Christmas Day - Ruston, LA

Skyped with this girl Christmas morning and it was beyond fantastic!  She had originally told us she would call around 12 or 1:00. So we thought we would sleep in....although it WAS Christmas morning and she could not wait she woke us up at 9:00!!!

She is beautiful, focused, glowing and determined. I miss this smile so much. She recited her mission scripture and theme for us to close, brought in the spirit before we said goodbye with a song we sang together, "God Be With You Til We Meet Again", and with a family prayer. Loved it. Love her.

This is hard to see...

No e-mail this week/No P-Day.

Hey! So sorry, I forgot to mention that there is no P-day this coming monday, however I will be able to hear from ya'll next year! I love you all so much, thanks for lighting up my spirit, and making me smile and laugh. This day was the best, most rewarding gift I recieved since being out here the last 7 months. I love you all! MERRY CHRISTMAS! (: 

Hey there ya'll! 

Sorry this one is going to be short, I got to skype my family today, and It was SO AMAZING! If any of you know the Scott's we are super good at crying, and laughing at everything. hahah I am so grateful for families and that they are forever! This is the true gospel. Here you can find true joy and happiness! It is here for those who are not perfect but are striving to be, here we learn how to return to live with God again. I know this is His work. There are miracles that happen everyday in our lives. We just have to choose to put on our spiritual eyes on over our mortality eyes and then we would truly recognize the daily blessings we receive. I love ya'll! Merry Christmas and I will talk to ya'll next year! We wont have a p-day this monday, but I will love to read and write back to everyone next year! 

With all my love, 

Sister Scott (: 

Ruston, LA- Week #33

This Christmas will be one to remember! I cannot believe it is this time of the year! This past week I have been thinking out Miracles, and how REAL they really are. I have seen them so many times on my mission. In the Book Of Mormon it talks about Miracles. In Moroni 7: 27-29 its says "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended to heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the father his rights and mercy which he hath upon the children of men? 28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will CLEAVE unto every good thing; Wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.  29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you Nay; Neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."

I am so grateful for the Miracles I have seen on my mission! One of the most amazing miracles I have seen is the conversion of Bob Buckner! As you may all know, he was a major in religion at college, and he became a priest for the baptist church, he was also a deacon, and even atheist at one point. He had been meeting with missionaries for 6 months before I showed up, and while Sister Kendall and I were together we were able to watch his heart soften and change over time. I was reflecting on this story this week, and thought what more could I possibly give the savior this christmas? It was a clear and simple answer. Before Christ came to earth the people would often sacrifice animals to God. When Christ came, he ended the sufferings by taking his life for us. All he asks from us is a Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit! I love what President Boyd K. Packer said in his testimony " I will give you all I do, all I am". I promise that miracles have not ceased. They are all around us! As you reflect on the savior this christmas, I promise that as we give our "gift" to him that we will be blessed! I hope y'all will have a fantastic week!  Merry Christmas y'all! I love you. MERRY CHRISTMAS! (: 

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM RUSTON, LA, family!

Guys. It. Is. Here. I am super, duper, duper excited to talk and see ya'll! It will be so fun! I do have some info about skype, SO! We will be going to Sister Shelly's house, and we will be skyping ya'll around 12;00 or 1:00...we are not exactly positive about the exact time yet, but that is what we are shooting for, because we are having lunch with them at about 3:00and they told us we can come in the afternoon, so be on the lookout! We are so excited. Sister Mellor and I have loved all of the christmas presents we have been receiving daily, and I also got your other package! I am super excited about it! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! It has been so fun, we usually open them up in the morning so that is why we are always in our pjs..but! It has been so fun for us! I am pretty sure I have been annoying Sister Mellor about skyping ya'll! I remind her probably 5 times a day, hahah. I am just too EXCITED! This christmas has definitely not been the same, however, I am enjoying it! I have been praying for some christmas miracles in Ruston, I hope it will be a memorable one. This week we were with members wayy to much. The meal calendar is back in their ward and they are going crazy! It was taken away because some missionaries lost privilages, and now it is back again! Gwen ( who is a recent convert) was called to help members feed us, and instead of being fed twice a week, we are fed for lunch and dinner everyday! We love our members, however it is kinda interferring with our missionary schedule and so, we are trying to work it out! Anyways, that was my week! We met with some Less actives, and also some investigators. We have a couple close to baptism so we need many prayers! This is longer than what I thought it would be.. Anyways, I cannot wait for friday! We will keep in touch! Love you! (: here are some pictures! 

