Sister Kelly Emails From the Local Target

Dear Everyone:

Because it is President's Holiday, the local library was closed. Sister Kelly and Sister Wright did errands at the local Target and they emailed family and friends from their iPad. A blog post will hopefully come tomorrow. What we do know is that Elizabeth had a busy week. She was off to Mt. Vernon, again. Because it was President's Day, Mount Vernon was free. Always more fun when you get a bargain.

Love, 

Marya and Meredith

7 Things

Hey Everyone!

Today is my seventh month mark. SO, in honor of this glorious day and to honor my favorite Miley Cyrus song, here is a list of  "7 things":

My favorite 7 things that happened this week:

1. You already know that I really loved serving in the Oakton Ward. One of the many reasons why I loved the Oakton Ward was the Sonntag family. From playing "Apples to Apples" on Thanksgiving Day to numerous inside jokes...Sister Rossi and I made so many memories with that family. Well God knew that not having the Sonntags in my life would be rather difficult when I got transferred to the Franconia Ward. He blessed me to be in the same area where Sister Sonntag's parents, Elder and Sister Rothermel, are serving a senior couple's mission. I knew the Rothermels because they would often be at the Sonntag's home when Sister Rossi and I visited. It was such a treat to have the Rothermels in my new area.  Well, last week, the Rothermel's received permission for Sister Wright and I to have dinner with them and THE SONNTAGS SURPRISED ME AT THE ROTHERMEL'S HOME! Such a tender mercy. It was so good to see them again. Ahhh, Sonntag Family, I love you so much! So does Admiral (ha!)

Me and Samara.

Beckham Sonntag and me. Buddies 4 life. 

2. Going to the Arlington National Cemetery on Monday with a beloved member.

The faces of two missionaries who walked around the Arlington Cemetery in 20 degree weather.
So rough but so worth it. 

3. Teaching the gospel to our investigators who are teenagers and are such a blessing.

4. Shout out to my amazing San Francisco grandma (Moo), for giving me the sweetest letter and a really beautiful poem she copied for me. It talked about leadership and how sometimes true leaders are the ones backstage, with no glory to their name. I love you, Moo.  

5. Shout out to Grandma Kay, my other amazing (Provo) grandma, for shipping out COOKIES FROM SWIG!!!!!  Grandmas always know the keys to their grandchildren's hearts. 

My Swig cookie. 

6. Conquered indexing a family tree in Ipswich, England from the early 1880s. They had the coolest handwriting. But the handwriting was very hard to read. But, I did it. 

7. My companion, Sister Wright and I discovered 1 Peter 1:7. Our trials, especially the ones of our faith, are rough sometimes. But in the end, they are so valuable to our progression. 

My not so favorite 7 things that happened this week:

1. A family from Cameroon dropped us. Via text. 

2. One of our investigator's dad said, "No" to his baptism. So, no Valentine's Day baptism :(

3. The other investigator's mom said she can't get baptized for another year and a half :(

4. Our apartment reeks of marijuana sometimes.  

5. I thought something was stuck at the top of my eye. I had to go to Urgent Care because it was THAT BAD and found out it wasn't a mote in my eye but a CUT 1 cm long inside my upper eyelid. 

6. The doctor at Urgent Care "flushed out my eye" for 10 whole min. Top 5 most physically uncomfortable things to ever happen to me. 

7. I look like The Exorcist in the pics Sister Wright took at Urgent Care.

Gold stars for anyone who can figure out where my eye is in this pic. 

Straight-up Exorcist.

I love this work. Thank you for your love, prayers and support...especially the poem and the cookies from Swig. I love my grandmas.  

Have a great week!

Sister Kelly

My district. The one and only.

Called to Serve in Style.

Sunrise outside of our apartment window. 

Elder Styles, a Renaissance Fair Wedding and The Love of God

Hey Everyone!

Another week of miracles and interesting experiences. 

First off, I LOVE Virginia. The drivers and roads are crazy and the weather is awful but I really LOVE it out here. I have made some life long friends and have had so many learning experiences out here. Also, my companion, Sister Wright is wonderful.  She's so chill and yet such a hard worker! We get along so well and have already made many memories. The work here is on fire.....ANDREW IS PLANNING ON GETTING BAPTIZED ON VALENTINE'S DAY! This will be the best Valentine's Day ever! I just hope and pray his dad consents and lets him get baptized. As I shared last week, Andrew is the young man who at age 15 wears a suit to church and regularly reads The Book of Mormon.  

This past week, we found two people who once upon a time had investigated our church. We have developed really good relationships with them and are teaching them this week. One of them is a Japanese lady named Misako.  She is super sweet and her husband Will, is a historian and has read the entire Book of Mormon! 

Also ELDER STYLES WAS A SUCCESS! Teya came to church and has offered to say the closing prayer both times we have taught her. Gosh, I love that girl. She is so sassy and is a total mix of me and my sister, Meredith. Her mom, a recent convert, is so amazing. I love her a lot. 

We made this cake...

