Went to the Beautiful Kansas City Temple

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was another kind of odd week, but it was also a week for a lot of learning and growth! 

On Wednesday we had zone training in Salina with President Bell and the AP's. The coolest and most notable experience was the incredible reenactment of Lehi's Dream. I was one of 7 missionaries who were selected to go though the course. They had the lights off and just one door open in the gym of the church. Those of us who went though were blindfolded and had to hold onto a rope that ran throughout the gym going under blackboards and tables, over chairs, and through many people who were yelling at us to give up, that it wasn't worth it, that they were disappointed in us, etc. It was so powerful for all of us, those of us that went though and those who just watched from the side. The point of the experience was to help us better related to our investigators and how they feel as they progress to baptism and even after as they continue to face the challenges and consequences that have come from being baptized. For me the hardest part was discerning who was the right voice when I first walked into the room and was surrounded by the sound of three different people trying to tell me where to go. Crawling under things in a skirt and trying to hold onto the rope at the same time also proved to be and extra challenge. It really was an eye opening experience! 

The other amazing experience from the week was going to the temple. This was one of the most spiritual experiences I have had in the temple. It really made me see why it is a commandment to go to the temple as often as you can. It really does make such a huge difference in our relationship and growth with Heavenly Father! I don't think I will ever forget turning the corner in the beautiful green state of Missouri and seeing the beautiful Kansas City Temple right there in front of us, a true beacon of light and God's love! I wish we were able to go more often, but I am just grateful that I was able to go this past week. So my challenge to you all is if you haven't been to the temple in the month of August, and are able to go... GO! It is one of the best things you can do! If you can't go quite yet, set a goal to be able to make it there as soon as possible. It is worth everything you have to go through to make it there, I promise it is! Whether it is sacrificing a bit of your time and money to go, or sacrificing some of your pride and being willing to make the changes you need to be able to go. Make it a goal to be in those sacred places as soon as you can! Words cannot explain the power and experiences that are to be had within those walls! 

Love you all so much! 

     Sister Blood

Kansas City Temple

At the Kansas City Temple

Sister McCarrick and Sister Blood

Elder Chun... master photo taker/ poser... ground style

The Elders writing a rap on the way home

Followed My Mothers Advice!

Dear Family and Friends,

I got a wonderful letter from my mother this week reminding me how important it is to put more effort into my letters... so I am writing this first so hopefully you will get more out of me this week!

This week was a bit... odd. I got sick for a few days of it, which was tragic. Being sick on a mission is an odd thing, especially because after you get better everyone in the ward seems to have know you were sick and asks if you are feeling better, well at least we know that we are loved! 

So on Friday, I got to go to my first zone meeting in Manhattan, which was cool, but it was kind of strange too, because it was noticeably smaller in number than the Derby zone meetings. We had an AMAZING training on depression and discouragement and how it is important to recognize when you are actually struggling from a lack of conversion and when you are actually just struggling with depression. I took some amazing notes that I really wanted to share but... I forgot them at the apartment. So I will try to just paraphrase a few of the key things that I remember. The member who gave the training pointed out that even prophets struggle with depression sometimes. In 2 Nephi 4 :17, 26 &27 you can feel how Nephi struggled with feeling  worthless, more than he really was. We may struggle with being down and hard on ourselves, but it doesn't mean we aren't converted. 

One of the biggest things I have come to realize this week is how much I have grown as a person. I don't feel like I am even close to the person I was when I came out 6 months ago, or who I was a year ago. It really is amazing how much a mission and different experiences can cause you to really grow up. We had exchanges with the STL's this week which was sweet! I got to go to Salina with Sister Roqumore, who is a totally awesome missionary! We had some really cool street contacts and lessons. After talking to a guy on a corner for a few minutes we were walking back to our car and someone opened their third story window and yelled down at us "No one like Baptists!" "Were not Baptist" Sister Roqumore said back but he had already slammed the window. A few moments later he opened it again and yelled "I believe in Jesus Christ; my Jesus Christ isn't the same as your Jesus Christ!" and slammed the window again. People are funny, and this statement always makes me smile since we know more about Jesus Christ and who he is than any other group of people. We really are very lucky and blessed to have this knowledge in our lives! 

