Spring showers bring......more bugs!

Another crazy week! The sun has been shining so Sister O and I have hit the pavement! I love street contacting! It's much more...interesting people. For instance, this older gentlemen was walking with his granddaughters and as he came to us he said, "Let's walk around the pole" and took them onto the grass and around the pole to stay as far away as possible from us. It was pretty funny!

Zone Conference was this week and as always it was amazing! A couple of my favorite quotes are:

"The change was one of attitude. Doubt yielded to faith"

"When we truly understand who we are and our responsibility we cannot be stopped"

and my own personal motto "Hit the ground running"

Every time I go to Zone Conference I just want to go out and baptize the whole world! My favorite part though was after. Sister Cutler had all the sisters gather with her in the R.S. room. There we had a little meeting all our own! I love all the sisters I have a privilege of serving with!

On Tuesday I got into a fight with a tree. We were helping Sister L clean up her yard after the winter months. Her little bush had grown into a gigantic tree like thing and I was in charge into making it back into the bush that it was meant to be. The bush wasn't thorny, but I did get a lot of scratches as I trimmed it back. It made me think a lot of the story told of the Currant Bush. I always loved how I was the Currant Bush and though it sometimes hurt when God trimmed me back,  making me into a better "me" I never thought of how He might have felt as I resisted or fought back (or tried to at least). When we resist God's gentle guidance and fight against Him, does it hurt Him? How He must feel as His beloved child rebels against He loving guidance. Surly it must hurt, He loves us so much and only wants what is best, but must watch as we often turn away. No wonder God truly rejoices in the one that returns to Him!

One of the most touching and surprising things happened this week, not only once, but twice. Both A and Sister L made the comment how much they loved Sister O and I and saw us as their adopted daughters. I was so touched by that I couldn't help, but give them each a giant hug!

President Cutler came to the Shawano Ward Bonfire! He did a little talk and everything. The ward really loved having him there and it was neat for them to meet the people I talk so much about (well not all that much, but still). I hoped it helped the members get super pumped up about doing missionary work because we truly can't do much without their help!

Sister L is on her way towards her baptism on June 7th! Her only possible set back is she can't miss a week of church (so the next 2 Sundays). HOWEVER, she came this past Sunday for the first time since 2007 when the missionaries first tracted into her! Woot! Also she expressed how excited she is to finally be baptized and even invited her daughter. She listens to the Book of Mormon each day on her computer (bad eye sight so she can't see) and prays to know it's true everyday. She feels like she finally got an answer! I'm super excited for her - a little sad its 3 days after transfers so I might not be here for it - but excited and happy for her to make this important step in her life!

I love you all! Have a beautiful week!

With Buckets of Love,

Sister Kern

Mother's Day

What a crazy week! I don't even know where to begin!

First off - S WAS BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!  It was amazing. I'm so grateful that I was able to be a part of him coming to know the truth of the gospel! 

I got my hair trimmed and it's straight today. Sister O straightened it on Sunday.

I went to Green Bay 2 on exchanges with Sister A. I learned a lot from her and I'm excited for their baptism that is happening this Saturday.

I loved being able to Skype/talk with my family! It was odd afterwards to know that that was the last time I'd speak to them until I'm home. I'm grateful for the P's letting me use their computer and phone!

I love street contacting using family history. Many a time people aren't willing to talk to me about Christ or religion, but they are willing to talk about themselves and their families. Ask them where their parents are from and they will go on and on. 

I have 2 baptism dates for June 7th. C and E. C has come to church 8 times now I think. He just needs to have the rest of the lessons (he is sick a lot) and to read the Book of Mormon consistently. Now that we have a new phone we send both of them scripture reminders.

Which leads me to another amazing event! We got a new phone. We are literally the only phone the church pays for that isn't Sprint, because we have next to 0 service up here. It has been such a blessing not to have to drive into Clintonville to get service and make calls! 

Zone Conference is this Thursday! I can't wait! Then President Cutler is coming to my ward's fireside to speak to the youth! When he opens his mouth I can't help, but sit in amazement. His wife and he are what I call a "spiritual giants." I learn something new each time they speak. I know it will be a great experience for the youth, many of them are planning to go on missions themselves. 

Spiritual Thought: One thing that I have learned on my mission is that "As [ I ] choose to live on the Lord's side, [ I'm ] never alone."

