She Could Talk For Days On Days About Jesus Christ...

January 18, 2016

Hi Ya'll!

So this week I have a few funny stories, and I'm going to start with one I forgot to tell ya'll last time I emailed. 

A week in a half ago we were knocking doors and that week we were biking. We were on the way to our focus area, which is a good minute away from us even more so when we're biking, and on the way it started pouring rain, and we were biking uphill lol:D It was so fun! We were soaked, but luckily nothing in my bag got ruined. So once we got to our focus area we started knocking doors. The first door wasn't interested but the next house we met this lady named Dotisy, that's her legit name:D She's this cute little old lady and she let us share a scripture with her. And like most people in the South she could talk for days on days about Jesus Christ:D She brushed our knees and in her words she said "Ya'll are soaking wet!" "Do you want to use my dryer?" So this cute little old lady let us dry our coats and skirts, literally an answer to my prayers. It was kinda awkward because for the most part the whole time we were talking to her me and Sister Williams weren't wearing skirts. Fortunately, I had a slip on and both of us were wearing black tights lol. And while we were talking to her she offered us something to drink, and she offered us pot roast that she had. Dotisy is literally our grandma :D When we left she said the closing prayer and she told Heavenly Father that she had adopted us lol She's so cute:D

Yesterday we were knocking doors and it was in a really nice neighborhood. I think we had been knocking doors for a good minute when we walked up to this one house and  Sister Williams did not see the step right before you got to the door. She almost face planted the pavement but she put her hands out right in time. We both were laughing so hard probably a little more me than her:D That same night we were tracting we met this really nice couple that let us in and we shared the Restoration with them and gave them a Book Of Mormon. And they said we could come back, so were really excited about that:D

A few days ago we went and visited this less active named Allen D. and he's so funny! I hope ya'll get to meet him someday.  He's my favorite person in Florence. He's starting to read the Book Of Mormon more too, which is a big step forward because when I first met him he wouldn't touch the Book Of Mormon or Bible. I love it when people really start studying and reading the Book Of Mormon and it's amazing to see it change people's lives everyday. 

Well I have to go but love ya'll and thanks for being the best family in the world! #Gospel's true! #MissionaryForLife! 

Love, Sister Keables

 When you can't think of anything else to eat! :D 

 Thanks everyone for all the Christmas gifts and treats! 

 Tracting in a really nice neighborhood...

 Our little Christmas tree :D

I'm Staying in Florence!

January 11, 2016

Hi ya'll!

I don't really have much time to email but just wanted to let you know that I'm staying in Florence and that me and Sister Williams are staying together! Were both so excited and so happy we're staying together! Sister Williams thought for sure she was leaving, but she's really happy she was wrong!:D Promise next week i'll write more! Love ya'll!!!!:D

Love, Sister Keables

Any day, anytime we can call on the powers of Heaven for divine help and hope...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!:D

Not much has happened since Christmas. I wish I could have talked to ya'll longer:( If I was given the choice I would have chose talking with ya'll all day over presents or anything else. I only have a few really short stories to tell.  First off, a few days ago I became a Disney Princess :D Me and Sister Williams were knocking doors and we found this little bird and it let us hold it.  In case ya'll don't believe me, I took a picture with it that I'm going to send ya'll. Guess what?! This week I got to hold a monkey too! :D We were knocking doors (again:D) and this guy opened the door. We did our little missionary spoil and than he told us that they had a monkey. We were like "For real?" And then he asked if we wanted to see it lol So that's how we got to hold a monkey :D

Last Saturday we went to see this guy named Carlos who we had a return appointment with, and the lesson went really well. He let us in his home and when we set down 6 other people came out. It was a little intimidating because I haven't taught that many people at once in awhile. We taught the Restoration and the Spirit was there in abundance. I got emotional a couple of times. You could tell the whole time we were talking that the Spirit was working on this family. At the end of the lesson we gave away three Book Of Mormons and they invited us to come back. We taught a total of 10 people at the same time :D It was a really cool experience and I'm excited to go back.

