Sept. 16

My 3 month mark was 4 days ago! Crazy how fast it has flown past!

Tuesday (9/10/13) - Last District Meeting of the transfer! Lots of good byes and pictures! I need to buy a SD converter thing or something so I can get the pictures of my camera and send them to all of you! Anyways DM was on revelation through prayer and how to help our investigators with praying. I got a lot out of it and really made me think about our investigators and I realized that a lot of them don't pray in front of us any more! They simple call on either my companion and I to pray, so we've been challenging them once again to pray with us. My companion made her delicious oreo brownies!

Oreo brownies

1 bag mint oreos

1 box of brownie mix

1 jar of vanilla icing

1 jar of marshmellow cream

Make brownie mix as box directs in a bowl. Crush half of bag of oreos and mix in brownie mix. put brownie mix into pan. Heat marshmellow cream and drizzle half of it over brownie mix. Cook as instructed. Crush rest of oreos and mix with remaining marshmellow cream and icing. Let brownies cool and pour mixture on top. Enjoy!

We had dinner with the a family. Really sweet great couple. 

Wednesday - Had a lot of people cancel last minute sadly. Got to have dinner at the a families though!...It was one crazy night. So after we left we tried to get on the bus home, only there was already a bike on it so we had to wait for the next bus. Only problem was that the next bus was also the last bus of the night. If it had a bike on it we would have to bike all the way home in the dark..not a happy thought. We figured out a plan after a quick prayer and rode down to another bus stop. The bus would pass by the bus stop on its way to the station and we could hop on then. If the bus still had a bike on it we would have to wait until it came back around for the last time. Thus we had 2 chanced to get on the bus instead of one. While we waited (it was already 9 o clock at night a really dark) a man drove by waving frantically and pulled in the parking lot behind us. Turns out he is a member from the 2nd ward and was worried about us and made sure we were all right. Then after he drove off a van pulled up worried about the man (the member) and if he had been bothering us and if we were alright. Anyways after all these kind people the bus finally came and we caught the last bus home. Needless to say we didn't make that mistake again.

Thursday - Our Sister read the Book of Mormon twice on her own! I wanted to leap for joy! It's the first time she has done it and she said it was actually a lot easier than she thought it would be! I was so ecstatic! Sadly though, we met with our other investigators and he is going through a lot of medical problems and had been in the hospital all day. Like any good sister missionary we called in the Elders who came and gave him a blessing. His  faith is incredible and I think he will make a amazing priesthood holder in the future. My 3 month mark!

Friday - Didn't get to see anyone :( We tried a lot of homes of less actives and a contact, but to no avail. We did get dinner at a members though and that was great! She got her endowments out 2 weeks ago and is to happy and excited to go again and do her family history work there. She is only a convert of a year, but you'd think she has been one her entire life!

Saturday - We met tons of people on the bus! I love riding it! You don't get to meet nearly as  many great people when you drive a car! The bus drivers all know who we are and often ask us about our missionary work! I really want to teach a certain man one of these days! He'd make a great member! An investigator couple had us and the Elders over for dinner and we watched the Restoration Video with them and man was the Spirit there strong! We gave them a over view of the church organization (pres monsoon, 1st presidency, quorum of the 12 etc) to explain who Elder Perkins was and how big of a treat it was to hear him speak on Sunday. She told us she knows she needs to get married soon so she can be baptized, not willing to give up the "big wedding idea" quite yet but she is getting there. A missionary couple, stayed with us so they could attend Stake Conference. They are amazing at family history and getting less active involved! It was a blast hearing all their stories!

Sunday - STAKE CONFERENCE! Elder Perkins spoke and boy was he amazing! Even better our investigators came with all their kids! Afterwards she said that she really enjoyed it and felt the spirit strongly during the 2 hours. She even asked if she could meet with him (which she was able to do). Hopefully this will help her decide that she doesn't need a big wedding, but who knows!

