OH HAPPY DAY!

Dear Family & Friends, 

This week has been so amazing!! We got two new investigators and they are a family! I've been wanting to teach a family for so long! They are newly weds and also have the cutest little girl.  

I also have an update for one of our investigators. Judy has accepted baptism!! I asked during our second lesson with her on the Plan of Salvation, "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ, and be baptized by someone who holds the Priesthood authority of God?" and she said, with out any hesitation, "YES!!!" We have May 31st with her name written all over it! She had a blessing given to her by the elders for comfort, and also to help with quitting her smoking addiction. She needs to be clean for a month and come to church 4 times before she can be baptized. She wants to quit smoking, and LOVES coming to church, so we have so much faith in her being prepared for the 31st! Keep her in your prayers :) 

So today, some Jehovah Witnesses came to our door to give us some pamphlets, and talk about their bible, and services. I was the one who answered the door, and we had a nice conversation. The lady introduced herself and then I whipped my hair out of the way of my name tag and said, "Hello, my name is Sister Keller", and with a big grin, I shook her hand.  She saw that I was a missionary and quickly ended the conversation and walked away. Haha!! It was fun. 

It snowed yesterday... and it is sunny today. This place just can't decide on a temp! I have heard that it is not  unusual to have a day of snow in July in the north country though.

I got your card today Jordy, thank you so much! I love the pictures on the back!! I had a fun Easter too :) With our two dinner apts, we had lots of good times. I love the updates on my friends! Thanks and keep them coming! I will be sure to write them. Please send me mailing, and email addresses from anyone! I would love to write people! 

I love you all so much!!! The church is true! 
Love Sister Keller 

Remember me?

Remember me? I can't believe it has already been a month! It went by so fast for me! Probably really slow for all of you. But everything is still great up here in the north country. "Yous girls awtah git some rain boots for the muddy season!" I hear that every day, so I went and bought some today!

I had a great Easter! We had so many people invite us over for dinner, so we had to go with the first two that asked us for Saturday and Sunday. We don't have to cook for ourselves at all this week! Everyone loves inviting us over for dinner.

My exchange went pretty great! I was so nervous to take over my area, but it wasn't so bad. My companion was Sister Langford; our Sister Training Leader. When we came back together, she accidentally took our car keys with her, and they live 2 hours away from us! So we didn't have a car on Sunday. The elders had to take us to church. Luckily, for our dinner appointment we were all invited to the same place and we got our keys back. Still doesn't do us any good though because we won't have our car anyway this week. It has to go to the shop.  So we are walking missionaries for the next few days!

So with one of our investigators, Judy, we had our first lesson. She used to see elders, but they put off a very poor impression, and she quit seeing them for a long time. We started her up again, and she has never felt the spirit so strong! She read in the Book of Mormon, said the closing prayer, and committed to work towards baptism!! (ie. stop smoking, come to church) She came to church, and LOVED it!  Another one of our investigators, Trent, calls US to make teaching appointments! He is the one who is training for the Olympics and does the skeleton.  He comes to church regularly, and commits to everything we ask him. I swear he looks just like Mr. Dewitt! Only 20 years younger.

My testimony has grown so much being out here. I truly want everyone to know of the happiness that this gospel brings, and how much it will bless their lives! I am so greatful for the Atonement. Jesus Christ is our savior, redeemer, and brother! I know that God is our loving heavenly father who does hear and answer our prayers. By the power of the Holy Ghost, we can know if these things are true. You just need to listen to it, and act upon it. I miss our ward. It was so big! Here it is just a branch. There are maybe 60 people! 

You would not believe how much people love their Adirondack Mountains over here! Almost every store has the title "Adirondack" in it! And guess what!?!?  I sat in an Adirondack chair, in the Adirondacks!! Life is complete.

Congrats to Chad on his wedding, Bree and Derek on their GIRL, and Maddy!! 
I knew you would go to prom Maddy :)

I love you all! The church is true!!
Love, Sister Keller

Hi Ho Hi Ho...

Dear Family,

So today when I got back to my little house, I checked the mail and I got a letter from Amy and a package from Rick and Teronda. They sent Sister Bowen and I some Easter candy and some egg decorating kits.  It was so nice of them!  THANK YOU!! Amy's letter was cute and in a rainbow envelope and made me very happy! 

