This week has been sooo crazy!!!!! So right after I sent my email to you last week my companion Sis Dantes gasped and said "my grandfather passed away..". I felt really bad for her because its always hard to be away from home at times like that. Then when we left the library she said "sisters you re going to have to reschedule sis lythgoe's birthday plans, I need to call president!". I was a little confused but figured she just meant she was going call her family and talk to them today. BUT... she called President and pretty much told him that she was going home. She was almost done with her mission too. It just makes me think about how inspired transfers really are because if she had only had one companion this would have been a much more complicated problem. For anyone that is wondering... that kind of thing doesn't really ever happen...
So in other news this week we went to see Gene our 92 year old recent convert on Saturday and he informed us that he had been asked to bear his testimony in church the next day and tell his conversion story. He decided to practice for us and o man it was soo cute. He is a military guy and so when he started he made sure to acknowledge all of those of "rank" as he said. So he said "Bishop Moe, Counselor Green, Counselor Herrera... it is a pleasure to be here with you today..." haha it was awesome! Sadly though the next day was soo cold and rainy that Gene could not leave his apartment. He can't go out in the rain because he gets sick every time that he does. SOOOOOOO instead guess who got to talk?? haha yep. Sis Ganaha and I. Sis Ganaha actually went first because she was so scared and ended up using almost all the time and so the bishop told me to keep it short. So I just said a short testimony and sat down. Sis Ganaha was so confused. It was great! HAHA.
Also on Saturday night we had a little adventure. We had a dinner at one of my favorite member's houses and the food was delicious and then I noticed that sis ganaha was not eating anything. Usually she eats a ton and so I knew something wasn't right. When we left she was like ... we need to find a bathroom now! So we went into Starbucks and she used the bathroom but she said she still wasn't feeling good and that we needed to go home. She was scared of barfing in front of people so we took a cab (which we never do because its expensive). She had a little grocery bag up to her face just waiting for the explosion... then when we finally got to our apartment she barely made it to the bathroom. That is THE WORST. O man... issues of the stomach... terrible! But shes ok now.. we don't really know what it was but she only threw up that once! :D
Then yesterday we had Elder Glen L. Pace of the quorum of the seventy come do a mission tour. So he came and told us what we could do better (which is a lot!!). I think Elder Pace has lit the fire again. I learned a lot about spiritual confidence. He explained how our biggest problem is not having confidence in God. We know He is all powerful and that He will work miracles but then we don't have enough faith or spiritual confidence in ourselves to let the miracles happen. I have seen that soo much in myself and I am working on connecting the dots and allowing my confidence in God to motivate the confidence in myself. I know that I can be an instrument in His hands, I just need to open my mouth and share what He has blessed me with.
One other thing Elder Pace also talked about is how we should be more excited about what we have to share. So I just wanted to express to those who might read this my excitement because of what I know.
I know that God is real! I know that a young 14 year old boy Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ as two separate beings. This was an expression of God's love for us. He called Joseph Smith to be a prophet.. .like a modern day Moses to restore Christ's church, in it's perfection on the earth today! God didn't just send anyone to bring back that church. He sent John the Baptist, who baptized Christ himself to give Joseph Smith the power to baptize on the earth today. God sent Peter, James and John to give Joseph the priesthood power needed to administer the gift of the Holy Ghost. HOW COOOL IS THAT??? These are not unknown people these are the big shots!! I know that this is true and that we have a prophet to day. Living today! Guiding us and teaching us TODAY!!!!!!! SOOOO EXCITING!!!! I know that this is true because I asked God. I didn't just ask my parents or my friends or even a church leader. I went to the only one who knows the truth... God. I know that everyone can receive that same answer. So do it. Ask because if this is true you can be as excited as me because it is truly one of the most amazing things ever!!!
Don't forget how exciting this is. Be excited about the restored gospel because it is exciting!!!
OK enough of that I love you all to the moon and back!
Katie
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Tests and Trials and funny stories?
