission life! And that is what she said to me on the way back out the door. She is so funny.

All in all, I survived this week and it was a pretty good one. I am beginning to love this area and these people. And God gave me a reassuring kick in the pants this morning that I need to put more into it! So here I go, putting my ALL into it. I love each of you so very much and appreciate all the emails and notes I get from you. Please keep it up, you are ALWAYS in my prayers and thoughts. Love, love, love, love, love you. 

Sister Kerr

ALOHA.

Greetings from the beautiful city of Aloha (ah-low-uh)! Transfers happened yesterday and I am now in Aloha training a wonderful new sister, Sister Dittmar. We are so excited to be here and to get to WORK.

Last week was the most wonderful way to ever leave an area! I will cherish, like really CHERISH my time in Oregon City. The people I taught there will always have a very special place in my heart and the members as well. I cannot wait to go back there again!

MONDAY

The last p-day of the transfer we do zone pday. so we all got together at the stake center and played sports, games and watched Ephraim's Rescue. It was a blast. Angelica, a member in 3rd ward, came to hangout with us and we had a great old time. She is so ridiculously funny, I can hardly take it! Then we went to the ward's Empty Nesters party for dinner and ate dinner out of a coffin by candlelight. The Colwell's fed us and they are WAY into Halloween, it was a lot of fun! Then we had our weekly FHE at the Conner's. Sister Conner taught about baptism, since Jennifer and Yahir's baptisms were this week. Then we made 25 invites for Yahir to handout to his friends at school. That boy is just the sweetest thing ever. I adore him and I am so excited for him to be baptized.

TUESDAY

This morning we had another lesson with Kirsty, the woman from New Zealand. She started off by telling us that she isn't sure that she has a belief in God and that she doesn't know how there could be one true church and if there was, how she would know. As she was saying all this, my heart is racing because I just want to shout out, "pick me, pick me. THE RESTORATION!!!" So then, we taught the Restoration and about Joseph Smith and how he asked and received an answer. She felt the spirit, I know she did and she promised to pray. To really pray and to ask God for an answer. She expressed that she is afraid to pray because she is afraid she won't get an answer and she is afraid of acting on her answer, if she got it. I could relate to her! She is so wonderful and is really progressing well. She is such a sweetie, I really want her to come to church soon! 

Whenever we go to visit Ken he ends the lesson by giving whatever sister from the ward we brought with us, 3 hugs, "one for Sister Kerr, one for Sister Stone, and one for you!" I am going to miss that!

WEDNESDAY

We had another lesson with the less-active family, the Greisen's. It went really well; we taught about our baptism covenants and the reason we take the sacrament. We invited them to come to church and they really seemed like they might, but they didn't! It's okay, success is measured by your invitations, not by how many people actually follow through!

We also had a lesson with Sharon tonight at Ellen's home. Ellen was one of our less-actives, who is now doing much better! I love her to death though and it has been the most incredible thing to see her progress and open up to this ward. It brings tears to my eyes even thinking about her progress! So, onto Sharon! Sharon was wonderful as usual. That woman just soaks the gospel up and is so prepared! She loves learning and is so excited about everything she is learning! Before we left, we told them transfers were this weekend. Ellen said, "You two are the BEST missionaries I have ever seen together. So in sync and loving and truly willing to work. I love your energy. You are the most Christian people I have ever met, you really act on what you teach." Ahhh, the most beautiful compliment i have ever received and I am SO grateful that I got to be apart of her journey!

THURSDAY

Not a whole lot happened on Thursday. Yahir had his baptism interview, which was incredibly exciting! It is kind of nerve-racking because it is kind of a test on us to see how much we have taught them. But, he knew it all (not surprised, he is so smart)! 

FRIDAY

Friday Sis. Stone and I taught the last district meeting of the transfer. We taught it on having faith in setting goals, which was a wonderful topic for us, considering all the miracles we have witnessed that have made our goals become a reality! It went so well, and I adore that sister missionary!

We went out to eat with Sis. Turner, the Spravzoff's and the past elder who is baptizing Jennifer! It was so much fun to be with all of them, kinda big last shabang! I LOVE OUR WARD.

Then to end the night, Jennifer was baptized! It was just splendid and the spirit was so stinkin' strong. A lot of member's from the ward showed up to support her, which was exactly what she needed.

SATURDAY

This morning we went over to a potential's home and helped her paint it before she moves in! AND WE GOT TRANSFER CALLS. We were both asked if we would be willing to train, which is exciting news for both of us! So then I was like positive they would have me stay in OC, since that is where I am familiar. I had convinced myself that Sis. Stone was going since she had been here longer, so when I heard, "Sister Kerr, you're going car", I just started crying! I was terrified.

Then we had the incredible baptism of Yahir! It was a beautiful service with his family there. I cried through most of it, both happy and sad tears. Mostly happy though to see him be baptized and make this HUGE first step. But, also sad that Alondra had decided to wait and now I am leaving! I WILL be there for her baptism though!

SUNDAY 

I got about 25 cards at church from the most wonderful members on earth all wishing me the best! I needed that. It was a beautiful day. And Serena, who is leaving on her mission next week gave her farewell talk. I am so happy I got to be there for it!