One thing I love about being a missionary is that I get to share my testimony with people everyday. And it's not really just sharing my testimony about Jesus Christ but his Restored Gospel. We have so many restored truths, and they bring so much joy in our lives. I used to think church was kinda boring and I didn't always want to go every Sunday. But now I love church and mainly because I've learned how important it is. Every week we get to renew our covenants with him so we can be clean and not just clean, but changed. Every week we can be spiritually fed and draw closer to him. There is such a wonderful and calming spirit you feel when you go to church, and I know I want that every week. I used to read my scriptures every once in a while. But now I've learned the joy you can feel as read the Book Of Mormon and the Bible. I love reading my scriptures and applying them to myself and receiving personal revelation. There have been several times on my mission so far that the scriptures have given me peace and strength. And I can say with completely honesty that if it wasn't for the scriptures I would not still be on a mission. Along with prayer, they give me the strength that I need every single day to press forward even if it's really hard. Last week there was one day when I was having a really, really hard day. I didn't feel like working. I didn't feel any joy and I didn't understand why. That whole day I prayed and pleaded for Heavenly Father to help me and give me strength. I knew from what I've been taught and from what I've learned in the past nine months the best thing I could do was turn to the scriptures. I felt like I should look at my patriarchal blessing. There's a part in that I read that really help me through that day. It talks about how my faith will be tried and how if I rely on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ they will give me peace and strength. And when darkness and discouragement come I will be worthy to have the arm of the Lord extended to me to give me comfort and direction. It also reminds me that the gospel is a thing of peace comfort, and joy. While I read that, I felt at peace and felt his love. And I knew everything was going to be ok and that through Heavenly Father's help I was going to make it through that day. And I did, but only because I did what I was taught growing up and he's given us those gifts so that when we struggle we can turn to him and have our spirits and souls spiritual food. Any day, anytime we can call on the powers of Heaven for divine help and hope and that, in itself, is a huge blessing. I love the gospel and I know I would truly be lost without it.  I've learned for myself that the only true joy we can found is found within Christ's gospel and doing the basics. When we live his gospel, not just talk about it, we can find joy and continual peace. We are given strength beyond our own and we can go through trials with hope and enthusiasm. I love the gospel and will always be so glad I decided to serve a mission :D

In answer to your question. Sister Williams is awesome and we get along great:D She's witty, talkative, and loves to tease but not in a mean way. Her last to companions were challenging for different reasons so she's really happy to have me for a companion even though I'm probably not much better :D I hope I'm with her another transfer, I would love that! Next Monday I'll let you know what's happening in regards to transfers.

I have to go but love ya'll and hope you have a great day! P.S. CTR~ remember who you are! The Church is true! :D

Another P.S. To everyone who sent me cards, packages, emails, and prayers. Thank you!!!! The cards, packages, emails, and prayers helped me a have a better Christmas away from my family, and I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed me with wonderful and amazing people in my life! Thank you so much (And for sending a little bit of home my way) and I can't wait to see ya'll in 8 in half months:D 

Love, Sister Keables

MERRY CHRISTMAS YA'LL!!!

December 21, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS YA'LL!!!

This week was a fun but I'm not going to share much because I want to tell ya'll over Skype on Friday :D Last night we went a member's house to decorate cookies and that was really fun.  I made some really ugly ones because after a while I started not to care :D And we all could be there because it counted as service and our Mission President said it was ok. Last Friday our ward had a Christmas party and they had a really good turnout. The food was so good! I ate till I physically could not it anymore lol And they asked us to judge the desserts so we all had to try everything, I was so full! But it was all so good:D They also had a game towards the end of the Christmas party. So they would read parts of Christmas songs and if you knew the song then the only way you could win is if you stood up and started sing the song. Sister Williams and Sister Huston are both really competitive so it was really funny watching them guess. They guessed more than half the songs lol and because of that they were told to let other people guess:D The bishop's wife, Sister Eady is so sassy and she gave us the stink eye a few times 

Thursday night we were helping set up for the Christmas party and we saw 5 big boxes full of canned food and some other stuff. Sister Harris, one of the members in the ward, told us the boxes were actually for us.  Each companionship got a box. My mouth fell open when she told us that.  It was so nice and sweet of them to do that! And then on Sunday everyone kept giving us gifts and candy.  A family in the ward even brought us a Crockpot! I love this ward! The families here are wonderful and great families! They're literally spoiling us!

