Deep Gospel Discussions and Friends Inviting Friends

Hey All!

This week was incredible! Sister Corey and I hit the streets on Saturday and talked to so many people. We found a teenage girl who wants to learn more and she's the sweetest girl! She was so touched when we shared her a little message about how God loves her. She told us that she always wanted to go to church and be a part of a youth group but could never find one. We also talked to so many people who were of different faiths and it was really amazing talking about religion. I have literally had so many intellectual discussions out here that I might as well major in philosophy when I get home because trust me.....I've discussed it all. Who would have thought that I'd be talking about scripture with a professor of Chinese Literature at George Washington University? Or, that one time where I taught a corporate lawyer about the concept of pride and charity? I'm tellin' ya folks, I have been in some really intense, yet incredible situations out here!

Our investigators are amazing. Last week they BOTH told Sister Corey and me that they know the Gospel is true and are preparing themselves to make the commitment of baptism. Our one investigator decided to take a detour to the temple and booked a personal tour at the Visitor's Center all on his own! He also broke it to his family and friends that he's "considering becoming a Mormon" and to his surprise, they were all cool with it. It was such a faith builder for him to know that the Lord is always on your side. I feel like I don't emphasize enough about all the miracles that go down in this neck of the woods. But, let me tell you that every day I am so touched by all the beautiful things that are happening in this area. I witness so many tender mercies on a daily basis.

For example, we have been teaching this older gentlemen who used to be this really powerful lawyer in New Jersey. He said he didn't want to be converted or to be taught, but merely wanted to have "intellectual discussions about Christ". He is friends with many members of the Potomac Ward and is a fun person to talk to so...why not? Over the past couple of "discussions" we have seen a huge change in him. On Friday, he told us that he loves our little sessions so much that he wants to hear ALL the lessons we have. In addition, he shared that he has been telling his friends about his "meetings with the Mormon Missionaries". Right after he told us that, he shared that he invited a friend who wants to know more and that he would be coming in 10 min. Then, just this morning, we had a lesson with him and this friend brought another friend! Sister Corey and I feel so honored to teach him AND his friends!

I love this gospel and I love all of you, 

Sister Kelly

The roads I drive. The car I don't drive.
Focus on the license plate. Personalized license plates are a thing in VA.

Sister Kelly's Summer Adventures

Lunch with my friends from the Oakton Ward

Hey Everyone - 

So much happened this week that I don't even know where to start. This week went by really fast. Church was great yesterday, as always. We drove a lot this week but got a lot of work done. We are trying to clean out our area book and we've seen a lot of success because of it. We had some amazing lessons this week with people along with some effective, as always, meetings with the Ward Council. I love our Ward Council to pieces. 

One great thing that happened this week was teaching a less-active in our ward. She is not from this country and has been struggling with some things; so we decided to stop by and see her. She is in the process of moving. So, when we arrived, there was no furniture. The room was pretty much bare. We ended up watching "The Restoration" which is a 20 min. film about Joseph Smith and his experience of restoring the Gospel of Jesus Christ here on the Earth. Don't know what it was, but something about watching the film, via the ipad, on a bare living room floor, was a wonderful, spiritual experience. The spirit was so strong and I am so grateful for Joseph Smith. 

Met up with Sister Rossi and her companion to go to breakfast with a ward member we were close to in Oakton and her awesome daughter. Such a great reunion! 

I tried to have another Costco Connection, but it was a bust. A failed attempt. My companion and I THOUGHT a Costco was located near to a teaching appointment we had that was quite far away from where we live. All I wanted to do was go there for lunch! We  ended up getting really lost and yeah....safe to say, we almost drove 80 miles that day. Yikes. We eventually found a Costco...only about 30 min. away from home. 

Love you all!

Sister Kelly

Here I Am

At the Nationals' Baseball Game 8/8/2015

Hey Everybody - 

Our investigator Tom gave us some workouts to do. He demonstrated them and everything...we don't mess around in Potomac. MY ARMS ARE STILL BURNING FROM ALL THE DIPS AND PUSH UPS. I'm dying. Why is getting fit such a force to be reckoned with? We made a deal with him that if he prayed, we would plank. What did we get ourselves into?

Speaking of investigators, we had an AWESOME lesson with another one of our investigators, and he's praying about a date for baptism!!! :) 

Transfers happened and Sister Corey and I are staying in the Potomac Ward. Our District Leader pranked me and told me I was going to get transferred. It was NOT funny. I was so mad at him. My heart literally stopped and my stomach ached at the thought of leaving my area. How could I leave this incredible ward????? I could literally go to the Potomac Ward every single Sunday for the rest of my mission and be totally content.  

