Strive to BECOME

Hey you all,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I sure did.

Sister Roberts and I on Christmas Morning

Being a missionary around Christmas time is a strange, but a wonderful thing. Well, just being a missionary is general is a strange, but a wonderful thing. It's not real life, but it's the best life. 

Sister Roberts and I had the opportunity to go visiting some members and some of our investigators on Christmas Day. We visited one of our investigators, Karen. She has been having a rough time. She takes care of her grandson, because her son is on drugs, she has been divorced and it wasn't a good situation, and now she lives in a tiny apartment and lives with her boyfriend. She is so ready to be baptized and she is preparing for January 16th! We have been working hard to prepare her and help her with this huge step she is about to make. We went over to sing some Christmas songs to her and she let us in. Before we could even start singing to her, she told us, "I kicked him out." My mouth literally fell open! She kicked her boyfriend out! We haven't even talked about the law of Chastity yet. She is just so ready for this Gospel and she is so special. She deserves so much better than what she has. Karen even came to church yesterday! She looked so pretty and she is so excited to be baptized. Sister Roberts and I are so excited for her.

We Saw Some Christmas Lights

The rest 

of Christmas, was full of food and remembering the birth of our Savior. I just love the opportunity I have to help others remember the importance of this special Christmas season. Twice a year, Missionaries get to Skype their families at home. Christmas and Mother's day. I love my family so much, but I was honestly really scared to talk to them, because I didn't want to become distracted and loose my focus. I have never been homesick on my mission, but I haven't always been fully focused. Sister Roberts and I both had this concern, and asked many of our mission leaders for advice. We decided it would help us both a lot to receive blessings Christmas morning before we talk to our families, and just for additional strength. We met the Elkins Elders at the church and were given blessings. My blessing was one of the most powerful blessings that I have ever received. In the blessing I was told how much my family loves me and how my actions are blessing, not only the people around me, but my family too. It talked a lot about the Lord's will and what I am doing is the Lord's will, and He is proud of me. I was told to have peace, that I would be able to continue bringing souls unto my Heavenly Father. After I had the blessing, I felt so much better and I even had courage to talk to my family. It was amazing to see my family and to see the changes in them, and hopefully they can see the changes in me.

A Cute Little Pond in Elkins

My first Sunday in Elkins, the Bishop asked me to give a talk (this must be a pattern). I was asked to talk about making new commitments or New Years Resolutions. Wow. That was kind of a hard topic for me. I thought a lot about this and how this year I want to strive to become more like The Savior. I want to become my best self and learn to serve as The Savior served. He has done so much for me and I am trying to have more of His Christlike attributes each day. I would like to challenge each one of you, to think about this last year, and think about the things that you might need to change. Think about what YOU want to BECOME. Ponder these questions. When you meet the Savior, who do you want to be? How do you want him to see you? What do you want to see when you look back on your life? Let us all strive to become our best selves and realize the things we need to do to get there.

Sister Roberts and I Walking in the Rain

Kentucky and Canada Shirts

#Ponderize 

D&C 24:12 "And at all times, and in all places, [s]he shall open [her] mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto [her] strength such as is not known among men."

I love you all, and thank you so much for everyone who sent a gift or card :)

XOXOXO

~Sister Kayla Willis

New Mailing Address:

Sister Kayla Willis

Route 3 Box 518B

Elkins, WV 26241

Merry CHRISTmas from Elkins, West Virginia

Hello everyone! I made it to West Virginia!! Also, Merry CHRISTmas. Because He is the Reason for the Season :)

Sister Farnsworth and I with Jerose, TJ, Sylee, and Keith at the Baptism

I have been on a roller coaster of emotions this past week. Leaving the Ashland area was hard, but I am SO excited to be here in Elkins. This is like my first real encounter with real West Virginia people.... They are so great! I can't even describe them. My new companions name is Sister Roberts... She is AMAZING! She is from Alberta, Canada. She has been on her mission for 3 months now and I love her to death. She is so funny and such a joy to work with. She is so ready to work and I love her positive attitude!