Sorry this is a short email but I can't wait to talk to ya'll in 3 days!! The times that work for us are 11am-3pm, I might call ya'll in the morning just to make sure it's all set up and I won't be able to email after today so I might call or a member so ya'll can tell me what works for ya'll. LOVE YA"LLL! And CAN'T wait to talk to ya'll in 3 days!

Love, Sister Keables

 Decorated Christmas cookies at a member's house 

Ward Christmas Party

 Knocking doors lol :D

I love the Gospel, I love my Savior!

December 14, 2015

Hey Everyone!!!

Ok, so a lot of stuff happened this week but the best part was the that one of the Seventy came and talked to us!! Last week on Thursday we went to Louisiana, Manoro for a conference and Elder Erich W. Kopischke spoke to us for about 2 in a half hours or almost three. It was SO GOOD! He started with saying that he didn't plan a talk or agenda beforehand.  He told us to write down questions we might have and than gave us a few minutes to write them down. After that he said we could ask him the questions we wrote down if we wanted to. We talked about the Sacrament and the sacredness of it, and how we should take the opportunity each week to make it a spiritual experience. We talked about listening to our investigators, observing, and discerning so that the Spirit can guide us. Every time someone asked a question he answered it with a scripture. He was really blunt and bold with us but also very loving.  He was super funny to:D I received a lot of personal revelation and all the questions I wrote down I received a answer to. I love how we can receive personal revelation and by doing that we're strengthening our relationship with Heavenly Father and learning to recognize the Spirit. The whole time Elder Kopischke was talking I was trying to soak up as much as I possible could. Elder Kopishke also did practices with us and it was really funny watching some of the missionaries role play with him. One of the Elders I served with, Elder Bennett and his companion went up and did a role play with Elder Kopishke and it was sooo funny. Elder Kopishke role-played some random stranger on the street and Elder Bennett and his companion's job was to approach him. They were so awkward, and Elder Bennett was just being a goof. You kinda had to be there to see how funny it was, but all the missionaries were laughing so hard! And after the meeting I actually got to talk to him and thank him for all that he said and taught us. I learned so much, and I absolutely loved it! I was so motivated to go out and work after that! And I couldn't wait to apply all that I learned at that big missionary meeting we had with him. I love learning, and it was amazing to learn from him and to feel the Spirit so strongly throughout that entire meeting.

 

We also got to hear from him at State conference on Saturday and Sunday. I got to see some of my Vicksburg people at Stake Conference and that was so fun to see them and give them hugs! The reason I got to see them is because they're in the Clinton Stake which is where I was 6 months ago:D  I wish I had more time to write but I need to go. I love the gospel, I love my Savior! And I CAN'T to talk to ya'll in 11 days!!

Almost forgot last week we made a Nativity out of RockStars because our elders left a whole punch of them in the car after we swapped the car on Wed. We were going to throw them away but we decided to be creative instead:D We worked really hard on making them detailed as ya'll can tell:D

Love, Sister Keables

We are pretty proud of our creative Nativity :D

 Me and Sister Williams 

 I found Garfield! 

 We tracted around this gorgeous lake! 

 Just some of the kind of places we tract 

#Gospel's true! #ILoveMissionaryWork!

December 7, 2015

Hi mom!:D

It was really hard leaving Picayune and leaving Sister Mozingo.  Our district was really close, so it was hard saying goodbye to all of them :( But I'm sending Sister Mozingo a Christmas package and a letter, and I can't wait for her to get it!