More pics of Kennah's 12 Days of Christmas

On the THIRD Day of Christmas my family sent to me...3- dozen Christmas cards (no picture sent)

On the FOURTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me...4- Bags of Flaming Hot Cheetos

On the FIFTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me...5- $20 Dollar Bills

On the SIXTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me...6- Activity Books

On the SEVENTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me...7- Gift Cards

On the EIGHTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me...- An 8 figure Nativity Set

On the NINTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me... 9- Items in our stockings

On the TENTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me....10- no show stockings

On the ELEVENTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me....11- an 11 song CD

On the TWELTH Day of Christmas my family sent to me....12- a 12-month calendar

Ruston, LA- Week #32

Good morning my beloved family and friends! 

I love you all so much! Thanks for all the emails, and letters, and packages ya'll have sent to me! This week has been awesome! Sister Mellor and I are doing better than the week before! On Thursday we had Zone Conference and GUESS WHAT! I got to see some of the most amazing people! I got to see my amazing trainer, SISTER KENDALL! It has been 4 and a half months since we have seen each other, so it was super exciting! I freaking love that girl with all my heart! Also, my old districts reunited!! That was super awesome! I got to see so many faces and it totally made my day! One of the members of the seventy came and spoke to us! I took some notes and learned so much! It was super fun, and long! Usually Zone Conferences go for about 8 hours or so! And after that we had a christmas parade in Ruston and some fun people came with us to that too! We got to hang out with the ward and it was super fun! On Sunday I gave a talk on "The life of Jesus Christ" probably one of my favorite talks I got to prepare! It was pretty hard too though, I had to make it under 15-20 minutes! How the heck was I supposed to do that?! haha it was good though! Whelp, that was my week! It was super awesome! I love ya'll, and hope everyone is doing great! CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE! 11 more days!! 

With love,

Sister Scott (: 

Reunited with Sister Kendall and 

And her amazing 1st District At Zone conference. Happy Day!

McKennahs first District Leader Elder Goush

One of McKennahs best friends Elder Brown

4 Generations! Sister Huston( McKennahs Grandma), Sister Mellor (McKennahs daughter), Kennah, and Sister Kendall (McKennahs mother and all time favorite!)

Saying goodbye again was hard!  

Good morning mom! I am doing pretty good, it has been a pretty awesome week. My favorite part of the week was zone conference! I GOT TO SEE EVERYONE I LOVE!! Especially, my most favorite/amazing trainer SISTER KENDALL!! AHH! You should have seen us reunite. It was one of the most amazing feelings ever. I can only imagine what it will be like when I come home to ya'll. That is kinda how it felt! I remember being one of the first missionaries to arrive at the church, and then I saw my grandma! (Sister Huston) and we reunited, and then she told me that sister kendall was on her way! I was so stoked!! Then she arrived and sister huston is watching me freak out, and I see sister kendall from the corner of my eye, and she saw me, and we literally RAN to each other screaming like super excited little girls, and gave each other the biggest hug ever! It was so exciting to see her!! We had not seen each other for 4 and a half months. We got to tell each other stories, and then we sat together at zone conference (: It was exactly what I needed! I missed that girl so much! Here are some pictures of zone conference! It was awesome! A member from the quorum of the seventy came and spoke with us, it was super cool. Anyways, this was the highlight of my week! I received your package! IT WAS SO CUTE! THANK YOU! It is like christmas everyday! I took some pictures of that too! Getting your package and seeing sister kendall was the best thing ever. I needed it. I have been praying for ya'll, I am trying to watch my health and really take care of myself. I wear layers everyday and take my vitamins, and ciotic and ditocs. I was wondering what your skype name and email will be? So then I know when I can see you! I will probably skype you in the morning/ afternoonish. I am so excited, I have seriously bragged to everyone about it! I LOVE YOU! Ps- the weather has been freakishly warm! It has been all blue skies! hahah maybe it wont be so white christmas for me..that's okay! Nothing matters cuz I get to talk to yall! Almost 10 more days :D :D :D 

Yay she got it!  Her 12 Days of Christmas package we sent her...

