Totally "Fort Worth" It!

Hermana Kelsey 4:2 -email-

Mama,

Hola! Como estas? I hope you are doing well. That's good you've been looking for a job. I have been praying for you and I know that the Lord will bless you. Keep the faith and it'll all work out!

Thank you so much for the package! I got it the other day, and I was so excited. I won't be asking for much anymore though. I'm just so thankful for the shampoo! I needed it so bad. Muchas gracias!!

It is HOT here! I will give you some of our sun, if you give us some of your rain. We have been almost out of miles for the last week or so, so we've been walking and riding the bus a lot. It has been super hot and humid, so we are miserable the entire time. It is not fun, but I'm getting used to doing it so it's okay. Yesterday for p-day we played football outside. It was so fun! All the elders think I'm cool because I can actually play a little and throw pretty decent (thanks to dad :)). They chose me to be on their team before even some of the guys. It's awesome. 

Anyway, we have a baptism this Sunday! This guy A___ who has been meeting with the missionaries for like 2 1/2 years is finally getting baptized. He's pretty cool. It's exciting. I feel like I'm finally starting to get used to the work. But I'm a little worried because Sister Vaughn is leaving in a week (ish), and none of the other sisters that could be my companion have ever served in my area. I still don't know a lot of the people or the way to get around our area very well. I think we are going to get lost a lot. :( But it'll be okay I guess. Our branch is so great. They are pretty good with fellowshipping and becoming friends with our investigators. It's sad though because all our people who are really good at it will be leaving soon. We have a really cool member family, but the parents are getting deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan soon; the branch president's brother and sister, who come on exchanges with us, are leaving to go to Utah and Idaho soon. We aren't going to have many people to help us. But, it'll be alright. Esta bien!

That's crazy that Landon is coming home already! I swear it hasn't been two years. It'll seem like that with me I'm sure. :)

Hermana Vaughn is still cool. She's getting a little bit trunky now, but not too bad, and not more than is expected when you are going home in a week.

One of the things we have to do with investigators that have problems with the law of chastity is just wait it out. We can't really do anything to help them, because most of the time it has something to do with legal or money issues, and we don't have anything we can use to help them with those. It's kind of hard to watch, but we just pray for them a lot.

Anyway, I probably better go now. Love you lots. Keep doing good things.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

P.S. I'll hopefully send some pictures soon. I haven't printed any for a while (since I left the MTC to be exact), and I haven't really taken that many, but I'll try to get some to you.

Papi,

Howdy! How's it going? I hope things are good. That's crazy to hear about all the flooding. Hopefully our weather switches soon. We are also having a dry season. We could seriously use some rain. But I guess this is usual in Texas about this time.

In our combined meeting, we talked about keeping the chapel clean (by parents not having their kids drink red punch :)), and being member missionaries. It was a pretty cool meeting. :) Kind of. Anyway, I'm glad you are getting as much yard work and stuff doen as you can. Hopefully, the weather will work for you to be able to do all the things you need to.

Anyway, I better go now. Sorry this is so short, but I'm all out of time. Love you, bye.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Emmysaurus Rex!

Hola mi hermana! Como estas?! Aren't you so glad school is out? I sure remember that. Although now I miss school It's funny how your out look changes depending on where you are in life. Anyway, that's also exciting you are finally getting your license. It is about dang time! Just kidding. But seriously. :)

Please write me a letter!!! Letters are so fun. Anyway, I better go now. Love you my little seester!

Love, Hermana Kelsey

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

I wish I was a "cool" mom!

Riding in the car, I say to Emily:

"I wish I was a 'cool' mom!"

Emily: "You are a 'cool' mom!"

Natasha (tapping Emily on the shoulder): 

"She's really not a 'cool' mom!"

Kids say the darndest things!!

(Maybe I am a "cool" grandma?)