Things here are slow, but great! I'm constantly meeting new people and I know the Lord has prepared someone out here to hear and accept the gospel and I'm determined to find him/her/them! I'm constantly learning and growing along side my investigators and more often then not I learn from them! My favorite quote is "Coincidence is simply God's plans falling into place" (not sure if I just made that up or if someone else has actually said it) Every person is a soul that is waiting to hear the gospel, a person who is in the dark and doesn't know of the great light and joy that can be found through the Atonement! God loves each and everyone of you. He knows what you are going through and has a way for it to make you stronger! I love you so much and wish you all the best! I wish I had more time to write all the spiritual things that happen daily, but I can't begin to describe them in an email within an hour! I'll try to send letters this week!

I love you! I wish you all God has to offer!

Love

Sister Kern

Oct. 14

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe how time is flying by! It seems like I close my eyes for a second and it's already Monday again!

The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled, but that we can be t r a n s f o r m e d" - unknown

Monday (10/7/13)  - I was able to visit a new family in our ward she is such a sweet heart with 2 adorable kids.   The three year old took my companion around and around and around the apartment. She ended up giving us a giant thing of Reese's brownies to take home.

Tuesday - DISTRICT MEETING! My companion got to teach a short mini lesson in the beginning and did a great job! We got to present about our belief and 40 people showed up! A lot of good questions were asked and a few came up and talked to us afterwards. My companion shared a cool experience about her grandparents! Apparently her grandma was a member, but grandpa was Luthern. They would go to each others churches every other week. Her grandpa was reading a lot of LDS books and material and even started using them in this Luthern Sunday School class. It wasn't for 6 years that he was finally baptized after one of his babies was blessed and the bishop told him, "It should be you blessing those babies." Anyways it was a cute story. It was also EXCHANGES, I was able to go to GB2 area, the first time I've ever been out of my area. One of the Sister Training Leaders  is awesome! She ran the entire hour of exercising, which I though was pretty insane. She is one of 10 kids, so we had a lot of funny stories to tell.

Wednesday - Exchanges cont. Turns out my trainer and I both adore Fablehaven (a book) a long with a lot of other ones. I was able to go to a couple lessons with her and I learned a lot from her teaching style. She wasn't kidding when she said they had no food :) I had cereal, pb and j and more cereal for the day. (We did have a dinner appt but they canceled last minute).

Thusday - We didn't have time to have dinner at home so we put a jar or pb and one of jelly and a loaf of bread in a bag. Yup it was a good dinner ;) We were able to visit a referral from HQ and it went well. Only got to talk briefly, but she is still interested! Somehow my companion and I got talking about how I use to pretend to be a reindeer (when I will little) and she use to be a cat! Her parents had her audition for The Sound of Music when she was 5, she wouldn't sing "Do a Deer" she wanted to sing "We are Siamese" from Lady and the Tramp. Needless to say she didn't get the part. 

Friday - Got to go to a memberese for lunch. She has a cute 4 year old  who was really funny. After lunch we shared a message about praying and how the more specific your prayer the more specific His answer. She said it was exactly what she needed to hear. She had been having a hard time in not getting answers from her prayers, but now "I know what I need to change". We then shared a quote from one of the general authorities about how, if God doesn't answer, take action. He didn't answer because he trusts whatever decision you make and will support you in it. I just LOVE how Heavenly Father uses the Holy Ghost through us to answer peoples prayers! There is nothing better than that! We went and had dinner with a family and like always it was delicious. They are great member missionaries! Not afraid to open their mouths and talk to those around them! Last we saw an investigator AND she ACCEPTED the invitation to be BAPTIZED! We didn't set a date though because her husband wasn't there and we want to do it with both of them. 

