June 1, 2015

This week was intense. And almost in tents, as in sometimes I feel like I am permanently camping. Of the last four days I spent the night in a different city with exchanges, switching to our other area for the week, zone conference and then returning. I have now slept in Green Bay, Wausa, Gresham and Clintonville and have visited Manitowok. The sister I was with in Wausa is from Sweden and can't drive here so I drove and did not crash the car in the big city with way too many one way streets. So far I'm doing good! Thanks for those prayers. I know the people of Wisconsin thank you too. 

We really had an amazing Zone Conference that focused on the Sabbath day and how attending church helps build strong families and is a sign unto the Lord of our covenants. As I write it, it doesn't sounds that mind blowing but oh it was! It was the kind of meeting where you leave just jazzed to be LDS! 

On exchanges we had had a great day with some really fun appointments and had about 15 minutes before we needed to head back to our real companions. Sister Karlsson said we should go knock on a door so we head up and do our little approach with the survey and without saying much this older lady just starts telling us all about her relationship with God and how she once had faith, but lost it and is thinking she needs to find it. After about 5 minutes we politely explain we need to go but we'd love to come back that night. She quickly accepted and said "You know, a lot of people knock on my door but you two really impressed me." I was laughing but so happy because we said about ten words the whole time but the Spirit is real and we really are set apart. 

We also met with on of our investigators who loves reading the Book of Mormon and for an hour we just talked of our favorite stories and how relevant this is for today. God is so good. 

Driving in Wisconsin is a little nuts. We have wild turkeys that randomly cross the road, cranes nesting in the fields, deer everywhere and then every few miles an Amish buggy being pulled by horses. It really is a miracle I haven't hit anything so please keep praying.  

I am also convinced that my new companion is a Philippine Ninja. She knows three forms of karate and has an obsession with knives that I just can't quite explain. She's a sweetheart though and has a strong love for families and teaching the gospel. 

I love you! Your turkey avoiding

Kaytie

PS- Grandma got some new chicks! She thinks the old ones got eaten by a fox or a rat...