Monday, September 29, 2014

Sick update... hah

Goldsberry thought I had strep this last week... I had to call the phone doctor and he prescribed a bunch of gargling of salt water :P My voice was like completely GONE for 3 days.... haha it's just now starting to come back. I kinda sounded like Darth Vader! LOL. But I'm doing good:) I haven't hurt at all so that is a blessing! it's just been quite humorous...

Silly President....

haha President is SO FUNNY. He wants us all to put this reflector tape on our bags.... WILL DO! He's a jokester:)

BOOK OF MORMON UPDATE

We should all be on page 175 of the Book of Mormon:)
yayyyyyyy for Abinidi!! My hero!!!!

The Depths of Humility

Good day, everyone!! IT'S ALMOST OCTOBER!!!!
 
You know what that means.... FALL!!! And SWEATERS!! And BOOTS!!! and (((CONFERENCE)))!!!! And MY BIRTHDAY!!!
That's right, folks... it's my favorite time of year!!!!
 
Funny story... last Monday, we were checking out at Wal-Mart and the register stopped working right when I was going to pay. The cashier called her boss over to look at it and I had a prompting to say "Why don't we pray??!" The boss kinda laughed and said "yeah.. Dear God, help us get this thing workin!". She pushed a few buttons and IT WORKED! :) I said "See! Prayer does work!!" And we gave them a pass-along card! It was super sweet. Some members we were going shopping with saw the whole thing too. Heavenly Father is wonderful!!:) And super humorous:)
 
I've been studying a lot about humility this week! After reading in the Book of Mormon and listening to the General Women's Broadcast this week (amazing, BTW) I've been thinking a lot about GIVING GOD THE GLORY HE DESERVES. That's exactly why Christ was chosen to be our savior (Moses 4:2) That's what Alma says is super important! (Mosiah 23:11) We are reallllllly NOTHING compared to the glory that God has. Seriously! We do... nothing.. hahah kinda weird to think about. But as I look back throughout the people I've taught and helped on my mission, I really feel like I didn't/haven't done much.... They all progress because GOD changed them. I just presented information and it was Him who changed their hearts. ONLY God can change hearts.
 
2 Nephi 9:42 says:
 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools‍ before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.
 
Mosiah 4:11 says:
 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted‍ of his love, and have received a remission‍ of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness‍ and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling‍ on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly‍ in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
 
It's important for us not to just be a missionary, but to BECOME a missionary. Our purpose is to INVITE others to come unto Christ because it's WHO we are... not because it's what we were only CALLED to do. This is something I have realized this past week. I shouldn't worry so much about the fruits of my efforts, I should just invite and teach others because it's what we desire and we shouldn't care too much about the outcomes the come from what we do. The Lord will make up the difference because we sure can't do a LOT.
 
Luke (our new Ward Mission Leader--- YES!! We FINALLY have a new WML after Johnny moved to Utah. Hah it's been like 4 months..) Brought up something profound in institute this last week. "There is no such thing as disobedience. Only obedience to God, or obedience to the Devil" Chose you this day whom you will serve!
 
Anyway.. those are some insights I've been thinking of <3 Be humble and BECOME a missionary. BECOMING A MISSIONARY IN OUR HEART IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BECOME LIKE OUR SAVIOR. Because really, that is EVERYTHING He did in His life on Earth. Missionary work.
 
We found out that one of our LA/Recent Converts is pregnant. That was a shock, we used to teach her boyfriend, but he wasn't too fond of us. So now she is having to make a lot of grown up choices. It's hard.. but it's helping her to really realize the importance of the Gospel.
 
We had interviews with President this week!! I love that man.... Holy cow.. got some GREAT insights and super great encouragement to keep going strong. Keep TRUSTING in the Lord and I cannot second guess my self anymore... If I second guess myself, I will be disappointed. Trust in Him FULLY.
 
We taught the YW in the family ward this week with the other sisters and did role plays. I am so impressed with the rising generation with how well they have been taught. They are way more knowledgeable that I ever was at their age! They will be amazing missionaries. Too cute <3
 
David- our investigator that has been taught by the missionaries for over a year now is RESET for baptism!! He finally prayed about a date and is set for October 25th <3 We just have to teach him the rest of the commandments and I think he can do it!!! It's soooo exciting! :) He has to re-quit smoking. Sister Goldsberry CRUSHED his cigarettes this last week. That was fun:) He also received his VERY first blessing this week and it was incredible!! He just has to keep turning heavenward. He knows the whole branch is here to support him physically, but he needs to do his part spiritually. The branch has been INCREDIBLE at fellowshipping everyone lately. It's amazing <3 <3 I love them SOOOO MUCH!!!!!!
 