On the FIRST day of Christmas my family sent to me... Decorations and a miniature Christmas tree.

On the SECOND day of Christmas my family sent to me...2 Mugs and Hot Cocoa

Ruston, LA- Week #31

McKennah and her new trainee Sister Mellor

GOOD MORNING FROM RUSTON, LOUISIANA! I AM SO SORRY THE EMAIL WAS SO SHORT LAST WEEK!

By the time I arrived Ruston the library was about to close and I had to ask the lady for special permission to stay and send you one short email, and she was not too happy about that but I let her know about our circumstances as missionaries and it worked out! This week was the longest week EVER! I could not wait to freaking email ya'll! I have so much to tell you guys. SO! My new comp is Sister Mellor, and she is my very first companion from Utah! I have never had a utah companion until this transfer! Crazy huh? She is pretty nice, she is from Urda, Utah! Her name is Jessica! She has only been out for a transfer! And her trainer was super duper sick she went home :( She spent most of her transfer in the hospital so I have a lot of pieces to pick up! I am just going to enjoy every moment and let the Lord take the rest!    We both are new to the area so that is a bit stressful, and I am follow-up training her so there is no telling how long I will be in the area! My guess is I will be here until Feburary! It is a good area, I am in a super small town! The ward that I am in is awesome! I love them already. They really should be a branch though, there are barely over 50 people in the ward! I am doing great though! I am a little bit homesick, I miss Hattiesburg :( But, I know this is where I should be! I am grateful for the spirit of the Lord in my life to really help give me the strength and the courage I need  to do this work. The moment I feel lonely the spirit always lets me know he is here, it is truly amazing. This week I was thinking a lot about the atonement, and the role that it is in my life. These last 6 months I have been very very VERY blessed to witness the power of the atonement not only in MY life, but in the lives of those that I serve. God is a real being. Jesus Christ came to save mankind. All we have been asked to do is be obedient and keep the commandments. It shouldn't be that hard! I have watched myself change and improve. I read the Book Of Mormon DAILY MOM. That book is SO TRUE. I testify of it, I have read it, and I have seen evidences of the truth. I have become so much more aquainted with Jesus Christ. I have come to know him more fully. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to serve him. I cannot wait to see ya'll on skype, that is going to be crazy!! Only less than 20 days. It is going to be the best day ever. Tell  those boys that I have sent them letters, I have been waiting a response from them! It really helps when they email me because I have set time to email, rather than writing letters. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I think about you guys and pray for you. Thanks for being my number one fans!! This work is true! 

Love, Sister Mckennah Scott

Saying goodbye to Sister Abril

The Fitzgerald kids & Sis. Abril

Good Morning all you amazing people! I hope ya'll had a fantastic week! This week was a super long and let me tell you why! Drum Roll......I GOT TRANSFERRED! I am currently serving in Ruston, Louisiana! I am loving my new area, it is super awesome! I live in a small town, but the people are super nice! It was a lot harder for me to understand the people in Mississippi, however, now I am hanging around a bunch of red necks! These people are probably one of the most kind people I know. They are super genuine and so welcoming! I have been praying for that, to feel welcomed and loved. I have a testimony of prayer! I know that God hears and answers our prayers. Some interesting facts about ruston! All of the street names are the states in the US! hahaha It is sooo funny! Almost daily, I drive down Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and The street I live on is everett! It is an awesome place! The missionaries are super far apart from each other where I live and so P-days are spent with just my companion and I at home. I forgot to take pictures of my house, but I have some of my new comp and I (Sister Mellor) She is my very first companion from Utah! She is now my 4th companion. My first companion was from Canada, my trainer was from St Lois, Missouri, and my third companion was from Arizona! My new comp is awesome! I am actually training again, so that is fun! I am also in a car share, apparently they are all over the mission! I am super excited to be serving in louisiana! I hope to hit all four corners before I come home! I only have 2 more to go! (Texas, and Arkansas) Thank you all for your love and constant support! I am sorry for all those who emailed me last week, and I couldn't write back. I arrived late in Ruston! I hope ya'll are ready for christmas! We are down to less than 20 DAYS! it is getting so real! I am excited to talk with my family! I miss them so much!! Also, I made it to my 6 month mark! Wahoo! Time to celebrate! Love ya'll! I can't wait to hear from you next week! (: 

Looks like McKennah cleaned out her camera and said her goodbyes!

