December 27, 2013

Yellow!!! This week has been great! Elder Bednar came and spoke to us on Christmas!! It was wonderful being in the presence of an apostle of the Lord. The spirit became so much stronger by him just walking into the room. He did something really cool with us! He passed out around 200 cell phones and gave us the opportunity to ask him any questions we wanted. Of course, he didn't have time to answer all of them because there were so many of us and the international MTC's were emailing in questions. 

The first question he answered was, "Why do I feel so inadequate?" His answer was along the lines of, "Because you have at least some idea of what you have been called to do." It really made an impact on how I see this work. I am a representative of Jesus Christ. The Saviour of the world. I feel inadequate, because I am. Elder Bednar went on to say, "I know that I do not have what it takes to be one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. But, with His help, I can." We are not able to this work by ourselves. And that is where the atonement comes in. The atonement not only has the power to cleanse us, but it has the power to strengthen us. I have learned this week that Christ died for all of us, but if it was just me He needed to die for, He would have. And I know that He would do the same for each of you and I promise that if you seek His divine help, you will find it and you will be blessed. 

I hear so many languages here at the MTC! The floor that my classroom is on (where I spend all of my time) is all Portuguese....go figure. So I hear people speak it ALL the time. The elders and sisters speak to us in whatever language they are learning. I have heard some pretty cool languages.

I got my travel itinerary for when we fly to Seattle. It made it a little more real that in a week and a half, I LEAVE THE MTC. What am I supposed to do without Sister Simmons and Sister Copen? lol. They are so great. I learn so much from them everyday. Their testimonies are so strong and they help me to be a better disciple of Christ. We have gotten a lot closer this past week. It is so great. One day we were walking to class after eating and Sister Simmons said, "I'm unusually large right now." to which I replied, "I'm usually large." and we all just started cracking up. I know it's not funny to you guys, but it was hilarious in the moment. 

January 8, 2014

I'm finally in Washington!!! It is SOOO pretty here! I got here and it was cloudy and rainy...my favorite weather!! My mission president and his wife are fantastic! My first area is in Renton and I'm in the Tiffany Park Ward. It is so great! I can't believe that I'm here! It is so amazing to see the hand of God in everything I do. My trainer's name is Sister Carlin. She is absolutely amazing. She always has something nice to say to me and she knows so much. She isn't afraid to just talk to anyone she sees. I know that I'm going to learn so much from her. Last night we went to see a part member family and the Spirit there was so strong! We also went knocking for a little bit and met a really wonderful lady named Victoria. I can't wait to continue to do this EVERY DAY for the next 18 months!!!!! I love you all! Keep being the amazing people that you are!!! And always remember that our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can comprehend!!

January 13, 2014

Hello family!!

First off, being a missionary is absolutely fantastic. I love it!!! Second, I see so many miracles EVERY DAY and every minute. I absolutely love it!!! I feel like I have so much to tell you guys, but not nearly enough time! So one day this week, Sister Carlin and I were having a rough day. All of our appointments fell through and none of our backups were home. So we decided to go see a former investigator that the elders a few transfers ago met. On the way to his house we saw a car with the trunk wide open and so we went and knocked on the door. A lady opened the door and yelled for her son to go take care of it. Come to find out, She was a preacher but her son was SUPER interested in reading the Book of Mormon and there would have been no other way to talk to him without his mom there. It was such a miracle. THEN, we were on our way somewhere else and what do you know?! THERE WAS ANOTHER TRUNK OPEN!!! Sister Carlin and I were shocked...God definitely has a sense of humor! We were able to talk to that man too! And he actually has family that is LDS! So crazy!! It made our day.

Then, a few days ago we met a girl and set up a return appointment with her. We were super excited because she seemed to have a lot of potential. But, we went to her apartment yesterday and she wasn't there. Bummer. So we started knocking on doors around her. We met Murphy, who practically bore his testimony to us about Joseph Smith. It was fantastic!! The sad part is, we can't teach him because he's a male. So we have to give him to the elders :( sad day!!!

I don't have much time to write but just know that I love all of you! and that I pray for your safety and happiness every day!! I know that Heavenly Father loves each of you and that He looks out for us, no matter what choices we have made in our lives! Even if we're not sure that He even exists!! He loves us more than we can imagine!!!

I love you all!

Sister Keele

January 16, 2014
Breanne is doing very well in Washington. She arrived on January 7, 2014 and reports that she loves the rainy weather and the work she is engaged in. She has a lovely two bedroom apartment with a fireplace, large living room and a washer and dryer. Lucky girl!
Unlike most areas, the ward members only feed the missionaries on Sunday and Mondays. They cook in the rest of the week.
I will post her latest email soon.
Shelly

MTC Mailing Address!!!

I enter the MTC in 6 days!! I am so excited!! I got an email tonight from the MTC Presidency with my mailing address while I am there! So, here it is!!!

Sister Breanne Keele

JAN07 WA-FDW

2009 N 900 E Unit 176

Provo UT 84602

I would love to get letters from any and all of you! I am so excited about being able to serve my Heavenly Father for the next 18 months and I know that I have good friends and family who love and support me! Thank you so much for that!!

I love you guys!!!

Doctrine and Covenants 121:9 "Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands."

16 Days...

Well...there are only 16 more days until I enter the MTC and become a full-time missionary for my Heavenly Father and for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...oh the feels...This is one of the most stressful times in my life but I am so excited! I have all of my clothes, supplies, and everything else I need! Does that mean that I am ready to go? Absolutely not!! haha! I still have to get 2 shots, which I am doing tomorrow, and I have to pack up everything I own and put it in boxes where it will live for the next year and a half! I also have to pack my suitcases that I am taking with me. I think that's all I have left to do, but it feels like I have so much more than that! I feel like there are a million things left to do and no time to do them in! Oh! I have to write my farewell talk as well. That shouldn't be too difficult though...as soon as I figure out what I'm going to speak about. haha. Preparing for the mission has been the most spiritually uplifting thing I have ever done. But, I have felt Satan working on me the whole time. He is constantly trying to get me to fall away and he is working on my family as well. It is hard. But it is so worth it! This gospel is the greatest thing on this earth and it brings so much happiness! I cannot wait to teach the people of Washington Federal Way about the happiness they can have! I can't wait to see the changes in myself and in other people! Some of my returned missionary friends have said that the mission was "the hardest thing [they] ever loved." I truly feel like that is what it is going to be like. I cannot wait!!! 16 more days until the adventure begins! 16 more days until I devote my WHOLE life and ALL of my time to serving the Lord!!! ahhh!!!!! I seriously cannot wait!!! 

Update...

So, it's been a while since I posted here...a lot has happened. Firstly, I got my mission call....I'm going to be serving in the Washington Federal Way Mission!!! Federal Way is south of Seattle....I'm so excited!!! Second...I got to go to the temple!! What an amazing experience!! I absolutely love the temple, and cannot wait to go again!! The temple is truly a place where the Lord resides. The spirit there is so special and cannot accurately be explained!! It is so amazing!!

I report to the MTC on December 18th....so I only have 3 weeks to go! What a crazy thought!! Only 3 weeks until I will be a full time missionary for the Lord!! So crazy!! But so exciting!!!

I'm almost ready...I have a few more things to get taken care of before I leave, but nothing too big. I am so excited I can't stand it!! This is going to be the best 18 months of my life! I know that it will be hard, but I am so ready for it. I can do anything if I just trust in my Heavenly Father!!!