Sister Stewart & Sister Kingston

Sister Stewart & Sister Kingston

Monday, March 29, 2010

Kirtland Temple Dedication Anniversary

Hey Mom, Dad and Family,
It sounds like the boys are enjoying baseball! Take lots of pics so I can see them in their little uniforms haha. That's sad about Dad's former student? What was his name, I might know him. Wow, that's cool that Cosa got to go to that studio! I bet David was jealous lol.
I'm looking forward to my Easter package! :) Mail is theee BEST! One day, not a single sister received any mail and it was the saddest day ever! We all kind of laughed at ourselves though because we realize now what it's like on the other end. I think about all of the people that I never wrote when they were on their missions. My perspective has definitely changed! ha ha!
I'm so excited for Easter and that it's on the same day as conference! We get to watch conference in the theatre at sites! Pretty cool huh? It's weird, I'm seriously giddy about conference. That's what a mission will do to you I suppose. The only bummer about being at sites to watch conference is that if someone comes in for a tour, we have to take them...so we'll miss part of conference :(. Oh well, I guess that's what the Ensign's for.
This week was another tough one. Sister Frisch wasn't feeling too well so we didn't get out into our area as much as we would have liked. This week will be better though! :) Tell Sabrina I said thanks! I hope she gets better.
On Saturday night Sites was closed early so we could go to the temple and celebrate the dedication. It was an awesome experience! Elder Butterfield spoke, there were a few musical numbers, and some of the Senior Elders read from section 109 (the dedicatory prayer) and three of them talked about the priesthood keys that were restored. We sang "The Spirit of God" as the closing hymn. I feel so blessed and honored to serve in such a sacred place! To be in the Temple 174 years to the day that it was dedicated was a powerful experince! The spirit was strong and I cant wait to do it all over again next year!
Well, my times about up. Thanks again for everything! You're the BEST!!! Love you mucho!
Love Sister Kingston

The Kirtland Temple was the first temple built in this dispensation (D&C 88:119; 95). In this temple, Joseph Smith saw a vision of the celestial kingdom (D&C 137). It was dedicated on 27 March 1836 (D&C 109). On 3 April 1836, the Savior appeared and accepted the temple as a place in which he would reveal his word to his people (D&C 110:1-10). Following this appearance, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received visits from Moses, Elias, and Elijah, all of whom gave them certain priesthood keys and important information (D&C 110:11-16). This temple served the Saints for some two years before they had to flee Kirtland because of persecution.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Willoughby

Hey Mom and Family!
Whoa, Mom and Dad I loved your e-mails...so full of news! There was so much info that I can't even come up with responses to everything haha. Man, what would you two do without facebook? haha I'm glad to hear that everything's going well! Mom, last Monday I got the e-mail you sent snail mail, thanks! :)
Well, this past week has been kinda crazy! As all of you know I was transferred. My new area is Willoughby. It's right next to Kirtland. I'm actually still in the Kirtland Ward, which is pretty funny and confusing for the ward members. I moved from the Smith home into the Boynton home. The John Boynton home is on site, so we just walk to the Visitor's Center when it's our shift. John Boynton was an early member of the church but he apostatized. I live with 6 other sisters. (we have a triple up in our house). I know four of the sisters really well and love them tons! The other two sisters have been out full proselyting since I got here, so I'm trying to get to know them better. I miss the Smith home but I'm excited to be in Boynton. I have the same exact schedule that I had before just with a different companion and a different pros area. I'm still trying to get adusted, but I'm sure this will be a good transfer! My new comp is Sister Frisch. She's from St. Louis Missouri and has been out for about 14 months. She's only been back to Kirtland for one transfer, she was serving full proselyting for 6 months prior. She's still trying to get used to the half and half schedule and giving tours. Sites has been super busy this week! Spring Break has already begun for some. I'm sure these next few weeks will be even busier, Im excited :) The weather has been beautiful too! Not quite as warm as Sac, but it was sunny all week long and all of the snow has melted away. Unfortunately, it's raining today, and I know there's lots more heading our way. Those last couple sentences rhymed Lol.
Going to the John Johnson Farm last week was an awesome experience! The spirit was very strong. We took a few pics outside, and I was going to send them to you today, but I left my camera at home. Sorry! I'll have to send 'em next week. We are going to the temple this Saturday. I'm way excited! I haven't been inside the temple since my first day out in the field! I'll let you know how it goes.
Well, that's pretty much it for now. Hopefully, I'll have more to report next week. I'm excited to find and teach new investigators! There's nothing more rewarding than witnessing a change in someone for the better! The gospel changes lives and I know without a doubt that It's true! Love you all!!! :)
Sister Kingston
p.s. I saw Aggie last night at an investigator fireside! She came up to me and gave me a big hug and we were able to catch up. She's still being taught! :)

