You would think I am in Kentucky or something...

"Or something," as my dad would always say growing up.. Haha

I don't have much time today, we are headed out to Corbin, KY to go hiking with the sisters out there! I think Cumberland Falls? It sounded fun so we are going! Every p-day seems to be the same so we are switching things up! 

We have been finding and finding and finding some more [people to teach] and we have found some awesome families! We are so excited! 

On Wednesday we were able to teach our friend, Billy! We are starting over from the beginning with him so he can gain the sure foundation! It is a difficult sacrifice to give up what you know for something better! Changing your mindset is even harder. I can only imagine the push and pull he is feeling. Satan is pulling him one direction and the Holy Ghost is gently encouraging him to come to the right side. It all boils down to if the Book of Mormon is true. Honestly. Of all things, we must have a foundation of and in the Book of Mormon and everything else will fall into place! Everyone has the bible. The Book of Mormon is what sets us apart! It is was makes us different. It is the convincing evidence! 

Our district had interviews this week too! It is always so good to see president and sister Brough! I just love them so much! :) they are a wonderful influence! President is so kind and sister Brough gives an outpouring of love! They are two of the goofiest people I know. I can't get enough of them! President and sister Brough extended to us one of the coolest commitments I have ever been given. All the missionaries in the mission were given four colored pencils and a new copy of the Book of Mormon. We all committed to mark 1. References to Christ 2. Christ's doctrine 3. Christ's attributes and 4. Christ's words said by him or his prophets. It is awesome! The entire Book of Mormon will be Christ coded and I like to call it! I am planning on finishing it in a few months at about 8 pages a day! (What the young women always challenged us to do over the summer.) We then went out to eat with the sisters at a mediocre cafe. We are trying to eat at all of the local shops before this transfer ends! We have acquired a list! Tackli it one Friday at a time with the cute Corbin sisters! 

Friday. I was so thrown off because we normally have district meeting and it felt like a Saturday, but it wasn't... Luckily, we had dinner with the stettlers to look forward to! I love the Stettler's so much. They are truly incredible people. I have adopted them as family. Brother stettler is just a character. We get along so well. He picks on me, I pick on him, it is a mutual picking on. It works perfectly. He is so knowledgeable and intelligent as well. I look up to him a lot! His wife is equally as incredible as well! She is the hound women's president of the branch now too! 

Saturday rolled around and it was a long day.. But we had appointments back to back (finally, again!) and it was so wonderful! We picked up a new investigator, a headquarters referral, Rhonda! She is rad! Rhonda has a so,I'd Christian background and talked to missionaries about 20 years ago. She then moved to Kentucky and lost touch with them. Two months ago, she requested a bible and the two cutest sisters in Somerset hand delivered it to her! That is how we found ms. Rhonda! She set a baptismal date and we have high hopes for her and her family! :)

Nothing huge or exponential happened this week, but it sure was full of tender mercies. For example: we got a call from a woman coming out of the temple on Tuesday with another woman's information and asking us to contact this woman. We couldn't figure out the lady's name on our voicemail, but we called Sheila, the woman whose information we were left with. Sister Schultz and I were extremely excited thinking we were handed a new investigator! Sheila answered the phone and was so thrilled to hear it was the missionaries, beyond excited! She went on to tell us how she had lost touch with the missionaries and the branch (and her life story) and that she had been calling numbers she had for the past two years with no luck. She finally got ahold of the Temple and the woman who ended up calling us. Long story short, we found a lost member! It is these kind of tender mercies that are just incredible. To see the Lord's hand in how she found us and how we ultimately got to meet her! We were able to visit Sister warhorse in the hospital on Saturday and get to know her! It was amazing!

