Week #4 Lovin' This California Weather!

Hola Familia,

Things have been really good here in Ventura, CA. It's not too hot and its not too cold. I love it. This week was a crazy one because our whole district got sick.  I just got over a sore throat and earaches. I think it was also because I sleep near the window.  The weather has been a little weird, kinda like texas.  One day it's way hot and the next, it's just warm.   

I did get all the packages. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it and all that you have done for me so far. 

Today is my missionary birthday and I only have 15 more months left of the mission that is way CRAZY!!!!! 

I have started playing the piano at church.  The branch choir wants me to play Where Love Is or Follow Him or something that was in the primary book that isn't anymore. 

We are hitting all aspects of the missionary work. We teach less active, investigators, and recent converts. Our main focus is fellowshipping.  In sacrament meeting on Sunday, in our last English talk, was about fellowshipping and doing visiting teacher/home teaching. 

We did have one zone conference. It was really interesting.  It was like  when Elder Bowen came to our last stake conference, a Q&A kinda thing. I was having a hard time this week because I didn't really learn how to declare to people on the street in the MTC.  I didn't know how to do it.  And having to do it in another language was beyond me. But I think that moment was a learning moment because I have been relying on myself a little too much.  Mostly because I like to be in control of what happens.  But, in that moment I learned to rely a little bit more on the Lord. The next time I declare to someone it will be from the heart.  I also have learned what I say in Spanish may not be what they hear because the spirit can make them hear different things than what I am saying.  I have learned that the mission is a learning process for all of us. 

We had a couple more dinners with the families in our wards and I really have come closer to the people that I have served and love them even more. 

I love that y'all have been reading the Book of Mormon and continue to learn from it. One thing that I didn't know is somewhere in the Book of Mormon Christ names all the 12 apostles that he called in the Americas.  Way interesting!  

I can't believe that y'all are finally in the house. I bet it looks beautiful!   Tell Littles that she can't make a mess!  

I heard from Hermana Rubow's mom this week. She is one of the nicest ladies that I have not meet but have a friendship with, because of Hermana Rubow. She just thanked me for being there for Hermana Rubow and being there when she needed it. 

I will send some pictures next week because I didn't take that many this week. Beside we are going pickin' for p.day today. 

Love ,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

Kenzer LOU

PS: Happy Father's day coming up dad!! and I totally forgot to tell you Happy Mother's day mom!! 

Week #3 Lovin' Cali!!

Hola Familia,

Thank you for the packages this week. I really appreciate them. My Spanish is getting better. I'm reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish to see what words I don't know and then translate them into English. I'm learning alot from Sister Romero on how to become a better missionary. We are working with less actives and new investigators. White-washing (working with two wards) is really difficult, but we love it!  We should be having a couple more baptisms this month and we are excited for that. I did run into someone who knew Sister Bohn. I didn't know Sister Bohn grew up in this area. 

I'm so excited that you are getting into the house finally. I will want some pictures.  I'm so glad that Gracie is excited too. 

I might be transferred out of this area at transfer time.  Transfers are every six weeks and at the last transfer for the 12 week program, some sisters spent six weeks with one companion and the other six with another.  I have heard though, that if you are from Texas or Arizona that Bakersfield is the place for you.  So, who knows...we'll see.  I'm just happy wherever the Lord wants me!!  I'm so glad that you and Sister Rubow have become friends. 

You can post my email address to my facebook now because it is church policy that friends can email you and such. 

I got a sweet letter from Dad.  Tell him that I miss him.  I really want to hear his conversion story told in his own words if he gets the time.  Alot of people out here are really strengthened by hearing the conversion story of others.  I hope to hear from my sisters and brother too, sometime. 

Since school is almost out, do you have any plans for the summer?  It's kinda nice here not to worry about school and every thing that the social life involves you in. 

In case anyone else wants to send me packages the rules are that: you can only send them through US Mail first class or priority or letters, of course. I will have to wait for any others but that is totally fine. 

Can you please check on Christine and Beth Ann because I heard there were tornados near Dallas and I just want to make sure everything is ok? 

