November 24, 2008

Guess what! You never will so I'll tell you...I'm going back to Tally! I'm going to be training and I'll be back on good ol' Florida State University. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. It was a huge shock. President called me Tuesday but we were in a lesson so we didn't answer - then we played phone tag for a day and 1/2 till finally he said - "I'll see you tomorrow at Zone Conference, we'll talk then". OK fine - but the curiosity was eating at me a little.

He pulled me in for our interview right before lunch and asked me how I was and if I wished to share anything with him. Putting off my curiosity - I talked with him about things I wanted to get his advice on. Anyway President then - with no lead in - bluntly asked how I would feel about going back to Tally and training. I think my jaw must have hit the floor! He told me a little about what is going on there and apparently it's going to be a slightly strange situation, Sister Scooresby and the other sister there are going to stay for a week while we "transition" then they are moving on to Destin to open it for Sisters.

The other sister in Tally (I don't know her name) has heart problems that are aggravated by stress so President is going to move slowly to try and help her. But I'm going walking into 5 baptism confirmation dates - two of which I know and three I don't - so it's good that they are sticking around for a bit as I find my footing there again.

Because of Turkey Day - transfers are a day early so that those that are going home will be there for Thanksgiving. So tomorrow I get on the transfer van and head back to the worlds greatest place. I can't wait! Sadly I will be spending the day packing not a fun p-day but whatever.

So in light of this news I know exactly what Sister Hartman will be doing Turkey Day however I don't really know what I will be doing. Since I write again on Saturday I'll let you know then what I did. I was talking with Sister Hartman and I jokingly said that I think that Mom had prayed me back to Tally so she could get two letters a week.

Oh - something else President and I talked about that I found amusing - he compared me to a spirited filly (horse) and he said that the Lord was a master trainer and that he was slowly breaking me in the proper way so that soon I could win races for him. If anyone besides President had used this analogy I might have been a little insulted but he's so loving that it was actually very sweet.

It's been kind of weird knowing so far ahead that I'm going to leave - I've had time to say good bye when usually you don't and it makes it all a little harder. But some good things have come from it. Last night we went to Sherries for dinner it was the first time we have been in her home and she really opened up to us, the reason we were invited was because I am going. My leaving kind of pushed her a little more than it would if I were staying - so that's a good thing. I get to be with Amanda - so that is another good thing - and apparently the Lord thinks I can help the people in Tally - so ... off I go.

I have another request, will you please burn a bunch of Christmas CD's for me? It's almost that time and I'm ready for some Christmas magic. I really want the Forgotten Carols and all the traditional stuff we have at home. Manheim Steam Roller, Barbara, Mariah, Celine, Josh, Clay... you know the good ones.

Oh and if you feel so inclined I really want the Prince of Egypt sound track.

I love you all! Have a great week, I'll write again soon. Saturday! Don't forget to write me please!

Love ya, Kelli

November 17, 2008

I hope I can make this week sound interesting. President Summerhays has been putting emphasis on goals, how to set realistic goals and then working to achieve them. This week we met most of our goals. I was very excited about that but man we worked our butts off to do it. I'm not so sure it was worth it.

Oh something I forgot to tell you last week, when we went over to teach Avonlea I heard some familiar tunes coming from the family room - I jumped up and ran over in time to see Firefly come on to the screen. I freaked out a little, who would have thought I'd find fellow Brown Coats way out here. The fact that I knew the show made her Dad like me a little more so - Joss Whedon will help me bring people into the church. There is good in most things.

Tuesday we had a lesson with Deborah, she is a referral from President, Sister Hartman has been trying to get hold of her for the past six months...we did it! Deborah lives in our area but will be going to a different Branch (we got the Stake Presidents approval) so we had the Relief Society President from the Branch that she will be attending come to the lesson. The two of them hit it off beautifully and I see good things happening. Unfortunately Deborah is yet another slow mover. She doesn’t like commitment and getting her to agree to a follow-up appointment was a diplomatic whirlpool. She is open and interested but it's gonna take a while.