McKennah and Bob

Investigators Thomas & Rachel

Elder Brown!

Investigator Dinah

"I found Sister Bartsch!  She is now an STL in Hattiesburg!"

Ruston, LA- Week #30

DISLIKE!!! This week was transfers and I knew I would not hear from McKennah on Monday, hoping like usual I would hear from her today instead and this is what I received...."Hey mom! I love you! I am in Ruston, Louisiana! I will give you more details next week! Love you!!"  

That was a tough read!

Luckily for me there are members I now call friends, who are looking out for her (and for me); letting me in on a few more details: after 6 months McKennah has been transferred to Monroe, LA.  Ruston, LA to be exact.  I believe it is what they call the West Monroe area.  Sister Abril will be staying in Hattiesburg. McKennah asked Sister Fitzgerald (Bishops wife) to let me know that she is excited to go and that she knows many of the missionaries already serving in that area!

Pictures I have found from the week:

                Mini Zone Conference

        Saying goodbye to the Snyder's 

        And the sweet Fitzgerald Family

Hattiesburg has been good to her. So very grateful for that!

Hattiesburg, MS- Week #29

Hey Ya'll! Happy early Thanksgiving!! I hope you all have a safe holiday! This week has been pretty good week! We had a lot of spiritual experiences and I am so excited to share them! I am going to try my best to include ya'll on what my day to day experiences are, I will just go through my week!

Monday: We had a dinner appointment with my FAVORITE family in the ward, the Holm's. They are awesome! They fed us all the time! They have 5 girls and then one boy. hahah that poor kid gets teased too much sometimes! They are the sweetest family though. Lizzie, one of the girls drew me a picture of her and me, it was so sweet.

Tuesday:We met a new investigator on our way to tracting! Hahaha it was crazy! (We were at an intersection right across from the University of Southern Mississippi), and this lady named Flo showed up out of no where! She was walking home from school and I introduced Sister Abril and I as missionaries and she was totally interested! So, we started walking home with her, and she happened to live in the place where we were about to tract. It was crazy! She invited us to come over again later that night for another lesson. It was awesome! And then we also saw Jonathan and Latifa that night and helped them move into their new apartment. They are still in our area so that is nice!

Wednesday: We met with Bob and talked with him about the priesthood, and as usual he wanted to know every detail about it! Of course, Sister Abril and I didn't really know what to say because we have never had the priesthood, or ever will. Thank goodness we had a member with us for that lesson and talked most of the time to help answer all of his questions. I learned a lot though! We also tracted into a lady named Sandra and that was a crazy experience. We did our whole missionary Schpiel and then she cut us off and said, "My husband is a priest, my son is a deacon, and I am a minister". And I said, " Oh that's great, so what role has religion played in your life" and from then on we just started talking about the gospel and it was awesome! She invited us in to talk more and then made a return appointment!

Thursday: We did service! We made holiday gift bags for our ward members, and then door bell ditched them! hahah it was awesome! Sister Abril couldn't stop laughing while we were hiding and one of the members came out and caught us. haha it was embarrassing. Hopefully the ward doesn't find out! Also, we cleaned Sister Holm's house for a bridal shower for one of the girls in our ward!

Friday: We met with some more potential investigators, did more service nothing to exciting really.

Saturday: We went to the Bridal Shower, delivered more gift bags, tracted that was about it.

Sunday: We have church at 11:00 and it is the best! We had ward council at 9:00 and that was really good. The bishop was looking for someone to perform a musical number at the end of december and I knew sister Abril could play the violin and so I volunterred her! hahah Bishop agreed and so now she is giving me the cold shoulder (; Sister Abril and I also taught primary, and I will tell you what these kids are some of the best, most hilarious, full of character kids! They are so sweet, I will miss them so much 

Well this is my week! I know a lot of you wanted more details, and here you go! Tell me what ya'll think about it! Thanks for all the support love you guys!! Have a safe holiday!