Saturday - RELIEF SOCIETY CONFERENCE. We got to go with an investigator to the last half of it. she loved Sister Carlsruh's talk on our divine potential. I also got to learn how she and her boyfriend met. Apparently they were waiting in line and she went up stairs to the office. After the meeting she walked out of the elveator to see "the strang man" staring at her intently. She felt a little weirded out and wonder if her hair was a mess or something. She went back into another line, which happened to be next to him and heard him say "I told myself that if you were still here that it was meant to be." Once again she was weirded out, but he gave her his number and later (she had planned just to forget about him) felt like she should give him a chance. Now they have 4 kids together and have been together for 7 years! Anyways it was a blast. We also got to see a referral from GB2. I thought she looked familiar and it turns out she works at the Neville Museum and was working the front desk when I went for service with NEW Curative! Small world. To end our day we went to a farewell. She is off to Provo, UT for the next 18 months! So if you or anyone you know lives there tell them to be nice to her and feed her well like her family has for me!

Sunday - Set up an appt to get my hair cut (on the 28th). I'm thinking of cutting it short again. It's just too much work to talk care of :b Met with our investigators their baptism date is now NOV 23!! WOOT! I have high hopes for them.

"If you live up to your privileges the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates" - Joseph Smith.

So my challenge for you is to take a step back and see which commandment you may need to live (or start living more exactly).

I know that the promise in the Book of Mormon still holds true today. "Inasmuch as ye keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land." Heavenly Father has promised you that as logn as you keep his commandments that you will prosper - not always temporally, but spiritually. I've seen this first hand while on my mission. The more obedient I am the more blessings and prosperity (finding people to teach, feeling of the Holy Ghost more, teaching with more power) I recieve. Not only that, but as you are more obedient to His commandments the happier you will become. There is great joy to be found as you know you are living worthy lives, there will be less stress in your life, and a calm assurance will come over you/ You will be able to feel the Holy Ghost more abudently in your life and feel his guiding influence. A testimony of a commandment doesn't come until after you have kept it. Only then will you be able to have that personal experience from which you gain/strengthen your testimony. Until next week!

With Buckets of Love,

Sister Kern

Oct. 7

The days are just going by faster and faster! The leaves are all changing into yellows, purples, and all shades of red! Pleanty of rain these past couple days too! The attached picture is my companion and I having my first "beg" of cheese curds! They are good...like mozzerella sticks. Another picture is me outside by my bike. We biked and it rained..a lot (see Saturday) and I look nice and big because it was cold so I had on a big jacket, then my rain coat. I also wasn't wearing my glasses because the rain made it too hard to see with them on! Lastly is a random picture..I was posing...then our phone started to ring and so it ended up like you see it!

Tuesday (10/1/13) - BINGO! We finally had a chance to go to NEW Curitave and play bingo! I had four people at my table this time. I was able to see our couple investigators, we shared a lesson about "stepping into the darkness" and having faith that more light will come. They aren't taking the needed steps towards baptism (marriage), but we haven't given up on them yet! We then raced over to see another investigator, he is doing great and read up to 1 Nephi 4. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and answered his question about the Trinity. He readily accepted the Godhead AND the invitation to be baptized on November 16th*. Last, but certainly not least, was another investigator! We had a great talk with him, Sister H gave great input as always. I was excited to hear that they had started to read the Book of Mormon together as a family! I know it'll really bless his relationship and keep them strong in their testimonies until February 8th finally comes around. He has some dedication! She works Sundays so he takes his 2 little kids (2 &4) to church by himself. He has such amazing faith and will power!

Wednesday - Got up at 5am to teach seminary at 6 with the Elders. Spent a couple hours volunteering for "Feed My Starving Children", boy was that a lot of work, but sooo worth it! The food we helped pack will feed 360 children 3 meals for 1 year. We were also able to meet teaching the Plan of Salvation*. He is really excited for General Conference and even called  (on his own) to ask for a ride to it. For dinner we were at the some members who have THE CUTEST kids! Twin 7 1/2 year olds, and a 2 year old. The boys kept us laughing until dinner was ready. The funnest thing was when they would say "Hold on one moment girls" and run to go get a toy or costume. My side hurt to much from laughing! When the dad asked who would like to say the prayer the baby just started right off "ear hevene fader. bress de fud. amen" (dear Heavenly Father. Bless the food. Amen) So stinkin cute!