One scripture that has come across my mind this week is D&C 84:88.   "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

I'm so glad you have the missionaries over for dinner.  They really appreciate it.   I can definitely tell that our family is unique because some of the members we have dinner with in the Spanish branch don't sit down and eat dinner with us.  It is just me and my companion. I have gotten used to the kissing of the cheek and other culture stuff they do. 

I will send some funny pictures this week and introduce you to TIWI.

All my love,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

Kenzer lou 

Check out our TIWI.  It's a tool to help us be 'good drivers'.  The first week the TIWI kept telling me I was an 'aggressive driver'.  What???  This week, thankfully, TIWI has been very quiet.  No aggression here!!  Just mustaches....HaHa!!

Mission fun...The Elders decided to "Bagel" our car!  Silly Elders!!

***BONUS***

HI sister fitz!!!

this is hermana romero and i just want you to know that i love your daughter so much!! we are really good friends now!! she is an amazing missionary!!! i want you to know that she is a hard working missionary and that she is learning spanish really fast! so when she goes home she will be fluent!!! 

i just wanted to say hi! and i hope all is well over there! hugs and kisses

p.s: you are so beautiful!!!

Week #1 in Cali!

Hola Famila,

Como estas? So this week flew by so fast. It was so great to talk to y'all on Mother's day and now we only have a few more months till we talk again.

I am in the Thousands Oaks area and love the weather, although it has been hot a couple of days. I should be thankful because I prayed for hot weather instead of cold weather. So we went to my area and dropped my stuff off. (Thank you for the packages.)  Then, we went and met Pablo who got baptized this past Sunday. It truely was a miracle because he had been putting it off.  He said, he had a dream and in that dream he saw his wife who died 3 months ago, and his father- in- law who had passed away previously,  both baptized.  And so from that dream he knew he needed to be baptized.  On Sunday, during Pedro's baptism, I gave a descurso (talk) in Spanish on the Holy Ghost. I didn't have a clue.   But one thing that is always that same is the Spirit.  And you could definitely feel it in that room. 

We have been visiting a lot of less active, part-member families, investigators, and potential investigators. It has been kinda a hard since we are working with the Spanish branch and an English ward. We are doing what they call white-washing or zebra work because we have to switch languages. Our ward mission leaders in both the branch and the ward are awesome and are always there to help us. I am going to be learning a lot more Spanish.

In this next transfer, whoever is in the Bakersfield mission is there to stay. Which is way exciting!  We will be getting more sisters and elders in our mission. I think the total was 29 all together. 

Yesterday, we got to hear from Elder Robbins from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy.  He really answered some of the questions we went there with.  And he more clearly helped us understand how to help investigators more fully. 

We will definitely be getting to work this week!  We just haven't worked with two units before. We will definitely be blessed!

One of the things I learned from our branch presidency in the MTC before we left and have already applied in the mission field, is this: Work harder than everybody else, love everyone, and laugh a lot!!  I love this advice and live by it everyday!!  

I love y'all and think about you often. Thank you for the prayers in my behalf. 

One of the scriptures that have touched me this week is 1 Samuel 4:9.  

"Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you; quit yourselves like men, and fight." 

It is mostly talking about missionary work and how we need to go out and fight. But I also liked it because it sounded like a football scripture that a coach would say to his players before a game. 

I can't wait to tell y'all about my next adventures at transfers.

Love,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

This is my companion, Hermana Romero, from Mexico City, Mexico.  

We are at a less-active member's home.  She makes jewelry and fake babies (?)

This is the large world map at the MTC.  Here's the Ventura, CA mission.  Here I Come!!

A Mother's Day Phone Call...

Dear Family and Friends,

I thought I'd share just a few fun thoughts from my phone call from Mikenzie on Mother's Day.  

Last Monday, Mikenzie left the SLC airport for Santa Barbara California, via Denver.  I know.  Go figure.  The best part was that I got to talk to my girl from the SLC airport and from the Denver airport as well.  What a treat!  It was so good to hear her voice.  She was happy, excited and just ready to get busy sharing the gospel.  After speaking to her on Mother's Day, she shared that while at the Denver airport, a kind woman, upon seeing her and her companion's black missionary badges bought them lunch at Panda Express.  She wished them well and told them they would be great missionaries.  (A tender mercy.)