My New Companion, Sister Roberts

A goal that I have for my mission is to leave a positive ripple effect 

everywhere I go. I know how what I do in an area can effect future missionaries, our investigators, and the members of the ward. My actions can change how everyone sees us, and it is so hard to gain trust of others, because of something silly that someone else has done in the past. I am striving to leave each area I go to, better than I found it. I know that I left Ashland better that I found it six months ago and I hope that future missionaries will continue to be diligent and love the people that I grew so close to there. Every single area in this mission has huge potential! I am so excited to use the skills I have learned in Ashland and to apply them into a new area.

Selfie with Jerose before the Baptism

My last day in Ashland, I was able to witness Jerose and TJ being baptized. It was such a special day for me, I love them so much. They are such a special family and I am so grateful for the time I had to teach them. Keith said the opening prayer to the baptism and he said, "We are so grateful for the blessings that your about to bestow on me and my family." He was so happy!! It was so special for the whole family. I got to give the talk on Baptism and I shared Helaman 5:12 and I talked about how if they build their foundation on Christ, they will not fall. Jerose was tearing up and I know that she and TJ felt the spirit so strong. I love what I do and I am so grateful for this time I have to help bring others unto Christ.

This is Our House in Elkins.  This was the First Snow.

I love my mission and I love being here in Elkins. We have had some amazing lessons so far and I am so glad that I am here at this time and that I am with Sister Roberts. I know without a doubt that every companion I have had so far has been with me for a reason. MY MISSION IS TO BLESS.

Pretty Sad First Snow in Elkins

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Here is my new address! Don't forget to write :)

Sister Kayla Willis

Route 3 Box 518B

Elkins, WV 26241

Making My Way to West Virginia

Lots has happened this week.

Sister Hannah and I - She is My Second Mom

Lexie and I

Angela and I - she doesn't like to smile

First of all, I am being Transferred. I am sad to leave Ashland, Kentucky, because this is like my home now! But I know that my work here is done, and that God needs me somewhere else. I am going to Elkins, West Virginia! I am very excited. I have learned so much over the last 6 months and I can't wait to go and apply it into my new area and into my teaching. The Lord has really taught me to be humble and patient these past few transfers. He is stretching me in every way possible. But I know that I will come away a better person and I want to leave a positive ripple effect everywhere I go. The things I do in an area effects everything. It effects the Ward and how they treat missionary work. It effects the missionaries that come after me and it can also effect the investigators. It can effect everything!

#selfie With the Selfie Stick

Emily and I - My
Favorite

Digging Underneath Mary's House

I have had to say goodbye to a lot of people, and it has been hard. But I left them with my testimony. I know that this Gospel is true! I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that this truly is the Restored Gospel on the earth today. I am so grateful for the knowledge that we have that families can be together forever. I am so grateful for temples and for the covenants we make with God when we go there, and I know that when we keep those covenants we will be able to have eternal joy and live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.

Amy, Eevee and I

Amy and I

I am so grateful for the Christmas Season and for this time we have to celebrate the birth of our Savior. There is such a special spirit that is in the air this time of year, if we look for it. I would like to challenge each and every one of you to think of something you can do this Season to remember Jesus Christ. I remember Him by wearing His name over my heart and by representing Him. I strive everyday to act as He would act and say what He would say. I pray with all my energy of heart to be filled with Christlike love towards others. I know that by remembering Him and His birth, we will have a Joy filled Christmas. 

#Ponderize my favorite scripture: Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

December in Kentucky This Year - No Snow

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Our District - plus the STLs

Holding Fast to the Iron Rod

Hello friends,

First of all, I hope you all shared the new Christmas Initiative on social media this last week! Please send me your thoughts and feelings as you watched this inspiring video. I would love to hear from everyone! 