Thursday - INTERVIEWS WITH District Meeting. I always love interviews! It's nerve racking at first, but you always end on such a spiritual high! President is so in tune with the spirit you feel it just from shaking his hand. We planned the rest of the day that was left until dinner. A family had us and the Elders over for pizza and our Ward Corrilation meeting. An investigator is really excited, he texted us to let us know he had read to 1 Nehpi 12 (he started reading Saturday, so needless to say my companion and I were beyond impressed. If only all our investigators had this enthusiasm!)

Friday - Did service again, she ran out of work for us half way through so we left early and finished our companion study in the car.  A sister came with us one more time (before she leaves for her mission) to see a Sister.  The 2nd best part of my day was visiting with a less active family.  She brought up temples so we had a good short discussion about them. THey are so friendly and sweet! We will get them back to church yet! So the BEST part of my happened when we went to visit a less active. She opened the door. Then she shut the door. Before we could say a word. So we decided to tract the nearby houses (we were about 45mins from our main area because we would be having dinner at a members house near by). No one answered any door, there was one left. A woman opened the door and was on the phone. Turns out that she had met with missionaries in AZ and motioned us in. We told her about the Spanish Branch here and she said she wouldn't mind the spanish missionaries stopping by. Woot! Then there was dinner at another families.

Saturday  - We don't have a lot of miles so we biked....only it was raining hard almost all day. We made it to the Stake Center before it started raining to hard and watched General Conference. All 5 sets of Elders (only 1 have a car) got soaked, poor elders! LOVED GENERAL CONFERENCE! All the talks were simply amazing and heart touching. Edward Dube's was awesome! I love the quote "hit the yoke together", it's so important as a companionship that we are in sync so that the Holy Ghost can more powerfully testify. Oh and we gave our investigator her own Book of Mormon because her husband was hogging his.

Sunday - GENERAL CONFERENCE AGAIN! WOOT! I loved Richard J MAynes talk and Richard G Scotts and Pres Monson..okay I loved them all! David M McConkie said something like "I know I've been speaking by the Holy Ghost when I learn something from what I've said. I can personally testify of that truth! I've had it happen to me on a couple occasions and then I always stop and think "now where did that come from? Did I know that before?" The Holy Ghost is such a powerful ally when teaching others. In between the 1st and 2nd session we went off to visit a Sister really quick. On our way to her building we met JJ. Who proceeded to sing "The Lord's Prayer", for a 86 year old he didn't do too bad. I will admit that I wanted to laugh at the sheer oddity of it all. After the 2nd session we saw our investigators and I had my first Wisconsin Brat, and it was pretty good. He was happy to tell us that he had made it to 1 Nephi 20 and she had read up to 1 Nephi 18! He had a couple questions that were easy to clear up and we taught them the first part of the Plan of Salvation. We had a great discussion and she even read and participated (when he wasn't talking away :) ). We have high hopes for them!  

D&C 68:6 "Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you; and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, that I am to come"

I love all of you and wish you the best! Wish I had more time to write everything! I miss you!

With Buckets of Love,

Sister Kern

Sept. 30

October is just about here! Everyday just flies by! I'm working my tail off and having a blast doing it! Winter is just around the corner!

Monday (9/23/13) - Had dinner with a family! They are a super missionary oriented couple. We are actually helping her present at a Catholic Church about Mormons this coming week. Super excited, a lot of people usually turn out. We also found out that we can watch any movie as long as it's produced by the church (not that we ever have time to watch movies - but maybe one of these P-days we can)

Tuesday - New Curative! We went on another tour of the Lambeau Hall of Fame. We went to Oconto Falls (45 minute drive, the very out skirts of our area) to have dinner with a Sister and went and tried to visit a lot of less actives out there. The sister  is such a sweet heart and has a cast on from a surgery she just had - but still insisted on feeding us. For dessert we had apple crumble cake (a lot like cobbler) really made it feel like fall! After that we saw a previous investigator and she accepted our invitation to be baptized (again)! We just need to get her to church some how.