Mikenzie got to California Monday afternoon and were met by the Mission President, President Fernando R. Castro, his wife and their young son.  I received a very nice personal letter in the mail from President Castro with a picture of him, his wife and Mikenzie.  I'm sure Mikenzie must have had lip balm on, otherwise her lips would have just split from the giant smile on her face!  Here's the text of my letter from the mission president.

Dear Brother and Sister Fitzpatrick,

Sister Mikenzie Kathleen Fitzpatrick arrived safely in our mission on Monday, May 6, 2013.  As we met her in the airport she appeared to be in good health, had a smile upon her face and was eager to begin serving in the California Ventura Mission.

She received training and spent her first night here in Ventura.  After breakfast today, we held a transfer meeting, and then she went to her assigned area in Thousand Oaks, California, with her Companion Sister Romero.  Enclosed you will find a photo of her with Sister Castro and me.

Your daughter's permanent address in the mission field is the mission office address, which is 3301 W. Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA  93036.  There is a normal period of adjustment as your missionary adapts to the mission field, and your assistance during this time will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for raising such a noble young woman.  We already love her as our own and will do everything we can to help her succeed.  We are delighted to have her with us.

I share with you my testimony that this is the work of the Lord and pray that our Father in Heaven's choicest blessing will be upon you and your family as your missionary serves with us in California.

Sincerely,

President Fernando R. Castro

California Ventura Mission

So nice.  I know she is in good hands;  the Lord's and President Castro's.

Anyway,  what a phone call.  I carried my phone around me all day because I didn't have any idea when Mikenzie would be able to call.  Thankfully, I gave Mikenzie a heads up about having to teach Young Women from 3-4 during our phone call on Monday.  She called about 5:15 Sunday afternoon.

After our initial tearful hellos, we learned that Mikenzie is serving in Thousand Oaks.  She is what the missionaries loving refer to as a zebra, a missionary who speaks both English and Spanish because she is assigned to an English speaking ward in Thousand Oaks and a Spanish branch in Oak Wood (?) speaking, of course, Spanish.

Her companion is Hermana Romero from Mexico City, Mexico.  Hermana Romero speaks excellent English and I'm sure will be helping Mikenzie with her Spanish.  Their apartment is in Thousand Oaks.  Mikenzie and her companion drive a 2013 Chevy Cruz to get to everywhere they need to go.  Mikenzie gets to drive because Hermana Romero doesn't have an American drivers license.  She said they do quite a lot of driving covering such a large area.

Of course, Mikenzie had a short list of things she needed, which I was glad to write down.  But I could tell that what is most precious to her is just to get a simple letter or email from all her friends and loved ones. 

When she called, they had just gotten home from their first baptism.  How exciting!  A 70-year old Spanish man who had lost his wife 3 months prior.  Mikenzie was asked to give a talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost.  She said she shared some thoughts from Preach My Gospel and her testimony, all in Spanish.  She said, "I'm not quite sure all I said.  But. everyone said I did a great job."  Way to go Mikenzie!  I love her courage and her willingness to simply jump in with both feet!!  I'm sure everyone there could feel the Spirit and her sweet testimony.

She said that there are a lot of less-active member, and part member families.  But in the same breath, she said enthusiastically, "But we'll fix it!!"  There certainly is a lot to keep them busy!

When our time was almost up, she said, "Mom, I think the Lord is giving me a special blessing.  That blessing is that at night, I am so tired.  So tired, that as I read my scriptures, I think that I better say my prayers before I fall asleep reading.  It has been such a blessing to get right to sleep and not have my mind race while I struggle to fall sleep."  (Tender mercy)  

We told her how much we love her and how proud we are of her and of the work she is doing.  Yes, we both choked up, just a bit.  I can't wait to hear her voice again at Christmas!  But until then, weekly emails and letters will definitely foot the bill!  

