I love Kentucky!!

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Squad pic in Elder steadmans terms

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Zone Meeting

Lexington Font Trotters Zone

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Spring has SPRUNG!

WELCOME to Richmond in April.  One day Sister Jones and I walked outside and it literally hit us.  The trees POPPED, EVERYTHING is turning GREEN and everything is blooming now.  The tulips... don't even get me started.  THEY ARE INCREDIBLE.  Everyone has tulips in their yard too.  By far my favorite flower! :) They are just gorgeous!! 

This week can only be summed up in one word: FUN.

F is for friends who do stuff together! (YAY for missionary work!)

U is for you and meeeeeee. ( I love you Sister Jones!)

N is for anything, anytime at all down here in Richmond, Kentucky! 

I probably butchered that spongebob quote a littlebit, but that is truly how this week went. SPRING is the most wonderful time of the year! It feels like home right now.  Brisk California morning.  I can't stop smiling! 

Highlights from this week though, it was an eventful one!

-Last Monday we came home to NO CARPET.  All of it had been ripped out! GONE. See ya later! Remember that black mold? Yeah... the carpet had to go! BUT bow we are left wit ha cement floor. We have resorted to kneeling prayers on our chairs because the ground is just not good for our knees! Thankfully we still have carpet upstairs.  The leak is still not fixed so when the tornado came in this week our house did flood again... but no more black mold! HAHA.  LIFE :)

Oh yeah, there was a TORNADO! Let me just start with the west coast is the best coast.  I can handle an earthquake, a forest fire, a lightning storm, but a TORNADO!?!?!  yeah, these two west coast girls did NOT know what to do.  The sirens started to go off... the campus (Eastern Kentucky University) told people to seek shelter NOW and Sister Jones and I are worried.   We were on BIKES only a couple minutes from our house, but on bikes nonetheless.  It was an interesting night.  This was right around 6pm. We get home and it is STORMING like a BANSHEE. DOWNPOUR.  At this point, I am legitimately terrified for my life.  The wind is blowing so hard, the power is flickering and our district leader is calling us to make sure we are safe... I am terrified.  OK.  So we get our bikes out of our bike closet, sweep up all the dirt, throw a sheet down, throw a case of water in there, make some food, grabbed our scriptures, pillows and blankets and then hid in there for an hour... I seriously thought we would be sleeping in this bike room. Our next door neighbor and Kentucky native, Crystal comes over to ask us if we want to stand outside and watch the storm with her... HECK NO CRYSTAL!! She then told us to not sleep in the bike closet and move our couch into the corner of our exercise room and build a fort.  HAHA.  I love Crystal.  We ended up moving our couch because our carpet got ripped out and we found out it was a pull out couch!!! YES!!! We were both terrified to sleep upstairs because the storm hadn't cleared and we were scared the roof was going to be ripped off... clearly we are from the west coast.  CLEARLY.  We ended up both sleeping on the pull out couch and it was AWFUL.  I slept horrible.  (Sorry we made you sleep on the pull out couch on all of family vacations Jeff.  I now know why you complained so much about them!)  SO that was my tornado experience.  Turns out there were indeed two tornadoes but category 0....  It was exciting and terrifying! Hopefully the one and only tornado of my mission. 

Some really awesome experiences with investigators this week:

Averi// Averi is awesome, she just needs to up her commitment level! We went over to teach her and she watched the restoration video.  When she was done watching it, without even being prompted or asked, she looks at Sister Jones and I and says "I know the Book of Mormon is true.  I know that this church is true." I wanted to cry! I am so excited for her!! She is planning on being baptized! Pray for Averi! 

Blake// BLAKE. IS. AWESOME.  19 years old, golden investigator.  We found him walking to Averi's actually and he is EATING UP THE GOSPEL.  He is the most sober-minded, genuine, kind, shy 19 year old guy ever.  This week he literally told us "At this point, I am willing to do ANYTHING to get baptized."  My jaw pretty much hit the floor.  He is SO PREPARED and SO HUMBLE.  He is going to get baptized soon as well! He came to church yesterday also and LOVED it!! He is truly becoming converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is just incredible to watch him grow in the gospel and gain a testimony for himself! PRAY FOR BLAKE!!!