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

Elder Flexy 11:4 -email-                                                                          

Make,

this week has been very nice its getting a little cold for winter. but its nothing like utah winters but ya life is good. ya i'm glad she sent that photo. ya so this week was aweosme we had six investigators at church it was so nice to actually heve people come.  i bought a swazi ring from a silversmith in Ezelwini it has the shape of africa on the one side and CTR on the other and it has braided elephant hair around it. its pretty fetching sweet!!!! ya this week we built a fire in our fireplace and i guess i didn't get my eagle scout for nothin, i got this huge log on fire and it burned for a long time. ya me and my companion have mastered the art of staring dogs down, we will never be chased by dogs again. but ya life is good we are working hard to serve our best. oh ya i made it a goal that after i hit a year i will not mention anthing about going home, till the night before i go home. anyway life is great. love you.

    Love Elder Flexy

Baba, 

wow its kinda weird how everything just keeps going back home while you are on mission thanks for all the updates. are you still selling the truck? thats so wierd that all those guys are graduating from high school. oh ya

the other day i got a graduation announcment from Jessica V. the graduation anouncements were really cool this year i got a little trunky i won't lie i miss High School sometimes but life is about the same as always we just keep pushing the work forward. love you

    Love Elder Flexy  

M,

well i'm glad you got your licence now we can all upgrade to battle tanks, so you can't run us off the road. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA jk i'm sure your a good driver. but ya your gonna graduate from high school by the time i get home!!!! thats Lakker sis. but anyway life is refreshing as always and the work is going forward. two of our recent converts are now teachers in our branch its pretty cool they will make you teach primary if your lucky. love you

    Love Elder Flexy

Sunday Best!

Moroni 7:41-42

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. 42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

--------------

"Faith in Jesus Christ means believing that even though we do not understand all things, He does."

-Ezra Taft Bensen

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Family History Friday: Native American Research!

-Chief Hole in the Day-

You know how you hear stories about your ancestors, while growing up in your family? Have you heard a story about being related to a Native American? 

I heard those stories, too! 

It wasn't until I was in my teens, that the story became more concrete. If you have heard this story, some things you will want to know in order to do research are: 

• Do you have a name?
• Do you know when and where they lived? (a location will help you identify a tribe)
• Who was it in your family that said you had a Native American ancestor? Can you go talk to them and find out more?

If you don't have much information and can't ask for more information, you will just have to work you way back, starting with you, until you find them. 

Sometimes it is just a story.

• Another important piece of information would be to know the tribe or nation the ancestor belonged. 

There are 100's of tribes. My ancestor came from the Great Lakes Region. Most of the records for my ancestor were found at the tribal agency. 

If your ancestor was a member of what they call the 

"Five Civilized Tribes",

Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole, they ended up in Oklahoma. All tribes where not relocated and my be close to their original location. Even though my ancestors tribe was placed on a reservation, they remained in Minnesota. If your ancestor was in Oklahoma, there are some very helpful Federal records called the "Dawes Roles". They are a good source for information. You can read about them here!

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Bloom Where You're Planted!

Every experience helps us grow!

-----------------

What if you have been misunderstood? 

What if things in your life

 don't go according to what you had planned? 

What if you are sick? 

Or you lose something or 

someone important to you? 

What if it rains and rains, for days and days, 

and there seems to be only dark clouds in the sky?

What if you try so hard to be a good person, 

and it doesn't seem to be enough? 

---------------

Have you ever heard the expression: 

"Life is 10% 

what happens to you

 and 90% what

 you do with 

what happens to you!" 

-anonymous

 When life is a challenge:

1-Receive all things with thankfulness! 

I recently had an issue with a tooth, that just about sent me over the edge. I can honestly say that the first thought that crossed my mind was, "This is good, now when I'm feeling better I will appreciate it so much more, than I would have if I wasn't feeling miserable right now!"

2-Think of the challenge as a gift!

What is this gift? 

What am I supposed to learn? What is the lesson? 

I will learn and be better than I was. I will have greater knowledge and more love, if I think of the experience as a gift. God must think a lot of me, to give me this opportunity to grow! 

I will thank God for the gift!

3-Pray for peace and patience, 

as we pass through this challenge!

God is the sculptor, we are the clay! Sometimes it takes a 

little while for us to learn what God is trying to teach us.

