He is RISEN

What a MARVELOUS week. Happy Easter!

Selfie Before the Baptism

Brother Tate, Seif, Sister Alligood and I

Our investigator Seif, was baptized on Good Friday! Then he was confirmed on Easter Sunday! He couldn't have picked two more special days. It was a very spiritual service. You could tell that he was SO happy. The talks that were shared by some of the ward members talked a lot about the Savior's atonement and his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. After the baptism, while we were waiting for Seif to get dried off and changed, we shared one of the churches Bible Videos. It was the one where we actually see Jesus Christ suffering and his apostles keep falling asleep. The spirit was so strong and it is amazing to think about how the Savior truly suffered for each of our sins, one by one. He didn't do it all at once. He knows exactly how we feel, when we are sick, when we are sad, and when we are struggling. But because he suffered and was crucified, He then was resurrected. He rose from the dead, so that one day, we may all be resurrected too. We will all have perfect bodies one day, and we will be with our friends and families who aren't here anymore. We will be able to see them again because of what Jesus Christ did.

Another One of Seif at the Baptism

My last area, Elkins, WV, had a baptism this week as well. it was amazing to hear about it and to hear about how Steve, a 6 foot tall man with a grey mullet, teared up because he felt the spirit touch his heart. What an amazing sight that must have been! I am so grateful I had the opportunity to work with him. He is amazing! I can't wait for when I get to come back to visit after my mission and to see how much this gospel has blessed his life.  MY MISSION IS TO BLESS.

Easter Sunday

On Saturday, it was the General Woman's Session of General Conference. What an amazing day and age that we live in, that we get to hear from the leaders of our church, as if they are in the same room we are. I am so grateful my companion and I were able to gather with the Lynchburg Ward sisters at the church, to join with woman all around the world for a great meeting. I love the sisterhood that I felt as I was sitting in the chapel. I very much enjoyed the talks that were given and especially the theme of the conference. Reach out, and serve! As a full-time missionary, this is what I do all day! But there will come a day, (a very sad day) that I will have to take off my name tag and go back to real life. I know that I will still be able to serve others as I pray and seek out those opportunities. My friends, as a representative of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I can PROMISE you that by praying and

 seeking for missionary opportunities, they WILL come. This is the Lord's greatest work on earth and I can testify to that. I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father is preparing someone for each of you to serve, and love and to bring closer to Christ. There are many who are in need of help, weather it be physical or spiritual. Let the Lord use your talents and your abilities to serve his children and show them His love through YOU. He labors beside us in His vineyard (Jacob 5). We are never alone in the Lord's service. In doing this, I know we will be blessed. I know that this is true.

#Ponderize "And now, behold, I will testify‍ unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions‍ of his people, and that he shall atone‍ for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

One of Our Investigators Got Baby Ducks for Easter

I love y'all, I love my Mission, and I love the Lord.

XOXOXO

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

If you have a minute, send me a note :)

410 Alta Lane #11

Lynchburg, VA 24502

Baptism Week

Hello my friends,

I LOVE Virginia - taken at my half way mark

This is a BIG week! So, remember Steve? From my last area? He's awesome! HE'S GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY! Sister Roberts just emailed me today and told me that he is ready and scheduled for Saturday, the 26th. I am SO excited for him! I have never before seen someone so truly converted to the gospel and so willing to make changes in their life to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. Steve did the Stop Smoking Program twice to stop chewing, and now he says that he has no desire to chew! THE GOSPEL DOES CHANGE HEARTS. He has truly become converted to the Gospel and I know he will be a great, strong member! I am super sad that I can't be there for the baptism, but I know that it will be a special day that he will never forget! I love Steve!

I Found the Promised Land

We Don't Get Out to Appomattox Very Often

We will also be having a baptism here in Lynchburg this week! WHAT?! Baptisms all around. That's because the West Virginia Charleston Mission is a Baptizing Mission! :)  We teach repentance and baptize converts. Sister Alligood and I are helping Seif prepare for baptism on Friday! So the story with Seif is, he is German and he was born in Egypt. He had a sister who was baptized a member of the church and while Seif was in Germany he started learning about the church. Soon after he started learning about the church, Seif's sister passed away and he lost contact with the church. Then later, this past January, he was able to contact the missionaries here in Lynchburg! The Sisters started teaching him and he has been at church every week since! His wife Jackie is a Christian and is willing to listen to our lessons, but she doesn't have any desire to come to church. Seif wants his wife and his children to participate in the many blessings that the gospel brings, and he is hoping and praying that someday his wife will be baptized, along with his two children.