This mission really WORKS me! I am so tired by the end of the day.  Waking up at 6:30 is hard stuff! And then exercising right after waking up...but I LOVE IT!! There is so much work to do but I will get used to that too.  I'm nervous for Friday.  My companion is leaving and I will have a new one just until Saturday.  So, I will be in charge of our area.  Exchanges happen once every transfer.  I hope I am ready by then.  My companion says I will do amazing, which makes me feel better.  

The picture posted on facebook was by Sister White.  They are such a cool family!  We eat with them a lot.  So far, everyone that has cooked for us has made yummy dinners! PHEW! I love how differently everyone cooks.  

Thank you all so much for sending me letters.  Getting those is one of my favorite parts of the day.  Plus I have time to read and hear about everything that is going on with you all.  I only have an hour and a half to email you but letters can be as long as you want!

I love you guys so much!  I miss you!
The church is true!
Love, 
Sister Keller

WEEK 2

Hi everyone!! 

So just as I was about to write this email, the power went out along all of Main St. I'm glad that it didn't happen during this email! It might not have saved! Anyway, I hope your week is going well! I was happy to hear you all got my letters.

So this week was pretty great! We found one new investigator! She is planning on having her whole family sit down to have lessons with us! We found out that she used to see missionaries a long time ago, and has since been forgotten about. But we came across her name in our area book and decided to go see her. Finally someone will have a lesson with us!! We, and the Elders have been having a hard time finding people. 

This past Sunday was so amazing!!! We had TWO of our investigators show up to church! One brought her niece along with her! But that isn't the best part... It was fast and testimony meeting, and one of our investigators stood up and shared her testimony for 30 minutes!!!! It was so surprising to us and I wanted to cry! We were so happy, and she shared an amazing and powerful testimony. I really believe that baptism is in her near future. 

I'm really excited for Easter Sunday. A member is inviting us and the Elders over for dinner, so that will be fun. I really will miss having Easter dinner with all of you. That was one of my favorite traditions. Oh, and there is a grocery store here. It is just down the road. I also like coming down on Main St. Lots of tourists come here. Lots of people to talk to. Lucky them! It is getting warmer here, and it is supposed to be very beautiful after the muddy season.

Thanks for the package! it made me laugh! I love the greenie theme :) and the treats were amazing.  I named the little fuzzy frog Phillip and he sits by my desk. 

I love you all! The Church is true! 
Sister Keller

Finally found her!

Kenzie with her companion Sister Bowen and President and Sister Joseph B. Wirthlin Jr.

This has been the longest week since we dropped Kenzie off at the MTC.  She arrived in New York last Tuesday but we had no idea where she was sent or who her companion was.  Getting her email today was amazing and made this momma sigh a breath of relief.  =)

Here is her first letter from the field....

Hi everyone!!

Sorry it took me so long today! I've been pretty busy! So right now I am in Lake Placid. It is way up north on the mission boundaries. New Yorkers would say "it's up narth". I live with a member in their little bonus house. It is right across the street from an elementary school. It's just me and my companion living there. Her name is Sister Bowen, and she is great!! She is training me very well. She came when she was 21 and is almost done with her mission. She has 3 transfers left. (each transfer is 6 weeks). I will be with her training for 2 transfers (hopefully). Our apartment is so cute! It is also very very small. A kitchen, bedroom, a bathroom, and our study room.  I have my own washing machine too!

So anyway, I have taught a couple of investigators. One is very close to baptism. He had a date set, but isnt sure if he feels ready for it yet. So we will keep working for it, when ever it will be! Yes, I have had lots of dinner appointments! I have tons this week too. I have been able to cook all of my meals as well. We haven't  had to go out to eat at all.

Things are going great! My first time tracting was Saturday. I had a lot of doors slammed in my face, and I slipped on the ice. It was still a good day though! We "planted lots of seeds" It is cold here, and very muddy. Still lots of snow too. The town is very cute. Every one here is very nice to us! Because I wear this name tag, it is the first thing people see. Then they look at how I act and how I talk and how I'm dressed, so I must show that I am an example of the Savior at all times! Just because of this name tag, people know exactly who I represent. I have never had so many people come up and talk to me before this!! It is crazy!! But I love it! I love being a missionary. I am having so much fun and doing a lot of hard work too. My companion says I am doing very well for only being a rookie. It is because I put all of my effort into it. And I love teaching people, and showing them the blessings that this gospel gives.

I love you all so much, and I think about you every day! I dont want you to worry about me, because everything is going amazing right now!

Well I gotta get going. The church is true!

Love you all!!! Bye now.

Love, your Sister Keller :)