Thanks for keeping Mikenzie in your prayers.  I know those prayers are heard, and most importantly felt, by Mikenzie and all missionaries serving around the world.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Love, 

Dina

p.s.  What is a Tender Mercy?  I think it's a special time when only you know and feel the Lord reaching out to you, sometimes through someone or something.  You have an understanding that the Lord is acutely aware of you.  I have been the recipient of many tender mercies in my life.  Here's one of Mikenzie's that I'm sure she'd be happy to share…..

"On the first night in California, at the mission office, I saw a picture of the mission president giving roses to new missionaries.  After seeing that picture, all I wanted was a flower.  Dumb, I know.  At the end of the night we were getting ready to leave the stake center to go to our apartment.   The sisters that I were with had a flower, and they gave it to me.  It was a miracle from Heavenly Father and just what I needed!"

Coincidence? Not in my book.  A true Tender Mercy for a new sister missionary who just needed a small reassurance that her Heavenly Father knows her, loves her and is truly watching over her.  What a gift…  Look for the Tender Mercies in your own life.  I promise you, they are there.  

Week #6 from the MTC - This is it...MY LAST LETTER from the MTC

Hola familia,

 

Thank you for the sweet packages this week. This week is one of the best weeks so far. We got our travel plans this week and we leave on Monday, May 6th  at 6 in the morning. From SLC we go to Denver.  Way weird, I know.  And then from Denver we go to Santa Barbara. So be expecting a phone call around 7:30-9:30 MST.We arrive in Denver 11:35 and will be in California by 2:20.  I will be constantly calling you to keep you updating on how things are progressing as we are traveling. 

The Old Testament is way hard but is so interesting in the things that Moses had and Israel had covenants with.

Our teachers got switched around this week so we have a new investigator.  He seems really interesting.  We don't know for sure. I am trying to open my mouth more, i just feel like I have to plan everything I say pero I will be better at doing that. It will be pretty sad to leave the MTC because we got so close as a district.  Thank goodness some of our elders are flying out with us. One of the things that we are doing is that everyone in our district is going to get a preisthood blessing before they leave for their mission.

The thing I want to eat the most is probably some Cafe Rio so I will definitely be finding that place in the airport :) Although I would definitely love some of your home cooking. 

We went to the temple today.  Afterwards, we ate at the temple cafeteria.  The food at the temple today was amazing!  I really loved it.  It was way better than the MTC food. 

You can send the pics to my email account.   Hopefully I can see them.  I haven't really had any luck when opening pics. I have some pics for you, too. 

I am writing on Thursday because our schedule got switched.  So only for this week  PDAY is on Thursday. Helped host missionaries yesterday.  It was way fun. One girl was in my zone and she is going to Morristown, NJ Spanish speaking.  The other girl is going to the Netherlands. I'm so excited to leave MTC but so nervous at the same time. It will really be helpful to be fully immersed in the language. 

I get to call you this Monday and then again next Sunday because it Mother's day, so exciting!   

One of the things that I realized this week is how important the investigator really is.  What we receive as inspiration and revelation, is all for the investigator and not for us when we are teaching.

One of the funniest things happened today. We have gone and done our laundry at 3:00 in the morning for the past three weeks. Well, today the security guards came and said we can't be there that early.  But, we already had our laundry in the machines, so they said we could stay and finish it.  We told them that a lot of people come here really early to avoid the lines. A lot of people came before 6:00 which is when the laundry room really opens.   We can still get in since we have to swipe our cards. The people that work there haven't said anything or care that we are there that early. It's just really dumb because our last week is the week that they really check. Way funny.

 

That all that really happened this week.

 

I love ya so much and can't wait to talk to y'all.

 

love hermana fitzpatrick

 

kenzer lou

Week #5 at the MTC - Almost Done!

(Hermana Fitzpatrick's 'Spanglish' is alive and well.  
My novice translations are found in italics... Hermana Fitzpatrick's mom.)

Hola Familia,

Como estas?  Gracias por mi package this week and the divert carats (different cards) about what's going on.  This week was one of the better semanas  (weeks).  On Tuesday, our devotional was from the main missionary department head which was cool.  He talked about the repentance process.  I think it was more to weed out those who have past mistakes that didn't get them resolved before they came out on their mission.