We have been volunteering at a Ballet Studio to help them get ready for the Nutcracker. It was a lot of fun - I was having nostalgia while I hauled scenery and backdrops around. We also helped sew costumes what a trip down memory lane. One of the members here works at the Studio and her daughter is performing in the Nutcracker.

We have been preparing for a baptism this Saturday, it's for an eight-year-old so it doesn’t count toward our goals, but no one in the Branch knew how to get ready for a baptism so we got the job.

One of the miracles I witnessed this week was a huge answer to prayer. The member that we live with, Sister Combs is organizing a big group trip to see Twilight Friday night (notice the knife being twisted around in my heart) and she asked us who we knew that might want to come. We gave her a list of names and like 20 minutes later she came up to our apartment and started witnessing of the importance of sisterhood, Relief Society, Visiting Teaching and monthly activities. She said she had no idea how hungry some of these women were for interaction with other adults. We were like... Yes! Someone understands that all our work with less actives means nothing if they don't have a friend to rally around them. It made me so happy to see that she saw a need and now is ready and willing to fill it. I love it when good things like this happen.

Friday was hard. We won't talk about it.

Saturday we were so busy we didn't have time to take even a 10 minute lunch which is good, but I should have packed something to take on the go. So Saturday completely made up for Friday. We started working with Sydney, he is Lawrence (the Cajuns) brother - I love Sydney. He has a beautiful spirit and is excited and hungry for "the Lord's sweet word" I love it. The sucky days are always made up for ten fold by amazing days that make me want to be a missionary forever.

Sunday Kim was asked to give a 5-10 min talk about her conversion and testimony. She had us preview it the night before so we knew it would be fabulous - it was even better in church. While prepping her for it last week we told her about, Thankimonies, and Storymonies and defined a Testimony for her. She called us and told us she had had to re-write her whole talk 'cause it was a Prayerimony. So she did give a beautiful Testimony and we are so proud and happy for her.

Yes we have been hearing about the protests around the Temple and the white powder but we didn't get the memo till just now that it was a hoax.

I forgot the Sister Benfield stuff in my re-write didn't I? Oh boy - OK - so Tasha, (that's her first name) is now living in Utah and working. They don't really know what is wrong with her stomach - it still hurts sometimes so she's just having to deal with it. But the thing I wanted to tell you was that last week she and Heather (Smithers) went by the house to come visit ya'll but you weren’t there, they took pictures on the Utah shaped grass, I thought it was funny.

Thanks so much for sending the Ward Newsletter - it was lots of fun to read.

I've been trying to think about what I want or need for Christmas but I'm having a hard time coming up with anything. We were at Dillard's a little while ago and I saw that there are some animals that go with my Nativity now. That would be cool. You wouldn't need to send that to me just take a picture. Shirts would be nice too. I'm really bored with my wardrobe which is ironic 'cause in the past I haven't had as many clothes as I do now - go figure.

Well that's about it. I love you all very much and I love your letters. Keep it up!

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

November 10, 2008

So I had just finished my letter to ya'll and the computer kicked me off just as I tried to send it and lost the stupid letter. Uh! Ok I'm calm - I'll try again.

So Obama, Amanda is a democrat and we were talking today and she said essentially that she didn't mind paying for other people that are bums because some people actually do need it. We had to agree to disagree.

As for the ladder everyone has commented on that. This week I helped with the electrical stuff, and put on the weather proofing paper - if something doesn't turn on or leaks it'll probably be my fault.

That's really cool that the kids from your BYU Wards write you dad, you have made a great impact on many of their lives. And to think that you're my dad, I know someone important! Because it all relates back to me:)

I loved the Sadies pictures, Taylor you look so pretty!

We are still teaching the RLDS family, I have high hopes for the wife but not so much for the hubby. He's pretty set in his ways.

This week we spent a lot of time tracting and doing some teaching. Meeting with members active and less active alike.

I have a few quotes to add to the list:

"Lead your heart, don't follow it."

"You never know your limits till you've exceeded them."