This week we had the wonderful opportunity to meet as a Zone with President and Sister Salisbury to have a Specialized Training. I love meeting together with other missionaries! We learn so much from one another and I love hearing the experiences that others have had. In preparation for our meeting, we all studied 1 Nephi 8. We talked a lot about Lehi's Vision of the Tree of Life. It was so cool. We read these verses together and we talked about the word "clinging" in verse 24. These people were moving forward, but they were clinging and using all their strength to do so, and because of this, they got tired. They got to the tree and then "cast their eyes about as if they were afraid." But in verse 30 it says that "they did press their way forward, continually HOLDING FAST to the rod of iron, until they came forth and partook of the tree".  The ones who were 'holding fast' to the rod became one with the rod. They did not fall and they got to partake of the tree. There is a promise in this verse about those who 'hold fast' to the iron rod. 

1 Nephi 15:23-24  23 And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? 24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would HOLD FAST unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

The fruit of the Tree of Life represents Life Eternal. That is what we want! To receive everlasting life. And if we 'hold fast' to the iron rod, we will never perish, and never be lead away into temptation and destruction. I know that as we strive to hold fast to the rod, we will not fall.

We attend the LDS Family Services Addiction Recovery Class with one of our dear friends, Sandy. She is our friend who feed us on Thanksgiving. Sandy is a member of the church, but has been less active for many years. During this time she picked up the habit of smoking, and we have been trying to help her quit and come back to church so that she may be worthy of the temple. She is so sweet and we really have a special place in our hearts for her. This last week at the Addiction Recovery Class, she shared her feelings about her addiction. She told us that she was scared, and that she has Thyroid Cancer. When I heard this my heart just broke. Sandy is the sweetest woman, she has had a pretty hard life and now she has cancer! Elder Rameriez, one of the counselors in the Recovery Class gave her a blessing. It was so cool, he is from Columbia, and so he talked in his native language, while his wife translated. In the blessing, he said that God needs Sandy to be as close to Him as she can and that she needs to get rid of anything that could be distancing herself from God. It was so cool, because I know that it is really God saying these things to her. We are praying for Sandy, that she might be able to stop her habit, and overcome Satan. 

Yesterday was a hard day for us, we didn't have very much success and a lot of our appointments fell through. We were trying to go see this family we had met a week ago. It's actually a funny story about how we met them. We were going hiking for our Preparation Day Activity and we went up with a member. We were waiting for the Elders from our District to come and they got lost. So while they were trying to find their way, we started talking to this man who was fishing at the lake next to where we were hiking. He name is Chris. He told us to come by and talk to him and his family! We tried their house twice, and they weren't home. We tried seeing a few other people and nothing seemed to be working out. A few hours later, we were passing by the same house we had tried and we weren't sure whether to stop and try again. We decided we might as well try again and they were home! We had a great lesson with Chris. It was amazing! He listened so intently and had lots of questions. He even committed to read and pray! We ended up talking a little bit about the Word of Wisdom to and he committed to not drink alcohol, tea and coffee! At least until our next meeting on Tuesday :) we are so excited, he is so prepared to hear the gospel! It is funny that the Elders got lost on the way to the hike last week, because if they didn't get lost, we wouldn't have met Chris and his family!


#Ponderize 36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

 Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. #ASaviorIsBorn

I love you all so much. I hope to hear from some of you this Christmas! And don't forget to remember the reason for the Season!

XOXO

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

#ASaviorIsBorn

How can it be this time of year already? This is crazy. This week has been amazing!!

After Thanksgiving Dinner

Granny June's Tree After We Finished

First of all, yesterday the church came out with the Christmas Initiative for this year. It is a little 2 minute video and it is the cutest thing! Please stop whatever you're doing and go onto lds.organd share the video with the hashtag, #ASaviorIsBorn. Post the video on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and whatever else that is new cool in the real world. Share this message video with everyone! It is such a great and simple way to share the true spirit and to remember the reason for the season.

Thanksgiving was great, but weird because I was not with family. We played flag football in the morning and we had dinner and got to visit some of our friends who didn't have anyone to be with on thanksgiving. I hope you all had a great thanksgiving and remembered what you are thankful for!