We also got to be host missionaries on Wednesday which fue divertido pero (was fun, but) you could feel what the new missionaries feel.  So, we helped them feel better or tried not to cry when we saw their families pulling away.

I finally got my skirts fixed.  It's way nice to have more skirts to wear.  They have some weird ladies working in the alterations department.  This one lady said that the Hermana missionaries can't wear perfume or nail polish porque (because) Utah has a high allergen sensitivity y porque it is too worldly.  But we just moved on and bit our tongues porque the MTC presidency said that it was totally okay to wear this stuff.

You were inspired to pack that medico kit Madre porque yo fue enferma por uno dia pero necisito teer (I was sick for a day and needed ) Sudafed and sleeping pills.  Yo soy much better.

Spanish is getting better.  Yo so better at traducer than hablando.

Tengo made un meta leer (I have made a goal to read the) Santa Biblia y el Libro de Mormon y Pearl of Great Price y Doctrina y Covenios,  all the escruituras por medio (by half-way) de mi mission.

Tengo recibir revelecion (I have received revelation) to help mi investigador.  Por ejemplo, in Numbers it talks about how you know it's God's prophet if he receives una vision y an angel visitar el.  So, a la escritura necisitapor nuestro investogador porque cree en Santa Biblia y no el Libro de Mormon.  (The writing is necessary (from the Bible) because our investigator knows about the Bible and not the Book of Mormon.)

I am so excited that you all finished reading El Libro de Mormon!   It truly is one of the greatest libros en our time!

I forgot my camera today pero I will shoot off some pictures next tiempo. (time).

Me gusta mi carta de Blake porque el ayudame con español. (I liked my card from Blake because it helped me with my Spanish.)

One of things that I have noticed durante uestro leccions con investigator es that si yo don't saber como to say algo then I will keep mi boca shut.  (One of the things I have noticed during our lessons is that if I don't know how to say something, I keep my mouth shut.)  It is necesito por mi (necessary for me) to open mi boca porque espirtu santo es trabjando por medio di mi y y soy (open my mouth because the Spirit is working through me and I am) not allowing the Lord to work if I keep my mouth shut.  It is like that scripture, 'the holy ghost will open your mouth.'  Pienzo tambien quiero leer Santa Biblia y las escrituras is entonces sabo cuando (I want to read the Bible and the scriptures so when) I need to pull a scripture out in the middle of the lesson, I will know the reference. Moses takes up a lot of the Bible.  I love Moses and all,  pero quiero (but I want) to move on and get into Ruth.  This semana ayudo que (week I find)  it is nesicita por mi to balance the doctrine and the needs of the investigator cuando mi ensena (when I teach).

Yo recibo una carta (received a card from ) de nanny y pop this semana.  Y sabo mi being aqui es (I think me being here is) importante to them.

I can't wait to start cross referencing what es en Santa Biblia to El Libro de Mormon porque si yo do that it will help the investigator so much.  One of the things that es muy difficil is explaining Mormon jargon to investigators such as dispensacion y apostosia y otras cosas (dispensations, apostasy and other things).

We should be getting our flight plans soon.  Either today, tomorrow or Lunes.  I'm so excited pero so nervosa too.

Yo recibo cartas pero the Shill familia.  Muy agradecidos por them y their amor durante tiempo. (So grateful for them and their love during this time) 

It is muy raro that yo soy 17 meses (It is very strange that I only have  17 months) left mi mission. Tiempo really flies by!

Yo soy agradacicos (grateful) por breakfast stuff y otras comida (other food) porque mi cuerpo (my body) started rejecting the food here.  Pero I eat whatever looks most edible.  Only nine mas dias until real food!!  Me gusta Dasani agua flavors.  It's better than just water por most dias.

I can't wait to get fully immersed in the language en California.  I learn better when I am surrounded by personas who speak the language all the tiempo.  One of the funniest things that has happened durante semana es I picked up the Spaniard 'th'. So, instead of saying 'z', not I say the 'th' sound.  Por ejemplo, corazon - corathon y cabeza-cabetha.  I love the lisp, pero I still hope people understand me when I talk in California.  So far I have tried to get rid of it, pero I can't.  Way funny!!