It was interesting reading your story about a trial because a mission is chuck full of things like that. Tough situations where you just want so badly for a little relief but its usually not there and instead you can only turn to the Savior for His help. It's not a bad thing (if may feel like it at the time) but it has been such an amazing experience to have no where else to turn but to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I know that every difficult situation we go through is for our benefit and growth and learning. That being said it has been a tough week. haha. It's been interesting to see what challenges come about every day. But I am loving it and doing my best to take each trial for what it's worth and react in a Christlike way. WOOOt
Ok so enough about trials let's get to the good stuff. We had an amazing joint sunday school in the single's ward and I have decided that I will be a temple worker as soon as I get home! I am so grateful for the temples and the work that happens within it's walls. That we can know that we are helping those on the other side of the veil continue on their progression towards eternal life. I am also sooooo grateful for our knowledge of the plan of salvation. That we can know where we came from and what the purpose of this life is and where we are going. So much joy comes from God's plan.
So today is Sis Lythgoe's birthday. She is a spanish sister that we live with that I absolutely adore. Shes so amazing. So last night we were trying to decorate after she went to bed and it was so funny because we were blowing up balloons in our bedroom and one totally popped as I was blowing it up and there was no way they couldn't have heard it and so I was like ... "owwww my head" haha. Then I woke up early this morning and made her breakfast with our limited supplies. I think it was yummy ... we only had enough eggs to make one breakfast burrito so ... I didn't get to taste it. haha. We are going to go to our favorite bakery today and play volleyball with some other missionaries. FUN FUN!
Good news our former baptismal date has been calling us and wanting to come to church again! YAY! All the YW just love her so I hope everything works out.
So I feel like my letters have been lacking in my usual funny stories and so this week I specifically looked for things and wrote them down so I could share them soo...
#1 One night we were waiting for the bus to go to our next appointment and I don't remember why but we were all pretty giggly. Probably because it was freezing outside and we were trying to not be miserable. And so the three of us were sitting on the bench and sis ganaha was wearing this cute beanie she has and she was making a weird face at me or something so I pulled down her hat over her face. Then she made a cat noise, saying I looked like a cat clawing at her when I did it. Then this guy comes from out of no where and is like ... "did you hear that cat ??" He looked a little concerned. And we were like .... "uhhh... umm yea" then he was like " o man where did it come from??" then sis ganaha explained how she made the noise and then he asked what our tags were and we explained then he asked "so is making cat noises part of your missionary work?" haha it was too funny.
#2 So we were doing some look ups as usual and we were standing outside of a building and were just about to leave because no one answered the buzzer and so we all turn around and start walking away and this guy sees us a little short scrawny man, probably in his 40s or so. Anyways so he sees us and for some reason gets so scared that his eyes get huge as he stares at us and he starts walking diagonally away from us and almost runs into a car. We couldn't help but laugh our heads off as we walked a few steps away. Its funny how often that happens. I always wonder what people are thinking... we are just normal people but our name tags make us scary sometimes I guess. haha.
Last one:
So Sis Dantes speaks Creole which is broken down french and so we love to find other people who speak it and make her talk to them. So a couple weeks ago we were at an elderly less actives house and she told us she cannot communicate with her home attendant because her english is bad. She told us she was from Haiti and so we told her about sis dantes and that she would help. So this week we went to see this less active and when we got there the home attendant told us she was sleeping. So I decided to introduce sister dantes. So I excitedly said "This is sis dantes!! She's from Haiti!!!" The lady just kinda stood there and nodded and then Sis Dantes came forward and started speaking in Creole to her.... after like 30 seconds the lady just stared at us and then said ... "I am from africa...." hahahaha We were like ... "o yea of course you are" .... hahah. It was awesome.
love you all to the moon and back!!!
-sis wadsworth
Ok so enough about trials let's get to the good stuff. We had an amazing joint sunday school in the single's ward and I have decided that I will be a temple worker as soon as I get home! I am so grateful for the temples and the work that happens within it's walls. That we can know that we are helping those on the other side of the veil continue on their progression towards eternal life. I am also sooooo grateful for our knowledge of the plan of salvation. That we can know where we came from and what the purpose of this life is and where we are going. So much joy comes from God's plan.
