September 29, 2014

Hello family! Things here in Enumclaw are great! We've had a crazy week, but it all worked out in the end! On Tuesday we went and got bread from a member in one of our wards. She and her husband get bread every other week and give it to the families that are struggling. We picked some up for some people we are working with. That is where we get our bread too. I love that family! They are so fun! The wife is about 57 and has MS pretty badly. It is so touching to see her husband take such good care of her. It reminds me of the Mormon Message, "Enduring Love." We had a pretty good district meeting on Tuesday as well! :) 

This week we helped a family pack up all of their things because they were getting evicted. It was so sad. They didn't know where they were going or what they were going to do with their things. The saddest part of it all, was that they have a 5 year old daughter. As we were leaving their home one day, all I could do was cry. I just felt so terrible that this sweet family was going to end up on the streets. Sister Weldon shared with me that as soon as we had seen them that day, she had this overwhelming feeling that everything was going to work out. I hoped so! Sure enough, the next day, they found a place to stay for the next month while they figure things out. It was another testament to me that Heavenly Father is mindful of us each moment! No matter the circumstances, He is on our side and rooting for us! 

On Saturday we had the pleasure of attending the General Women's Broadcast! It was so good! It is such a pleasure and great gift that we have to hear the words of our leaders! I can't wait for this coming weekend when we will have the wonderful opportunity to hear from a living Prophet and apostles! I hope that you all will take advantage of that wonderful gift that we have been given! 

Have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Keele

September 22, 2014

Hey family! How are things going? I hope well! Things here in Enumclaw are great! My new companion is Sister Weldon and she has been out for 3 months. She is from Mesa, Arizona and she is super sweet! We get along great! And I love my new area! We are covering 2 wards and are white washing one of them. We replaced the Elders and since they didn't write any addresses down, we have been frantically searching for ways to contact the people they were working with. It has definitely been a crazy week! But an amazing one! 

This area is so beautiful and everyone lives on a farm/ranch! Our view of Mt. Rainier is gorgeous! We have so many opportunities to do service here as well! I am loving it!

Last night we had another mission devotional and it was so good! Music, videos, and testimonies are a sure way to get the Spirit in a room quickly! Which brings me to my thought this week. There are so many ways to feel the Spirit. The truth is often referred to as "light." We are all seeking this "light" in our lives. But, much like in Lehi's dream, we often come across "a dark and dreary waste." But darkness is only the absence of light. So when we find ourselves in this "mist of darkness," we only need to diligently seek the light and we will be able to find it. There are many ways to do this. Prayer, scripture study, going to church, and many more. My challenge this week is seek that light in your life more diligently than you have before. You will be able to feel closer to your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I can promise that! 

I love you all so much and pray for you often! Keep working hard and seeking God in your lives!

Love, 

Sister Keele

Clark Lake

Man! This week was so great! Which makes today even harder! I am getting transferred today to Enumclaw. I am excited to go where the Lord needs me, but I am sad to leave behind such amazing people! I have grown and learned so much here in this area and it will always have a huge spot in my heart. Clark Lake is an amazing place!!!!

So this week we did a ton of service! On Wednesday we got to clean some baseball fields for the start of the Little League season. It was so much fun! Our whole zone was there and so we had a blast! The field was actually at a different church here in Kent and the church posted a shout-out to us on their facebook page. It was awesome! We got to share the gospel by serving!

Saturday was also the national day of service. We went to KentLake High School and cleaned it up. The whole zone was there for that too and a ton of the members. The whole stake did several different projects that day and it was a blast! I have learned that I love serving! It is when I am the happiest! That is because when we serve our fellow man, we are serving our God! (Mosiah 2:17) And those who keep the commandments, are happy! (Mosiah 2:41) I love it!!!!

I had to say several good-byes to some people that I really love. It was especially hard to say good-bye to Davina. When I went to see her, she hugged me and just cried. We had a special connection the first time that we met and it was hard to leave her. I really believe that if there was only one person in Clark Lake that I was sent here for, it's Davina. I have loved to see her change and to see her to grow in the gospel. I wish that I could capture the change I have seen in her and show it to everyone. She is living proof that Heavenly Father is real. She is living proof that no matter where you come from, or what has happened in your life, God still loves you. She has been through so much and her faith is still strong and growing. She is an amazing person and I am going to miss her and her family a lot, but I know that we will keep in contact! She can't get rid of me, even if she tried! ;)

This week, I invite all of you to pray for opportunities to share the gospel. We never know who will be interested and who is being prepared to accept it. Don't put limits on God by deciding yourself who will accept! He loves all of His children and wants them all to know! I know that as you do so, you will find success! I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Sister Keele

September 8, 2014

Hello!!! How is everyone doing?? I hope everything at home is going well! Things here in Clark Lake are going great! :) I love serving here! But, I know that anywhere I serve is amazing! I know I was sent to this mission for a reason! I feel at home here! I love it! 