My dearest mother-

I just wanted to write you and thank you for everything you do for me.  I am so blessed to have you in my life.  I really wish I could explain my feelings to you in better details, but words really cannot describe my experience as a missionary.  It is incredible how the Lord does his work.  I get to see it everyday.  I am almost finished reading the "100 Favorite Scriptures in the Book of Mormon."  I LOVE it!  I always use it in my lessons I teach. I am currently doing the other study from the relief society and it is wonderful. They really did a great job with it!  My favorite one so far was "Spirit of Heaviness" I loved Isaiah 61:1-3 and how it talked about the "Garment of Praise." It made me think of the temple.  We go to the temple to receive strength.  It heals our heavy hearts.  It is pretty amazing that we have a place to go that is away from the world.  I have a favorite quote that has been hanging on my wall and in my heart.  It is from President Ezra Taft Benson.  I found it while doing Mormon.org time from the Piano Guys Face to Face (that was way good by the way.) And he said "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that God can make a lot more with their lives than they can.  He will deepen their joys, expand their visions, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up their friends, and pour out peace.  He will keep your life in balance as you give it to him." If I have learned anything on my mission it would be this principle.  I am learning how to turn my life over to Him.  He is lifting me to a higher plane of knowledge, strength, patience and trust.  He is changing me into the person he wants me to be.  Sister Abril and I were reading our journals together and we looked back at all the things we had experienced.  I have a testimony of the atonement.  It has changed me, and is changing my investigators day by day.  I love my Savior.  I have come to know Him more personally.  He knows my weaknesses but he also knows my strengths! The Savior's atonement is REAL, it really does work!  I love you mom.  I miss you like CRAZY!  6 months has come and gone, I can't believe it!  Thanks for all your prayers, love and support. You are the BEST! One more month until I see ya'll face to face, through a screen.  I can't wait!

