Easter 2016!

Hello everyone! Happy Easter! I hope everyone had time to reflect on

what our Savior has done for us. He sure is amazing, and I love Him so

much.

Our friend, who has been to church the last two weeks dropped us on

Monday. I'm pretty sure it's because we were asking him to do hard

things, and he has this sense of laziness about him, and I don't think

he was ready for commitment. I know one day he'll realize the

blessings that come from knowing who Jesus Christ is.

I went on exchanges with Sister Cook to an area called Back Creek, and

I was able to be the most bold I've ever been on my mission with a man

they're teaching. I literally told him that he needed to repent, and

it was all lead by the Spirit, and it was the most neat experience,

because it was the most prominent time on my mission that I've

literally felt the Spirit bring words to my mouth. It wasn't me that

was coming up with the things to say, that's for sure.

We visited a less active member who has been progressing slowly but

surely, and I got to hold her pet snake.

Our Baptist friends are still really bible bashy, and I thought we

were going to drop them this last week, but Sister Ward thinks we

should keep trying. I have a really hard time feeling the Spirit when

in their home, because of the contention that comes from them, but I

guess we'll keep trying, and hopefully the Spirit will soften their

hearts.

We're working with a part member family from Mexico, and their

daughter is getting baptized next month. She's 9, and SO CUTE. We had

dinner over at their home, and  basically I  love Mexican food. They

came to church too, for the first time since I've been here, so I was

happy about that.

The two investigators that we found last week have dropped us,

sadly... they're "comfortable with where they're at". "There's no

growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone."

oh, and I have a funny dog story. So Sister Ward is terrified of dogs,

unfortunately, since everyone and their dog has a pet dog. But the

other night, when we got home, we took some things inside, and then

had to come back out, because there were some things in the trunk we

had to get. Sister Ward steps outside first, and right at our door

step is the really cute, nice looking dog, and she FREAKS, and runs

back inside. I thought a murderer was at our door, and saw that it was

just a dog, so I step out to go get the stuff in the trunk. The dog

follows me to the back of the car, and when I open the trunk, the dog

hops right in, and doesn't come out. We tried EVERYTHING to get that

dog out, but it had no collar, and I couldn't grab it, because I

didn't want it to bite me. We even tried feeding it ham, but it

wouldn't come out. After about 15 mins, their owner came around, and

summoned her out, and we actually found a new potential investigator

out of it, so that was really cool. We're going to see him tonight.

All in all, lots of things are happening here, and I know that the

Lord works with us in the vineyard. I love this gospel, and I love the

assurance that He is in EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of our lives, and He leads

those details. If we chose to follow and serve Him, then we will see

His hand directing us. Christ is the only way back to our Heavenly

Father, and opposition is so important in this life. ALWAYS rely on

the Lord, and it will all work out.

"Rise to the great potential within you. I do not ask that you reach

beyond your capacity. I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts

of failure. I hope you will not try to set goals far beyond your

capacity to achieve. I hope you will simply do what you can do in the

best way you know how. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to

pass." --President Gordon B. Hinckley

Have a great week!

Love, Sister Kirkby

Fear of Water

WOW SO MUCH IS HAPPENING IN ROANOKE, AND IT'S SUCH A BLESSING. I love missionary work! and I love Sister Ward! We've been able to get along really well, and open up over the last week.

We met a few bible bashers yesterday, so that was great. One was a man who is Seventh-day Adventist, and he just wanted to preach at us and tell us that the Sabbath is on Saturday, not Sunday, and that the Mark of the Beast is going to be upon us if we continue to worship on Sunday. He did it out of sincere concern for us, but it was still awkward, and kinda funny. We tried to put in our two cents about the BOM, but he wouldn't listen, so we just left abruptly. 

Another is a family we're working with. She's a lot more willing to learn, and has a more of a soft heart than he has. They're Baptist, and HUGE on "by grace we're saved, nothing else"... we know that we have to have works, and they don't like that at all. He preached at us yesterday as well, and it reminded me a lot of what it was like to teach E. The best part of it all is that we believe EXACTLY what they believe, and more... so I don't see why they can't love the broader truth we have! I have been praying for a lot of understanding and charity. They have a cute family, and I want to see them in the temple one day. It would mean a lot for them, I know, so we committed them to continue to read from the BOM.