A note from the Sunday school lesson on work and self reliance: 

"IN all forms of work, missionary work, marriage, real life jobs that bring in money, you want to enjoy it. That doesn't mean that you won't have some righteous anger or disappointment or discouragement, but overall, when you look back, it is enjoyable and rewarding." -brother stettler 

Work is essential to each of us for growth, character development, and many satisfactions that the idle never know.- gp manual

false doctrine heard this week:

-man created God in their image (see Genesis 1:27-28 for truth)

I am seriously convinced that Kentucky is still in the great apostasy. The stuff we hear. Satan is the master of confusion. 

Quote of the week: "I seriously sat there and thought for a couple minutes 'God, why didn't you send me two ugly Mormon girls?' And then I got to thinking and I realized ive never met an ugly Mormon." -BRother Billy

"True religion and true science work hand in hand." -brother George

Don't forget: rattlesnake is of high value, extremely expensive meat. Squirrel eyes are a delicacy. (Well, you would think I am in Kentucky or something!)

From my Studies this week: I felt this was extremely interesting. We are teaching a woman who believes people are born homosexual and they don't have a choice about it. I don't feel this way simply because that completely goes against God's plan. He would never, ever, set one of His children up to fail, and homosexuality puts a wrench in the plan.  We all have our own struggles and trials in this life, but we can all overcome them. I then came across this quote as I was studying something completely different, but it applies perfectly. Take it at what you will!

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that, regardless of a person's susceptibility or tendency, we have an obligation to exercise our agency to overcome our personal weaknesses:

"Perhaps these persons, as the saying goes, were 'born that way.' But what does that mean? Does it mean that persons with susceptibilities or strong tendencies have no choice, no free agency in these matters? Our doctrine teaches us otherwise. Regardless of a person's susceptibility or tendency, his will is unfettered. His free agency is unqualified. It is his freedom that is impaired. … We are all responsible for the exercise of our free agency.

"… Most of us are born with thorns in the flesh, some more visible, some more serious than others. We all seem to have susceptibilities to one disorder or another, but whatever our susceptibilities, we have the will and the power to control our thoughts and our actions. This must be so. God has said that he holds us accountable for what we do and what we think, so our thoughts and actions must be controllable by our agency. Once we have reached the age or condition of accountability, the claim 'I was born that way' does not excuse actions or thoughts that fail to conform to the commandments of God. We need to learn how to live so that a weakness that is mortal will not prevent us from achieving the goal that is eternal."

Happy Thanskgiving!

10 things I am grateful for:

10-tiwi's that work properly

Last night, in 30 degree weather, our tiwi decided not to 'wake up' and we were 15 miles from home... It was a good time.

9- elder Bailey who always helps me with the tiwi

Since we can't drive home without the tiwi on, elder Bailey is there to help us out. We got in on after 7 minutes. Literally two miles down the road, the gas light came on. I couldn't help but laugh. 

8- knowledge and inspiration

I love learning and I especially love learning with the spirit. There is so much more to everything with the spirit! I love gaining knowledge and great treasures, even hidden treasures! (See d&c 89:18-21)

7- the spirit and promptings

There is nothing better than feeling the spirit and the warmth that comes from it!

6- my mission family

These people of the GKLM are amazing! I am so grateful for them and their love for me! 

5- love

Pure Christlike love is all anyone needs! (Read 1 Nephi 8, 11-12) it is the most desirable! 

4- my companion, who is amazing

This girl, sister Schultz. She is wonderful and a godsend. I aM blessed  to have her powerful testimony in my life! 

3- my family who supports me with all they've got

Enough said, I have the best family out there! Love you mom and dad! (And Jeffrey and Daniel too!) 

2- the gospel

There is nothing more precious to me than the knowledge I have of the fullness of the everlasting gospel! 

1- my Savior and His Holy Atonement 

Simply put, without this eternal gift, we would all be nothing. I am eternally grateful for my Savior! 

Have you counted your blessings recently?

I know that Jesus is the Christ, my lord and savior. I know that He lives and loves me too! I know that the Book of Mormon testifies of him or his atonement on every single page! I know that God is a God of miracles! I love this work so much! I am grateful for this once in eternity opportunity! 