I also received my..... trunky papers.... in the mail this week :/ :/ I tried my best not to think about it. My trunky papers is a letter from President Weston and stuff I need to fill out for my travel papers home. DON'T think/remind me about it... hah.
In my interviews with President... he flat out told me "You're not going to be in YSA forever..." I said "Forever... mission wise? Or forever forever..?" He just said "Both".... darn..... That means I'm leavin YSA probably at the end of this transfer. That breaks my heart!! Momma... you were right, I do have one more area left in me.... At least president always warns me.... Hah I don't know why I've been moved around so much.. Most sisters only get like 3 areas. If I leave here, I'll have 6. The Lord has His reasons <3
 
Anyway, the Women's Broadcast on Saturday was AMAZING!!! I love Uchtdorf so much!! And am doing my best to prepare for General Conference this next week. I KNOW we have a prophet on the Earth today. That is a HUGEEEEEE deal!! We all need to put aside all our plans that conflict with listening to them and put our full focus on the words they speak to us. The WORDS of the prophets and apostles TODAY and in the Book of Mormon are what the Lord uses to change our hearts. THAT is how we BECOME the missionary He wants us to be. Prepare yourself and pause from the world for ONLY 2 days, to listen. I PROMISE that as you do, you will receive the guidance and direction that you might not even know you are looking for or needing.
Goldsberry is goin CRAZY for my birthday... she's planning all these 'secret combinations' that I can't know about with the whole branch. Pretty sure they are throwin a surprise party... but she says it is going to be AMAZING because the whole branch is incorporating EVERYONE's talents for it. So everyone is truly coming together and the branch is more unified than I've seen the whole time I've been here..... I feel so honored to witness it!! The Fergusons also are coming down on Friday to take us to dinner for my birthday, so don't worry about me, we'll for sure be celebrating a LOT bigger than last year!!
 
Go to some corn mazes for me, or haunted houses!!
 
I love you all. I know this is the Lord's church and that we have a real, LIVING prophet on the Earth today that speaks to us with the words of our Savior. Please, listen.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
<3/ the one and only, Sister Checketts!
 
Us and the Elders e-mailin right now!:)

Monday, September 22, 2014

Alohamora!

We're always a quotin the Potter jokes:) #ysalyfe
 
Seriously though..... the atonement is the KEY to life!!!! it's the KEY to happiness!!! THE ATONEMENT ISSSSS THE SPELL "Alohomara!" Because it unlocks our hearts and souls!
 
Yup.... I'm still a Potterhead!
 
This week has been a good one!
 
Sad day though.... Our investigator, David is smoking again... But he's being HONEST about it!! He came and told us and is being a lot more sincere about things than he was in the past. PROGRESSION!! That's all He asks for <3
 
Funny story time.. So we were teaching one of our LA's, Kirsten this week, and her boyfriend, Eli is always a part of her lessons. He isn't a member and is actually one of our former investigators. Well Kirsten hasn't made some of the best decisions lately and her and Eli have decided to move in together... so we decided to watch the old church video "Together Forever" with them that talks about the law of chastity, and temple marriage and such.... haha we were a little nervous to do it... but it is a powerful video. At the end, #MIRACLE!!! Eli said it was "touching" and that it made him "feel good" HE FELT THE SPIRIT!! It was really kinda funny watching it with them tho... I guess it was a "had to be there" moment.
 
Our investigator, MIKE!! haha funny story again... we talked to him about FAITH this last week and read Alma 32 with him. He seemed a little more hestitant than ususal, but we asked him to pray with us at the end and his prayer was so funny. He said "God, it's cool learning about the seed that these sisters are trying to plant in me"... haha. We realized that lesson though that his DESIRE to learn this things is lacking a little. We had an appointment set with him this morning actually and he texted us saying that "Being a Mormon wasn't for him" ... my heart sank... I had felt so good about him! I have to admit I take it a little hard when we get dropped.... It's sad :( But we asked him if we could still come over to talk about what his thoughts have been since the last time we met. So we went over this morning with one of our memebrs, Jake and he expressed to us that he had talked to his family, who are catholic, about the things he'd been learning and that he didn't want to cause contention. Jake did awesome about asking him to continue reading and praying. So I think we -kinda- stopped him from dropping us..? We'll check back in a few days.
 