I don't know if I've told you about a man in our ward - he's a character - very rough but lots of fun. This week he was telling us a story about the missionaries that baptized him. He told us, "Those boys were so impressed with me, they had me talk to the Mission President." Sis Hartman and I had a hard time keeping a straight face. Elders are awful creative. Heaven love 'em.

I think I got all the important stuff on there. I love ya'll and I love your letters. I was kind of cranky today 'cause it took so long to get around to being able to email, it brightens my week hearing from you!

All my love, Kelli

E-mail - November 3, 2008

I'm sending a picture of me on a 24 foot ladder hammering. I was being productive and hammering at this height for nearly 3 hours. I almost had a panic attack but I made it without dying! The strange lump on my butt is the cell phone.

I am so glad I don't have to watch TV - I don't know how I would deal with all the political stuff - my guess is not well. I think I mentioned this already, but President Boyd K. Packer's Conference talk gave me hope. I got the impression, just like you said Dad, that things will/can go bad - but as long as we have worthy Priesthood holders upholding the Constitution we'll be OK - eventually. President Packer's talk is called "The Test" - I recommend looking it up and either read or watch it. If nothing else - we know that the Church will make it through.

On a lighter note - I loved your Halloween costumes - did the Ward have a party or did you following in my footsteps and have a big party at the house? I'm crazy in love with Whitney's costume! I have every intention of using it at some point in the future. (Michael was Ralphie and I was the leg lamp from "A Christmas Story" - Whitney was a "Gold Digger")

I loved Dr. Alexanders cycle - it reminded me of the Book of Mormon. I'm on my second run through of the Book of Mormon since I left and one of my notes is something like me imagining Heavenly Father's reaction to people's prayers - "You're in bondage AGAIN? Oh man *sigh* I'm coming." I'm funny sometimes.

(The following is the quote Kelli referred to)
Cycle of Democracy

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury.

From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising them the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith;
from spiritual faith to great courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance;
from abundance to selfishness;
from selfishness to apathy;
from apathy to dependence;
from dependency back again into bondage.

Dr. Alexander Tytler

Anyway, this week was spent doing lots and lots of service, we painted, hammered, cleaned and volunteered at the Iron Man competition. The Iron Man was my favorite - we got free t-shirts - our job was to track the athletes for their families. They would come up to us and tell us the number of the person they were watching and we would look it up and tell them approximately where they were in the race and how fast they had done the laps. Dad, you did a half Iron Man right? Or was that a triathlon - what is the difference?

Mom - your Christmas tree is up already? You know that is tacky right? I bet you've got your lights on too. Congrats on losing the support hose - I assume you feel good and are pain free without them.

I was talking to Amanda this morning and was reminded of a quote I need to tell ya'll. We were talking to Kim and Haadi about Temples - Haadi is all kinds of curious - Kim didn't care that much she said "I'll see it when I see it." Then she went on and said, "If you've got Jesus sitting on a throne in there, I'm going to be mad." Oh I nearly died!

That's about it! I love ya'll - Kelli

P.S. I'll probably find out about the election from members, but tell me just in case.

E-Mail October 28, 2008

What a crazy week this has been. It's so good to hear from ya'll and to read your letters. I can sometimes imagine your voice as I read it and since it's all in my head I get surround sound.

I'm glad Grandpa liked the card and he's right I did give him that quarter and he should keep it.

I'm glad that mom's legs are getting better and that she has proved once again that she is Wonder Woman. After all no pain no gain. But the next appointment will be the last one right? While I'm glad that you're doing well I still don't like that you are in pain for any reason.

As for what we do on Halloween I don't know - I asked a few people and they said that last year President made everyone go home at 7 and stay home. I guess I'll get word before Friday what we're supposed to do. And Dad I love getting news updates from you! Don't you dare stop. I need to know what's going on out there.

I got the Absentee Ballot today and voted.

