Hey everyone!!
Oh man what a week... part of it feels like it flew by and then the other part feels like it has been a month. So I'll start at the beginning. So like I said last week Hna. Ker wasn't feeling well and we were just kinda letting it take it's course. On Monday night we left a dinner appointment at 6:30 and she started coughing and wasn't feeling good at all, so we texted Sister Saylin to see what we should do and she was going to call us after FHE. Well Hna. Ker coughed almost non-stop for about an hour until Sister Saylin called at 7:45. She then had the area medical advisor call us to talk to Hna. Ker to see what we should do, she was having a little bit of a hard time breathing because of the coughing. The medical advisor told us that we should probably go to an urgent care- so we called Sister Saylin back and she gave us the address of one in Sugar Land. So we left Pearland at 8:30 and got there at 9:00 and didn't end up leaving until 10:45. It turns out she had/has bronchitis and an ear infection, so we where there for a bit getting things all figured out and having them call in her prescriptions and chatting with Sister Saylin who came a little after we got there. So we left Sugar Land at 10:45 and headed back. They called her prescriptions into a Walgreens but it wasn't the one I thought it was so then at 11:20 I had to call the Saylins back so we could figure it out. So I finally figure out which one it is, about 10 minutes away and we get there about 11:45. (I'm pretty sure the reason for calling in a prescription is so that when you show up 45 minutes later it's ready for you.. reminds me of "You know how to TAKE a reservation but you don't know how to HOLD the reservation" - ha ha) Anyway- we get there at its not ready so we wait in Walgreens until 12:45 am and then finally get back to the apartment at 1:00 am Tuesday morning. Such a great start to the week. Then Hna. Ker was pretty much ordered to sleep and rest so she did that until about Thursday. We would go out for an appointment here and there through the week but nothing big. So that it was our week until she was feeling better on Friday- and Friday we had a fantastic day and we ended up having one of the best weeks I have had in a long time lesson- wise.
In our planning this week I asked Hna. Ker what she thought the Lord wanted us to put have as our goal for 'other' lessons (investigators only) and she thought about it and said 6- at first I have to admit that I was very skeptic and was ready to make it a little lower because we already set a goal of 5 member-present lessons (lessons with investigators and members) and we hadn't had that many investigator lessons in long time; but I remembered a story President Saylin told us in our trainers meeting about how when he got to his mission he set a whole bunch of goals that were really outrageous and his trainer supported him and it was probably the best week of his mission; I agreed with her on 6 and committed myself to do everything to hit that goal. I was worried but the Lord provided, we didn't get 6 'other' lessons but we over shot our goal on member presents (7) and hit our goal to have 11 investigator lessons last week. It really all happened in the 3 days we had to work and it was a miracle, I'm thankful for President Saylin's about his trainer so that I could see the hand of the Lord and that we could have a great week that added some new investigators to our pool and helped some others progress a little more... which leads to the Investigator Weekly!
RJ: We are working with his mom right now with a couple doubts/misunderstandings she has that she has finally told us about and we are trying to help her see that the time when she was most happy in her life was when she was really involved in the Church. In her heart she knows its true but the adversary just gets into her thoughts and makes her doubt a lot of things. She was raised to fear God and we are trying to help her see that he is out loving Heavenly Father and that she is His daughter and that he doesn't really punish us. We will get there, but RJ's baptism is on hold until then.
Victor: He is all set to get baptized this weekend on Sunday after church and I'm really excited! We would appreciate your prayers so that we can have a little extra help making sure everything works out.
Sarina: We had a good little lesson with her this week on the way back from a fireside with a member, so hopefully she will start thinking about it more. We still haven't met her parents but hopefully this weekend.
Well thats about it for today- time is a little short. I hope that everything is going well for y'all. Spring is pretty much here and I hope stays for a long time, it makes me happy and I love the 75 degree weather with a slight breeze. I think we are actually going to go to the park for P-day and write letters outside, I'm stoked because I'm tired of being white! ha ha Well I love y'all and hope that y'all have a great week! Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Letters from Kelsey - 62
Hey everyone!