Oh and my other crazy awesome moment from yesterday was glancing thought a Feb 2014 New Era and seeing a group of people in a situation I recognized well. https://www.lds.org/new-era/2014/02/let-your-music-speak?lang=eng  Scroll down to the "Big-Band Alternatives" section and you will see what go me so excited. I was so excited I told the members by me, "I know these kids! This is my High School, I know this story!" I remember when the girl who submitted the story talked about the fact it got submitted and I happened to come across it randomly yesterday. It was a fun moment. 

The really exciting part about the upcoming week is that WE GET TO GO TO THE KANSAS CITY TEMPLE ON FRIDAY!!! I can't believe the week is already here that I get to go to the temple. This is better than Christmas in my missionary temple deprived opinion. Moral of the story, if you have a temple close to you, use it; because there are lots of missionaries who wish they could go to the temple and can't. 

Love,

     Sister Blood

The chalk wall of names is in the STL's apartment, I got to sign, it was totally legit! 

Sister Blood, Up Close

Sister McCerrick & Sister Blood

Last week we  got pedicures with Sister Medina as at attempt to relax. I didn't find it all that enjoyable. But hey   at least now I can say I have tried it! 

Sorry this is going to be super, super short!

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry this is going to be super super short. This week was great, we found a lot of new people, seven to be exact. None came to church which was a bummer, but we won't give up quite yet! I am loving being in Junction City, and I love having Sister McCerrick for a companion. That's all for this week, sorry!

Love

Sister Blood

Sister Blood & Sister McCerrick

Thought you might enjoy, We found Noah's Ark in Mitford Kansas. 

"I love parks, they have the coolest things like teeter totters, and the 'spinning metal platforms'".Sister Blood

"you mean merry-go-rounds?" Sister Fider

"Ya!" Sister Blood

(Laughing) "Sister Blood you are too smart for your own good... Your like Sheldon!" Sister Fider

(Big Bang Theory reference for any of you who are non-geeks :) )

 (Note:  Since Katelyn's letter was super,super short, I thought I would add this experience our family had at the Ogden Temple open house.  
Our family were directed to a room  showing us an introductory message about temples and why  temples are important to our church.   A sister missionary stood up and said, "I am Sister Katich", a light bulb went off inside my brain remembering that Katelyn said, while at the Ogden Open house to keep an eye out for a Sister Katich. She was in her district while at the Provo MTC. She reminded her of her niece,  Tess in looks and mannerisms.  After the short film I went up to Sister Katich while everyone was filing at out and ask her if she remembered Sister Blood from the MTC. She excitedly said, as her face lit up with a big smile, "she was in my district, and I loved her."   She was so excited to meet me.  After going through the temple we were taking pictures, Sister Katich was outside the temple taking a break, so I was able to talk to her a bit longer.  She mentioned that she was serving in Syracuse and is loving her mission. She told me how Katelyn was so smart in the MTC and seemed to know all the answers. It was fun talking to her. She said that they cover two stakes,  which includes 21 wards,  how different than where Katelyn is serving  two wards.  I felt like it was a tender mercy to have this experience.

Sister Katich & Sister Haws

Junction City All the WAY!

Dear Family and Friends,

Well it actually happened, I am in the Flinted Hills in Junction City; and guess what, I GOT TO DRIVE HERE! My new companion Sister McCerrick doesn't have driving privileges yet since she just finished training so I get to be the designated driver! I am excited to be able to drive again, thought it was kind of nerve racking since it's been 6 months since I last drove. I felt like a new driver all over again. I can't even imagine what it's like for guys who don't drive for 2 years!

