Monday, October 28, 2013

KAELEY'S LETTER AND PICTURES OCTOBER 27TH 2013

Kaeley's mission district in Bishop California with her mission President

Sister Kimball, Kaeley and Sister Wilkin



Aloha!                                                                                                                                   October 27th 2013
     Can you believe it is almost November?! Turkey and mashed potatoes month!! YEAH!  Anywho, This week has been pretty good.  Teaching and finding people to teach has been a little on the slower side. We went down to Lancaster again Tuesday afternoon for a Zone Conference on Wednesday with Elder Golden of the Seventy. It was an amazing Conference and I just loved it. There were things that were said that personally hit me and helped me realize how much I still really need to change and grow and rely on the Lord. This is His Work and I have never forgotten that,  but I think I haven't been relying on him as much as I should be right now. It was a good wakeup call you could say. And it just helped us to realize that the only way things will change is by relying on the Lord and letting him direct our paths. He talked a lot about how we need to think in terms of Families and finding Families and never to set 0 as a goal because then you haven't accomplished anything. We weren't ever setting 0 as a goal but we were always at 1 and if we missed that, we were at 0. He said it is a simple as changing our thinking! That was really neat. Sister Golden also gave an amazing talk. She talked about how the Shepherds take care of their flocks, (this one touched my heart, since I raised sheep for so long) and the love they had for them. But she said something that I didn't know. At night, there is a pen that all the sheep go into and then there is 1 shepherd that stays all night to protect them and the others go home and sleep. The next morning, each shepherd would take turns and would stand at the gate and call to his sheep and those that were among his flock would come to him.  Then each shepherd would take them out for the day and then the same thing would happen that night and the next morning.  She related this to the Savior and us as His missionaries. We are here to find those that will hear His voice through us and it is those that will come and remain a part of His Gospel and church. I loved that and just thought that was amazing and so true and helped us to understand our purpose more fully here in Bishop. She also related it to us and how we personally heed the call of the Savior, to come unto him and to share His Gospel. It was amazing to say the least.
   Most of our appointments cancelled on us this week which was kind of a bummer but also seemed to be a blessing in disguise. One of my companions dislocated her knee and tore 2 ligaments a few months before she came out on her mission and it has been acting up again so we have had to take it easy and rest it for her. We also had the chance to sing in Sacrament meeting.  I was originally playing the piano while my other 2 companions were singing but that song didn't work out for this Sunday so we changed it to a hymn "Joseph Smith's first prayer" and I was asked to sing the Alto part and a lady in our ward would play for us. And this was Saturday night at 8 pm. To say the least...I was kind of scared or maybe a lot scared.  I hardly sing in the house,  let alone in front of people. But somehow we did it and I tell you what, There were angels singing with us. The last versus we did acapella and it was the best and so pretty. The spirit was very strong and it was so nice. The Lord truly does make up for the weaknesses we have. I am so grateful for His spirit that brings so much peace and joy and helps us through the hardest times. I know the Savior lives. I know he is there for each one of us and to guide us throughout our lives. It is amazing how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and that love never changes!    All my love, Sister Haws
 
 

Monday, October 21, 2013

KAELEYS LETTER AND PICTURES OCTOBER 21ST 2013

Looks like they are little "high" on sugar after eating all that cookie dough !! 

NOT SURE WHAT SHE IS DOING IN THESE PICTURES ????  BUT SHE SENT THEM AND I AM GOING TO POST THEM ANYWAY JUST TO EMBARASS HER :)  



Hello                                                                                                                                       October 21st 2013

    I just first want to say that the Church is true and the Lord hears and answers our prayers. I know he does and I know he loves His Children. There is no doubt in my mind and my testimony has been strengthened so much because of the things that have happened.

     As you know we had the amazing opportunity to meet Quentin L. Cook, An Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ. And wow. He is an amazing man of God and you could feel the spirit so strong around him and it just shines in his eyes. I had the neat experience of being able to play the Organ for that meeting. I got to play while an Apostle was there! It was so cool! And I thought I would be terrified and so nervous but I wasn't because the spirit was there and it was just so neat. So peaceful. I will never forget that and grateful that the Lord gave me the chance to use the talents He has given me.    I cannot even begin to tell you how much the words he spoke touched my heart and were an answer to a very sincere and desperate prayer.

    Earlier that week, I had been really struggling to just stay motivated to work but I wanted to and I wanted to share the Gospel but I was just having a hard time and didn't understand why. Tuesday night, I realized that I wasn't feeling all that great and then my throat starting hurting really bad. I woke up the next morning feeling awful but went to work anyway because the exchange sisters were coming later that day and I wanted to go out and work. Right before they showed up, it hit me real hard and I felt so sick and just dizzy. They came and we divided and I was with my companion from last transfer which was nice to get to see and talk to her again. We went out and worked for a little bit but I just got so exhausted and we went back and I rested and the same thing happened Thursday morning as well. I was so frustrated because I had made a goal to be more dedicated that week and then I got sick and couldn't go and work. I cried for a little bit which only made it worse, I don't recommend it! :)  I was discouraged and irritated with my immune system. ( getting sick as a missionary is like the worst thing IN THE WORLD.) On top of that, there were some things that were said that really hurt all of us about our area. We have been trying to do the best we can, but there were things that were said that made us feel like we weren't doing enough and weren't good enough to be up here doing it. It was hard just because I had already been feeling that and then to hear it from someone who doesn't even know our area and has been there for 24 hours just made it worse. But I realize that those feelings never come from God. He will never tell us we aren't good enough for something! Because we are. And my companions had all felt the same way and it was just discouraging.  BUT!!!!!! then Elder Cook came to the rescue. The talk he gave was for us. I felt like he was speaking directly to me and telling me we were doing what we needed to be doing and the Lord was proud. There is this misconception that missionary work is just tracting, aka knocking on doors. And it is a part of it but there are so many more ways to find and it starts with the members but we have to strengthen the ward and help them invite their friends and this area has been tracted so much that we are needing to work with the members more than anything. But Elder Cook re-affirmed that what we are doing by working with the members is right and we are on the right track. I just knew that the Lord had heard my prayers, the silent ones as well. And I felt so much at peace with everything!

     Another answer to a prayer that I didn't even know that I needed was that the Mission President allowed me to go back to my old ward in Lancaster!!!!!! There is an investigator that we found while I was there that is getting baptized this Saturday!!!! And I really wanted to say Congratulations and see him and just everybody! And that just made my entire life! It was better than Christmas, Seriously! But it helped me for some reason. I felt like I finally put a close on that chapter of my life and can truly focus on this area even more so. I guess I didn't realize how much I was just holding on to my old area and investigators and to just see that there are people ready like Jose, and we are called to find those that will listen! It was just so motivating and encouraging. It was just a much needed answer to prayers and I am so grateful for the things that have happened! I love the Lord and His Gospel and I know this Church is Christ's true church. There is nothing like it and so many blessings come because of it! My testimony of the Gospel and of the Savior has been strengthened so much and I know that the Savior lives! He is real and His Atonement is real and heals. I am grateful to be here serving Heavenly Father and My Savior. Thanks for all the prayers and love and support! I love and miss you all dearly! Love, Sister Haws

Monday, October 14, 2013

KAELEY'S LETTER AND PICTURES OCTOBER 14 2013

HAVING FUN BAKING

NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE, MUST BE SILLY HAT AND FACE DAY ??