So much glorious gospel love from Somerset, KY,

Sister Hannah

Sent from my iPad

Transfer number 8 already? Where does the time go?

I seriously can't comprehend time anymore. Looking back, September is a complete blur; each companion's memories have faded together (was that with you or sister so and so?) and before I know it, I'm 6 months in Somerset and praying for more time here. People think I am nuts for wanting to stay so long, but I truly love it so much here. I have fallen so much in love with this cute town, the people and this branch! President Goleman, this week, told me my records are already in the branch, so I have one person on my side!

On Monday we had a wonderful tender mercy! We were driving home from burnside (the bottom ish area of Somerset) and I looked over at Ruby Tuesday and the sign really stuck out to me... I thought about it for a minute and remembered Kathleen (a less active) had worked there and I had the prompting "go try her house." It was so odd because Kathleen had moved back to her parents and hadn't been at her house in town for three months. All of her kids have moved out of the house as well. We lost contact and had no way to get a hold of her. I decided "ok, this is bizarre, but I will follow the prompting." Well, what do you know, Heavenly Father knows more than us! We pull up to her house and HER CAR IS THERE. WHAT. And then, we knock on the door and she comes
around the corner all nervous (it was 8pm and pitch black) because she doesn't know who is pounding on her door and I yell "Kathleen! It's the sisters!" Oh my goodness. It was a miracle! Such a huge blessing! We were able to chat with her and get info on her parents(who are also less active) and catch up with her! She is a wonderful human being. I just love her so much! Blessings blessings blessings!

This week felt like it went on forever. I have always told myself that one day I will just read and study all day long. Although I have never gotten the chance, it always sounds good in my mind because an hour for personal study just isn't long enough! Well, this week I got my chance! Sister Schultz was really sick and we stayed in all day Tuesday minus a few hours. I was able to have a four hour personal study in the morning and caught up on all the talks I wanted to read, read 3 chapters in the Book of Mormon and 5 in the New Testament. It was only 12... I checked on sister s and no improvement, so I went back to reading. I found random talks and ensign articles. By the time 5:30 rolled around I had read my little eyes out! I was ready to get out of the house! Thankfully, a member fed us and sister Schultz felt well enough to go see a less active in the boonies. It was a great day that I never want to have again! Haha!

Trials and tribulations precede miracles. This was Thursday's life lesson for both sister Schultz and I. We spent two hours weekly planning in the morning on our iPads. We had slid lessons planned in with direct revelation for each of our investigators at the perfect times for the this coming week. We had all of our less active members
planned in with their needs and even specific finding time and areas with different techniques or approaches. Then we went to sync our iPads and....lost. It. All. Every last bit of it. Including our plans that we had made for Thursday that we hadn't synced. Yep. That happened. But, it was a great learning experience. It taught us that we need to have more of our plans in our head and not rely on the iPad so much. (It still makes me with I had paper sometimes....) To follow that experience, we had an awesome lesson set up with a rad kid, Qiunton, who we met on the street Wednesday. He gave us a bad number and fake address... And then we go to try our newest bap date and on our way over he cancelled on us too. A day in the life! Haha! So we are ready for dinner at this point, Needing to recharge our batteries and all. This is where the day took a turn! We got a call from the Hermanas in Lexington asking about our Spanish investigator, Estrella! We happened to be driving by her house and stopped with them on the phone. She didn't answer the door so we waited for a text to write on a note to leave her. As we were about to walk away, she answered the door with the biggest smile on her face and welcomed us in! We were
able to set a return appointment! Then, we got in contact with a solid investigator, Lee, who has been reading the Book of Mormon. Finally, it was time for dinner and sister Loesevitz invited her non member friends over and we had a wonderful meal (with chocolate gravy, it was delicious) and powerful lesson! Her friend, sister Haynes, was so open to our message and committed to read and pray sincerely about the Book of Mormon. She was so cute and had researched some of our beliefs and marked scriptures in her bible before coming over. The discussion was spirit led and sister Loesevitz testimony was the perfect icing on the cake! God is a God of miracles! Just when we were ready to throw in the towel, BAM! Emrill style!