Following are the details of my week:

Monday I wrote ya'll then we had a lesson with Avonlea (my kindred spirit) I was teaching her "Endure to the End" and I was worried about how to teach the principle without being too pushy. If you remember she was baptized at eight and then her parents quit coming to church so she hasn't been since she was eight years old. Anyway for her lesson I played "The Iron Rod" on the piano and made everyone sing - then I did a dramatic demonstration of "clinging" to the Iron Rod and how it will bring us happiness. The Spirit was so strong and I know that it only went so well 'cause it wasn't my idea - it was the Spirit of Revelation with me while planning that lesson.

Tuesday nothing interesting happened.

Wednesday we volunteered at the Library - we had to check all the books and make sure they were in order according to the Dewey Decimal System. While doing that I found a few books to let Whitney and Taylor know about that I think might be good.

Once Upon a Marigold and Twice Upon a Marigold - by: Jean Ferris

Septimus Heap: Magyk/Septimus Heap: Flyte/Septimus Heap: Physik - by: Angie Sage

These are a series, obviously. So if you feel so inclined check 'em out and then let me know if they were any good :)

On Wed we also meet a Cajun. I'm very excited. We might teach him but I'm not sure yet. We then had a lesson with a family that are members of the RLDS Church or Community of Christ as they are called now. It was a really good meeting, we go again tomorrow. We asked President a little about how to go about teaching them and he recommended being bold. I'll let you know how it goes next week.

Thursday most of our appointments fell through - it was rather boring as we tried to get stuff done but people weren't being very cooperative.

Friday we had Zone Conference we talked about repentance being change and how when we truly repent we change. Explaining it now it's like well duh - but it was a very spiritual meeting full of love. In my interview with President we both were so full of love we sobbed through most of it. I love making President cry I cried too but hey that's not new.

The Branch had a Trunk or Treat party that evening we went over to Kim and Haadi's to make green macaroni and cheese. Sister Hartman and I dressed up as "Normal People" meaning we wore jeans and sweatshirts instead of skirts. There were two less active families there that we have been working with for awhile now and the Branch was so welcoming it was really nice to watch.

Saturday I helped build a house. I spent four hours hammering and helping frame this house. It was one of the families that had come to the party the night before and they came to church on Sunday. Power to service. My hands still hurt but oh well I'll recover.

Sunday Haadi received the Priesthood - his blessing was really cool it mentioned how he had "the blood of Israel running through his veins" and that he "would use his Priesthood as a source of peace and love in his home" very cool. I love watching peoples lives change as they accept and live the gospel. I really want to be here when Haadi gets his Patriarchal Blessing. I wonder what Tribe he's from - it'll be pretty cool.

Yesterday the reason I didn't write is that we had a meeting in Bristol with Elder Clate Mask someone in the Mission Department in Salt Lake City. We were there along with the Tally Zone so I got to see a lot of familiar faces.

After that we had another lesson with Avonlea - it was Follow the Prophet - since we had that meeting in the morning we had to prep for her lesson Sunday and I had the prompting to get the New Era and get her the Prophets message from it. I had Brother Combs print it out for me and it was perfect. I didn't know what the message was but the Lord did and he knew Avonlea needed it. I love the way the Spirit works and I love that I'm starting to understand its promptings.

Pretty cool week. I'll send some of the pictures from Trunk or Treat. Love Ya'll - Happy Halloween! Kelli

E-mail - October 20, 2008

The South has all kinds of spiders and bugs. These two spiders live outside our house. The yellow one has a cool web - the redish one is huge. The plank that it is on is 7 inches wide - this makes him about 5 or 6 inches!

A very blury and grainy district photo. Front row L-R Cosby, Me, Hartman, Sister & Elder Farr (of Farr Ice Cream), Halterman. Back row L-R Chapel, Russell, Cox, Arrington

I sent Grandpa 'Loney a card in the mail last week for his 80th birthday - it should be there now. I was very excited about this one 'cause I was able to record my voice on it. I thought it was pretty cool.

Thank you for the update on the rate of your hair growth mom, I'm a little disappointed that you don't resemble a monkey now. But I suppose that less pain was the goal not hairy monkey legs. I got the paper to sign for an absentee ballot and I sent that back to Utah - I haven't recieved an actual ballot yet.

