Kirtland, 11/22/10

Hi Mom!

 

I did get your letter this week, thank you! I like getting your snail mail letters. But, I was glad today to see an email from you again. Thanks for Aunt Debbie's address! I'll have to write her soon.

 

Things have been crazy around here for the last week. It's true, Sister Carter is leaving today. We are together emailing right now, but right after this, she goes back to Cleveland to spend her last night in the mission home. The last week has been a lot of tying up loose ends--packing, goodbye dinners, goodbye pictures, moving. I will have a substitute companion until Wednesday, when I'll get my new one. Transfers are going to be crazy! Every companionship in Kirtland is getting changed, except for two. 

 

Hey, you'll have to let me know about Harry Potter! I  must admit it is a little painful not being able to see it. When we're in the phone room at the visitors' center, we're allowed to go on the internet to find people's phone numbers, so I've been seeing ads for Harry Potter all over the place. It's alright, though.

 

Well, we had an amazing first lesson this week! Did I tell you about the McKenny family last time? They are the ones who have been investigating the Church on their own. Well, they finally let us come over and teach them, and they are the coolest family ever! Intelligent, tight-knit, friendly. They lived on a boat in the Carribean for seven years, just because they wanted to! Well, they were working down there too, but the main reason they went is because they wanted to. They understand all of the doctrine of the restoration, and now the main thing for them is deciding whether it's true or not. So, we talked to them about Alma 32 and encouraged them to judge the gospel by whether or not it "enlarges the soul" and "enlightens the understanding."  They latched onto that principle and said they felt like the seed has been planted, and now they just need to see if it grows into a tomato plant or a weed. So, they're in a good position!

 

Thank you for your advice in your letter this week. It makes me feel a lot better to know that anti didn't stop you from investigating the Church. And, we got a text message from one of our anti-ed investigators this week, so maybe we can be in contact with her again soon!

 

This week at the historic sites, Sister Carter and I got two tours in a row with Lymans! Well, that wasn't their last name, but both of them were Amasa Lyman descendants. Actually, one of those couples used to live in Blanding! Their names were Pam and ____ Young, I just forgot the man's first name. But they lived in Blanding in the 60's, and he taught high school, and she taught dance. And they remembered Grandma and Grandpa, and Aunt Lynette! So fun. Actually, this weekend was full of Blanding connections. One of the young men in the Chardon Branch just got his mission call yesterday to Farmington New Mexico, which Blanding is now a part of. So, I got to tell his mom all about it!

 

Jocelyn's orchestra concert sounds wonderful! Aw, I remember dancing to those pieces too. And Robert Schneider sounds cool! Good luck getting ready for Thanksgiving! I bet it will be wonderful. I will be thinking about you. We have a thanksgiving dinner with all the seniors and sisters at the sites, but then I'm going to an investigator's house for part of the time and a member in the branch for part of the time. It should be nice.

 

I love you! Thanks for updating me! I miss you! I am so glad to be here, though.  I love getting to teach people about the knowledge that has blessed my life, even if some don't want to listen. And some people are ready to change! Happy Thanksgiving, I love you!

 

Love,

Katherine (Sister Lyman)