I actually LOVE tracting... is that weird? It's a huge faith builder because you never know who is going to be on the other side of the door. We met a cool girl named Capri this week! We ran into her at a park and she said she had actually been thinking A LOT this last week about going back to church because "it feels good to know Jesus" We're stoked for her! She's going to UNK.
 
Institute was GREAT this week! Our investigator Jordan (who is SOOOOO prepared!!!!! He actually ON HIS OWN asked for Sunday's off at work so he could start coming) well he came to institute! We were talking about the first vision #perfect and he always asks the best questions! He wants to get baptized, but we have to call President Weston because since Jordan is on probation, we need to figure out when he could be. He is our fav. He comes to every activity, the branch just loves him! He's even asking off work to listen to General Conference with us all <3 We were going to our appointment with him this week and it was taking him a lot longer than usual to show up, so we started thinking about one of our members, Nya who has been having a hard time and we were planning on going to see her, but right before we were about to leave, a car drove up to drop off Jordan AND Nya..... Heavenly Father is amazing:) So we had a lesson with them both!
 
Transfers were this last week... I had to say goodbye to my best friend Sister Dumont.... she is now serving in Plattsmouth! Before she left though, we had promised each other that we would get BEST FRIEND BANGS!! So a little while before she head off to transfer point, we went to Sister Hall's house and got our bangs cut! Gosh, I've missed them! Haha:) Before she left ont he transfer van, she hugged me and said "see you in January!" I'm so lucky to be flying home with my bestie! I am now the missionary that has been in Kearney the longest! That's weird... hah
 
We did a LOT of physical work on Saturday. Played our usual game of softball in the morning with the branch, but we had so few players that we were CONSTANTLY running the bases.... then for the next 4 hours after that, we were choppin and haulin wood for one of the families of the family ward that need wood for their winter fires.
 
We went and saw Arlys this last week. We caught her just when she needed us. She is having surgery a week from today, and is having to make a HUGE decision whether she is going to sell her home that her and Louis bought together, and go to an assisted living, or if she is going to try to keep living by herself there. She talked to us for a long time about how much she missed Louis... she is still SO IN LOVE!! It's the cutest thing ever. But we were there to listen and comfort her and she thanked us over and over again. I love her... she's doing good! Still not reading a lot, but I know she'll turn to our Savior in the end <3
 
MARLEYNA GOT HER MISSION CALL!!! A member in our branch!! My TWIN I love her sooooooo much! She leaves in 6 weeks!! Going to Cali, English speaking!! She's gonna leaver here before I do! CRAZY!!! That was so exciting yesterday to find out <3
 

On of our members is going through a LOT of depression things these last 2 weeks. She is at an all-time low and won't talk to anyone in the branch but us. She feels sooooo guilty for some things she has done. When she isn't with us, she literally just sits in her apartment, or goes on long walks by herself. So our Branch President has advised us to take her out with us as much as we can. We had her study with us once this last week and it was REALLY good, she doesn't feel worthy to study on her own. She is always out on teamups with us, sometimes she doesn't say a lot, but at least she's feeling the spirit and hopefully it will break through the walls that she has. So she's with us a LOT of times. We do our best to help her see the hope and light that is in her future if she keeps trying. We love her so much, the branch does too and it BREAKS their hearts that nothing they say or do is helping.

Last night at branch prayer, she was at the prayer with us and as soon as Luke was done praying, she booked it out of the church. I was then asked to say another prayer just for her because the branch is so worried and so we again knelt in prayer and I offered up the desires of the hearts of all of us. Asking for her protection, and guidance in OUR hearts of ANYTHING we can do to help her see the light of the atonement and praying that any small glimpses can get to her heart of how much she is loved. After I was done praying, there was not a dry eye in the room and everyone said how powerful it was. One of our members had gotten a prompting during the prayer to call someone that might be able to help her, and it was just super powerful. Sometimes I forget that we can have the spirit in SUCH abundance and I am SO grateful to be that tool in my Father in Heaven's hands to help comfort and bring the spirit into the lives of those around me.

 

This particular member is with us almost always! She isn't herself around anyone but us. She's here at the library with us now and will be for the rest of the day. I'm grateful that she feels comfortable with us, and that we are here to help her. I love her TONS!!! And I know that the power of the atonement can reach her if she just keeps trying.

 

I love you all! Thank you for being my rock and my support! We are doing very well! Just enduring the little and big things that come our way.