Sister Corey and I did a lot this week. We found a lot of people that our Bishop and Relief Society Presidents told us to go find. We had great lessons with them. I have such a strong testimony that working with the less-active members is just as important as finding new people to teach. 

We got a new car...it has about 1000 miles on it. Safe to say this will be the nicest car I will ever drive in my whole entire life. We said farewell to our dear old car on Thursday. It was a sad goodbye, but it was needed. It's going to be really nice not having to go to Firestone every 2 weeks for some new melodramatic problem. I swear I've been to Firestone more than the Temple Visitor's Center on my mission. 

We went to the Nationals Baseball game on Saturday and it was a lot of fun. Got to see everyone I love. We didn't get home until midnight. We had such a blast! I ran into Hermanas from the DC North Mission who team taught an investigator with us. I also decided it would be a good idea to take a selfie with the DC North Mission President, President Cook. I was going to take one with my actual mission president, but I never got the chance. At least I have a selfie with some DC mission president, right? I saw Sister Maw, Rossi, and Tescher! Crazy that two of my companions went home on Friday (Sister Savage and Wright). But, it was sooo good to see my former partners in crime at the baseball game! 

President Cook and Sister Kelly

Saying, "Goodbye" to Sister Wright at the Mission Office

This month Sister Corey and I are going around the ward and doing the "August Attribute Challenge" with our ward members. I did this last year in the Oakton Ward and I'm excited to be doing it again here in the Potomac Ward. This month I personally chose the attribute, Diligence. It's been a really edifying experience studying the true meaning of diligence. I have A LOT to work on in this area. 

Speaking of "Diligence" or the lack thereof...the other day, a ward member asked me what I studied at BYU. Sister Corey quickly stated, "Sister Kelly studied FUN her freshman year." We both started to giggle. Yeah, let's just say my quest for diligence will be a continuing effort while I forge through my BYU career.

OH, I almost forgot the most exciting part of our week. We accidentally got lost in Georgetown (aka the Washington DC North Mission). We were trying to find somebody in Rosslyn (which really reminds of San Francisco, for some reason) when we got on the wrong street and before we knew it....we were crossing the Potomac River. Then we got lost in Georgetown because our GPS likes to make our life miserable. It was pretty dramatic. At least I can now say that I have been to Georgetown. It's super pretty by the way..I may like it more than Old Town...shhh. The worst part is that I looked on a map to see where we actually got lost. We were only 1 block away from GEORGETOWN CUPCAKES. I was so close, yet so far away...

Love you all!

Sister Kelly

With Sister Rossi

A Break-Up, A Fro-Yo Surprise Party and Avery

Hey Everyone!

Sister Corey and I had quite the week. We went to a "Return and Report" meeting with all the trainers and trainees in the mission. The Huntsmans were there. (Our new mission president and his wife) Always good to see them! Funny coincidence that my MTC companion is training Sister Corey's MTC companion :)

We had to drop one of our investigators who has been with us since March. He basically "broke up" with us, but we left on really good terms...kinda like one of those "let's take a break" relationships. It was sad but it was needed.

All I gotta say is, that by the time my mission ends, I'll be so prepared for getting dumped and stood up...and ignored. Ha! But seriously, the struggle is so real sometimes.

But, we have some awesome investigators right now. It's so incredible to see them grow. I love the Potomac Ward. I don't wanna leave! We have SO much support from our Ward Council and the rest of the members. And, we get fed every night now :) We are so close with so many Ward members and it is the best feeling.

Yesterday was Sister Corey's birthday. We spent it in DC with my friend from high school, AVERY! This marks the 3rd time we have seen each other since I began on my mission. We went to this cool Asian restaurant for lunch. I dropped a glass of ginger limeade down a flight of stairs and glass shattered everywhere. That was an event in and of itself! Then we went to the National Art Gallery which I'm pretty sure is the best part of the Mall (besides the Lincoln Memorial...and Jamba Juice). It was so great to be with Avery.

Sunday night I texted the TWO Relief Society presidents in our ward informing them of  Sister Corey's birthday (Monday). We planned a surprise "Fro-Yo" trip. And, our lovely Relief Society Presidents went the extra mile. They arranged to have some AMAZING gals in our Ward come to Sister Corey's "surprise party!" The more the merrier. It was the sweetest thing. We had so much fun!

So yeah, pretty much, the Potomac Ward is the best.  

Have a great week everyone!

Sister Kelly

Fender Bender, Car Towed and a Rockstar Investigator

Playing croquet with Sister Corey

Hey Everyone!

First off,  I would like to put it out there that I'm pretty sure Sister Corey is training ME. She's helped me out a lot and I'm grateful to have her as my trainee/trainer. She is amazing.

Everyday has its adventures. Let me explain. 