I'm being transferred

Hey Mom and Family!
Yeah it was weird that I didn't get any letters last week. I only changed my e-mail over after I checked the original in-box though so I don't know why they didn't show up? It was the saddest mail week ever! :(
Anywho, I'm glad to hear that Girl's Camp prep is going well. I never got a chance to see the movie "Up!" but I've heard it's a good one. You'll have lots of fun at camp! Happy Anniversary to Katrina and Kenji! I thought about you two the other day :) Im glad the shower went well also. Do you have a name picked out for the baby yet?
Things are good in Kirtland. I just found out that I'm being tranferred though, so I'm a bit nervous. We got the call last night from the A.P.'s. All 6 of us Hyrum Smith sisters were sitting in the living room when I got the call. After I hung up we all started to cry. I'm the only one being transferred out of the six of us. I won't be going very far away, but I loved my companion and the other Sisters in the house! We all got along so great and there was NEVER any drama. I'm sure I'll love where ever I go, but it won't be the same. So today my p-day will consist of laundry and packing. Once again I won't have time to hand write any letters :(
Despite tranfers, this week is going to be AWESOME! Tomorrow all 20 sisters are going to the John Johnson home for our training meeting. It will be my first time there. Joseph and Emma lived there for about a year. Joseph received revelations (D&C) there and he translated most of the Bible there. We are going tomorrow because it is the anniversary of the tar and feathering that occured. Even though Joseph was dragged out in the middle of the night, tarred, feathered, and severly beatin he got up the next day and preached from the front steps of the John Johnson home. As a result of that sermon three people were baptized that day. I'm super excited to be there and feel the spirit that's present!
Either this Saturday or the next we are going to have a special meeting in the Kirtland temple. It will be on the anniversary of the dedication.  Im excited! I haven't been in the temple since my first day out in the field. Ill let you know how it goes!
Well I have to go and start packing :( Thank you for all your support and love! I miss you all tons and hope you're having a great week! The gospel is true!
Love Sister Kingston
p.s. Mom can you send me my running shoes? They should be in my closet...the blue and white addidas. Thanks! :)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Potentials

Hey Family!
First of all HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mom! I sent you a card, but I don't know if it got there in time. So what did you do yesterday? Did you have a good day? I dont know if you and Dad tried to e-mail me or not but I didn't see anything, so once again I probably won't see it until next week :( Oh and by the way notice that I have a new e-mail account. They changed the format of our e-mails so we had to get a new one. It's almost the same though, just with an extra period.
Well not much has happened this week. Our only investigators canceled our appointment, so we've been in finding mode. We found some good potential investigators this week though so our hopes are high! Our mission has a new way of counting investigators. In most missions, a person becomes a new investigator when you set a return appointment with them. Here, however, they become a new investigator when we set a SECOND return appointment. The new way of counting makes it so that every new investigator is solid and truly interested. Hopefully our potentials will turn into new investigators! :) Yesterday was a beautiful day! The sun was out and it was somewhere in the 40's. I never thought I would be so happy to be in 40 degree weather! haha We did some tracting and found 7 potentials! Heavenly Father truly answers prayers. I prayed and fasted that we would be able to find people. When we first arrived to the street we planned on tracting I felt like I was on the "Truman Show" or something! I swear everybody was coming out of their homes (walking dogs, about to get into their cars, working in their garages, etc) and there were tons of people pulling into their driveways the exact moment that we arrived. Coincidence? I think not. Lol Sister Wilks and I just looked at each other and said in unison (sp?), "Are you kidding me?" It was awesome! That NEVER happens in Kirtland. We're lucky to find one maybe two potentials on a good day. We invited about 15 people to the Reflections Exhibit and are bringing our potentials Books of Mormon next week. Oh yeah I almost forgot, one man that we tracted into even gave us a $20 bill so we could buy dinner! We tried not to take it but he wouldnt take no for an answer. Since we couldn't spend it yesterday, we're gonna buy lunch today :)
The good weather has brought a lot more people to sites! I'm looking forward to the summer, but at the same time I'm a bit nervous. Bus loads of hundreds of people come here in the summer months so we will be giving tours non-stop. The Sisters who've been here in the summer say it's so fun, but at the same time it's super draining (physically and spiritually). Spring break is coming up here in a few weeks and from what I've heard we have some pretty big groups scheduled to come in. It should be fun!
Well fam I hope all is well. I miss you guys tons and pray for all of you daily! Have a great week!
Love ya!
Sister Kingston

p.s. Hey Dad, would you do me a huge favor and do my taxes? Pretty please! Thanks :)
Mom, tell the Wetencamp family (sp?) and young women's leaders and girls thank you for
letters and the yummy eggs! They were great! Ill try writing them a thank you note as soon
possible!

