time flies

SO! I'm feeling a lot better, thank goodness!

These past 5 days have been good! We've been talking to a lot of people, trying to build our teaching pool back up! we had a lot of people drop us, and it was kinda sad, but probably necessary so that we can focus on the needs of others.

Friday night we helped on of our investigators, who can't read, learn the sounds of her letters. She knows her letters, and so we're trying to help her know the sounds, so that she can read from the Book of Mormon. She is such a cute lady, and I love her so much! She's been regularly coming to church, and now we gotta help her gain that testimony from the Book of Mormon! Since we taught her the sounds, she's been practicing a lot and is even reading some from the Book of Mormon!

We had stake conference this last weekend, and it was a lot of fun! We traveled to Roanoke to sing in the choir for the Saturday night session, and I was able to see a lot of old members from the Roanoke Ward.... it was really great to see some of them.

Our recent converts are doing really well! The Scales have some family members from the Dominican Republic living with them, and they only speak Spanish, but these family members wanted to learn more about our message, so we had a lesson with them, and Sister Scales translated the whole thing from English to Spanish, and it was really cool to still feel the Spirit, even though it was in a different language.

We've smelt apartment infested weed a lot this week, and have been knocking on a lot of doors.... holy cow it's sweaty and hot and gross and I still love it..... crazy what missionary work can do for a person :)

can you believe I'll only send 5 more emails? ...... TIME FLIES BY WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN.

Love, Sister Kirkby

TWO BAPTISMS!

Brother Scales and Brother Price both entered the waters of baptism on Saturday, and received the Holy Ghost on Sunday. It was an incredible weekend, with the Spirit so strong! I still can't get over how much both of these men, but mostly how much Brother Price has changed from when Sister Sorensen and I first found him. The gospel has LITERALLY changed his life, and the happiness and glow that is found within him is incredible... the temptation he faces, and avoids and conquers is a miracle, and he's almost read the whole Book of Mormon... He's in 3 Nephi last we talked to him. Saturday night  he prayed vocally for the first time ever (he's a very nervous man) and it was such a tender mercy to see this change work within him!

Both of these brothers are hungry for more! They are constantly learning, and are wanting to learn more! Next month they'll be going to the temple, and hopefully Sister Stettler and I will be able to go with them!

We also found out on Saturday that the excommunicated member that we've been working with, Sister Carey, has permission to be baptized!! She'll be baptized on Sept 24th... I am so happy for her. We've started teaching her sister, and the Book of Mormon has all the answers to the questions she's had for a long time... I just love that book!

I've been sick for the past two and a half days, and it really smacks, but you do what you gotta do, I reckon. My brain is running a million miles an hour, because all I wanna do is go out and work, especially with only six weeks left, but my body says "stay in bed." ugh, it's horrible... hopefully I'll be feeling better soon.

Sister Stettler is taking good care of me, and she's such a great friend. I love her so much.

well, I hope y'all have a good week... talk to you Monday!

Love, Sister Kirkby

Vegetarian homophobes or homophobic vegetarians?

So, we have two baptisms planned for Saturday, and I am so excited! Keep our investigators in your prayers, because they need it! Satan is throwing EVERYTHING he's got at them.. Hate that guy.

This week was good... one of our investigators almost dropped us because he thought we hated gay people and didn't eat meat, but we were able to clarify, and it's all good now.

Our investigators Sister R, who is SUPER awesome, and way elect finally came to church yesterday.... with like, 8 grand kids... it was awesome. She texted us the night before and said "well, I got a bunch of kids with me, but I've put this off for far too long, so we'll all be coming tomorrow morning!" and she made it! So proud of her, and I know the Lord will bless her. She's on date for September 10, and she's doing really well with living the word of wisdom.. .we just gotta get the law of chastity down, and she'll be good. :)

Since seeing Brother P and Brother S grow and change, and prepare for baptism this Saturday, I've been thinking about the power of the Atonement, and what it can do in ones life. Both of these men come from very different backgrounds. One is already very firm in his faith, and has now strengthened his rock in the Savior, and one started at square one when we first started meeting with him... no matter where these two were in their spirituality, the gospel changed both of them tremendously, and it can do the same for us... whether we're the relief society president, the bishop, a non member, or your average member, the Atonement can work miracles in your life. There's a quote from Preach My Gospel that I came accross this morning that I love

"Repentance and change will help people conquer challenges, rid themselves of shame and guilt, and experience the peace and joy of God’s forgiveness."

We ALL deserve these promised blessings, so don't forget to repent and change!

Love, Sister Kirkby

#MartinsvilleStake

wait, it's Monday? Already? Why does the week fly by SO FAST?

It was a good week.
Our investigator Brother P has truly shown some amazing changes in his life. When we first brought him to church, our members were SUPER skeptical of him, but now, because of the physical, and even spiritual changes he's made in his life, they are so friendly and nice to him. He has changed so much, and I love that the gospel can truly improve the quality of ones life.

Brother S is also doing well. He's the one that's wife is a member. He is CRUISING through the Book of Mormon, and we were racing to see who could finish it first, me or him, but he is totally beating me. He can't get enough of the word, and he's so excited to go to the temple soon!

all of our other investigators are trekking along slowly but surely. I feel eternally blessed to be serving here in Martinsville where SO MUCH is happening.. I can't even describe in words how I feel about this area.... it has my heart, and I want to see it continue to grow, and expand. #MartinsvilleStake #MartinsvilleTemple #oneday

This week I've been thinking a lot about Idleness
Alma 38:12
"Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness."
This scripture touched my heart SO MUCH as I was reading it this last week... as we bridle all of our passions, and dedicate our time to serving the Lord, refraining from all idleness, we will know what complete joy is. I have definitely learned this on my mission.

well, I hope everyone has a great week! Stay cool, and be good!
Love, Sister Kirkby

SUPER strong prompting

Wow, this week flew by, and I don't even know what to say.

Brother P and Brother S are both scheduled to have an interview for baptism on Aug 13th! their baptism will be on Aug 20th starting at 11am! and the ward council is already planning a temple trip for them, and all the other recent converts! What a blessing.

Last night, after traveling home from a fireside we had, I got this SUPER strong prompting to go and try this recent referral that we had been given from church headquarters. We were both STARVING, and super ready to eat some dinner..... It seriously was the last thing I wanted to do... all I wanted to do was go home, eat some food, plan, and then fall right into bed, but I knew that if I ignored that prompting, that I'd regret it later. Well, sure enough, we drive to her house, knock on her door, and she is home. We taught her the restoration, and she was asking a lot of really good questions about it. We committed her to read for the Book of Mormon, and she was really eager to... what a blessing. Thing is, we had tried her earlier in the day, and she hadn't been home, so I know it was the Lord helping us know when she would be home, and we were able to sacrifice our dinner, so that we could help her find ways to strengthen her faith in Christ.

Yesterday in gospel principles, we talked about the law of sacrifice. The Gospel Principles manual says "Sacrifice means giving to the Lord whatever He requires of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further His work. The Lord commanded, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God. People have always been tried and tested to see if they will put the things of God first in their lives." The pioneers are the perfect example of the law of sacrifice, and we can learn a lot from their stories. In honor of pioneer day last week, don't forget those who gave everything for their faith!

What are you willing to sacrifice to help the kingdom of the Lord grow?

Have a great week!

Love, Sister Kirkby