So today is Sis Lythgoe's birthday. She is a spanish sister that we live with that I absolutely adore. Shes so amazing. So last night we were trying to decorate after she went to bed and it was so funny because we were blowing up balloons in our bedroom and one totally popped as I was blowing it up and there was no way they couldn't have heard it and so I was like ... "owwww my head" haha. Then I woke up early this morning and made her breakfast with our limited supplies. I think it was yummy ... we only had enough eggs to make one breakfast burrito so ... I didn't get to taste it. haha. We are going to go to our favorite bakery today and play volleyball with some other missionaries. FUN FUN!
Good news our former baptismal date has been calling us and wanting to come to church again! YAY! All the YW just love her so I hope everything works out.
So I feel like my letters have been lacking in my usual funny stories and so this week I specifically looked for things and wrote them down so I could share them soo...
#1 One night we were waiting for the bus to go to our next appointment and I don't remember why but we were all pretty giggly. Probably because it was freezing outside and we were trying to not be miserable. And so the three of us were sitting on the bench and sis ganaha was wearing this cute beanie she has and she was making a weird face at me or something so I pulled down her hat over her face. Then she made a cat noise, saying I looked like a cat clawing at her when I did it. Then this guy comes from out of no where and is like ... "did you hear that cat ??" He looked a little concerned. And we were like .... "uhhh... umm yea" then he was like " o man where did it come from??" then sis ganaha explained how she made the noise and then he asked what our tags were and we explained then he asked "so is making cat noises part of your missionary work?" haha it was too funny.
#2 So we were doing some look ups as usual and we were standing outside of a building and were just about to leave because no one answered the buzzer and so we all turn around and start walking away and this guy sees us a little short scrawny man, probably in his 40s or so. Anyways so he sees us and for some reason gets so scared that his eyes get huge as he stares at us and he starts walking diagonally away from us and almost runs into a car. We couldn't help but laugh our heads off as we walked a few steps away. Its funny how often that happens. I always wonder what people are thinking... we are just normal people but our name tags make us scary sometimes I guess. haha.
Last one:
So Sis Dantes speaks Creole which is broken down french and so we love to find other people who speak it and make her talk to them. So a couple weeks ago we were at an elderly less actives house and she told us she cannot communicate with her home attendant because her english is bad. She told us she was from Haiti and so we told her about sis dantes and that she would help. So this week we went to see this less active and when we got there the home attendant told us she was sleeping. So I decided to introduce sister dantes. So I excitedly said "This is sis dantes!! She's from Haiti!!!" The lady just kinda stood there and nodded and then Sis Dantes came forward and started speaking in Creole to her.... after like 30 seconds the lady just stared at us and then said ... "I am from africa...." hahahaha We were like ... "o yea of course you are" .... hahah. It was awesome.
love you all to the moon and back!!!
-sis wadsworth
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Two Letters
Here are Katy's last two letters. Sorry I didn't get last week's posted earlier!
HEY HEY EVERYONE!
So it has been an interesting week. To tell you the truth I can't believe another week has gone by. It feels like this week flew by with conference and everything. I LOVED conference. I am always surprised how fast its over. I used to have a hard time lasting the whole two hours but not as a missionary. HAHA. I was so sad to see it end. We were so blessed to have so many nonmembers come to listen to the prophet. We had a huge portion of our investigators there. YIPPEEE! Our ward members are awesome in the singles ward. On Sunday they invited so many of their friends to come and then in between we went to central park for a picnic with all of them. I didn't get to eat because I was bouncing around trying to meet all of these people. I got to teach a restoration and give a Book of Mormon away instead of eating. Totally worth it! It was awesome! I love our Julliard and Columbia students. They are just the best!