4-Be prepared to hear 

what God is trying to tell us! 

Sometimes we are so busy complaining about our situation, that we can't hear. God will speak to us when we struggle and tell us what we need to learn and do to move on! Listen!!

5-Keep moving forward! 

I heard a saying once, I don't know who said it, but it went something like, "It came to pass, not it came to stay!" We need to remember to move forward, learn the lesson, thank God for the experience, and be a better person for going through it!

---------------------------

 Bloom Where You're Planted!!

Love, Joy

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

Hermana Kelsey 4:1 -email-

Mama,

Hola! Como esta? I hope you are doing great. That is so cool you went to the Logan temple. One of my goals when I get home is to do a session at every temple in Utah. I think that would be really cool. I heard about the rain that has been going on there. That's crazy. We are actually in a drought here, but there have been a few good storms. I love the way it rains down here. It literally rains buckets. We get to take a shower in the middle of the day. It's awesome! Although, we can't just go back to our apartment and chill when it rains. We still have to do work and stuff. So that's not so cool.

Jessica S. is getting married?! But she's so young! Oh well. I guess that's cool. I guess that works for some people. Who did Rebecca S. get married to? Keep letting me know when people get married. It's fun to hear. :)

Anyway, in the next couple weeks we have a few baptismal dates. This one guy A__ has been investigating the church for like 2 1/2 years, and he is finally getting baptized on June 5th. We have a date for another guy names J___ (for June 12th), and a date for May 29th, with a guy named D___. I have only met him once, but he seems pretty legit. Also, we are trying to set a date with Luis, but he is kind of lazy and won't come to church because soccer is more important to him. But hopefully D____ will be able to get baptized in May, because we fasted two weeks in a row so that all the companionships in our area could have a baptism in May.

We had a few new investigators at church this week. I was kind of surprised we had as many as we did, but it was cool. This one girl, Y____, came and that was surprising, because she kept telling us she was going to come for like the past 3 weeks, and she still hadn't. But then she showed up. She also brought her brother, so that was good. He seems pretty cool too. I think she is actually starting to like us. But she also has the problem that most of the people we meet with have. They are either not married at all, or married to two people. It's kind of ridiculous. Oh well.

I probably better go now. Love you lots. Thank you for your support! :)

Love, Hermana Kelsey



Papi,

That's fun you are going to Bear Lake. We went to B.L.O.R.A. (Belton Lake Outdoor Recreational Area) for a branch activity last weekend. It was pretty fun, except we didn't get to swim! Just kidding. It was a nice day though. The kids did all these fun activities, and they had a pinata. They sing this song while the kids are hitting the pinata that is in Spanish, and I don't know it, but it tells the kids when their time is up. It was super cute and fun.

What on earth is Water World? I don't think I even heard of that.

Anyway, I better go now. Love you!

Love, Hermana Kelsey


Emmysaurus Rex!

I'm sorry you are feeling sick. Hopefully you feel better soon so you can write me a letter. That would be really cool!! Anyway, how's school? Did you get my last letter? I sent it a while ago, so if you didn't get it, it probably is lost forever. But that's okay. It wasn't that important.

Well I have to go now! Bye!!

Love, Hermana Kelsey (your awesome seester!)

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

Elder Flexy 11:3 -email-

Make,
life is good transfers came and went and i'm staying so i will turn a year on mission only having two areas and four companions. but its all good plus i'm doing well i havent had to be a leader yet which is good. i like having less responsibilities. but ya all is well.

1 How was your week?

1.great we had a lot of member present lessons so it was good.

2 Did you have any teaching experiences that stood out?
2.um we had a very good lesson with this one sister she is so good and she understands.

3 Please tell how-
3.well the spirit was really strong and it was just nice.
4 How big is your area?
4.its pobably about from our house to the big ___ sign over the road.

5 Are you taking vitamins?
5.sometimes... ok not very often but i'm eating pretty healthy.

6 Have you eaten anything extra weird?
6.no, not for a while but i'll let you know if i do.
7 What did you do for P-day?
7.well today we will play sports and help the Ezelweni guys clean there boarding.