Thanksgiving Day with Sierra, Audrey, and Adrianna

More Pictures After Dinner

Sister Farnsworth and I had a VERY SCARY experience this last week. I was the most scared I have ever been on my mission. We were walking around, because we were having a car fast (where we don't use the car all day) and we stopped in a park to eat and make some phone calls. We were sitting on a park bench and we were there for about 45 minutes. It was a little cold that day and I was walking over to a trash can to throw something away and this guy comes across the street and starts talking to me. Sister Farnsworth was on the phone. They guy asked me if we wanted to come over and have a cup of coffee, and I told him that we don't drink coffee, but that after Sister Farnsworth is off the phone we can come by and say hi. So after she was off the phone we started walking over. I felt weird about it from the beginning, but I ignored my uneasy feelings. 

More Pictures

Sandy, Who Made Thanksgiving Dinner

We walked into the house and as soon as we walked through the door, the spirit was gone. It was the worst feeling ever! I felt dark, and dirty and horrible. There were two men inside this house, they were drinking and smoking. The one who invited us said that his wife was home, but we never saw her. They kept inviting us to sit down but we said no. We were not there for more than five minutes, but it was so scary. Afterwards, Sister Farnsworth told me that she was ready to bolt and she felt uneasy about going inside too. It was a blessing to have the spirit leave us to warn us of what could have been a really bad situation! Don't worry I am safe :)

And More

We had an AWESOME lesson with our investigator, Susan. I don't think I have mentioned her in a while, but we have started to see her a lot again and it has been great! I am so excited for her! We brought a member, Sister Blake, to come with us to see Susan and her husband, Travis. We had a great lesson and Sister Blake shared her testimony of the Temple and how she knew that she wanted her kids to have the blessings of the Temple. The lesson was great and then after we left her house, we received a text from her. It said: "Thank you so much for coming tonight. I really needed it. God spoke to me tonight and I really really want to give this a try. I am wanting to get involved and give it my all. I feel like God is telling me this is right and this is where I need to be." We couldn't believe it. This kind of thing only happens on This Districts! Susan came to church and had a great time! She is so ready and now she is committed to give this her all! It is amazing what the spirit of a member can do!

Sister Farnsworth and I with Lexi before her Baptism

More From After Thanksgiving

We had a baptism this week! Little Lexi. She is 10 and she is so cute! She was so excited to get baptized. Sister Farnsworth volunteered us to do a musical number for the program. That was fun. She played the Piano and I sang. We did When I am Baptized. It was so cute! It is so exciting to see people be excited to follow Jesus Christ and his teachings. I am so grateful to be a missionary and to have this opportunity to serve those who are ready to receive the gospel. I am humbled each day when I hear people pray for me and for my safety. I am so grateful for everything I get to do as a missionary and for all the love I feel for those who I serve. It is really a blessing from my Heavenly Father to feel the amount of love I do for the interesting people in Ashland, Kentucky. 

#Ponderize "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." Doctrine and Covenants 78:19

On Exchanges with Sister Brower - She is Shorter than Me

I love you all, and I am so grateful for all the support from my friends and family back home. 

Take care!

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Going on a Hike in Kentucky

Going on a Hike in Kentucky-2

Going on a Hike in Kentucky-3

Teaching Simply, By the Spirit

Great week! Smile's all around! :) I am so grateful to be a missionary!

Selfie with My Selfie Stick

#SelfieStick

Last preparation day, the Elders in our ward - Elder Free, Elder Tupou, Sister Farnsworth and I all went Golfing. We went to a driving range and hit a few balls. Sister Farnsworth is the Golfer, the rest of us were making a fool of ourselves haha, but it was funny. It is so nice to change things up and do something fun! We have all been working hard and it has been amazing to see the progress here in Ashland. The spirit has been changing hearts here. 

