Sunday, May 17, 2009

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Kelli's dad, Michael, had surgery on Monday, May 18 to remove 22 cc of infection that had formed in his brain near the right thalamus. We called Kelli's Mission President, President Summerhays, and he allowed Kelli to call home and text us daily during this time.

Michael is doing better every day.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Wahoo!

It's funny how I keep not re-learning but remembering things I know to be true. One of the favorite questions for missionaries to ask each other is, "Who were you before the mission?" My answer is usually along the lines of Anti-Social goth chick. I am no longer trapped by that person. The prison that we create for ourselves are formed on old beliefs that we "know" we can't change. The knowledge that we don't have to be that person is the beginning of freedom. Some think gratitude is the way I also think that repentance would be another one. I've been learning a lot about repentance and I'm finding what a miraculous gift that is. Repentance means simply to change. And when we express gratitude our perception changes or we repent and get a new start. Repentance has so much negative connotation associated with it and I find it to be one of the greatest blessings I could be given.

Any way how's that for a ramble?

So I was all excited about moving and having four Sisters together shake things up a bit but alas. President never called and Sister Short and I are still together with out even a new apartment - same old same old.

Well I told you about my week, we helped Tanya and Krissie move. Friday we went on campus there weren't many people there but I met up with 2 girls, Kelly and Christine - I pretty much gave them a watered down 1st lesson and after relating the 1st Vision Christine said she got goose bumps I told her it was the Spirit and she brushed it off saying she always gets em - but I knew better. Christine said she was happy being an uniformed Catholic but Kelly gave me her number I'll be calling her sometime this week. Yippie. Then we were at the Ronald McDonald House. Saturday we met with Farah and had a great lesson and answered a lot of her questions before heading home to work on our amazing Member Book. Sunday was a long day of church waiting to talk to y'all. That was my week. Hopefully this one will be better.

Love you! Kelli

Monday, May 4, 2009

I will call ya'll around 2:30 your time. Oh it's so exciting!

Take Five at the Institute saved our numbers this week. We made a point to go to all 3 lunches and we had several investigators there. We were able to have many a lesson with a member present during that time. Thank heaven. We went tracking for about half an hour on Tuesday and got a new investigator. That was cool until she ditched us on Saturday for her return appointment - oh well.

Wednesday Sister Short went to the Doctor - she has a large lump on her collar bone that turns out to be a cyst - she's getting removed tomorrow. I'm very excited - I hope they let me in the room so I can watch. On Wednesday we went to a members house for dinner and her dog kept chewing on my bag - I let it go but was grossed out. Upon returning home I emptied my bag and threw it in the washer. I didn't check the outside pocket and accidentally sent the cell phone through the washing machine. We have a new phone now - the day and half without it were brutal.

Friday we helped the Elders move. My hands hurt a lot but I'm good now. Saturday I practiced the piano for several hours - Elder Merkley is singing in a few weeks and I get to accompany him. It's a very pretty song called My Soul Hungered.

Sunday we went to Elder Bednars Devotional talk - I really enjoyed it. I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to change some of my old habits when I return home and his talk gave me several ideas.

Today we played roller hockey, well by we I mean Krissie, the Elders and I while Sister Short and Carly sat on the sides and watched. That's all for me. If this letter is boring it's because my week was boring.

Love you all and talk to you on Sunday. Love Kelli

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Monday, April 27, 2009



Monday after we left the Ronald McDonald House we met up with the Elders and had yet another epic battle of Risk and I won again! I was shocked and amazed. To celebrate we made hats for everyone to take to the District Meeting the next day. Mine was a crown while everyone else had a hat that resembled a dunce hat - OK - they were supposed to be party hats but they still looked like dunce hats. Elder Eden labeled me: Supreme Overlord of the World - that was the title on my crown. Sister Short was: Keeper of the Magic Purple Backpack, Elder Mahan: Master Mahan (after Cain in the Bible) Elder Merkley: Rule Book Merkley, he loves that rule book. Elder Krisier was Sunshine, his piece was yellow it just seemed to fit. Elder Davis was The Beast. On Elder Eden's we wrote Dunce because he's the only one with enough confidence to think it was funny and "Kill Siam" was just to obvious. Elder Gwyther we really couldn't come up with anything good so it just said The Gwyth.

