The Church is still true and I'm wearing llamas with a sweatervest.

Hi, my people. 

Imma make this a quickie since my human power is fading. 

 

I'll highlight two of our tours from this week

--> we took a tour with a man who didn't know how to smile.  He told us that in his family, they just don't smile.  So that was nice and weird but we taught him all about the Book of Mormon.  He followed us on everything and asked all the right questions.  We invited him to learn more and he declined the offer because he worried about what his children would think if he didn't look solid on his chosen faith (Church). 

--> we met a cute, roughly above middle aged, New York couple after Music and the Spoken word.  They had visited Utah many times but they wanted to learn the history from the beginning.  All was well with the tour for the most part.  We had a really good trusting relationship with them and then we taught about the great apostasy.  The couple was Roman Catholic and their religion didn't seem to show until we told them that God's authority left the earth after Christ and His apostles died.  Mr. man loved teaching us about how God's authority was given to Peter and is now held by the Pope.  Neat.  (P.S I've been teaching Catholics for over a year now and I'm well aquainted with the Pope's authority).  The discussion got a little luke-warm because it was obvious that the two parties disagreed. 

 *In all of our missionary work, we try to find the concerns or needs of the investigator/member.  The non-smiling man wanted better relationships with his family and a better relationship with Christ.  The NY couple wanted more secure answers on what happens when people die because they're parents are getting close to the finish line.  We targeted both those concerns so easily with the Book of Mormon and it was obvious that they were all spiritually affected by the written words.  Their needs were being met and the Spirit was there yet they still declined.  I don't know what's harder than having someone reject the offer to FIX ALL OF THEIR PROBLEMS IN LIFE.  Of course life is always crazy and always needs fixing and that is exactly why people need Jesus Christ and His true teachings.  Can I say that any more clearly?  You could say I'm converted to all of this. 

 

It's maybe true that I'm getting old in the mission or maybe this was suppose to hit me sooner but I see everyone who comes to Temple Square as a poor, lost soul who needs exactly what I have.  I always knew that this gospel is for everyone but I can see it so obviously when I listen to everyone's individual stories and even when I just say hi to a guest.  I think rejection stings a little bit more when I'm focused on the impact that these people's Salt Lake visit can have on their eternal progression.  I haven't yet turned into a completely crazed Sister who yells at people when they reject my message but I only have one transfer left so I still have time. 

 

Chat story of the week:  We chatted with a woman whose real name is Lynn but she chose to put, "BagODoughnuts" as her name online.  We got into a nice conversation with her about if God really exists or not.  I think my favorite part of the chat was when my companion told her very sincerely, "God loves you, BagODoughnuts."  Indeed, he does. 

 

Yep, Imma wrap this thing up.  The Church is still true and I'm wearing llamas with a sweatervest.

LOVE, SISTER KATIE KYLE

North 2 Rollerskating with Conference Bingo prizes.

TABBY

Take off your hood!  Yeah, I'm in the hood!  No, take off your hood!

Busy at work

Jon Schmidt Dit di dit. 

My Canadian goes home next week.

I think we blew their faces off with our intensity.

Last week after our Mexican fiesta, we DID get to meet someone famous.  John Schmidt came and performed for us missionaries!  It was SO COOL!  He started playing Waterfall which I've heard 1000 times mostly from Kenny but it was so cool to watch his fancy finger work.  That's something I won't forget.  Sister Vach and I snagged a pic with him so I'll send that next week.  

In other news, a small group of us sisters got to sing at a Church up by the UofU for some kind of institute director training.  There were a couple (non-12) general authorities there including one of my new faves, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom.  The whole thing was cool but a little strange.  About 20 of us young girls sang to a chapel full of old men in suits.  We sang a precious primary song medley for the prelude and then after the opening prayer, we sang a super intense song about joy and the second coming.  I think we blew their faces off with our intensity and then walked off the stand.  So... on that note they started their spiritual meeting. 

A few days ago, Sister Vachie and I were walking to the south visitor center when we noticed a man just outside the gate who was waving at us to come over.  We looked around to make sure he wasn't motioning to anyone else and at a distance, we saw him raise his Book of Mormon and then put it down on the ground beside him like he was surrendering his gun.  We got closer to him and I told him to come inside the gates.  He told us that he wasn't allowed on the property and then it soon became obvious why.  He told us about how he wants to be filthy rich but he read a scripture that says he needs to seek the kingdom of God first.  So, I think this was him trying to seek God's kingdom.  I asked him what kind of riches he wanted and he said GOLD.  "I love gold.  All kinds of gold!" Then he showed us his gold tooth.  I asked what he wants to do with all the gold and he said, "Everything!  I want to swim in it!"  Then he complained about praying all day outside the Temple.  He didn't want to wait around for God.  I asked him why he was waiting.  We had a 5 minute conversation that obviously didn't go many places.  Our fun ended when President Harmon from our mission presidency came and told our Gold-loving friend, Daniel that we were really busy.  We had another run in with a crazy named Diane but that's another story for another day.

Sister Vach and I have been seeing a lot of success with teaching people on the square and so that and conference quickly led to us being super overwhelmed with our online area book and all of our duties as missionaries.  I never thought I'd complain about having too many precious souls to teach.  We had a tour with an amazing, young, dating couple from France and Texas who live in Oklahoma.  He went to a Christian prep school and she was French so I was a little scared to teach because closed minded Christians and closed minded Frenchies are my worst enemies.  Buuuut, they were amazing.  They wanted to know how our Church was established so we got right into teaching the restoration.  We could see things clicking in their minds as we taught them about Lehi's family traveling to America and building a (sometimes) faithful society.  The best thing though of every tour is a) feeling the Spirit work through me and b) watching the effect of the Spirit in the eyes/on the faces of those we teach.  They couldn't deny the power that came from the eternal truths we were teaching them.  So they took a Book of Mormon each and are going to meet with missionaries in Oklahoma this week.  WHAT UP.

My two favorite investigators are two 18 year old girls.  I've mentioned each of them in my emails.  They don't know each other because one lives in Washington and one lives in Scotland but they lead such similar lives.  Ashley is amazing and her parents still think the Book of Mormon is Satan's book.  She meets with local missionaries occasionally so we just call her once a week.  Her faith goes up and down like any regular human but she knows she wants to follow Christ and be baptize in this Church.  We're praying hard for her parents to be accepting of her so that she can get baptized in a month.  She was so sweet on the phone with us yesterday and wanted to reassure us that our work doesn't go unnoticed and that us teaching her will affect generations.  That is nice to hear because I've seen a heck of a lot of miracles from the initial contact with people but with Ashley, I'll be able to see results.  The three of us (me, Ashley, Sister Vach) are excited for a face to face meeting in Seattle someday soon.  Gerie, our great Scott, is a fireball.  Sister Vach and I both picture her with red hair because she's both fiery and Scottish but apparently that is not the case.  Sad.  She is also 18 and her parents recently softened their hearts and decided to let her keep living with them as long as she never talks about Church.  Being the boss that she is, she still decided to move out so that she can live in peace and maintain a good relationship with her parents.  Gerie thought her and her dad were going to take a ride in the car a few weeks ago but they happened to end up at a Jehovah's Witness Church where Gerie faced 40 elders in the JW high council who accused her of apostasy...  I KNOW!  She said that she knew exactly what apostasy was and she had found a Church that has actual truth in it.  She invited her dad to go visit the lds Church which was just 5 minutes away from where they were.  He refused to go and she paralleled her situation with his.  She's such a redhead.

Well, I'm off to the roller rink with my zone.  CHOW.

LOVE, SISTER KYLE

CONFEROOOOONCE

I survived my last General Conference with a name tag and flag.  I've never been so exhausted but I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE SO MUCH!  

I don't even know where to begin.  Our conference bingo was a success for our zone.  Many companionships got a bingo blackout including Sister Vach and myself.  To complete our bingo card we shared Jeremiah 4: 19-20 and bridged it to the gospel (don't ask how, it all happened so fast),  we sang "How firm a foundation" to one of the members we spoke with, we had to tell our most embarrassing moment so I told about the time I got a goose egg on my head because I ran into a pole just after I got my first cell phone, after a few attempts we successfully started a conversation with "My Brigham Young was a tall man", we challenged an engaged couple to do couples inventory, we finally got a referral from a redhead, and we did many more missionary-like things to further our missionary purpose and fill out the bingo card.  Goooood times.

I loved seeing so many friendly faces from Southern Alberta, Idaho and a few from Ottawa.  Seeing so many friends seemed normal at the time but it's a strange memory now that everyone's gone again.  I think Sister Vach got jealous of my canadian flag.  It attracted so many of my canadian people.  We'd walk anywhere and hear, "Canada! Where you from?" "Yeach Canada!" or "Canada, what part?" Sister Vach started yelling, "America!" every time that happened.  

Let's go back to the fact that I'm so tired!  Actually I'm relatively normal now because I slept in til 10:00 today though I didneed help staying on my feet on Saturday night.  We were on our feet literally all day.  My back got so desperate to sit that I started doing anything I could to rest.  I discussed this with some of my fellow square sisters and realized the geniousness of talking to people outside and sitting down with them in contacts.  What a fool, I had been!  Sister Vach and I got to attend the last session of Conference on Sunday and I was just happy to sit down.  My exhaustion got the best of me in the last half of the session but the first half, when I was conscious, was amazing!  My general conference prayers were answered almost immediately when Elder Holland spoke.  I just sat there in the auditorium so tired but so filled with happiness.  The concerns of my investigators were running through my head as the Church authorities doctrinally attacked Satan.  I can't wait to use those talks in teaching now.  

I feel like this conference, Sister Vach and I somehow found the only non-members who came to Temple Square.  A security guy motioned us over to talk to Nick, a truck driver who parked his truck and walked 9 miles to Temple Square.  He only had 30 minutes to spend with us so we showed him/taught him what he needed.  He's a super nice guy who found Jesus during his short time spent in jail.  Now he's a gospel loving young father and husband.  He had met missionaries years ago in the park and they gave him a Book of Mormon after they agreed to disagree.  He promised his mom that he would come see the Temple in Utah because she was so impressed with it when she visited Salt Lake a long time ago.  We taught him more about the Book of Mormon.  I think the Conference Spirit in the air made me feel like I could be super bold with Nick.  I told him that there is more than the faith that he currently has.  We taught him that there is a prophet on the earth today.  He said that he agrees and then I butted in and told him that the only true prophet called by God is Thomas S. Monson.  He said that it's possible.  The short tour ended quickly after Nick rejected our teachings.  He just wanted to make sure that we knew Christ is our Savior and then he wished us well.  My heart broke.  The Spirit was on our side and I feel like we did a good job of laying the true gospel in front of him for him to take and he straight up said no.  

Last night after the last session of conference, the square was in peaceful chaos.  We went in the basement of the North visitor center, talked to a few people and then we found Stacie who was silently crying.  We asked her how she was doing and she remarked how beautiful everything is.  She was reading about the Church's welfare program and she noticed that the square was filled with good people who believe in Jesus Christ.  Stacie was pretty much an open book with us right away.  She told us that she feels broken because she is recently divorced and now she's reading about how families can be together forever and that was making her feel ashamed of her divorce.  She was in town just for a few days and had spent a lot of time at a work conference with some members of the Church.  She had a lot of really good concerns so we taught her about how the the gospel of Jesus Christ, found in the Bible AND Book of Mormon can resolve her concerns.  She told us that she feels week so we read Ether 12:27 with her.  Her other concern was about not adding to the Bible/the gospel of Christ.  We solved that concern easily since we get it from people everyday.  THIS IS THE SAME GOSPEL.  IT'S NOT DIFFERENT, YOU CAN JUST READ MORE ABOUT IT IN THE BoM!  Though we spent a nice 30 minutes together, Stacie still didn't want us to call her so we gave her a Book of Mormon to read and we got her email.  I told her at the end of the tour that the Church is full of divorced people who find comfort in the gospel and each other.  I told her that her family can still be eternal.  Hopefully she'll believe that soon enough.  

Tonight, we're having a Mexican fiesta with some kind of surprise entertainment.  Maybe we'll watch a Disney movie, maybe we'll meet someone famous.  Both are good.

My body hurts.

LOVE, SISTER KYLE from Canada

Pray that I'll make it in the Ensign!

Bonjour!  

I have big news- my outbound mission pres, President Watkins called this week and they're sending me back to San Jose for my last transfer!  They need me to do some damage control because 4 sisters just got sent home early.  Wait, what day is it?  Psych, my whole life is a lie today because of the foolish month that it is!  I'm just going to type another sentence here so that the last one doesn't stand out when you read this whole paragraph.  Who did I get?  Anyone?  C'mon.  Dad?  Also, I'm pregnant.  Oops.

Missionary life on the first of April is way too easy.  Sister Vach is a surprising prank mastermind so you could say that our roommates had a hard time brushing their teeth this morning.  We didn't get too crazy.  The best though was taking our new sister on a roll-play tour.  Sister Takahashi is basically my new bff from Calgary.  We scored and ended up with her in our zone so we got the pleasure of taking her on a mock tour today.  My poker face was non-existent today mostly because I felt dumb acting but Sister Takahashi did sooooo well.  Probably too good.  At the end of the tour we told her that Sister Vach and I had to discuss things and then we would let her know what we thought.  We told her she did well and we gave her a few suggestions and then at the end they asked if they had officially "passed off" I knew I just needed to close my big mouth or else I would blow our cover.  Sister Vach told her that we spoke with the mission president earlier and he was looking for some specific things that just weren't apparent in the tour that they gave us.  They asked for specifics and Sister Vach made up something that sounded believable.  And finally she said, "Hey, do you know what day it is..."  I watched the relief fly onto Sister Takahashi's Canasian face.  Too easy.  

Conference is here again!  I feel like all I do is talk about General Conference but this is my last one with a tag on!  Sister Vach and I wanted to do something fun for our zone to make this conference just a little bit more interesting than the last.  So, we put our creative juices together and formed Conference BINGO!  I'll attach 2 examples of the bingo sheets we've created so that you get the idea.  I had a few more random ideas to add to the bingo cards but my companion threw them out the window for being too distracting.  That's why we need companions.  So, I think the final products are both fun and missionary-centered.  Mostly.  

Last week we had a lesson with some of the Salt Lake Elders and their investigator.  He was a drug dealer and is committed to being baptized when he is legally allowed.  That was a fun lesson but the point of this story is that we got interrupted on our lesson by some kind of folk rock band.  The girl in the band kind of leeched onto us without realizing she was interrupting anything.  We got her contact info and sent her on her way.  This brings me to yesterday when we called her.  Of course she was laying in her hammock in Arkansas when we called her.  Things seemed to be good when we started the conversation.  We didn't dive into any new information to quickly because we wanted to get to know her first so that we knew what she should teach.  After a 5 minute normal conversation, I asked her how she found her own religious beliefs and then we lost her.  More like she lost us.  The woman knows how to talk.  She had some good questions but she was super hard to teach because she had so much to say about her best friend, mother earth.  She hates American politics.  A lot. She doesn't like to use the word "religion".  She doesn't believe God is a male entity - she believes God is a universe and part of the earth.  She thinks of God as something that encompasses everything.  She sees the earth as having feminine energy and the universe as masculine energy.  Probably my favorite things she said is about how we will face mass famine if we keep purchasing from Wal-mart because the $7 shirt is probably made in a Chinese sweatshop and it's going to make us run out of food.  That was fun.  I think we'll just email her for now.  

Saturday was crazy for us.  It was the Young Women's conference so there were about 21000 young girls touring Salt Lake and it was a beautiful day so there were a ton of other visitors too.  We barely had time to breathe because teaching opportunities were kept being placed right in front of us.  We met a standup comedian in a tank top named Theo who just wanted to what buildings he was allowed to go inside.  Then he told us about how is recently started praying and that helps him a lot in life.  He gave us his contact info without us even asking for it.  We also had a tour with 2 ladies from Australia.  One of the ladies was super nice and had been exposed to the Church when she was a teenager.  The other lady was super rude to me.  She seemed very intolerant of our Church and asked in a very condescending way if I have ever studied other religions.  I was annoyed by the time she asked me that so I told her that I'm actually very educated.  That caught her off guard and then we taught her more about the Book of Mormon.  She tried to tell us that the passage we read contradicted the Bible but then her friend stood up for us and backed up the book.  Saturday was also our day to train a couple visitor center sisters from the mtc and one of them so happened to be Morgan Duval from Chapel Hill.  She's going to the St. George Visitor's Center.  We had a good time catching up with each other.  See pic.  

Okay, gotta run!  Pray that I'll make it in the Ensign!  That was a blasphemous test.  But hey, third time's a charm.  

LOVE, SISTER KATIE KYLE