Virginia

This week we got to go around more of Lynchburg and I have met lots of crazy people. The people here are just crazy! (in a wonderful way) I love Virginia! We have been trackting a lot, trying to meet new people and find new investigators. On Friday we participated in a Chicken Run! Oh my. So a few weeks ago, there was a Tornado out here, in Appomattox, that did some pretty good damage to some of the members homes that live out that way. One of the members asked us to come by and to help them burn wood. Of course, Sister Alligood jumped with enthusiasm because of course, she would LOVE to burn some wood. She is hilarious. So we go out to their home, and they are burning wood and building a chicken coop. Where are the chickens? We asked them. Soon after than we were stuffed into a truck and driving down the highway to pick up their chickens from a friend who was keeping them while they were fixing their house. We had to pick up the chickens and put them in a cage and then take them to the truck. We did this twice to get all the chickens back home safely. It was interesting, I have never picked up a chicken before. But we are friends now. It was fun.  

Chickens and I are Friends 

#Ponderize 3 Nephi 5:13 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."

I love y'all, I love the Lord, and I love my mission!

XOXOXO

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Virginia License Plate

Virginia is For Lovers...

So I accidentally gave y'all the wrong address last week, sorry! I forgot to put the apartment number. Here is the correct address:

Sister Kayla Willis

410 Alta Lane #11

Lynchburg, VA 24502

Virginia is Really Pretty

More Virginia

And There's More

#Hallelujah

HEYYYYY

Last Selfie with Sister Roberts

Virginia is so GREEN

I made it to Virginia!!! After waking up at 6 in the morning, a very long car ride, where I was passed along to 5 different drivers along with my luggage, I made it to Lynchburg, Virginia at 9 in the evening. I had to go from one of the more northern parts of the mission to one of the most southern parts of the mission. There was even a time I didn't have a companion, because I was the only Sister going down this far. Super weird, but we made it. WOW! Totally worth it though. Virginia is AMAZING! We are living in Lynchburg, which is actually a really big city. Bigger than any other place I have served yet. Our area is HUGE! We cover all the way out to Appomattox, which is what our area is actually called. We can only go out there every so often because it is about 30 minutes away, but there is lots of history there! It is where the Civil War ended! So cool. We are going to go check out the courthouse and the museum out there sometime.

We are Sad to be Leaving Each Other

The Ward I am serving in is the Lynchburg 1st Ward. There are actually 2 other Wards that share our same building! Wow! There are lots of members in this area, which is nice because this means we have more members who are able to feed us and more members who are willing to come out teaching with us! My new companion's name is Sister Alligood. She is from Garland, Texas! She has been out on her mission for about 15 months, she only has two transfers left. She gives the best hugs in history! She hugged me so hard and squeezed me so tight she lifted me off the ground! She is super sweet and very creative. She loves to crocket, she does that before bed. She has already made me two bracelets! She is a little taller than me and has brown curly hair. I am excited to be with her.  

My New Companion, Sister Alligood

Our Investigator, Steve, Who is Getting Baptized

So right now we don't have to many people we are working with. We have done a lot of trackting trying to find new people and oh boy I just love the Virginia people! They are sweet as sugar and sometimes I can't understand them. People here have really thick accents, more than anywhere else I have been! We are teaching a man named Seif [pronounced: safe] and he is awesome! He is working towards baptism and so excited!

Yesterday, the church released the new Easter Initiative for 2016 and it is called #Hallelujah It is amazing! It really reminds us how we can truly follow Jesus Christ and find new life because of his Atonement and Resurrection. This Easter Season I challenge everyone to go to followhim.mormon.org and watch this new video. Its only 2 minutes and 14 seconds so I know you have enough time to watch it, then post this video! Post it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and whatever else the technology world has come out with these days. Sharing this simple video will spread the joy the Easter and help us to remember our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ. Happy Easter! #Hallelujah

#Ponderize Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is‍ no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth‍ the law, happy is‍ he."