As for stuff I need this week, not a lot, since I will be packing and getting ready to get on a plane!  Me gusts sus cartas y cartas de hermano y hermanas.

I hope the casa es coming along nicely.  Y can't wait to see picturas when it's done.  I will bring my picturas y revelations to comparator next tiempo.  Since it will be mi last time to ascribe ustedes (write to you) at the MTC.

Can't wait to get to the temple today!

I send all mi amor.

Chow,
Hermana Fitzpatrick
(Kenzer Lou)


                                                   What Is My Purpose as a Missionary?
To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.
                   

This is Elder James from Phoenix, Arizona.  He is going to Ventura, California.  He has a twin brother who is serving a mission in Tampa, Florida.  He is way funny and chill.  One of the things he said was that in his setting apart, it would be a miracle if he learns Spanish...And he will!!  He doesn't totally get it yet, but he will!!

 This is Hermana Howell.  She is from Virginia.  She went to school at BYU.  She has a lot of family and gives a lot of good insight into the scriptures and stuff.

This is Hermana Rubow.  She is from South Carolina and very funny!!  We love to do things together, just hang out and talk about the South.  haha.  She went to school at BYU-I doing online classes.  She will be going there when we get back from our mission.  I would definitely like to hang out with Hermana Rubow when we go back to school.  She is definitely one of the people that I can go to with anything.

This is Elder Harkness.  He is from Pocatello, Idaho.  He's a great person because he came from such a rough background.  He is also a fantastic missionary!!

This is Elder Bryson.  He is from West Jordan but has moved around a lot.  He is very ambitious and one of the funniest/sarcastic people in our district.

This is Elder Plyer.  He is from Washington.  He is way funny!  He has only been a member of the Church for less than two years and his conversion story will make you cry.  He is the only member in his family and has enjoyed embracing the gospel in his life.  He said that he is here at the MTC because of the missionaries that taught him.  He wants to change other people's lives, too.

This is Elder Gehoski.  He is from Arizona but he lives hear Penn State.  He is way funny and a totally chill guy.  He is strong at moments but flips like a switch.  I think this will be learning experience for him.  He went to BYU-I, too.

Ta dah!!  This is my wonderful companion, Hermana Corniea.  She is from American Fork, Utah.  She is 1/4 Samoan and she comes from a loud a crazy family just like us!  We both have the same kind of humor.  But we focus when it is time to focus.

This is the laundry room at the MTC at 4:00 a.m. with Hermana Rubow.  Had to beat the crowd!!

 YOLO!!!  You only live once!

We met this Great Dane that lives by the MTC on our Temple Walk last Sunday.  He came up to my waist.  It was a great relaxation moment.  Totally got my Gracie fix.  But I definitely don't want a dog that big!!  He was about 150 pounds.

Week #4 - MTC - What a Week!!

Hola Familia,

Thank you for the wonderful package this week. I really appreciate it!


A couple of wonderful things happened this week!  Our whole district has been having problems not just with the language but other stuff as well. Last Monday our whole district didn't study language study when we were supposed to and instead recieved priesthood blessings of comfort. I asked an Elder Gehoski to do mine. In my blessing he said that I would learn the language, that Heavenly Father knows me, loves me, and is proud of me. He also said that my burdens will be lifted off my back as I have been feeling them lately. This blessing was something that we all needed to have because it not only strengthened our district but made us better missionaries. 

