Thursday, May 28, 2015

Lost Dog

Hello west coast! (and anyone else around the world who's reading),

The mission is GREAT! Last week, we were feeling a little (more like a lot) discouraged, but by the end of the week, we had witnessed SO many miracles, it didn't even matter. Sister S always says that the good outweighs the hard, and it's very true. The Lord is very aware of us, and He loves us so much, and WANTS us to succeed.

Last Saturday we had quite the experience, and it was terrifying, but hilarious wrapped into one. We had just approached the door of a less active members house, for a dinner appointment when the very old man who lives there yells at us to "come in! But DON'T LET THE DOGS OUT... DON'T LET THEM OUT" He continues to yell at us about not letting his dogs out as we open the door. Sister S is immediately attacked by four little dogs, and she shoots to the floor in attempt to keep them all contained. In the process, I'm shoving her into the house, so that I can close the door, to avoid the unspeakable. This quick, 10 second ordeal happens, and I walk up the stairs to introduce myself to this man, because I've never met him before. As we're talking, Sister S comes to me, looking a little flustered, and tells me that we should probably take off our shoes by the door, and so I ask the man if he'd like us to take our shoes off. He exclaims that the floor has been peed and vomited on so often by his dogs, that he wouldn't imagine for us to take off our shoes, and Sister S looks like she's about to freak. I give her a look, as if to say "What's you're problem", and she leans in and whispers to me "We let one of the dogs out!".

I'm sure the look on my face was just pure terror.... A million things run through my mind in an instant. I'm trying to think of how we're supposed to tell this man we let one of his dogs out, or a way to create an excuse to go outside, while I simultaneously ask her what in the craycray she wants me to do about it?? We sit down at the table, because this man is ushering us towards our seats, and we're both in a panic. Sister S looks like a stone statue, and I'm still trying to figure out how to get outside to find this poor puppy. Suddenly I remember that we left the phone out in the car, so I apologize to the brother, and explain that we "left our phone outside, and we're expecting a call, so we're going to go grab it real quick". Sister S and I leap from our seats, and bolt out the door. We step outside and this dog is NO WHERE TO BE SEEN, and I thought Sister S was going to punch a wall. As we walk around the corner, we see it, just hanging out by a bush, and Sister S runs to catch that little dog. As she picks it up, (it's maybe 40lbs), she struggles towards me, and thrusts it into my arms, claiming it's "too heavy". We run inside the home, and I throw the dog inside, hoping that the man won't see that I've just come inside with his dog in my arms.

We walk back up the stairs, a little winded, and SO RELIEVED we found this mans dog alive, and not squished on the side of the road. Throughout the rest of dinner, we were trying so so hard not to bust out laughing at the whole situation, and as soon as the doors to our car closed, we laughed so hard... for a good 10 minutes.

Thank goodness we found that mans dog, because this story would end up much less funny if we hadn't. MIRACLES ARE REAL

Thanks for all of your support, and keep sharing the gospel with those around you! I love you!
Love, Sister Kirkby

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

First Transfer Period DOWN!




Can you believe that I've already been on the mish for one transfer? Yeah, I can't either!
The Ripley area is doing GREAT. We're working hard, and feeling our Heavenly Fathers love every day. Without the Spirit we are nothing, and we must rely on His guidance to help us become effective missionaries. This past Sunday was stake conference, and I really loved what one of the speakers had said. "If we apply basic doctrine (prayer, scripture reading, going to church) our Savior will fill in our weaknesses." I've been also studying my copy of the general conference edition of the Ensign like crazy. Last night I was reading Elder Bednar's talk about fear, and I found what he had said about the Atonement to be really applicable to my companion and me. "The power of the Atonement makes repentance possible and quells the despair caused by sin; it also strengthens us to see, do, and become good in ways we could NEVER recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity." We are limited without the Atonement, and as we apply it in our lives, we will be one small step closer to become like our Savior. We will be able to recognize our weaknesses, and repent and change to become as perfect as we can be.

Someone told Sister Sorensen and I a really funny Mormon joke this past week:
How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb?
Six. One to change it, and five others to bring refreshments.
We laughed really hard.

Thanks for all of your support and love! I miss you all, and I hope you're all able to recognize the tender mercies in your everyday lives! The Lord loves you!
Love, Sister Kirkby

Monday, May 11, 2015

Happy Mothers Day!

Hello y'all!

Sorry I don't have anything too exciting to report on for this week. It was just kind of a normal, every day missionary kind of week with teaching and finding and learning. Sister Sorensen is still just the greatest ever, and I love her more and more every day.

A few fun facts about my trainer:
1. She is a vegetarian
2. She has an adopted little brother
3. She loves cats, and wants to take them all home with us.
4.She likes to be the big sister, which makes me a little crazy ;)
5. She is the PERFECT trainer for me

Yesterday was Mothers Day, so HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all you amazing moms out there. Being a mom isn't easy, and so you get the gold star for doing what you do. I got to talk to my family last night, and it was so great to see them all! Jainna and Vannah are already growing up too fast (okay maybe not... it's been a month) and I miss my best friend (aka Hannah) like crazy. I loved talking with my mom, and answering all her questions, and after we got off the Skype call, all I could do is think about how I could just sit there and talk to all of them for hours. Oh how I miss them!
God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be.

I love you all!
Love, Sister Kirkby

P.S. oh yeah, this morning we had quite the adventure. Sister S found a tick in her hair, really holding tight to her head, and I had to tear it out with some tweezers. Pray for me that I wont get one...UCK



Monday, May 4, 2015

Missionary Heartbreak



Happy Monday to you all!

This week was a little rough, but the mish is still the best thing that's every happened to me. The amount of reliability we need to put on the Lord is unmistakably the most I've ever put in Him, in all situations!

A couple of email's ago, I mentioned an investigator we've been teaching, named Mike. This guy is seriously THE BEST. Willing to commit to anything, and really just wanting to change his life from what it used to be. He's done some REALLY bad things in his life, and has turned to God, in the time of need, and really applied the Atonement in his life. Last Thursday he had a final court date, of a 13 month long process, in which would determine if he'd go to prison or not. Because Mike has been so good, staying out of trouble, and really turning towards God, we thought the judge would see that, and show a little mercy. Mike had promised that once he get's out of court, he'd give us a call, so that we knew everything was okay, but that morning we never got a call, and we just knew he went to prison. We went to visit his mom that afternoon, and that's when she told us that he's been sentenced 1-5 years depending on behavior. For those who have never been on a mission, losing an investigator is the worst heartbreak you could experience.... seriously just soul crushing, but we know that the Lord has a plan for him, and we wholeheartedly believe that Mike will be an amazing missionary in prison, teaching people about the Atonement, and the Book of Mormon. He called us the other day, and we got to talk to him for a little bit, and we've also sent missionaries to go visit him while he's in jail.

The rest of our week was pretty okay, and we have a baptism planned! Our investigator, named Lisa, is preparing for baptism at the end of this month, and we are STOKED. We still have a lot to teach her, but she know's that the Book of Mormon is true, and just loves the gospel. She is ELECT.


You are all in my thoughts and prayers, and I love you all!
Don't forget to send me mail!
Love, Sister Kirkby