Lots of love from Virginia,

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

My new mailing address, don't hesitate to send me a letter!

Sister Kayla Willis

410 Alta Lane #11

Lynchburg, VA 24502

Finally got to See My Trainer, Sister Lively

"Our Classic Pose" - with Sister Lively

I'm Getting Shipped Off to VIRGINIA

Hey everyone!

Last Selfie in Elkins

Saying Goodbye to Jarrah, YW in Ward

Squirrel Tails Hanging on a String in WV

I forgot to tell ya'll that this week is transfers. Sister Roberts and I were pretty sure that she was going to be leaving Elkins and I would stay because she has already been here for 6 months... We got the transfer call on Saturday and the Zone Leaders asked us both what we thought was going to happen. We both said we thought that Sister Roberts was leaving and they both paused for a minute, and one of them said, "You're so WRONG!" We were both in shock! My heart

 was racing when they said I was the one being transferred! We later found out that Sister Roberts is going to be training here in Elkins! She is going to be amazing! I am going to be in Appomattox, Virginia! I guess that is where the Civil War ended! I am super excited!! I have now served in Kentucky, West Virginia and now I will be in Virginia! I love serving God's children here in this wonderful part of the world! It is a riot!

Sister Roberts and I with Elders Hallewell and Hansen

This week it has been so warm! I think winter is over now, or whatever we had. The weather doesn't like to stay the same here. It is always changing to the extreme. It was like 66 one day, it was so nice!!! We tracted for about an hour.  We didn't find anybody but it was still a great time.

Our investigator Steve is on fire! He has been working on stopping his chewing habit, by doing the stop smoking workshop. He is almost done! I

 am so excited for him! He should be getting baptized this transfer. He has such a desire to change and to follow God.  Tt is amazing! I love the Gospel and how it truly changes hearts. It is amazing to see how people can do a 360 and become better through Jesus Christ. I want to be able to become my best self, and it is hard because I have many weaknesses. But I know that by striving every day to be the best I can be and always changing, I can become more like Christ. I love this Gospel, I love my Mission and I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Still Saying Good-bye with Jarrah

#Ponderize Mosiah 5:2 "And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change‍ in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good

 continually."

Lots of love,

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Me by the Elkins Sign - Good-bye Elkins

The Spirit is REAL

Hi everyone,

Sister Roberts and I

This week I have been exhausted. You see missionaries have this thing called permatired. [perm-a-tired: a condition that missionaries get that causes excessive tiredness, dark circles under the eyes and occasionally falling asleep during your bedtime prayer.] It is crazy how tired we get! You just feel so tired all the time. You just want to go home and take a nap... But we don't have the time! Sometimes I yawn like 10 times in a lesson.... ooopps. 

Sister Roberts and I

So I have talked a lot about our friend Steve, he is just so awesome! Just imagine this huge 6 foot tall man, with a grey mullet and crooked teeth. You can't be more West Virginian than that. So anyways we have been working with Steve for a long time. He has been coming to church for a little over a month now and things are just going great! It is so funny because we are such scatter brained missionaries sometimes. Steve knows things really well! He has seen us do some pretty silly things and he just laughs at us. But it is amazing how real the spirit is, because we are NOT by any means perfect teachers. We have lots of flaws and sometimes we mess up. I mess up A LOT. But the spirit is REAL, because it has testified to Steve than even though we are crazy missionaries, and sometimes we are a little unorganized, the church is TRUE!  I just love the spirit because it really is the teacher, we are only there to help their hearts be open to it. 

Mummies in Philippi, WV - over 60 years old

#Ponderize Doctrine and Covenants 11:11-13 "For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee. And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;"

Hanging Out With One of the Mummies in Philippi

Last Monday our District went to visit a museum in Philippi. It is where 2 of the missionaries in our District are serving. It is the smallest town I have ever seen! The museum was literally two rooms. It was cool though, to see some of the West Virginia History and there in the museum they have two mummies. It was crazy! The Elders all loved it, and Sister Roberts and I were a little creeped out. They looked gross! But now I can say I have seen the mummies in Philippi. 