This week I had the opportunity to go on exchanges to Buckley with Sister Wolfe. She was my Sister Training Leader my very first transfer too and I was with her on my very first exchange. It's amazing to see how we both have grown! I love it! AND! I loved Buckley!!! It is a small farming town out near Graham. They have a lot of opportunities to serve and I was so happy to do so while being there! I even built a horse fence! I'm practically a country woman now! :) It was so much fun! I learned so much from Sister Wolfe! She is a very diligent missionary! I am blessed to have such great examples to show me the way! 

This week we had such a great attendance at church! We have been working with a family that was baptized about a year ago up in Seattle and they are going through a really hard time in their lives right now. They were offended by something that happened and so they are hesitant about coming back to church. The father and one of the sons came to church yesterday and the father bore his testimony. It was so humbling to hear him. He basically told the congregation that he has lost his way and pleaded for their help. It was humbling to hear this son of God so down and in a place that he had no where else to turn. It reminded me that no matter where we are in life, it is never too late to come back. It is never past the point of no return. We matter to our Heavenly Father and He loves us. He wants us back. He knows us each by name. His arms are outstretched towards us each day. He is pleading for us to come to Him and seek His help. He is there. He is ALWAYS there. I know that He is. I have felt it and I have seen it. I invite each of you to seek Him in your lives this week. Seek His outstretched arms and run to them. You WILL find them. He WILL heal you. 

I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Keele

September 2, 2014

Aloha family!!! How are you all? Our week here in Kent has been great! Great things are happening! I just love being here and I love the people that I am honored to serve! I never thought that I could love people like this, other than my family. Heavenly Father is truly showing me how to have pure love like His son. It's truly amazing!!!

So my birthday was awesome! The senior sisters in our ward sang to me and it was so sweet! They also gave me some home made chocolate chip cookies. Yummmm. Then President and Sister Eaton called and sang to me. They are basically perfect! I love them! And then Davina told me I had to go over to their house for a few minutes and when we pulled in, her daughters came outside and her 2 year old was holding a present for me. It almost made me cry. Somehow they found out that I love giraffes and so they got me this cute giraffe stuffed animal and a cute singing card! AND they ordered a cake with a giraffe on it. I'll attach pictures! The cake was the best tres leches cake I've ever had! I love that family so much!!!

Back to missionary work! I love being a missionary! Sister Eaton came out with us on Friday and we went to contact a referral we got. We knocked on the door and we asked for the lady we were referred to. She was the one that had opened the door so we talked with her. Sister Eaton was silent the whole time. As we walked away she looked at us and commented on the fact that the woman had not been born a woman and so she had no idea what to say. It was so funny. I was not phased by it at all and just acted like she was another one of God's children.....because she is!!! I love being a missionary!! 

This week I want to end with a story that shows me that ANYONE can be a missionary! When Sister VerHoef first got here, we had dinner with a man that is in his 80's and his daughter who takes care of him. He has had a stroke or two and has other health problems. He doesn't really ever leave the house unless he is going to church or a doctors appointment. He only comes in contact with 1 nonmember. Ever. She is his caregiver that he sees twice a week. That night at dinner he was so excited to tell us that she finally agreed to meet with us! We were able to meet her and have two lessons with her. Although she is not interested, he was successful! He talked to her about the gospel, and then INVITED. This is where our success comes from. It is not in the number of people who get baptized. If that was what our success was measured on, I would not be a successful missionary. But, thankfully, that isn't. No matter how many people we come in contact with each week, we CAN share the gospel! Heavenly Father will bless us in our efforts to invite! 

I love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Keele

August 25, 2014

Hello family!! This week has been a great one! Last Tuesday we had an AWESOME Zone Conference all about being active learners! It was absolutely amazing!! I have learned so much about learning on my mission. I never really realized how important it is to gain knowledge! 

Anyway, I have realized this week how happy I actually am. I was pondering why I was so happy one night and I thought of the scripture, "Wickedness never was happiness." The inverse of that is righteousness is always happiness. As I have come to know my Savior at an even deeper level, I have felt more happiness than I ever have before. This is the feeling I want to share with others. The never ending, true, happiness. It is a happiness that no one can take away from you. It is a lasting happiness. I absolutely love being a missionary! 

On another note, Davina and her 2 daughters came to church again!!! I am so excited for them!!! Also, I wish that you all could see what Sunday mornings are like here in Clark Lake!! You all would laugh so hard! It involves waking people up for church! I would explain, but email just wouldn't do it justice!! 

I love you all so much!!!! Do something this week that will bring you that lasting happiness that comes from the gospel!!! You WILL feel of that happiness! God will bring you that happiness! 

Love, 

Sister Keele