Florence is awesome and so is my new companion Sister Williams! Florence is a small small town, even smaller than Picayune lol But I love it and I'm pumped to serve in this area! I met most of the members yesterday at church and they're awesome.  We actually just got back from lunch with a member:D I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting and introduced myself to the ward, which was kinda scary but mostly fun:D I'm so excited to serve here! We're going to work hard be exactly obedient and follow the Spirit! It's going to be a great transfer and it's only the first week!

So this week Heavenly Father blessed us with some miracles:D One of them being we found some really solid people who are really interested in learning more. We went knocking doors a few days ago and met this lady who was willing to talk to us but she wasn't very open then a few minutes after talking with her another lady named April came out right before we started to teach the Restoration. April was very open and looked really happy the whole time we were teaching.  She asked some questions and really receptive to the Holy Ghost. We would have set her with a baptism date but her friend wasn't very open and probably would have told to tell us no. But we definitely will next time we go back to see her:D Another miracle that Heavenly Father blessed us with was that he led us to some less-actives. We went to see this lady named Donna who is a investigator the sister hadn't seen for a long time. She didn't have much time so we just shared a scripture with her. After leaving her house we were planning on going and seeing another investigator but she called us to tell us she wasn't home. Then right before we were about to pass her house, Donna called us and asked us to go see Alisha who was the investigator we were planning on seeing. She told us that Alisha's family really needed some prayers. So we went to the house and we started talking to some of the family that was there because someone in the family was dying of cancer. We talked to this older lady for a few minutes and found out she was a member! I was so surprised! And the person dying of cancer is a member too! (their less-active but no for long!:D) We gave their information to the

Jackson missionaries, so now they'll get visits from them.  We also taught someone in prison. Got to go but love ya'll thanks for being the best family ever!!! #Gospel's true! #ILoveMissionaryWork!:D

Love, Sister Keables

I Know This is Where Heavenly Father Wants Me to Be...

November 30, 2015

Hi mom!!:D

This is going to be a really short email I just wanted to let you know my new area. It's Florence MS and my new comp is Sister Williams.  I've been told that Florence is a small country town, and I'm so happy about that! It was super hard saying goodbye to the members and Sister Mozingo, but I know that this where Heavenly Father wants me to be. I'm excited for new adventures, and to meet new people :D I got Sister Mozingo's email (I freaking love her!) so we'll be able to email back and forth, plus me and her after our missions are going come back and visit all our areas.  We're both way pumped for that!

Sister Mozingo had a doctor's a appointment in Hattiesburg yesterday and I had to drive because I was the designated driver.  It was terrifying! Surprisingly, we didn't die (I was praying the whole time).  She was really nervous about driving, but I know she'll do great :D Sister Mozingo served in Purvis before Picayune, and on the way there we got to pass through Purvis.  It made her really happy, and it was really cool for me to see where she served. Got to go but love ya'll and hope ya'll have the best day ever!:D

Love, Sister Keables

Saying Goodbye to the people of Picayune ...

 LOVE this family! 

 Me and the Navos 

 The Beasleys 

 Me and Sister Winkle and Sister Todd 

 Me and Sister Mozingo

Me and the Clarks 

...the Sweetest Thing I've Ever Seen!

November 16, 2015

Hi MOM!!!!!!!

