Lifes Are Changing Out In Kentucky W17

Hello y'all!!! This week has been jam packed with spiritual experiences, meetings, driving beautiful country backroads in Kentucky, laughing, filming, country accents, interfaith councils, mission trainings and so much more. I'm quickly learning the digital finding ways and God is working with me fast. 

My first spiritual experience I wanted to share happened at a lesson this week with Ken and Linda. It was after MLC where I was already on a spiritual high. Our mission president and his wife came to this lesson. We decided to talk about covenants and for the first part we all kind of bounced off each other. Then we just let my president take over because holy cow!!! I wish y'all could've been there because I can't even describe to you how strong the spirit was. My president made Mosiah 5 apply to her in every single way. 

Linda has been taught for a year but doesn't feel worthy to be baptized she has been a heavy smoker since she was young. My president got her to open up about things she has never told anyone. He came up with a plan for her to cut back one cigarette each day and gave her a priesthood blessing. This week we were able to go over every day with Linda and pray with her. She told us that she's been progressing and every time she goes to light a cigarette it goes out! She says it takes her 5 times to finally light it and that's never happened before. Everything has been falling into place and I know God is so involved in Linda's journey. Please pray for her:) Her and Ken also bought us necklaces from a rock show!!

My happiest moment this week was during our lesson with Nathaniel (face tattoo man) wowza! He opened up to us about feeling judged when he comes to church, because of the way he looks. I was able to read him a Facebook post my friend Tyler Allred posted (who just got called to the Kentucky mission)!! Tyler has tattoos all over and decided to turn his life around. Nathaniel was really able to relate to him and he is praying when he comes to Kentucky, he can meet him. Nathaniel did come to church this week and you could tell he was so happy. He had a tithing slip in his hand and looked over at us and said, "look what I found!" I have never seen someone so excited to pay tithing. It's literally a modern-day Alma the younger story. 

My other happiest moment was when I received a text from my friend Kevin who I taught in my last area. He said, "I went to church today! I loved it and Sunday school was awesome." Of course, I started crying after I received that text. We had been trying to get him to come to church and hearing that he went and loved it makes me happy. The first time I met Kevin he was miserable and hated life, now he's going to church and keeping commitments. I really hope my President approves me to go to his baptism. It's so incredible to have been with him since day one and see how the gospel truly is changing him. I always believed it could, but now I've had a front row seat to watch it. That is why I'm out here. The fact that God has allowed me to be here and see this I'm so thankful for. This truly is the greatest work on the earth.

Fail of the week- we had a zoom call with the whole mission, and it was my first time talking in front of everyone and my President was sitting right next to me. The first thing I said was, "brothers and sisters" instead of elders. Of course, I would. One day I'll get the hang of talking in front of 200+ missionaries. 

Photo dump-

1. Sister Howe! 

2. Exchanges 

3. District leader council 

4. ZLs and STLs at MLC

5. Kentucky 

6. My mom bought us a tree!

7. Sister Hoyt

8. Pickles from the Graves 

9. Ken & Linda will be me & my husband 

10. Whole pumpkin pie