Well I survived week 1 of training and it hasn't been too bad. My trainee is Hermana Lindsey Ker from Idaho Falls. We get along pretty well and she has the greenie fire which is becoming a little contagious, which is a good thing. When you have been a missionary for a while its not as easy to get excited about things super fast. I mean I still get excited and I love the work but I have seen enough to know that not everyone we give a card to will call the number or check out the website. I hope they do, but most likely they won't, but its okay, I'm not going to rain on her parade and who knows maybe I will start having more faith in the people on the street. It's always good to have a change and to remember what it was like when I first got to the mission. Her Spanish is a lot better than mine was and she isn't afraid to talk to people or to stumble through her Spanish.We will hopefully see a lot of miracles this month and I am excited, I'm just praying that certain things fall into place. Here we go with the last Investigator Weekly of February!!
RJ: So... we had a lesson Thursday and it went really well. We went over the baptismal questions and he rocked it and we were just stoked for this weekend and we set a time and were excited to set everything up. Then about 15 minutes after we left their house we got a text from his mom saying that they had a family talk and they didn't think that he is ready so they were cancelling the baptism right now... my heart broke. RJ wants to get baptized and understands why he wants to do it and what it means... I just don't know what we need to do to get the parents on board. We are going to see them tomorrow and I'm really praying that we can figure out what the real problem is so that we can resolve it and have RJ get baptized this month. The ward is super supportive and the boys love coming to primary. I'll let y'all know next week what happens.
Victor: Well yesterday he came to church and he has now decided that he thinks that its okay to be baptized when you are 9 or 10 and so I told him that 9 was the right age and then he agreed. I then asked him if he would like to be baptized in a couple weeks and he said yes again! He now has a date for March 10 or 11 (depending on if we wanna do it a Saturday or Sunday). I feel that it is pretty solid, we just need to make sure that his mom is okay with the date - she wasn't there yesterday because she was sick- and then just pray that nothing comes up between now and then to derail it. He is a great kid and I'm excited for him.
Serena: So yesterday we talked with the Carters- the member family who brings her to church every week- to set up a time that we could meet Serena's parents this weekend to have them be okay with us teaching her. Her parents pretty much already consider her a member so we just need to do a little thing called baptism to make it official! ha ha
Well that is about it- we had a good weekend. Hna. Ker came to Texas with an intense cold and nothing has seemed to work to make it better so we were kinda in limbo this weekend trying to work hard and yet rest enough to help her get better. Hopefully she will get better soon so we can work hard and see what the Lord has in store for us this month. I'm excited, all of our kid investigators are willing- we just need to get the lame parents on board! ha ha. It has been a struggle this week with feeling so overwhelmed with trying to take care of my little trainee and with reaching our goals. I have to remind myself all the time that its a marathon, not a sprint and that I don't have to teach her everything in one day. She is super willing to work hard and to talk to people which makes my job a little easier. I'm really grateful that she isn't homesick because how could I tell her not to be when I was homesick for a good part of the beginning of my mission? ha ha The important thing is that no matter what comes or how you feel that you push through it and never give up. That is one thing I have learned, I have developed some self discipline and diligence over the last 14 months. I actually run about a mile every other morning- as y'all know I hate running and I hate it even more with not being able to distract myself with music or watching TV, but I have been able to discipline myself and push through it and now I'm getting in pretty good shape- it also helps that I have the motivation of being in shape to hike Machu Picchu right after I get home- but it is amazing that when you have the determination to do something and to finish it all the way through, that it just becomes a characteristic and it makes doing everything else easier. Well I hope that everything is going well with y'all. I am super appreciative of the letters, your prayers, and your love and support. I hope the good Lord continues to bless y'all. I hope that y'all have a good week! Love y'all! Go Cougars!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Well I survived week 1 of training and it hasn't been too bad. My trainee is Hermana Lindsey Ker from Idaho Falls. We get along pretty well and she has the greenie fire which is becoming a little contagious, which is a good thing. When you have been a missionary for a while its not as easy to get excited about things super fast. I mean I still get excited and I love the work but I have seen enough to know that not everyone we give a card to will call the number or check out the website. I hope they do, but most likely they won't, but its okay, I'm not going to rain on her parade and who knows maybe I will start having more faith in the people on the street. It's always good to have a change and to remember what it was like when I first got to the mission. Her Spanish is a lot better than mine was and she isn't afraid to talk to people or to stumble through her Spanish.We will hopefully see a lot of miracles this month and I am excited, I'm just praying that certain things fall into place. Here we go with the last Investigator Weekly of February!!
