Kait in Colorado: July 21

Get ready to read about one of the best week's a sister missionary has ever had yo!

Last Monday after emailing I got a call from President telling me I am a STL again. Woot! This time they did it a little differently. My STL comp is Sister Moser, my trainer!!!!!! She is serving in the 7th ward as of last Tuesday and so for exchanges our companions will be together in one of the areas and then we will exchange with the sisters. We cover 7 companionships of sisters in Grand Junction and Fruita. I am super pumped about it, mainly because I love Sister Moser and I get to be with her a little bit in her last six weeks of her mission! On Tuesday we had transfers. I am so excited for a fresh new six weeks to give it everything I've got! Sister Tew went to Denver for her last six weeks for the first time. She's get to go to the temple for the first time in almost 16 months! I am so excited for her. After transfers we ate with the Behrman's. They are the sweetest elderly couple who are just a little lonely.

Kim

We saw Kim on Tuesday with Brother Harrison. All on her own she has cut back on coffee and cigarettes. She really wants to do it. We love her so much an want to do everything we can to help her so on Wednesday morning we got up at 5:40 and went walking with her and her dog to keep her mind off of smoking. She has had a really hard life. Her husband, Rocky, has met with missionaries before so she decided to invite him to see us again. Sadly he said no and we were pretty bummed. On Friday when we went for our lesson we took Brother Beynon, our wml, with us. As we pulled up, ROCKY WAS OUTSIDE! He is never home, except for when the Lord wants him to meet with us. Because he and Brother Beynon started talking, Rocky joined us for the lesson. They bonded over hang-gliding and airplanes. Apparently Brother Beynon is a hang-glider. We had no idea, so that was a nice surprise for our day. Rocky and Sister Rodriguez have a special connection. He kept looking at her saying, "What you got, kid?" Intimidation to the max. But Sister Rod kept saying to the right things! He wants to work towards baptism. The only thing holding him back he said is that he would have to go to church every Sunday and he likes camping. We know as he learns about he gospel again and works toward his goal, he will recognize the blessings that come with church attendance! Kim wanted him to meet with us so badly that she didn't really say much (for fear of saying the wrong thing) but I know she is so grateful to have a partner to work towards her goals with. We are seeing them tonight with Brother and Sister Beynon!

Martha and Stephan

They are on date to be baptized on August 16th. They have a hard time keeping commitments. We first saw them Tuesday of this week. They are in their sixties and have a lot of health problems. Something our mission has been pushing is church tours so we can have more people at church on Sunday. Though we did not plan it, in the lesson we randomly committed them to a church tour on Friday. Though we were both feeling ill on Friday we pushed through it and had a successful church tour with them! My favorite part is always the chapel. The spirit is so strong there. I played a song for them on the piano. Sis Rod said the spirit was incredibly strong. Sometimes it hard for me to feel it while I am focusing on playing. Though they didn't make it to church because of some health problems I know they will make it this week!

MY FIRST REAL-LIFE BAPTISM

So in other news, Carley Nicole Kovacic got baptized!!!!!!! She turned 8 on July 18 and got baptized on the 19th. Though she is only 8 she is still a convert because she is the first member of her family to make these covenants! She was baptized with Brynn Wagner, a friend in the ward who's family has been there for a lot of lessons and for a lot of support. It was adorable! The Elders had a baptism right before at 10 so I played piano for that and then for Carley and Brynn's. All the little girls and Sis Rod sang "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus." It was the best! Actually I think the best part was that a lot of Carley's family came and none of them are members. And it motivated Erin, her mom, to be baptized even more! A huge miracle is that Erin found a job! So now they are more financially stable and can get married so she can be baptized. The baptism was perfect. We had so much ward support and the spirit manifested to all of us that the promises those 2 little girls made with God are real. Carley was confirmed in sacrament meeting the next day by Brother Wagner. Her blessing was beautiful. She is such a special daughter of God. She is a beacon to all those around her, especially in her family! I know our Heavenly Father was so overjoyed that she made those promises with him.

I'm trying to keep myself accountable for the goals I set. I wanted to be more charitable. I've really tried to understand and focus on the love that our Father in Heaven has for each one of us. Sometimes my heart is not very soft. As I have read "the 4th missionary" and the scriptures I have learned that, though I am obedient, my will has not fully been given to the Lord. By being grateful and focusing on the Atonement this week I have better understood the why of all that I am doing. I am so thankful for a Lord and Saviour who will always love me. Sometimes that is hard to remember and comprehend but I know that it is possible through Christ. My perspective of who I am and who I can become is changing. I know more that anything is possible through Christ. I am going to continue to work on the Christ-like attribute of charity because without it I am nothing. I love my mission so much and I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to keep changing and progressing. We ate dinner this week with a family who's less-active son was there. He served a mission but it didn't change him. I've really been thinking about how I can let my mission change me. I don't want to waste any second of these 18 months not only helping others but allowing my experiences to help me progress so I can be a more effective instrument in the Lord's hands.

This week we volunteered at the Palisade Living Center. We talk with old people who don't have very many visitors! One we saw is named Golda Humphreys. We discovered that she is a member of the church and served a mission in the southern states! She is 94 and can't move. When we asked her how she was doing she said, "I'm doing good. At least that's what I keep telling myself and soon it will happen!" Talk about a good attitude!

On Sunday I had the best surprise! The Torrez family from my Denver ward called our church and Elder Merrill was inspired to answer it while we were walking through the hall! They were driving through GJ and wanted to stop and see me! Talk about the best people ever! It was so fun to see Siriah and Brother and Sister Torrez! And I got a picture with them! Woot!

I love my mission and I love the gospel! Jesus Christ's love is real!

Love,

Sista T