So those of you who know me well know that I LOVE pumpkins. And something so cool about new york that I just realized is that because there are little markets everywhere there are pumpkins everywhere too!! It's awesome!!!!!! I love it. Then for the relief society activity last night they made desserts made with PUMPKIN!! O it was such a joy! Tender mercies from the Lord! Good thing for the pumpkins because mail has been so weird lately that I have only gotten two letters the last two and a half weeks. I did get your package though mom. I just picked it up from the post office and its sitting behind me waiting to be opened when I get home. Thank you ahead of time. You are always so thoughtful.
So sadly this week we had an appointment with an investigator and he told us he was not willing to give up certain things in his life that would enable him to be baptized. It was a very sad lesson for us. But I know that he will be ready one day. I read to him Ether 12:27 and just talked about how we all have weaknesses and that's how the Lord intends it. So that we can overcome them and grow. And that is possible because of the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ. Which is sufficient to save ALL souls. How blessed we are to know that! I am also learning a lot about my weaknesses and challenges. I know my Heavenly Father puts things in my path to help me to grow not just to watch me stumble. He has a perfect plan for me to become what He wants me to become. A refiners fire. Our challenges in life are not simple or easy but they are personally picked to be what we need to overcome our imperfections. The trick to use those challenges to grow rather than to shrink back and refuse to move forward. I am so grateful for the challenges I am given.
It is getting cold here. Everyday more and more layers are being put on. haha. Right about now it feels like Vegas winter weather. I remember when I thought this was unbearably cold. haha. oooo silly silly me. They say this is goin to be a rough winter. So I know how Kevin is feeling there in Idaho although we don't have snow yet. I was talking to the president's daughter who grew up in Rexburg about the winters there and comparing them to here. They are different in the fact that the humidity here causes the cold to CUT YOU TO THE CORE!!! burr... not looking forward to that buuuuuuuuuuttt thank goodness for thermal underwear and woolen socks!!! haha. Today is suuuuuuuper windy and we didn't know that until we were outside and sister ganaha and i are wearing very... flowy we will call it skirts. Pretty much I regret wearing this skirt. haha. We both were like running to the bus squealing and trying to keep our skirts down while sis dantes just laughed her head off behind us. haha.
So something super sweet this week.. WELL to me at least. Our ward mission leader's wife just had a baby and we went over for dinner and sis Petersen was in the kitchen cooking and bro Petersen was doing something else and the baby was in the crib screaming and so bro Petersen said ... Sis Wadsworth can you please pick him up for me...? I promise I wont get you in trouble. We are not allowed to hold children because of legal liabilities. SO ... I totally half way picked him up and let his feet touch the bottom of the crib so I wasn't really holding him. hahaha. It was so awesome though I miss really playing and being with kids.
Well it sounds like you guys had a fun conference weekend. Tell Devan and Kelsi I said congrats! That's going to be so fun for all of them.
So our companionship is going great! I am learning a lot and am so grateful for both of my companions. They are such great examples to me.
Well family and friends. I love you so much thanks for your love and support!
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!
-KAITLYN
OOOOOOOOOOKAY
So here is the transfer details. So I am with a Sister who came to my area and I also get to stay with sis ganaha. YAY!! So I guess that means I have a lot to learn from them. It will be interesting but I know Heavenly Father is in control. Its going to be an awesome cycle. So ... keep sending mail to the same address! ! !
So we did get to go to the relief society conference. It was so wonderful. We had to leave a little early so we could get home before 10:30. It was crazy to be out that late.haha.. i know woowww 10:30.. haha.I am sooo excited for conference this weekend. Its such an energizing experience. I love love love love love itttttttttttttttttttt!
Soo this weekend was amazing and also frustrating. Its always a roller coaster. So we started the week with sis smith (mission president's daughter). She was only with us for 3 days. Shes almost 25 and is only doin this until she figures out what she wants to do now that she is graduated. She is so amazing and it was a pleasure to see her. We got some great new investigators this week. One guy from Taiwan, one from Nigeria and one from China. Its so cool. We are also working with a girl from our service that is from Thailand. THIS IS THE COOLEST MISSION EVER!!! HAHA. One is a member referral and is so amazing. He is working on his faith in Christ but he loves the church and knows there is something different about us. He plays the violin at Julliard. We had dinner in the Julliard dorms on Saturday night. It was so cool to be with all these amazingly talented people. They are so humble too.