RJ: So... we had a lesson Thursday and it went really well. We went over the baptismal questions and he rocked it and we were just stoked for this weekend and we set a time and were excited to set everything up. Then about 15 minutes after we left their house we got a text from his mom saying that they had a family talk and they didn't think that he is ready so they were cancelling the baptism right now... my heart broke. RJ wants to get baptized and understands why he wants to do it and what it means... I just don't know what we need to do to get the parents on board. We are going to see them tomorrow and I'm really praying that we can figure out what the real problem is so that we can resolve it and have RJ get baptized this month. The ward is super supportive and the boys love coming to primary. I'll let y'all know next week what happens.
Victor: Well yesterday he came to church and he has now decided that he thinks that its okay to be baptized when you are 9 or 10 and so I told him that 9 was the right age and then he agreed. I then asked him if he would like to be baptized in a couple weeks and he said yes again! He now has a date for March 10 or 11 (depending on if we wanna do it a Saturday or Sunday). I feel that it is pretty solid, we just need to make sure that his mom is okay with the date - she wasn't there yesterday because she was sick- and then just pray that nothing comes up between now and then to derail it. He is a great kid and I'm excited for him.
Serena: So yesterday we talked with the Carters- the member family who brings her to church every week- to set up a time that we could meet Serena's parents this weekend to have them be okay with us teaching her. Her parents pretty much already consider her a member so we just need to do a little thing called baptism to make it official! ha ha
Well that is about it- we had a good weekend. Hna. Ker came to Texas with an intense cold and nothing has seemed to work to make it better so we were kinda in limbo this weekend trying to work hard and yet rest enough to help her get better. Hopefully she will get better soon so we can work hard and see what the Lord has in store for us this month. I'm excited, all of our kid investigators are willing- we just need to get the lame parents on board! ha ha. It has been a struggle this week with feeling so overwhelmed with trying to take care of my little trainee and with reaching our goals. I have to remind myself all the time that its a marathon, not a sprint and that I don't have to teach her everything in one day. She is super willing to work hard and to talk to people which makes my job a little easier. I'm really grateful that she isn't homesick because how could I tell her not to be when I was homesick for a good part of the beginning of my mission? ha ha The important thing is that no matter what comes or how you feel that you push through it and never give up. That is one thing I have learned, I have developed some self discipline and diligence over the last 14 months. I actually run about a mile every other morning- as y'all know I hate running and I hate it even more with not being able to distract myself with music or watching TV, but I have been able to discipline myself and push through it and now I'm getting in pretty good shape- it also helps that I have the motivation of being in shape to hike Machu Picchu right after I get home- but it is amazing that when you have the determination to do something and to finish it all the way through, that it just becomes a characteristic and it makes doing everything else easier. Well I hope that everything is going well with y'all. I am super appreciative of the letters, your prayers, and your love and support. I hope the good Lord continues to bless y'all. I hope that y'all have a good week! Love y'all! Go Cougars!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Letters from Kelsey - 61
Hey everyone!!