The Ashland Missionaries

We have been working with a little girl named Lexi. She is 10 years old and she is so cute! She wants to be baptized and we have been helping her prepare for that. Her Grandmother is a member of the church and so she has been bringing Lexi to church with her. She is very hyper and she gets distracted very easily and it can be hard to teach her sometimes. But on Tuesday we had a Training Conference Call with all the other training companionship's. We got to talk to the Assistants and President Salisbury. It was so good because each companionship has an opportunity to ask a question and we asked how we could best help Lexi to be able to understand what we are teaching her and how she will remember. It was so cool because President Salisbury told us that we should be teaching in a way that an eight year old can understand it. This is something that I had never thought about before. We have to be teaching in way that is simple enough and basic enough for her. I have been raised in this gospel my whole life and I need to be able to help someone who has never known these things before to understand it. Since learning this teaching Lexi has been a lot better. We have been able to teach simply, but by the spirit. The most important thing in a lesson is for the spirit to be there and for the spirit to teach and testify to the investigator. 

Our Investigator, Jerose, at Church

Our investigator, Jerose, came to church yesterday! She is progressing so well. It has been amazing to be working with her and her son TJ. They are both deciding on a baptism date in December! We have had some amazing lessons with her and in one of them we were teaching about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We were talking about how the Holy Ghost can help us and that he testifies of truth. I was impressed to share the story of how my parents met. (Hopefully I tell it right) For those of you who don't know, my parents met in a mall. My mom was going in to get something and she went into a store. There were two guys in the store and she started talking to one of them, the other one didn't say much. She left the store and the Holy Ghost told her that she needed to go back to the store. She didn't want to, and the Holy Ghost told her that she needed to go back because the other guy was going to ask her on a date. She decided to go back and she talked to that guy. That guy was my dad. He asked her on a date and you know the rest! I told Jerose this story and she found it so special and the spirit was so strong. She told us that she feels like God led her husband (Keith) to her, and he is leading her to the Gospel. It was such a great lesson! I love this family with all my heart. 

My Good Friend, Emily, in the Ward

Yesterday in church Sister Farnsworth and I had to teach the Gospel Principals class. This chapter was on the Priesthood. We felt kind of silly, because we don't have the Priesthood and sometimes we feel like we know nothing about it. But we prepared and we talked a lot about what the Priesthood is and how we are blessed from it. Sister Hunt, one of our ward members shared an experience on how Priesthood Blessings have changed her life. She told us how when she asks for a Priesthood Blessing, it is very humbling because she is asking her husband for help, and in turn he is asking Heavenly Father for help. It was so cool and it made me think of my dad. He is a worthy Priesthood holder and I have had many blessings from him. Sometimes I have asked him for blessings without telling him what is wrong or what I am going through, because it is so cool to hear the things that are said. It testifies to me that what he says is not from him, but from God. It strengthens my testimony and I am so grateful for my dad and my brother, who are both worthy Priesthood holders. It has been such a blessing to me to have a Priesthood holder in the home.

Just a cool little after thought. After hearing from just about everyone we talk to about what happened in Paris, we heard something really cool. Before the attack in Paris, the Mission President there had an impression to get all the missionaries out that were serving in the area that was hit. He contacted the Zone Leaders and then then called all the missionaries and none of the missionaries were harmed. Revelation is REAL! It just testifies to me how true this gospel is. Heavenly Father truly does watch over the missionaries and I am so grateful for that and for all the people all around the world that pray for missionaries and our safety. 

Waiting for One of Our Investigators at the Church

#Ponderize

"And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things."

Another Selfie

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Don't forget to thank God for what He has blessed you with. 

I am Thankful for my family and for Jesus Christ's Gospel and the opportunity I have to be a missionary serving in the West Virginia Charleston Mission. #BestMission

Lots of love,

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

The Ohio River

We'll Bring The World His Truth

First of all. Has anyone ever heard of sprickets? Spider-crickets. Well they are real! Yup, and there was one in our kitchen! Nasty. Watch out for sprickets.