Friday's are always an adventure! District meeting was short and sweet and we have a new-ish district, three new missionaries! Elder Langston, who I came out with; elder hardy, who I go home with; and sister kocherhans, who is just adorable! It is going to be a wonderful transfer with these stellar servants of the lord! We were trained on how we should hold ourselves accountable to the lord and not have anyone else, or the lord asking for follow ups but we should take the initiative! It was great! Elder Fleener truly is an inspired district leader!
Some funny quotes from district meeting:
"a few days ago can mean anything from last week to two years ago..."
Amen to that.
"They're, well.. Kentucky." Referring to the way people act and talk.
(The majority of stereo types are true.)
"Where are the Schuening's? It's like mom and dad aren't here..." They were in Louisville at the temple and were dearly missed!

We had a lesson with Billy. Brother baptist Billy. This man, he is slowly coming. Slowly, but surely. This lesson went well and after we challenged him to forget the small things (that don't matter) he is gaining his foundation of a testimony! We are so excited and I personally am seeing the power of fasting and prayer through my experiences with Billy! Miracles are happening! He will soon enter into the waters of baptism and make sacred covenants with our father in heaven! :)

This weeks insights to my life: Bed bugs and cockroaches no longer phase me. I now love cauliflower. I am 20. I need human interaction. Ensigns don't have enough pictures of Christ to cut out. His grace is sufficient! When you have a whole day to sit and think, random stuff starts to click and realizations are had.

False doctrine heard this week: (I have been shocked lately at the doctrine that is being taught to others and I started to make notes of the false statements of 'truth' that we have been told... These blow my mind that people can believe this stuff!)

-the Italian mafia is protecting Jesus' blood line because he was
married to Mary Magdalene and they had kids. When Christ was
crucified, she fled with the children to Italy and enlisted the help
of body guards who created the mafia.

I believe Kentucky is still in the Great Apostasy.

Sister Peterson taught an amazing lesson in Relief Society yesterday! It was on member missionary work! I want to share a few insights from President Ezra Taft Benson!

As members of the Lord's Church, we must take missionary work seriously. If you are laboring as you should, if you love this work, you will be helping to save the souls of the children of men.

Not only should sharing the gospel be regarded as a priesthood duty, but we should all look forward to this experience with great joy and anticipation. The real purpose in sharing the gospel is to bring souls unto Christ, to teach and baptize our Heavenly Father's children so that we may rejoice with them (see D&C 18:15) in the kingdom of our Father.

We all share this great responsibility. We cannot avoid it. Let no man or woman think that because of where we live, or because of our place in society, or because of our occupation or status, we are exempt from this responsibility.

The Lord will sustain members in their missionary responsibility if they just have the faith to try. It is time to raise our sights, to get a vision of the magnitude of this great work. The Lord expects it of us. It is not enough just to be members in the Church and go to sacrament meeting, pay our tithing, support the welfare program. That is all good--but that is not enough. The Lord expects us to be missionaries, to live the gospel--yes, wholly, and to help to build up His kingdom.

My lil buddy, Joshua, was baptized yesterday! It was such a blessing to be able to attend his baptism! While there, I met his maternal grandfather was from EL TORO.  YEAH. He knew everything that I was talking about when I said I was from Mission Viejo.... it is those tender mercies that are sweet! :) Joshua is the sweetest lil guy who loves me so much! Every Sunday he runs up to me and says "Hannah, I mean Sister Hannah.  guess what I learned?" and then gives the greatest hug and proceeds to share with me what he learned.  He is precious.  It was amazing to see him enter into the waters of baptism and make those sacred covenants with our Father in Heaven!