The rest of the day was spent saying goodbye to people and promising to be back!

MONDAY

transfer day! the Spravzoff's drove us down to transfers. We had a trainer's meeting at 11:30, then transfers at 3. I got to meet my new missionary. Her name is Sister Dittmar and she is from San Antonio (Whitney!). We are so excited to serve in Aloha together as the new, long-awaited set of sisters! 

I am missing everyone from both home and Oregon City now! It is like my home just keeps extending and I am finding people I love everywhere. The work is going to be good and I am going to love my new investigators here as much as anyone! The church will be just as true here as anywhere else, and they will need it! 

I love you all so much, keep being missionaries and being examples. I am spending the rest of the day writing back those I have not written! Sorrrrrry. Love you, xoxoxoxox

Sister Kerr

Obi Wan Kanobi with her first Tamale.

Hi family and friends! Yet another wonderful week has come and gone. Time is flying and transfers are about here (Oct.21), which is CRAZY. I am so anxious to hear what will be going on!

Sneak peek into OC 4th ward! We are getting a second set of missionaries, we will have a set of elders to help us in the work. We (Sis. Stone, the ward and myself) are all SO excited. Big, big things are coming. Obviously big enough things that we need MORE MISSIONARIES! We are so thrilled to be apart of this wonderful time.

MONDAY

Monday was a wondrous p-day! I had the best time ever talking back and forth with my mom, dad AND Addey. It was basically the most wonderful thing that happened that day! I loved being able to hear from all of you and have enough time to write you back instantly. I promise, I am trying to write ALL of you back as quickly as I can, but I am so stinkin' busy! It is a work in progress though.

After p-day we had dinner with the Johnson Family. They are so fun! They have two little girls that are just the cutest things! So, we show up to dinner and we see our potential investigator's children! Slightly confused, but we start to chat with them. Then, our potential investigator, Esther, whom we have NOT been able to contact in about 2 months, shows up for dinner! Her and Sis. Johnson have become pretty good friends and do things together and help each other out quite a bit (insert testimony on fellowship, AGAIN). It was wonderful! By the end of dinner, Esther invited us over to her home for dinner and told us she is still interested in learning more. Yay!

(The Johnson's and their rat, Duke)

Straight from dinner we went to the Conner's home for FHE again. They have allowed us to use their home to do a FHE for our investigators every week. It is so wonderful and envelops Jennifer, Yahir and Alondra SO nicely! Kerr Families, (Sky and Whitney too!), offer this to your missionaries. They will love you forever and ever and you will provide instant fellowship to those they are teaching! Do it, please! And tell me how it goes. At this FHE, I was talking to Yahir and I said, "Hey, Yahir, say 'Kerr'" and I sounded it out for him. He repeated it back perfectly! Then I said, "ok, that's my last name!" He says ok and continues on doing what he was. 2 minutes later I hear him yell, "Sister Keeeer." I love it too much to ever correct him again :)

TUESDAY

Tuesday we had a lesson with our investigator Sharon. It went so well and Bro and Sis Carlson are getting a lot more comfortable with sitting in on lessons with us! We talked to her about baptism and were able to hear her experiences with prayer. She had a dream about the church right after she had prayed about whether she should be baptized, and she said she knows that is her answer! She then asked us, "Can I just read more of the Book of Mormon before I get baptized?" OF COURSE YOU CAN. It is so amazing to have an investigator who has that true desire to read, ask and then know! Just like Moroni's promise in the BoM, Sharon is a wonderful example of following through on his promise.

Later, we went over and had another game night with the little boy who thinks I am a Jedi. This time he was able to pin it down to what Jedi's I am. Apparently I look just like Obi Wan Kanobi and Manny combined! Hahah, it was so funny and we were able to figure out that it is because I wear my hair in a ponytail. Silly kid.

We went over to Alondra and Yahir's to talk about baptism and see where they are standing with that. Originally, the goal was to have them all baptized together, but Miriam (the mom) is still struggling with smoking, so we had the intentions of going in and telling her that it is the best for her children to continually be held back from baptism. We go in and sit down, and before we say anything, Miriam basically repeats to us what we had planned to say to her. It was really incredible and Yahir is so excited for his baptism, which will be on the 19th! Alondra still doesn't feel like she is ready. I know that she is, but I think she is nervous about leaving her mom behind. They have a really close bond and I can see myself doing the same thing in her situation. I know they will ALL be baptized, it is just a matter of time!

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday we had a lesson with Bro. Bruce again! Ken came with us, which was a hilarious combination! It was a pretty good time, at least for me. AND, he said yes to church on Sunday!!!! Yay, it has been a month in the making so we are very excited!

Then, we met with the Shrives! They are the ones from my first week, with the fancy old cars! He is a Less active member and his wife is not a member. It was supposed to be with both of them, but she was super busy, so it ended up with just him. Which was surprisingly good! It never ceases to amaze me how perfectly things end up, especially when they go nowhere near how they were planned to! He quit coming when he was about 18 and he is probably in his 60's now. He shared some really cool experiences that he has had over the years that have helped him to still have a strong faith in Christ. He asked what he can do to make sure that neither of us get transferred and said to make sure to come back before we leave! Haha, that is definitely the question of the month!

