Hi Everyone,
So, as of next week, I will no longer be a greenie and my training will be done. Do I still feel like a greenie? Yes! Does everyone think I act like one?? NO. But, I can't believe how fast time flies.
There were some really cool things that happened this week. First, my Branch Family finally had a successful "Linger Longer" this Sunday. It's like a potluck after church. People brought food, they ate food, and they talked and had a fun time. It was a great way for our little Branch to bond together.
Next, we have a double baptism coming up. The Elders have a baptism this Saturday and after the baptismal interview for our investigator this Thursday, the Corning Branch may have a double baptism for the first time ever !!! YEA.
We were able to get in contact with 4 less active members that nobody has been able to contact or find for months. We even picked up a former investigator that we had taught who we thought wasn't interested anymore... joke's on us, turns out she was just busy!
Finally while at a member's house for dinner, an Energy Salesman came to the door and the family let him in. We ended up actually talking about he Church and we ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and he asked that we call him for an appointment. Unfortunately, he lives in Syracuse, but we can still refer him over to the Syracuse missionaries. :) Unexpected opportunities are the best !!!
And for the Grand Finale..... I had an all out Nerf gun war for 2 hours today while at a super fun District Activity. Yes, that was awesome!!
Well, gotta go, busy, busy busy!!
Love, Sister Williams
ps. The Church is TRUE!
New York
Monday, February 23, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
Valentine's and COLD Temps
Hey everyone!
This week has been a good one. I cannot believe that we are halfway through the month of February...time certainly flies.
Valentine's Day was great :) Some of the kids in the Corning Branch made us cards and I cannot even keep track of the amount of heart shaped cookies we ate. :)
This week, I had opportunities to teach both missionaries and women within the Branch. Zone Training Meeting was Tuesday, and Sister Yancey and I had to give a 30 minute Training session on having the patience and faith to seek out the "fleck" or Christlike attributes in others. We based it off the Mormon message, "Flecks of Gold." We went through multiple instances in the scriptures of people being Christlike but also delved deeper to find the little things that make a big difference. For example, we talked about Joseph Smith and the 1st Vision. He went out and prayed in a quiet place which would later become known as the Sacred Grove. However, Joseph did not have to pray in a quiet grove of trees, it could have been in the streets or in his own home with his family. Personal Revelation must take place in personal quiet places. It takes faith and we must be humble. So, our presentation was cool! President Joseph Wirthlin also participated!
This Sunday was crazy cold and we had wind chill temperatures well below zero... (it was -28 actually). We were called upon at the last second to teach the Relief Society Lesson during Church. It was the first time I've had to teach Relief Society and it fun!
The weather here has been crazy cold... Personally, I like winter and cold temperatures more than hot weather.... but I'm not enjoying the cold so much as a missionary. :( Ha ha on me! ! People here all stay inside and don't want to come out and talk with us. Sometimes we are even forced to go back to the apartments to study. BUT I WANNA DO MY MISSIONARY WORK!!! Thankfully, the Lord has been merciful and put me in the most southwestern part of the mission. So, I am in the warmest region and I have the least amount of snow to deal with. I should be more grateful.
We have been working hard helping our recent converts go to the temple and strengthen the members within the Branch. We are still working with a lady that is looking to be baptized on the 28th of this month!! Woop woop! We are excited... and also this week we picked up some former investigators that just got overwhelmed with life about 4 months ago. But, they allowed us back in and now this super cute couple in their 70's are working to be baptized in April! The husband especially wants to feel the love of God in his life, and they are just the sweetest people. So, we will continue to work with them :)
This upcoming week should be good! I get to spend 3 days with a Sister from Manchester, England and I will not rest until I can perfect my English accent !! I may even take her tracting with me... maybe we can pick up a few new investigators.. haha I can always hope.
Have a great week, the Church is true!
Love, Sister K. Williams
This week has been a good one. I cannot believe that we are halfway through the month of February...time certainly flies.
Valentine's Day was great :) Some of the kids in the Corning Branch made us cards and I cannot even keep track of the amount of heart shaped cookies we ate. :)
This week, I had opportunities to teach both missionaries and women within the Branch. Zone Training Meeting was Tuesday, and Sister Yancey and I had to give a 30 minute Training session on having the patience and faith to seek out the "fleck" or Christlike attributes in others. We based it off the Mormon message, "Flecks of Gold." We went through multiple instances in the scriptures of people being Christlike but also delved deeper to find the little things that make a big difference. For example, we talked about Joseph Smith and the 1st Vision. He went out and prayed in a quiet place which would later become known as the Sacred Grove. However, Joseph did not have to pray in a quiet grove of trees, it could have been in the streets or in his own home with his family. Personal Revelation must take place in personal quiet places. It takes faith and we must be humble. So, our presentation was cool! President Joseph Wirthlin also participated!
This Sunday was crazy cold and we had wind chill temperatures well below zero... (it was -28 actually). We were called upon at the last second to teach the Relief Society Lesson during Church. It was the first time I've had to teach Relief Society and it fun!
The weather here has been crazy cold... Personally, I like winter and cold temperatures more than hot weather.... but I'm not enjoying the cold so much as a missionary. :( Ha ha on me! ! People here all stay inside and don't want to come out and talk with us. Sometimes we are even forced to go back to the apartments to study. BUT I WANNA DO MY MISSIONARY WORK!!! Thankfully, the Lord has been merciful and put me in the most southwestern part of the mission. So, I am in the warmest region and I have the least amount of snow to deal with. I should be more grateful.
We have been working hard helping our recent converts go to the temple and strengthen the members within the Branch. We are still working with a lady that is looking to be baptized on the 28th of this month!! Woop woop! We are excited... and also this week we picked up some former investigators that just got overwhelmed with life about 4 months ago. But, they allowed us back in and now this super cute couple in their 70's are working to be baptized in April! The husband especially wants to feel the love of God in his life, and they are just the sweetest people. So, we will continue to work with them :)
This upcoming week should be good! I get to spend 3 days with a Sister from Manchester, England and I will not rest until I can perfect my English accent !! I may even take her tracting with me... maybe we can pick up a few new investigators.. haha I can always hope.
Have a great week, the Church is true!
Love, Sister K. Williams
 |
| Corning Branch Young Woman Volley Ball 4x Champs! |
Monday, February 9, 2015
Miracles and Flecks of Gold
Hey everyone!
I hope that things are going well for everyone. It has been a crazy week here in New York. I've had lots of snow storms, one Sister that I am over got her Visa to Portugal so I had to help with emergency transfers, there was a Mission Leadership Conference in Utica and :( a couple of investigators dropped us. However, the Lord's hands are always in our lives and when I take a minute to stop, slow down and look around, I can see the rewards of my efforts.
Miracle #1: Our 8 Sister Missionaries
As a Sister Training Leader, my companion and I are over 8 Sisters within our Owego Zone. When I was first called to serve as a STL, I was nervous because I thought I had to train them, be the "perfect' example, and help them with every problem. HA! I was wrong. Sister Yancey and I have been so blessed to get to know personally these 8 wonderful Sisters that work so hard. They are really the "example" to me. I've learned from every single one of them as we work during Exchanges, spending between 1 to 3 days with them in their area or in Corning, NY. Yes, they may have struggles, but everyone of them has a divine characteristic that makes them amazing missionaries. I get the opportunity to try and emulate 8 of these characteristics and make myself better. It is also a miracle that our Sisters have no "drama"... it is great :)
One day at the leadership conference, my companion and I were able to discuss the problems within the mission and receive revelation on how to help solve the problems and try to help those under our direction. I have felt the promptings of the Spirit as we and the Zone Leaders decided where to transfer the Sisters. The Lord really cares for all of them individually. Not only have we answered their prayers at times, they have answered our own. If I wasn't called to be a STL, I would not have had some of these amazing experiences, and would not have gotten to know so many amazing people.
Miracle #2: The Corning Young Women
The Young Women in the Corning Branch have a volleyball tournament every year. They have won 3 years in a row. However, a few of the players have graduated and the remaining girls were slightly scared. Kinda reminds me of my home girls back in Reunion. :) So, Sister Yancey and I for the last 3 weeks for Mutual have been playing volleyball and practicing with them. Despite everything... THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP! They were so happy and I am so proud of them.
Miracle #3: A Baptism
If all goes as planned, there should be a baptism this month!! M.G. is the sweetest, most faithful person ever. She is 39 and has some learning handicaps, but if she continues to keep her commitments and progresses, she has been approved for baptism. We try to work with her everyday on Skype and go over the simple things of the gospel. I do love her! :)
Miracle #4: Diligent Investigator
We have an investigator that is probably the sweetest/best father ever to his 4 kids. He has had a very HARD life, even though he refuses to see it that way! He has been taking the discussions for the last year, but he cannot be baptized until he is off probation. He still has 1 more year to go. It has been difficult to have a really good lesson with him because of various challenges like his schedule, crying kids or the requirement to have another female member present during the lesson. Miracles do happen, because a member just happened to text us and was impressed to want to come teaching with us. We were able to have an AMAZING LESSON that this man very much needed. The Spirit was so strong and he still wants to get baptized!! Woop, Woop! Now to just wait and see what happens over the next year.
Miracle #5: OYM (Open Your Mouth)
I had the best OYM experience this week too. We went to go see another investigator and knocked on her door but she was not there. But, a man was outside shoveling snow. We were both nervous and kinda scared and did not want to talk to him about the gospel. (Big mistake... if you are afraid, then Satan wins and can stop the Lord's work). Fortunately, this man actually approached us and said he wanted to talk. We ended up giving him a brief discussion on the Restoration and I had a BOM in my hands that I thought I was going to give to the investigator, but it was actually meant for this man shoveling snow. Some of the things that I was prompted to write in the front of the BOM were PERFECT for him! So, we will give him a few weeks to read, and then we will try setting up an appointment with him (however, his wife doesn't like us.. so who knows). It was still a really awesome experience!
Miracle #6 Don't Misjudge a Situation
We had an investigator that we have not been able to contact for 3 weeks now . Come to find out, she had been in the hospital with the flu. We stopped by her house (which was on the boarder of New York and Pennsylvania) after a dinner appointment and at first we didn't go in because we thought she was having a party...turns out, she wasn't. (I've learned that Satan likes to make us fearful a lot, which causes us to hesitate... Not good!) Thankfully, we got brave and went inside. I am so glad because she is awesome. We set up an appointment to give her a church tour and found out that she read the entire Book of Mormon in A MONTH AND A HALF and is re-reading it. We would have dropped her most likely if we hadn't stopped by and gone in. We are so glad we did. Hopefully she will accept the baptismal challenge.
Miracle #7: ME!
I feel like I have changed a lot, all for the better :) I love New York, I love being a missionary and I love the gospel. I love wearing skirts and being dressed up now, I can recognize how it helps me invite and feel the Spirit.
Miracle #8: Funk-in-Waffles
Funk-in-Waffles is a restaurant here in New York. They probably have the best waffles I have ever had in my entire life!! I had some in Syracuse (which is a college town - think Boulder Colorado... but with the color orange). The waffles are expensive, but sooooo worth it! Even Triple D (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) from Food Network ate here too, so it must be a great place. :)
BTW: In the February Ensign, the article "Vital to the Kingdom, Single Adult Sisters" is all about the women in the Owego Ward, Owego Stake. This is my area!! Huge Shout out to my Upstate New York Sisters!!! I haven't met them personally, but I have heard great things about them.
The Church is true!
Love, Sister Williams
I hope that things are going well for everyone. It has been a crazy week here in New York. I've had lots of snow storms, one Sister that I am over got her Visa to Portugal so I had to help with emergency transfers, there was a Mission Leadership Conference in Utica and :( a couple of investigators dropped us. However, the Lord's hands are always in our lives and when I take a minute to stop, slow down and look around, I can see the rewards of my efforts.
Miracle #1: Our 8 Sister Missionaries
As a Sister Training Leader, my companion and I are over 8 Sisters within our Owego Zone. When I was first called to serve as a STL, I was nervous because I thought I had to train them, be the "perfect' example, and help them with every problem. HA! I was wrong. Sister Yancey and I have been so blessed to get to know personally these 8 wonderful Sisters that work so hard. They are really the "example" to me. I've learned from every single one of them as we work during Exchanges, spending between 1 to 3 days with them in their area or in Corning, NY. Yes, they may have struggles, but everyone of them has a divine characteristic that makes them amazing missionaries. I get the opportunity to try and emulate 8 of these characteristics and make myself better. It is also a miracle that our Sisters have no "drama"... it is great :)
One day at the leadership conference, my companion and I were able to discuss the problems within the mission and receive revelation on how to help solve the problems and try to help those under our direction. I have felt the promptings of the Spirit as we and the Zone Leaders decided where to transfer the Sisters. The Lord really cares for all of them individually. Not only have we answered their prayers at times, they have answered our own. If I wasn't called to be a STL, I would not have had some of these amazing experiences, and would not have gotten to know so many amazing people.
Miracle #2: The Corning Young Women
The Young Women in the Corning Branch have a volleyball tournament every year. They have won 3 years in a row. However, a few of the players have graduated and the remaining girls were slightly scared. Kinda reminds me of my home girls back in Reunion. :) So, Sister Yancey and I for the last 3 weeks for Mutual have been playing volleyball and practicing with them. Despite everything... THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP! They were so happy and I am so proud of them.
Miracle #3: A Baptism
If all goes as planned, there should be a baptism this month!! M.G. is the sweetest, most faithful person ever. She is 39 and has some learning handicaps, but if she continues to keep her commitments and progresses, she has been approved for baptism. We try to work with her everyday on Skype and go over the simple things of the gospel. I do love her! :)
Miracle #4: Diligent Investigator
We have an investigator that is probably the sweetest/best father ever to his 4 kids. He has had a very HARD life, even though he refuses to see it that way! He has been taking the discussions for the last year, but he cannot be baptized until he is off probation. He still has 1 more year to go. It has been difficult to have a really good lesson with him because of various challenges like his schedule, crying kids or the requirement to have another female member present during the lesson. Miracles do happen, because a member just happened to text us and was impressed to want to come teaching with us. We were able to have an AMAZING LESSON that this man very much needed. The Spirit was so strong and he still wants to get baptized!! Woop, Woop! Now to just wait and see what happens over the next year.
Miracle #5: OYM (Open Your Mouth)
I had the best OYM experience this week too. We went to go see another investigator and knocked on her door but she was not there. But, a man was outside shoveling snow. We were both nervous and kinda scared and did not want to talk to him about the gospel. (Big mistake... if you are afraid, then Satan wins and can stop the Lord's work). Fortunately, this man actually approached us and said he wanted to talk. We ended up giving him a brief discussion on the Restoration and I had a BOM in my hands that I thought I was going to give to the investigator, but it was actually meant for this man shoveling snow. Some of the things that I was prompted to write in the front of the BOM were PERFECT for him! So, we will give him a few weeks to read, and then we will try setting up an appointment with him (however, his wife doesn't like us.. so who knows). It was still a really awesome experience!
Miracle #6 Don't Misjudge a Situation
We had an investigator that we have not been able to contact for 3 weeks now . Come to find out, she had been in the hospital with the flu. We stopped by her house (which was on the boarder of New York and Pennsylvania) after a dinner appointment and at first we didn't go in because we thought she was having a party...turns out, she wasn't. (I've learned that Satan likes to make us fearful a lot, which causes us to hesitate... Not good!) Thankfully, we got brave and went inside. I am so glad because she is awesome. We set up an appointment to give her a church tour and found out that she read the entire Book of Mormon in A MONTH AND A HALF and is re-reading it. We would have dropped her most likely if we hadn't stopped by and gone in. We are so glad we did. Hopefully she will accept the baptismal challenge.
Miracle #7: ME!
I feel like I have changed a lot, all for the better :) I love New York, I love being a missionary and I love the gospel. I love wearing skirts and being dressed up now, I can recognize how it helps me invite and feel the Spirit.
Miracle #8: Funk-in-Waffles
Funk-in-Waffles is a restaurant here in New York. They probably have the best waffles I have ever had in my entire life!! I had some in Syracuse (which is a college town - think Boulder Colorado... but with the color orange). The waffles are expensive, but sooooo worth it! Even Triple D (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) from Food Network ate here too, so it must be a great place. :)
BTW: In the February Ensign, the article "Vital to the Kingdom, Single Adult Sisters" is all about the women in the Owego Ward, Owego Stake. This is my area!! Huge Shout out to my Upstate New York Sisters!!! I haven't met them personally, but I have heard great things about them.
 |
| Service Project with Sister Yancey. We found a vintage bottle while cleaning out a "hoarder's" apartment. |
The Church is true!
Love, Sister Williams
Monday, February 2, 2015
Traveling, Training and Teaching
Neither rain nor sleet nor HUGE snowy storm...stops Kylie from emailing her Mom :)
--------------------
Kylie's email excerpts:
We may actually get 1 baptism by the end of the month. Her name is Marie and has lived with a less active family in my Branch for the past 6 months. She is the sweetest woman with very simple faith and she LOVES church. That's the one thing about Marie that is different than any other investigator I have taught in the last 2 months. SHE WANTS THE CHURCH in her life.
Our little Branch is rather small and slightly overworked and stressed. I also learned this week after an Exchange in Horsehead, NY and meeting with the Stake Missionary Director, that Corning is actually one of the harder missionary areas in the Owego Stake. Apparently, everyone in the Stake feels Corning has missionary potential, but its just not happening. Other areas have had 20 baptisms this past year, while my area had 4. I'm pretty protective of my Branch and anyone who knows me, knows that I am always up for a good challenge!! So, to help fix this problem, Sister Yancey and I are going to redo the Branch Mission Plan. That will be fun!
This week has also been super fun because I was able to spend 4 days in Elmira, NY doing Exchanges with the Sister Missionaries there and "tore it up down there". The Sister I was with on Exchanges has been struggling with her confidence and teaching techniques and just overall the work has been slow. So, I did a lot of teaching with her and just tried to help her out and then get to know the members. Elmira has 300 active members which is a lot!! But, probably the best compliment that I've received so far on my mission happened while coming home from the Exchange from the other companion... "Hey Sister Williams, Thank you so much for everything you taught Sister H. She's like a whole new missionary. She is on FIRE !" It made my week. :-)
Sister Yancey and I have found out that we are good at helping out others and helping their ward areas. But, then we took a good look at our own area, and asked, "How do we fix ours and improve ourselves???" I wish I had my own STL (Sister Trainer Leader) to tell me what to do, but the Lord instead trusts me and my companion to make our own decisions.
This coming week I have another 1 day Exchange with a Sister from Owego and then for the biggest challenge, Sister Yancey and I have to train 30 missionaries at Zone Conference. It has to be a 30 minute lesson on faith, grace and Christlike attributes.
I am super excited for things to come, and prayers always help. :)
Love,
Sister Williams
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