Well... another week has come and gone in the great Texas Houston South Mission... and everywhere else around the world. We had a decent week and the cherry on top was the meeting with Elder D. Todd Christofferson last Saturday. It was fantastic and he is a very funny and personable guy who is very pensive as well. It was crazy because it was originally planned to be at the Bering building and so we got there early and got pretty good seats, but it was raining super hard and the parking lot had turned into a lake so there wasn't enough parking spots- so then they moved it to the Eldridge building so we all had to book it over there because it was pretty late when they changed so everyone was already at the building. So we booked it over there and we had some friends save us some seats so we got 4th row seats which were better than our first ones! It was awesome though. He talked about a lot of different things and I have a lot of things to improve on, but it was definitely a highlight of the mission by far, and something that I will always remember. So that what the big news this week. Oh yeah... also... I learned that I'm staying in Manvel and.... TRAINING... WHAT?? I feel super overwhelmed and nervous and unqualified. How can I train? I feel like I just got to the mission and I still have no idea what is going on sometimes! I love Manvel but I had prepared myself mentally to leave... I have been here a long time and its only going to get longer. This area doesn't have a lot of turn over but its all good, we found some new people this week that I am excited for so it should be good. That all leads me to... the Investigator Weekly!!
RJ: They came to all 3 hours of church yesterday and it was great. They loved it and RJ is super excited for his baptism on March 3. They are just great and as they start coming to Primary more and more it will get even better!
Cadena Family: They are our new people that we are super excited about. So we have known for a couple weeks that they spoke Spanish but they were never there when we knocked. Last week we finally found them home and the dad- Alberto- brought 2 of his daughters to the Branch activity last week and they had a good time. They have 6 kids and they are awesome. So last night we stopped by to try and set something up and Alberto and Veronica pulled up right after we got there from the store, so we helped them carry in the groceries and put them away. Veronica has a lot of friends that are members and has been to Relief Society activities and they have gone to a lot of church activities also. They were super nice and she invited us to say for dinner so we did and then we did the dishes after- service always works :). We had a good conversation through all of this about her thoughts about the church and some of the questions she had. We ate with them and then watched some 'I'm A Mormon' (www.mormon.org plug- ha ha) videos that she could relate to, and then asked them if they would be interested in learning more. We bore our testimonies that this wasn't a 'chance' meeting and that they have had a lot of contact with the Church for a reason. She agreed and we promised that if they would investigate the church with real intent they would find what they were looking for and would have some hurt healed and have a more unified family. They are super awesome and it was a great night and a great meeting- I am really, really excited for them.
Mosqueda Family: Jaime and Oscar came to Mutual last week and they enjoyed it. We are having a little trouble with their mom, just getting her to sit down long enough to have a real lesson but it will happen soon. They are pretty great though and are making friends with some of the youth of the branch.
Well... that's it for this weeks edition. We have a couple other people that have potential and I am praying that some things fall into place so that it can happen. Things are good out here though... I am just plugging along and doing my best to do what I'm supposed to. This whole training thing will be a new experience and not one that I really wanted. It was funny- so what happens is that on Sunday night is when President Saylin calls to tell you that you are training. So last night we had got back to the apartment about 9:15 pm and I was washing my hands and I just got this feeling that President was going to call and that I was training... and I didn't want to believe it. I watched the clock all through planning and relaxed a little as the night got a little later and later... and then at about 9:45 it happened. The phone rang and it was President. Hna. Mathews said that she wasn't going to answer it so I just kinda looked at it about about 15 seconds before I answered it. I know that the Lord qualifies those whom he calls. I had just been trying to figure out my standing before the Lord, and then he calls me to do more work. It's kind of like Joseph Smith's experience when he was trying to find his standing before the Lord. It was a couple years after the First Vision and he wanted to know where he stood and then the angel Moroni came and put him to work with the Book of Mormon. I guess that's how we know, when the Lord trusts us with more responsibility we know that we are good before him- as overwhelming as that might be.