Wednesday - PERKINS MISSION TOUR! from 8-4 we went to Appleton to hear from Pres and Sis Cutler and Elder and Sis Perkins. IT WAS AMAZING! He asked us to write 2 questions down and promised us that if we paid attention we would have our answers by the end (needless to say I got my answers). I felt like crying a lot of the time simply because the spirit was there so powerfully! I loved the question Pres Cutler asked "Do you have enough faith to believe the Atonement will save you?" and the scripture Sister Perkins shared (D&C 64:29) "Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord's errand and watsoever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord's buisness"  Afterwards we saw one of our invesetigators and had the Elders come and give him a blessing. I'm ever so grateful for the priesthood and for all the worthy priesthood holders I have around me! Then a member called and had us over for Stripped cookie salad (fruit salad with stripped cookies in it) it was delicious!

Thursday - We had some homemade tomato soup! She keeps us well fed ;) IT'S HUNTER'S BIRTHDAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDDO! (I'm sending you a letter today!)

Friday - Did service with a former investigator. Real nice lady and had a lot of fun. We are going back this Friday too. We also helped investigtors move - into the house next door. Finally had dinner at Bishops, he has been super busy and his daughter just left Wednesday for the Mexico MTC.

Saturday - Spent most of the day going to the list Bishop gave us and tracking everyone down. Met with an investigator again and explained the Book of Mormon (again, but it more detail) he is eager to learn and let us get in a few words.  He is quite the talker :) He loved the idea about Christ coming to the Americas and said it makes sense AND he accepted the invitation to be baptized too!! Got to go to the Relief Society Broadcast and his wife came! along with another investigator. Such a great broadcast! I highly recommend it if you haven't watched it! I love the story about the sheep and about the woman with homemade bread. Loved it! Can't wait for Conference this weekend! Those men are truely called and directed by God!

Sunday - Three investigators all came to church! Really wish other investigators could have come though! We will get them next time ;) One investigator participated and provided a lot of good comments in class, he already understands a lot of concepts that we haven't even taught him yet! He was definitelyprepared by the Lord!

Our investigator went out of town so we got a good one on one (or two on one) lesson with his wife. She really opened up and the spirit came in really strong. Oh and we got to see Sister E! I just want to sqeeze her! So cheerfully and hillarious! Sister B said "I just want to squeeze you" and Sister E cheered "Do it, do it!" I was laughing so hard!

Monday (9/30/13) - Played volleyball with all (I mean all 7 sets) of missionaries today. Had a blast! Happy to have other sisters there so we weren't completly surrounded by Elders. I had my first fried cheese curds today with my companion! They are great! Taste just like mozzarella sticks. Stopped by a thrift store and looked at some funny things to wear on Halloween too. Great day!

The best part of the Mission Tour was when Elder Perkins talked about patriarchal blessings and challenged us to read through them and write down "Who you are" and "what you can accomplish" from it. I also want to extend that challenge to all my family who have theirs. Read it. Daily. Look at it and find out who you truely are. God doesn't want to change who we are, he wants us to become who we truely are. If you don't have your patriarchal blessing then I challenge you to read in the Book of Mormon to find out who you are. It's in there, you just have to look a little harder. I love each and everyone of you! I wish I had more time to write about all the other spiritual experiences I've had, I'll try to send a letter out today! I LOVE YOU!

With buckets of love,

Sister Kern

Sept 23

Hiya Everyone!

I'm into my 3rd transfer and loving it! Monday and Tuesday were full of good byes for My companion. Fall is definitly here! We are taking the car (well until Thursday when it'll be in the shop). Frost covers the grass when we walk each morning for exercise, soon it'll be too cold for even that! This year is suppose to be a long harsh winter. I'll probably need to go winter shopping soon. I'm excited for the leaves to start changing color. There are sooo many trees here, its goning to be gorgeous! The only times we don't proselyte is Packer Sundays (when Packers are playing) and when it gets to be -30 degrees.