Junction City is so cool. All the the main streets have tons of old buildings and it has a really cool small town charm. It is cool being in another area with a military base in it. Fort Riley Army Base to be exact, which is referred to as "post" just so you know and don't get confused in later letters. There really wasn't too much to write about for this week other than I am in a new area, there are HILLS here, and I don't know very many people yet. I already am completely in love with the area here. It is very different being away from the mission office and only being around 6 missionaries and a senior couple instead of the usual 30+ I would see at least once a week. But I know it is going to be awesome here!

Sister McCerrick is really really cool and I am so lucky and excited to be her companion. Sorry I forgot to take a picture for you, guess you just get to wait and try to imagine what she looks like! 

Love Sister Blood :)

Oh ya, in case you want to write me. or google earth stock me... ;)

104 west 4th St. Apt. 103 

Junction City, KS 66441

(Added Note:  This message she set to me, and I thought you might be interested.  I listened to the talk and it is amazing and so worth the time.)

"Do you know the talk "Faith of a Child"? It is from 1975 by pres Monson. It is famous because he directed it to a young girl sitting in the balcony and followed the prompting to speak by the spirit instead of his written talk. The Methvin family, Jack and Nancy, and one of their sons and his family live in our ward. We got to go to their home this week for dinner which took over an hour to get to 16 miles of which was on dirt roads. They are ranchers, so real cowboys, and I have never felt such a strong Christ centered spirit before in anyone's home until I walked into theirs. It felt as if Satan was miles away unable to enter their property because of how gospel centered their home is. I had no idea a home could have a spirit like that!"

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1975/10/the-faith-of-a-child?lang=eng

The sign is at a church just down the street from the Harrison Park apartment and I finally got a picture,
 like I have wanted to for the last 6 months

Sister Murphy and I after the transfer meeting before we switched to our new companions

                               Junction City! 

Laura's Baptism was Amazing

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Today is bitter-sweet. I am getting transferred away from my "home" of Harrison Park in Wichita/Derby and am going to Junction City in the Manhattan Zone. My new companion is Sister McCarrick, yup that's right another "Mc" companion!

 

Laura's Baptism on Saturday was amazing to say the least! It was so humbling to see her struggle down the font steps with the help of TWO priesthood holders (Brother Dodds and Brother Hamilton) trembling and shaking but she made it! We were so worried she would slip or fall but she made it.  When we asked her after what it was like, she said that as soon as she heard the words "in the name of the Father..." she was surrounded by a great warmth and it completely engulfed her even as she was submerged into the cool water, all she felt was warm. She was smiling from ear to ear all day and it looked as if she had sunlight coming out of her she was so happy to be baptized. Her daughter was able to come, and she told us that if Laura hadn't gotten sick three weeks ago and had been able to go to church when we originally planned so we wouldn't have had to push the baptism back a week; she wouldn't have been able to come to the baptism because she had a emergency come up that took her out of town last weekend. WOW Heavenly Father really is very aware of this sweet family!

One of the best parts of the baptism program for me was being able to play my viola for it! Brother Favre' went back to Utah last week and agreed to bring my viola back with him. It was amazing to be able to play again (even though my fingers hurt because I had lost my calluses). Sister Ozbun agreed the night before to play with us. So somehow she on her flute and me on the Viola managed in one hour of practice Friday night to take the solo line from the arrangement of "Abide with Me" Sister Murphy had, into a duet. I have never been so guided when it come to altering music. Add into the mix the part was written for Violin so I was having to transpose into a different clef and at some parts transpose it down an octave. I haven't played in 8 months and the fact it came back so easily I know was a tender mercy of the Lord! When we played at the baptism it was beautiful, there weren't any mistakes that I could tell and it brought such a strong spirit I can't even begin to explain how it felt, other than the fact I knew I was being helped and I we really nervous. There were quite a few after that thanked us for how beautiful it was and I think were shocked to hear we had only put in maybe 2 hours total or so practicing before we played at the baptism. I am grateful for the gift of music I have been given along with Sister Murphy's piano skills, and Sister Ozbun's flute skills, music can bring such a strong spirit with it!

