Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy late Thanksgiving, everyone!

Holidays on the mission are literally the best. This Thanksgiving Sister Marsh and I ate three different meals... holy moly it was a lot of food, but a whole lot of fun. We first went to the Sollars home, a part-member family, and we were able to have a lot of non-member exposure. After that, we went to the Hunter's home, and they have THE cutest kids in the world... I love that family, and then that evening, we went to the Marino's home, where we ate a few more bites of deliciousness!

This morning as I was exercising, I was pondering the concept of obedience. I was asking myself if I'd still exercise when I go home, or if I'm just doing it on the mission because it's being obedient. Then I thought "well why is it a rule?" and duh, it's because it helps me take care of my body. All commandments, or guidelines are given to us for a reason, and I love that obedience has been able to really set into my heart on my mission. It is the first law of Heaven, and it's so important. I took it for granted before my mission, and grudged about being obedient sometimes, but now as I've understood the eternal doctrine behind it, I really have a testimony of it.

I'm so thankful for everything the Lord has done for me up to this point in my life. Missionary work would not be easy if it wasn't for the fact that He is in every detail of our lives. I am so thankful for my family, and for the constant support they offer me, and I am so thankful for my companion, and for the people we have to teach, so that I can continuously progress and learn.

tracting and teaching

This week was pretty norm. We were able to pick up three new investigators, and that's always a blast! they seem pretty sincere, and are reading the Book of Mormon, so that's wonderful!

I love the Book of Mormon, and the power that it holds! It has motivating influence to change behavior, and it's a blessing to all those who read it.

Sister Marsh and I laugh so much... basically all the time. We are THE weirdest people when we are together, and if anyone happened to overhear us... they'd be SO confused, because we just don't even make sense. Sometimes I confuse myself... :)

We've been doing a lot of tracting, and I love the concept of teaching immediately, because you can tell who is interested when they open the door, and when they're not. You see hearts soften, and it smacks when they still reject your offer to teach more, but it's all the the Lords timing. My mission has really taught me a lot about that.

It snowed yesterday... not a whole lot.. but it was the first snow of the year. It's getting REAL cold, and I'm in the coldest part of the mission... sometimes I think the Lord has a weird sense of humor. :)

We have a fireside this weekend, all about the Savior, and His life, and we're really excited about it. Kick off to Christmas..

... CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON? Feels like yesterday it was March and I was getting ready to leave for West Virginia.

I feel so blessed to be here. I love these people, and I love this place. 

Love, Sister Kirkby

true power, not just form

Hello everyone!

This week was so good! We got to go to Charleston for a few day, and learn from Elder Kopischke, from the 70. He was a mission president in Germany, and had a lot of wonderful things he shared with us.

About agency he said that we can only teach things that we know, and we can only receive knowledge that we're ready to receive. It was really insightful, and helped us better understand why people reject our message, rather than just assuming it happens, because it happens. He talked about how we need to have power behind what we do, not just form. We can't "go through the motions" and it was a wonderful reminder. When we help people understand the how and what of what we ask them to do, we start to teach true doctrine, and true doctrine is what changes behavior. I was taught a lot about compassion, and that's one thing I want to start praying for more in my missionary work.

Our friend who's on date to be baptized is doing well! We're seeing roadblocks, but it's bound to happen! Satan sure is against us....

I saw all my past companions this last week, and it was so fun!

I love missionary work, and I love all of you! Keep making good choices!

Love, Sister Kirkby

PS all the leaves are gone... does that mean it's time for winter?! NOOO

the good kind of weird

New transfer! New companion! Her name is Sister Marsh, and she's incredible, and super cute and funny! She loves to laugh, and she's the good kind of weird ;) We've seen lots of miracles, and I LOVE this area. I love it so much! I feel very blessed that the Lord is having me stay here for another transfer!

Our friend who is to be baptized at the end of the month is doing INCREDIBLE, and we're hoping to still see her baptism on the 29th. She's struggling to quit smoking, but she's really trying her best, and she's down to 3 or 4 cigs a day, vs a pack and a half a day. she's also down on her coffee! We are in the middle of teaching her the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson, and it's going well. She's so prepared, and so ready, and I know it wasn't by coincidence that we found her. The other day she texted us and told us that before we had found her she had been praying for some guidance and comfort in her life, and then we showed up. It was so cool. We really can be answers to peoples prayers!

This week we get to meet a general authority, Elder Erich W. Kopischke! We'll have a huge mission conference in Charleston! It'll be way awesome! I'll get to see all of my old companions, and I'll get to learn from a servant of the Lord.

Have a good week! Thank you to all the Veterans out there! I love you Grandpa Kirkby (aka Bubba) thanks for serving our country! (as well as my great grandfathers)
Love, Sister Kirkby

Martianaries or Missionators?

This week was crazy long! aka TRANSFER WEEK! The verdict is in, and sad to say, but Sister Erickson will be leaving good ole' Fairmont. I'm really sad, and feel really jipped, because I only got to serve with her for one transfer, but the Lord has a plan. My new companion here in Fairmont will be Sister Marsh. I'll get to meet her tomorrow! So excited, and I've heard so many great things about her!

Halloween was great! We didn't really do anything differently... except for take pictures with these super cute masks my mom sent! It was so fun!

Funny story! Wednesday night (last Wednesday night) we were walking up to a door for an appointment with a lady we've only met once before, and Sis E knocks. After she knocks, you can see a young man, about our age, come to the door, and behind him was another young man. We're thinkin' they're friends of this girl Brittany, or something, so when they open the door, Sis E asks for Brittany. The first boy points to a third boy, who is holding a box of fruit snacks. and says "Yeah! This is Brittany". At this point, we were really confused. She just kinda looks at him (her face was priceless, I'm sure) and he says "No I'm just kidding. We thought you were trick-or-treaters. Do you want some fruit snacks?"......

Okay, number one, it's a Wednesday night. It's not even Halloween.... number two, do we look like trick-or-treaters?! Number three..... it's Wednesday!??!?! Number four.... do you know how tall we are?! do we really look like trick-or-treaters?!?!

oh man. it was hilarious. we just kinda wish them a good night, and walk away. All the way back to our car, all three of them yell down the street "Have a good night! Be safe! Come back!" over and over again. Wish we would have invited them to learn, but we both were speechless, because what are you supposed to do when that happens? We laughed really hard....

We also tracted into a professional baseball player... that was cool! :)

We're seeing a lot of awesome things happen in Fairmont! SO much stuff happened. Fairmont is booming, and we've found some awesome people to teach. One of our friends came to church on Sunday! She came with her kids, and she loved it! We taught her the Word of Wisdom on Monday, and tonight we'll be teaching her a stop-smoking workshop. She's on date to be baptized at the end of this month, and so far we are looking up!!!! :) We picked up a new friend, who just get's it. She understands the need for a restoration, and she's so willing to learn, and to pray. She doesn't have support from her family though, so that'll be a road block. Our ward mission leader has a son who is a non-member, and we started teaching him, and his family.. They're awesome! They also came to church! It was a miracle! they won't be able to come this week, because they're out of town, but next week for sure! We put them on date to be baptized on Jan 17, and I'm sure they'll make it!

I love missionary work!

Thanks for your support!

Love, Sister Kirkby