Our Savior is literally our older brother. How GRATEFUL I am to have such amazing earthly bothers as well to compare to Him in my own life. I am so grateful for His atonement for I have seen it work wonders in the lives of me and others around me. He was our brother up in heaven who would help us put the lamp back together after we broke it, He was the one that braided our hair and helped us with our homework. I love Him so much! Keep seeking after His light and using His atonement as the KEY to your happiness.

This talk has been amazing in my life this last week! Dust, and Mads  and everyone else please read it <3

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/07/young-adults/becoming-perfect-in-christ?lang=eng

 
Love you all!!!
-Sister Checketts
 
Pic: goodbye Dumont <3 <3 #bestfriendbangs

Mission Call!!

Skypin with Johnny!!!

#SQUIRREL

's are everywhere!!

District Pics!

Feelin Trunky??

This girl is goin to CALI!!!!

David Came to Church!!!

And wore his shirt and tie!!! :):)

Monday, September 15, 2014

When it rains... it POURS

It's been a rainy week, I have LOVED it!!!!!
There is so much rain!!!!!! Storms are my absolute favorite and usually all the storms here happen at night and so we don't get to enjoy them, but this week they have been all throughout the days!! We even pulled out our jackets <3 it's a miracle. (I love pulling out the fall clothes and feeling the cool air:))
 
But this week has sure been a TON like the storms that have come. Literally, when it rains, it POURS. There is NEVER a dull moment.
 
Monday FHE was fun. We all gathered at the church and got to play sardines!! (It's like hide and go seek backwards) Yes, young adults playing sardines. It's the BEST! It came to be Sister Goldsberry and I's turn since we found everyone last, and so we found the BEST hiding place! We were hiding there for 20 minutes.. hahah:) We hid in-between the big folding wall curtains and the wall. It was genius!
 
We taught Mike again this week.... this guy is SO PREPARED!! He hadn't read any more of the Book of Mormon, but he read through the Restoration pamphlet and every time with sit and explain something, he listens with his whole heart, you can tell!! He keeps all his commitments and really enjoys our visits. He works night shifts though so he can't come to any activities and Sundays are hard. But he might come play softball with us on Saturday morning. (hah.. I just tried to type Morning and It came out Mormon.. I love being a missionary!) He has now met a couple of our members thought and he gets along with them so well:) I feel like all we are doing is presenting him the information and he's taking it and running with it! We have planned to talk about baptism with him this week! I'll let you know how it goes:)
 
We spent a good part of an afternoon in the Kearney Clinic this week. Sister Goldsberry has had a great pain in her stomach lately and so we went in to see a doctor. All her tests came out good, so she's seeing if this new medicine is helping... I don't know how she keeps track of it all. Poor thing! That was my first time seeing a doctor in my whole mission. I've been blessed! We did get some awesome princess stickers out of it! And the Doctor has seen missionaries before. YAY. TEAMWORK.
 
We had Zone Training this week. Our Zone Leaders are the BEST!! They worked so hard on this training and it was the best zone training I have had on my mission so far. Oh gosh... it was EXACTLY what I and soooooooo many others were needing. They focused the first half on the power of the Book of Mormon and then the second half was all about companionship unity. A LOT of the companionships are struggling lately. But we're all growing, SO MUCH.
 
This week has been SO ROUGH for all our members..... oh gosh. I have been more emotionally exhausted this week than I have in a LONG time....
One of our members was suicidal this last week.
 
Were driving down the road going to see her at her apartment when we got a text from Taylor saying "Hey, she could really use you guys to talk to right now, could you come to my dorm and talk to her??" And right when we received that text, we were on the EXACT road we needed to turn on to get to her dorm #miracle
 
We chatted with her, and she was feeling super guilty about some stuff that had gone down and we helped cheer her up and she seemed a lot better.
 
Apparently not.. she's REALLY good at hiding how she's truly feeling.
 
The next day we got a text from asking if we could pray for this member that we had talked to the day before. We finished studies and drove to her apartment where another one of our members told us everything that had happened the night before. Our dear friend had taken her friends car at 4 in the morning to go get something to eat at walmart, but she never came back. They had filed a missing persons report and a stolen car report and eventually they found her at her friends house at 10am. We stayed at the apartment until they brought her home and she was SOOOOOO depressed. I have never seen anyone with such a small amount of hope. It was so scary and sad and I had no clue what to do. She felt as if the Savior had suffered in vain for her. That she wasn't worth anything and that all she did was hurt others.
 