On Saturday, we were on our way to an appointment and we got into a fender bender! Not our fault. Our car only has a little dent but it was still kinda scary! I had some bad whiplash but nothing Advil and a rice bag can't fix. Sister Corey and I were joking that our day had been pretty boring which was odd because everyday in Potomac is an adventure. Nothing like a good 'ol fender bender to spice up the day! So grateful that everyone was okay.

In addition, let me add, that our car got towed and IT WAS NOT OUR FAULT. The concierge at the apartment complex we visited wrote down the wrong expiration date on our visitor's pass. Our car had to spend the night in a sketchy tow yard in Alexandria :( We didn't have to pay which was a total miracle since tow companies are pretty unforgiving. 

We have been making huge progress with our investigators! One of them came to church all on his own, went to a Stake Priesthood Meeting afterwards, will be going to Family Home Evening tonight, and THEN is going to institute with us! Can you say a Rockstar? ROCKSTAR. We love him. He works for Senator Hatch so he's already surrounded by members of our church on a daily basis.

I crave church, like everyday...especially the Potomac Ward. These people are so incredible and I just want to be surrounded by them ALL THE TIME. 

I officially come home in less than 6 months. It's been really eye opening evaluating myself and seeing the strengths I've developed and the weaknesses I've come across this past year. I have a lot to work on but I have come a long way. There are changes I've made in my life that I am very proud of and I am excited to test out myself when I come back to the real world.

I love you all!

Sister Kelly

Typical home in Arlington, VA

Gratitude

Hey Everyone - 

For the past couple weeks, I've gone through this roller coaster of really loving my mission...and then really NOT loving my mission. I got really negative towards my situation and was constantly comparing my mission experience to others' experiences. I was wishing I was either in another area or in a totally different mission. Then it hit me one morning while I was walking to the gym that the problem was not my situation--but my attitude. I think every other human being has already had this epiphany so excuse me for being late and revealing old news but WOW the gratitude thing hit me like a sack of bricks. Yeah, I'm grateful for things like: four working limbs, a roof over my head, family and friends, etc. I realized that I have gotten about a C- in being grateful for my situations...good, bad, and otherwise. 

I've seen a lot of blessings this week and I have been so much more positive. Gratitude really is the catalyst of all Christlike Attributes and even though I'm no master at it, it's been such an edifying experience in having the "genuine gratitude door" being opened. 

And, staying in the gratitude vein, I wanted to share an amazing experience we had this week. 

When I arrived in the Potomac Ward there were only a handful of ward members that had a relationship with the missionaries. Don't get me wrong, the ward members are awesome, but as things go in a singles' ward, most of them are really busy and have no time for us. This was something that we totally respected but also got sad about since we felt REALLY distant from the ward. We knew we had these incredible people in our ward and we wanted to get to know them! So, Sister Corey and I started scheming. We found our lost dinner calendar and re-vamped it. Then we were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting, so the ward could see us up front. By the way, this idea came by inspiration from our bishop (who I adore). So many members came up to us afterwards to introduce themselves. As a result, we are teaching a member's boyfriend!!!! We had a lesson with him last Thursday and it went so well. The ward passed the dinner calendar around yesterday and we had so many dinner sign-ups that we even have double bookings. We literally have a dinner every single night for the next 2 months. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO US BEFORE! So long Taco Bell and Mr. Microwave...I've got home cooked meals to eat. 

On Saturday, we had this awesome correlation meeting with our Relief Society Presidents (yes, we do have 2 Relief Societies because our ward is HUGE) and I seriously felt like I was reuniting with kindred spirits. LOVE those women SO much. We had so much fun with them and we were at Einstein's Bagels so long correlating/planning that we had breakfast, and then lunch! Such a miracle for them to be our Relief Society presidents. We have such strong, educated and exemplary women in our ward. It's been such a blessing to get to know them. 

The Potomac Ward is awesome and I am so grateful to have Sister Corey as a companion. She is amazing. She goes running with me...Sister Kelly ain't gonna stop anytime soon. I have less than 6 months left! 

This past week, we had this huge prompting to check on a less-active sister that we had never met before. One of our Relief Society Presidents told us to check on her. When we arrived at the main doors of her apartment building, they were locked--BUT, a nice man who lived there let us in! SO, we found her apartment door, knocked and she let us in. Okay,  this girl is "the bomb." We love the same music and we totally connected. We ended up being there for almost 2 hours and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. We talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how He understands ALL pain. We shared this amazing quote by Cheiko Okazaki and she started to cry...then I started to cry...and I think Sister Corey was close to crying. It was amazing and we're going back next week. 

Love you all! 

