From: Kristen Owens
Date: Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Subject: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
To: carolyn owens <carolyndowens@gmail.com>
Hey family,
Thanks for the sweet letter mom and the
awesome package! I loved it! especially those cool bracelets--you better
believe sister Taufer and I will be strutting those around ;) Well this
past week was great. We had an interesting experience. We decided to
stop by a less active lady in our ward and found out she had actually
passed away about 6 months ago. We were a little shocked and decided to
quickly make a note to update our ward list (haha) then we started
talking with the man who was living there...then his girlfriend showed
up and said, "hello Mormons." She had apparently lived in Utah for quite
some time and lived with an LDS family and had gone to church and had
lived in Provo, etc.... we are seeing her tomorrow night! Super cool. I
guess the lady we thought lived there was an incredible missionary :) so
that's kinda cool.
We are getting a new missionary couple here in our area and we are
really excited about it! It should bring a boost of work :) They are
going to help with our west African population mostly. I never remember
things to write back home when I sit down and type....I should start
making notes ahead of time.... Um....Our mission has been praying a lot
and really seeing a lot of success. We are really trying to find those
whom God has prepared in this area through much prayer and fasting. Our
zone is praying and fasting this week to know who specifically we can
invite to be baptized on a specific date. Faith is an interesting thing.
We are trying to move from faith as a principle of action to faith as a
principle of power. We are really trying to ask everyone we meet for
referrals because many people are prepared.
Jaylen is going to Chile! Whoo whoo! :) cool! she'll be awesome!
So
to answer your questions... I might need more money in my account....if
possible...I didn't realize I had so little....and I can buy stamps
here :) on p-days. and cards would be great! I am excited for Christmas!
:) you can either put money in my account and I will just buy cards
here or whatever is easiest for you :) today is not our p-day so we only
have an hour and it's almost time to go! but, I just want to say we had
Elder Gavarret from the seventy came and spoke to us at our mission
conference. he was so great. I learned so much! Before hand we were
suppose to prepare a five minute talk on how we have accepted the
blessings of the atonement in our lives because he was going to choose a
few of us to give it.....guess who had to speak! I was so nervous
because we went through this line and met him and his wife and then
Elder Gavarret told the person who was conducting which three people to
speak... so they just called you out without time to collect yourself!
haha I was nervous and I don't even know what I said.... I should have
been more prepared actually because that morning before study I prepared
a talk and kinda had a feeling I would have to speak....ah! But, it was
a good experience. I need to learn preparation precedes power. Thanks
for all of your prayers and all your examples. I love you so much and I
am so grateful for my family. I am grateful to be apart of this great
work and I know Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives. He
really is. I know we can see miracles this week as we pray with faith
and act on those promptings! Happy Thanksgiving! I love that
Thanksgiving preps us for Christmas....being grateful for our Savior.
I love you,
hope all is well,
talk to you next week!
Love,
Sister Owens
P.S.
thanks for sending the letters of my friends. I was reading Alma 27
today and thought of them all when it says in vs. 17-18 how happy Ammon
was to see his brethren! "Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this
is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble
seeker of happiness." He was so happy he fainted. :) I think that's how I
want to be every day serving! fainting all the time! haha but,
seriously. I love you, thanks again!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Hiiiiii
From: Kristen Owens <kristen.owens@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Nov 12, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Subject: Hiiii
To: carolyn owens <carolyndowens@gmail.com>
Hello my dearest family,
Okay, first things first: I have not yet purchased warm boots, however, we are going today so I will have them by tonight :) And good thing because the weather has dropped dramatically! Saturday was around 60 degrees and Sunday was FREEZING! And it snowed a little. But, not as much as Utah! :) And I am now wearing my warm coat--super great purchase! Thanks mom for everything, especially for that sweet email you sent. I am going to be more positive this week and optimistic. Our goal as a companionship is to really listen and obey all the promptings we receive. Thanks for that quote by President Monson.
Oh, my new companion is Sister Taufer--she's 29 and is a college graduate of Marketing. She is awesome! She is so well prepared and is already teaching me a lot about how to be a better missionary. She is probably going to be ready to train in 6 weeks I believe. She enjoys running, she likes reading, and she hates the cold (bad timing to come to Minnesota....) haha
Now for the baptisms.....T dawg and S dawg both got baptized and confirmed last weekend. And Brother J (one of my first baptisms) baptized S dawg and received the Melchizedek priesthood the next sunday morning and then confirmed S-dawg as well! :) It was such a neat experience. Brother J is incredible. And the spirit was so so strong in the meeting. I am so grateful to have been apart of it. They are both amazing men and will bring many others into the gospel through their examples. This gospel is true! I'm reminded of that every second! The Lord is really in the details of our lives.
this week we really need to find new investigators....really really bad....most of ours aren't really progressing or they just got baptized... soooo... it would be so great if you could specifically pray for that maybe.... I need your faith mom! You make so many things happen with your faith! :) give me some of it please! haha jk I am amazed at how everything starts with having Faith in Christ. I've noticed that phrase recently in the scriptures "faith in Christ." There is so much to that! I just want to study all day long sometimes.
anyway,we are having a mission conference this week and Elder Gavarret of the seventy is coming to speak to us! It should be really great and get us really excited for the work ahead. We are suppose to prepare a five minute talk on "how I have accepted the blessings of the Atonement in my life." He'll call three people to give that talk (eek...better be well prepared!) It should be really neat though I always look forward to these meetings because it gets you so pumped for missionary work.
so not much to report this week other than transfers and the upcoming miracles we will witness through our diligence and faith! This next week is going to be great! I just know it! :) I hope all is well at home. It sounds like it's good :)
Keep those stories coming of my cute nieces Makena and Hadlee! They are so hilarious I love them and miss them and can't wait to see them again--even the little bouncing baby boys :) ah cuties. Tell erebody hello and that it would be nice to hear from them every once in a while :) or every week even :) seriously family, do you exist???? jk
Okay, well I love you and as always, I know this is God's work. I know Christ lives and everything we do should revolve around him. This is my life goal: 2 Tim 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." That's what I want to say when I see Him again. I know the Atonement is real. It changes lives and is the only way we can be completely healed. Everything that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Christ. God has a plan for us. We need to help prepare the world for His coming! It is so urgent and vital that we do all in our power to spread this message. Seriously. The time is now :) keep up the good fight! Work hard and always remember "We are on the Winning team!" :)
I love you,
Love, Sister Owens
Date: Mon, Nov 12, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Subject: Hiiii
To: carolyn owens <carolyndowens@gmail.com>
Hello my dearest family,
Okay, first things first: I have not yet purchased warm boots, however, we are going today so I will have them by tonight :) And good thing because the weather has dropped dramatically! Saturday was around 60 degrees and Sunday was FREEZING! And it snowed a little. But, not as much as Utah! :) And I am now wearing my warm coat--super great purchase! Thanks mom for everything, especially for that sweet email you sent. I am going to be more positive this week and optimistic. Our goal as a companionship is to really listen and obey all the promptings we receive. Thanks for that quote by President Monson.
Oh, my new companion is Sister Taufer--she's 29 and is a college graduate of Marketing. She is awesome! She is so well prepared and is already teaching me a lot about how to be a better missionary. She is probably going to be ready to train in 6 weeks I believe. She enjoys running, she likes reading, and she hates the cold (bad timing to come to Minnesota....) haha
Now for the baptisms.....T dawg and S dawg both got baptized and confirmed last weekend. And Brother J (one of my first baptisms) baptized S dawg and received the Melchizedek priesthood the next sunday morning and then confirmed S-dawg as well! :) It was such a neat experience. Brother J is incredible. And the spirit was so so strong in the meeting. I am so grateful to have been apart of it. They are both amazing men and will bring many others into the gospel through their examples. This gospel is true! I'm reminded of that every second! The Lord is really in the details of our lives.
this week we really need to find new investigators....really really bad....most of ours aren't really progressing or they just got baptized... soooo... it would be so great if you could specifically pray for that maybe.... I need your faith mom! You make so many things happen with your faith! :) give me some of it please! haha jk I am amazed at how everything starts with having Faith in Christ. I've noticed that phrase recently in the scriptures "faith in Christ." There is so much to that! I just want to study all day long sometimes.
anyway,we are having a mission conference this week and Elder Gavarret of the seventy is coming to speak to us! It should be really great and get us really excited for the work ahead. We are suppose to prepare a five minute talk on "how I have accepted the blessings of the Atonement in my life." He'll call three people to give that talk (eek...better be well prepared!) It should be really neat though I always look forward to these meetings because it gets you so pumped for missionary work.
so not much to report this week other than transfers and the upcoming miracles we will witness through our diligence and faith! This next week is going to be great! I just know it! :) I hope all is well at home. It sounds like it's good :)
Keep those stories coming of my cute nieces Makena and Hadlee! They are so hilarious I love them and miss them and can't wait to see them again--even the little bouncing baby boys :) ah cuties. Tell erebody hello and that it would be nice to hear from them every once in a while :) or every week even :) seriously family, do you exist???? jk
Okay, well I love you and as always, I know this is God's work. I know Christ lives and everything we do should revolve around him. This is my life goal: 2 Tim 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." That's what I want to say when I see Him again. I know the Atonement is real. It changes lives and is the only way we can be completely healed. Everything that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Christ. God has a plan for us. We need to help prepare the world for His coming! It is so urgent and vital that we do all in our power to spread this message. Seriously. The time is now :) keep up the good fight! Work hard and always remember "We are on the Winning team!" :)
I love you,
Love, Sister Owens
Monday, November 5, 2012
Transfers and Holidays
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristen Owens <kristen.owens@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Subject: Transfers and Holidays
To: carolyn owens <carolyndowens@gmail.com>
Hello my dearest family,
It's been a carazy morning. First off, CONGRATS KAIT! That is so great! I actually was thinking about you this morning and I had that thought that you would go somewhere spanish speaking :) haha it was the spirit that told me. jk, but seriously congrats! You will love your mission! :) Well this morning we got a call from President Clements. He talked with Sister Mansfield and guess what?!? She's training! And She's whitewashing into an area in our zone called Elm Creek and Shingle Creek. There are two wards there and her and her companion will be helping mostly with the African immigrant population working with both wards :) She is pumped! I am so proud of her! She is such an amazing missionary :) She taught me so much these past two transfers. She really did. I feel much more confident in myself because of her and her amazing diligence and boldness. She's a rock star.
Then Sister Mansfield handed the phone over to me and President proceeded to tell me I will be training AGAIN. Oh man! I didn't learn what I was suppose to the first time I guess haha AH! I actually secretly prayed for this without knowing. I really felt bad a few weeks ago for not being a better trainer and helping Sister Mansfield as best I could (sometimes I just didn't know how to help her!), so I prayed and asked for forgiveness....I also prayed for a second chance...oops. But, I am really excited to train again. It's been a great experience and I learned a lot. I know I will learn much more these next two transfers as we work harder than before and help others come unto Christ through repentance. My new companion will be great! I can't wait! I am nervous, but I feel at peace about everything. Sister Mansfield is going to be great! I am so proud of her! :)
Anyway, we have two baptisms coming up this week! They both had their interviews and one of them needs a second one, but it has been amazing to see the change in both of them. They have both changed their lives in order to align them with God's will. They have repented and their hearts have truly come unto Christ. I am so excited to see them enter the waters of baptism. And Brother Jesse is baptizing one of them and he received the Melchezidek Priesthood as well!!! :) It has been so neat to watch him continue to progress in the Gospel! :) I am so lucky to have taught him and met him. Sister Randall will be so proud of him when she finds out :) So the cool thing is....We found brother jesse through a member who was recently baptized about 1.5 years ago. He invited jesse to church where sister randall and i set up a time to meet and now he's baptized and progressing in the gospel and is going to do baptisms this week in the temple. but, he was also with us when we found our current investigator S-dawg. And now he is getting baptized this week :) super cool. The original member told the Stake President the other day in Stake Conference that "I'm a grandpa!" haha I thought that was cute and funny. It was really neat to see Brother Jesse sustained though in Stake Conference. He is an incredible man. seriously incredible. His whole purpose and goal in life is to serve God. And he does it so well! I admire him so much!
So, not many exciting things happened this week except our Chinese investigator came to Sacrament meeting (and she didn't understand a lick of it...) but, she came! :) And she said she was going to start coming more I think...we are excited to teach her more :)
Anywho, it's fun to see the work of the Lord rolling forth with all these new missionaries. It's going to be great to witness the work really take off in the next few months! I am so excited to see what great changes will happen and what miracles we will see. I love this area, and I am glad I get to stay here for at least half my mission! :) Can you believe that?! But, if I could make one request. Please continue to pray really really really hard for me and my new companion and this area. I still don't know what I am doing and I know it'll be hard but I know the Lord is in charge. I have learned so much about the power of faith since being on my mission. That's where everything starts. it doesn't mean it will be easy, it just means it will be possible. Please pray especially for our investigators this week. the week before the baptism is one of the hardest.... thanks for all you do! I feel your prayers every single day of my mission and multiple times a day actually. I am so proud to call you my family. I miss you like crazy and these next few holidays will be hard without you, but it will be so great to be able to come back right in time next year for them :) Keep doing what you are doing. you are all such great examples to friends, family, and neighbors. Keep sharing your testimony mom :) I love that about you, you have never doubted anything. Thanks for being a rock in my life. I look to you as my example of faith so much! I love you all! I will let you know how this next weekend is :) pray please really hard for S-dawg and T-dawg...especially T-dawg....
Thanks,
Love,
Sister Owens
From: Kristen Owens <kristen.owens@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Subject: Transfers and Holidays
To: carolyn owens <carolyndowens@gmail.com>
Hello my dearest family,
It's been a carazy morning. First off, CONGRATS KAIT! That is so great! I actually was thinking about you this morning and I had that thought that you would go somewhere spanish speaking :) haha it was the spirit that told me. jk, but seriously congrats! You will love your mission! :) Well this morning we got a call from President Clements. He talked with Sister Mansfield and guess what?!? She's training! And She's whitewashing into an area in our zone called Elm Creek and Shingle Creek. There are two wards there and her and her companion will be helping mostly with the African immigrant population working with both wards :) She is pumped! I am so proud of her! She is such an amazing missionary :) She taught me so much these past two transfers. She really did. I feel much more confident in myself because of her and her amazing diligence and boldness. She's a rock star.
Then Sister Mansfield handed the phone over to me and President proceeded to tell me I will be training AGAIN. Oh man! I didn't learn what I was suppose to the first time I guess haha AH! I actually secretly prayed for this without knowing. I really felt bad a few weeks ago for not being a better trainer and helping Sister Mansfield as best I could (sometimes I just didn't know how to help her!), so I prayed and asked for forgiveness....I also prayed for a second chance...oops. But, I am really excited to train again. It's been a great experience and I learned a lot. I know I will learn much more these next two transfers as we work harder than before and help others come unto Christ through repentance. My new companion will be great! I can't wait! I am nervous, but I feel at peace about everything. Sister Mansfield is going to be great! I am so proud of her! :)
Anyway, we have two baptisms coming up this week! They both had their interviews and one of them needs a second one, but it has been amazing to see the change in both of them. They have both changed their lives in order to align them with God's will. They have repented and their hearts have truly come unto Christ. I am so excited to see them enter the waters of baptism. And Brother Jesse is baptizing one of them and he received the Melchezidek Priesthood as well!!! :) It has been so neat to watch him continue to progress in the Gospel! :) I am so lucky to have taught him and met him. Sister Randall will be so proud of him when she finds out :) So the cool thing is....We found brother jesse through a member who was recently baptized about 1.5 years ago. He invited jesse to church where sister randall and i set up a time to meet and now he's baptized and progressing in the gospel and is going to do baptisms this week in the temple. but, he was also with us when we found our current investigator S-dawg. And now he is getting baptized this week :) super cool. The original member told the Stake President the other day in Stake Conference that "I'm a grandpa!" haha I thought that was cute and funny. It was really neat to see Brother Jesse sustained though in Stake Conference. He is an incredible man. seriously incredible. His whole purpose and goal in life is to serve God. And he does it so well! I admire him so much!
So, not many exciting things happened this week except our Chinese investigator came to Sacrament meeting (and she didn't understand a lick of it...) but, she came! :) And she said she was going to start coming more I think...we are excited to teach her more :)
Anywho, it's fun to see the work of the Lord rolling forth with all these new missionaries. It's going to be great to witness the work really take off in the next few months! I am so excited to see what great changes will happen and what miracles we will see. I love this area, and I am glad I get to stay here for at least half my mission! :) Can you believe that?! But, if I could make one request. Please continue to pray really really really hard for me and my new companion and this area. I still don't know what I am doing and I know it'll be hard but I know the Lord is in charge. I have learned so much about the power of faith since being on my mission. That's where everything starts. it doesn't mean it will be easy, it just means it will be possible. Please pray especially for our investigators this week. the week before the baptism is one of the hardest.... thanks for all you do! I feel your prayers every single day of my mission and multiple times a day actually. I am so proud to call you my family. I miss you like crazy and these next few holidays will be hard without you, but it will be so great to be able to come back right in time next year for them :) Keep doing what you are doing. you are all such great examples to friends, family, and neighbors. Keep sharing your testimony mom :) I love that about you, you have never doubted anything. Thanks for being a rock in my life. I look to you as my example of faith so much! I love you all! I will let you know how this next weekend is :) pray please really hard for S-dawg and T-dawg...especially T-dawg....
Thanks,
Love,
Sister Owens
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