Special question:

8 How do you learn to recognize the spirit?
8.well we learn a lot from the scriptures they tell us that it feels like peace, joy, love, long suffering, patience, and charity.
well thats it for now life is good. love you
    Love Elder Flexy

Baba,
wow i miss bear lake that place is so fun. thats crazy that it rains so much. ya i miss the camping too. ya i saw that show water world with that crazy part where he drops the flare down the pipe and blows the whole place to smithereens!!!! ya that was a cool flick. but ya life is good. well i'm out of time love you dad.
    Love Elder Flexy 

Sunday Best!

-Prayer-

"As you feel the need to confide in the Lord or to improve the quality of your visits with Him -to pray, if you please- may I suggest a process to follow: 
Go where you can be alone, go where can think, go where you can kneel, go where you can speak out loud to Him. The bedroom, the bathroom, or the closet will do. 
Now picture Him in your mind's eye. Think to whom you are speaking, control your thoughts- don't let them wander, address Him as your Father and your friend. 
Now tell Him things you really feel to tell Him -not trite phrases that have little meaning, but have a sincere heartfelt conversation with Him. Confide in Him, ask Him for forgiveness, plead with Him, enjoy Him, thank Him, express your love to Him and then listen for His answers...answers from the Lord come quietly- ever so quietly. In fact, few hear His answers audibly with their ears. We must be listening so carefully, or we will never recognize them. Most answers from the Lord are felt in our heart as a warm comfortable expression, or they come as thoughts to our mind. They come to those who are prepared and patient."

-H. Burke Peterson

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Beautiful Places!

Spring at

Temple Square

Salt Lake City, Utah

What a beautiful place! 

This is where my husband and I were married!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

Elder Flexy 11:2 -email-

Make,
what!! that's crazy how can you lose your job. but your right you will find another one. i hope everything works out.

1 How is the work going?

1.great we had a pretty good week.
2 Are you still teaching a ton? 
2.ya we have about fifty investigators.
3 Anybody you would like us to pray for specifically?
3.yes Ephriam, lindo and ayanda 
4 Did you do anything fun for p-day?
4.well today is just a quiet p day just gonna chill with our roommates.
5 Have you had any interesting experiences this last week?
5.well we went teaching with a young man who is preparing for mission.
6 Favorite scripture?
6.well joshua 1:9

Special question:

7 How do we continue in faith when all seems lost?
7.well your faith is your trust in God so you just have to always remember that He is in charge. 
anyway life is good love you.
    Love Elder Flexy

Baba, 

wow your always busy aren't you!!! jeepers your always doing something. well i'm about the same as i was when i talked to you. but life is good we keep working hard and its going great. love you

    Love Elder Flexy 

  

M,

well its ok that you weren't there for the prayer i just cryed anyway. but ya i love you.
Love Elder Flexy

Totally "Fort Worth" it!

Hermana Kelsey 3:4 -email-

Mama,

Oh my goodness! What happened that you lost your job? That is so crazy! You'll be able to find another one super easy though, because you are definitely qualified. :)

I'm feeling better this week than I was last week. I'm feeling pretty good though.

Teaching appointments are going well. We have a lot of investigators, but not very many progressing. Most of them either aren't married to their significant other, or are married to someone else in Mexico, so they can't get baptized. We fasted last week so that our entire zone could all get a baptism this month. We have a couple people who are really close. A____ has been taking the lessons for like 2 years, but he has a baptisimal date for June 5th (we got him to move it a week sooner so that Sister Vaugh can be there).

These two other guys, J___ and D____, have baptisimal dates, but we are going to talk to J___ about doing his sooner, because he is so ready. Anyways, so that's exciting. Hopefully we'll be getting our baptism in May!

Seriously, we talk to some of the craziest people ever. Yesterday we were tracting and we met this guy who was on something (I'm not quite sure what), but he sneak attacked us and hugged us! It was so crazy. He was definitly not all there in the head. It's kind of funny though, because we will talk to people who are drunk a lot, and they give us information we need, even if they don't want to listen to our message. It's hilarious. We always joke about "taking advantage" of the drunk people. Sometimes we'll ask them where to find other people we want to teach and they'll tell us because they are so drunk. It's fun.