Monday (9/15/13)- We didn't have anytime Monday to do our normal "P-day stuff", but it was fun. We ate at a new families! They have the cutest story ever! The whole love at first sight kind.

Tuesday - We went to a families and had breakfast for dinner! Gotta love french toast, eggs, and hashbrowns! Oh and we gave a guy we had street contacted a while back and gave a Book of Mormon to) a bible as well! And even better yet a guy had talked to him on the bus and given him a card with our number and he ACTUALLY CALLED and INVITED US TO DINNER with him and his wife. Woot!

Wednesday - TRANSFERS! Dropped my old companion off and picked up a new one! She is amazing! Everyday has been a blast with her and I'm learning so much! She has 5 brothers and 1 sister and is the youngest. She is from Meridian, Idaho and went to BYU Provo before going on her mission. She is bright and upbeat and has an amazing singing voice! She is just what this area needs to get things moving again! We sing in the car, take walks in the morning and laugh more often than not. She is one great teacher and her boldness and simplicity in teaching is inspiring. Such a sweet, kind, caring spirit! AND she loves Harry Potter and reads books! Right now she is planning on being a 3rd grade teacher, but it keeps changing. Anyways..we got to go on a full tour at Lambeau Statium with New Curative! It's super cool! I got to push an investigator around again.

Thursday - Planning and it was so refreshing! We have so many new ideas to use in the area! We also had Ward Corrilation and got to meet the new Elder that is training. Ironic thing is his name is the same as the name of the Elder who just left).

Friday - 2 new investigators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) had us over for dinner. They live in extremely humble circumstances, but are so giving and were worried if we were eating enough and insisted we took left overs homes!  He loves to talk, but is very open and loves learning. He also said that "If anyone give you two any trouble just let me know and I'll take care of it". He was in the military and now is going to be a police officer. So don't worry we are safe here!

Saturday - we had our first offical lesson with the man at the bus station. He was super excited and open to the restoration. He asked to go to church so we were able to arrange for a Brother to pick him up on Sunday and take him.

Sunday - Our investigator was able to come to all of church and loved it! Another contact also came even though he was sick (he left after sacrament). We had dinner at a less active family and had pizza and popcorn! They are so great! We gave each of their children a Book of Mormon to read and mark as they please. They were all really excited.

Our invesetigator:

Is 41 (as of this Wednesday). Sister Boggus and I were street contacting and walked over a bridge. I'd been having a hard time with street contacting. It was really nerve racking, but I took a breath and starting talking to the next guy who walked towards us - Our investigator. He is from Puerto Rico originally, but speaks great english. He was into some pretty bad stuff and went to prision, but has made a change in his life. I found out yesterday that he had been praying for help and then he met us. Previous to this he had seen us at the bus stop with our bikes, we caught his attention because he has a daughter our age and we reminded him of her (she is still in Puerto Rico and he doesn't get to see her much). We gave him a Book of Mormon and talked briefly, we asked if we had a Bible too, because he had lost his. We didn't, but promised that if he stopped us at the bus station that we would have one ready for him. And he did! A couple days later he waved us over and we gave him a Bible with each of our testimonies in it and got his phone number. We were finally able to schedule a lesson this past Saturday. He is a talker so we didn't get too much into the Restoration, but he told us that "your church may have what I've been looking for." Then he was excited and wanted to go to church so we told him we would see if we could find someone to give him a ride. A couple hours later he texted us and asked if we had found someone to take him - which we had. A brother picked him up and took him to church Sunday. Although he speaks Spanish he insisted on going to our ward (we have a spanish branch) apparently most spanish speakers speak the "old spanish" while in Puerto Rico they speak "modern spanish" so it was just easier for him to come to our ward. He really enjoyed it and even asked questions during Gospel Principles class. Everyone was eager to answer his questions and did so spledidly! After church he texted us that "he hadn't felt that good in a long time". We have high hopes for him and will be asking him to be baptized in our next lesson (which just so happens to be on his birthday). Needless to say I'm forever grateful for the courage Heavenly Father gave me at just the right moment. I don't fear failure, for this is His work, and nothing shall hinder it!

