December 29, 2014

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior! Christmas here in Enumclaw was great! We spent it with a really sweet family that we love! I loved the gifts from you guys! I definitely felt your love! :) 

This week I am incredibly grateful for my Savior. I know that He lives and that He loves me. I know that He loves each of us and is there whenever we need Him. I know this because the Spirit has spoken to my heart and testified to me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Sister Keele

December 22, 2014

Hello all! I can't believe that this week is already Christmas!!! It's weird to think that it's already been a year since I became a full-time missionary! I have loved this past year so much and I am so grateful for the birth of our Savior and for all that He has done for me. I am so grateful that I can share this wonderful message with so many people! I am truly blessed! 

This week we were able to go on our first exchange of the transfer. I went to Lake Sawyer/Crestwood in Kent (woohoo!) with Sister Frishknecht! This is her 2nd transfer in the mission and so I got to do her training...It was super fun! She is an awesome missionary and just loves the gospel! I learned so much from her! 

We had our Christmas party this week for the mission. President Eaton spoke to us and talked about how in sports, you dedicate a game to someone. He said that when you dedicate a game to someone, you play harder and with all that you have. He then challenged us to "Dedicate our lives to the Savior." When we dedicate our lives to the Savior, we try harder and with all that we have. So that is my invitation to you all this week- dedicate your lives to the Savior. I know that as you do so, you will come to know Him in a way that you never before have. You will find a greater love for Him that you ever have. I know this is true. I know that Jesus Christ is the true gift of Christmas. I love Him and I love my Heavenly Father! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Love, 

Sister Keele

christmas.mormon.org

December 15, 2014

Hey everyone!! How's it going?? Things here in Enumclaw are great! We had both of our ward Christmas parties and they were so much fun! In 3rd ward we did a morning activity where we wrote letters to missionaries and wounded soldiers and did a food drive and blanket drive for the food banks and shelters in the area. One of the families in that ward goes every year to Seattle to the areas where there are a lot of homeless people and they give them blankets and a lunch. This year they collected things for 75 bags. They had a great time and their testimonies were strengthened! In 2nd ward we had dinner and a show! The youth put on a play about the true meaning of Christmas. It was actually a re-enactment of a Mormon Message that I will attach to this email! It was a great evening to get to know people and re-learn the true meaning of Christmas! 

We got a referral this week from someone in the jail here in Enumclaw. We had no idea who we were going to see, we just got a request for a Book of Mormon. We went to the jail, asked for the officer that contacted us and learned that the Book of Mormon was for an inmate. We asked if he wanted to talk with us and he said yes. We were able to meet with this man who has been a member for about a year and a half. It was just one of those times when you knew that his past life had just found him again. I could just tell that he so badly wanted to go back to church and get out of that place. It was a weird, but good experience. 

On a funny note, a goat spit at me this week. I didn't even know goats spit. I knew llamas did, but goats? We were feeding for a member this week while she was out of town and I always love playing with the goat. It's the friendliest goat. Until this week. I walked into the goats area with her hay and the goat just kept head-butting me. I pushed her away and she ran in-between my legs and jumped up. I thought I was going to fall over but luckily caught myself. Then Rennie (the goat) starting hitting her head on the gate like she normally does when she wants to be pet. So I started scratching her head and she spit at me!!! I think she has lost her mind. The whole time this is happening, Sister Collins is just standing there laughing at me! It was the weirdest thing of my life. I got abused by a goat. 

Anyway, this week I just want you all to know how much I love this gospel. I know that it is the only way back to our Heavenly Father! There is an urgency in this! We cannot procrastinate the day of our repentance! We do not know when Christ will come again. But we can be prepared now! We do not want to be like the virgins whose lamps were empty. We want to be the ones that filled their lamps each and every day by praying, reading their scriptures, and serving God. I invite you all this week to do something each day to fill your lamps! If you do so, you will be prepared! I love you all and pray for you each day!!!

Love, 

Sister Keele

http://www.mormonchannel.org/christmas-videos?v=2874125972001

December 13, 2014

This was a little bit of a note she sent to Shelly about getting to stay in Enumclaw. It appear she was excited. :) As her family, we are so thrilled that she loves serving her Savior and the people of Washington. :)

I'M STAYING IN ENUMCLAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D I am so excited!!! I just feel like there is so much more for me to do here! I'm not done here yet and Heavenly Father agrees with me! I am so so so excited and blessed to be able to serve here for another transfer. Enumclaw is now officially my longest area! And Sister Collins will tie with Sister Carlin for my longest companion!  

