E-mail July 28, 2008

Our apartment won't be ready till Aug 1 and we're not officially in there till the 10th - I don't know how the move is going to work. I think we'll have to enlist the AP's for help.

Yesterday was good, I played for hopefully the last time in Sacrament. We went to a members house for dinner. She had her grandmother drive from Chiplley - a good hour away - to come and make us dinner. What a nut - we had lots of fun and her grandma is a trip.

Tomorrow Benny goes to the Doctor - we think that this visit will determine if she stays or goes. If she goes I will miss her greatly.

I love you. Thank you so much for all the support you give me. All my love, Kelli

E-mail - July 26, 2008

So you know how I said that President was going to open a new sister area? Yeah that's not going to happen anymore. President called us and told us he is sending Sister Scoresby to come stay with us in case Benny goes home. So no new area - and we get a new sister.

Thank you so much for picking up Amanda, she is such a huge part of my life right now that I was so excited to have you meet her. As for the trees, she was convinced that there were no trees in Utah since it is after all a desert. She didn't believe us 'till she got there. So I say ha! Yes my southern accent is deplorable (Amanda is trying to teach her how to speak southern - she said she starts out OK but ends up with a British accent) I avoid subjecting people to it as much as possible, but I practice now and then to see if I've made any improvement.

Our investigator isn't satisfied with our answers, we are still meeting with her because she has lots of questions, but she doesn't believe in modern prophets and she won't read the BofM. At this point my goal is to leave her with a good impression of Mormons so that years from now when her heart is more open she will take the opportunity to learn again.

Yesterday was Zone Conference - that was all kinds of fun. In my interview with President, he told me he could see my "sparks starting to flame up".

I'm on a Christmas kick. It's Christmas in July at our apartment - "The Forgotten Carols" being a favorite. Oh we are getting a new apartment. We signed the papers Monday and we start moving August 1st. I'm really excited for the move - it is out of the ghetto where we currently live and hopefully much quieter too.

This week was spent mostly on campus. We have two new people we are teaching so that's all kinds of fun. We're going bowling later today and then teaching after that. Yippie! Teaching is so much more fun than walking around.

Check out this website - www.buyjanellejewelry.com - the girl that makes this jewelry has a booth on both campuses. Janelle is awesome - she will be baptized one day. She has amazing faith and is deeply in tune with the Spirit. We teach her while she works her booth and we are great friends. I love her lots.

Yesterday I saw my first Stomp Competition. That was an experience to say the least. I really liked it. I have no rhythm and it is fun to watch those that do. It is also the first time in my life that I have been a minority - it was really cool to experience. I have some of the competitions on my camera - when I send my chip home you'll see it. I also ate at Hogwarts yesterday - one of the dining halls on FSU campus looks just like Hogwarts. It was fun - we muggles are now gaining admittance there.

I keep forgetting to tell you, last week when the heat was just too much we escaped into the History Bldg on Campus and low and behold there is a World History chart that covers the entire history of the Book of Mormon. It was amazing.

Anyway - that's me. Love you - Kelli

E-mail July 21, 2008

Transfers, it's still me and Benny on good 'ol FSU. We thought we would be getting a 3rd sister here, but President is opening a new Sister Area in Geneva instead of having another three-some. So now there are 6 sister areas.

Last week was spent pounding the pavement at FSU and TCC. We celebrated Elder Call's 23rd birthday and we got ties at the tie trade. I own 4 awesome ties now and I know one knot that I can do all by myself. Huzzah! It's the "Full Wilson" or "Double Winston" - something like that.

We will be teaching a 10 year old girl in the next couple of weeks. We're all sorts of excited about that. Her dad and step-mom are members, but her mother who has main custody is not. She spends the summer down here with her dad and decided she wanted to take the lessons to see if she wants to join. We are thrilled to plan lessons for her.

Question - Amanda is flying into Utah this Friday and needs a ride from the airport to Provo - can you pick her up? (I did! It was wonderful to meet her and hear about our Kelli! She calls her "Willy" cute huh? See picture of mom and Amanda.)

I played the piano again in Sacrament meeting yesterday - I'm getting better - mostly.

We are getting ready to move out of our apartment so much cleaning and packing is about to commence. Yippie! So that's me - keep writing - it makes my heart glad to hear from you!

