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

E-mail October 6, 2008

Hurray for Dan and Michelle! Way to reach your goal. (Dan & Michelle are Kelli's aunt and uncle who ran in the St. George Marathon just under 4 hours - in the rain). You all look very cold in the pictures. I'll try not to gloat as I tell you of the nice 80 degree weather I've been enjoying. I'm glad y'all enjoyed conference. I loved it as well. We went to watch it at the Branch House but there were only a few members there, most of them watch it online. Sherrie came by the church Sunday - we were so excited that she came but she only came to tell us she couldn't come. She works 60 hour weeks and is getting her MBA so I guess I'll give her a break. Honestly I'd rather she read the Book of Mormon than go to conference. Sigh. It will happen. And when it does it will be great.

This week we had many teaching appointments and they all ditched us. The worst ones are when you can hear them talking inside and they won't come to the door. Couldn't they tell us they really don't want us back? It would save us time and miles. Thursday we met a woman who insisted that we worshiped a man, we had blinders on, and we were in a cult. We shook her hand, thanked her for her time and walked away. It was easy to walk away but it was difficult to not think of arguments in my head and run them over and over again as I imagined reasoning with her.

Friday the only big thing that stuck out was that I got to pet a wolf! This guy had a she wolf on a leash and was taking her for a walk. We stopped and played with the wolf. It was so cool. Unfortunately I didn't remember my camera till they were around the corner. I PLAYED WITH A WOLF! I think I win the coolest person ever award. We also got to go on the Navy base - one of the members lives there and they were feeding us.

Saturday after conference we went around doing less active work and I got super sick. We came home about 8 - I spent a good 1/2 hour worshiping the porcelain toilet before going to bed. Sunday I was fine. I have no idea what happened, but I'm all kinds of good now so who knows.

I think my favorite conference talk was Pres Packer. You really had to find the hidden meaning to it. I liked the message, admittedly it took me awhile to get it but all's well that ends well. The prayer talk that you mentioned mom was by Bednar. He's pretty much the coolest thing since sliced bread. I wish I remembered who did the faith talk but he also talked about faith being an action.

Today we got two Baptisms and Confirmation Dates (BCDs) a married couple, Jermaine and Senika, they live way the heck out there, it is a good 45 min drive to get to their place very "over the river, and through the woods". Senika is pregnant, about 9 weeks along, they had met with the Elders before but then they moved so now we get em'. I'm excited for them. It will be good. They are preparing to get baptized the second weekend of November.

After we left their house we went to Sea Side which is where they filmed the Truman Show. It was cool, but way too pricey for poor kids like me.

I get to see Amanda this weekend. One of the members in Talley has a band and is coming to PCB and Amanda is coming to support him - so I get to see her!

I think the computer will co-operate this time so I'm sending baptism pictures from last week. Love ya, Kelli

September 29, 2008

I failed to bring my journal with me this week but I will do my best to remember what happened....After much thought and reflection I have come to the conclusion that I only remember from Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday - interesting - that is why I have a journal.

Well on Thursday we had Zone Conference. I had a wonderful interview with President Summerhays and we talked about being a brothers keeper. I feel relieved and more at peace after talking with him. I spent a while talking with Sister Summerhays, we got close in Tallahassee and I've missed talking to her - so that was nice. We met with Avonlea, (my kindred spirit), Sister Hartman is helping her with math - I read while they talked math.

Friday I don't remember.

Saturday was the baptism. We left the house early to go to the Stake Center to fill up the font and make programs. Everything went off without a hitch, well Jacob was late but he kept calling so we knew he was coming. We went to lunch at Applebee's - then we went back to the Stake Center for one of the Elders baptisms - then we went to the church to watch the Women's Session of Conference with Kim.

Sunday they all got Confirmed and I spent most of the day getting all the paper work filled out so they can have records made. We had a pot-luck at church and they got to socialize. Haadi is helping someone move on Tuesday - way to jump in with both feet! Last week he was in Louisiana with the Elders Quorum helping clean up the mess Gustoff left behind - he is going to be great in the church. We gave them all quads and Kim was telling us how Haadi had spent the better part of the afternoon on Sat learning the tabs on it. Cute!

We went tracting that evening and I gave away two Restoration pamphlets which is normal and fine except for the fact that I forgot that I had put our family Christmas photo in one of them 'cause the Elders wanted to see the fam and I didn't want the photo to get bent. Now either Leslie or Brandy has the picture and we're not meeting with either of them till later in the week. Sad.

Sounds like Annie's wedding was beautiful I look forward to getting some pictures. Taylor you look gorgeous in your dress! It is so you. I'm glad you had fun - that's the way dates should be.

Thanks for the update on the world around us Dad. On Thursday President talked about how thankful he was that everything seemed to be going to the dogs. He talked about how only humble people could usher in the 2nd coming and that we were being prepared for it. Even if it is 10-100 years from now - I'm not sure how comforted I am.

That's all I've got to say. Love ya, Kelli

September 22, 2008

Sister Hartman and I went to Coldwater Creek and traded the shirts in for a Medium. I found a beautiful shirt that I love there and traded two for one. I did really like the shirts you sent but this one attracted my attention in a big way. What can I say, I like expensive things. I took a picture for you and I will be wearing it again at the baptism so you will get an over load of this shirt.

I'm starting to get used to it here but I want to try the things that were successful in Tally and see if those same principles will work here.

I also sent a picture of a Dragon Fly that we found while out tracting. They are everywhere! I love them 'cause they eat things that want my blood.