I hope y'all have a great President's Day and that everything is going well for y'all. I hope that y'all have a good week and that the Lord continues to bless you and your families. I know that the Lord is always with us, especially during our time of afflictions. I know that through repentance and the Atonement we can be clean of our past transgressions and grow to stand before the Lord. I know that families can be together forever and I know that the only way to true, eternal happiness is through Jesus Christ and the church he leads. If it didn't know all of that I wouldn't be on a mission- the hardest thing I have ever done; but it has also been the most rewarding and I wouldn't change it for anything. I love y'all and miss y'all. Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Ber
Well... another week has come and gone in the great Texas Houston South Mission... and everywhere else around the world. We had a decent week and the cherry on top was the meeting with Elder D. Todd Christofferson last Saturday. It was fantastic and he is a very funny and personable guy who is very pensive as well. It was crazy because it was originally planned to be at the Bering building and so we got there early and got pretty good seats, but it was raining super hard and the parking lot had turned into a lake so there wasn't enough parking spots- so then they moved it to the Eldridge building so we all had to book it over there because it was pretty late when they changed so everyone was already at the building. So we booked it over there and we had some friends save us some seats so we got 4th row seats which were better than our first ones! It was awesome though. He talked about a lot of different things and I have a lot of things to improve on, but it was definitely a highlight of the mission by far, and something that I will always remember. So that what the big news this week. Oh yeah... also... I learned that I'm staying in Manvel and.... TRAINING... WHAT?? I feel super overwhelmed and nervous and unqualified. How can I train? I feel like I just got to the mission and I still have no idea what is going on sometimes! I love Manvel but I had prepared myself mentally to leave... I have been here a long time and its only going to get longer. This area doesn't have a lot of turn over but its all good, we found some new people this week that I am excited for so it should be good. That all leads me to... the Investigator Weekly!!
RJ: They came to all 3 hours of church yesterday and it was great. They loved it and RJ is super excited for his baptism on March 3. They are just great and as they start coming to Primary more and more it will get even better!
Cadena Family: They are our new people that we are super excited about. So we have known for a couple weeks that they spoke Spanish but they were never there when we knocked. Last week we finally found them home and the dad- Alberto- brought 2 of his daughters to the Branch activity last week and they had a good time. They have 6 kids and they are awesome. So last night we stopped by to try and set something up and Alberto and Veronica pulled up right after we got there from the store, so we helped them carry in the groceries and put them away. Veronica has a lot of friends that are members and has been to Relief Society activities and they have gone to a lot of church activities also. They were super nice and she invited us to say for dinner so we did and then we did the dishes after- service always works :). We had a good conversation through all of this about her thoughts about the church and some of the questions she had. We ate with them and then watched some 'I'm A Mormon' (www.mormon.org plug- ha ha) videos that she could relate to, and then asked them if they would be interested in learning more. We bore our testimonies that this wasn't a 'chance' meeting and that they have had a lot of contact with the Church for a reason. She agreed and we promised that if they would investigate the church with real intent they would find what they were looking for and would have some hurt healed and have a more unified family. They are super awesome and it was a great night and a great meeting- I am really, really excited for them.
Mosqueda Family: Jaime and Oscar came to Mutual last week and they enjoyed it. We are having a little trouble with their mom, just getting her to sit down long enough to have a real lesson but it will happen soon. They are pretty great though and are making friends with some of the youth of the branch.
Well... that's it for this weeks edition. We have a couple other people that have potential and I am praying that some things fall into place so that it can happen. Things are good out here though... I am just plugging along and doing my best to do what I'm supposed to. This whole training thing will be a new experience and not one that I really wanted. It was funny- so what happens is that on Sunday night is when President Saylin calls to tell you that you are training. So last night we had got back to the apartment about 9:15 pm and I was washing my hands and I just got this feeling that President was going to call and that I was training... and I didn't want to believe it. I watched the clock all through planning and relaxed a little as the night got a little later and later... and then at about 9:45 it happened. The phone rang and it was President. Hna. Mathews said that she wasn't going to answer it so I just kinda looked at it about about 15 seconds before I answered it. I know that the Lord qualifies those whom he calls. I had just been trying to figure out my standing before the Lord, and then he calls me to do more work. It's kind of like Joseph Smith's experience when he was trying to find his standing before the Lord. It was a couple years after the First Vision and he wanted to know where he stood and then the angel Moroni came and put him to work with the Book of Mormon. I guess that's how we know, when the Lord trusts us with more responsibility we know that we are good before him- as overwhelming as that might be.