THURSDAY

Thursday we had our zone meeting! And I had my 3 month interview with president. I love President Morby and the interview was wonderful and so helpful. He asked me if I feel like I am ready to train...I said of course I'm ready if that is what he needs me to do! He said I have been on his mind for a trainer for quite some time. Nerve-racking! Either way it goes, I will be SO okay with. We'll see though!

Jennifer had her baptismal interview with Pres. that day too! So, while we waited we picked hymns for her baptism, which is the 18th! It was wonderful :) She is SO ready for this day.

Then, we had dinner with Esther and her family. Woohoo! It was so great. We all click so well and had just a great, fun time! She invited us back next week and we are going to teach the plan of salvation. Esther is so prepared for the gospel, (i think)! We shared a message at the end of dinner and she just shared her outlook on life and her questions and it was incredible! Ahhhh, I am excited! And her kids are a hoot! They are 10 and 7 and are just hilarious. I let them play with my hair and it was just lovely, I should've taken a picture!

FRIDAY

On Friday we have time to go to the library and do "mormon.org" time. It is so great and really rejuvenates you for the week! I was watching some of the mormon messages and had the most wonderful idea pop into my head! I am going to invite Alondra to go to seminary. She keeps saying that she knows she needs to be baptized, but she wants to learn more. We have gone through all of the lessons with her already and were kind of stumped on where to go next. So, if she is willing, this will help her a lot!

Later, we went to the Chavez's to make tamales! It was so much fun and I had never had one before, let alone make them. We also did makeovers, Alondra is in love with makeup (like Addey), and is really good at it. She has SO much and does all these fun colors. It was a blast. Their family is just so wonderful and so loving to us. We got on the topic of transfers and were all nearly in tears! It is going to be so hard to leave them, whenever that will be! Yahir's baptism day will be the day we find out what is going to happen. I invited her to seminary and she said yes! All around, it was a great visit with this fabulous family!

We went to contact a former investigator after dinner with Sis. Spravzoff. Her name is Crystal, and she was home when we stopped by! She said that they (her and her husband) are still interested, but have just been so busy! We asked her if we could help with anything. She said no, then we explained that when we ask that, we truly mean ANYTHING. We asked if there was any help she needed with laundry or dishes! Now, we are meeting her at the laundromat on Tuesday to help her with that and I am so excited. She is the sweetest thing ever!

 (let us make tortillas!)

(can i hear a "HOT TAMALE!" (we made over 100))

(extreme makeover: Sister Kerr edition)

Then, we went with Sis. Spravzoff to the grocery store and stocked up on snacks for our weekly snack marathon at their house! We got a nice foot long sub, taquitos, ice cream and chips and salsa, and Dr. Pepper! They are the greatest, love them to death, cannot wait for you all to come and meet my ward family here!

SATURDAY

We had our SPC meeting again for the month. Waffles and eggs and sausage and fruit! It was a blast, as usual! Our stake is so helpful and SO missionary focused right now. Right after we went and did a service project. We were raking leaves on this nice trail they have. And I am a pro-raker! One of the girls from our ward asked me, "did you grow up around lots of trees?" Hahah, oh yes I did! Thank you for teaching me to work, mom and dad. So many of the missionaries just didn't have a clue.

(rake, rake, rake, senoras!)

We took Alondra, Yahir and Miriam on a tour of the Stake Center where they will be baptized! It was so fun and Yahir is even more excited! Then we planned his whole big day and got him a jumpsuit. The first one we had him try on was too small. Haha, it was so tight! He went back to the bathroom to change and he was stuck in it! He started yelling for his mom. It was adorable. As we were leaving, I put my arm around Alondra and told her how much I loved her family and we started to cry again thinking about leaving! I love the people here so much, it is crazy!

(me in my bed!)

SUNDAY

Happy Birthday Skyler!  Today it was announced to our ward that we are getting a second set of missionaries! Everyone is so excited, with good reason too.

We had a lesson with Jennifer and everything is looking good for her baptism on Friday. One of the elders who had taught her is coming to baptize her. He is home already, so it is really special that he is coming back for her. She is secretly excited! Jennifer doesn't show her emotions all too much, that's why I say secretly!

Then we went and had a game night with the Chavez Family. They are a hoot!

 (Game night take: one)

 (Game night take: two)

 (Yahir and I at game night)

(WORD. sis. stone is w. alondra is o. yahir is r. i am d. with our best punk faces!)

(This is Suzy!)

                                                                                                                                            

President gave me a scripture to read after our interview. John 16:33. It helped me a lot! Read it. I have the line of a song stuck in my head the past couple days, from How Firm a Foundation. it says, "For I am thy God and will still give thee aid." I know that my Heavenly Father is with me. He asks what at times may feel like a lot, but He will still give us the help that we need to accomplish the things He asks of us. Our burdens and trial can and will become light through Him! I KNOW this is true. I love each of you so much! Go be a fellowshipper :)

xoxoxox, Sister K