So because we weren't sure if one of us would be leaving we set an appointment with an investigator yesterday and he was SOOo excited that we weren't leaving. He is so great. He wrote us an awesome letter just expressing his appreciation for us and for the church. Then we had a lesson on missionary work and talked about when he could serve a mission and he is excited to serve! HOW AMAZING IS THAT??? He is not even baptized yet but he is already desiring to serve a mission.
It's getting cold here. I have already started to wear my lighter coat. My PUFFY hasn't come out yet. Hopefully that won't happen till the snow comes. I think I forgot how cold it gets here. ... I am not looking forward to that. BUT THE WORK MUST GO FORTH!
So a little info about my new comp. I actually lived with her in my first apartment. She is originally from Haiti and moved to Florida when she was a teenager. We have soo many people from Haiti in our area so it will be so great to have her with us.
Well I'm excited for what is to come this cycle. I expect to see so many miracles like we have been seeing. Keep praying for me like I know you do. I am so grateful to be part of this work. Even if things are hard or people let us down I know I can be happy because this is God's work and it will never cease to move forward. I am so lucky to be here and to be serving my Heavenly Father. How lucky I am that He trusts me enough to do this. PRAISE GOD! :D
Love you all to the moon and back!
HEY HEY EVERYONE!
So it has been an interesting week. To tell you the truth I can't believe another week has gone by. It feels like this week flew by with conference and everything. I LOVED conference. I am always surprised how fast its over. I used to have a hard time lasting the whole two hours but not as a missionary. HAHA. I was so sad to see it end. We were so blessed to have so many nonmembers come to listen to the prophet. We had a huge portion of our investigators there. YIPPEEE! Our ward members are awesome in the singles ward. On Sunday they invited so many of their friends to come and then in between we went to central park for a picnic with all of them. I didn't get to eat because I was bouncing around trying to meet all of these people. I got to teach a restoration and give a Book of Mormon away instead of eating. Totally worth it! It was awesome! I love our Julliard and Columbia students. They are just the best!
So those of you who know me well know that I LOVE pumpkins. And something so cool about new york that I just realized is that because there are little markets everywhere there are pumpkins everywhere too!! It's awesome!!!!!! I love it. Then for the relief society activity last night they made desserts made with PUMPKIN!! O it was such a joy! Tender mercies from the Lord! Good thing for the pumpkins because mail has been so weird lately that I have only gotten two letters the last two and a half weeks. I did get your package though mom. I just picked it up from the post office and its sitting behind me waiting to be opened when I get home. Thank you ahead of time. You are always so thoughtful.
So sadly this week we had an appointment with an investigator and he told us he was not willing to give up certain things in his life that would enable him to be baptized. It was a very sad lesson for us. But I know that he will be ready one day. I read to him Ether 12:27 and just talked about how we all have weaknesses and that's how the Lord intends it. So that we can overcome them and grow. And that is possible because of the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ. Which is sufficient to save ALL souls. How blessed we are to know that! I am also learning a lot about my weaknesses and challenges. I know my Heavenly Father puts things in my path to help me to grow not just to watch me stumble. He has a perfect plan for me to become what He wants me to become. A refiners fire. Our challenges in life are not simple or easy but they are personally picked to be what we need to overcome our imperfections. The trick to use those challenges to grow rather than to shrink back and refuse to move forward. I am so grateful for the challenges I am given.