Because of her taking the car, her friend whose car she took is now being fired from her RA position at the university and lots of other stuff is happening. So we spent all the rest of that day going to visit all our members making sure that they were okay. All we did that day was LISTEN. We barely spoke any words at all. Our branch has been through a lot this week.... Everyone has been hurting and struggling. It feels as if there isn't much that is going right. But I know it's because we were seeing lots of success in the past and now Satan is working his hardest. It's always calm before the storm. We have seen a lot of people try their faith and truly experience the atonement in their lives this week. I have experienced it big time!!
 
On top of all that, I was preparing for my talk that I gave about the "role of the Book of Mormon in our conversion" on Sunday. In the midst of all the commotion that day, we got a missed call from Jose-- the LA that I love so much that decided he didn't want to be a member anymore. We tried calling/texting him back but he never replied again... AND our District Leader asked me if I could do a training at District Meeting this next Wednesday. LITERALLY, WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS!!!!! But somehow I am doing it all!
 
Then that night, we had a lesson with Arlys. She has been reading A LOT of the Book of Mormon!!! Which I was super excited about, but then things turned directions and I cried through a lot of that lesson because she was saying how much she disliked the stories in the Book of Mormon and that she couldn't feel the spirit as she read it. My heart BROKE. We kinda got into nice Bible bashing a little as we answered her questions, but I knew she wasn't budging. ARLYS!!! I never thought it would happen. With tears down my face I just did the only thing I could think of... and bore solid testimony that I know the Book of Mormon is true. That I KNOW all those that wrote the book ACTUALLY WROTE IT and that I KNOW this is the only church on the Earth today that holds ALL of Christ's teachings. This is the only true and LIVING church. It was bold and powerful and she couldn't say anything afterwards except for us to pray for her so that she may understand. I cried myself to sleep that night... feeling completely useless...
 
On the bright side, our investigator Jordan came to institute again! He is asking the GREATEST questions. We read the book of Mormon with him outside his home in the rain this week. It's always great to be outside in nature, even if our books get misted on.
 
One of our less-actives is moving in with her boyfriend :/ darn darn...
 
MISSION PREP this week was great! We actually had 7 people there!!! Our dear friend that wasn't talking to us forever came! She was crying every so often as we talked about how through Christ we can be cleansed from sin and they after mission prep, came up to us and expressed how hard it is to be the only member in her family. She cannot talk religion with them AT ALL because it always breaks out in a fight. That is why she goes through the cycle where she comes to church, and then avoids everyone because she can't handle her family accusing her. There was a CES fireside that we went to last night that was meant JUST for her.... Elder Christoffereson talked ALL about how even if our families and friends literally SHUN us for being a part of the Lord's church, we must stand strong. I felt the love that Heavenly Father has for her because of how inspired Elder Christofferesons words were last night <3 She is doing well:)
 
Goldsberry is real funny:) She always refers to me as her "big sister" We had "big sister, little sister" chats this week that were very good, we're really working on things together since it has been REALLY hard lately.
 
Last night she got SUPER dizzy when we were watching the CES fireside and she actually passed out on my shoulder 2 times. She had to get a priesthood blessing and she was shaking uncontrollably really bad.... I didn't know what to do. She figured she was low on natural sugars and so we made her eat a peach... she HATES eating healthy, so it looks like I'm going to have to help her make some changes in her diet.
 
It's been the craziest week.... I hope that the one ahead is going to be a lot better! We have a lot of catching up to do, but I know we can do it.
 
I think the only thing that has gotten me through is the Book of Mormon. Literally. I spent a LOT of time this week thinking about the role that the Book plays in our life. As Jake Taylor said in his talk this week "WE ARE UNDER CONDEMNATION from the Lord for taking the Book of Mormon lightly." I KNOW this is the part of my testimony that has increased the most and fastest since I've been on my mission. As we are reading it, we are marking EVERY time the Lord, our savior is mentioned. HE IS LITERALLY ON EVERY PAGE!!!!!!!!
 
I know these things to be true!! We should all be on page 105 of the Book of Mormon now. Thank goodness for getting through those Ishaiah chapters. Isn't 2 Nephi 25 the BEST way to end the Isiaha chapters??? I love it
 
I LOVE YOU!! THank you for everything!! Sorry I'm running out of time this week.... we have plans to go shopping today! Transfers are this week as well FASTEST transfer ever..... I don't think we're going anywhere. LOVE YOU!!
LOVE, Sister Checketts
 
 

Monday, September 8, 2014

Sky!

