The One With The Big Easy

Hey Y'all!

This week we got permission to go to New Orleans for our preparation day. Lemme repeat that, I got to go to New Orleans! 

I've been literally like an hour away from it my entire mission, but I've never been able to go. And I just need to proclaim something...

I am in love with New Orleans! 💘

We got to ride in a magical streetcar and walk the streets while they had bands set up in the middle of the road and play jazz 🎷🎺 

We went to Marie Laveau's Voodoo Shop (it actually really freaked me out lol) and we explored cemeteries that looked just like Princess and the Frog. We got to look at the Mississippi and they had a marching band because of the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. 

Okay, I'm sorry that's enough. 

So Mardi Gras isn't until February 13th but Louisiana knows how to party so it's starting now. The amount of king cake I've had is insane. (King cake is basically a giant cinnamon roll covered in purple, green, and yellow sprinkles and with a small plastic baby Jesus inside. If you get the slice with the baby you have to bring the next king cake. So it's literally just an endless cycle of king cake.)

I FINALLY found the first maple donut in LA. I've been searching forever, they have donut shops everywhere but none have maple. You see what's wrong with that?

Some Tracting Experiences: (I promise no more gun stories)

-we tracted into a sweet old Catholic lady (everybody and their dog is Catholic in Gonzales) she let us in. She just started talking and she told us "The key to a long-lasting marriage is always saying thank you, always saying I love you, and always holding hands while you sleep." 

-we knocked on the door and they opened the window above us and yelled "who you looking fo'?" "Anybody!" "They're not home right now!"

-we literally chased after a ups guy 

-we tracted an entire street but we didn't tract 3 doors because something came up. Later we were calling random numbers in our phone we didn't know and someone answered. We later went to her house and it was one of those 3. The Lord provides a way. 

-a little old lady had a "Happy Birthday Jesus" sign on her door. She couldn't really hear, especially when we told her our names. She thought that Sister Strate said Sister Street. And she thought I said Sister Kevin. So look out for our tv show Street&Kevin 

-we were talking to a man in a wheelchair. We were getting in our car. As we got in our car we looked back just in time to see him get up and walk away. #LyingOrHealed ?

-we decided that we were going to tract using the Book of Mormon instead of the Restoration pamphlet. We instantly got into 2 houses and got 7 new investigators! One grandmother said "Let them in, this could be our blessing today."

-we tracted into a lady who had a 9-year-old son. Turns out they are Baptist and her son is the preacher. HE'S A 9-YEAR-OLD BAPTIST PREACHER! And if yall know anything about Baptist preachers, then you know how amazing that is. Lol. He literally travels around Louisiana preaching. 

-we accidentally texted a drug dealer asking if he was interested in a message about Jesus Christ and he asked us how much we are looking for hahaha 

Some other things this week:

- the saints lost and Louisiana lost its mind 

- I ate two servings of shrimp ettouffee to get someone to read the Book of Mormon. 

- Sister Str8 spilled water on her dress and the person next to her spilled water on himself too so she wasn't embarrassed #TruHomie

-Quotes from that one old Cajun Guy. *to us, the sister missionaries* "Y'all going to church?.......you better be!" After he realized who he was talking to. 

We asked him how he was doing and he said: "They're trying to kill me!"

"I'm not disgusted. I'm just gusted."

Tender Mercy of the Week:

Literally, all the sisters in the New Orleans Zone and the Baton Rouge Zone got invited to the MLK March in New Orleans. Everyone except us. So we decided since we didn't get to go #bitter we would tract instead. And that was the day we found the two families. Even though we were both angry we found some amazing investigators. We also met a super cute lady. She has the most adorable 3-year-old daughter who ran up to me and gave me a penny and said: "have some money." (Somehow she knew I was a poor missionary) 

The Lord knows what He's doing yall!

Sister Kevin

The One With The Shotgun

"I don't care if it was Jack Frost who told you, I said no!"

Hey Y'all! 

It seems as my mission goes on the more interesting it's getting lol. 

This week we got to go to an LSU gymnastics game! #GeauxTigers

LSU really knows how to cheer. There's actually a football game they played a long time ago that the crowd cheered so loud that it actually registered on the Richter scale as an earthquake! They appropriately named it the Earthquake Game.  

So...I BROKE UP A PITBULL FIGHT. We were looking for service opportunities in our area. We found the local dog shelter. And if anybody knows me they know how much I LOVE dogs! 🐶😍 it's the highlight of my week. And basically is the only reason I can stay sane and get my 10,000 steps in. Except our first day volunteering we were tying the dogs in the yard. And a pitbull wearing a pink sweater, named Tinkerbell, slipped out of her collar. She went to another pitbull and started attacking it! Sister Strate and I were the only ones in the yard so we had to do something. And if I have learned anything in my life it's not to break up a dog fight. So I grabbed a leash and literally had to lasso it onto Tinkerbells head and pull her away. It was so terrifyingly cool. But I'm never trusting anymore dogs named after fairies. 