We ate dinner at some other investigators this week. It was a quick lesson after dinner, but they're a cute family. She's a sign language interpreter, and in high demand, so she's ALWAYS busy, and he's an ex-marine. She has been really into the BOM, and I'm glad for that, and he is a little bit more lazy in that aspect. We have an appointment with them tomorrow, so I'm excited to see how that goes. Hopefully we'll be able to make some big strides.

Our progressing friend came to church again. We didn't get to see him this last week, and he showed up 10 mins before sacrament ended, but at least he came. We had a good Sunday school lesson about the scriptures, and it was really good for him to hear, because he doesn't study as much as he probably should. He doesn't believe in Christ, and I know that if he would just read in the BOM, his testimony of Him would increase dramatically. We have an appointment with him tonight.

We're teaching an older man, and we had a really spiritual lesson with him about the restoration, and the BOM. He said that if he knew it was true that he'd be baptized, and we put him on date for May 14th. The Spirit was so strong, you could cut it with a knife, and I was glad for that experience, because I was needing it. He's going to continue to read, and to pray to know if this is the path for him. He can't come to church for several weeks though, because he has duties in his own church he has to tend to...

We picked up two new investigators, and it was literally led by the Spirit. We planned to tract at this certain time, and they were the first people we talked to. We knocked on the door, and the guy goes "who is it?"and I say "the sister missionaries" and he said "that's fine.." and opens up, and let's us right in. They are a young couple. He's a hoot. He's afraid of water and he has a "very short temper, and a lot of guns." we'll see how this one goes. haha, we taught them the Resto, and they agreed to be baptized if they knew it was true, despite the fear of water.

I feel that we're being so blessed, here in Roanoke, and I love it... missionary work has changed my life

Feels weird that it's been a year.... time sure does fly. I better start praying about what I'm gunna do when I get home!

Have a good week!

(picture is in front of a 1790 old farm home owned by some members who fed us breakfast earlier in the week. It was a neat house, with cool hedges, haha)

the migration post (to Roanoke, VA)

Hello!

so, Virginia is a lot hotter, and a lot more humid than northern WV... BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL. A lot less hilly... more open.. you can actually see things in the distance. I'm excited for the trees to bloom. Flowers have already sprouted, and that means: SPRING TIME aka no more tights. ;)

Roanoke is awesome, and I'm glad to be here. Church was good, and the member are awesome. You can tell that they want to do missionary work, and that they love the Lord. We're teaching a lot of members friends, and so it's really cool to work with a lot of great member missionaries. I haven't met everyone that we're teaching yet, but I will soon.

Sister Ward is so cute, and I love her so much! We've been able to learn a lot together already, and we have a vision for Roanoke that we're way excited about. I'm ready to see faith-filled miracles, and I'm ready to trust in the Lord, and in His will for me as a missionary.

I love my Savior, and I love what he's done for me. I know that I'm never alone, and I know that y'all will always have a friend who know's what you're going through. Don't forget it!

Have a great week! Don't forget to say your prayers!

happiness seekers...

So, new places, new start!

I'm getting transferred! First off, I'm really sad, because I LOVE FAIRMONT. And Sister Marsh... and I will miss both dearly, BUT I'm headed to Roanoke Virginia... the blessed land of the mission.... every missionary wants to end up in Roanoke, and I've been blessed to go there. I leave tomorrow, and I am so excited. My new companion will be Sister Ward. She's from Kansas.

Over the past few days we've been meeting with people so that I could have the opportunity to say goodbye to them, and I just love all of these people. I'll really miss those that I've taught, and Fairmont has taught me a lot about the love the Lord has for each of His children, and also about how infinite the Atonement is.

We had a lot of friends at church on Sunday, and I was happy because I got to share my testimony one last time while here in Fairmont. I talked a lot about our Savior and the power that He gives each of us, and about how the Book of Mormon truly testifies of Him, and allows us to strengthen our relationship with Him.

Sister Marsh and I have been thinking a lot about joy, and if there is one thing she's taught me is that we are all to be "happiness seekers". She does everything she can to continuously be happy, and she's such an example to me. One thing we've talked a lot about this last week is how the gospel is meant to help us to be happy... especially as we rely on our Savior. I am so thankful for the joys that come from living this gospel, and I have added desire to share our message with everyone!

Don't forget to read your scriptures, say your prayers, and follow the Savior!

Love, Sister Kirkby

first pictures is of a woman in our ward who made me a hand stitched quilt... each stitch was done by hand. It took her about two months

next picture is with Ethan. gotta love that guy!