 

Funny note of the week. I didn't eat lunch yesterday and so before church started I was so hungry I seriously felt sick and was wondering how I was going to make it 6 hours before we were going to eat dinner. Then Carlos one of our awesome ward missionaries handed me a box of cheerios while we were talking before church. I called it manna from heaven and opened the box right then. Brother Dodds a councilor in the bishopric, and Sister Murphy gave me a really hard time for it. Well at least I left a funny memory behind my last Sunday in the Harrison Park ward... Sister Blood walking around with a box of chocolate cheerios... "ya do what'cha can!"

 

Love you all SO much

Sister Blood

Brother Hamilton, Brother Dobbs, Sister Blood, Sister Murphy
Laura

Brother & Sister Field, Sister Murphy, Sister Blood, Sandra (Laura's daughter)
Laura

Laura's Baptismal Program

                        

                  Sister Blood walking around with a box of chocolate cheerios... "ya do what'cha can!"

Sister Murphy went back when I went forward and I ended up biting the back of her head. OW!
 The picture captured it right after it happened.

Laura's Baptism Scheduled for Saturday

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Happy Mid July! Is anyone else super confused about how it is the middle of July already? Where in the world has time gone?

Happy Day yesterday, LAURA WAS AT CHURCH! This is so exciting for me especially because it means that she will be getting baptized this Saturday! The best part about that is it is the last Saturday of this transfer, which means I will be at her baptism! I feel so blessed to have been able to find her and work with her all of the way to baptism, there really is nothing quite like seeing someone change like that!

We have TWO new families that both show a lot of potential, especially a Mom and Daughter we found on Friday and then taught on Saturday. The daughter is 14 and wants to be close to God more than anything. About 6 months ago out of the blue she told her mom she needed to be going to church and was baptized at their church. She is really excited to be learning from us and has been writing down all of the questions so she can ask us. She did the reading we left her and was really excited to have us come back again! We get to go teach them again on Tuesday. When we asked them if they would be baptized if they came to know this was true through prayer, she said of course. When her mom was a bit more hesitant at the thought, she said that she knew if this was what God wanted this was the way she had to go! They are both on date for baptism in August!

 

Love you all,

Sister Blood

LAURA CAME TO CHURCH!

Dear Family and Friends,

I really shouldn't save my group email until the end, it makes it really hard to make sure I have enough time to get all of my thoughts in order. Well really there is one overall even this week that sums up everything... LAURA CAME TO CHURCH! She actually made it this week after 4 months of working with her she came! She said she is excited to come next week and be baptized the week after on July 19! July 19 may just be the best day of my life, at least so far. She has gone 11 days now without smoking and as she puts in the blessing she got really worked because she is not "climbing the walls" as she feels the withdrawal from nicotine. Best part about when she gets baptized is we will need some addition priesthood holders to help baptize her since she has a very crippled spine. She is awesome and I am so excited to see how much she has changed since I met her.

The Gospel really is true and if it wouldn't we wouldn't have had the people come into the fold at the rate we do. Miracles happen which is why our mission will reach our goal this month of 75 baptisms in July! Keep us in your prayers that we can find and help all 75 of the children of God we are supposed to this month. It's going to be amazing!

Oh and Sister Murphy decided we had had enough of Satan getting us down, so at the beginning of the week she made a sign and posted it on the wall. Needless to say this week was awesome and I don't go a day without remembering I can have the power to not let Satan get to me! Sometimes it is hard but that is why Heavenly Father gives us missionaries amazing support systems like parents and good friends to give us the words we need to hear to get up "kick Satan in the knees" and get moving forward. So thank you Mom, Carie, and Matt for your words and advice I cannot explain how much they helped me this week!

Love you all!

Sister Blood

P.S. Derby Zone is Da Bomb!

  Sister Murphy decided we had had enough of Satan getting us down,
so at the beginning of the week she made a sign and posted it on the wall.