Hello my dear family and friends!
 
It was a full moon last night. Now that the nights get darker earlier, I get to appreciate the night sky even more fully.
People here always ask why I love birds so much.... I think it's because they get to soar in the sky. The sky is God's greatest creation on this Earth. While looking at the moon last night, and every other night that I have, you just can't help but feel that there is something greater. That there is someone out there that put you right where you are and that KNOWS you are looking up at Him. "All things denote their is a God". We are lower than the dust of the Earth and we FEEL that when we look at the sky, be it the moon, the stars, the clouds, or the sunsets.... we feel little. But I know that EVERYTHING that the God who created us does every day, is especially for YOU. Because He loves you. The sky is FOR you.
 
My comp is so full of joy... haha she is always so happy, and I do love that about her:) She always makes me listen to her Kidz Bop primary songs.... sometimes I can only handle Teens singing "Popcorn Popping" with the base super pumpin a few times before I need some Brandon Heath in my life. I do love her though:) She made me her perfect pancakes today and we get to go visit one of our potential investigators at a BOOKSTORE today. I love bookstores... <3
 
So this last week was Beyoncé's birthday.... you might ask how a missionary like me would figure that all. All thanks to Elder Tatafu!! The ZL's came to our district meeting this last week and Elder Tatafu is obsessed with Beyoncé. so he made her a cake and we sung Happy Birthday to her. #missionarylyfe
 
Had a sweet miracle this week! So we're teaching this girl named Jordan.. and she lives all the way in Hastings. She is our friend Kylee Wolfe (who is on her mission in Ohio)'s best friend. Jordan is awesome and we were trying everything to get a member to drive with us to hastings so that we could have a member present in our lesson, but ODDLY, no one could go! (usually we can get teamups pretty easily) I was praying on night trying to figure out how Heavenly Father wanted us to go about teaching Jordan and BAM, this thought popped in my head to ask Gary. Now Gary is another less-active member who is going to school in Hastings. I would have NEVER thought of him on my own. But I felt really good about it, so we texted him that night. We had some backup people that could come with us just incase, but I really felt Gary needed to. He finally replied on the morning we were to drive into Hastings saying that he COULD go!!! YAY!!! So we met up with him after our hour drive to Hastings and he was present in our lesson. We focused it on Jordan, but it was SO good for Gary to be there too. And he was able to open up and bear testimony of many things!! I love with the Lord guides us and we clearly see His plan in all that was done. :)
 
Goldsberry and I are still trying to get our teaching down it feels like. We're trying our all sorts of different ways to teach together and it has improved a lot this week:) So that's always a good feeling! She teaches way different than any of my past companions, so it's taken some adjusting for both of us. It's so neat to see so many differences in the people we serve with.
 
Institute started this week for the branch, so we were able to attend that! We actually had 2 investigators attend! David and our OTHER Jordan. (we're worried David has started smoking again... and he hasn't been to church in 5 weeks now...:/) It was a little over their heads, so we were a bit worried, since we're talking about D&C and all... but the fellowshipping with the branch is going good and they seemed to be doing good, just asking lots of questions which is GOOD! Jordan is so prepared.
 
 The Fergusons came to Kearney again to feed us! I love them and they always make me so happy!! (HELLO, STEVE!! I know you are reading this!:):))) Their son is actually going to be coming to the YSA here at the end of October, so yay!! It will be so fun!
 
 We read the Book of Mormon from the beginning with Arlys this week. She was laughing so hard with Laban was killed by his own sword. It was so cute:) She just would read and read and wouldn't stop! It's amazing and her eyes are really being opened more and she understanding more of the things that we've taught her.
 
We also had the Stake Women's conference this week! We had many of our LA Relief Society ladies there, It was fun to have a whole table of YSA RS surrounded by family ward relief society from the whole stake. We had way more show up than they were expecting, so that was fun to see:)
 
Presdient Cammack called and asked me to speak on Sunday on my FAVORITE topic! How the Book of Mormon leads to conversion. I know so much that it does! Those that I've worked with throughout my mission, if they weren't reading the Bok of Mormon, they weren't progressing, and those that truly had an open heart and loved reading the Book of Mormon, are SO much stronger now than they were when I first me them. The Book of Mormon LITERALLY changes us, and we should ALL desire to be changed because none of us are perfect like our Savior, but every day, especially with the Book of Mormon, we have the opportunity to change and become more like Him.
 