Anyways, that is so cool that Brynne is home. She is so great. Tell her that if she wants to send me a letter that would be fine with me! :) Also, tell everyone else if they really, really, really want to write a letter, I think I would be fine if they wrote to me. You know where to send it. :)

I'm glad you are keeping yourself busy. Maybe now that you don't have a job you can work on that project that Uncle Larry kept wanting you to do. That would be pretty cool.

Anyway, I better go now. Thank you for always supporting me. You are so great! I love you lots.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Dear KJ

 I went to a Stake Priesthood meeting tonight and one of the speakers talked about a trip they took down the green river and how they studied the maps and used a gps to help them know where they were, and where to stop to walk ahead and see where the safest route was. then he compared it to making important choices long before the situation comes up. It was a great meeting. 

 Papa,

That story is a very good relation to real life. Sometimes it is hard to make good choices. But the out come is so worth it if you make the right choice. :) Have fun with your garden. Hopefully it grows better this time than your corn did last time. :) Just kidding. Anyways, I better go now. Love you lots.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Emmysaurus Rex!

I am writing you a letter already, so I will send it today. I'm not sure what card you are talking about. They only I got was the cute sisters one like a couple weeks after I got to the MTC. I'll be expecting a letter from you within the week! Anyway, love you. Bye!

Love, Hermana Kelsey

 P.S. I ate "elote" the other day, which is that corn that Nacho eats in "Nacho Libre". It is quite delicious! You should be jealous. :)

XoxOxoXXXoxoxoO

Sunday Best!

"Testimony is as elusive as a moonbeam; 

it's as fragile as an orchid;

you have to recapture it every morning of your life,

you have to hold on by study,

 and by faith and by prayer."

-Harold B. Lee

--------

Hope your Sunday was the Best!! 

Love, Joy

Family History Friday: Still Organizing?

So I have recently had a 

little extra time on my hands. 

And of course, one of my favorite

 things to do, is Family History. 

It is so fun!

Besides doing research, 

it is fun to organize it.

 I have noticed though, if you haven't had time to organize, and reorganize. It kinda piles up. I spent the entire day today organizing and reorganizing my Family History. It is an ongoing process. My new goal is, to never let it get so bad again. I will do two hours of Family History every Sunday afternoon. There, now that it's out there. I will be more likely to follow through. Pick a quiet time of the week for organizing your Family History. It'll make you feel great!!! I promise!

Happy Family History Friday! 

Love, Joy

I love Mother Teresa!

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people my accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. 

It was never between you and them anyway."

-Mother Teresa

Totally "Fort Worth" it!

Hermana Kelsey 3:2 -email-

Hola Familia!

Long time no talk right? Today is better, but I think that is because it is p-day. I'm hoping I can adjust a little more very soon.

Last night we got dinner from one of the members in the English ward. They were cool. They have two cute little girls. Anyway, we don't get dinner very much, so that was nice.

Also last night we taught this crazy guy, and he offered us some water. We told him we didn't want any, but he insisted. He gave us water from a gallon milk jug, but apparently he hadn't rinsed it out before he filled it with the water so it tasted really gross like sour milk. It was so not cool. 

Oh also, how was your talk with Flexy? Is he doing so great? I wish I could have talked to him longer.

Anyway, I better go now. Love you all. XoxoXOXXXoOxx

 

P.S. Dad, that is so cool you have a black widow pet. Maybe you should fatten her up and then give her to the Nature Center again. :)

 

BYE!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

Elder Flexy 11:1 -email-

Make,

ya i just realized that when we were talking that i never said happy mothers day so... HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!! so i don't really know what to say today that i didn't say yesterday. but life is good and all is well. love you
    Elder Flexy
Dad,
ya that's so weird that all those young ones are getting so old. My brother Bryce?!?! that's great but ya it was nice to hear from you guys on the phone. but ya we have been seeing a lot of snakes lately so that's intense. but ya that's all for now.Love you.
    Elder Flexy