December 9, 2014

Hello all!!! This week was one of those weeks that you never forget as a missionary! So many things that happened I will have to share with you all after my mission- an email just wouldn't do them justice! 

First off, on Saturday, Angie, Isabell, and Laine were baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don't remember who they are, they are a family I taught while serving in Renton! I was privileged to be able to attend their baptismal service and give the talk on the Holy Ghost! I am so happy for them and so happy that I was able to attend. As I stood by the stairs of the font and watched them be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I couldn't help but cry. They are such a good family and I love them so much! They took the first step towards being an eternal family!!! The sweetest sound I've ever heard, is the sound of water running in the church!

Then, on Saturday, we were also able to host the "Celebrate the Nativity" event in Maple Valley. They do this every year and there are over 600 nativities from all over the world displayed. There are musical numbers going on in the chapel, a live nativity, an art walk, a cookie room, and a photo room where you can dress up as the people in the nativity and have a picture taken. :) Sister Collins and I were hosting in the art walk....it was amazing! The pictures were of Christ's life and at the end of the art walk, there was a replica of the Savior's tomb. I was standing at the end of the art walk and the Spirit there was so strong. This was really the only part of the event that was quiet and so people could feel the Spirit as they walked up to the entrance. By the time they got to the tomb, most people were crying. Some people brought their children, and they made me cry. One of the ladies brought her daughter through and her daughter just sat at the entrance of the tomb and stared. All of a sudden she gasped and said, "MOM! This is where Jesus was! But He's not here because He's alive again!" It was such a sweet and powerful testimony from that little girl. I absolutely loved it! 

This week a member bought both Sister Collins and I 2 pairs of boots because ours were destroyed. It was so kind of them! 

This week I just want to remind you all of the power of the Atonement. It is for everyone! No matter what we do, we will ALWAYS be worthy of it! No matter how many times we slip up, we will still be worthy! It is just about us praying for forgiveness and doing all we can, with the Savior's help, to overcome our weaknesses. 

I love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Keele

December 2, 2014

Hello all!!! This week I am filled with gratitude for the Holy Ghost! This week I had an absolutely amazing experience with the Spirit. It is one of those stories that can only be told in person. If I sent it in an email, it just wouldn't make sense. So, remind me to tell you all about December 1, 2014! 

This week we got a little bit of snow and it was like 20 degrees and the AP's called everyone and said that no one was to be driving or biking. We were all ON FOOT. In the snow and cold? That makes sense....not. So we walked like a mile to a members home and were freezing cold. And for once, their door was locked. Which is weird because their door is ALWAYS unlocked and we ALWAYS just walk in. Apparently they left to go to her brother's house and her son locked the door. He got reprimanded for that. lol. So we walked to the bishops house where his wife made us hot cider (I thought of Brittany) and we were able to warm up. At about noon, the AP's called and took back the ban on the cars. We were so happy! Luckily, we haven't frozen yet! It is getting pretty cold here and it is definitely starting to look a lot like Christmas! Which is weird because that means I have almost been gone a year. I can't believe how fast time is flying by! I love serving a mission!

I know that I am serving a mission for the true church on this earth. I know that Jesus Christ is the head of the church and that it truly is the same church that He established on the earth over 2000 years ago. I know that when we live worthily, we are capable of being led by the Spirit and are, therefore, capable of doing amazing things. I love this gospel and I love having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. I invite you each this week to change something in your lives so that you can have the Holy Ghost with you more fully. I know that you will feel the change immediately! I love you all!!!

Sister Keele

November 24, 2014

Hello! I hope you all have a great week and eat lots of Turkey! :) Remember who gives us all of the things we have to be grateful for! 

This week was a hard one. I have been praying to know what I can do to be a better missionary and for humility. And I sure got it! It's hard to have humility punch you in the face, but it is worth it! And now that I know what needs to change and how I can become even better, there is no where to go, but up! When I got onto the computer this morning, there was a new Mormon Message that really spoke to me. It is called "The Refiner's Fire." It reminded me why we have weeks like the one I had. It depicts a man shaping metal. It reminded me of the scriptures using the word "wrought". Wrought means to shape or form. When we go through these hard times in our lives, it is because we are being shaped into who we need to be, shaped into the disciple God needs us to be. It will be hard, but it will be worth it. I know that we all go through the Refiner's Fire. That is what this life is. I know that sometimes it is painful and we wish it was easier. But I also know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is shaping and molding us into something beautiful. I know that our trials will help us to gain eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father. I know they are for our own good and that with the help of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can endure! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sister Keele