December 19, 2016

OKAY, CRAZIEST WEEK OF MY WHOLE MISSION!!

The Assisters
Sister King and Sister Holmstead
December 2016

The only way to describe the madness is to say that Sister Holmstead and I are essentially APs, we are called “the assisters” as we finish out our missions! We are technically assigned to Bakersfield 5th (the APs ward), work wherever we want, go on exchanges with whomever we want, have unlimited miles, access to all missionaries, and go to church in Berkshire, my old ward! AND, Holmstead and I came out together and we're headed home together!!

The Assisters
Sister King and Sister Holmstead
December 2016

The week starts off with our departing dinner and evening with the mission president and wife. It was way nice because while everyone ELSE there was freaking out because they were going home the next day, we just renewed our fire to go out and CONQUER THE WORLD our final 2 weeks! It was a really nice evening and we were reflecting on what we've all learned during our missions. As if I could casually write it down... BUT, I will say that I have come to feel the hope that springs from faith in the Savior. All the problems of life seem so small when I remember that all things are done with the wisdom of Him who created us, and all the trials we experience here will be but a small moment. 

Button Willow, 25 miles outside of Bakersfield
"demon dogs"
December 2016

Okay, so we start off working in the Snow ward for a few days. I served there for a transfer at the start of my mission so it was so fun to be back!! We were able to find some cool people to teach and we were in a trio with Sister Carter! One of the missionaries serving there is sick so while she was prepping to go home we were with the missionary who will replace her. It was SO FUN to see all the people I got to work with, and it was awesome to get to introduce them to their new missionary :D So part of the Snow ward is this little town called Buttonwillow like 25 miles outside of Bakersfield. It’s about 5 streets, 1000 people, one school, 2 stores and a few truck stops. We went there to tract a bit (and met some AWESOME people!).  We ended up at the public library, and we talked with the librarian who invited us to come carol there a few days later!! When we go back, all the kids there were NOT having it, but the adults seemed to enjoy it! While we were leaving, thinking nothing of the situation, we talked with the librarian again and described our roles as missionaries a bit more. She said she was interested in our message and wanted to learn more! So caroling DOES bring miracles!

Button Willow, 25 miles outside of Bakersfield
December 2016

We visited a less active member and a part member family I worked with when I was there a year ago. They had no interest in coming to church but still loved the missionaries, so we decided to go see them again. HOWEVER, when we were talking with them, one of them who is not even a member, she started reeeally opening up, more than before. When we were leaving she told us to not give up on her, that she really does want to know if this church is true and she’s ready to discuss some of the things holding her back!! WHAT?! It’s so cool to see how her heart has softened over time!

Berkshire, CA

Sisters Holmstead and King

December 2016

Also, for zone training meeting, the zone leaders gave us an overview of the role play for the meeting and asked US to run it and lead a discussion. So, even though we're just floaters, we still had to present a training, it shall never end, haha. But afterwards we worked in an area that has been struggling in finding people to teach. It was a miracle. On one street we got 4 referrals, 2 potential investigators, met the kindest old man who has a strong testimony of missionary work and this one door we knocked on had a kid who SCREAMED, said he didn’t have time to talk right then but gave us his number and begged us to come back :D  Also, one 4 year old gave me 5 pieces of candy for being a "good listener."

Baptism, Berkshire Ward
December 2016

On Saturday i got to go out with one of my trainees and we explored the farms on the outskirts of Bakersfield. Afterwards I got to go to a baptismal service for Berkshire and 3 people got baptized!! Afterwards we visited a family I had taught when I served there before and it was hilarious!! the 7 year old is getting ready to be baptized and his 2 sisters just turn to him and go "hey, you need an attitude check before you can get baptized. If you don’t shape up, you’ll be OUR age when you get baptized!" I was dying. They’re so funny. I also got to see another girl the elders worked with but whom I was close with. She has been struggling and had made some mistakes since her baptism, but we were able to testify of God’s love and the power of repentance. I know that God knows every part of ourselves that we don’t want to show anyone else, and loves us still. I know that he’s been in every dark place we have and he is willing to lift us out of our hard times. I am so grateful for this gospel and the power Christ gives us to change!

This week shall be full of MORE MIRACLES, I cannot wait, we are ending this adventure on the highest of notes :D   I. LOVE. THE. LORD. And all of you. Have a great week!

December 12, 2017

Sister King, Sister Hayes,
Bakersfield, CA, December 2016

This week has been the perfect fall weather!! Pretty leaves on the trees, 60s and 70s, cloudy and overcast. It’s a shame it’s actually halfway through December :D

This week was strange. Poor Sister Hayes got the stomach flu so we had to stay in for a good chunk of it :( BUT, we still saw miracles, so life is grand!