It is getting cold here. Everyday more and more layers are being put on. haha. Right about now it feels like Vegas winter weather. I remember when I thought this was unbearably cold. haha. oooo silly silly me. They say this is goin to be a rough winter. So I know how Kevin is feeling there in Idaho although we don't have snow yet. I was talking to the president's daughter who grew up in Rexburg about the winters there and comparing them to here. They are different in the fact that the humidity here causes the cold to CUT YOU TO THE CORE!!! burr... not looking forward to that buuuuuuuuuuttt thank goodness for thermal underwear and woolen socks!!! haha. Today is suuuuuuuper windy and we didn't know that until we were outside and sister ganaha and i are wearing very... flowy we will call it skirts. Pretty much I regret wearing this skirt. haha. We both were like running to the bus squealing and trying to keep our skirts down while sis dantes just laughed her head off behind us. haha.
So something super sweet this week.. WELL to me at least. Our ward mission leader's wife just had a baby and we went over for dinner and sis Petersen was in the kitchen cooking and bro Petersen was doing something else and the baby was in the crib screaming and so bro Petersen said ... Sis Wadsworth can you please pick him up for me...? I promise I wont get you in trouble. We are not allowed to hold children because of legal liabilities. SO ... I totally half way picked him up and let his feet touch the bottom of the crib so I wasn't really holding him. hahaha. It was so awesome though I miss really playing and being with kids.
Well it sounds like you guys had a fun conference weekend. Tell Devan and Kelsi I said congrats! That's going to be so fun for all of them.
So our companionship is going great! I am learning a lot and am so grateful for both of my companions. They are such great examples to me.
Well family and friends. I love you so much thanks for your love and support!
LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!
-KAITLYN
OOOOOOOOOOKAY
So here is the transfer details. So I am with a Sister who came to my area and I also get to stay with sis ganaha. YAY!! So I guess that means I have a lot to learn from them. It will be interesting but I know Heavenly Father is in control. Its going to be an awesome cycle. So ... keep sending mail to the same address! ! !
So we did get to go to the relief society conference. It was so wonderful. We had to leave a little early so we could get home before 10:30. It was crazy to be out that late.haha.. i know woowww 10:30.. haha.I am sooo excited for conference this weekend. Its such an energizing experience. I love love love love love itttttttttttttttttttt!
Soo this weekend was amazing and also frustrating. Its always a roller coaster. So we started the week with sis smith (mission president's daughter). She was only with us for 3 days. Shes almost 25 and is only doin this until she figures out what she wants to do now that she is graduated. She is so amazing and it was a pleasure to see her. We got some great new investigators this week. One guy from Taiwan, one from Nigeria and one from China. Its so cool. We are also working with a girl from our service that is from Thailand. THIS IS THE COOLEST MISSION EVER!!! HAHA. One is a member referral and is so amazing. He is working on his faith in Christ but he loves the church and knows there is something different about us. He plays the violin at Julliard. We had dinner in the Julliard dorms on Saturday night. It was so cool to be with all these amazingly talented people. They are so humble too.
So because we weren't sure if one of us would be leaving we set an appointment with an investigator yesterday and he was SOOo excited that we weren't leaving. He is so great. He wrote us an awesome letter just expressing his appreciation for us and for the church. Then we had a lesson on missionary work and talked about when he could serve a mission and he is excited to serve! HOW AMAZING IS THAT??? He is not even baptized yet but he is already desiring to serve a mission.
It's getting cold here. I have already started to wear my lighter coat. My PUFFY hasn't come out yet. Hopefully that won't happen till the snow comes. I think I forgot how cold it gets here. ... I am not looking forward to that. BUT THE WORK MUST GO FORTH!
So a little info about my new comp. I actually lived with her in my first apartment. She is originally from Haiti and moved to Florida when she was a teenager. We have soo many people from Haiti in our area so it will be so great to have her with us.
Well I'm excited for what is to come this cycle. I expect to see so many miracles like we have been seeing. Keep praying for me like I know you do. I am so grateful to be part of this work. Even if things are hard or people let us down I know I can be happy because this is God's work and it will never cease to move forward. I am so lucky to be here and to be serving my Heavenly Father. How lucky I am that He trusts me enough to do this. PRAISE GOD! :D
Love you all to the moon and back!
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