Church is true, book is blue, write Kelli letters and have a nice day. Kelli

E-mail - July 19, 2008

We might get put in a threesome. There are an odd number of sisters and there is one more coming out Wednesday (transfers). Rumors have been running rampant about transfers. We find out for sure Monday - I'll let you know what happens to our district.

There are only 5 sister areas in the whole mission. There are 11 sisters out right now. I could go or I could stay - I kind of want to be here for when school starts again to see what that is like, but the transfers after this one are September 3rd so I don't know. I might make this transfer here, but I kind of doubt I'll still be here in September.

The 5 sister areas are Tallahassee, Crestview, Troy (Alabama), Panama City Beach, and Andalusia (Alabama). Troy and Andalusia are probably the back wood ones. (See Mission Map posted on May 3, 2008)

E-mail - July 14, 2008

Our meeting with Shaday (our African American investigator) went ok. We talked a lot about the whys and wherefores, but we weren't really able to avail her of her concerns. We gave her a talk we had printed off by Bruce R. McConkie, I hope she reads it. Her whole thing is that when Christ came he tore down all barriers of race (Ephesians 2:11-19) so how could a man called of God ie: Brigham Young claim that God would still segregate some of his children after he tore down all the barriers. She doesn't believe a man truly called of God would do that. I don't know how to start her reading and praying about the Book of Mormon yet. She wants to continue meeting with us so maybe . . .

One of the themes that President Summerhays emphasizes is "The Enabling Power of the Atonement". Eldner Bednar gives a great talk about this that really explains it well. The talk is called "In the Strength of the Lord" - I recommend reading it if you get the chance.

Anyway - I love you lots - keep writing, it makes my heart glad. All my love - Kelli

E-mail July 12, 2008

I celebrated my 3 month mark in my head. At 6 months I burn some Knee highs, at 9 I burn a shirt, 12 a skirt, and at 18 I burn a whole outfit before coming home. I'll do the knee highs, but I don't know if I can bring myself to do the others. We'll see.

I appreciate the things you found for me earlier this week. We are meeting with this girl in about an hour and we'll see how it goes. We've been studying and preparing as best we can all week. As for the rest of my week...

Tuesday I had my first true southern food, fried okra, fried chicken, cheese broccoli, and banana pudding. It was very good, but I'll be OK not eating it again, I felt fat after we left and I really hadn't eaten that much. I was sure the grease was oozing through me and clogging my arteries as I sat there.

Wednesday we had dinner at a members - Amanda drove us - we got about three feet from the house before we realized that we had a flat. That was a fun adventure, changing the tire I mean. Benny has pictures, but I don't.

Thursday we were at TCC as per usual and taught the law of chastity to three different people - it was interesting. That seemed to be the topic of the day.

Friday, July 11, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. I was Saved. Two girls walked up to me and asked some religious questions and then asked if I'd like to learn more, seeing an opportunity I agreed. We have many similar belief's and they kept telling me that if I accepted Jesus Christ in my heart that I would be saved. So I did and now I'm saved. We talked a lot about Faith without Works being dead, and grace and so on. It was actually a good conversation, I left them with lots of reading material like pamphlets and who knows maybe something made sense to them.

Today Benny, Amanda and I went to the Flea Market. Benny bought a confederate flag for $2 - I just haven't been in the south long enough to appreciate it - but I did get a Jesus Saves t-shirt last week. I'm slowly being broken in. So that's me - I hope you are all safe and happy. Love you lots. Kelli

E-mail - July 7, 2008

Amanda's Baptism was wonderful. Another ward had scheduled a baptism for the same time, we just started late and it all worked out fine. Sister Bowcut gave a talk on Baptism and the Holy Ghost. She had us sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", and then compared the Spider to Sin, the Rain to Baptism, and The Sun the Holy Ghost. It was lots of fun and the spirit was so strong. Elder Call Baptized her and Benny and I raced to the dressing room after it was over and we all hugged and cried together. It was a wonderful experience.

She was confirmed Sunday and just a few hours after her confirmation we had her out with us teaching new investigators. She has such a strong testimony and she was not afraid to speak up. Amanda had only had one lesson with Sister Benfield and Bardson before I got there. She was a self referral and looking for religion - She found it!

Taylor goes on her first date, what is with that? I really don't like the whole growing up without me there to see it thing. Oy! Side note - I just had the worlds most amazing stuffed mushrooms. I have never had anything so wonderful in my mouth. I have tasted Celestial food and Terrestial will never suffice again.

I love you lots - Kelli