For some reason at almost every dinner appointment someone has shown me their rock collection. Am I just someone that looks like I collect rocks?!

Anyways...and for the reason for the title. Buckle your seatbelts y'all. There is this unspoken rule in Louisiana where if it's dark, even if it's 5 o'clock and they are home, they will NOT answer the door. They will literally look at you through the window and still not open the door. So we typically don't tract at night. Well we hadn't gotten our 5 doors in yet and it was a little past 7pm. We decided to go knock on some trailers. Well we were knocking at one and no one was home. So we were walking down the steps when we got blinded by a flashlight. Someone started yelling at us and asking us why we were there. We told him we were missionaries. He had turned to the side a little and I could see past the flashlight and i caught a glimpse of his shotgun. That's right, you heard me. HIS SHOT.GUN. Immediately we started getting the heck out of dodge. His wife was fussin' at us and was threatening to call the cops and we never looked back. So needless to say, we don't tract at night. 

Tender Mercy of the Week: 

We had the opportunity to go to the temple for the last time. The Baton Rouge temple is closing for 18 months for remodeling. I had the chance to do sealings for the first time! I was the child being sealed to the parent, which the rules just changed so the missionaries are able to perform that.  It was so amazing. We are so blessed to be able to live with our families for all time and eternity. The Spirit was so strong and I could feel the joy of those on the other side. Those that have been waiting so long to be sealed. 

Give 'Em Heaven,

Sister Kez

The One With The Murder

Happy New Year Yall!

I can't believe it's already 2018. I feel like it was just 2017 and I got my call and I went into the MTC. Time is going by wayyy too fast. 

So this week we made a goal. A goal to tract at least 5 doors a day, because if we are being honest, I'm not the biggest fan of tracting. Like at all. Anyways, so we decided to actually accomplish our goal. And we've actually seen some miracles and we've actually had some hilarious things. So I'll tell y'all a lil bit of both. And plus we make cat friends who want to go tracting too and at first we thought it would get us into more doors but really we just ended up having to explain to people through a crack in the door that it wasn't ours and we are Jesus people. 

We decided to tract a certain neighborhood one day before an appointment. We knocked quite a few doors and got slammed with the "I'm Catholic" almost every time. But we knocked on one door. And before we could even tell her who we were she let us in, just because it was cold outside. We told her who we were and she wasn't interested in taking the lessons but she told us she might surprise us at church one day. She offered to make us some tea or hot chocolate. Even after she said no. Hopefully, a seed was planted but it sure went a long way with us. 

Then we knocked a couple doors down and this man looked at our nametags and before we even said a word he was like, "You know what? Jesus is not my friend." And shut the door. I can honestly say I've never heard anything like that before I'm the south. 😆

We found a former investigator and immediately she was surprised to see us. Apparently, because a man had been murdered in the trailer park across the street. She asked us to pray with her for that man and his family.

We had a family take us to a Christmas light show. Apparently, this particular show is 2 miles long and only chooses 6 cities to come to every year. So this year they chose Gonzales! It was so cool! Even if it was after Christmas. 

So Louisiana has been doing this weird thing where it gets COLD. And I'm used to the cold, being from Utah. But this is a different cold. It's humid cold. It's so bone chilling and will slice right through your clothes. And you will literally just never get warm. Louisiana is also not equipped to deal with it. So people's pipes are bursting. You have to leave your water on a drip so it doesn't freeze. But people don't know what drip means so they leave it on full blast and everyone runs out of water in the well so we are all put on boil alert. 😂 our ward mission leader called us one day and he asked if we had an hour to spare. We went to Lowes and got a ton of insulation. We headed over to a recent converts house and insulated all their pipes, which we could do because the pipe runs above ground. 

I got a "temporary" assignment in BR to lead music. That lasted for 6 months. Then my first real Sunday in Gonzo they asked me to lead the music #lifeofasista

We celebrated the New Year by going to bed at 10:30 lol. We did buy some 2018 party hats and some New Orleans Co. Ice cream! 

We were studying when the fire alarm started blaring. It was the loudest alarm I've ever heard in my life. So we looked at each other to make sure we didn't leave any bread in the toaster or anything. And we walked outside to evacuate. Turns out in our apt complex if one building has a fire, the entire complex has the alarms go off. We got to meet some of our neighbors. It was like a movie. We had the red-headed lady in a kimono. We had the man with the eye patch (not even joking) and the man walking his wiener dog. The firemen came but we still never found out why the alarms went off.  