On Tuesday, you will not guess who came to devotional. Before I tell you, you should know that we usually already know when we get into the auditorium where the devotional is being held, who is speaking.  But this time they didn't tell us beforehand.  So I guessed it was someone big and I mean BIG!  It was ELDER RICHARD G. SCOTT. He is a wonderful man and a great leader of the church. He talked about prayer and how we can be closer to our Heavenly Father. Some of the things he said were; to never feel unworthy to pray. Prayer is a sacred gift (never thought about that before.)  And make sure you to thank Heavenly Father that we CAN pray. Prayer is a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father.  One of the best things that actually happened at this devotional though, was Elder Scott pronounced a apostolic blessing upon all the missionaries that could hear his voice. When I think of that, it is like Elder Scott put his hands on each and every missionaries head. He blessed those that are learning a language that they will master it.  He blessed us that our mission will be a rich and rewarding experience.  And that it will bless the lives of our families to come. The Lord has called us to succeed and not fail. He wants us to grow and discover things about ourselves that we haven't learned before.  Most of the time, when we recieve answers to our prayers it is not on our knees it is in the quiet moments. We need to remember to pray, even when we feel like we can't.  Heavenly Father has called us to succeed gloriously. It was a talk that I really needed to hear.

As I have been here, I have felt the Spirit.  Sometimes, it is so hard to recognize it because it comes in so many different ways; whether it be through emotions, feeling peace, or chills up and down my body. 

I finally understand why we need to teach our investigators the way we do. Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentence, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. If you picture a staircase the first step is faith, second-repentence, thrid-baptism, fourth-laying on the hands of the gift of the Holy Ghost, fifth- enduring to end. So, this week, we are going to teach our progressing investigator that we have now, about faith because that is the first step in the conversion process.  I really love personal revelation.  It's such a great tool. 

I'm doing really well so far and it has been a good week.  There are struggles with being a missionary but you just have to pull yourself up and keep doing the work. 

I did receive a letter from Elder Larsen on Monday. I was very excited. He is doing well and has been training for the past seven weeks. He has been teaching a lot. He told me that in the next seven weeks they expect five baptisms which is really good. He told me about one of his investigators named Devon who contacted them because they he has been going to church for three weeks, read the Book of Mormon all the way up to 2 Nephi, and was ready to have the gospel in his life. He took the lessons and got his baptism moved up a week because he was so ready. After his baptism, he got the priesthood the next day.  That week he went to the temple and did baptisms for the dead.  Then he was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Sunday School. I'm so proud and excited for the work that elder Larsen is doing in St. George, UT. 

As for stuff I need from home, I would really like my heart rate monitor, letters from my siblings because i miss hearing from them and any other stuff you can send me if you want to.

I can't believe I only have two and half more weeks at the MTC.  It has surely flow by. I only have 17 more months of my mission, weird. 

We get to go to the temple today which is way fun.  I started reading the Old Testament and am gaining so many insights. 

That is so exciting for Sydnie.  I will start writing Blake about some of the experiences that have happened here.  It is so amazing!   

On P.day now, we have 60 minutes instead of 30 to write to family. They did change the email policy so you can write friends too.  But I'm going to wait until CA to see what the mission president says.

Want to hear some funny stuff?  Well one of the Hermanas and I don't like to wait for the laundry machines. So we got up at 3:45 this morning to go do our laundry.  It was totally dark. It was way funny!!  She said,  "You Only Live Once at the MTC might as well have fun while we're here!" 

I did get the letter from Sister Williams today. Tell her thank you from me.  It really did bring my spirits up. I get Dear elders every day and can only read my email on Friday in the allotted 60 minutes. 

I'm so excited that Kellie is loving volleyball. Oh, one good thing that will happen is that I will get to call you from the airport on May 6th, so look forward to that.  I will give you specifics in the next couple of emails.  I get to leave before Mother's Day, which means I get to call you again on Mother's Day.  Twice in one month!!  

The food here is still gross but I still eat it, because if I don't, I will run out of energy and go into starvation mode.  I really love the fitness center they have here on the MTC campus. I lifted weights the other day and totally tore my muscles, like a good tear.   I love that soreness because it means I actually worked hard. I can tell I gained a little bit of weight.  But the hardest thing for me is going from counting calories to not counting calories at all because of all the cafeteria food. I can't wait to get back to making my healthy smoothies in the field and actually knowing and being in control of what I am putting into my body. 

I love to pray.  It takes me about ten minutes each night to say my prayers in english because I am so grateful for so many things. 

I love y'all, the gospel is true, read the scriptures, pray!
I keep y'all in my prayers! 

Love your,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

(Kenzer Lou)