I hope y'all have a great President's Day and that everything is going well for y'all. I hope that y'all have a good week and that the Lord continues to bless you and your families. I know that the Lord is always with us, especially during our time of afflictions. I know that through repentance and the Atonement we can be clean of our past transgressions and grow to stand before the Lord. I know that families can be together forever and I know that the only way to true, eternal happiness is through Jesus Christ and the church he leads. If it didn't know all of that I wouldn't be on a mission- the hardest thing I have ever done; but it has also been the most rewarding and I wouldn't change it for anything. I love y'all and miss y'all. Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Ber
Letters from Kelsey - 60
Oh hey there everyone!
Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!! It really means nothing to me as a missionary but its all good because it never was really a big day before the mission either! Bahaha. I do want to tell y'all that I love you and appreciate your friendship, example, love, and support! Thanks for everything! So this email is going to be a little bit happier then my last ones, I realize that I have been a little pessimistic lately and that I really need to change my attitude! So consider it changed! ha ha. So! Now to the investigator weekly and then we will have a little chat!
RJ: He set a baptismal date for March 3! So yesterday Christi called us and said that her youngest boys - Luke and Daniel- didn't want to go to church so we called them and bribed them with gum balls. It worked with Daniel but not Luke, so we had a member go and pick up RJ and Daniel for church. They loved Primary and we had a lesson with them after church and RJ was super happy- church fixes everything. Christi was disappointed that she couldn't go but we chatted with Luke so hopefully next week will go better. They are starting to read more and I'm excite for them- its different now because RJ is excited so he is willing to do everything.
Serena: She is 11 and goes to the English ward as well. Her family aren't comfortable with the Elders teaching her so we got permission! She has a super cool story- she learned about the Church in her History class and that's where the interest started. She had a couple friends who where LDS and so she started going to church with them. She has been coming for over 6 months and the Elders never realized that she wasn't a member so its taken a little while to start teaching her but she is awesome. She already has a set ride every week and her parents are in full support and pretty much already consider her a member. Hopefully she can get baptized soon!
Victor: We didn't get a chance to see him this week because his mom's phone isn't working so its hard to get a hold of her but things are still going forward and we hope that he can get baptized pretty soon.
We had a couple other miracles happen this week with new people and I'm hoping that the start progressing so that I can tell y'all about them! It was a rough week, nothing worked out the way we wanted but its all good- all part of the job. Oh! cool news! On Saturday Elder D. Todd Christofferson is coming to speak to the Houston missions! Cool huh! I'm super stoked. Another thing- this week we had an interesting conversation with a lady who's neighbor is a member and we answered some questions for her. It was the nicest bible bash I have had- but that's really all it was because she just wanted to know our beliefs on things and our reason for believing them. We talked about everything from the Fall to eternal marriage, to our belief that we can become like God to prophets. It made me really grateful for the clarity and simplicity of the gospel. Just because these are things from God doesn't mean that they have to be complex or that we can't understand them. It was a little bit of a difficult conversation for me because everything was so logical yet she didn't understand. It was just very interesting and I have thought a lot about it. I know that our Heavenly Father is a God of order and that his plan is a plan of love, and that he wants it to be simple so that we can understand it and so that we can know what we need to do to become like him. I'm thankful for my testimony and knowledge.