SURPRISE COOKIES THEY BAKED
Cookies, Earthquakes, and baptism dates. OH MY!                                                           October 14th 2013
   YEP! That is what our week has been full of! Exciting news of the day, We had an earthquake last night.  A baby one but an earthquake. That makes 3 for me in my life time and you never really get use to the ground moving underneath you. But it was entertaining to watch one of my companions freak out a little bit where it was her first one. :)
  We also had a neat service chance. All 7 of us missionaries in this area got together on Tuesday and make some delicious cookies for some pass-along plates we were starting in the ward to get them thinking about serving others and we had so much fun making them and delivering them. We felt like FBI agents as we sneaked up to leave them on the doorsteps and then run away really fast and peel away in the car. It was fun to say the least.   We made a cute little heart and a poem to go along with it to help them to pass along the plate! (Pictures will come.) We delivered them to 5 people and the Elders to 2 families. We only got caught by 1 of them but they have been sworn to secrecy. And the rest are just racking their brains trying to figure out who it is. It is really funny to listen to them and they tell us about it and we just smile and act like we know nothing. The best part is the "blaming" someone else for it and we just say yeah,  it could of been them. We love it! There is a huge difference in the Spirit up here in Bishop. The Lord is blessing this area and we can feel it. Yesterday at church, everyone just seemed so happy and just excited to be there. We all gave talks yesterday in Sacrament meeting and we got to teach Gospel principles and Primary. We were very busy but I love being busy and teaching. Yesterday was just so good!!!
   We also saw some amazing miracles! We had a very spiritual lesson with a less-active lady we are teaching and we able to tell her how much Heavenly Father loves her and we are here to help her go to the temple. She is amazing!
  One of my companions has been sick for the last couple weeks and it got really bad last weekend so we went to the doctor and she had bronchitis BUT her getting sick provided the coolest miracle. The Doctor that was checking her, told us that her best friend growing up was Mormon and that she had taken all the lessons when she was 18 and was going to get Baptized but her dad didn't want her to so she didn't but she LOVES the church! We are hopefully going to start teaching her this week! This just proves that God Makes use of our weaknesses like sickness! :) and then we went back to the house to let her rest and our Zone leaders were in our area contacting some of our potential investigators and they were able to get in with one of them and teach him the Restoration AND set a baptismal date with him for November 16th!!! We are so excited about that because there hasn't been a Baptism here in 1 1/2 years!!! The Lord is providing miracles and we can feel His love and guidance every day. I am so grateful for the chance to serve up here. It is not easy but I know that the Lord already knows the path we need to take to bring others unto Christ. We are planting seeds and preparing their hearts for those that will come.  And in the meantime, we will see miracles and build up this area. I just feel this renewed sense of Faith for this week and a sense of Peace. And I know that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior so much and am so grateful for Him and the help he provides every day for me. I couldn't do this without him. I am so grateful for prayer as well. That has been my saving grace and being able to talk to my Father in Heaven and receive direction and counsel from him to help this area. I know God is real and hears and answers our prayers. It is the best way to come to know who he is and feel of His love!!! OHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I almost forgot, (which is weird,) we get to meet Quentin L. Cook this Sunday!!!! He is passing through and requested a meeting with all the missionaries in our mission so we are driving to Lancaster (which I am totally stoked about) and meet with him Sunday morning from 8 to 9:30! Party!!! I think it is so funny that in the Church, The Apostles are our "celebrities" Except that they are so much more and just simply amazing. And then next Wednesday, we go back to Lancaster for another meeting with a member of the Seventies who is coming to tour our mission! Best mission ever. Just saying! :) I love being a missionary!   And I love the Lord for giving me the chance to serve him. Thank you for the Support, letters, love and prayers! I feel them every day! I love you! Love, Sister Haws

Monday, October 7, 2013

Pictures and letter from Kaeley October 7th 2013

Waterfalls they hiked to for P-day near Bishop California
 
Awww, Isn't she just beautiful ? This mom sure thinks so !!! 
 
Kaeley and her companions above. Picture below is her district in Bishop Cal. 
 