Tuesday morning and afternoon we spent ages trying to find an investigator that had given us a hard to find address - we found it eventually and she wasn't even home - lame.

Thursday we were down at TCC as usual and some guy tried to bash with us. It was almost funny - he was so confused - trying to figure out what on earth he was talking about took some effort. Eventually we gave up and started testifying up the wazoo but surprise surprise - this did not satisfy him and he left disappointed.

After Friday Forum we didn't go to the Ronald McDonald House 'cause we'd gone on Monday - it was so strange to have Friday afternoon to proselyte rather than do service. We along with the FSU and TCC Elders went to FSU and again used sidewalk chalk to draw the Plan of Salvation. Tanya and Krissie came with us and Tanya made excellent flowers and even a cute bee to go with 'em.

Saturday we (the missionaries) set up a game of Ultimate Frisbee for our investigators and the members - a lot of people came which means that someone had to get hurt - two someones in fact. Madisen rolled her ankle and Tanya had a body collision with Ben Pope. That was pretty ugly. Thankfully Tanya does not have a concussion but her TMJ is acting up. We tried to go visit Kiley she lives way the heck out there but she wasn't home.

Sunday after church we had dinner with a member I - peeled potatoes for Sister Bowcutt and did weekly planning.

Today we played volleyball with the Elders and lots of people from the ward. No one was hurt, well me but that's just 'cause I don't do volleyball well. My hands are none to happy with me right now. Sigh.

Well today is the beginning of Finals week at FSU

Love you all!

Kelli
Monday after we left the Ronald McDonald House we met up with the Elders and had yet another epic battle of Risk and I won again! I was shocked and amazed. To celebrate we made hats for everyone to take to the District Meeting the next day. Mine was a crown while everyone else's resembled a dunce hat - OK - they were supposed to be party hats but they still looked like dunce hats. Elder Eden labeled me: Supreme Overlord of the World - that was the title on my crown. Sister Short was: Keeper of the Magic Purple Backpack, Elder Mahan: Master Mahan (after Cain in the Bible) Elder Merkley: Rule Book Merkley, he loves that rule book. Elder Krisier was Sunshine, his piece was yellow it just seemed to fit. Elder Davis was The Beast. On Elder Eden's we wrote Dunce because he's the only one with enough confidence to think it was funny and "Kill Siam" was just to obvious. Elder Gwyther we really couldn't come up with anything good so it just said The Gwyth.

Tuesday morning and afternoon we spent ages trying to find an investigator that had given us a hard to find address - we found it eventually and she wasn't even home - lame.

Thursday we were down at TCC as usual and some guy tried to bash with us. It was almost funny - he was so confused - trying to figure out what on earth he was talking about took some effort. Eventually we gave up and started testifying up the wazoo but surprise surprise - this did not satisfy him and he left disappointed.

After Friday Fourum we didn't go to the Ronald McDonald House 'cause we'd gone on Monday - it was so strange to have Friday afternoon to proselyte rather than do service. We along with the FSU and TCC Elders went to FSU and again used sidewalk chalk to draw the Plan of Salvation. Tanya and Krissie came with us and Tanya made excellent flowers and even a cute bee to go with 'em.

Saturday we (the missionaries) set up a game of Ultimate Frisbee for our investigators and the members - a lot of people came which means that someone had to get hurt. Two someones in fact. Madisen rolled her ankle and Tanya had a body collision with Ben Pope. That was pretty ugly. Thankfully Tanya does not have a concussion but her TMJ is acting up. We tried to go visit Kiley she lives way the heck out there but she wasn't home.

Sunday after church we had dinner with a member I - peeled potatoes for Sister Bowcutt and did weekly planning.

Today we played volleyball with the Elders and lots of people from the ward. No one was hurt, well me but that's just 'cause I don't do volleyball well. My hands are none to happy with me right now. Sigh.

Well today is the beginning of Finals week at FSU

Love you all!

Kelli

Monday, April 20, 2009

Snow? Really?

I miss crazy Utah weather. Good old April snows - gotta love it. We heard about the Tea Party. Apparently at the Capitol here there were a few thousand people protesting - I was surprised because Tallahassee is so Liberal.

I'm glad y'all got to go to St. George - Taylor needs a break from school. And it's good to just go have fun. Guess what? I've actually heard of the "17 Again" movie - several girls in the ward were talking about it. Some have already seen it 3 times - oh boy.

And dad of course HP will save more money by flying you out and someone else in. Gosh you're supposed to be the math genius - the more you spend the more you have - or at least that is the attitude that so many people seem to take. If you can spend it you must have it. How's that for an explanation? That does seem lame - don't you have a great relationship with the people you work with in Utah? And they want you to try and transfer the relationship of trust to someone that doesn't even live in the state? That's like having an emergency transfer and having a golden investigator wonder where their missionary went.

As for my week - Monday after I'd finished writing y'all the weather turned nasty and it was pouring heavy rain. It cleared up for about 1/2 an hour and we and the FSU Elders made a dash for home - we played Phase 10. I somehow managed to pull out a win but it wasn't by much. At first I was losing - very badly in fact.

Tuesday - Elder Mahan called us early and asked us to explain to Elder Merkley that going out sick isn't a good idea. Sister Short took the lead and told him that we are called to teach and if we do not take care our selfs in order to be fully functional when we teach we are not fulfilling our calling. After he committed to stay in till he had lessons to go to - Sister Short heeded her own advice and went back to bed. We met with a less active and helped her get a blessing - she is doing much better now. In fact she came to Sacrament Meeting on Sunday - she hasn't been in about 4 months - so that was really good.

That evening we met with Erin. It had been nearly 2 months since we'd met with her last. She told us how some days she is sure it's true and then other days doubts plague her and she isn't even sure that the Bible or her Catholic beliefs are correct - let alone some 14 year old boy seeing God. We talked for a while and I finally asked her what she wants from life? She wants what we all want - Happiness. The Spirit was able to prompt me to change the way we will be teaching her from now on. We will be focusing on happiness. Tuesday night I had no idea how I was going to implement that idea, I just knew that that is what we were supposed to do. Then came Zone Conference and a flood of revelation just for Erin.

Wednesday at Zone Conference, President pulled me in for my interview before the meeting started. He asked what we were going to do with me the rest of my mission. To quote him, "You've been on campus forever!" He's right only 3 months of my mission were not on campus. I don't know if I want to leave. Campus is like home to me. He asked me what I thought of having another set of missionaries on FAMU. I think it would be great. Sister Short and I only make it up there once a week and it makes retaining investigators hard. President feels that many of the young African Americans want to follow in President Obama's foot steps and are disciplined to be able to keep commitments - he has a point. Anyway back to me - we also talked about my future education. I told him that math is the bain of my existence. He smiled and told me that I have learned how to rely on the Lord and He will help me pass my math classes, but that we'll talk more of that soon. I also asked him when I would be going home - either September or October. He said he didn't know - it might be sooner so that I could enroll in school again. And then again he said we will talk more about that in the future. So I'm wondering - is it the future yet?

During Sister Shorts interview President told her that her headaches were a blessing. She is in pain now to stave a greater pain down the road - neither of us really know what that means. After Zone Conference Carly and Krissie came with us and the Crawfordville Elders to Arby's - then we had a lesson with France. She requested a blessing and so the Elders and Marcus came and gave her one.

Thursday we had a great booth day at TCC. We found a new investigator, someone Sisters Scoresby and Stowers never followed up with. I met a gypsy. He was very well read and had read the Book of Mormon before - he wanted another one for his friend. We also meet a very strange girl who gave off bad vibes - she was kind of creepy. Later the Institute had an "Understanding Mormonism" seminar on FSU campus and three non-members came. It was good.

Sister Short was not doing very well Friday - we stayed in for a few hours before she dragged herself to Friday Forum 'cause we have two investigators that go every week and we wanted to have a brief meeting with them. After that we went to the Ronald McDonald House and Jacquline picked us up and we visited with a less active member. She seemed much happier than I've seen her in a while. She still didn't come to church on Sunday. I think that she subconsciously makes herself ill so that she can't come. I wonder if she notices that she is always sick Saturday and Sunday.

We then visited Cameron and Joe - they have a new puppy. We watched the Restoration with them and they seemed to enjoy it. Cameron made an interesting comment, she said something along the lines of being jealous of me for finding peace and knowing that I'm happy. She said she wants that too. Well yes she want's it but she's not willing to give anything up for it - happiness isn't free.

As we were leaving Cameron and Joe's ready to call it a night France called crying needing another blessing - we called the Elders Quorum President and waited for he and France to show up. We didn't leave the institute till 10:15 pm. It was good 'cause France needed us but it was hard - I was so tired.

Saturday we didn't get a break. The First Ward was having a Primary Activity that they wanted us to help with so we went to the church early to help set up and get the kids ready. Krissie and Carly came to help too - after the activity Carly requested a blessing 'cause she was nervous about having to speak in church the next day - she has great faith. She said that when the blessing began she felt peace. We stayed with her for a bit and watched that movie that G & G Wilcox sent me about Gordon B Hinckley. It was good.

Sunday Carly did a fantastic job speaking I was so proud of her. Totally cried through it but what else is new? After church we had a lesson with Amber - it was a good lesson and Sister Short asked her if she would be baptized - Amber cried and said she would - I was surprised - I was going to wait till next week but 'cause Shorts a rock star she knew she could do it then.

Mom I got your Easter package! The shirts fit great! I love the sleeves on the blue one! And the gluten free Pamela's package couldn't have come at a better time. My body is not happy with me. It's tired and wants to know when I will start taking better care of it - that will help immensely! I found some gluten free Honey Chex. It makes me very happy.

Well that's my week. Hope you have a great one this week. I love you all!

Kelli

Monday, April 13, 2009

Post Easter



We did a lot of work this week with former investigators and less actives. One of the members we have been working with became insulted and stopped coming to church - we've been meeting with her weekly for ages. She will have a break through - we leave exhausted and happy - then the next week she's right back where she started. It's been exhausting and frustrating. Anyway she moved out of her apartment into a new one - two guys from the ward, the Elders, Krissie, Carly, Sister Short and I helped her move. It was really good - her heart was considerably softened.

Wednesday Sister Short had a major migraine and wasn't able to open her eyes without wanting to die/cry.

Thursday we were at TCC then we helped with preliminary packing for the move mentioned above - Krissie and Carly were there too. After packing we ordered Pizza and watched Legacy - that was what I did for my one year mark. No fire - the usual event at the one year mark is the burning of a skirt - but I like my skirts - I didn't want to burn any of them.

Friday Sister Shorts migraine came back with a vengeance - after suffering for a long time she asked the Elders for a blessing and the blessing pretty much said - Thank you for asking but no - you have something to learn and it's gonna hurt till you learn it. We have no idea what she needs to learn. We had a companion prayer later that night and I felt the spirit strongly but didn't really get a clear answer. Sister Short got out her Journal and so I got mine out too - I've been playing mad catch up with my journal hoping that as I write her pain will lesson. So far it hasn't - but my hands are now killing me. Maybe we both need to learn about pain - Ugh I hope not - I really don't like pain.

Saturday after helping with the move we made Easter Eggs with Carly and Krissie. I made a Peace egg - Sister Short made a Free the Birdies egg and that has a double meaning - it was jolly good fun.

Sunday was a much needed day. It was Fast Sunday and we had several former less actives that we've been working with go up and bear their testimonies and thank us or you know the Lord for being there really. It was really nice to see and hear. We had dinner with an engaged couple in the ward - it was yummy - I ate way to much. I named my food baby Wilbur - it was a real southern meal.

Today we played soccer with the Elders, Krissie, Madison and Carly. After the soccer game we took the eggs we'd made on Saturday and threw them at the Elders. Things are good with the new Elders.

Love you all!

Kelli