My favorite scripture of the week.

2 Nephi 22:2 "God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation"

He also has become my salvation. Those words have sunk deeper and deeper into me as I've been out these 100 days or so. Nothing holds more true than that. Each day I come to know with more and more surety that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. He died for us so that each day we can repent and strive to become better and better, to become more like him. Through Him we can overcome every mistake, every pain, every tempation. I know that He loves me and I know He loves each of you. It is by doing the simple things - praying daily, studying the scriptures and talks from prophets, going to church, listening to good music, that we can draw near to Him. When we feel alone, like He isn't there, it isn't Him that has moved. When feeling alone, discouraged, or down the best cure is to serve others. When you serve others you forget yourself.

"There are feet to steady

hands to grasp

minds to encourage

hearts to inspire

and souls to save

are we doing all we should?"

The more each of us starts to cherish the gospel the more we will gain a desire to share it with others. We have and know the way to eternal life - not many people do. We have the truth. It is such a great, incredible thing, why not share it?

I love you all and think of you often. You are in my prayers. Never forget you are never alone! I LOVE YOU!

With Buckets Full of Love,

Sister Kern

Aug 26

Tuesday (8/20/13) - Long day! Biked and bussed everywhere! Luckily our church isn't too far, so getting to District Meeting wasn't hard. An investigator stopped smoking! He is also commited to pay tithing, he actually brought it up - he had wanted to pay it the week before, but wasn't sure how because we do it differently than most folk. His fellowshipper made homemade bread for them and a loaf for my companion and I. She is the best!!! Met a cool lady on the bus who moved here from Puerto Rico when she got married, she had seen the Elders in Puerto Rico and was super friendly.

Wednesday - Went to the Neville Museum again for service! I love those old people! A HUGE storm started while we were at Ward Corrilation so they cut it short and had us drive home before it got worse. My companion drove thankfully, I don't know the roads nearly well enough and it was dark (being about 8pm) and you could barely see are you drove. We went to the church because it was EXCHANGES! Sister N came to our area and my companion went to theirs. She is just as obbsessed with books as I am, so we had tons to talk about.

Thrusday - Our investigators set a wedding date!! They are determined to get married before my companion leaves. Got a letter from Karen and Marty Morris, so here is a shout out to you. THANK YOU! I'll try to send a card later today! We exchanged back at 8:30 that night.

Friday - Biked again! Met with the a couple, who have an amazing love story I'll have to share at a later time. Took a girl on a walk with her dogs (she is special needs and her dad really apprciates the break). Visited active members, they have 3 adorable kids! 

Saturday - Biked again, which isn't anything new I know. Our landlord took us to the library and post office. Then we biked to our investigators and read Joseph Smith's Testimony with them. They readily accepted it, their faith is truely remarkable, I love them! All their kids sat in too! While we were at the bus stop the fire alarm went off and we all had to leave. The fire department made it over in record time...well not really..the bus station shares the same parking lot as the fire department. They really just could have walked over. Turns out a little kid pulled it so there was not fire or anything thankfully. Our landlord gave us ice cream and we played Rumikub with her and her daughter.

Sunday - We went with our investigator to the Celebration Church...it was...different. Lots of "Halleluha, praise the lord" type music. I'll just say that "great and spacious building" fit it perfectly. The people there, however, were super friendly and nice! We met a lady, I think she is Mormon and just doesn't know it yet ;)

So greatful to go to our church after and feel the spirit and reverance there. It was a double farewell they report to the MTC this Wednesday. Our investigator said the opening prayer in our Gospel Principles class!

Our landlord made us dinner and dessert and we played Doddle Dice!

Pistachio ice cream bars

Cruch up one container of oreos and line a pan with them.

In a bowl mix 1 half gallon tub (softened) with 1 packet of pistachio pudding

Mix in a little milk (probably 1/4th cup)

pour into pan

set in fridge to harden

enjoy!