Sister Kelly

These Are A Few Of My Favorite 12+ Things

Sister Kelly, waving goodbye upon entering the MTC
July 9, 2014

Hi Everyone - 

Well, it happened.

I hit my 1-year mark. For 365 days, I have been away from home. Walking into the MTC, I never thought this day would come; but it did. They say time SPEEDS UP after a missionary has hit the year mark, which I'm not very excited for. I feel like I need another couple years to build up my "refiner's fire tan."

So if you couldn't tell already, I really like numbers and lists. And, since I've been out for 12 months...I'm just going to put everything I want to share in sets of 12.  

 12 things you wanted to know about Northern Virginia but were too afraid to ask:

1. People in NoVA love their dogs more than people. I have seen more doggie day-cares out here than child day-cares. 

2. The humidity is pretty bad, but there is amazing air conditioning everywhere; so it's really doable. 

3. Fairfax County has incredible schools and people come from all over the world (literally) so their children can attend a school here.

4. Virginians love bumper stickers and personalizing their license plates. Virginia is the only state in the US where personalizing your plate costs only $10.

5. Of all the favorite license plates, these are my favorites: "IM DIVA", "10 CW WMN" (10 Cow Woman), "PEASANT", "IM KANYE", "SHUT UP", "CAT LDYZ", "RAPNZL" (Sister Rossi and I thought it meant 'rap nizzle' in honor of our friend Snoop Dogg, but turns out it meant 'Rapunzel') and last but not least, "I AM LDS."

6. People honk at you if you go the speed limit. They'll even honk at you if you go 5 miles over!

7. The spring and fall here totally make up for the summer and winter.

8. You have to have a parking pass for everywhere you park. If you don't have a pass, you get towed (learned that the hard way). I have had to miss appointments because of the parking issues. The parking struggle is real. 

9. Despite being in the thick of things politically, people hardly talk politics with us. 

10. There are no true "inner-city" areas in our mission. There are definitely rougher areas, but that's usually categorized into apartment complexes or small neighborhoods.

11. But trust me, the really wealthy areas are scarier than the inner-city areas. 

12. About half the people I meet can't tell me what they do for a living. After being here for one year, I've realized that many people have (probably) lied to me about their profession.

12 things that have changed about me that will probably shock my parents:

1. I can eat any fruit now without wanting to gag. Oranges still make me cringe but I can deal with it.

2. I don't like skim milk anymore...in fact, I only buy 1% or 2%.

3. I took a 7-min shower the other day. My dad would be so proud.

4. I get kind of bummed when I have to stop reading the scriptures.

5. I journal...sort of.

6. I can merge on the freeway like a pro and I can drive in flash floods and remain completely calm...and alive! 

7. I get so excited for General Conference that my heart accelerates when it starts.

8. I can rap Primary songs.

9. I can carry on a conversation about sports, dogs, the Civil War, cars, and obviously the gospel without making a complete fool out of myself.

10. I can't sleep in past 8:30 am! Even when I'm sick and on the verge of death! MIRACLES HAPPEN. 

11. I get so tired at around 9:30 pm. How did I go to bed at 5 am on a regular basis at BYU? I don't think (emphasis on the 'think') I'm ever doing an all-nighter again. Once again, MIRACLES HAPPEN.

12. I can get on the treadmill without wanting to curse the treadmill.

12 General Conference talks I love that have really impacted me on my mission:

1. Choose Wisely - Quentin L. Cook

2. Being Accepted Of the Lord - Erich W. Kopishke

3. Lord, I Believe - Jeffrey R. Holland

4. The Love of God - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

5. Approaching the Throne of God With Confidence - Jorg Klebingat

6. Truly Good And Without Guile - Michael T. Ringwood

7. Living the Gospel Joyfully - Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

8. As Many As I Love, I Rebuke And Chasten - D. Todd  Christofferson

9. Come What May, And Love It - Joseph B. Wirthlin

10. On Being Worthy - Marvin J. Ashton

11. Sharing Your Light - Neill F. Marriott

12. Like A Broken Vessel - Jeffrey R. Holland 

12 Scriptures I Love:

1. Ether 12:27

2. 2 Nephi 2:25

3. Romans 5:3-5

4. Alma 5:14

5. John 14:26-27

6. Mosiah 7:33

7. Alma 38:11-12

8. Helaman 5:12

9. Moroni 8:16

10. James 1:5

11. Colossians 3:13-15

12. 3 Nephi 13:28-34

So, there you have it. My first 12 monthes as a missionary in a nutshell. My mission has been the hardest thing I've ever done and yet, there is nowhere else I'd rather be. Grateful that I was called to serve in the Washington D.C. South mission. It's crazy that I only have 6 months left! 

Love, 

Sister Kelly

12 of my iPad's favorite photos: