Road Blocks, Baptisms and Blitzes

Hello everyone!

Winter is upon us in the Upstate New York Area.  The leaves are on the ground, and it is windy and cold. BRRRR!

This week has just kinda been weird.  Not the most productive one in our area... it was filled with a lot of activities.  We just didn't have a ton of time to work.

The Beard Hats Kylie got last week

The biggest thing we did this week was Gelly got Baptized!!  We spent the whole week with her and the family to prepare for Saturday.  We finished up the lessons, got baptismal preparations done (suite, program, assignments, interview, treats) all throughout the week.  Everything went great and we had this awesome lesson about missionary work and we just sat around and 'role played" giving out a Book of Mormon to a friend.  Gelly bore her testimony to her Mom and it was just GREAT.  The Spirit was so strong and even though it was pretend, it didn't feel like it.  The parents are interested in converting, so maybe some day.  You never know.  The Baptism went even better.  There was great support from the Ward and the girls were beaming.  Me and Sister Branch just sat with smiles on our face the whole time :)  The parents came and supported and said they had a great time and liked the service.  Gelly now wants to dive into Personal Progress and go to the temple YAY!!!  That was the primary focus of the week.  It took up a good deal of time, but it was so worth it!  I love them to death.  They are a crazy family, a little rough around the edges, but on the inside, they are golden!

The other big part of this week was that we unexpectedly went up to Norwood and did a Blitz (longer exchange) with the Sisters.  Both of us stayed the day and there were two sets of Sisters in one area.  The purpose is to do double the work and find more people   We found lots of potentials, and I got to work with Sis Pange and Sister Duke again.  That was so fun.  I was able to work with both.

 We tracted, taught some investigators and had the occasional random weird person to talk with too.  Like a PhD doctor of music who disbelieves the Book of Mormon because he said that if there were white people, why weren't there any when Columbus came to America.  He just wanted to argue with us.  Ha Ha, Missionaries can't argue with the stupid or with the hard-hearted.  In the BOM, it never talks about white people, and the Nephites were destroyed due to wickedness.  But, explaining that can't change a persons beliefs and attitudes.  It fact it usually makes it worse.  The only problem we face is to gather up our humility and courage to walk away even when it is hard to.  We drove back with an awesome member of the ward and she bought us Sushi.  It was actually really good.  First time ever!!

First Sushi

Also, we did some sight seeing and saw the town where the Lifesavers were invented!!

We had an awesome Zone Training meeting on Charity and the mission recently has been trying to develop and gain more charity.  Love transforms the teaching environment and invites the Spirit more.  If we don't love these people, then we cannot teach or perform the work needed by the Lord.  New Yorker's can be very hard to love and that is okay.  Because true love is something that must be prayed for, developed and fought for and sought after.  It takes effort on our part:)  So, we have been trying to incorporate that into our teaching!  We then had interviews with the President and drove home.  I got back around 6 pm.

Friday we saw as many less actives as possible.  We are still trying to get many to church and become more stable, because of all of our less actives/recent converts have the strong likelihood of going to the temple.  So, lately, I have been on a temple push for our people because the temple is the best place on earth :)  Hopefully, we see more progress as we work with the Bishop.

Saturday was the baptism.  But the other great part was tracting late at night and not having anything to do.  We went to a small town and tracted/walked at 8 o'clock.  We tried a few houses.  Politely got rejected,  The last house on the way back, we were welcomed in by this super awesome German lady.  She moved here 5 years ago.  She is atheist, but wants to believe in God.  She has a lot of potential, she's open minded and liked us a lot.  We picked up an awesome traditional, born German Catholic, investigator that has a Saint Bernard named Moose and we are so excited to give her a German BOM and get her to watch Bro. Utchdorf talks :)  Ha HA, who can resist Bro. Utchdorf!!  So finding late at night is possible.  I have never had an international investigator which is really fun.  This week will be do or die!

Tracting in the Dark !!! 

Well, that is the highlights, but back out to work hard and get things ready for this week.  Cameron is getting baptized on Halloween and we also have to start preparation for moving in 2 weeks.