M,

ya it was fun to talk to you about work. its good to know all the old people are doing well but  I'm about the same as a was yesterday but ya. Love you.
    Elder Flexy

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

Elder Flexy 10:4 -email-

Make,

the baptisms went great i performed the baptism for Nokwanda. its was way cool and i didn't have to do it more than once. but ya mission is going well we have a massive teaching pool and the area is doing good. we played soccer yesterday and i didn't do well we don't play as much in swaziland as we did in in durban so i'm losing the skill i had.  but life is good!! we had interviews with president and i enjoyed speaking to him i think he might put me in a leadership position after this transfer but if not all the better the leadership positions stink i just like to worry about me,  my comp and my investigators. so about the phone call i will see if i can use the blackburns land line and then call you so you have the number then you can all me back so hopefully that will work. but life is about the same as it always is in swaziland. anyway love you.

    Love Elder Flexy

Baba,

thats good that time is going fast that means your staying busy. we are too, we work really really hard and its paying off we are finding people like crazy. but mission life is kinda funny you start to feel like you do the same thing every day. but ya its going well swaziland is very well prepared of the lord and the people are listening. thats so crazy your selling your truck. but the roof was looking pretty bad when i left. but ya i turn ten monthes on saturday so thats pretty intense!!! i'm quickly aproaching half way done so thats pretty much the craziest thing ever the time is going so fast and i'm loving it. love you

    Love Elder Flexy

Totally "Fort Worth" it!

Hermana Kelsey 3:1 -email-

Madre,

 

Hola! How are you doing? I hope things are going great for you. The mission field is really weird, especially when I've been so out of the world for so long. I am forgetting how to use technology! It's craziness. Anyway, the spanish is no bueno. I can't understand half of what anyone is saying because they talk so fast. I can pick out words, but it's really hard. And I feel so exhausted at night because my brain is working so hard to try to understand people all day. Plus, we teach in english too, which you would think would be nice, but it just confuses my brain, and now I can't teach very well in either. It's really hard. I'm don't feel like I'm learning any spanish at all, but my companion says it will come in time.

 

My companion is Hermana Vaughn. She's really cool. I'm her last companion before she goes home, so she's been out for a while. She is from Idaho. She just had surgery to get her gallbladder taken out like a three weeks ago, but she is almost completely better and doing the work like usual. She has a really good spanish accent, and she speaks spanish very well. She is great.

 

But anyways, my first area is a really big area. It's kind of weird, but I like it. I've been meeting a ton of people, and most of them are totally crazy. They say the funniest things, but I never understand them until Hna. Vaughn explains them to me later. But they are pretty much hilarious. We have a few people that they have been teaching for a while that are supposed to get baptized soon, so that's pretty cool. I think it's crazy, because when we go tracting, we meet people who have never heard of the Mormons. I thought everyone knew of us, or at least had crazy ideas about who we are. That was definitely eye opening.

 

We had church yesterday, of course, and it was insane. We went to the just spanish ward, and it was so tiny. There are only ten women in Relief Society on a good day, and in sacrament meeting there was only like 30 people. I'm used to really big wards to that was really strange. Since it was fast Sunday, the President asked us to get up and bear our testimonies. So I did...and I slaughtered it. They could all tell what a gringa I am. It was sad. But everyone is really nice so that's good. I also ended up saying the closing prayer in sacrament too. So that was fun.

 

I will probably call after church on Sunday. We have church at 11 on Sunday too. But since we are an hour ahead, it will probably be between like 3 and 5 ish. I'm not really sure. Just keep your phone handy. :) Anyway, I better go now. Love you lots. I'll talk to you on Sunday.

  

Love, Hermana Kelsey 

 

Padre,

 

My first week has been okay. The work is really hard, but I like it. The Spanish is crazy! They talk so so fast, and most of the time I don't know what they are saying. Me and my companion don't speak that much Spanish with each other, but we talk some. I ask her a lot how to say things, and she'll tell me so I can say them at another point. It's fun.

Anway, I better go. Love you lots.

Love, Hermana Kelsey