Last night we also had a missionary fireside in Lexington and thanks to incredible members, Sister Syphax, we were able to go there with Sonia and feel of the strong spirit! It was another tender mercy! I was able to see Sister Jones as well! :) I love missionary firesides! Just as sister Syphax said, there is strength in numbers! :)

The work continues to roll forward. I love this work immensely! There are so many blessings to be counted.  Even when the days and weeks are hard or long, I know that I am being blessed for the work I am putting in! there is nothing that even measures close to serving the Lord full time! I know that this gospel is TRUE. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and I know that my Savior LIVES!

Much Love from the GKLM,

Sister Hannah

Sent from my iPad

Leftovers from the sisters conference!

Sent from my iPad

Joshua's Baptism!

when our data gets erased...

when our data gets erased...

Kentucky Avenue!

oh elders...

oh elders...

Fwd: Another 6 weeks makes 6 months in Somerset!

Transfer calls ended this week and even though we both knew what would happen because Sister Schultz is still in training, they were still nerve wracking! 3/5 companionships in the district are getting changed up! Sad! We had such a tight district! I am going to miss these stellar missionaries, but I know that they are going where the Lord needs them! Sister Schultz and I are blessed to stay in Somerset and the Liberty District for another transfer! :) I have been here for 6 months now and I love the deep south! The Baptist belt is hard, but so rewarding!

This week was a harder week. I wasn't feeling up to par and we had a lot of trials, but through it all we were continually blessed!

We were able to meet a young man named Jonathan.  He is the miracle of the week.  We were trying an investigator who is flaky and he answered the door.  We have seen him before in passing but have never had the opportunity to stop him and talk to him.  It literally fell into our hands! We all sat down and briefly talked about the restoration and what makes us different and then set a return appointment.  The next day, the lesson went SO WELL. He loved the message and how it is family centered.  We brought Chayanne who bore powerful testimony and he committed to read, pray, come to church and to be baptized! It was so awesome and the spirit was so incredible!

We were able to travel up to Lexington for Zone Meeting and it was so low key compared to the last few times we have been in Lexington.  It was just our zone. Blessings! We were trained on how to HELP members talk to their friends about the gospel, repentance and setting the tone with our investigators.  All of these trainings were amazing and exactly what I needed to hear! They got me excited to come back to my area and get the ball rolling!!

Sunday was a very spiritual day! At church, he spirit was so strong and brother Burgess from the high council came down to train Brother Working, the branch mission leader, on some initiatives from the stake.  It was a direct answer to all of our prayers! We have been bouncing back and forth ideas of how to help our little-big branch grow and this was it! It is it! We are excited to get it going and see an increase of membership and attendance! I love working with these members in this incredible branch! I seriously never want to leave! I love Somerset so much!

Some cool things that strengthened my testimony during my studies this week!

In the New Testament, the people in Samaria were baptized! They entered into the glorious waters of baptism and into a covenant with God.  THEN after they were baptized by water, they had the Holy Ghost conferred upon them by those in authority, PETER AND JOHN, after their baptism, by the laying on of hands.  As I read this, I recognized the truthfullss of the confirmation portion of the baptism ordinance.  We must receive the gift of the holy ghost, through the laying on of hands, by someone in authority. There it is, plain and simple! We have that authority and we have that power! :)

Acts 8:12-17

 12 But when they believed Philip preaching‍ the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name‍ of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word‍ of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

 17 Then laid‍ they their‍ hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

And another awesome talk from Elder Bednar that really mad me think! I love Elder Bednar!

here is the link if the one above doesn't work!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/that-we-may-always-have-his-spirit-to-be-with-us?lang=eng

Kentucky is amazing. The people are wonderful and I continue to be in awe at how incredible this world is.  God is good. He is real. He is there.  He answers prayers.  Jesus Christ is His Son and our Savior. I know these things to be true and I am so beyond grateful to have this opportunity to serve my Lord and Savior! When the going gets hard, I remember He didn't give up, so why should I? We will all win this battle together! :)

Much love from the GKLM,

Sister Hannah

Picutres:

Sonia and Seth

Lexington Zone, Round 7

Another Transfer, DOWN!