Hattiesburg, MS- Week #28

	Hey ya'll! I hope you guys had a fantastic week! The holidays are coming up! Shout out to my family! I can't wait to skype in like a month from now!! I cannot believe it is already thanksgiving! Another shout out to my Brother Logan! He turns 18 tomorrow! He is such a stud! If any of you see him today or tomorrow please tell him happy birthday! Please tell him I said HAPPY BIRTHDAY! This week was okay, it wasn't our best week. We didn't have the car this week and so sister Abril and I had to bike! I don't mind biking, it is beautiful here! However, my bike is not working. We were about to do some missionary work and then my back tire was super flat! hahah I thought it was pretty funny. So, I am pretty positive that Sister Abril and I walked 5 miles that day! We had some far out appointments. It gave us an opportunity to talk to so many people along the way though. We met some pretty cool potentials. We hope they accept our message! So, update on Mississippi weather, We just had daylight savings a couple of weeks ago, and so now it gets dark outside right at 5:30! Not a minute earlier or not a minute later! It is pretty crazy! We used to be outside until 8:30, but not anymore! It looks like midnight at about 6:00 pm! It is so funny, when it gets dark here a lot of people just go to sleep, so they don't like to talk with us at night much, but its okay! We understand! Anyways, so today Jonathan and Latifa will be moving so we are going to be spending a lot of our time today helping them move. They will still be in Hattiesburg! We get to keep them thankfully! We decided to post pone their baptism not because they aren't ready, but because we want to make the best out of their experience, and they agreed with us to wait! I will keep ya'll posted! Thanks for all the prayers we really appreciate it! I hope I can be here for their baptism, I could be transferred right after thanksgiving! I will keep ya'll posted with that! Thanks for all you do! You are all amazing (:   Wow, this has been probably one of my favorite emails that you have sent me so far!! I am dying of laughter because of Logan, and in tears because I got CAUGHT! Oh my goodness, that is so FUNNY! hahaha. I feel bad Logan couldn't go with Sophie, dang! At least he found a date! good for him! I hope he is loving senior year, it flies by way quick! And please tell him HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I am sending him a little surprise in the mail and I think he will like it! Little Woggie is 18 :( WHAT THE HECK! I totally miss that guy and I am really sad I am missing his birthday. I am pretty sure I am bugging the crap out of my companion about it. I can't stop talking about my family! I hope you guys know that I bring ya'll up probably 3,000 times a day. To everyone I talk to really! You guys are a huge part of my heart and I have been really missing you. In fact I sent a couple letters this past week, I hope you got them. I am so bad at writing letters, but I am determined to make the time to do it! I thought the Grinch thing was hilarious! Of course they make a freaking twitter page about it! While they make that page, I am writing my testimony on an anonymous instagram page! hahahhah. That is SO FUNNY! Man, reading your emails are the best. They make me so happy! This week has been okay, not our best week. Sister Abril has pretty severe depression and anxiety, and so she is prone to be angry way easily.The sad thing about it too is everything that she says is so negative. I really feel awful for anyone who goes through anxiety and depression. Please pray with me for Sister Abril, and please pray for me as I continue to work with her. I pray that I will continue to be patient and loving to her, I pray to serve her. And I am the complete opposite of that! You know me very well, You know I would be very loving and patient with her. I have been the past 12 weeks but this last week has been pretty hard. I feel so bad for feeling this way and not understanding fully what she is going through. I have never had friends that went through anything like this, this is pretty new and hard for me. Maybe I am being a little too hard on myself, and maybe a bit hard on her because she says it is really hard to control it. I am trying to help her change her thoughts. I have tried to help her by replacing the words "I can't, I wont, I am done, this is stupid ect, and instead say, " I can, I will, I can do this a little bit longer even though it is hard". It is hard to help her if she doesn't want to try. Her self-confidence is very sensitive. I remember a time where I struggled with that too so I would try to share my personal experiences to help her. Other than that everything is great! Latifa and Jonathan are moving today, tomorrow, and on wednesday so we will be helping them out! We have a dinner appointment tonight with my favorite family in the ward! I am super excited! They are awesome. I will try to get pictures with them! That is how our P-day will go this week! I am trying to remember last week, so we had an appointment with Shirley and we met with her and she actually DROPPED us.:( I was SUPER upset. I had been meeting with this women for 5 months now, and she decided that this is not what she wanted and asked us to not come back for a while. I balled. I don't know which is worse, to drop them? Or them to drop us? They are both pretty sad. This week we were on bikes the elders had the car and when we went to go bike, we found out that my back tire was flat. And there is actually a hole in the tire so I may have to add some slime in the tube or get a new tire. But that didn't stop us from doing missionary work! We WALKED 5 miles. And it was awesome! Sister Abril didn't like it but the weather was nice and we were able to meet more people! we will get the car back on wednesday though so we are pretty excited! I have some pictures of my converts, and investigators! So now I feel more prepared to leave Hattiesburg:( I am super nervous but I am excited to see a new area and meet my new companion! It should be fun! Well that was my week. I have some letters that I sent to ya'll! I hope you get them soon. I will be sending Logan's gift today. I love you guys! Thanks for everything you do! Just a few more week then I get to see your FACES! AH! I AM SO EXCITED! I can't wait to hear from you next week! - love sister scott (:

Hattiesburg, MS - Week #27

This week has been a very fun, but slower week. We were very busy and was able to get a lot of work done! nothing super huge happened, um..We went to dinner with Jonathan and Latifa! We talked with them about Eternal Marriage and the temple! 

That was super fun! They really do want to be together forever. I feel a super strong connection with them and I will miss them with all of my heart! They said that they would fly to Utah for my wedding in the future! HAHAHA. They are seriously so awesome and are ready for baptism. We decided to set the baptism date for the 20th of November so PLEASE pray that it will go through! I will probably be leaving Hattiesburg at the end of this transfer :( I am pretty sad because I have learned so much!! This area is like home to me. I will have to come back and visit it soon. I am so excited to see your faces! It will be here before you know it!! Thanksgiving comes first though, and thankfully sister Hinton invited us over to feed us. I am super stoked! The stores have already started to decorate christmas and it makes me so excited! I failed to mention that we had our fall festival, and there was food, games, and great company! I will miss this ward. They are so awesome! Sister Abril and I had an opportunity to perform in the Primary Program on sunday. There are maybe 12 kids total in both junior and senior primary. We also got to go on exchanges on saturday with our STL's (Sister Training Leader) And a lot of the sisters don't like them! I actually LOVE them! Not to get away from the companion I am with, but it is so cool to learn from other sisters, and how they do missionary work! I was able to go with Sister Hill once again! She is an awesome missionary. I learned a lot from her and tried to apply it in my missionary service. Exchanges are great, I love them! they usually have them once a transfer, so it doesn't happen very often. Speaking of Transfers, they will be November 30th! So, I have a couple weeks left! Well, that was my week. It wasn't anything to special, but I am excited to hear what Ya'll did this week. Hope everything is going great! here is more pictures of Latifa and Jonathan! Love you!! (: 