Sister Robinson and I at the Mission Conference

This week was probably one of the best weeks yet! We had our big Mission Conference with half the mission and it was amazing! We got to meet Elder Kopishke Of the Seventy and His wife. They are from Germany and are so happy! It went so well. Elder Kopishke told us that he didn't have anything planned for the meeting, he wanted The Spirit to guide. He asked us to write down questions that we have and to be listening and waiting for the Spirit to answer the questions. We got to see the new Christmas Video that the church will put out after Thanksgiving and it is amazing! I am so excited. We talked a lot about bringing the power to our lessons. It is all about helping our investigators to feel the Spirit teach and testify to them. We need to have faith and hope in not only ourselves but in God. 

We did our musical number and it went so well! After having only 8 days to prepare and practice and Elder Free writing a harmony it was awesome! Sister Farnsworth played the piano, and Elder Free and I sang 'We'll Bring The World His Truth". We changed the words to the last verse and sang, "We are now the Lord's Missionaries, to bring the world his truth." I thought a lot about that and it is cool to think about, because the Gospel is the Atonement. I am here to help bring people to the knowledge and power of the Atonement and how we can use it our lives. Lots of people complimented Sister Farnsworth and I and told us that we really brought the Spirit. I guess I have had a hidden talent for singing all this time, because no one believed it was my first time singing. Sister Kopishke came up to me at lunch and hugged me and complimented my bangs. She told me that not a lot of people look good with bangs like me and she wants them, but she said she is old and ugly. Which is not true! She is so cute, and she was so sweet. She made me laugh really hard.

Our Friend, Bobby

We got to see one of our special friends, Bobby this week. He is doing a lot better and he is home after having surgery and chemo-therapy. He is going through a very hard time in his life as his mom is very sick and passing away. Sister Farnsworth and I have learned a lot about love from Bobby, because of the love that he has for his family and how he puts them before himself. We sang, "I Need Thee Every Hour," and talked about how much we need God in joy or pain. Bobby has been working with the Elders towards Baptism and we are so excited for him. 

We are working with a part-member family. Keith is a less active member, and we are teaching his wife Gerose who is from the Philippians, and their 14 year old son TJ. They also have an adorable daughter named Skylee, who is 7. We had a really good lesson with Gerose this week and it was just amazing to see the Spirit guide the lesson. We had planned to come in and teach her the Law of Chastity, but instead she asked us about Tithing. We talked about why we pay tithing and the blessings we receive from doing so. We also talked about fast offerings and how that money goes to members of the ward who might be in need of food or clothing. Gerose became very emotional and she said that she wants to start paying her tithing and fast offerings now, before she is even baptized. She talked about her experience being in the Philippians and she believes that no one should have to go hungry. It was such a powerful lesson, and I am so grateful for what we learned in the Mission Conference and we were able to apply it and bring the power into our lesson. 

Elder Kopishke asked us all to take a question to Sacrament Meeting and to listen for the answer just like how we did in the Mission Conference. So I decided to take a question and we told our investigators to do the same. Keith, Gerose, TJ and Skylee came to Church! It was the Primary Program in the Ashland Ward and it was so cute! I love kids, watching the kids sing and do their parts reminded me of my cute sisters. I admit, I teared up a little bit. It was such a good meeting. It was actually the most spiritual day at church I have had since being on my mission. I had my question answered and I learned so much about the Atonement of Christ. I know that Christ suffered not only for our sins, but for our pains and sorrows. The Atonement enables me and those I teach to be whole again. I know that through the Atonement I can change for the better and it can change the way I feel about myself. I am so grateful for my Savior, who is the Redeemer of my Soul. 

Selfie

My #Ponderize scripture for this week was Alma 13:24 "For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory." I love this, because angels are preparing people to hear the gospel. There are people here in Ashland, Kentucky that I need to find specifically. I know that through my faith and diligence I will find those who are ready to receive the fulness of the Gospel. 

Love you all,

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Temple Goals

Wow, what a week! 