p.p.s Hey Cos, Just wanted to pass along the news that your referral accepted the missionaries to bring her a free copy of Finding Faith in Christ! We tried to call but I think someone wrote her number down wrong. Oh and would you do me a favor and send me some music for songs that could be sung in sacrament or firesides? We have very limited selections at the moment. Can you include the one that goes "...and if it so be that ye should labor" and then the one about Abraham and Isaac? Sorry I dont know titles lol. Oh and one last thing, sorry, tell everyone in the River City ward a big THANKS from me for all their letters! I just got them Saturday and they made my day! All the Sisters here said they wished their singles wards sent them letters! :) Love ya!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Mission Pics

Brrrrrrrrrr!
After "Sites" one night (Ignore my vampire eyes, ha! ha!)
The Elders
The Sisters
"P" (preparation) day fun
Joseph Street and Cowdery Street here in Kirtland

My First Baptism

Hey Mom Dad and Fam!
Mom thanks for printing out your e-mail and sending it snail mail! I LOVE that envelope! Thanks for sending Sheena's email too! :) I forgot to bring her e-mail with me though so can you pass along the message that I'll write back next week? Thanks!
Whoa that's crazy about the schools! I'm glad Natomas Park wont be shut down! The talent show sounds fun! I can picture Jaycee in a mini tu tu!  ha ha
Yeah I heard about the earthquake in Chile from a member in our ward. We've heard, just by word of mouth, that all of the missionaries there are ok. Our prayers are definitely with the people there! We also heard that there were chances of a Tsunami hitting Hawaii. On Saturday evening I was in the referral center and the front desk said I had a call on line 2. I took the call and it was Sister Wright, my friend from Laie. She's currently serving full proselyting in an area about 2 1/2 hours away from Kirtland, so I never get to see her :(. She called in just to give me an update (a member in her ward called her parents) because she knows Shaeffer (Sorry I cant spell) lives there. Sweet of her huh? Anywho, I'm glad everything worked out!
Hmmm what happened this week? Well we had zone conference and that was edifying! My favorite work shop came from the Assistants to the Presidents (A.P.'s). They talked about the importance of referrals and also about Mormon.org. The Ohio Cleveland Mission is number 5 in receiving the most referrals out of ALL the missions in the WORLD! Pretty cool right?! This means that people in this area are being exposed to the church either by T.V. adds, Mormon.org, pass along cards, or a friend, and they call in to receive a free gift from us! Once they order a free gift, a text message is sent to the missionaries who serve in the specific area. The text includes all of the contact info, so they can hand deliver the item and then share the gospel! They talked about how we need to contact referrals as soon as possible, within at least 24 hours. They read a quote from a general authority that said (Im paraphrasing) "Each missionary will be held personally accountable with Heavenly Father, for each and every referral they receive." Pretty intense if I do say so myself! It was pretty inspiring! The A.P.'s then gave us a virtual tour of Mormon.org (since we're not allowed to visit any web sites). I LOVE Mormon.org!!! You all should visit it if you havent yet! They also showed us a new church comercial (sp?) called swash bucklers. David, for some reason it reminded me of you! I think because it's movie trailor-esque! Watch it!
The other major event that happened this week was my very first BAPTISM!!! YAY!!! Larry, the 13 year old that we've been teaching, was Baptized on Saturday. It was an AWESOME baptism, with tons of support from the ward! Larry come from a pretty disfunctional family so Im excited for him to be accepted into the ward with full fellowship! Ill try to send a few pics, if I have time.
Oh yeah, yesterday's sacrament meeting was BOMB! Our Young Women's president spoke. She talked about her recent experience in Haiti. She went with an LDS relief group. Her talk was AMAZING, the whole congregation was in tears. She went over about 20 minutes, but no one cared. It was THAT good! I wouldn't be able to do her story justice so I asked her if I could have a copy of her talk so I can send it to you all :) I'll be sending that next week!
Well, I gotta run. Have a great week everyone! I love you all LOTS! The gospel is true!
Love,
Sister Kingston

p.s. Hey Cos! Thanks for the referrals! Ive been calling but
haven't got a hold of anyone yet. I'll keep you updated though :)
Love Ya!