We had to go to Baton Rouge to my old apartment to pick up some mail and while I was there talking to Hermana Stratton and Hermana McCombs their phone rang. It was Sister Jensen, my baby! So I answered it (apparently she didn't recognize my voice) and she said she was at the temple and she was going to come over and say hi. So I hid behind the door and surprised her when she walked in. It was an accidental reunion! We all just sat on the couch and caught up. It made me so sad/happy. 

Tender Mercy of the Week: I went to Walgreens and I was checking out when the cashier saw my nametag. She asked me if I had an account with them and I told her I didn't. And she said here put my number in so you can get the discount. God's looking out!

Last but not least, our beloved Prophet Thomas S. Monson returned to be with his sweet wife. I'll never forget. We got a text at 4am saying he had passed away. President Nelson was called by God in his place. I know that Thomas S. Monson was a man called of God to lead and guide the world in these trying times. I know that God spoke to him and through him. I am forever grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who calls prophets and apostles for His children. I sustain President Russell M. Nelson as the new Prophet, seer, and revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I know that what he says is what God wants us to know. 

Sister Kez

The One With Christmas

Oh my sweet goodness y'all. I'm still alive, I'm just the worst and I haven't sent a weekly since before Christmas. 😅

So I'm going to be making up for it right now! Soooo I'm throwing it way back to Christmas!

I left off with me being transferred. So I was transferred to Gonzales, LA to be with Sister Strate. I said my goodbyes to everyone in Baton Rouge, including Hermana Stratton, Hermana McCombs, and Sister Jensen. I got to see Hermana Banner and Elder Roy at transfers though! 

Our ward mission leader is so crazy and awesome! He owns an old-fashioned bug and a VW bus! We got to ride around in it while we did service. We were raking leaves (because fall happens in December I guess) and we saw a man walking down the street and he was listening to music really loud and every once in a while he would stop to dance. It was hilarious, I LOVE the people in Louisiana! 

I hit my 9-month mark! And because I only serve a 17-month mission, I'm already over halfway!!

We had the opportunity this week to take some recent converts to the temple so they could be baptized for the dead. It was such an amazing experience. The spirit was so strong, you could feel the happiness of the people on the other side. The veil felt so thin at that moment. I'm so grateful for temples in my life. I have grown such a strong testimony on my mission of temples. Because we have a loving Heavenly Father who wants ALL of His children to be with him again, he provided a way. 

We made gumbo with a member and she really taught me how to make it right...i have the scars to prove it! 

My first Sunday in Gonzo was a combined ward meeting for Christmas Eve! I didn't know what the dump was going on the entire time haha. 

Christmas morning was definitely so different on a mission. I was really sad not waking up to biscuits and gravy and Andy Williams Christmas. We don't even have a regular Christmas tree, we have a Mardi Gras tree! Lol. We woke up and opened presents together with just the two of us. 

We decided to bake a cake for the members we went to FaceTime home. I got to meet my niece, Lydia for the first time and I straight up cried! And Teddy showed off his dance moves on the screen. I got a taste of what home life is going to be like,

 "Somebody ask me about Louisiana..."

"Nobody cares about Louisiana but you."

Ouch. But other than that, it was good to see my family, but I know where I'm supposed to be right now. 

After we went to a members and they fed us seafood gumbo. Where you have literal crab legs that you have to crack with your teeth and eat, chicken gizzards, liver, andouille, and shrimp. 

Then we went to an older (cajun) couples home in our ward. They are the sweetest people alive. He can't hear but every time we say goodbye he said: "I'm glad you got to see me!" Hahaha.

We had district meeting the next day and we wrote our goals for 2018. There was the bright idea to burn them in a scented candle. Which turned out to be us, almost burning down the church. We were heading back from lunch and I ran into my recent convert from Baton Rouge! I was so excited to see her I almost cried. #tendermercy then we went to target and I saw some members from Baton Rouge! It was like I never left!

Have a blessed week!

💕 Sister Kez

The One With The Play-Doh

Hey Y'all!

Hope y'all have had a good week this week! 

It's been quite eventful. There has been a cold front coming through so the weather has been AMAZING! (God is so good.)

 We played bean-boozled this week as a quadpan, which made for some pretty hilarious videos (which you will never see, unless you ask me personally.)

 Our car FINALLY got finished this week too! Yay for no longer being carless. 