We were able to see B a few times. She’s opening up a lot more and she’s better at keeping commitments and following through, including baptism, which is awesome :D 

K is having a rough time, so extra prayers for her would be great! She’s still doing well, has applied to BYU and whatnot :D She is an incredible person and I just hope I can be half the person she is someday!

So, not much else happened other than TRANSFER CALLS! So....... I’m sort of leaving. Sister Holmstead (who came out with me and will be going home with me) and I will be together and we don’t have an assigned area. We'll be going to church in Berkshire (my old area) but other than that will be working all over Bakersfield! All I know is that we'll be "finding people in areas that are struggling" but other than that it is all up in the air!! So be prepared for ALL THE INSANITY THAT WILL ENSUE!! Legit, it is going to be crazy, I’m so excited!! 

Sister King, Sister Hayes,
Bakersfield, CA, December 2016

So as part of the Light the World campaign, this video got released and it is AWESOME!! Read the background of how it was written, but it’s just a simple prayer that is sung.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrPPJCu22ZI

I have really learned the importance of prayer on my mission and the power that can come from it. I love how prayer enables us to know God’s will, to feel of His love, to gain peace and forgiveness through our Savior. The whole restoration and miracles that followed came from a simple scripture and a prayer that followed. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." I have been able to develop a closer relationship with Heavenly Father and there is nothing that can be more beneficial to us in this life than knowing our God personally and fully. I love Him and this gospel so much, sorry it's so short, I’ll write more next week :D I LOVE YOU!

 

Sister King, Sister Hayes,
Bakersfield, CA, December 2016

Sister King, Sister Hayes,
Bakersfield, CA, December 2016

Way back at the beginning of their missions
July, 2015, at the MTC in Provo, Utah
Sister King (far left) and Sister Holmstead (3rd from left in the
blue and white dress) started their missions together in
the same district, and will now finish their missions
together as companions, and go home together! 

December 5, 2017

I know what everyone’s thinking, "it's been WAY too long since Sister King has had car troubles." Well, no need to fear, THEY HAVE COME!! our turbo charger broke and I won’t account to you all the terrible noises and shakes the car made while driving it for a day before we could take it to the shop.... and it took 3 times to start every time we got it. BUT, we got to borrow a 2017 Malibu for the week! Salt Lake just bought them for the mission, and we weren’t allowed to drive it but they gave it to us anyways. No pressure or anything!!

We met with B a few times this week. We had to push her date back to late in December because she isn’t super ready to be baptized yet. Keep her in your prayers! We taught her and her family and the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement this week. K, her mom who just got baptized, never ceases to amaze us! She set goals for scripture study and prayer, both individually and as a family. She shares her testimony all the time about how the normal stresses and anxieties she felt before have subsided. She’s a great example to me about the importance of making sure I stay rooted in the gospel. Even a few days without meaningful prayer and scripture study will set us back. I am soo grateful for how easy and simple God made it for us to have the spirit in our life!

We were able to visit with a lot of less actives this week that we normally don’t have much contact with! This includes a man who left the church a while back but wants to return and wants his wife to take the discussions!! 

K is still doing great! This week SHE taught US a lesson!! It was for personal progress; she wants to finish before she gets baptized and turns 18 in June! We all cried when she bore her testimony about the Savior. She told us how she knows the importance of living a righteous life and of staying strong and following God to the end. The lesson was on prayer and she taught with the SPIRIT! She’s going to be an incredible missionary someday!!

I got to go to the Temple this week with the departing missionaries and I forgot how much closer to God I feel in His house and how the Spirit SO STRONG after I leave! It was a strong testimony builder for me about what this life is all about. It’s about living in such a way where we can feel comfortable in the temple, God’s house, so that we can feel comfortable in His presence someday. I love how close I feel to Him and for how much strength I’m given through the atonement

QUICKLY, I want to share a quote I found with you all! It applies to me going home from my mission soon and how I can continue to be converted to God, but it also applies to all of us as we go through the natural highs and lows of our testimony.

It's but Elder Cook and reads: “It is not always convenient to live gospel standards and stand up for truth and testify of the Restoration. It usually is not convenient to share the gospel with others. It isn’t always convenient to respond to a calling in the Church, especially one that stretches our abilities. Opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways, as we have covenanted to do, rarely come at convenient times. But there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants.”

I know that Satan is making it harder to live the gospel for a reason! He knows the blessings that can come into our lives through diligent service and study and he wants us to feel as far from our Father as he can. I know that it isn’t easy, but it IS worth it! I know that God is there to help us with our questions and trials.

Gotta go, but I love you and will talk to you soon!

Sister Liebelt, who was Sister King's trainer at the beginning
of her mission 17 months ago, came back for a visit.
Liebelt, King, Hayes
Bakersfield, CA, December 2016