Monday *today - Biked through the rain to the library!

*People in the attached picture are my AMAZING MTC DISTRICT*

Love you all!

Sister Kern

Aug 19

Been a busy week, as always!

Monday (8/12) - Went on a field trip to the Neville Museum again. Pretty fun, we didn't do a tour this time so we got to take our time going around. The seniors all loved it. I'm now the designated driver, and have come to find out that my companion is the worst backseat driver, so now we bike...a lot. We are hoping to get bus passes so we don't have to drive at all. We got to have dinner at a member's house. It was super good! Roast, mash potatoes, a yummy cucumber salad thing, and a cookie cake (she altered a cookie recipe and made it into a cake) which was amazing! She told us she is paying her tithing first before anything else and has never been so happy, even when she can't pay all her bills she sees the blessing that comes!

Tuesday - We biked to district meeting. We have another set of sisters! (3 sets of elders and now 3 sets of sisters, and a senior couple). Then we biked across town to try and meet with a referral..sadly no one was home. We did get to meet with investigators though! We got there an hour early on accident, but they were happy to have us over. He has studied every religion throughly, but says that our religion is the one for him. It's amazing how often I've heard this happen, but not surprising. After much study how can our church NOT be true :)

Wednesday - We went street contacting at Bay Beach, and still had a couple hours of our P-day time to use so we road the Zippin Pippin (a rollercoaster here). So much fun and no line! The kid that sat infront of us turned around and told us "I don't like rollercoasters so I'm going to scream a lot, just so you know" and boy did he scream! Just like a little girl, it was so funny! Then a investigator canceled on us so we went down a couple blocks to the farmers market and went street contacting some more. The farmers market here is hug! It takes up 2 blocks of the street w to e, and another one n to s.

Thursday - My companion was sick so we watch Mr. Krueger's Christmas and the Lamb of God (some of the few movies we are allowed to watch) along with a lot of Mormon Messages. My companioin felt better by late afternoon so we were able to go to our dinner appt at a  members house. We had fish that she had freshly caught at Lake Michigan. Then we ran off to Ward Corrilation and went over our final plans for our Church Tour we were doing Friday. A Brother  bought us all ice cream from Culviers afterward. I LOVE that place! Best stuff ever!

Friday - We finally got to 2 Nephi with a Sister, no real progress with her. We went over the Joseph Smith History with investigators. They are both listening to the scriptuers on their phones and following along and have made amazing progress reading the scriptures! They read every day now and always have family prayer before bed.  Church Tour...not much to say. We announced it in church, put fliers in the church programs, passed out fliers in RS. We even passed out fliers while we street contacted. No one came...we are trying to figure out how to get our ward into missionary work. The work can't progress nearly as well or fast with out them. We used the time to come up with other ideas to get the members involved.

Saturday - Biking again! Tried to see contacts, but alas they all fell through so we went street contacting. Met a sweet lady who lives in Northern Wisconsin. We actually ended up talking to her 4 times because we kept running into her. Really nice, but strong Catholic. There was a huge boat thing going on of old boats, they sail from harbor to harbor in the Great Lakes. Really cool. I'll have to try and send pictures when I can! We later rode the bus to a memberes and had spegetti with them. Great people. They have 2 kids  - who are 3 and 4 and bundles of energy! Horrible bike ride home because we were sooo stuffed! They make sure you don't leave their house hungry! We even got left overs to take home. I have a real nice tan line where my CTR ring is, kinda cool to see the difference of "before my misison" and now. I'm also getting a watch tan line :b

Sunday - Went to church with our landlord so we could visit Sister E (an 87 year old lady in our ward who can't come any more). She has out lived 3 husbands. So sweet and cheerful! Our landlord made some pestachio bread and it's so good! I never liked pestachio before, but she knows how to use it! Biked to a referrals house, but it was an old address.

Well I'm out of time! I love you all so much! I hope you are all doing fantastically well! I wish you the best!

With love,

Sister Kern