We had this amazing referral from the elders. She is the cutest ever and she is super sweet. She told me she was a visual learner so to teach her the Restoration, I pulled out my can of play-doh. (Thanks to my bff Jessi for sending it to me randomly and for me carrying it in my backpack for two whole months. Cheers.) And it went so well! She said it was the best lesson she has ever had! She said that she used to eat play-doh so I kept it away from her during the lesson and she may or may not have convinced me to try it and I may or may not think it is too salty. 

We also had a member tell us for a solid 2 hours about how the rapture is coming in 10 days. So y'all better get prepared. 

Then we went to our ward's trunk or treat. Baby J was a princess and I was a deer. (the amount of deer puns were insane.) We got to go on a mini hay ride around the parking lot and got to see the temple so it was beautiful for sure. Then they split up the leftover food between the elders and us. They gave us each 32 hot dogs and hot dog buns. THIRTY FREAKING TWO hotdogs! 

Then we went to visit a recent convert. Her daughter was there (who has recently not had a very open mind) and we just visited with them. Then the next day at church the recent convert came up to us and said that her daughters told her that she has finally found the right church and they were asking about the Book of Mormon, which was way cool! 

We went and visited a member family who is never not at church but they weren't there this Sunday. So we went to visit them to see why they were gone. Turns out that he had fallen on a walk and he had to get stitches on his eye and wraps on his hands. It was so sad! But they are the best couple ever. He is super Cajun and they fed us jambalaya, talked to us about Cajun recipes and jokes, and to top it all off he sang us a Cajun song. (which I included, you're welcome.) 

LASTLY, this morning we went to Coffee Call (The Café du Monde of Baton Rouge) and had my first beignets with hot chocolate. 10/10 yall. 

Anyways sorry this is long. Love y'all!

Sister Kez

The One With(out) A Car

Hey Y'all!

I know it's been a super long time since I've updated y'all, I am so sorry!

So this will be super quick. 

These past few weeks have been super crazy, miracle-filled, hard, and exhausting

. 

Transfers happened and I am staying in Baton Rouge and training. My new companion's name is Sister Jensen (we call her Baby J.) Sister Hurd was transferred to Houma and she is training someone as well! She is training Baby J's mtc companion, Sister Tingey. 

The first day we went to a member's home to clean her closet. She had 350 pairs of shoes. So that tells you a little about how much work we had to do. (Also I got caught in a clothes avalanche and it was the scariest thing of my life.) 

Sister Stratton turned 20 and we celebrated by making a literal fruit cake and swig cookies. and we painted pumpkins. (Cause it's Fall Y'all!) 

We survived Hurricane Nate

Our car has been in the shop since Friday the 6th. Which has been ridiculous and trying. So we have been doing a lot of tracting lately and finding some really awesome people! Everytime that we have tried to walk somewhere there was somehow a member who found us and picked us up. #blessings

The investigator we met at the Doll museum came and saw us. We gave her a Book of Mormon and told her about it. I told her she was a Daughter of God and she started crying. It was the most spiritual Book of Mormon lesson I've ever had.

We visited another church on Sunday. It was pretty cool and the person who invited us was the sweetest person in the world. They had John 12:24 on the wall. Of all the scriptures. Idk why that one was there. 

Anyways, I love y'all! 

Sister Kez

The One With The Miracle Part 2

Hey Y'all! 

This week was yet another hard but amazing week! 

Our recent convert Joey has been having a really tough time lately, so if y'all could please pray for him that would be surely appreciated. 

Then on Friday was the best day ever! The miracle that I told you about last week was baptized! It was the most spiritual baptism that I have been to. She had so much support and love.  The best part of missionary work is being able to unite families forever. It definitely makes it all worth it.

And I hit my 6 month mark! I can't believe it's been 6 months since I said goodbye to my family and entered into the MTC!  Plus, I will be seeing y'all next September aahh!!

Then we went and volunteered at the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Gonzales. So guess who got to check something of their bucket list? ME! Sister Hurd and I got to go in one! It was amazing! It was definitely probably maybe the hottest day of the year, or at least it was according to me. 

And for those of you who watched the General Women's Conference may have heard the shout out to Baton Rouge, Louisiana! Which was amazing and the congregation definitely whooped. (Which included Elsa, who they were talking about!) It was so cool and we had no idea they were going to talk about us! Plus, I got to see a lot of people from my old area which was super sweet for me because I never got to say goodbye to them. #tendermercy 

I also had the opportunity to give an entire bag of rolls to a homeless man and his pitbull, the smile on his face really made my day. 

Work hard pray hard,

Sis. Kez

WDJD: What Did Jesus Do?  Only in Louisiana lol

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