Hola!                                                                                                                                                    October 7th 2013
    Who knew that California could get so cold! Or maybe I have just adjusted so well that it feels cold. Thank Heavens we are in a car but the cold is moving in but it does feel pretty nice compared to 100 degrees so I can't really complain. This week has been an interesting week. It has been sort of a discouraging week but the Lord has provided little tender mercies to help us see that He is there and is blessing us.

    There is this really weird "off" feeling about this area and we can't seem to figure out what it is. The spirit isn't here as much as it should be and I believe partially because there is so many churches and God is just such a casual thing to the people. He isn't everything like he ought to be. And everyone just kind of does what they want when they want without really understanding that there are consequences for actions. Every talk in General Conference felt like it was directed at the area specifically and we wondered who had told the Prophet and Apostles :)  ? could it be that possibly Heavenly Father since he knows everything?

    There are a lot of members that don't really have a true testimony to know that this Church is true and has the fullness of the Gospel.  Which just breaks my heart. We are a part of Christ's only true church upon the face of the Earth and it is just taken so lightly here. I really hope I don't sound extremely negative. Because I love the area and the people so much and I think that is why it hurts so much to see people take this Gospel that I love so much and just throw it to the side and act like it is just another Church. Because It isn't . If anything, being here so far has really strengthened my testimony that this church IS the only true church. And I especially love the relationship I am building with My Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He is real and the Atonement is real and covers so much more than just Sin. It literally covers everything!  Which, I am extremely grateful for. But here are some amazing things that have happened this week that helped us to keep going.

  Our investigator, Megon is doing so well! She loves the Gospel and is making a lot of changes in her life to come closer to God and she just has such a beautiful spirit about her and as she has been reading in the Book of Mormon, she has just started to glow more and more and the spirit is growing brighter in her eyes and countenance. I LOVE seeing the Gospel change people from the inside out. It is the best feeling in the World. We also had a really neat experience. Saturday night we decided to go get some Mexican food from a place we had heard about. As we finished and received our bill, this man walked up to us and asked us if he could pay for the bill for us and called us sisters. We knew he was a member because we don't get called sisters unless they are members. But we didn't even know what to say and just stared for a few seconds. (He probably thought we couldn't speak English or something) but he asked again and said "I would really like to"  we asked if he was sure and then gave him the Check. This man was traveling through back to Reno and had stopped for something to eat. He was a less-active member that the sisters visit every once in a while. That was a tender mercy from the Lord and we knew that the Lord was watching out for us. And the best thing about this weekend was CONFERENCE!!!!  All of them were my favorite. I can't just pick one but of course Elder Holland's was amazing and the Prophets talks too ! The talks were all just so amazing and so inspired. I really felt their focus was on holding tight to the testimony you have and always strengthen it! There are perilous times was said a few times and about judgment day. Sometimes I feel that we forget how close the second coming really is and the signs of the times are here and happening and only happening more and more. We have to have a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His true church to truly make it to the very end. I just want to shout to the whole world and make everyone join because they need the blessing that comes with living the gospel. But I guess that is what makes our job as members of the true church so important. It is only this Gospel that will help people through what is coming. Only the Gospel will save the world. And we have it. What a huge blessing and honor and trust from our Father in Heaven that we get to be a part of His work. He could do anything he wants yet he lets us be a part of it. Heavenly Father really loves His children and he wants them all to come back home.

    I Love this area and the people and my companions so much. I feel so very blessed and I know that the Lord is really helping me and guiding me to know how to help this area. It is a blessing and an honor to serve him at this time and I love it so much. I can't imagine my life without my mission. I remember thinking I didn't want to come and boy would that have been the stupidest thing I could of done to my life. I am grateful that Heavenly Father loves me enough to push me to come and especially those people he placed in my life to help me to come. I love the Lord, I love His Gospel and I love His church. If you don't know if this really is His church I encourage you to read in the Book of Mormon and then ask God and I know he will answer your prayers. So many blessing will come as you truly seek out the truth! 

   I love you all so much and can feel the power of your prayers and support and love. SO THANK YOU!!!! All my love, Sister Haws