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

Corning Branch Young Woman
Volley Ball 4x Champs!

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.

Service Project with Sister Yancey.
We found a vintage bottle while cleaning out a "hoarder's" apartment. 

The Church is true!
Love, Sister Williams

Traveling, Training and Teaching

Neither rain nor sleet nor HUGE snowy storm...stops Kylie from emailing her Mom :)

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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

A Stone Cut Out of the Mountain

Window at the Corning Museum of Glass

Well,  this week the work has just been rolling forth.  Yes, we experienced some set backs, but this week it has been great to look back and see how much I have seen the Hand of the Lord guide us the last six weeks and how He will continue to guide us!  I just love being a missionary !!  I mean there is nothing like waking up at 6:30 am feeling exhausted, but after a meaningful prayer, a handful of raisins, and reading a quote from an apostle, you are just pumped to get out and work and see people.  I mean I have even learned to appreciate the little things in life more... like a morning when the sun is out, or limited editions stamps at the post office!  I have never been so excited to by Batman stamps ever!!  But honestly, I just love being out here.

I also guess that along with the spiritual things, we always have fun on a mission.  Sometimes me and my companion will "rap" the missionary handbook rules in the morning.  That has been FUN !!

The ice out here in New York is crazy and I am getting good at sliding in my boots and keeping my center of gravity low.  I still haven't fallen... but I'm crossing my fingers that I never will.

Each day I try to think of something small that I can improve on, so over time the things that are uncomfortable now won't be uncomfortable tomorrow.  I can then continue to push myself and be better.  With the enabling power that comes from the Atonement, we can see improvement as a process, and not something that we need to be perfect at.

On Saturday, I realized that I had a small fear of waving to cars as we tracted and smiled, because deep down, fear is the killer of missionary work. When we are scared or anxious, we can't see the people, talk to the people or served them... so I talked to my companion and we made a game out of it.  If we waved and someone responded back with a wave... we got a point.  If they didn't wave back, we went back to zero and it became a competition.  After 4 hours of waving to every single car on the street, I no longer have a fear of simply stopping, smiling and waving to people as they walk by!  It was so much fun.  Now street contacting won't seem as difficult... we at least the approach !! :P  Ha Ha.

This week, my companion and I have worked a lot with the Branch members and trying to get to know them and their situations and then find ways to serve or teach them.  I love hearing their testimonies and sharing my own and together we really are strengthened and edified!

We have also been working closely with a lady who is a mother and desires to know more about the gospel and has been reading the Book of Mormon.  We taught a great lesson on the plan of salvation and the Spirit was so strong in the lesson.  The Spirit really is the teacher and sometimes I have to remind myself that it is not my job/calling/or purpose to convince people or to make them keep commitments.  It is 100% their choice and if they do pray, read the scriptures, and go to church, then they too feel the Spirit when we missionaries are not around.  That is how real conversion takes place, not when we push people into the font, but when they chose to walk in!

We also met another lady yesterday that has had some exposure to the Church, but has learning and developmental disabilities and she wants to be baptized.  We are still trying to gauge her accountability, but it was amazing to see someone who has had such challenges in her life, and yet have great and simple faith in her Savior!

LOL, These are the symbol notes we make before we teach a lesson....
we call it "Reformed Missionary"

I love this gospel.  :)

Love Sister Williams

Busy, Busy, Busy

Hi Everyone.

Today is probably the craziest P-day yet.  My companion and I won't even have enough time to clean or do our laundry today.  :(   We have so many things we have to do, this will have to be super short.

First off, my Companion and I survived "Transfer Calls" and we are staying together for another month and a half !!!!  I am so excited we get to stay together.  She and I work super well together and have such a fun time :)  We also get to continue serving as Sister Training Leaders!  So, I will have more "exchanges" and training meetings in the upcoming weeks.  I am so much more excited and pumped for this responsibility this time because I feel like I know so much more about what I'm doing and what is going on.  I've learned that getting to know more people and developing relationships is huge!!!

Sister Yancey and I have been working really hard this week.  On Saturday, we had zero (0) appointments, so we went tracting for almost 4 full hours.  That was the longest period of time doing dedicated tracting not only for me, but also for my Companion... and she has been a missionary for 7 months.  Yes, and it was super cold!   Anyway, my anxiety and nervousness to knock on doors and approach people is no longer there, which is SO MUCH BETTER!  We did pick up 2 potentials and 2 new investigators during our 4 hours knocking on doors.

I also had a really cool faith promoting experience this week.  For some reason, I never connected the dots that THIS church is the only one with a Prophet AND Apostles.  I have discovered that even very devout Christian people out here have no idea what an apostle is, or why the priesthood is important.  But when Christ came and established His Church, he called 12 Apostles (representatives) to teach, bless, baptize and perform ordinances.  So, another reason why this is the true and living Church is because we have the same organization as when Christ was here.  We have 12 Apostles!  We have a Prophet!  Not a cardinal, a pope, a paid preacher, etc.  So, that is really cool.

One last thing the members here taught me this week.  "It is better to prepare and prevent, than to repair and repent.'  True, very true.

Love,
Sister Kylie Williams

First month out in the Field, Things I have learned!

I can't believe that I have been out in New York for a month now.  So much has happened!  A lot of growth, challenges and opportunities to get personally get better!  Even though some days are tough, I am grateful for every one of them.  I feel like a  different person in just one month.  I can't wait to see what happens in the next month.  

I really like the quote..."Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift... that is why it is called the present".  Today I was thinking about all of the things I have learned as a missionary and as a person and decided to write them down.  My list was bigger than expected... in just 1 month I have learned the following:

1)  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir can put me to sleep faster than Nyquil.  I have developed a deep love for LDS artists like the Lower Lights, and Rob Gardener (Lamb of God).  I didn't know that I liked country gospel music until being out here and now I can't get enough of it... crazy right?

2)  A missionary's saving grace is peanut butter sandwiches, quesadillas and Cliff Bars.  Chocolate is the enemy!

3)  Alpaca wool gloves are warmer than anything else.  And, it's not about the thickness of the clothes you wear, but the materials... so you stay warm.

4) Wear 3 layers of socks with boots.  Regular tights, tennis shoe sock and then a wool sock (in that order will allow for you to not freeze the toes off).  Also, mink oil waterproofs anything!

5)  Make sure to smile.  ALL THE TIME!! :)  People like it when you smile.

6)  Every missionary has their own talents, we are all different instruments in the Lord's Symphony!  Just because I might be a trumpet and my companion is a flute, does not make me any less important or needed!  We also should not compare ourselves.

7)  WORK HARD, WORK SMART AND WORK CONSISTENTLY.  You need all three all the time.  All three must equally be applied or else the results will not meet the goal that we are striving towards.

8)  There is no comfort in the Growth Zone, and no growth in the Comfort Zone!  Get out of your comfort zone!! That is when change occurs.  The 'natural man' does not want change, because it is not comfortable!  If we put our faith in the Savior and look to Him and rely on Him, we can do anything!

9)  Faith without works is dead.  Activate your agency and get to work!  That is when we allow the Holy Ghost to testify and sanctify ourselves!

10)   I should be (am) my first convert!  My mission is successful if the only one I convert is me!

11)   Hope endures when faith is weak!

12)   Meekness means "strength under control".  

13)   Write things down!!  Especially promptings or impressions from the Spirit.

14)   Time.  It's kinda important!  Don't waste it!

15)   The Spirit is the teacher.  I am merely a vessel of the Spirit.  That is why attitude and obedience is key.  Our thoughts, words, deeds, and actions do turn into our destiny !!

16)  As Abinadi says, "we need to apply our hearts to understanding".  When we do this, that is how we get wisdom!  Experiencing and testing out parts of the gospel will build our faith!

17)  Application.  Application.  Application.  After Church or any other spiritual experience you should also ask "How can I apply what I learned today, TODAY?"  Through application comes power and progression!!

18)  Sometimes hymns make for amazing study materials.  If you have a question about something, look up the topic in the back of the book and just start reading hymns!  My new favorite Hymn, number 100 "Nearer My God to Thee".

19)  I really should not sing... but yet people still want me too.. Ha Ha, their mistake.

20)  The priesthood is soooo important to this church.  It is what make it the TRUE  and LIVING Church.

21)  Prayer.  As they say, "Duct tape is silver, but silence is golden."  After praying, spend 30 minutes to just sit in silence and think about what you just prayed about.  Quiet time = revelation time!!

Working with the Sisters in Owego, New York

I had a lot of great experiences seeing old MTC friends, but also making new friends this week!  Also New York is really pretty... I have seen Ithaca, Syracuse, Utica, and Cortland in just the last few days. 

The Church is True !!!  Stay Awesome !!

Sister Kylie Williams

A New Year

Susquehanna River Bank 

So 2015 is here!! I have almost been out in the mission field for a month!  It does not feel like it...where does the time fly?

Goals are so  important.  Right now as a missionary, I have set A LOT of goals for myself.  Some of my goals include:  Trying to talk to 3 new people each day, not eating chocolate for breakfast, read the New Testament and finish the Book of Mormon this year.  Also, I still have my prior goals of strengthening my testimony and being a super awesome missionary!  All of those goals are much easier said than done, right??? :)

Anyways, I had a very fun New Year's Eve.  I was on a  3 day "Exchange" down in Owego, New York with the Sister missionaries there and we had a blast.  I did not get to do a lot of teaching due to the holidays and all of the sickness going around.  But, I had the opportunity to continue to learn from another companionship, see their successes, spend time with them, develop friendships and also get to know the people down in Owego.  Within 3 days, I did come to love them.  Such a sweet town, with amazing 1800's architecture and history.

I took a picture of myself out in front of the Susquehanna River!!  That was so cool.  We did get to spend New Years Eve at the Bishop's house and we watched the movie "God's not Dead".  That was such a good movie.  I may have shed a tear... okay, maybe a few tears.  But, this week I learned a lot about he spirit and how to use it to teach effectively.

I'll write more next week!!

The Church is True!!!!

Love, Sister Williams

Mission Home :)