We have formed a really amazing relationship with this less active. We have family history indexing parties with her and then she takes us out to lunch! I love her so much. She and her husband are really into Renaissance Fairs. They had a Renaissance themed wedding at the Maryland Renaissance Fair. The wedding ceremony took place on stage and people thought it was a show! The wedding photos are priceless.  She told us that she doesn't like a lot of the members who reach out to her but she loves us. She and I bond over the TV show, "Grey's Anatomy." 

It was such a great experience seeing Tian again and being with her in the Washington DC Temple this past Saturday. She did temple work for her Chinese ancestors. She was glowing and was so happy! 

With Tian.

At the Temple's Visitor Center with Tian.

This week, I discovered Dieter. F. Uchtdorf's talk,"The Love of God" from the October 2009 Ensign. It answered a lot of my prayers and everyone needs to read it! 

Love you all!

Sister Kelly

Highlights From Fabulous Franconia

Hey Everyone!

I hit my 6-month-mark on January 9, 2015

It's been a few weeks. Last Monday was a holiday, as you know. Then, when I went on Wednesday to email from the public library, the computer system was down throughout all of the Fairfax County Libraries. I couldn't use the computer. But here I am, finally. 

My Preparations Days are full of preparing for the next week:  laundry and shopping, emailing from the library and doing some sight seeing. Today I went to Old Town Alexandria with the other sister missionaries serving in Kingstowne: Sister Kennedy and Sister Malufau. We had such a good time. 

Last week, Elder Hallstrom and Elder Perkins, two General Authorities from our church came to speak to the missionaries. They taught us some amazing things. One gospel principle they focused on was FAITH and how to build it. One point that sticks out in my mind is that FAITH can be a power in your life. It can be a power IF we have a desire to build it. I've realized that on my mission, the truest form of power comes through faith, hope and charity. If we can acquire these things in our life, nothing can stop us. I am so grateful I am learning this essential principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Highlights of my new life in Franconia: 

- My companion, Sister Wright and I befriended a girl in our ward who is training to be an Olympic boxer. She's the coolest person ever.  I love being around her. 

- There's also another woman in our ward who is training to be a Special Agent for the FBI. Amazing. 

- Every Wednesday, we go to a less-active's home to translate documents from England in the early 1800s. I'm literally indexing family trees and baptistery names that were written over 150 years ago. Sometimes I feel bad touching these "ancient" papers but the lady trusts us and we touch them minding that our hands are NOT greasy...  

- We are teaching this awesome 16 year-old girl who is hopefully getting baptized soon (we are just waiting for her mom's consent). She is wonderful for many reasons. She has such a desire to learn more. Another great part of our friendship is that we have totally bonded quoting lines from "Mean Girls" and "Scandal." Recently, I was telling her about my decision to serve a mission and how I was actually planning on doing a Study Abroad first. I had a strong feeling to put studying abroad on hold and serve a mission first. After I said that she said, "I'm so glad you decided to serve a mission first Sister Kelly, otherwise I wouldn't have met you!" Having her tell me that literally made my entire week! It's nice to hear every once in awhile that you're making a difference...because sometimes you feel like you never are.

- We are teaching another boy who is getting baptized in February. This young man is solid. He comes to church every Sunday...in a suit! He's 15! Last week his mom came to church with him and loved it. Hopefully, we can teach her too.

- My friend, Tian, from the Oakton Ward (baptized inAugust 2014) is taking names to be baptized in the Washington DC temple this Saturday. My companion and I have permission to go with her. I can't wait!  

With Tian at her baptism, August 2014, in Oakton, VA

AND FOR THE BIGGEST MIRACLE OF ALL:

Sister Wright and I have a great relationship with an awesome recent convert who has a 15 year-old daughter who has not joined the church yet. The daughter either hasn't clicked with the missionaries or she became too attached to them. Well...she is obsessed with the British Boy Band, ONE DIRECTION. (AHH. So am I. Went to the One Direction concert with my cousins, August 2013. Do I need to mention we were on the third row?!?!) I clearly understand what this young lady is talking about. She told us that she will not sit in on a lesson that we teach, unless it involves something to do with ONE DIRECTION. 

Problem solved. 

We found a life size cut-out of HARRY STYLES at a party store. It was really expensive. We shared our situation with a member in our ward and she gave us money to purchase our very own "Flat Harry Styles." We purchased him and will be getting a missionary name tag for him that will say, "Elder Styles." He will be attending every lesson we have with her. Elder Styles is even coming to the district meetings we hold with the other elders and sisters. Not sure if Elder Styles has been invited. Who cares? We are sooooo funny!?!? 

Remember that FAITH can be a power in your life. Thanks for reading. Thanks for your support and love. 

xoxo Sister Kelly

In Old Town Alexandria with Sister Malufau, Sister Wright, Sister Kennedy and me.

Confused. 

It was raining really hard and when that happens, our mission president does not allow us to
drive our car. So we walked. In the rain. For about four miles. We got drenched.