Just to let you know one of our investigators gave me some rain boots so I actually don't need you to buy me any.  Thank you for being willing though :D Also I know, the Stricklands are the best! I CAN'T wait for ya'll to meet them after the mish!!!:D Andi can't wait to meet you and dad as well.  I told them ya'll are amazing and the best parents ever! lol We had dinner at their house last night that's why we were over there. Andi made us hamburgers last night and they were soooo good! Me and Sister Mozingo call her mom a lot because she's pretty much our mom and Jonathan is our dad lol 

Jonathan or Dad's baptism went great Saturday, and it really was a huge blessing to be there for all of their baptisms! The Sticklands are so cute! Lili and Hailey gave the opening and closing prayers for Jonathan's baptism, and they both did a job great! They sound like mini adults, it's so cute and sweet! I'm so proud of them! Sister Cros who is the Primary President told us that they're great in primary and that they soak everything up like a sponge. After the closing prayer Lili, Hailey, and Destiney gave Jonathan a hug at the same time while he was sitting down on the front row. It was so cute and probably the sweetest thing I've ever seen! I'm soooo GLAD i got to stay here 6 months and teach Andi's whole family and see them all get baptized. (I LOVE THEIR FAMILY) Meeting and seeing them come into the gospel, even if their family was the only ones that got baptized the whole 18 months was out here serving Heavenly Father would have been worth coming on a mission. I'm so excited for them to go to the temple to be sealed! They're pumped too! Jonathan should be receiving the priesthood very soon. I really hope I'll be here for that:(  The ward LOVES their family, Andi and Jonathan are both going to get callings soon, and they're both really excited. Apparently the Stricklands have a surprise for us when we go to their house for Thanksgiving.  We have no idea what it is, and they refuse to give us any hints. So we'll guess we have to wait and see lol 

Guess what mom?!...... I got to ride in a .....police car!!:D So a few days ago we were tracting and we walked up to this house and no one answered. Sister Mozingo noticed a rake by their door and started raking their lawn because there were leaves all over, and because we love doing service and whenever we ask people what we can do they say they don't need anything. Sister Mozingo was probably only raking for 5 minutes then some big guy drove up on his four wheeler. The first thing this guy said in a very intense and firm voice was "put the rake down". "Give me your IDs" This guy called the sheriff on us and told him that there were these two white girls on his property raking leaves. Jason the guy who was the owner was completely serious and told us that we had to wait for the sheriff to clear us before we could go anywhere. He was so mad! We had to wait 30 minutes and it was so awkward! We tried to ask him questions like are you from Picayune and he told us not to ask any questions. Awkwardest 30 minutes of my life! We told him we were sorry and we didn't mean to scare anyone or do anything wrong. The Sheriff finally came and of course we cleared. We were lucky Jason didn't press charges because he could have. The cop also offered us a ride home, which is how we got to ride in a police car. He asked us where we wanted to be dropped off and we told him our address. Me and Sister Mozingo are done tracting that area lol The cop's name was Cory, and he was a really chill cop, he wasn't scary at all and we talked to him all the way back home. While Cory was driving us home Sister Mozingo waved to a car next to us at a stop light and totally freaked him out lol He wouldn't look at us after that:D It wasn't very scary at the time it was happening. I just thought it was hilarious. Got to go, love ya'll and hope you have a great week!!!:D

Love Sister Keables

Jonathan's Baptism is This Week!

November 9, 2015

Hi everyone!

 

I forgot to tell ya'll about our Halloween in my last email, oops:D So we had to be indoors by 6, we mainly just hung out with our elders at the church. The day before our ward had its trunk-or-treat and us and the elders got to judge the trunks.  That was way fun. Plus i went around to each trunk and got candy from everyone:)  Hey Dad guess what? Our elders made fish for us at the church recently, and I tried it.........and it was way good! I've had fish a couple of times since I've been here and I've never liked it. I tried fish tacos a few weeks ago, but i'm not really a fan. 

 

Jonathan's baptism is this week! I'm so excited for him and their family, and he's way pumped for it too! He's so ready, I CAN'T wait for ya'll to meet them the after the mission! When we go to their house we don't even knock, we just walk in lol Jonathan (Who we call dad:D) has nicknames for us and call us his daughters. I'll tell ya'll next week what it is because I already forgot lol Sorry I don't send very long emails but hopefully I'll have time to send a long one:D

Love ya'll!

 

Love Sister Keables

 This family is so cute!

 At a street fair

 Me and Sister Mozingo at NASA Space Center