Sister Farnsworth and I Went Golfing with our Zone Leaders

First week of the new transfer and we already see miracles. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and think, "Wow I'm a missionary?" It is something I think about constantly. When we walk out of really good lessons I think, "Is this even real life?" Some days it just doesn't seem real, because of the success we have been having and when I see people change before my eyes. It is amazing how protected we are, and how many good things happen for us. I am so grateful for all the prayers for the missionaries and specifically for me, because I know it has made a difference with me and the work here in Ashland. Thank you for the support and prayers!

Our Investigator, Deborah, at church

Our investigator Deborah came to church yesterday!  and we have been working to get her to church for over a month. She has been taught all of the lessons, but she has a hard time really grasping why going to church is so important. We had a lesson with her on Saturday and tried to really focus on the spirit and letting it testify to her. We asked HER to pick a baptism day and she picked December 16 because that was her grandmother's birthday. We all decided that was a good day and right before we were walking out her door Sister Farnsworth showed Deborah a picture of her family. I then showed a picture of my family in front of a temple, and we started talking about temples. We talked about how important they are and that we have the opportunity to be baptized for our family members who have passed away. Then the spirit told me to tell Deborah that she can be baptized for her Grandmother on December 16. I was hesitant because I wasn't sure how she would react, but I listened and I told her that If she gets baptized the last week of November, she can be baptized for her Grandmother onDecember 16. The spirit was very present and she looked very different then when we came. She told us that she still wasn't sure about church, but we said a prayer and asked her to pray that she would be able to go. She prayed and she asked for strength to go! It was the best prayer I have ever heard her give! It was incredible. We were pretty certain that she would be at church this week, but she has a habit of calling us at the last minute and canceling. SoSunday morning came and she called us and told us that she was coming. We were stoked! Then about 10 minutes later she called us and said she was sick and she couldn't come. We said a prayer and we were so sad when out of the blue, she calls us again and said she was coming! She called us 2 more times making sure it was okay if she wore pants and what time it started, but in the end SHE CAME! It was a HUGE step for her and the talks were just want she needed to hear. She was smiling and meeting people and she even stayed for a baptism for a boy in the ward after the meetings! And now she is very excited for her baptism! It was amazing! I am so grateful for her and for the steps she is making. She is really changing her life. The gospel truly can change lives :) 

There has been a huge focus on the Temple lately. We just had a Stake Conference about 2 weeks ago and the new Stake President set a goal for the entire stake. He has permission to rent out the Louisville, Kentucky Temple on May 7, 2016 for the whole stake! He has set a goal to have 1000 people at this event! He wants adults, teens, children, non-members and investigators to be there! It is so cool and it will be so special for those families that are going to be working towards that date to be sealed as a family or those who will receive their endowments. It is so exciting! We have been sharing this news with less active members and encouraging them to work to this date to go to the temple. 

Sister Farnsworth & I with Our Zone Leaders Elder Davis & Elder Wheeler

President Salisbury has also been stressing the importance of the temple for our investigators. He wants us to be sending so many new converts to the Temple that we get a Temple in our mission someday! We are striving to get every new convert to the Temple within 30 days. It sounds like a lot, but we can do it and it will change the outcome of people who stay active.

This week, our mission has the wonderful opportunity of having Elder Kopischke of the seventy coming to speak to us in our mission! It is going to be so cool, and Sister Farnsworth and I have been asked to perform a musical number for the meeting with the Elders in our ward. It is so exciting! It is this Thursday and we have decided to do "We'll Bring the World His Truth". Sister Farnsworth will be playing the Piano, Elder Free will be singing, and I will be... Singing! Crazy right? Apparently they think I can sing, which I have never done before, so hopefully I will be able to bring the spirit in! I will keep you all posted :)

#Ponderize D&C 67:13  "Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected." I like this scripture because it has helped me to remember to be more patient. By doing this, Miracles have happened in Ashland! Christ is patient, and we need to always continue to become more like Christ.

I love you all so much and I hope my emails can help each of you in your lives. 

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis


Don't forget to write!

1508 Luci Mae Drive

Flatwoods, KY 41139