Well I hope y'all have a good week and are super nice to your loved ones! We are about to head out into the rain but it will be a good day! Love y'all! Go Cougars!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!! It really means nothing to me as a missionary but its all good because it never was really a big day before the mission either! Bahaha. I do want to tell y'all that I love you and appreciate your friendship, example, love, and support! Thanks for everything! So this email is going to be a little bit happier then my last ones, I realize that I have been a little pessimistic lately and that I really need to change my attitude! So consider it changed! ha ha. So! Now to the investigator weekly and then we will have a little chat!
RJ: He set a baptismal date for March 3! So yesterday Christi called us and said that her youngest boys - Luke and Daniel- didn't want to go to church so we called them and bribed them with gum balls. It worked with Daniel but not Luke, so we had a member go and pick up RJ and Daniel for church. They loved Primary and we had a lesson with them after church and RJ was super happy- church fixes everything. Christi was disappointed that she couldn't go but we chatted with Luke so hopefully next week will go better. They are starting to read more and I'm excite for them- its different now because RJ is excited so he is willing to do everything.
Serena: She is 11 and goes to the English ward as well. Her family aren't comfortable with the Elders teaching her so we got permission! She has a super cool story- she learned about the Church in her History class and that's where the interest started. She had a couple friends who where LDS and so she started going to church with them. She has been coming for over 6 months and the Elders never realized that she wasn't a member so its taken a little while to start teaching her but she is awesome. She already has a set ride every week and her parents are in full support and pretty much already consider her a member. Hopefully she can get baptized soon!
Victor: We didn't get a chance to see him this week because his mom's phone isn't working so its hard to get a hold of her but things are still going forward and we hope that he can get baptized pretty soon.
We had a couple other miracles happen this week with new people and I'm hoping that the start progressing so that I can tell y'all about them! It was a rough week, nothing worked out the way we wanted but its all good- all part of the job. Oh! cool news! On Saturday Elder D. Todd Christofferson is coming to speak to the Houston missions! Cool huh! I'm super stoked. Another thing- this week we had an interesting conversation with a lady who's neighbor is a member and we answered some questions for her. It was the nicest bible bash I have had- but that's really all it was because she just wanted to know our beliefs on things and our reason for believing them. We talked about everything from the Fall to eternal marriage, to our belief that we can become like God to prophets. It made me really grateful for the clarity and simplicity of the gospel. Just because these are things from God doesn't mean that they have to be complex or that we can't understand them. It was a little bit of a difficult conversation for me because everything was so logical yet she didn't understand. It was just very interesting and I have thought a lot about it. I know that our Heavenly Father is a God of order and that his plan is a plan of love, and that he wants it to be simple so that we can understand it and so that we can know what we need to do to become like him. I'm thankful for my testimony and knowledge.
Well I hope y'all have a good week and are super nice to your loved ones! We are about to head out into the rain but it will be a good day! Love y'all! Go Cougars!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Letters from Kelsey - 59
Hey everyone,
Well another week has come and gone and this week I have learned that I really don't like agency and I just wish that there was a button that I could push that could turn off people's agency so they could do what I wanted them to do so they could see the blessings that would come from it! And yet I'm sure that is what plenty of people have wanted to do with me over the years when I thought I knew better and now I know that I really don't. Unfortunately there is no way to turn off people's agency and it has been a struggle for me to not get super frustrated with them (losing about 5 years off my life I'm sure) and to want to give up and just go back to a time when my salvation was all I had to worry about and not the salvation of other people. I know that we did everything possible this week to help people progress and come to church, and yet they didn't... and I'm beginning to become okay with that. I'm sad that they don't use their agency in the way that I know would bring them happiness, yet I am confident that they were given sufficient information to be able to decide correctly if they chose. Anyway- that is enough of my little rant today! Now to the Investigator Weekly!