Hattiesburg, MS - Week #26

Playing in the storm.  

A little nerve racking to see Facebook posts of members in McKennahs area hunkering down waiting for tornados to pass.  Monday mail was too long of a wait today!

Good morning mom! Yes, it is true. I have experienced my very first tornado and it was super duper scary. I was pretty stressed out when the sirens went off and I didn't know what to do because I have never been in a tornado before but it was insane! I have some pictures I will have to send. Apparently, there were 3 tornado's surrounded the street on which we lived. We live right by the college stadium, and that is where one of the tornado's were, and then the other one was right on hardy street which is way close to us too. Sister Abril and I are safe and well. While this was happening, we decided to use the power we had left and make some food that we could eat before the power went out, so we made quesidilla's and pizza. It was probably the best part about the whole experience. I was pretty stressed but we are doing great! I do want to let you know that I completely agree about what you said about budgeting. I want to forward my transactions to you, and show you what I have been spending my money on and how you can help me budget. I know it is something that I really suck at, but I am going to budget the best I can. I am sorry you felt like you had to talk with me about it yet again, but I just want to let you know  I am working on it. Thanks for all you do for me. I love you so much! I hope ya'll have a great week. I had a really awesome week. I had a really cool spiritual experience. When I first came here to Hattiesburg Sister Kendall and I always passed by this sweet lady who lived on this street, we would pass by at the same time, the same day and she would be right there ready to wave at us when we would pass by. Sister Kendall and I never thought to talk to her. We just knew her as the lady who waved at us everyday. So, fast forward to 4 months and here I am receiving a prompting to go talk to her. We were on our way to a lesson and I thought to myself "We will stop by on our way back from the lesson". When we arrived at our lesson the investigator cancelled on us and we were not able to teach her anymore. So then I was like, "well now we can stop by and see that lady". We rode our bikes by her house and she was not outside, so then I was like "the one time I stop by she is not there, I hope I didn't miss my opportunity", so then the next day sister abril and I decided to stop by and see her again and she was outside but we were headed somewhere again. This time I decided to listen to the prompting and we turned back and talked with her, she ended up taking a Book of Mormon, and believed everything that we shared with her. She wants us to stop by again tomorrow. Isn't that so cool? I thought it was awesome. Well, I love you! I can't wait to hear from you soon! (:

     McKennah and her investigator Lias

Hattiesburg, MS - Week #25

       McKennah and Kaitlyn Fitzgerald 

Good Morning everyone! 

This week has been a very interesting/ good week. I have had a experience this week that I feel like I need to share, I hope whoever is reading this email will learn from my experience and can help themselves grow more spiritually and improve their testimony of the gospel. 

A few days ago my companion Sister Abril and I tracted into a man named Michael. Just a little background about Michael, he doesn't have hardly any religious beliefs. In fact he hates the word believe and faith, he doesn't think that they are real or a reliable source. Michael loves science, and so he is pretty big on having facts. He "Believes that there is not a God, and if there is one he would not love us or care for us. He believes that God sees us as "ants" and that we are insignificant to him. He believes that there is no savior to save us from sins. He thinks that Jesus Christ was just a cool guy that everyone loved."  That is just a little background about Michael, so we tracted into him a couple days ago, and we taught him the plan of salvation and he loved it! We invited him to read from the Book Of Mormon and pray about it to see if it is the word of God and that we would talk about his experience the next morning. Well the next morning came around and Michael was ready to meet with us. He told us to come sit down, and he slams down just about every anti-mormon article that he could find. He tried to tell us that we are being brain-washed and that everything that we believed was wrong. He said "God doesn't care about us, God doesn't exist, and he did not send a savior to save us from sin." I was so sad to see how much Satan had blinded him about the truth. I can honestly say I loved this man. God had blessed me with his love for Michael at that very moment. Instead of becoming mad or frustrated with Michael I ended up just bearing my testimony as tears fell from my face with the strongest conviction. I bore testimony that Jesus is the Christ, that he died for us. And that God loved us perfectly and he values us as much as any other of his other creations. We were created in his image, how could he not love us? I am grateful for this experience and for the lesson that I had learned. I testify that God loves us. HE LOVES YOU. I love ya'll, I hope you have a great week! 