The Gospel is True!!
Love Sister Kylie Williams.

Miracles, Referrals and Beards.. oh my!

Hello World!!

What a crazy awesome and fast week it has been.  After last week with mission conference, my companion and I had some pretty high goals and started going to work and implementing them.  Because of it, I have had the best week here in 3 to 4 months while in Carthage.  Things really do happen when you are more obedient and show the Lord your faith to do the hard and uncomfortable things.  Last week we had a super consecrated P-day and we ran around and did everything possible that we are supposed to do (clean the car, house, laundry ).  NO time at all and we were pretty tired.  That night we saw Angelica again and she voiced concerns about being agnostic and understood what we were teaching, but had a hard time believing it.  So we just did our best to testify and left.

Chilling with the Elders

The Johnson Family

The wind and temperatures have been dropping compared to being in Corning last winter,  Carthage is 10 times colder... oh and wetter!!  Adams Center which is 10 miles from us, go the most snow in the nation at 210 inches!  Carthage had the lowest average temperature... BRRR.   I am going to buy more socks toady!  That's for sure.  But the leaves have finally all fallen , but they were so pretty while it lasted.  We have been collecting special ones and pressing them and making leaf bookmarks.  It is awesome.

Tuesday, we had a great district meeting and talked about our goals and our purpose as missionaries.  We then kicked off our exchange with the Watertown Sisters, whom I love dearly!  Sister M came and stayed the day with me and we went to work.  Me and Sister B before exchanges had felt that our plans we made for our 2 sets of Sisters were wrong and that we needed to change the dates and order of who goes where.   Later, we came to realize that it was all the Spirit because our Sisters have been struggling with things and they needed us at that specific time.  It was awesome to see.  Even while it rained on me, Sister M went to the Ivy's and taught the BOM with a kids' copy and that went well.  They are awesome and trying to get to the temple in the next few months.  Yay for sealings.  We saw Angelica 'Gelly' again and felt prompted to also teach her the BOM  kids version with the picture novel feel.  She got more out of that lesson with the pictures and the stories than with the last 3 lessons combined all due to the pictures.   We invited her that night to read and pray about it.  We also started getting referrals.  One from a member, one from missionaries down south etc.  It was sweet!

We had a great dinner with a member. Gotta love tater tot casserole.  We then had some dropped appointments, so we tried a less active family on post and BAM... we found another awesome family.  The Daniels are great and were looking for a church.  The Dad hadn't  been to our church since he was 16, but the wife was like "Sure, I am open minded!  I want to learn more".  We will be teaching them next week. :)  But I know that they are going to go somewhere.  We just have to be patient.

We went to another area to tract.  It was a total of 15 houses on this 1 street at about 7 pm at night.  All harsh rejections and my companion was struggling.  Finally we get to the LAST house and this cute old man named Bill lets us in and we taught him on the porch.  He is 87, loves Mormons because his favorite general while serving in the Army was a Mormon.  We taught the restoration in 5 minutes and then he said that he was moving back to Maine in a week.  He loved the message and wanted to share it with his non-believing friends and gave us all of his info and told us to pass it on to the Maine Missionaries.  So, Bill was great and helped my companion with her testimony by finding someone via tracting.  It's a harder method, but it still works.

The next day, we exchanged back and had ice cream while it was 40 degrees.  Burr!  We then saw our less actives and we have the best ones. So many are preparing to change their lives and go to the temple.  They just still struggle with effort and routine/repetition of the gospel.  But, still they are great!  We had dinner and went to go see one of the people we found last week.

We then continued to another little town and knocked on some doors.  We found a catholic that gave us 5 referrals and we tried them all.  One liked family history and another is a State Trooper that we will try and see this upcoming week for a return visit.  Go figure!

Thursday was the BEST DAY EVER.  WE saw a family and the husband agreed to be baptized by the elders.  To help the family along, we teach the wife.  She has been progressing a lot more lately. It is awesome!  We then saw a new family and she made us Beard Hats!  They are the best invention ever.  It is a knitted hat, but it has a knitted beard that buttons in when it is cold outside.  I look like a man... in it, but it is so  warm. You can either google it or look on Pinterest if you're curious.  Unfortunately, we can only wear them while shoveling snow.. or else we would confuse people walking down the street.

We saw another family and then we saw Angelica.  We walked in and the family is like.... "Gelly has something to tell you.." so she teared up.. said that she prayed and that "she felt Heavenly Father sit right next to her and she felt forgiven for past sins and He said everything will be okay"  and then felt "super warm" in her heart for 10 minutes and knew that the Church was true.  We then asked her if she would be baptized and she said YES right away.  So she is getting baptized next Saturday.  She will go from being an investigator to baptized in 3 weeks!!!  So prepared.  So sincere.

We then got to go to the barracks for the first time and taught Bev. the Plan of Salvation after dinner.  That was sweet!!  Barracks are weird though.  We saw Sister M and had an awesome lesson and she wants to come back to Church!  Ahhh.  It was Awesome!!  But then the best part was when Abby heard Gelly wanted to be baptized and she started crying.  Then her mom did, then we did,  then we all group hugged and the daughter went over to a member neighbors house and told the 12 year old daughter who then cried and they hugged and the whole time me and Sister Branch are like "What the heck is going on!  Why are we so happy?  This gospel is true!!  Probably the best day I have had on the mission!

Next day... kinda still was on Cloud 9 and made us slightly loopy.  Weekly planned.  Saw other less actives.  We prepped for Gelly baptism on the 24th and Cameron's on the 31st.  We had dinner, saw other investigators and contracted more Head Quarters referrals.  Sister B then got sick and we went in early and I cleaned and she slept.

Saturday Cameron passed his baptismal interview.  We went to Super Saturday and said Hi to everyone!  We tried potential and people we found last week, but it didn't work out.  That's okay because we are persist ant!  Saw Gelly, gotta fit in 10 lessons into 8 days.. Ha Ha.  Found the cutest 9 year old members that are living with Grandma and they want to come to church.  We taught Taylor a successful lesson.  Ya-woo!  So there is potential... we will see what happens!

Sunday was Stake Conference.  It was broadcast into Watertown and not as many people showed up as we would have liked.  Stake Conference separates the actives from the super actives.  We came back and had homemade grilled cheese with a member and made baptismal programs.  I met a new RC family in the ward and the 16 year old daughter is a total solid potential investigator.  In about a month and with some prayer, she could be a quick teach and baptize member.  Apparently, I am supposed to just teach solid youth here.  Everyone I have really ever taught is between 9 to 24 years with the average age of 18.

The Gospel IS TRUE.  This upcoming week is going to go fast.  Me and Sister Branch got special permission to do a 24 hour blitz up to Norwood and help them find new people and have fun and uplift them.  Thursday is Zone Training meeting and personal interviews with the President.  Saturday we have a baptism and we slowly have to start parking because we are officially moving to Evans Mills on the 13th of November, but it is a long process to get everything ready.

Keep being awesome everyone !!!
Much love,
Sister Kylie Williams

The Difference between going on a Mission... and becoming a Missionary

1/2 of the Utica NY Missionaries

Hello Everyone!!  This week has felt like a month in many ways.  Lots of changes and crazy goofy things have happened.

Monday:  We wen tot Watertown and went shopping.  My companion has blood as thick as water and is freezing to death.  I am trying to keep from having a Popsicle as a companion and it hasn't even snowed yet!  So, it was the usual craziness of running around and trying to get everything done on PDay.  We had dinner with our friend Hannah and watched "Two Brothers Two" over the computer.  It was the closest thing to a girls night out & watching a soap opera on the Mormon Channel as I'll ever get on my mission.  We then tried to set up appointments and see other people.