Andrea: She is first because this is probably the last time she will be featured. She told us all this week that she would come to church and she was even praying that it would be possible. We brought members over and even told her of the importance of church. Her husband didn't come home from work this weekend which made it a whole lot easier for her to come because she didn't have him wanting to go do things. We watched the Restoration DVD with her and she said that she knew after watching it that she needed to be baptized and we told her what she needed to do for that to happen... and yet! She didn't come to church because her baby had a runny nose... that he didn't have on Saturday when we were over there. We have done all we can with her, we have taught her all that we can and she has progressed all that she can with out going to church- it is all her decision and she hasn't taken that step...
RJ: We had a really good lesson with them this week and even had dinner with the whole family and the dad joined in for the closing prayer which was huge. They didn't come to church either because they over slept and it was their anniversary- and maybe the Super Bowl had something to do with it. We are trying to help them understand that everything they want in life can be accomplished only by them coming to church. It might be bad to say but I kinda hope they have a rough week so they can really feel the difference of a week when they go to church and a week when they don't. They are still progressing though- they will get there soon.
Victor: His dad came and got him this weekend even though we were praying he wouldn't, but we are hoping to have him baptized next Sunday! Pray that we can get a couple chances to see him this week!
That is about all I have time for, I need to do a better job managing my time, but we have some potentials that I'm super excited to tell y'all about next week! I hope to be able to feel the Investigator Weekly with people that will use their agency to follow the commandments of Christ so that they can receive the blessings and stop stressing me out! ha ha Well I hope that y'all have a fantastic week and that y'all keep out of trouble! Love and miss y'all!! Go Cougars!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Well another week has come and gone and this week I have learned that I really don't like agency and I just wish that there was a button that I could push that could turn off people's agency so they could do what I wanted them to do so they could see the blessings that would come from it! And yet I'm sure that is what plenty of people have wanted to do with me over the years when I thought I knew better and now I know that I really don't. Unfortunately there is no way to turn off people's agency and it has been a struggle for me to not get super frustrated with them (losing about 5 years off my life I'm sure) and to want to give up and just go back to a time when my salvation was all I had to worry about and not the salvation of other people. I know that we did everything possible this week to help people progress and come to church, and yet they didn't... and I'm beginning to become okay with that. I'm sad that they don't use their agency in the way that I know would bring them happiness, yet I am confident that they were given sufficient information to be able to decide correctly if they chose. Anyway- that is enough of my little rant today! Now to the Investigator Weekly!
Andrea: She is first because this is probably the last time she will be featured. She told us all this week that she would come to church and she was even praying that it would be possible. We brought members over and even told her of the importance of church. Her husband didn't come home from work this weekend which made it a whole lot easier for her to come because she didn't have him wanting to go do things. We watched the Restoration DVD with her and she said that she knew after watching it that she needed to be baptized and we told her what she needed to do for that to happen... and yet! She didn't come to church because her baby had a runny nose... that he didn't have on Saturday when we were over there. We have done all we can with her, we have taught her all that we can and she has progressed all that she can with out going to church- it is all her decision and she hasn't taken that step...
RJ: We had a really good lesson with them this week and even had dinner with the whole family and the dad joined in for the closing prayer which was huge. They didn't come to church either because they over slept and it was their anniversary- and maybe the Super Bowl had something to do with it. We are trying to help them understand that everything they want in life can be accomplished only by them coming to church. It might be bad to say but I kinda hope they have a rough week so they can really feel the difference of a week when they go to church and a week when they don't. They are still progressing though- they will get there soon.
Victor: His dad came and got him this weekend even though we were praying he wouldn't, but we are hoping to have him baptized next Sunday! Pray that we can get a couple chances to see him this week!
That is about all I have time for, I need to do a better job managing my time, but we have some potentials that I'm super excited to tell y'all about next week! I hope to be able to feel the Investigator Weekly with people that will use their agency to follow the commandments of Christ so that they can receive the blessings and stop stressing me out! ha ha Well I hope that y'all have a fantastic week and that y'all keep out of trouble! Love and miss y'all!! Go Cougars!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
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