(No pictures sent from McKennah this week....here's an older one I never posted of her and Sister Kendall at Bob's baptism)

Momma!

I know a couple weeks ago, I had a hard time with Sister Abril, but We have been together for a whole transfer now, and I have just come to love that girl. I have prayed for the spirit's guidance to help me move forward in our friendship and companionship. It is hard having a comp, but if we choose to love that person and enjoy being around them then that is when we will have a successful missionary. Sister Kendall and I got along no problem! At times I miss having a companion like her but I have decided to search for the good things in that person. 

This week has been way interesting. We tracted into this investigator named Michael and he was a lot like Bob, he didn't know where he stood in religion. We taught him the plan of salvation and he loved it! We asked him to search the scriptures and pray, and then we would talk about his experience the next day, he said okay. The next day we went to visit him he had a stack of papers full of ANTI-MORMON. We went there thinking that he tried to read and pray but he had some anti, and he had many questions for us. So, We let him ask questions and we answered them no problem and that really bothered him! So he tried to tell us some of the things he read and said that what we believed wasn't true and that there is no God,and if there was a God, then he would send us all to hell.  No Jesus Christ, and that we were not saved from our sins. Man, I was just so upset. Here was this man telling my comp and I these things and I just spoke up with tears in my eyes and said, " I know this church is true. I know that joseph smith did see what he saw, I know that Jesus Christ was my savior and that he did die on the cross for me. If I was the last person to believe these things, I would still stand up for myself. If my life was on the line I would die for my beliefs in this church. " And he was stunned, he knew that I had a strong conviction for this church. I told him that I would be glad to offer the closing prayer and then leave. The sad thing about this story, is that I loved this man. I really did. God has given me a gift to love people, and that is why this was so sad. It broke my heart that he really thought that There was no savior to save us. It broke my heart that he thought if there was a God he wouldn't care for us. There are some people in this world who really do feel this way. Who really do have these thoughts. I am so grateful for my conviction in the gospel. I am grateful to have chosen for MYSELF to believe these things, and then share them with others. I am sorry this is such a long email, but these were my thoughts this week. I love you! 

McKennah with Sister Jacque Fitzgerald and Sister Abril.  Sister Fitzgeralds husband is the bishop of McKennahs ward 

Hattiesburg, MS - Week #24

Transfers were today.  This was McKennah's district before they all split!

Good evening everybody! 

Sorry I am emailing so late, we had transfers today and we were pretty busy. It has been a great week! We have been very blessed. Something that was crazy, one of my investigators Thomas, he cannot read hardly anything. He has a education of a second grader and so for the first month we taught him he would not read the Book Of Mormon. Not because he didn't want to, but because he just couldn't do it. Just last week Sister Abril and I were able to get him to read one verse. As time went on he was able to read 3 verses and then the whole chapter. It was so amazing to witness the spirit work in him. I testify that God always provides a way for his children to hear and accept the gospel. The spirit can teach us all things if we are willing and have enough faith to see it happen. Thomas is doing great now, he loves the scriptures. I am so grateful for the gospel.  I am grateful that God provides ways and means for each of his children. I hope ya'll have a great week! I can't wait to hear from you all soon!

My best friend on my mission, Sister Olsen from Layton, Utah.  I hope I get to serve with her someday soon.

My best friend elders reunite! Price (on the left)  was my very first district leader, and Elder Smith (on the right)  is going to be a DL in Monroe, he will be great! (: