Email - May 17, 2008

Hello from the South,

Taylor you know Whitney so well that you picked the same outfit.  I think it's marvelous that you know her that well.  Don't worry about it, if nothing else it made me smile.  I went to Hot Topic yesterday and got a $10 Gryffindor sweat shirt of which I am very proud.  It gets really cold at night here.

I hope you had a happy birthday Whitney.  It sounds like mom and dad made an impression on your roommates.  I'm not sure what kind of impression, but an impression none the less.

I'm glad you got to spend a little time with the Wilcox relatives.  Sydney will grow up to be a great young woman, I'm glad to hear that she works so hard taking care of her siblings.  I hope they listen better than mine listened to me.  Oldest siblings know best! (hint, hint, wink, wink)

I got the little toe sleeves and wore them all day yesterday.  My feet were very happy and stylish.  We had huge amounts of rain come in on us and while we waited it out in our apartment I drew on my toe sleeves.  Sister Benfield and I ran out and played in the rain for awhile, we were soaked and standing in several inches of water and running around like mad people.  Sister Smith got it on video, we told her she wasn't allowed to come outside 'cause she's still sick.  Oh we took Benfield to the Dr.'s twice this week and so far we know that her "bilirubin is elevated" but we have no idea what that means.  We're still waiting on the results from the ultrasound.  Sister Smith goes home June 12th and we will miss her but she's ready to go.  She's got plans and family.  She will be attending BYU Idaho and I've been helping her pick her classes based on my remembrance of where the buildings are.

We've had two lessons so far this week and we have another one tonight.  I'm really excited for this one.  It's a girl the Elders found and I hope that she'll be there.  Number wise it's been a better week and I did get copies of my journal and sent it to you, I just don't remember what day it was that I sent it.  The only day that really stands out during the week is P-day, all the others are very similar.  The days are long but the weeks are short, time seems to fly and crawl all at once.

Elder Cosby was transfered on Monday and we got a new Elder, Elder Call.  Yeah - that's me.  I love you all so much and love hearing from you.

The Church is true.  The Book is blue. Write Kelli letters.  And have a nice day.

Sister Kelli Wilcox

Day 34 - May 13, 2008 - Journal Entry

Happy Birthday Whitney!

We had district meeting today, I met the new AP Elder Wright, or Brady Wright of Timpview who knows my Whitney. He was very excited and I promised to let Whitney know I saw him. I vote that if she has to get married, she should pick him.

Casey took us to the Drs. for Benfield & Smith. Casey and I waited for them in the waiting room for 2 hours to find out the Dr. didn't know what was wrong. He ordered more tests for Benfield and told Smith to wait and see. I read a talk by Elder Bednar about The Enabling Power of the Atonement and he defines my interpretation of life and the Atonement. Pretty much everything Mary taught me - It was very cool.

On campus a hawk was trying to get to a nest and the mom and dad mocking birds were on the attack which got a crowd around and we got to talk to a lot of people while watching this. Power to nature - helping God any which way.

Rachel had a farewell party (she's moving to AZ), we went to say we love her and good-bye. Rachel loves Indian food and Bolliwood - we sampled a little of the food and left before the movie. It saddened my heart, but I'll be on the look out for it after my mish and watch it then.

Day 33 - May 12, 2008 - Journal Entry

Sister Benfield and Smith are dying on me. Sister Smith has a continuous, nasty cough and is unable to sleep at night. While Sister Benfield is in immense pain around her stomach and gall bladder. They spent the morning on the phone with Sister Summerhays and the doctors office getting appointments. Sister Smith got a prescription and we had Melanie pick us up and take us to Wal-Mart to fill the prescription. We then went back to campus and had lunch at Chili's, walked to the Library, emailed home - la de da.

For FHE we (the sisters) were in charge. We played 3 step or extreme dodge-ball. It was a lot of fun and we had several members come up to us to offer help - rides - whatever. We took it as a sign they they are starting to trust us.

Elder Cosby has left us and Elder Call has taken his place. Elder Wall is now DL and he asked me to give a 5 minute training on families and how they related to Lesson 3 in PMG. Then the zone leaders came by to give a 30 minute training on "The Enabling Power of the Atonement." I'm not really sure what that is, but Benfield gave me 3 talks to read on the subject, so I'm about to find out.

E-mail May 12, 2008

It was an interesting week - we walked a lot, saw very few people, had great spiritual experiences and our numbers were zeros. All across the board - zeros. We had several appointments with people but no one showed. We walked till my feet bled and saw very few people.

I also met my first crazy person this week. Her name is Crystal, she has read the Bible and knew that we had been told not to make or worship images above or below the earth. She told us that because we had a picture of Christ we were sinning. We just smiled and nodded with her, you can't reason with people like that. We let it go - while she was talking I thought of several rebuttals but Dad - you'd be so proud of me - I kept my mouth shut and let her have her say without making it a big deal. Smile and nod, that's all you can do, just smile and nod.

We were so desperate for people this week that we went to the mall thinking that there would be people there. I guess people don't like to shop in Florida. I did get to talk to a lot of sales girls - that was fun. Sister Smith, who is very much a tom boy, bought a hot pink dress suit to wear home so she can shock her parents. She looks amazing in it - I believe her parents will be plenty surprised. We had to walk through Barnes and Nobles (our ride wanted to go) there is no greater torture. I saw "The Host" and nearly cried as I walked past - I did touch it as I went by. It's so pretty - and the smell - I love the smell of books. It's rude, I say, just rude to make me go through that. But it is good because now I know I can survive it, even if I don't like it. Anyway that's me - what are you up to? Anything new? Good stories to share, let me know. Lots of Love, Sister Kelli Wilcox

(Note from mom - Kelli's email is not working with all comcast providers - keep sending her letters and she will reply through me or I will post it on her blog)

Day 32 - May 11, 2008 - Journal Entry

Happy Mothers Day!

Sunday - we had meetings in the morning. RS was good - we talked about the Priesthood. SS was fun - Sara Black taught - the topic was Repentance, you ask how this was fun? I'll tell you. She shared a story of a testimony meeting she had once attended. An older gentleman went up to the pulpit and declared, "Brothers and Sisters - I have sinned - I have committed adultery with Sister Sanchez. Sister Sanchez jumped up and yelled "That's not true!" The congregation is in an uproar and the old man calls out, "In my heart." Sister Sanchez fainted and the meeting continued. The point of this story was about the appropriateness of confessing and forsaking sins.

Sacrament was incredibly spiritual. Casey shared her conversion story and bore her testimony for the first time, she did a great job. Sister Beacutt spoke next and gave a wonderful talk about being a mom. I love that we have the ability to change - 3 years ago I would have been fuming through the whole thing, but today I was able to bask in the spirit and let it witness to me of the divinity of Motherhood. It made me incredibly grateful for my mom, for always being there and sacrificing so much just to be with us as we grew up.

After church got out I had to wait a couple of hours before I could call home - stupid time difference. But is was wonderful to hear everyones voice, I got a good visual of what was going on and it made me laugh. I miss them, but I feel good about being here and that makes it easy to stay.

While I talked to my family, Sister Benfield and Smith had laid dozens of papers on the floor and traced themselves and stuck it up on the wall. I went next - we're going to make murals out of them - it will be lots of fun. Happy Day!