Car inspection time. Clorox Bleach wipes were a lifesaver.

Just another Franconia sunset. 

We Wait Until Wednesday...Again

Dear Family and Friends:

We received an email from Elizabeth via her iPad. The libraries are closed today because of the Federal Holiday. Those in her mission received permission to email on Wednesday. So, "We wait until Wednesday...Again."

What she did tell us in her short email is that she loves her new area and ward. She knows this is where she should be. 

Best part of the email was that she was able to finally meet Jonathan Stewart!!! He is in the Alexandria Ward which meets in the same building as Sister Kelly's new ward (Franconia Ward). He is the ward mission leader in his ward. Jonathan's parents, Ralph and Judith, have been friends with Craig's family for years in Menlo Park. They have been such a part of Craig's family, that they feel like family! Ralph and Judith attended our wedding in the Los Angeles Temple. Even better, they were one of the first people to ever see Elizabeth, right after she was born, in the Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, CA. Such memories. Thank you for making the effort, Jonathan. 

Until Wednesday. Thank you again for reading.

Love,

Marya  

Feeling Fine in Franconia

Hey Everyone! 

It happened. I got transferred. On Thursday, January 8, 2015, I was told by our mission president, President Riggs that I will be moving or transferred to the Franconia Ward in Alexandria, VA. Which really means I am that much closer to one of my new favorite places, Old Town Alexandria (this town sits right along the Potomac River). I knew it was time to leave the Oakton Ward when I started calling some of the members by their first names. I would have been totally fine serving the rest of my mission in the Oakton area. But much to my dismay, it was time for a change. 

I felt so loved in Oakton and there are so many people there that changed my life. Seriously! They all touched my life in such amazing, unique ways. First off, I am going to miss Lee...the mailman. He was awesome. All missionaries appreciate the mailman. I left a part of my heart in the Oakton Ward. The people, the memories. SISTER ROSSI!  Shoutout to that rock star. I don't know what I would have done without her.

I was actually terrified of transfers. I had so many amazing experiences in Oakton, I was convinced it was all going to be downhill from there. So you can only imagine how sad it was to leave. I kept my composure (sort of) for most of the families that I said goodbye to. I started to really shed tears leaving the Noels. It all just didn't feel real. Until the next morning when we were driving to "transfer meeting." That's when the waterworks hit. I could not stop crying. I had bottled up the tears and they would not stop. It was so embarrassing. I had to say goodbye to some missionaries (Sister Richins) who were going home. It was so hard. I felt sorry for my new companion who was watching all of this tear shedding.  

SPEAKING OF WHICH

My new companion is SISTER WRIGHT! She is from Clovis, CA. She has been a missionary for one year.  

Sister Wright is so so sweet! Wow, do I love her! She is super easy going and is an incredible missionary. I am so blessed to have her as my new companion. We work really well together. It's funny how God just knows where you need to be and who you need to be with. I was so afraid of the adjustment of a new area but the Franconia Ward has made the adjustment super easy. I'm already starting to really love it here. 

The missionary work in Franconia is on fire! We are teaching a 15-year-old boy named Andrew who is so awesome. His friend, Ryan, invited him to church a few months ago and he's been to church every Sunday since then. He reads the Book of Mormon (what?!?!) and prays on his own (double what?!?!). His mom finally agreed to allow him to get baptized so now we just have to wait for his dad to say, "Yes!" We are also teaching a 16-year-old girl named Whitney. She is from Cameroon and already has a firm knowledge of God's love. We have people to teach and are super busy and...it feels great! Everyone in the Franconia Ward is on top of things. It's a huge reason the adjustment has been so easy. The Oakton Ward was really on top of things as well. I have seen some amazing leaders who really understand missionary work.

A fun fact about Sister Wright...she has amazing music. It's Christian music. I love it! 

And Sister Kennedy is in my district. Even more good times!

I will have more photos in a few weeks. I'm in a new library and I don't really know how these computers work. But for now, here is a pic of me and Sister Kennedy emailing our family and friends at the library. And, here's a pic of my new companion, Sister Wright, doing our laundry.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week! 

xoxo Sister Kelly 

Here Is What We Know...

Good Evening Family and Friends:

Elizabeth's mother here. This will be the shortest blog post ever because, simply put, Elizabeth never sent a blog post. She sent us a quick email saying that she didn't have much time because the Noels from church were taking her and Sister Rossi (drum roll please) to COSTCO. Another wish come true for our Sister Kelly. 

We know that this week, Elizabeth will be moving out of Oakton, VA and to...who knows? It's called a, "transfer." New area, new companion, new ward, new everything. She said in her email to us that the goodbyes this week haven't been that hard because she knows she will see so many of her new friends again. Sister Kelly loves the Oakton Ward and Sister Rossi.  

So, that is what we know and it is all we know. Hopefully, we will be hearing from Elizabeth before next Monday so that we know where she is "hanging her hat." 

Much Love,

Marya/Elizabeth's Mom and the rest of Elizabeth's family.