As for my week - Monday after I wrote y'all, we had a lesson with a less-active 14 year old girl. We are kindred spirits. Her parents are both converts and soon after she was baptized they stopped coming to church - I'm not sure why. But we did a first lesson with her and we're going again tonight to do the 2nd. Then we had Family Home Evening for the singles - we played Sardines in the church - it was lots of fun.

Tuesday Kim called us and told us that Rianna, the baby of the family (17 months), had a 6 minute seizure the night before. We called around and got some of the men to come and give her a Priesthood Blessing - we did a pretty lengthy lesson on the Priesthood before they gave her the blessing. The blessing was cool - it promised recovery but talked mostly about what an example she will be to her family in the gospel and how she will be strong and faithful to it.

Wednesday we were on bikes - it was a normal missionary day nothing interesting.

Thursday we did weekly planning - it took forever! Then we met with some of the Branch leaders and set up a mission plan for the Branch which was supposed to be put into action yesterday but now has to wait till next week - Branch politics.

Friday we were at Miss Emma's. I took some pictures. Miss Emma likes to tell dirty jokes and is the best cook. We tracted for hours after that.

Saturday was spent tracting. With Kim, Haadi, and Jacob getting baptized we need to find some new investigators. I'll let you know if any of the people we found pan out.

Sunday I had to conduct the music. I really don't know how to do it. I felt like I was waving my arms around like an idiot but whatever. Last week at Stake Conference a member introduced us to his friend Heather - she is in her mid 60's I think. We talked before and after conference - I complimented her on her necklace. Yesterday Ashley called to tell me that Heather bought a necklace for me - we met with him to pick it up. It is very pretty - peoples' generosity astounds me. Heather has agreed to give us her phone number so I can call and thank her - we'll see if we can get her to church again.

Today we met for the 3rd time with Miss Sherrie. Her sister is a member in Colorado and her nephew is serving in the Arizona Mission. We were talking about the difference between fore-ordination and free agency and she started talking about how she felt like she was being led to something but she wasn't sure what yet. I nearly cried I was so happy - she's found it! She just needs to recognize it.

How's that for detail? I'll send a separate email with pictures. Thanks for writing it makes me happy. Kelli

September 15, 2008

Thanks for sending some shirts. I haven't received them yet so we'll see how well they fit when they get here. Sister Hartman and I do Missionary Work very differently but we are finding ways to compromise. We have found a much better balance this week and I am sure we will continue to work it out.

The family whose house we are staying above went to Disney World for the week and we got to do dog duty. Their dogs name is Opus and he is sweet and very obedient - it was really nice being able to walk him 3 times a day. We rode our bikes about every other day this week and my tan is amazing - plus exercies gets rid of all my stress knots.

President came down on Friday to interview Kim, Haadi, and Jacob. They had a great interview and are going to be baptised on the 27th. I don't remember if I told you about them or not. So in case I didn't - Haadi is from Iran. His family left when he was about 8 and he's now a US citizen but he was raised Muslim. Teaching him about God and Jesus Christ was a challenge according to Sis Hartman. I didn't know him before but now he has a light in his eyes that make me love him so much. Haadi and Kim have been married for about 11 years and have 3 kids - two adopted and one natural. Kim is the most charitable person I have ever met. She wants to save the world. Jacob got kicked out of his house and Kim took him into her home. Saturday we went over to their house and made sack lunches and dropped them outside some doors where very destitute people live. If she could she would feed the world.

We had Stake Conference yesterday and President spoke - he talked about meeting Kim and likened her to the Statue of Liberty, "Bring me your tired, your poor and your weary." He hit the nail on the head. That was pretty much my week.

I'm excited to see pictures of the den when its all finished. I love that both of you in separate emails call the chair in Dad's den "Taylor's chair". That's all I've got to say. I didn't take any pictures last week - I"ll try and get some this week.

Lots of love,

Kelli

September 8, 2008 - Panama City Beach, Florida

Well here I am in Panama City Beach - here after called PCB. We live in an apartment over a members garage. It's really nice - but it's strange having members so close. It is so different here - I was incredibly frustrated the first couple days here. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the work. Sister Hartman assures me that it was only last week and it will calm down and get more structured.

We have 3 baptisms set for the 27th - one of them is from Iran. He moved here when he was eight and grew up with no religious influence. His life has been a topsy-turvy mess until he met and married his wife. They have been married for 11 years and have 3 kids. They are awesome!

Munchkin (Taylor), I'm sorry I'm not there to watch Disney with you - I miss doing fun stuff like that with you. But hey you get to watch the new Little Mermaid and I don't - so pros and cons. P.S. if y'all haven't bought the new Little Mermaid please do so - then when I come home in a year I can watch it and it's not in the Disney vault for the next 10 or so years.

The only things I know about politics are what the members tell me. But I did see that US magazine you mentioned at the grocery store today. I didn't know if the daughter was actually pregnant or if that was vicious falsehoods. But because of McCains running mate I'm far more inclined to vote for him now. Very strategic move on his part.

No one here is worried about the hurricane but they are preparing to head up to Louisiana to help clean up the last one and get people out as this one comes through.

Oh the family that we live with/next to - whatever - the mom Jennifer is Gluten Intolerant - really badly. She has her own designated tray at church for the Sacrament that they only put her bread on. We had breakfast at their house Saturday and she made wonderful pancakes. They are from a company called Pamela's - she swears by them. She said you can get it online - go check it out.

Well I think that's it. I will send some pictures. I love you all and please keep writing it makes me all kinds of happy. Kelli