How is Total Health and Fitness doing with all the financial woes of the world? We met with a less active this week that told us more about what's going on. Apparently Obama's ahead in the polls? Its funny 'cause here in PCB we only see McCain/Palin signs since I have no TV I assume he's doing well cause that's all I see here.

As for me - Hartman and I are still together - nothing in our district changed. We had a plentiful week culminating in 8 new investigators found. We have already dropped 3 of them but hey that's missionary work. We attribute this high to the Stake Fast held on Fast Sunday for missionary work. President Summerhays letter always has the weeks numbers on it for us to view - this week the whole mission found 207 new investigators. The most I've seen since coming out.

Played Volleyball with the Ward this week - I can serve but otherwise I'm not so good, but we scored most of our points while I was serving, still lost but hey I'll take what credit I can get.

I keep trying to think of something interesting to say but we spent all week tracking. That's all we did so nothing too exciting. I sent some pictures. Other wise... nope I've got nothing else to say.

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

Kelli

E-mail - October 14, 2008

The days go really slowly but the weeks just fly by, months are erratic, either they are fast or slow. This month is fast. Transfers are tomorrow but as far as I can tell nothing is changing for me. It's good because I'm still learning my way around here and require Sis Hartman's assistance in knowing where people live.

I'm sorry this week has been so full of pain for both of you. But I'm glad that you are going to be better even if it takes some time to get there. (Mom had some leg veins worked on - I told her my circulation should get better and my hair might grow - dad had a tooth pulled). And you well know that I long to hear about the rate in which your hair grows. I'm tingling with anticipation as I await your report.

I did get the package - thank you so much. We devoured the CD's. We have been listening to the same few for the last 6 weeks - new stuff is heaven sent. We started the Susan Easton Black CD's Monday and really enjoy them. (Whitney is taking a Church History class and recorded each class). I got the charm on all by myself - I was very proud. (New charm for her Story-Telling Festival bracelet).

Since you're celebrating Grandpa's Birthday at Thanksgiving does that mean there won't be a family Halloween party? The branch is having a truck or treat on the 24th - I don't know if I'm allowed to dress up or not. But if I am - I'm going as the Iron Rod. I will write "The Iron Rod" (Hold me) and I'll just be in a tube of some kind. Is that not a brilliant idea or what?

I watched "The Testament" with Amanda right before she got baptized. I like it but its hard for me not to mock the actors 'cause mostly they're really bad. The spirit doesn't like my less than charitable thoughts which makes the movie less tear-jerking for me.

Ok, now dads questions, we do have a car but we get limited miles - so when we can we prefer to walk or ride our bikes. We see the Panama City, Lynn Haven, and Carmall Elders once a week at district meeting - so I'm not close to them like I was to the Elders in Tally. We do have a good pool of people we're teaching. We keep finding people that were baptized years ago and now we are trying to get them to come back to church. Most of them didn't know that there is a branch out here. We'll see how that goes. The Stake has really been focusing on missionary work - we had a Stake fast for it Sunday and we're looking forward to many miracles because of members faithfulness.

Speaking of which how is your other calling going? Sharing the gospel via internet, any good bites? Which reminds me, Casey the convert in Tally that came to UT for Conference? She called me Thursday begging forgiveness for not meeting ya'll but I assured her it was OK. Anyway the point is that she was introduced to the church via the internet. She was playing a online game called World of War Craft and she joined a group of mostly LDS people. The boy she went to visit this last week served his mission in the FTM and he encouraged her to find the missionaries on campus, so she came looking for us, and was baptized a month later. But the big news is that she is engaged. And the two of them will be sealed in the Manti Temple May 1st 2009. Pretty cool. I'm a little jealous, but I am so happy for her - she is the start of a generation of little Mormons.

We've been studying a lot about the Lords timing. In Sunday School Haadi asked us where we were 10 years ago, we could have saved him a lot of trouble, I told him he wasn't ready 10 years ago - he agreed with me. Crazy how it all works out - divine orchestration.

That's all I've got to say about that. The church is true, the book is blue, write Kelli letters and have a nice day.

Love, ya'll

Kelli