We've had lots of members come out with us this week! Had about 2 member present lessons every day, it's the best. It is SOOO important for you member to be involved in the missionaries lives and be involved in our Heavenly Father's work. It's the greatest work to be a part of. Are you sleeping through the restoration??? (from quoting a conference talk, that reminds me, 28 days till conference!!!)
 
We should be on page 70 of the Book of Mormon today:) Keep on Keepin on!!! This book changes lives.
 
I love you all! Thanks for all you support and love!
JUST KEEP SWIMMING!!!! And be sure to look at the Sky and have a grateful heart of all the blessings that have come from our Heavenly Father. many of the blessings from being OBEDIENT on your part! So keep it up:)
 
I love you!
Love, Sister Checketts
 
#MeandNya!! My bestie:) #Teamups!!
 

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

I also got to see Bryan Denkers this week!!!!!

I love that I get to see them now because their family lives in Kearney. These are the members I love so much from my first area in Millard, Omaha

LABOR OF LOVE!

Wow, this week has been INSANELY busy!!!!!
It's been the best:):)
 
Hope y'all had a great LABOR day!! I love being on my mission. THE LORD'S LABOR!!, the true labor of love! "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God...Then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?" (Mosiah 2:17,18). "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy..." (D&C 18:15). "For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee" (Psalms 128:2). " ...but he that gathereth by labour shall increase" (Proverbs 13:11). I know no efforts are wasted!
 
Monday-- we met a cool dude sitting on a bench that was reading the bible. HELLO, if that isn't an obvious sign from Heavenly Father to talk to him! His name is Ben.. he was SUPER interested in the Book of Mormon, but wanted to study on his own. So we gave him the book and a Mormon.org card and he wouldn't give us any of his information. But that is OK!! Seed planter--- that is my title out here:) hah
 
We also met with a LA of ours on Monday- Bernie. She is just really needing so GOOD friends. We gave her a new Book of Mormon and invited her to start over with us. (Speaking of which, I hope y'all are starting over... we should be on page 45 today!!) Bernie came to our FHE that night and we had a good time playing "sticker tag"..... hah.... adults weren't made to play tag. It was humorous.
 
As I was saying my nightly prayers on Monday, Heavenly Father again revealed to me that He is SO aware of me!! At the end of my prayer I was praying for this certain person (with whom I will not name) that I love SO much!!! And I was just conversing with the Lord if I'm doing all that I need to. As SOON as I ended my prayer, the phone rang. The number was under "restricted" so we were a little confused... and I heard this voice on the other end that I had no clue who it was.. they wouldn't tell me who it was either, but they wanted me to take the phone off speaker and speak to me only. I was sooooooo confused.... Turns out that it was that person that I had just finished praying for, saying that she called me because she had a prompting to and just to reassure me that Heavenly Father loves me and that I was doing really good. I was BAWLING!!!! That is the fastest Heavenly Father has ever answered one of my prayers. I will never forget it.
 
We had the chance to talk with a lot of our members and LA's this week about Depression. Something that has taken over A LOT of time in peoples lives that I have been serving and been serving with. Depression is real, folks. And it is scary. But it IS possible to get out of it if you learn to conquer it through the gospel. It's been heartbreaking to see many of those I love encompassed in it this last week and to help reassure them that they DO have the strength to push through. I as well have had to fight it since I've been on my mission- It is a SCARY thing, but never forget that your Heavenly Father is aware of you and will NOT give up on you. Don't give up on yourself and seek the resources you need to fight back!!
 
Again, we were SO BUSY this week.... We taught 8 lessons on Wednesday alone. It's been incredible and this week we received 8 new investigators total! That's like a record in this area! School being back in session helps a TON more that I remembered and these investigators are SO PREPARED!!! I have never felt more faith and hope in someone as I have in some of those we met this week.
 
Megan-- one of our new investigators loves Jesus more than anyone I've ever met. She is always willing to learn about him and share him with EVERYONE she sees, but she jumps from church to church fellowshipping with all different people. She was in a rehab place all summer and now that she is back, she is taking things slow and really starting to figure out her life. Perfect timing and she's allowed us to start teaching her :)
 
Mike is another one we found this week by a MIRACLE. He was out fixing his headlights one morning at 10:30 and we went to help him. He is SUCH a good guy and just figuring out what he wants to do with his life. Turns out that he is the roommate of one of our former investigators that we had lost contact with. MIRACLE!! We gave him Book of Mormon and found him as a new investigator all before 11 am! We had the opportunity to follow up with him this morning and he has already read ALL of 1st Nephi!!! So now he's about at the point that all of us should be at:):) He's so great!!!!!! And him and our former investigators will probably be coming to church this Sunday!
 