1. In General Conference there were many warning saying how as members of Christ's church we will have to stand up for our beliefs. There are many people I've met who have challenged my beliefs, those values and knowledge that I hold dear. However, God has promised us that we will not be confounded before men and I can testify of that truth. There will be times you might not know the exact answers, but He will guide you on the words to use. It has happened to me time and time again. When you stand up for your beliefs - the gospel of Jesus Christ - you are standing up for Christ, you are standing up for God. "If God is with me than who can be against me?" https://www.lds.org/youth/video/dare-to-stand-alone?lang=eng

2. On my mission there have been a couple times that I have been/felt alone. I've learned at times  when I'm sad or scared I can always turn to the Lord. Once I got separated from my companion and I had only been in the area a month and was still unsure of all the streets. I had a faint idea where I was. It was getting dark and so I started singing "A Child's Prayer." I found a street that I thought looked familiar. Soon I was in an area that I was more familiar with and there was my companion looking for me. I know our Heavenly Father has given us the Holy Ghost so that we are never truly alone. He is always there. 

I love you!!!

With Buckets of Love,

Sister Kern

May is here!

What an exciting week! This coming Saturday Steve will be baptized! He is the elder's now, but we get to see him at church. It was an amazing experience to tract into him on January 1st, 2014 with Sister Edwards, to teach him almost every lesson with Sister Olsen, then to see him continue to change as the elders taught him the last 2 times. I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving m the opportunity to be a part of it!

One miracle this week was getting in to see Toni G a less active. I've been trying to see her for almost 6 months now and we finally got in! Sister Olsen and her had a lot in common (close family members having tumors previously) and she invited us back!

I was able to help Sister Kasson with yard work and she even sent us home with a bouquet of flowers that we picked! It is still sitting on our table! The other bouquet we made we went to a less actives and "ding dong ditched" her. I hope she liked them! We waited around the corner to make sure she got them. 

Enjoyed dinner at the Pitt's - Elder Oviatt made homemade pizza! Yummy! Then they had to take off so we got to teach the lesson. I shared my favorite video - Abide with Me - a Mormon message. 

Got to go to Kehana's soccer game and talk to a lot of people there. She did really well and makes me want to go out and play. If only I wasn't in a skirt!

Miracle number 2 was getting in to see Suzanne S! She is another less active I've been trying to see. We didn't teach the lesson we had planned, it was completely by the Spirit. Sister Olsen shared a story of a boy who's mom's died and he felt alone and how he came to know God was there and I shared Matt 27:46 and explained how God withdrew His presence from Christ and how Christ was truly alone. Because Christ was alone we never have to be. She started crying and shared how alone she had felt the past couple months. The Spirit was so strong I was close to tears myslef!

Another miracle was we were trying to figure out when we could have dinner. There was only a 45 minute block of time and being 30 minutes away from home we could go there and eat and there weren't any fast food places close so if we ended up going out to eat we were worried we would be finished in time. Thankfully the Lord had a better plan in mind. Our lesson at 5 turned out to be dinner. Sister C said, "As soon as I hung up I realized I should have asked if you wanted dinner. So just in case I have everything ready to make if you will just help me cook it." God knows what He is doing! :) His timing amazes me day by day. You'd think I'd be use to it by now...but nope!

On Sunday we held the Bishop's fireside and did a "role play" with the youth. It went better than I could have imagined!  I'll try and explain it the best I can. So Sister O was the "investigator" and the Elders were going to teach her. They knocked on the door and she let them in. I was the "narrator" of sorts. The first time she asked a question I said "Pause" and asked the youth how they would answer that question. They then told Sister O their answer and she responded as if one of the Elders had said it. It went back and forth for a while. Then we switched places - we taught Elder S. The youth really enjoyed it and it gave them a kind of "first hand" experience with missionary work without the pressures of doing it one on one..or I guess three on one. 

a youth - invited her non member friend to the activity. At the end of the role plays we opened it up to questions the youth had for us on missionary work or general questions. The friend had a lot of great questions and really enjoyed it because she liked seeing what her friend would be doing in a year.

Overall it was a fantastic week and the weather is a beautiful 30-50 degrees most days. Everything is coming alive!

Spiritual thought - My favorite scripture (of all time) is 3 Nephi 14: 8-11. 

"8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

 9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?

 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?"

[Or if he ask Eternal Life, will he not give him his son?]

 "11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

I love this because we asked for Eternal Life and God gave us His son. If He gave us His Son as the ultimate gift then how can we doubt that we will give us the things we stand in need of?

With Buckets of Love,

Sister Kern