Love you all and don't ever forget to pray!

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Eating Out with the Sisters in Buckhannon

If You Didn't Know Elkins is Really Muddy

Sister Robinson and I at Zone Conference

The Trio at 8 Months

"...angels round about you to bear you up..."

Hello everyone. 

To be honest, this week has been tough. We have had lots of disappointments and trials in such a short time. Sarah, our golden investigator who was scheduled to be baptized on Saturday, decided that she doesn't want to see us anymore. We texted her on Monday asking if we could come see her and she said no. She also told us that she doesn't want to be baptized. Sister Roberts and I couldn't believe it. It just didn't seem real. Sarah wouldn't even talk to us on the phone. After that happened with Sarah, we went to contact a less active member, named Jenna, that the Relief Society President told us to visit. As soon as she opened the door, Jenna told us that she wants us to deliver a message. She wants her name and her two daughters names off the church records. NOOO! That was so sad. It was a hard night. I love being a missionary because I get to see the Gospel change hearts. I see the joy it can bring to people. It breaks my heart when people decide that they don't want it in their lives anymore. 

We had an incredible lesson with our friend Steve this week! He has been trying to figure out if this church is really for him. We were prompted very strongly to watch the Restoration Video with hi. We watched it, in the chapel with a member and it was SO POWERFUL! I love that video and it just confirms and strengthens my testimony every time I watch it! Steve even teared up watching it! After the video, we all bore our testimonies. The next day he was at church and his hair was combed back and he was 15 minutes early in his seat! That is his 4th time at church and we are just so excited for him! He is so ready for the gospel!

This week we had Zone Conference and we talked a lot about finding new investigators. President Salisbury is so awesome and I know that I was meant to be in this mission, with him as my Mission President. He is such an amazing leading and I am grateful for all that I can learn from him. President and Sister Salisbury love us all so much. What can I say, this is the best mission in the world!! I love being a missionary.

#Ponderize -  Even though this week has been a little rough, I know that my Heavenly Father is with me and he is watching over me. He sends his spirit to us to guide us and comfort us. Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." 

XOXOXO

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Route 3 Box 518 B

Elkins, WV 26241

It's Cold Here in West Virginia

Buuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

Going to a Meeting Featuring Preach My Gospel

It has been really cold here this week! It was -20 here with 76% humidity. WHOOO. Good thing I'm not in a walking area. Currently counting my blessings! So we didn't have to much of an eventful week this week. It was so cold people didn't want to leave there homes, and church was canceled! Sad day, because I need to take the sacrament. Oh well. Also, Sarah's baptism is going to be pushed back a week because we didn't have church. It is okay though, we are pushing through! She is such a good kid and I love her a lot. 

We shoveled Harriet's (the lady that calls me 'little girl') driveway one day and she is so cute. She sticks her head out of her door and says, "What are you girls doing?" She of course had to invite us in for hot chocolate and to hear the latest gossip. She likes to gossip to us about her cleaning lady and her sister and their crazy lives. Harriet is a special soul! :)

Selfie in the Car, Shout Out to Sister Roberts

Shout out to my awesome companion, the one and only, Canadian born, Sister Roberts!! She is so sweet and she teaches me so much. To have this time with her has been amazing. She is an amazing missionary and she is always there for me. I love her so much and she is such a great example of diligence and obedience. I love how she has such a huge desire to be the best missionary she can be and to not leave with any regrets. She does her best each day and we always have fun while doing it. Missionary work is fun! 

Snow and Some Nice Trees

Sister Roberts also taught me the Canadian National Anthem, and we sang it together at our Zone Meeting. It was hilarious! Thanks dad, for sending me the lyrics. 

#Ponderize Alma 38:5 "And now my [daughter, Kayla,] I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

XOXOXO

~Sister Kayla Marie Willis

Don't send to many letters......... Or wait, please do :) 

Route 3 Box 518

Elkins, West Virginia 26241