We're REALLY working on cleaning out our area book.. it's quite a mess since there are still records from 2007 and YSA age people are constantly moving in and out. So that is a big focus of ours. It's been really good!
 
We worked at Goodwill this week and I met this woman named Doris-- she is older and lost her husband to cancer 3 years ago. She said it has been the most miserable 3 years of her life. I testified that she would see him again and has the opportunity to be sealed with him forever, and she was questioning it.... I asked her if she had ever seen the Mormon temples and she went right to "Oh, I don't believe the Mormon religion is right!" I then told her I was a Mormon and she felt so bad. Her heart softened A LOT by the end of conversation. She wouldn't commit to us coming over again, but she asked for our # and said she's pray about letting us over. Pray for Doris!
 
Then while leaving Goodwill, we had this Spanish guy that doesn't speak ANY English come up to us saying "Christian? Christian??" We said YES!! And through broken English were able to give him a copy of the ONLY Spanish Book of Mormon we had... what are the chances?? #nocoincidences We took one of our members-- Luke out with us to our appointment with this man since Luke just returned home from his Spanish speaking mission to Argentina. MIRACLES!!
 
We got another new investigator, Jordan, who is one of our members- Nya's new co-worker. He has come to a few of our activities and randomly showed up with Nya at mission prep this last week. Since there were only 3 people at mission prep, we turned the lesson into a "member-present" lesson and taught him the Plan of Salvation. He told us that it "just feels right!" And he's now reading the Book of Mormon and taking the lessons. Seriously, it's been a MIRACLE week!! Jordan is on probation for 3 more years, but he's REALLY trying to turn his life around.
 
We helped Arlys with another garage sale this week. We FINALLY met her son Doug and her granddaughter Segrid. They are sooooooo fun! They told us that apparently Arlys has put us in her will.... HAH I love that lady:) She cracks me up!!! It was good to finally meet Doug and answer his questions. Arlys even bought one of Segrid's shirts to give to me... she's the cutest <3
 
Labor day was fun!! We shopped REAL fast and then met up with one of our LA's apparently, another one of our LA's took more sleeping pills than she should have this last week.... SO SAD. But this LA isn't too fond of us missionaries, so we can't really do much to help. But we went to my FAVORITE couples dorm (he works at UNK)-- the Terry's and played a bunch of awesome games with them and the other sisters and elders, then we went to a pet shop to hold a bunch of animals. And that was our Labor day!! Fun stuff:) We got permission from the AP's to call a couple of other sisters to ask them a favor, so I got to talk to my FAVORITE person--- Sister Call!!! SHe's serving in Omaha now and finishes her mission in October. I love her tons. Sister Dumont and I are the best of friends... she has literally changed my life!!
 
 
We just got word that Jose--- one of our LA's has "found another church"..... :( It breaks my heart!!!!!!! he means so much to me and is just being a PILL because he has a hard time with a bishop..... Being dropped is the worst feeling ever.... But I know that it will all work out in the Lord's timing. KEEP GOIN!!!!!!!]
AHHHHHH and we JUST BARELY got word that another one of our LA's... the one who took the sleeping pills and has avoided us for so long... WANTS TO FEED US DINNER THIS WEEK!!!! YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST, FOLKS!!!!! I love her sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much and am so glad she is speaking to us again. SERIOUSLY mission life is a ROLLAR COASTER!!!!! But is SOOOOOO WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 I love missions. I love mission. I love missions!!!!!
 
I know this is the truth! I've had the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ which is found in the true Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints my whole life and my testimony of the gospel has been growing in small incriments every day, every week, every year. I PROMISE you call have this happiness and peace in your life if you take the time to APPLY the gospel and LEARN the gospel yourself. Read the scriptures. Ponder them. APPLY the things that you ponder. DO IT!!! I know this to be true. I love my family more than life itself-- which is a good thing because they are the thing I get to keep with my BEYOND this life!!!! I know it can happen!! I have faith in our new investigators and ask you to pray for them!! Because there is NOTHING greater to witness than seeing the light of the gospel enter into the eyes of those you love.
 
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!! Keep going!! keep Pushing! Never give up!!
 
Love you, Sister Checketts
 
-Ferrets are cool... Jordan Checketts... this picture was for you:)