Tuesday: We spent a fair amount of time around Ft. Drum and on it.  We had a slow start and tried to do some administrative stuff.  In the morning I literally felt like we needed to be some where, but we had waves of 'un-motion' kept hitting us and felt like I was moving in molasses.  Stupid natural man/laziness was kicking in( and Satan was just trying to prep me for what was going to happen later in the week). Finally after an hour or so, we finally were able to go out and talk with some people in Great Bend.  We did get in with some less-actives that we have never gotten to visit with before.  So that was nice.  We saw Abby and we have been trying to help her stay strong and stay in seminary. Life is hard as a teenager, or so they think.  In reality, they spend 2 hours on their phone and another 2 hours playing iPad games.. they have plenty of time.  Satan is just so good at distractions and changing our priorities.  I know that my priorities have totally changed on my mission.

We then tried to save some miles so we walked on the Post.  We tried to see some members that we haven't talked to for a while. Many were not home, so kept trying.  We were also hungry.  So Sister Branch, my companion also known as "Sacajawea" over here, taught me about these edible clover weeds that taste like sour patch kids.  Oh my, it was so weird at first, but it was awesome.  So while we walked to and from our appointments that night, we would sneak bites of these 'sour hearts' and that was kinda a first for me.

We talked with a new family in the ward and we were trying to meet with the Dad who calls himself LDS,  but not really.  This is because his family was a branch of a fundamentalist sect and his baptism does not count.  WE kinda asked him why he didn't just want to to get baptized so he can go to the temple with his family.  He wouldn't tell us why.  But a mixture of pride and non belief in a few things that happened in the late 1800's caused him to say, "ehh. I'm good."  Thanks for the message and see you at Church.  He even had a personal interview with President Holland like 10 years ago and that didn't do anything for him.  Agency is a killer.. Things are going great for Cameron.  He aced the baptismal interview questions and his baptism is set for the 31st.  All of the preparations are don!  He is like an 80 year old man in a 16 year old body.

Wednesday:  It rained a lot and again the waves of 'un-motivation' in the morning hit.  It was really gross.  I did not like it whatsoever.  It was like having 10 people yell at you in your head and tell you not to do anything.  Being exactly obedient in the morning was a struggle with timing and it was slowly starting to effect our communication as a companionship we noticed.  We persevered and we tried to go out again and work.  No luck. For lunch I did officially make my companion a Carthage missionary by having a Stewart's Pumpkin Pie Milkshake.  We went and tried to use some Facebook time and tried to stay dry. We saw some less-actives and had this super awesome lesson with one that I haven't seen in 3 months.  It was great.  We also helped a member decorate their house for Halloween and that was fun.

Fall Leaves!!

Thursday:  We got up, did our weekly planning and set some good goals to try and improve.  Something just seemed slightly off, but we kept trying anyway.  We have been working with Abby's sister and trying to help her read the Book of Mormon.  I just love the Pace family.  They are the quirkiest southern family with good baptist upbringing.  They have rough edges, but they all sit down and love to read the Book of Mormon with us.  WE grabbed dinner, ran home, packed and headed down to Syracuse to stay the night with some other Sisters so we could go straight to Mission conference with Elder Randall K Bennet of the Seventy.

Then, my week all changed.....

Friday morning, I hadn't slept so well on a little couch and it has thunder stormed all night.  WE got out late and with downtown traffic, we arrived to MLC late.  WE get in after the prayer and sat down.  Elder Bennett and his wife jumped right in and immediately started talking about how we are literally in a war council with Captain Moroni right now and we are chief captains for the missionaries in our mission.  We started talking about concerns, struggles, problems etc.  It was a lot.   He quickly squashed some things, and always kept saying how much he loved us.  The Spirit was really strong.  He said we were great, but that we had a ton of room for improvement.  Then, from 10-1 and 2 to 5 we were uplifted, reprimanded, inspired, chastised  etc by the Spirit through Elder Bennet. It was awesome.  We talked about obedience, faith, sacrifice, consecration, charity, baptismal invitation and spending too much time with members, asking for referrals etc.  The Spirit was so strong in the Chapel.  It was awesome.  He then invited us for lunch to go reverently, go grab a sandwich and talk with our companions.

We basically talked quietly then went back for round two.  I can't write everything, it is too much.  I quickly came to learn from him and his experiences, that how well you perform with exactness on your mission is how exact you will be in life.  Your mission will determine your destiny!

We were all very tired by the time the meetings were done.  Basically the biggest change is that from 6 to 9 pm, we must be teaching or finding.  No more meeting with members or meals or admin work.   Everything that I had been taught by previous missionaries in my mission is now not acceptable from 6 to 9 pm.

Saturday:  time to start implementing what we learned. We woke up on time, we worked out and we ate breakfast and showed on time.  I cut my hair on my own because it was taking too long in the mornings.  WE left before 10.  WE saw a ton of people and had some awesome lessons.  We ran from appt to appt.  We then moved dinner to 5 and left after 6.  Then, for the first time on my mission, we tracted at night.  It was awesome.  We found the nicest family and we are going to teach them this Saturday.  First time ever.  It was hard, it was scary, my companion and I were freezing, but we did it.

Sunday:  We went to Church.  WE had one of the best fast and testimony meetings ever.  The Spirit was so strong.  We were obedient all morning.  The elders who have been so disobedient, finally were obedient and miracles happened.  People came, some accepted to be baptized.  We got referrals from missionaries from the other side of the mission.   We had a new less active family come to church and they enjoyed first hour. We got home and had a heart to heart.  We needed to set more goals and discuss our fears.  We told the ward that we can't do dinner after 6 anymore, some were not very happy, but the Lord said No. We also went tracting for the first time on a Sunday.  Guess what, people were actually home.  Some said No, some talked to us, but we tried!  We did have a stray dog follow us and protect us as we tracked.  At 8:30, in the dark, we knocked on two doors.  One was this crazy guy named Frank, who said that he might come to Church and we will see where he goes in the future.  I also met a lady named Lisa who asked to read the first three pamphlets and we can see her on Wednesday.  That was fun.  We can't wait to finally get up to Evans Mills and be with the main population of our area.  We see now that until we move, this is our opportunity to share the gospel with the southern area we serve.  They may be a little crazy, bu the Lord loves them too.  It was awesome, I never slept so well that night.

So far today, we have cleaned more than ever, woke up on time and been exact in our schedule  We committed to only listen to the Mormon Tab Choir and conference talks and already we are happier and more motivated to work.

Satan was trying so hard this past week to weigh us down before going to Mission Conference.  But it is exactly what I needed... I can see the difference more.  It was a jump start to change and refocus our missions.  Frankly, we weren't doing too much, but now we are paying the price of missionary work so the Lord can bless us and bring more miracles.  Already been seeing that and it is awesome!

The gospel is awesome!!  Lets pray for charity and that the windows of heaven will be opened!!

Love ya!
Sister Kylie Williams

Branching Out

Hello everyone!!

This week has been exciting none the less... full of transfers and new companions, cleaning, shopping and finding new less active and part member families and a whole lot of listening to General Conference.

Monday and Tuesday, since Sister Duke knew that she was leaving, has to see as many of the "cool people" as soon as possible.  We had dinner with the  Mardanious family and we also taught Cameron outside on his porch in the pouring rain.   We cleaned, organized and packed and I have been slowly cleaning and throwing out all of the junk in our apartment as part of the pre-moving process.  Our fridge has never looked better!  It also got super cold and I had to bring out my peacoat!!  Winter is approaching and also, the trees are starting to look like the Northeast I saw in pictures in National Geographic.  The bright reds of the maples trees are to die for!!  We then continued to see the Clarks, Ivy's, Moore's, Merkels, etc. and take lots of pictures and share some parting devotionals.  I am getting better at taking selfies.  Count that as a win!

Wednesday, we were not able to go to transfers.  We were told to stay and wait for them to drop off my new companion and then to pick up Sister Duke.  She had a ton of stuff, so packing took most of Wednesday and I cleaned the whole time... and also redecorated.  Cheesy 80's Ensign cutouts and a cool goalie hockey stick I found on the side of the road.. :)  So yes.. I had a little bit too much time and re-did the whole apartment.  But it has never been cleaner.  Later that night, we ran some errands with the Elders and I made some calls to some new referrals that we got from Head Quarters, and Sister Branch finally came.  I just love her already.  She is a good little Arizona girl and loves pretty much everything about nature.  W unpacked and got ready for the new transfer.

Thursday.. planning for days!!  We redid our boards, weekly planned, called people and set goals.  I blew her away with new information.  She is only 4 months old in the mission and is the only companion I have ever had that is younger (time spent) in the mission than me.  I am so old now! :)  We had dinner and went to institute.  Fun fact.. the more you know about Christ, especially about his pre-mortal past.. the more you begin to know more about yourself.  "Ponderize" that deep thought.  The teacher was just blowing my mind with deep doctrine found in the Pearl of Great Price and it was needed.  I was slightly stressed about taking over the area and trying to fix problems.  Trusting in the Lord, and accepting that we can't do everything on our own is so vital.  The Lord understands my limitations, so I am grateful that He can accomplish just a few things with me :)

Friday, things started to pick up.  We saw some less-actives, and had an STL call and try and help Sister Branch learn things.  Thankfully, she is a fast learner!  It was only 30 degrees outside and I wanted to hide under a blanket all day.  ha ha, But thankfully, we saw Jelly (Abby's sister and had the first lesson) she may get baptized in a transfer or two if she keeps her commitments!  I have noticed that all of my converts have been younger, 9 to 24 yrs.. so I might as well ad a 12 year old to the mix :)

Saturday!  General Conference!  It was so awesome!  We went to a baptism for a kid in the Ward and watched the first session with the Elders and played this "Candy game" where if we heard the word "atonement", we got a sour patch kid.  If we heard "families" then we got an M&M.    We had a ton of candy!  We then stopped by some members (The Grahams) and watched conference with them.  They are so cool.  They are super nice and their kids are very respectful too.  I had never talked to them before, but they were untapped member potential.  So, we are now friends and we watched conference with them.  The talks were great.  I loved Elder Nelon, Eyring, Durrant, Holland, Bednar, and the prophet's talks.  (Poor President Monson, I almost cried.  I do not think he will be around much longer) Okay.. Maybe I like more talks.  But basically, what I learned is that we have to take Discipleship to the next level.  We need to be in tune with the Spirit so that people can see the light in our eyes, be a good example and just go to work in this gross world.  Stop complaining, keep the commandments, be good at getting better, follow the prophet, get down to the basics.. be a strong covenant people and utilize the atonement.  Boom.. There you have it.  Conference in a nutshell. Bro. Renlund is my new favorite apostle.  Just saying :)

We then went to a new LA family... the Cowley's and they made us the best dinner ever and I was stuffed.  They showed us all of their genealogy and after 2 hours of talking with them, we are going back this week and with some fellowship, hopefully they will come back to Church.  I also introduced Sister Branch to the Scotts' and then loved showing her their farm.  I have grown so much.. I could stand in a pile of goats and not freak out.  We also got military camo rain coats from him so then we went home... hid in the bushes and scared the Elders when they got home from Priesthood Session.  It was the best and funniest thing ever... totally works... camo!!

Sunday.  More Conference at the Grahams and had a traditional conference Sunday breakfast of cinnamon rolls and berries.  SO GOOD.  Sunday session, very good.  Set appointments, talked to the Teagues and hopefully we can teach them... because that would be a 4 baptism part member family!!  and their 18 year old kids is super cool!!  We then went over and tried some LA's and watched Conference with Sister Perales.  She just got her patriarchal blessing on Saturday.  Her husband was being stubborn and didn't want to watch it.. so she was glad she didn't have to watch it all alone :)  We then had dinner with the Nillsons.  I feed little Liam carrots out of a baby food far.. and he that was actually fun!

Today we have been to Watertown to go shopping.  Sister B didn't have any winter or fall clothes.  So that needed to happen ASAP.

This week is crazy full of appointments and mission conference and a Missionary Leadership Conference with Randall K Bennett of the 70's.  He just talked in the Priesthood Session of Conference on Saturday and now I get to hang out with him. So Stoked!  It will be a 24 hour spiritual kick in the pants.

In the words of Elder Christofferson, The gospel is true and the Church facilitates it perfectly, because it is Christ's church!

Love you all!
Sister Kylie Williams