This week we also had a really fun adventure with Sister Brown.  We were on our way to her house for dinner at 6:30 and we made a wrong turn... well actually, we didn't turn was the problem.  We were supposed to go down RedHouse Road, and we ended up on some other random road.  Well in Kentucky, you never know if you are on the right road or not (at least on the back roads).  We drive and drive and drive, for about 30 minutes and we all decide this is not familiar and we need to GPS our way home. So GPS says keep going, it will take 30 more minutes to get home, all is well.  LIES.  We get halfway down the road and it DEAD ENDS.  HAHA, this was hysterical.  We all had a great laugh, and enjoyed the scenery and then headed back.  The GPS lied, the roads do end in Kentucky and we truly are in the most beautiful place on Earth.  EVERYTHING IS SO GREEN AND GORGEOUS!! <3 <3 

At church yesterday, we sang I believe in Christ.  I absolutely love this hymn and I reflected on the words as we sang yesterday.  I truly believe in Christ.  Whatever comes my way, I can handle is because Christ is my foundation.  Take a minute to ponder what Christ has done for you! :) 

1.  I believe in Christ; he is my King!
   With all my heart to him I'll sing;
   I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,
   In grand amens my tongue employ.
   I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.
   On earth to dwell his soul did come.
   He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
   Good works were his; his name be praised.
2.  I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
   As Mary's Son he came to reign
   'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
   To save them from the woes of sin.
   I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
   Who did gain all his Father hath,
   Who said to men: "Come, follow me,
   That ye, my friends, with God may be."
3. I believe in Christ--my Lord, my God!
   My feet he plants on gospel sod.
   I'll worship him with all my might;
   He is the source of truth and light.
   I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
   From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
   And I shall live with joy and love
   In his eternal courts above.
4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
   From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
   And while I strive through grief and pain,
   His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
   I believe in Christ; so come what may,
   With him I'll stand in that great day
   When on this earth he comes again
   To rule among the sons of men.

I love missionary work so much! There are people prepared EVERYWHERE we just have to find them!! The joy of sharing the gospel is something that is incomprehensible!! I love being a full time missionary! :)

MUCH love from the GKLM!

Sister Hannah

as always, pictures on the BLOG!!

http://sistermadelinehannah.blogspot.com/

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GKLM FAITH

my little faith plant is growing! :) 

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Black mold and NO CARPET!

black mold.

we came home to NO CARPET!

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Spring has SPRUNG!

WELCOME to Richmond in April.  One day Sister Jones and I walked outside and it literally hit us.  The trees POPPED, EVERYTHING is turning GREEN and everything is blooming now.  The tulips... don't even get me started.  THEY ARE INCREDIBLE.  Everyone has tulips in their yard too.  By far my favorite flower! :) They are just gorgeous!! 

This week can only be summed up in one word: FUN.

F is for friends who do stuff together! (YAY for missionary work!)

U is for you and meeeeeee. ( I love you Sister Jones!)

N is for anything, anytime at all down here in Richmond, Kentucky! 

I probably butchered that spongebob quote a littlebit, but that is truly how this week went. SPRING is the most wonderful time of the year! It feels like home right now.  Brisk California morning.  I can't stop smiling! 

Highlights from this week though, it was an eventful one!

-Last Monday we came home to NO CARPET.  All of it had been ripped out! GONE. See ya later! Remember that black mold? Yeah... the carpet had to go! BUT bow we are left wit ha cement floor. We have resorted to kneeling prayers on our chairs because the ground is just not good for our knees! Thankfully we still have carpet upstairs.  The leak is still not fixed so when the tornado came in this week our house did flood again... but no more black mold! HAHA.  LIFE :)

Oh yeah, there was a TORNADO! Let me just start with the west coast is the best coast.  I can handle an earthquake, a forest fire, a lightning storm, but a TORNADO!?!?!  yeah, these two west coast girls did NOT know what to do.  The sirens started to go off... the campus (Eastern Kentucky University) told people to seek shelter NOW and Sister Jones and I are worried.   We were on BIKES only a couple minutes from our house, but on bikes nonetheless.  It was an interesting night.  This was right around 6pm. We get home and it is STORMING like a BANSHEE. DOWNPOUR.  At this point, I am legitimately terrified for my life.  The wind is blowing so hard, the power is flickering and our district leader is calling us to make sure we are safe... I am terrified.  OK.  So we get our bikes out of our bike closet, sweep up all the dirt, throw a sheet down, throw a case of water in there, make some food, grabbed our scriptures, pillows and blankets and then hid in there for an hour... I seriously thought we would be sleeping in this bike room. Our next door neighbor and Kentucky native, Crystal comes over to ask us if we want to stand outside and watch the storm with her... HECK NO CRYSTAL!! She then told us to not sleep in the bike closet and move our couch into the corner of our exercise room and build a fort.  HAHA.  I love Crystal.  We ended up moving our couch because our carpet got ripped out and we found out it was a pull out couch!!! YES!!! We were both terrified to sleep upstairs because the storm hadn't cleared and we were scared the roof was going to be ripped off... clearly we are from the west coast.  CLEARLY.  We ended up both sleeping on the pull out couch and it was AWFUL.  I slept horrible.  (Sorry we made you sleep on the pull out couch on all of family vacations Jeff.  I now know why you complained so much about them!)  SO that was my tornado experience.  Turns out there were indeed two tornadoes but category 0....  It was exciting and terrifying! Hopefully the one and only tornado of my mission. 

Some really awesome experiences with investigators this week:

Averi// Averi is awesome, she just needs to up her commitment level! We went over to teach her and she watched the restoration video.  When she was done watching it, without even being prompted or asked, she looks at Sister Jones and I and says "I know the Book of Mormon is true.  I know that this church is true." I wanted to cry! I am so excited for her!! She is planning on being baptized! Pray for Averi! 

Blake// BLAKE. IS. AWESOME.  19 years old, golden investigator.  We found him walking to Averi's actually and he is EATING UP THE GOSPEL.  He is the most sober-minded, genuine, kind, shy 19 year old guy ever.  This week he literally told us "At this point, I am willing to do ANYTHING to get baptized."  My jaw pretty much hit the floor.  He is SO PREPARED and SO HUMBLE.  He is going to get baptized soon as well! He came to church yesterday also and LOVED it!! He is truly becoming converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is just incredible to watch him grow in the gospel and gain a testimony for himself! PRAY FOR BLAKE!!!

This week we also had a really fun adventure with Sister Brown.  We were on our way to her house for dinner at 6:30 and we made a wrong turn... well actually, we didn't turn was the problem.  We were supposed to go down RedHouse Road, and we ended up on some other random road.  Well in Kentucky, you never know if you are on the right road or not (at least on the back roads).  We drive and drive and drive, for about 30 minutes and we all decide this is not familiar and we need to GPS our way home. So GPS says keep going, it will take 30 more minutes to get home, all is well.  LIES.  We get halfway down the road and it DEAD ENDS.  HAHA, this was hysterical.  We all had a great laugh, and enjoyed the scenery and then headed back.  The GPS lied, the roads do end in Kentucky and we truly are in the most beautiful place on Earth.  EVERYTHING IS SO GREEN AND GORGEOUS!! <3 <3 

At church yesterday, we sang I believe in Christ.  I absolutely love this hymn and I reflected on the words as we sang yesterday.  I truly believe in Christ.  Whatever comes my way, I can handle is because Christ is my foundation.  Take a minute to ponder what Christ has done for you! :) 

1.  I believe in Christ; he is my King!
   With all my heart to him I'll sing;
   I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,
   In grand amens my tongue employ.
   I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.
   On earth to dwell his soul did come.
   He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
   Good works were his; his name be praised.
2.  I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
   As Mary's Son he came to reign
   'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
   To save them from the woes of sin.
   I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
   Who did gain all his Father hath,
   Who said to men: "Come, follow me,
   That ye, my friends, with God may be."
3. I believe in Christ--my Lord, my God!
   My feet he plants on gospel sod.
   I'll worship him with all my might;
   He is the source of truth and light.
   I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
   From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
   And I shall live with joy and love
   In his eternal courts above.
4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
   From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
   And while I strive through grief and pain,
   His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
   I believe in Christ; so come what may,
   With him I'll stand in that great day
   When on this earth he comes again
   To rule among the sons of men.

I love missionary work so much! There are people prepared EVERYWHERE we just have to find them!! The joy of sharing the gospel is something that is incomprehensible!! I love being a full time missionary! :)

MUCH love from the GKLM!

Sister Hannah

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Richmond Missionaries!

Elders Vanbeekum/Trost

Sister Jones/HAnnah

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Happy Easter!

What a wonderful week we had that lead up to the most incredible weekend.  Easter AND General Conference!!! 

Easter takes on a whole new meaning as a missionary! I LOVE THE ATONEMENT so much and I love teaching about it.  As Easter approached, it was just ANOTHER reason to bring it up to everyone! Everyone in Kentucky already believes in Jesus so the conversation starts easy.  People want to hear what we have to say because they already LOVE Jesus.  The #BecauseHELives video was a huge hit and I enjoyed sharing it with everyone. I can't wait to get iPad's so we can just show people right then and there on the street! Pray that they will come soon!! :) 

This week in Richmond was spring break for EKU and all of Madison County Schools.  EVERYONE it felt like was out of town! Nonetheless, the Lord still blessed Sister Jones and I! Not too much happened, but here are some cool experiences and funny stories from the week: 

-IT WAS in the low 70's and BREEZY this week! :) LOVE.  It seriously felt like a California day.  I was at home, in love.  Sunshine makes missionary work that much better.  People are in happier moods and are more receptive! 

-We taught a less active member, Lindsay, who is 18. After we finished her lesson, she asked if she could just "hang out" with us for the day... We told her that we would be working hard and laboring in the service of God and she was like "ok, I just want to get out of the house!" She ended up walking around with us for about 6 hours, teaching and testifying beautifully. She was a trooper. We walked everywhere that day and it was HOT. We went to go teach another less active girl, Destiny, who she didn't know and she bore such sweet, pure testimony! It was incredible! I love bringing less actives out to teach with us because it strengthens them so much more than us teaching them! It is the experience that allows them to grow and progress! :) While she was out with us, we also met Thomas! He is a really cool guy from Kenya and was immediately interested in the gospel! So much so that we taught a lesson right then and there with him on his porch! This was so cool because it had never happened to me before! I know that Heavenly Father gave us this miracle because we brought a member out with us! 

-We had planned on going to an appointment that was possibly going to fall through because of spring break. Ma'kayla wasn't answering her phone and neither was her grandma who lives with her, so Sister Jones and I prayed for guidance on what to do. We received the revelation that we needed to go see a recent convert who we had not been able to get a hold of in three weeks. When we showed up to his house, HE WAS HOME!! We were able to teach him and figure out why he had been MIA. It was such an incredible blessing because ward members had been calling us concerned about him as well. We found Willie and all is well! :) 

Sister Hannah's rookie mistake of the week: 

We walk into subway for dinner. There is a guy standing in line ordering sandwiches. He looks at us and goes "oh hi Sisters!"

so we respond "hey! How are you?"

"Do you recognize me?"

Me: "yeah, give me one second! I got this!" 

I proceed to wrack my brain about a guys name Sister Heiner and I met outside the Copper Still Bar a few blocks up the road and I couldn't remember so I say:

"YEAH! you're that guy Sister Heiner and I met outside of the Copper Still bar right? And you were smoking and were so respectful and put the cigarette out in front of us!"

He responds with a sly grin on his face: "no, not quite, but I have a calling in the Primary!"

YES.  HE IS A MEMBER. *insert foot in mouth.* 

It was quite the funny situation! I am just grateful he had a good sense of humor! That story is going to get passed around the Richmond ward! HAHA! Leave it to Sister Hannah.  The best part is that he SPOKE in Sacrament only a few weeks ago... yep. So I definitely should have recognized him.  From now on, assume everyone is a member that approaches us in public! 

General Conference.

OH how amazing conference is.  To hear from our Prophet and Apostles and General Authorites! It is incredible! This last conference was NO exception! I loved every minute of it! I love how BOLD the speakers were.  Some of the MAIN themes I got from conference was:

-families are ESSENTIAL to God's plan.  

-Marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN.

-Casual faith is not acceptable.  We need to be ALL IN.

-We need to be aware of satan and his temptations.  The world is going one way and God is staying the same.  Stick to what we know, do not let one question unravel everything we KNOW to be true.  

When you get the chance, go back and reread or rewatch conference! IT was inspiring! I can't wait until October now! :) So much good stuff!!

All is well in Richmond, KY.  Sister Jones and I are having a BLAST.  Even though our shower doesn't drain and our house flooded from the rain (and we might have black mold), I KNOW that God is MINDFUL of ME. He knows me personally and all of His children personally.  He is in the details of our lives and He desires to bless us.  Look for Him, Come to Him.  Let Christ Change You! 

Hearken to it and DO IT.  #RichmondBikeMotto

Much Love, 

Sister Hannah

GKLM (GREAT Kentucky Louisville Mission)

Picture 1: Happy Easter!

Picture 2: everything is turning green!!!

Picture 3: Richmond Missionaries! Elder Trost, Sister Jones, Sister Hannah, Elder Vanbeekum

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Happy Easter!!

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.